thereof though then lawful yet I say is not now lawful for the posterity of Adam because God hath now commanded as in very reason 't was meet that mankind having lost by sin the glory of present enjoyments once enjoyable in Paradise and Christ having freely purchased a more excellent even a Heavenly and Eternal glory I say God hath now commanded that mankind should deny themselves and take up a Cross that is to say that men should not now follow their own natural lusts which so greatly inclines to this present world but should deny and cross them and settle their affections and delights upon the more excellent estate of glory purchased by the Lord Jesus 2 Cor. 5.15 Col. 3.2 And therefore the sons of men now following the natural lusts of the flesh become by nature the children of wrath led by the Prince of the power of the Air who also stirs up them to follow their own lusts and hearts desires with endeavours by deceit to enlarge the same and thus all men go out of the way there is none Righteous no not one But such and so great was the Fathers love to the world considered thus miserable lying under the burthen of their own personal transgressions as that he willed and accordingly commanded by the Lord Jesus that the Gospel should be preached to every Creature thereof Mark 16.15 that is The Glad-tydings of the Pardon and Remission of their sins so as that whosoever of the world thus miserable by reason of sin now repenteth of the same believeth and is Baptized shall be saved Ver. 16. But this purpose of God concerning Election that is in English choosing out all such as believe to life Everlasting was not in the least arising from or begotten in God by or because of any fore-seen Faith in or works of Righteousness done by the Creature but meerly and alone from the purpose of his own gracious Will nothing in man first or last moving him thereunto for the purpose of God according to Election is not of works but of him that calleth I with the Apostle bear Witness Rom. 9.11 And whereas the glory and excellency of Gods presence is such as cannot admit of any unholy or unclean thing for that Cause his Decree of Election or Predestination reaches the holy Ones or the number of Believers onely and not because God saw any worth or excellency in mens Faith or Holiness whereby to provoke him thus graciously to decree but according to the good pleasure of his Will saith the Apostle hath he Predestinated us that is in English fore-appointed us unto the Adoption of Children Ephes 1.5 Now whosoever of you that bear the name of Saints hearing this so gracious Gospel of Jesus Christ did in your hearts acknowledge the truth thereof verily believing that there was remission of sins to be had in Christ And that Christ therefore being the Justifier and so the most amiablest Object in the World was most worthy your affections and Soul-desires and thereupon resolved with godly sorrow for the sins past for the time to come to serve him with all affections and faithfulness and no longer your selves and so committed your selves to his grace confidently depending upon him for that which you verily believed was to be had in him even the remission of your sins and eternal life whosoever of you have So believed in Christ publickly professing the same by being Baptized that is in English Dipped in his Name by Faith you were justified from all your sins past and being thus reconciled the gift of eternal life freely purchased by Christ Jesus for you without any respect of Faith fore-seen in you or any condition required of you in order thereunto I say the gift of eternal life remained your portion This Faith being professed by you next thereunto O Friends you may remember that you with others and others with you and for you made application to the gracious God by Prayer and Supplication with the Laying on their Hands according to the Scriptures speaking in that case Heb. 6.12 Acts 8.15,17 That you might receive the holy Spirit by the gracious supplies of which you might be both furnished to continue the Faith professed and also to bear much fruit therein to the honour of him who had called you out of darkness into his marvellous light But since 't is the receiving of the holy Spirit and not the bare asking of him nor the much talk of him that makes men thus happy and the more and more receiving of him that makes men men indeed even strong in the Faith it remains a work none of the least for all such who have so believed and so practised well to consider what they have received from God and how they may come to receive more from him for it were a lamentable weakness even greatly tending to the provoking of God for men practising as aforesaid to rest and lye still secure as if all were well barely because they have called upon the Lord for his holy Spirit when for a long time they know him not received nothing of this work upon their own heatts whereby they can declare to others what the Lord hath done for their Souls David that heavenly pattern being in the profession of the Law of God rested not in that but followed hard after the Lord therein Psal 63.8 to whom having diligently sought and Prayed often he abode waiting upon him till the Lord gave him ground to say to his Soul Return unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Psal 116.7 and as elsewhere he saith Psal 63.8 Thy right hand upholdeth me How good a thing were it for Professors in this day to take pattern hereby so as henceforth not to content themselves in that formerly they have prayed with subjection to the Laying on of Hands for the gift of Gods Spirit nor in that they continue sometimes yet to pray for the same for most surely 't is the known hand of God upon the Soul that onely can give real cause of satisfaction the certain experience of Gods bountifulness renders poor Souls otherwise restless to be at rest and true peace And then how boldly may such speak of Gods goodness to others having themselves sweet experience of his goodness to their own Souls And how boldly may such stand up and exhort others to keep under and mortifie the deeds of the body they in the mean while knowing the deeds of the Body mortified in themselves through the operation of Gods Spirit upon their Souls Yea and how boldly also may such reprove them that shall notwithstanding live after the flesh whereas otherwise the reproof of the reprover reflects and sticks fast on himself and not onely so but there is this mischief also attending even that thereby the fleshly part in the reproved hath occasion given it to follow its lusts and so how great are the retortings and reflections of such upon the reprover Sure I am
multitude are as Grashoppers and their Camels as the sand by the Sea-shore shall be put to flight when the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it notwithstanding all the strong reasonings of flesh and blood that is for walking by sight because there is no more than three hundred men allowed by God to do it Judg. 7. Are we not to believe that the Meal in the Barrel and the Oyl in the Cruse shall not waste nor fail when the faithful God hath spoken it though never so much contradicted by the nature of flesh and blood because that at present it is but a handful of Meal in a Barrel and but a little Oyl in a Cruse 1 Kings 17. Are we not to believe that the great Walls of Jericho shall fall down flat there being a Promise of God that they shall without giving any heed to the many fleshly gain-sayings because of their height or great strength or because of the low means as blowing in Rams-horns appointed of God in order thereunto Josh 6. The sum of all which is whether such as have attained to a state of Justification from their old sins by Faith in Christ are not in Faith and full assurance to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit whereby to carry on and work through the work begun which otherwise will never be finished there being a plain and most certain promise of God to pour out the same John 2.28,29 Act. 2.38 Without the least hearkning to fleshly gain-sayings or yielding to fleshly dulness or any mistrust because of the low means as Imposition of Hands Heb. 6.1.2 Act. 8.12,15,17 appointed of God in order thereunto or whatsoever else shall attempt the making his word of Promise of no effect Yea and not onely a Promise of God but also very strong provocations whereby to believe the same being assured from the Lord Jesus that he doth not onely as readily as Fathers that are evil give to their Children but how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11.13 That is the Scriptures compared the Lords good pleasure and great freeness is to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him with lifting up of Holy hands unto him in Faith that they shall receive from him Mal. 21.22 And so waiting with opportunity till they do receive him Luke 11.8,9 so as to know his Power and enjoy his Comfort and Light in their Souls that as uncleanness wrath strife with many other such manifest fruits of the flesh heretofore reigned in them now love joy peace gentleness goodness with many other such like Vertues the manifest fruits of the Spirit may appear in them Gal. 6. for where such things are designed by the Soul so as that all other enjoyments of the world gives no satisfaction to it while this spiritual frame is wanting which it desires of any thing yea above all things that the world can afford and thereupon have diligently sought the Lord for it and now setting to its seal that God is True by believing that he is a Rewarder of them that so seek him where I say spiritual things are thus designed Gods ears are open to hear their Prayers he will be nigh unto them in all conditions Moreover for the growing and flourishing of Faith consider that the Lord sought after you when you sought not after him and said to you when you were in your blood turn turn for why will ye dye Turn at my reproof and I will pour out my Spirit unto you Pro. 1.23 And all this before you saw any beauty or excellency in the Holy Spirit and so had no desire after him and therefore sought not God for him and yet even then God thus magnified the riches of his Grace in the kind tenders thereof to you while such And will he not now much more take care for you and possess you with that which he before tendered unto you even the comfortable presence of his Holy Spirit Since you are now turned unto him and become his servants not seeking the honour of the world as before but his Holy Spirit whereby to do him service for the honour of his Name Will he not much more I say tender such Will he with-hold his good Spirit from such He the Lord the Righteous God that hath said He will with-hold no good thing from such as walk uprightly Psal 84.11 Surely no Hath God begot by his Word of Truth brought to the birth caused the Man-child the New-creature to be born into the world to whom he saith Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Psal 81.10 and may you judge and not desperately sin through unbelief that God will now starve this New-creature of his own begetting and bringing forth that he will with-hold the spiritual Bread which onely will satisfie it and so famish his own adopted Children as starve they must and starve they will if God give not his Holy Spirit unto them No surely no carnal men will not starve but nourish and cherish their Children And will not God who is rich in mercy and delighteth in mercy nourish his Yea how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him as abovesaid Moreover consider that God having promised his Holy Spirit to such as seek him with Faith to receive the same both his Faithfulness and Righteousness is engaged for them that so seek him which the holy and believing man fears not to make mention before the Lord saying with David Hear me O Lord in thy Faithfulness and in thy Righteousness Psal 143.1 Moreover for men highly to esteem Gods Promises and so to magnifie them in their hearts as that all pleading of Flesh World or Devil because of the deadness of body or barrenness of the womb shall be utterly rejected as not worthy to be considered when God hath spoken I say for men thus to esteem Gods Promises there being every whit as much reason for them so to do as to esteem and keep his Commandments is not onely the way leading to their Happiness but also that which mightily gives glory to God Abraham staggered not at the Promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving glory to God Rom. 4.20 These things write I unto you O Friends that henceforth your sences might be much exercised and your minds more and more busied in the consideration of these and such like things that the knowledge which you have of Gods Promises may be a word so planted in your understandings by Faith as that all fleshly staggerings and carnal oppositions may fall down before it and by such endeavours on your part you shal appear to be such who are obedient to the wholsom Counsel of the Apostle who exhorted Timothy to follow after Godliness Righteousness Charity Faith Meekness Patience 1 Tim. 6.11 Who questionless knew how Faith was to be obtained as well as any of those that speak so much of Faith's being the gift
that for men to have long after the practice of Gods Ordinances no other plea nor ground to contend for the same before Adversaries but barely because such Ordinances are spoken of in the Scriptures is that which verily tends to discouragement and Soul-faintings therein yea at length to say with those careless ones of old What profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances Mal. 3.14 When as men hearing the Gospel of Christ which promiseth rest and peace to the Soul through the Remission of sins with the gift of Gods Spirit have thereupon subjected to the Gospel with such a renewed mind as would not be satisfied with hearing of the good things thereof till they were able to say that as they had heard so they have seen that which was promised our Souls have tasted rest and peace we know the fruits of Gods Spirit we experience c. Whenas I say men thus following hard after the Lord have this knowledge of Gods goodness and powerful presence in his Way as a great Argument together with Scripture Arguments to embolden them to contend for the Way and to establish them against all oppositions 'T is common amongst men to look upon themselves discharged from duty of love to such Beggars who after their asking for Almes shall presently turn their backs and mind other matters of trifle more than their reasonable waiting to receive what they have asked for Now may any so much as once think that God will turn his face in love to such who sometimes shall ask of him Spiritual Almes but presently are found as it were turning their backs to the Throne of Grace and not waiting there as if their receiving of Grace were little minded by them which is onely the Christian mans life but rather other things more meer trifles compared to what they have asked for of God their hearts may be running after covetousness as the hearts of Israel were who neverthelesse would be spreading forth their hands before God but they flattered him with their lips and lied before him with their tongues and he regarded them not Psal 78.36 May any I say once think that God will turn his face in love to and not rather withdraw himself far from such as persons greatly unworthy of his benevolence to whom he is no wayes engaged by promise to do any thing for them since they come not up to the terms of his goodness Surely delay to consider these things is very dangerous even nigh to an irrecoverable estate There hath been indeed much contending for this Principle of Laying on of Hands and great pains taken both by speaking and writing for the same and I bear them record that they therein have had zeal for the Truth for so I do and hope ever shall believe it to be but alas their zeal hath not been according to true knowledge if they have not as well yea and much more too in the mean time endeavoured that the great end of this Ordinance might be obtained to wit the sanctification strengthning guidance of their Souls in the Truth of God without which both their subjection to the Doctrine thereof and also their much pleadings for the same would be of no effect But I hope better things at leastwise of many though I thus speak being perswaded that there are such who knowing themselves in a justified Estate through faith in Christ have a clear sight and deep sence of their souls wants as not knowing how to live nor to work in Gods services without the gracious supplies of Gods Spirit which sight and deep sence of want is seen through their great Heaven-born desires to honour God which desires springs from their Souls great love to God which love in them to God-ward is begotten by Gods great love first to them 1 John 4.19 And that these hereupon have a very high esteem of Gods spiritual presence being the true Bread from above which onely will satisfie their Souls born from above valuing it far above the presence of all things whatsoever seeing more worth and excellency therein than in any thing of the world True it is that most Professors confesse and talk of such things but these experienceth the same in their Souls and so their Righteousness exceedeth the Righteousness of those many lifeless and senseless Professors who as much as others talks of these things but knows it not in themselves And that these hereupon do greatly desire the presence of Gods Spirit and so both frequently and fervently are found praying for the same lifting up holy hands to the Lord and being in Davids sence with all earnestness David-like beseech the Lord to make hast for their help and to make no tarrying Psal 40.17 And that these till the Lord doth visit them with the special Graces of his Holy Spirit are found mourning before the Lord and greatly complaining against themselves as being wonderfully short and low in their own apprehensions as to what God requires and which they know is due to his Name Wherefore their souls like David Psal 77.2 refuseth to be comforted with any thing though the very chiefest of this worlds enjoyments they looking upon themselves as such who want all things while the supplies of Grace is wanting And that these during the time that the Lord withholds the visitations of his Grace are not onely continuing in Prayer but walking therein communing with their own hearts and like David in such a case Psal 77. making diligent search fearing least there should be some secret sin for which cause the Lord may forbear to draw nigh to their Souls And that these while in this capacity think it not much but rather delight to spend dayes in the Closet there to humble themselves with Fasting and Prayer before the Lord not as Pharisees do to be seen of men neither as sluggards do because they read that Saints formerly did and now sometimes doth so but purely and zealously are led out thereunto from that vehemency of desires and Soul-affections which they experience in themselves after the more excellent estate for as God hath graciously opened their understandings to know that there is an excellent estate attainable their satisfaction is not in the knowledge thereof nor in the much talk thereabouts nor in the ready Confession that the same is excellent and of a special goodness as is too much the satisfaction of some but rather in living the life thereof even that their Souls may be spiritually framed nnd wonderfully strengthened with might both to the pure doing what is spiritually good and also to the renouncing of the hidden things of dishonesty 2 Cor. 4.2 Now forasmuch as there are such that are found to some considerable degree thus prizing and so following hard after spiritual Blessings that thereby they having so far tasted of the Lords goodnesse as to know themselves in a justified estate from sin by his Grace might now for the time to come bear much fruit to the honour of his
of God who being almost if not altogether silent concerning mens following after Faith have thereby I greatly fear been a means to freeze up the desires of men and wholly to stop their endeavours after Faith which if so I could wish that henceforth they would hearken unto the Apostle who puts men upon following after Faith equally observe it as he puts them to follow after Meekness or Patience c. Which considered may be a means to thaw them out of that benummed and frozen estate even unto due considerations and serious stirrings on their parts in order unto the growth and encrease of Faith And withal be sure that your Prayers and Supplications be not wanting to the Lord that he would be pleased to encrease your Faith and so shall you in due time come to experience the being of Faith in you after special degrees wrought there by the operation of Gods Spirit according to Pauls words to the Galatians Chap. 6.22 while you diligently sought and carefully followed after Faith according to his words to Timothy Chap. 6.11 Together with these things let it not be thought a needless work or besides the business in hand to consider whether Saints are not now in these latter dayes wherein 't is evil as appears by the Apostle to depart from the Faith professed in former Apostolical dayes 1 Tim. 4.1 whether Saints I say are not now to seek for and in Faith to wait whereby to receive the Spirit with the same particular gifts and operations which Saints formerly enjoyed in order to their carrying on the great Work of the Gospel both among themselves and others Since God in his making Promise of pouring out the Spirit upon his People which Promise we in these latter dayes flye unto as the ground of our Faith makes mention also of several gifts of the same Spirit John 2.28,29 And withal considering that the Apostles exhorted the Churches earnestly to covet and follow after the several gifts of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.28,29,30,31 14.1,39 Which exhortations if they reach us and speak to us 〈◊〉 much as any other Scripture-exhortations which for any to deny is hard then Oh then great need have all to pray Lord 〈…〉 Faith But in reference to the fore-mentioned drawing nigh unto God by Faith I suppose that which is a very general hinderance thereof is the great unworthiness that persons find in themselves by reason of sin by means whereof they are as it were afraid to draw near unto God or however if they do 't is very coldly having little or no hopes of acceptance with the Lord and so being not in a justified estate from sin are without Faith in reference to the special Graces of Gods Spirit but among these there are some much more worthy than others who by reason of the strength and subtilty of temptations sometimes as well as others transgress the Laws of God but not as such who overtake sin but rather are overtaken with sin Gal. 6.1 Not allowing themselves therein as their great trouble and Soul-heaviness with daily complaints because thereof plainly declares and yet these for want of a right understanding Gods Way to justifie sinners and his readiness to justifie them alas even these go mourning all the day long rather decaying than flourishing in the Way of God You even you in particular the beloved of my Soul do I hereby exhort First That ye alwayes abide watchful and abundantly careful that ye sin not But Secondly If any man sin that you remember there is an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous who is a propitiation for our sins by whom way is made for you boldly to come to the Throne of Grace that you may find mercy that is to say for all you that having sinned feels the stroke of sin and forgets it not as Sluggards do and so in the sence and godly sorrow for sin in particular attended with holy Resolutions with humble and hearty Confession of the same with fervent desires leading unto earnest Prayer to God for the Remission of the same you forgiving them that have trespassed against you and not onely this for one thing is yet lacking even that you in Faith also commit your selves to his Grace Believing that as he hath in mercy promised so in faithfulness he will perform what he hath promised even the Remission of sins for what things soever ye desire when ye pray saith Christ believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them Mark 11.24 And who then can lay any thing to your charge It is God that justifieth such Who or what is there then that condemneth It is Christ that hath died yea rather that he is risen again who also maketh intercession for you through Faith in his blood Rom 3.25 Thus you being very serious and diligent in your Applications to God laying hold on his Promises of Pardon and Remission of sin by Faith and so standing alwayes justified by Faith quitted and freed from all your sins through Grace have so considered no ground or plea because of your unworthiness being now made worthy in the Beloved the Lord Jesus any longer to mistrust or question the good Will and Pleasure of God in reference to your receiving from him the more special Discoveries and Operations of his Spirit but may now boldly go to the Throne of Grace for the same being such whom God waiteth to be gracious unto you having that Faith which his pleasure is to account unto you for Righteousness This being considered how speedily should every Soul not as a thing by the by but as their greatest work when at any time overtaken with sin to draw nigh unto God and that in the sence of every known sin with godly sorrow for the same not daring to delay heaping up sin like the wantons there being every way as much cause of Repentance and Faith for the latter sins as there was for the many former sins committed in ignorance which though persons are ready to acknowledge yet are I fear too apt to neglect the same upon the account that they have renounced their former wayes and their now being in the Way of God and that Christ is now a Mediator for them and the like not considering that the Soul-satisfying benefit of Christs Media orship is enjoyed according to mens Applications unto the Father by him But O what comfort can a Soul have in any thing or with what boldness shall he walk talk or commit himself to his Bed that having sinned against his God hath not as yee been with him and so by Faith received a Pardon from him True it is that such while they neglect the great Soul-searching work and are tossed up and down with the cumbrances of this life may have an imagined Peace and supposed Comfort and so may go on somewhat cheerfully in their thoughts and thinkings as if all were theirs but alas these though they may talk of Gods Love and Mercy are not able to
subtilty of the evil One of whose devises through grace I am not altogether ignorant I hereby also present before you the experiences of some men as thus Certain men being somewhat troubled about their present conditions and thereupon following after a more excellent estate though possibly not with that care and watchfulness as was meet should be have on a sudden been greatly carryed forth with inward Power and Zeal and wonderful quicknings after some matters of holiness so as scarce able to bear with the least appearance of Pride Covetousness or the like in others without reproof yea scarce content without a leaving their Callings in order to the reproving others who at length while in this state have been secretly informed That the powerful workings within them was Christ come in them the second time to salvation he being a Spirit and not man and so no other coming to be looked for but within and that the Scriptures was not the Rule and that the Ordinances of Christ were ceased being imposed onely till the time of Reformation which time was come and such like But being somewhat fearful of delusions did thereupon give up themselves diligently to pray unto the Lord who at length graciously delivered them from the strong delusion I say the strong delusion for is it not so indeed when an evil spirit shall carry forth persons zealously to some things that is Just Holy and Good though he no lover of Holiness or any Goodness but that being really an Angel of Darkness he may seemingly appear to be an Angel of Light 2 Cor. 11.14 thereby to gain their affections That then having got the affections he may the better drop into their understandings Principles of Errour in matters of Faith with likeliness of acceptance Whereupon dear Brethren as I have here briefly proposed to you the ready and plain Way in order to the Life of godliness without which all profession thereof is little together therewith I hereby also counsel you in the words of John not to believe every spirit for there are many false spirits gone out into the world the one and true Spirit of God being plainly to be known by his guiding and moving the Saints not onely to be Just Holy and Zealous in point of conversation but also to be stedfast in the Principles of Faith yea and as zealously to contend for the same as for any other things as was the Apostles of Christ in whom the true Spirit of Light was as appears by their Writings for that a great part of it consists of matter tending to the instruction and regulation of the Saints concerning their Faith as in reading is observable Wherefore for the removing all doubts and scruples which through the subtilty of the deceived Quaker possibly may arise or already is risen in the hearts of any well-minded people I here next offer a little of that much which might be said touching Principles of Faith the errour whereof is abundantly dangerous First Whereas 't is owned by the Quakers and as to me hath plainly been declared that the Eternal Spirit of Light and Power which dwelt in the Man whom the Jews Crucified is the Christ the Saviour of the world and not the Man that was Crucified that was seen with visible or carnal eyes according to which you may observe the words of Wolrich the Quaker in his Book entituled A Declaration to the Baptists pag. 13. saying That Christ was never seen with any carnal eye nor his voice heard with any carnal ear And in the Book entituled Sauls Errand to Damascus pag. 14. the words of George Fox the elder I suppose 't is said That the flesh of Christ is a figure And Joseph Fuce in his Book entituled The fall of a great visible Idol pag. 14. saith by way of reproof to us these words The Baptists saith he make flesh their Arm and therefore look without to know Christ after the flesh although the Apostle said They were to know him so no more mark thus saith the Lord Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his Arm Jerem. 17.5 as if they were a cursed people that trust in the man Christ Whereas I say this is asserted by them I here offer several grounds from the Holy Scriptures whereby to prove that the Eternal Spirit which dwelt in the Man whom the Jews Crucified which Spirit the Apostles afterwards received in them is not the Christ the Saviour of the world but the visible man to whom the Spirit was given John 3.34 The offering it self no figure but the substance of figures is the Christ of God First Because that the Eternal Spirit never died when nothing is more plain than that Jesus Christ died as appears by a Cloud of Witnesses Secondly Because the Apostles with one consent declare that the Jews Crucified that is fastned to a cross the Lord Jesus the Lord of Glory Act. 2.36 1 Cor. 2.8 and killed the Prince of Life Act. 3.15 Whom they crucified not nor killed if the Eternal Spirit that dwelt in the visible man be the Christ and so the Quakers by this their opinion do as much as in them lyes declare the Holy Apostles to bear false witness to the world concerning Christ but let them be true and every one of these men lyars in the judgements of the Wise But to evade this sometimes they will say whereby to deceive that the Jews did crucifie Christ that was they opposed and resisted the Spirit of Light within them which they call Christ and withal will say whereby to deceive that the Jews did Crucifie a man without I say to deceive because that in their confession of this which seems sometimes to the Hearers to be sufficient they intend not the Truth namely that that visible man whom the Jews crucified without was the Christ as appears by their own words above signed Thirdly Because that not onely the Apostles but also Christ himself by his Institution of those two Ordinances Baptism and the Lords Supper hath plainly declared Gods Way graciously provided for mans Redemption and Justification contrariwise even by a broken blood-shedding dead buried and risen Christ as saith the proper signification of these Ordinances neither of which is either proper or true in relation to the Eternal Spirit who was all may know neither dead nor buried and so not risen again nor broken nor at any time shed blood all which these Ordinances testifie concerning the true Christ and so the Quakers by this their opinion are found also such who in effect do say that these Ordinances of the Lord which once they say were in being were lying Ordinances bearing false witness to the Saints touching the Lord Jesus but to all such as fear the Lord Let them be true and every one of these lyars Fourthly Because not onely the Apostles Christ the Son but also God the Father himself most plainly declared from of old by his Commandement for the killing and slaying those many
in their mindes c. Moreover as 't is said that Christ is in his Saints so likewise 't is said and that more frequently in the Scriptures That the Saints are in Christ and in God as thus Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ unto the Saints and faithfull Brethren in Christ that are at Colosse ch 1. v. 2. Vnto the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Iesus Christ ch 1.1 Unto all the Saints in Christ Iesus which are at Philippi ch 1.1 Unto the Saints and faithfull in Christ which are at Ephesus ch 1.1 Now that the Saints are in Christ after the manner that these men plead for Christs being in the Saints judge ye that fear the Lord and serve him with uprightness of heart remembring that he is the true Christ who was dead but is alive for evermore a Mediator betwixt God and Men the man Christ Iesus Moreover hear what the Lord Christ saith as a most clear resolve to this case as thus John 17.21,23 Thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us I in them and Thou in me that they may be made perfect in one compared with these his words John 15.10 If ye keep my Commandements ye shall abide in my love as I have kept my Fathers Commandements and abide in his love Most clearly shewing that Christs being in the Father is meant in the Fathers love as himself witnesseth and so the Fathers being in the Son is meant in the Sons love so likewise our being in the Eather and in the Son is meant in their love So even so Christs dwelling in the Saints is meant his dwelling in their love in their affections as hath been said Now whereas the Son was in the Fathers love there was given unto the Son from the Father the Holy Spitit without measure working in him whereby he did the works that no man ever did to the glory of the Father So in like manner the Saints being in Christ in his love and affections there is also given to the Saints through Christ the Holy Spirit in measure working in them whereby the deeds of the body are to be mortified Rom. 8.13 and the fruits of Righteousness brought forth to the Glory and Praise of God by Jesus Christ Obj. From these words of Christ John 14.16,17 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you From these words I say 't is conceived and declared by the Quakers that Christ that was then with the Disciples should afterwards be in them c. Answ He that hath an ear to hear may easily understand that he who is said to be with the Disciples and should afterwards be in them was not the Christ but another Comforter whom the Christ would pray to the Father for even the Spirit of Truth whom the world could not receive because they saw him not nor knew him to be the Spirit of Truth from God though through him was done such works as no man ever did yea they were ready to say that he had a Devil in him but the Disciples knew him to be the Spirit of Truth and acknowleged the mighty works to be done through the Spirit of God in him therefore saith Christ Ye know him for he the Spirit of truth another Comforter dwelleth with you that is the Spirit being in Christ and so with the Disciples for he was not then given to them as he was afterwards Joh. 7.37 and shall be in you that is the Spirit of Truth another Comforter which when Christ was exalted having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit he made good to his Disciples by sending his Holy Spirit in them which before was with them being in Christ that was with them These men say Christ is come in them the second time and they look not for any other and withall have good words and fair speeches crying Grace grace Light light But let all assuredly know that they themselves are not in the True Light nor Grace of God that brings Salvation wherein the Saints of old walked for they thereby were taught to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to look for the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ Tit. 2.11,12,13 But saith Humphrey Smith Christ is come and we look not for any other another voice from another Spirit Moreover the Quaker utterly denyes as most men I suppose knows the Holy Scriptures to be a Rule whereunto Humphry Smith in his Book intitlued A true and everlasting Rule pa. 29. in the face of men and Devils affirmeth That there is no other Rule Wayes Means or Name by which man shall ever come to walk with God but by that which is manifest of God in him which say they is sufficient to guide in all the wayes of God without Scripture or any other outward means Answ The time was and that not long since in our Nation when it was no lesse then ridiculous and a matter of contempt for men and women to go to the publick Place of their Worship with the Bible under their Armes whereby to search whether those things they heard were so or no such and so great was the Romish cloud of darkness then spread over the faces of the multitude they being informed by their blind Guides that Ignorance was the Mother of Devotion But Satans device 〈◊〉 discovered in this and the Scriptures very generally searched into he hath now found out another way whereby to produce a low esteem to the Holy Scriptures even by his manifold endeavours to perswade people that there is a Light placed in them which is to be their Rule and is sufficient without the Scriptures or any other outward means to guide them in all the wayes of God which being believed unavoidably leads people to have a low and slender esteem of the Scriptures and by this means it is become again a very rare thing to see among these people called Quakers when they are assembled together the Book of the Holy Scriptures diligently searched whether those things spoken be agreeable thereunto yea or nay and thus the Ministers of these people are hereby put into a capacity greatly to deceive their Hearers while in their preaching up their manifold Errours they make use of with their own some Scripture Expressions also seemingly favouring their Opinions but not really as to instance Say they in their Doctrine Ordinances to wit Baptism in water and the Lords Supper are now ceased for Christ hath blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us and nailed them to his Cross Col. 2.14 which being heard by the People they remember well that they have read such kind of words and for the tryal thereof they according as they have been taught begin to look within