directly contrary to David's Testimony in the Psalm cited See now where the Contradiction is evidently placed by us 'T is between W. Haworth and the Prophet David and not between the Apostle Paul and David Another of William Haworth's Forgeries is that William Bates saith He is ONLY SORRY for his Weakness and Over-sight in giving him any such Answer We told him he addeth Only Sorry and makes himself work on this Lye To come off with an Excuse here he tells us The word ONLY the Printer should have put into another Character As if another Character would make that true which is an apparent Lye as in his saying That William Bates in his Retractation saith he is only sorry c. for 't was none of his saying nor sense of all he says in his Retractation and neither consist in the Emphasis which a different Character may shew And William Haworth does not at all amend his matter by saying that William Bates mentions not any more that he is sorry for but that he gave him such an Answer If for nothing else for that only Here he makes his own implicite Consequence to prove that William Bates said that in his Retractation which he did not say viz. that he is ONLY SORRY c. which words are not there William Haworth is a Forger in this and many more things against us then as yet we divulged Besides William Bates did not only acknowledge his Weakness in giving any such Answer as is cited in his Retractation but also clears the People called Quakers from teaching or holding any such thing to his Knowledge and likewise from William Haworth's Reproaching them on that Occasion as being No Christians but Seducers c. which with many more False Aspersions he has cast upon us Subscribed on the Behalf of Truth our selves and the rest of our Friends concerned Hertford 3d mon. 1678. Henry Stout Henry Sweeting Richard Thomas Richard Martin Edward Plumsted The Publication of this has been occasionally delayed for 't was writ not long after our Adversary's Answer came out A Postscript in Answer to William Haworth 's QVESTIONS SInce that William Haworth hath been far louder in his Charge against us then in his Proofs either from the Dispute at Barbican London which in his Antidote he unjustly quoted or from any of our Writings since pretended by him for Proof viz. That we deny the Manhood of Christ and Jesus of Nazareth to be the Christ But on the contrary to discover his shortness and failure of proof he is fain after all to Query us and put Questions to sift us further p. 8. for matter against us However wee 'l adventure a brief and plain Answer Question I do but query what is become of that Flesh wherein he i. Christ was manifested is that Flesh now in being and if so where is it in every place or circumscribed in Heaven Answer That Flesh saw no Corruption but was raised from the Dead Acts 2. 31. Christ did rise in that Body wherein he suffered and in the same ascended into the Heavens where the Patriarch David did not as to his Bâ—dy which was in the Sepulchre Acts 2. 29 to ver 36. And that very Body of Christ which was rais'd from the dead or that flesh which saw no Corruption how should it but be in being ‖ In our Testimony for the Man Christ pag. 7. we plainly told him our Belief viz. That the Man Christ did neither vanish nor perish in any thing essential to him either as to his Soul Spirit or Body that is in that Spiritual Sense we have given seeing he dyed not again according to Rom. 6. 9 Knowing Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more Death hath no more dominion over him his dying was only as to the Body he was put to death as concerning the Flesh therefore the Flesh was raised from the dead Circumscribed It is so far circumscribed or encompassed in the Heavens as 't is capable of and as is proper to it and though it be spiritual and glorious yet a Body therefore not in every place where God is And as he has told us It is not limited or confined to any one place or corner as it were of Heaven To be Omnipresent is only proper to God and not to Bodies Q. How do they but deny the Manhood of Christ that say the Body of Jesus is changed as to Substance and his Soul is in every Saint Answ 1st They do not deny the Manhood of Christ that say his Body is so changed as to the quality and glory of it that it is a spiritual heavenly and glorious Body in a higher state then when on Earth under Sufferings this is no annihilating of the Body 2dly That his Soul doth powerfully extend to and is in every Saint in some sense and degree this must needs be if it act together in union with the Deity in perfecting all good in us as our Adversary has coufessed as also that it is virtually in the Saints Though we grant that it is in more fulness in himself then in us yet of his fulness we have all received Q. They own they say the real Birth Suffering and Resurrection of Christ but do they own bis Intercession in his Manhood as an High Priest in Heaven Answ Yes we do He is entred into Heaven it self to appear in the Face of God for us yet not wholely exclusively out of the Saints For this High Priest who is set on the Right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens is a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which is with men even with such whose Minister Leader Christ is And God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our Hearts crying Abba Father The Spirit makes intercession with Sighs and Groans c. W. H. So that as man he is not materially here on Earth Answ An impertinent and fallacious Addition if he own him not as man in any sense on Earth For doth not this imply that as Man he is immaterially on earth If by materially he means he is not corporally on earth as in the dayes of his Flesh we grant it But then we may not deny his being on Earth Spiritually and virtually as Man he being the spiritual and heavenly Man the Lord FROM Heaven and a quickening Spirit Else how are any on Earth quickened by him And how did he walk in the midst of the seven Golden Candle-sticks which were the seven Churches Rev 1. W. H. These are Scripture words Acts 3. 21. Whom the Heaven must receive or contein the reading will bear it until the time of the restitution of all things Is not that whom the Man Christ His Deity cannot be conteined any where Answ 1st Whom the Heaven must receive or take it is not contein nor retein and sometimes Heaven in the New Testament-Scriptures is put for God himself 2. It is times in the plural viz. whom Heaven chiefly
Law-giver Judge and King pag. 32. Christ Jesus God's Righteousness pag. 36. and his Son pag. 37 to the same Spirit which raised Jesus from the Dead all as they are baptized therein grow into one God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ pag. 47. Follow Christ pag. 50. Suffer the loss of all to witness Christ pag. 51. God the Father hath given his Son for a Leader and Guide p. 52. Now Israel of them was Christ to be born was made of a Woman under the Law pag. 68. God the Father revealed and his Power and God head in his Son Jesus Christ which in him dwells c. pag. 70. Thus far James Naylor Obs Now see how contrary these serious Confessions of the Honour Power and Glory of Jesus Christ and his being the Son of God c. are to what William Haworth and William Craven have accused him and how unlikely their Accusation is and how it favours of a Lye and Forgery or a gross Mistake at least against J. N. Also in his Vindication and Answer upon his Examination at the Sessions at Appleby in the 11th moneth 1652. in the Book entituled Saul's Errand pag. 25. Christ is not divided if he be he is no more Christ I witness that Christ who is God and Man c. seperate God and Man and he is no more Christ pag. 31. I own no other Christ but he who witnessed a good Confession before Pontius Pilate pag. 32. This may sufficiently detect W. H. and his Reproachful Calumnies against J. N. and us about Jesus Christ His Allegation for his saying That these are the Quakers Doctrines viz. That it was the Devil that suffered without the Gates and that Mary was a Whore and Christ a Bastard runs thus viz. 'T is enough for me to call those things of a Religious Concern which any Quaker writes or asserts in discourse Doctrines while they all pretend alwayes to be guided by one infallible Teacher the Light Within p. 3. 1st That any Quaker hath writ or asserted such Doctrine we find not but the contrary as before hinted and look on 't as meer Malice and Baseness so to accuse them 2. Set Case any one had so writ or asserted it follows not that the whole People are chargeable therewith as the Quakers Doctrines without exception that 's no good Consequence nor natural inference from their all pretending to be guided by the same infallible Teacher the Light within See what a rare Logician this man is Either the Light within must be chargeable with such Doctrine against Christ and Mary as before or else all the Professors of it because some pretending to it have if he sayes true so discoursed What gross Fallacy and false Logick is this Whereas such an Absurdity was never the Assertion of the People called Quakers viz. that either every one pretending to be guided by the Light Within on distinguish't by the Name Quaker is therefore guided by the same Light in all Discourses or so to be owned by the said People Therefore his general Inference is silly and groundless as well as unjust and Fallacious Would the Independent Congregations be thus argu'd against as to be thus universally charged with all the Private Opinions or Discourses of every Independent because they all pretend the holy Scriptures to be the Rule as well as the Quakers do the Light of Christ within Let them answer this Question and see if the Reason will hold Are they all willing thus to be concluded If so then 1st These which are some of William Haworth's Doctrines may be charged on all the Independents viz. That God the Father poured out all his Wrath upon his Son Jesus Christ 2. And his Brother Powell's Doctrine viz. That Jesus Christ was the Greatest Sinner in the World vindicated by William Haworth 3. And his asserting That Paul when a Christian counted his spiritual Obedience Loss and Dung for Christ and that this is very good sound blessed and comfortable Doctrine received by Millions of Saints in Heaven and Earth c. 4. And that our own Righteousness which the Apostle calls his own in Phil. 3. 9. consists in those Gifts and Vertues that the Spirit of God works in our Minds and we express those outwardly c. Thus far W. H. Now who and how many of the Independent Teachers besides William Haworth will own and subscribe these Doctrines as Orthodox leâ— them plainly answer us If they are not generally owned by them would they take it well to tell the World these are the Independents Doctrines which are so evidently impious against Jesus Christ against the Gifts and Vertues of God's holy Spirit and spiritual Obedience among Christians â—ut besides his fallacious Attempts to fasten these fore-cited Doctrines upon the Quakers concerning the Virgin Mary and Christ like a hardned wilful Person having a Conscience seared He persists in his general Accusations and Slanders upon Reports against that solemn Attestation that we have given to the contrary in answer to those things before which he has asserted to be the Quakers Doctrines where we have said viz. To all which in the Sight and Presence of the holy God we answer We are certain that 't is an abominable Slander in that General Charge upon the Quakers and he hath most infamously abused us in this matter in saying These are the Quakers Doctrines which we testifie against as so gross and abominable that nothing like them hath entred into our Hearts ever to imagine Much less to preach for Doctrine as That it was the Devil that suffered without the Gates and that Mary was a Whore and Christ a Bastard And yet he tells the World These are the Quakers Doctrines What abominable Wickedness is this thus to make infamous a People who abhor such Blasphemy pag. 2. of our sheet Independent Agent It appears that this Independent Preacher had not the Modesty to tell the World that such and such things are reported of some among the Quakers but such lying Reports as he has against us he both espouseth and asserts them positively as These are the Quakers Doctrines their Blasphemies not these are reported to have been discoursed by some among them Thus the man's Out-rage Malice and Revenge exceeds all Bounds of common Reason Civility or Humanity as if he were mad against us and envyed not only our being at Hertford wishing that our Nest at Hertford were broke up as his words are but even our Prosperity and Being as a People upon Earth as deserving to be stoned to Death by the Righteous Law of God if it were in force pag. 3. But 't is much if he and his Accomplices and Abettors be not made ashamed of his Malice and Out-rage ere we have done with him if he will not study Quietness among his Neighbours not doubting but God who is with us will rebuke his Baseness and Malice against us who having falsly accused us from malicious and false Reports of others Suspitions and Jealousies
of his own proceeds thus viz. W. Haworth My Thoughts are That the Quakers no more believe Christ to be a real Man in Heaven then I believe there is a Man in the Moon pag. 4. Reply No wonder he should harbour Evil and Unbelieving Thoughts of us and what we have confessed to Christ's real and most glorious Manhood in the Heavens since he is so apt to believe assert and spread lying Reports and Slanders against us for Truths if it were possible to destroy us from off the Face of the Earth Such as are given up to believe and assert Lyes will disbelieve and oppose the Truth He would have us appear bad and therefore hee 'l believe no good of us But why thinks he the Quakers do not believe Christ to be a real Man His main and frequent Reason is he saith We say that the Soul of Christ is in every Saint and that his Body is changed as to substance pag. 5 and 7. of his Sheet For the first he quotes the 6th page of our Testimony where we confess Christ's Spiritual Presence with his Saints which he dares not deny he having confessed Christ's Soul to be his Spirit from Luke 23. 46. in his Antidote and we have opposed his arguing against the extent of Christ's Soul or Spirit to the Saints on Earth seeing he is both God and Man his Soul or Spirit even as Man as Mediator virtually and effectually through his divine Power and Authority extends and reaches to the Saints on Earth and at length he is made to grant that the Man Christ is virtually present on Earth in his Book Jes of Naz. p. 20. l. 7. But how can this be that Christ's Soul should be in the Saints on Earth for then says he 't is immense and turned into a New God pag. 5. of his Answer Whereas it is virtually in the Saints through the Divine Power of the Father being both God and Man without destroying annihilating or confounding the Properties of the Manhood with the Deity or leaving his Body dead in Heaven as has been most vainly argu'd by this Independent for does the Virtue of the Vine in the Branches and Fruit leave the Vine or Root empty and dead because it extends to every Branch Besides his own Confession viz. That the Deity perfects all good IN US but then the Humanity is in union with it and ACTS with it and they must not be put assunder and that the Deity acts in it and through it as an Organ or Instrument What 's more plain then that the Deity Manhood of Christ do act together in Union in perfecting all good in us Does not then the Soul of Christ extend to the Saints on Earth When will this Adversary see how he is self-condemned and confuted For do the Deity and Manhood of Christ together act and perfect all Good IN US and yet his Soul have no place in us nor so much as extend to us And what though the Manhood does not extend so far as the Deity which is infinite is it a good Inference that therefore it cannot extend to Saints or Men on Earth Are they so infinitely remote from the Man Christ Jesus their Head But his Inferences and Arguing against us in this matter is like his concluding that we deny the Manhood of Christ from our confessing to the Change Spirituality and Glory of his Body and the powerful extent of his Soul and spiritual Presence to and in the Saints on Earth which does not at all lessen the substantial Dignity but exalt it so that instead of denying or dissannulling the Man Christ Jesus we magnifie him more then William Haworth allows of that is the ☞ Case One great Exception that lies heavy upon our Adversary William Haworth's Argument and which he gets not off nor answers is his confessing Satan to be an Angel yet but a Creature and notwithstanding that he is here on Earth to tempt the Saints because he is not yet bound in Hell pag. 36. of his Jesus of Nazareth So that still he allows Satan more Power to tempt the Saints though in many places at once far distant then the Man Christ to relieve them though he be their Mediator and Head and is touched with the feeling of their Infirmities and succours them that are tempted and has promised to be with his Disciples to the end of the World But says William Haworth It is the Will of God that Satan should yet be here on Earth to tempt the Saints he is not yet bound up in Hell What then is it the Will of God that the heavenly MAN Christ Jesus who is the Son of God should remain bound in Heaven so as not to visit and relieve his Saints or Members on Earth nor his Soul or Spirit so much as extend to them Has Satan more Liberty and Priviledge given him of God then his dear Son Christ Jesus has Oh miserable and uncomfortable Doctrine To his arguing That the Soul of Christ cannot be in Millions Myriads of places no not in two places at once for then it would be immense turned into a New God c. He has argued better for Satan then thus Is Satan immense then He has placed Satan's Liberty to tempt the Saints on Earth and limiting Christ to Heaven the mean while upon the Will of God Jes Naz. pag. 36. so that his Plea of Christ's Soul or Manhood not being God or immense is now removed as no Argument either to prove it in no wise IN the Saints or not extending to them on Earth seeing Satan himself reacheth to many places at once and Christ Jesus is above and greater then he And sure the Will of God is more eminently concerned in Christ the Mediator for the Good of Mankind and the Consolation of the Saints in their Tryals then in Satan's tempting them And seeing we have alwayes believed and confessed the Immortality and intire Beings of the Souls of all other Men it must needs be evidently unjust to accuse us with denying the Manhood of Christ or Jesus of Nazareth to have a Being both as to his Soul and Body as this Adversary has frequently insinuated And as for Christ's Body being changed as to substance which he often infers upon us from our arguing against his asserting Christ's Body in Heaven to be a Natural Body of an Earthly Substance The Terms Natural and Earthly as given to the Glorious Body of Christ were and are offensive to us as well as contrary to his own confessing that it is such a Glorious Body that it is more bright then a Thousand Suns So that then it must needs be a very glorious heavenly Body which sure is not the same with Earthly neither is Natural and Spiritual both one quality And we believing such a Change in the Body of Christ we do not thereby nor ever did conclude that the Body of Christ which suffered was annihilated and that his Flesh saw Corruption No such matter May there