another false and feigned Iesus Answer A blasphemous Aspersion See our Testimony pag. 7 8 9. which is unto the same Christ Jesus that was miraculously conceived by the holy Ghost overshadowing the Virgin Mary that was crucified and put to Death as concerning the Flesh buryed rose again ascended c. that we have alwayes believed and owned the Man Christ Jesus according to the plain History of him in the holy Scripture as well as in the Mystery Where 's now the false and feigned Jesus If W. H. will not believe our Confession herein to be Real but Quibling we may not swear to it nor shall we need an Asseveration to clear us but leave him to God to deal withal for his Abuse Instead of proving That the Quakers denyed the same Numerical True and Real Manhood of Iesus Christ in Heaven c. at their Dispute with the Baptists at Barbican London which he instanced for proof thereof as one main Ground of this Charge he is now fain to pull back his Horns as to that Proof being so evidently disproved by our Citation of that Passage at the said Dispute viz. W. P's Confessing in the Name Person of the Quakers That we do believe the Man Christ Jesus to be glorified in Heaven We do believe the Holy Manhood to be in Heavenly Glory c. This evidently making against W. H's Asperâ—â—on he is fain to tell his Reader instead of proof from that Dispute That some that are not acquainted with their Way of speaking may think this sufficient calling this a brave Sound of Words but others that have been used to them cannot till W. Penn describes what he means by the Man Christ Jesus and what by the Manhood p. 6. See here instead of proving his Charge from the Dispute quoted by himself for it he is now to seek W. Penn's Meaning when it concerns Matter of Fact Oh silly Adversary His Instance of G. F's telling of Christ in the Male and in the Female and that Christ's Nature is not Earthly or in that Sense humane proves not that the Quakers deny the Man Christ Jesus to have ascended into Heaven any more then that the Apostles did so in confessing to Jesus Christ in them their HAVING the Son of God and Life in him the Spirit of Christ in them and because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father And the Apostle plainly distinguished between the first Man Adam that was made a living Soul and the last Adam that was made a quickening Spirit the first Man being of the Earth earthly the second MAN the Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15. 45 47. Let our Caviling Opposer fight with plain Scripture if he will if he still believes Christ's Manhood or Nature to be of an Earthly Substance i. e. as that of the first Adam 's p 7. He may keep his Faith to himself and take his Unscriptural Expressions back again or endeavour to reconcile himself to the Scripture-Language The second MAN is the Lord from Heaven c. Is not here a Heavenly Manhood opposed to the Earthly For if Man was Created in the Image of God so as Man is called the Image and Glory of God 1 Cor. 11. 7. And the second man who is Lord from Heaven the Image of the invisible God Col. 1. 15. The BRIGHTNESS of his Father's Glory the EXPRESS Image of his Substance Heb. 1. 3. Doth this Manhood or Image consist of man's Corporal earthly shape or figure Nay Is not here a Manhood of a higher Nature Image and Glory then that of the earthly Natural Body shape or form of it Which doth not at all deny Man that Body or Form that God hath at his own pleasure alotted for him and is proper to his Condition But the sum of our Confâ—ssion that we believe the man Christ to be glorified in Heaven c. he saith is this viz. That the Light within being heaâ—kened to and obeyed is lifted up and exalted and glorified in the heart of man and that nothing is more obvious in our Discourses with them then that Heaven is within them p. 7. When they say the same Man ascended into Heaven they mean nothing but that Globe which we call the Earth p. 8. Rep. Oh Disingenuous Man when thou canst get nothing against us as Matter of Fact from our plain Confession thou wilt forge Meanings for us as when we have plainly told thee as thou thy self hast cited viz. That the same MAN CHRIST that suffered and was put to Death in the Flesh and was raised from the dead by the mighty Power of God ascended into Heaven ascended both as to change of Place and State of Glory Thou makest our Meaning to be nothing but that Globe which we call the Earth as if by Christ's local and visible Ascension from the Earth which was a signal Evidence of his being the very Christ the Son of the Living God we meant his Descension into the Globe of the Earth Oh! gross Perversion We could not have more plainly and historically signified our Meaning then we did from these Scriptures Luk. 24. 50 51. Act. 1. 9 10. yet still withal confessing Christ's SPIRITUAL PRESENCE in the Hearts of his People who are quickened and saved by him the Mystery of Christ in Spirit no wayes opposes the History of Christ in the Flesh mark that unto which our Confession before is so plain that W. H. addeth to it viz. Is not here a full and plain Confession Would not you take the Hartford Quakers more orthodox then others of them p. 7. Whereas the Quakers have neither been taught nor confest the contrary whatever he would insinuate against them to the contrary W. H. addeth They have altogether lost their Credit and Reputation with many as in this matter in that we have so frequently caught them jugling ‖ Gross Slanders equivocating quibling cogging the Dice that we can no more trust them p. 8. Answ They are not out of Credit and Reputation with any but such prejudiced envious perverse and partial men as thou art who slanderest us in saying We have so frequently caught them jugling c. We have caught thee in Forgery Lyes and Confusion who beliest us in saying We unsay what we have said as to Christ's Ascertion and Exaltation into Heaven and Glory as before By our saying that it was not that he might remain separate from his Body which he is Head of for was Christ's Ascention or being taken up into Heaven from his Disciples that he might remain separate from them as to his spiritual presence when he said I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you John â—4 2. ver 18. which thou confessest speaks of HIS comiâ—g in the Power of the Spirit to their Hearts to comfort them in the Evil Dayes wherein they should be cast p. 13. his coming whose coming The same Christ's that went away Is this to unsay or deny his
sent for such a Work as that of Restitution as also how far the Phrase Heavens and Heavenly Places according to Scripture extends Whereas to our saying The Apostles had Signs and Evidences of Christ's Coming who by HIM wrought Miracles Act 4. 10. i. e. saith he The Miracles were Signs of his Personal Coming since his Ascention p. 14. Personal Coming are none of our words but this Man 's own Meaning on ours therefore his Risum teneatis amici with all his scornful Stuff toucheth not us It was Christ's Spiritual Presence and Power that we pleaded in those Miracles And he is fain to grant that Miracles wrought by the Apostles were only Signs of the Coming of Christ in Power and Spirit P. 14. Well then CHRIST came again in Power and Spirit after his Ascention yes and on that Scripture Jo. 3. 13. he confesseth CHRIST was spiritually in Heaven with his Saints when on Earth and is spiritually on Earth with them now he is in Heaven p. 13. Is CHRIST so Why then does this Man cavil against us The Reader knoweth saith he what we mean by the spiritual Presence of CHRIST with his Saints He means That God whose Presence is immense and infinite filling Heaven and Earth is with his Saints not really Christ Jesus in Spirit as Man though he be the second Man the Lord from Heaven the last Adam and made a QUICKNING Spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45 47. But is Christ divided Is he not God and Man in Union And to our Citations on Acts 3. 11 16. and chap. 4. 10. By the Name of Jesus of Nazareth whom ye crucified whom God raised from the Dead EVEN BY HIM doth this Man stand before you whole and vers 30. That Signs and Wonders may be done by the Name of thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed And Act. 2. 32. Having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost HE hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Well 't is granted that these Miracles were only Signs of the Coming of Christ in Power and Spirit wherein he was spiritually on Earth If he still sayes This only concerned the Deity or Omnipresence of God the Father and not the spiritual Presence of the man Christ nor his spiritual Manhood This were to tell us that Peter and the Apostles only went about to convince people of an infinite Deity and that his infinite Presence was with them without respect to the Presence and Work of Christ as a Son or Mediator with them when they endeavoured to promote the Name of Jesus Christ who was crucified and said Even by HIM doth this man stand before you whole and prayed that Signs and Wonders might be done by the Name of the holy Child Jesus Which was that through him the Power of God and Christianity in the Life and Power of it might be promoted and spread For by HIS MEANS we believe in God that raised him from the dead and gave him Glory that our Faith and hope might 1 Pet. 1. 21. be in God And seeing thou W. H. confessest in Joh. 14. 18. I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you That this Scripture speaks of his Coming in the Power of his Spirit to their hearts to comfort them in the Evil Dayes wherein they should be cast p. 13. And yet As for his Deity it is infinite and can in no wise be said that the Heaven received it p. 9. God is immense as to his Presence he is every where with his Saints alwayes c. Antid p. 5. From hence we may then answer thee Argumentum ad hominem or according to thy own Reasoning It cannot be said that Christ meerly as to his Deity did come again unto them any more then in that respect he ascended or went from them his Deity being infinite filling all places therefore his Coming again surely must in some sense have respect to his heavenly and blessed Manhood by virtue of the divine Power of his Father wherewith he was wonderfully endued and exalted Eph. 1. 21. But still to our Opposers circumscribing the Man Christ Jesus the Mediator as to his whole Manhood both in Soul and Spirit as well as Body to some remote place in Heaven from his Members on Earth and deriding at us for confessing to his spiritual presence in and with them We desire the Reader to observe one passage wherein he has overturned his Work given away his Cause and plainly hedged up his own way and that is in p. 28. of his Anim. viz. We confess again that the Deity Anim. p. 28. ☞ PERFECTS all good IN US and for us but then the Humanity is in Vnion with it and acts with it and they must not be put assunder How now W. H. What hast thou been contending against us for for confessing something of Christ in us as Man as well as God and for the Doctrine of Perfection And yet hast here plainly confest to both that the Deity PERFECTS all good IN US and for us And that the Humanity which is the manhood is in Vnion and ACTS with it and they must not be put assunder what can be more plain And hast thou not confest The manhood with the Deity is but one Christ one Mediator and both spoken of in that place p. 19. John 6. 53. And that the Flesh of Christ which thou callest this Human Nature giveth Life to our Souls in quickening of us to Righteousness Antid p. 7. Thou hast said enough stop thy Mouth and Pen and Cavil no longer with us in this matter thou hast fairly given away thy cause and contest do the Saints now partake of any thing of Christ below the Divine being it self what sayest now doth not the Deity and the holy manhood work together in perfecting all good in us Thou hast now fully answered thy self and Scrible as much as thou wilt thou canst never get over it And what sayest thou to these Scriptures where God said to his Son It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my SERVANT to raise up the Tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel I will also GIVE thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my Salvation unto the ends of the Earth Isa 49. 6 8. Acts 13. 47. And said Christ No man cometh unto the Father but BY ME John 14. 6. And said the Apostle Ye turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his SON FROM HEAVEN whom he raised from the Dead even Jesus c. 1 Thes 1. 9 10. Looking for that blessâ—d Hope and Glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us Titus 2. 13. The God of pâ—ace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant make you PERFECT in every good Work to do his will working IN YOU that which is
Nature and Humanity of the same Mind the same Meekness Gentleness Humility Kindness Fear of the Lord Obedience c. that was in him Else how can any be true Christians If W. H. answers viz. I grant that Christ is present with and in his Saints by his Spirit that I mean the Holy Ghost who is God and infinite and can be and is in * See Antid pag. 13. all the Saints both that are in Heaven on Earth at once not the Spirit of the manhood an essential part that is a finite Creature ‖ He confessâ—th that the Consideration of the Manhood of Christ in Heaven doth give Boldness Access in Prayer God hath rendred himself much more familiar to us this Way We are very apt to be swallowed up with the abstracted Thoughts of the Deity But does this Man pray to and worship Christ as a finite Creature that has not Power to extend his Spirit to him No but as in Vnion with the Deity then we hope as in that Union he has Power to minister of his own Life and Virtue to all that believe in his Name However he grants that as God Christ is in all his Saints in Heaven and Earth Well shew us the Father and it sufficeth us To which Christ answered He that seeth me seeth my Father also John 14. Therefore the true Knowledge and Sight of God is through his Son as his words are page 10. Now Christ as God is immense as to his Presence he is every where and as to his Saints he is with them always and in them by his Spirit Antid pag. 5. Rep. Now you have his Opinion how Jesus Christ is in and with his Saints that is That the immense infinite God is in and with them But is nothing essential to the Heavenly Man Christ Jesus the Son of God as such extended to them See but what a Labyrinth the Man runs into through his deviating from plain Scripture-Language dividing Christ the Head from his Body to such a vast distance as he knows not the Omnipresence of an infinite God who questions But how does he own his SONSHIP or Manifestation Operation or Dispensation of the SON of God as such or as Mediator between God and Men or the Kingdom of the Mediator And when Christ said All Power in Heaven and Earth is given unto me Lo I am with you alway is this only as an infinite God Who then gave him this Power And who gave the Son Power over all Flesh or impower him to give Eternal Life Did God give it to himself Did not the Son say My Father is greater then I But if as a Son he be wholely excluded and separate from the Saints on Earth how said he If any man love me I and my Father will come unto him and make our Abode with him And if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father Gal. â— Is there nothing of the heavenly and holy Manhood in this Spirit of the Son but only the meer infinite Deity it self or does it then mediate intercede or cry Abba Father to it self without Respect to any lower State or Dispensation as a Son as the Way and Means to come to God or to Christ Jesus as the eminent Instrument and Workman of God as Mediator The Gospel we have received we had it in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost who are inseparable and not divided either in Heaven or in Earth We have nakedly confessed Jesus Christ the Son of God as having all Power in Heaven and Earth to be both God and Man he is that Immanuel God with us And hath not he Power as such to breathe upon and inspire his Saints and to give Light and Life to Mankind without any lessening or limitation to his own Being as Jesus Christ the Son of God It is the Spirit of the Son wherein we receive of his Life Vertue and Power and its only in and through the Mediator that Man is capable of receiving the Knowledge of God For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. Whose Knowledge and In dwelling we have in measure received according to the Measure of the Gift of Christ whereby we feel him to dwell in our Hearts by Faith as truly as we know that God dwelleth in us and we in him because he hath given us of his Spirit Jesus Christ received the Spirit without Measure we by Measure Moreover is not all the Graces and Operations thereof in us and spiritual Good we receive from God to our Souls said to be through Jesus Christ a Phrase frequently used in Scripture who said also Without me ye can do nothing And how is Christ Jesus the Way to the Father given for a Covenant and Leader to his People and for Salvation to the Ends of the Earth if not at all upon Earth and why did he say No man cometh unto the Father but by me Was this considered only as God without any Condescension as a Son or Mediator below the meer Deity were not this to confound the Order and Manner of the holy Ghost's plain and distinguishing Testimonies in Scripture relating to the Dispensation of Christ Another Instance we have to prove the Blessed and Heavenly man Christ Jesus not now upon Earth in or with his Members with respect to HIS Spirit or spiritual Presence and that is Act. 3. 21. Whom the Heavens must receive till the Times of Restitution of all things ‖ Which God had spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the World began These words he leaves out If quoth W. H. they would mind this one Scripture it would put an End to all their Cavils which Times let them dare to say are already come pag. 9. Answ Dare he say that these Times of Restitution of all things spoken by the holy Prophets are not begun in these Gospel-Times wherein Christ's spiritual Appearance Dispensation and Revelation is made known what 's the Restitution and the Times of it Is it not a Restauration gathering and making up the Church of Jews and Gentiles into the spiritual Fellowship and Faith of the Son of God who therein are the Seed of Abraham whom God promised to bless in sending Jesus to turn away every one from his Iniquities see Acts 3. 20. to the end And are not those Times of Restitution Gospel Times New-Covenant Times Let it be considered according to Scripture how far the Times of Restitution of ALL things spoken by the Holy Prophets extend and what that Restitution is and it will appear Whether those Times and that Restitution are not begun and whether or no its now a Time to perswade People that Christ Jesus is not
Ascention or being in Heaven W. H. thou art quite out Again that Change that we believe Christ Jesus to have had into a State of Glory which as the Son he had with the Father before the World began doth not at all deny Jesus of Nazareth to be the Messiah as most unjustly thou hast accused us both in thy Antidote and Animadversions p. 6. for it was the same Jesus that so prayed Father glorifie thy Son glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was John 17. 1. 5. yet it is a plain falshood to say that We suppose that the manhood as thou calls it that was taken of the Virgin is turned into an Immeâ—se iâ—finite being a Deity It was never our Supposition p. 6. that the meer â—lesh Blood that the Son took of the Virgin which was part of the same the Câ—ildren had became a Dâ—ity an Immense infinite being when thou wantest proof for thy Slanders against us thou must needs Invent and Forge suppositions meanings and absurd Consequences for us Oh! perverse Man is this to support thy Credit and Trade among thy Hearers to say we do suppâ—se that which never entred into our Hearts W. H. His Soul was in the Saints We may dispare at this rate ever by words to understand one another here 's Babel p. 8. Answ In Babel thou art who accusest and revilest us and drawest thy absurd Meanings upon us without understanding us shewing thy ignorant Confidence Of the Soul or Spirit of Christ we shall speak anon Against our saying He Christ had all Power in Heaven and Earth given him and therefore could descent at his pleasure and he promised to be with his Disciples alway to the End W. H Objects To Argue from Christ's Power to his will was never accounted strong or right Reasoning * But the learned and Zealous Protestants affirmed Christ's Spiritual presence with his Church in opposition to the Papists Doctrine of his Carnal presence in their Sacrament The Papists argued thus against the Martyrs for their Transubstantiation viz. God had Power to turn Bread into his natural Body Ergo p. 8. Ans A most gross perversion and abuse not only against us but against Christ's own Testimony whereby his WILL to be with his Disciples to the end of the World as well as his Power to come again unto them is signified And JESUS spake unto them saying ALL POWER is GIVEN unto me c. Lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the World Mat. 28. 18 20. But W. H. has denyed Jesus Christ to be here on Earth as he is Man that is either as to his Body or Spirit Antid p. 2 3. It is not a Corporal and carnal Vnion between Christ and his Members that we plead for that 's not the Controversie nor do we speak of the manhood being locally or Personally present with and in the Saints as he would Insinuate p. 9. But the spiritual presence of Christ Jesus according to his promise Mat. 28. 20. As the SON of God to whom all Powâ—r IS GIVEN according to his own sense And though our Adversary has denyed the Holy manhood of Christ even in the Spirituallity of it that is as to his Spirit to be on Earth in or with his Church yet hath he confessed that CHRIST is in the Saints by his Spirit Antid p. 5. And that Christ hath alway been present with his Disciples in the discharge of their ministerial Gifts and will be to the end of the World by HIS Spirit Animad p. 9. Where 's now the Controversie Is the heavenly Man Christ wholely separate from his Church and Members not only in Body but in Spirit also yea circumscribed in some place as far as the highest Heavens are supposed from the Earth Antid pag. 6. As a Man may be many Miles distant from his Wife c. Anim. p. 9. And yet this same Christ alway present with his Disciples And as there 's one Soul throughout the natural Body of man the same in the Head and in every Member so ONE Spirit in Jesus Christ the Mystical Head and in every one of his Members the Saints Anim. p. 9. Now if thiâ— man meant really as he speaks as to the spiritual Presence and Union of Christ Jesus with and in his Saints and Church on Earth and would lay aside his Enmity and Confusion and keep to Scripture-Language the Controversie between him and us would be at an end But in p. 10. he has framed a Dilemical Quarrel against the Spirit of Christ being in every Saint which he sayes we invest with the Office of the holy Ghost which he concludes cannot be so either with or without the Body nor yet extending from it in Heaven to every Saint upon Earth For that were to render the Soul of Christ immense iâ—finite and then there must be a new created God in time the Soul of Christ's Manhood was created in time Error is Crookedness Absurdity and Rottenness quoth W. H. And yet he saith The Saints ought to worship the Humane Nature of Christ in Vnion with the Deity Anti. p. 6 7. And that the Humane Nature giveth Life to our Souls p. 7. Can it do so and yet his Spirit not so much as extend to us though immensly impowered with the Deity How doth he darken Counsel by words without Knowledge And W. H. leaves us not thus but has another fling at us p. 19. But he Christ is on Earth the Quakers say at least in one essential part of his Manhood His Soul is in every Saint You see Error is big-bellyed and fruitful And p. 20. 30. Refining Religion and the blessed holy true real operative Manhood of Jesus Christ into Air Wind Fancy Nothing ‖ Gross Lyes c. Rep What a heap of jumbled Arguing mudled Stuff with a most false Conclusion against us is here as if we went about to annihilate the most holy and glorious Manhood of Jesus Christ Now we would query of this Man First If the Soul and Spirit of Christ be not one and the same 2. If he was the Son of God before the World was what then is his Soul and in what time created 3. If the Spirit of Christ and the holy Ghost be separate or divided 4. If Jesus Christ in all the parts essential and proper to him viz. in Body and Soul or Spirit be so circumscribed and limited in Heaven as in no sense or degree to be in or with his Saints or Members on Earth then how is his own Promise or Saying made good Lo I am with you alway to the End of the World And how has the Father given the Son Power over all Flesh that he should give Eternal Life to as many as the Father gave him John 17. 5. And doth not God send the Spirit of his Son into Believers Hearts that thereby they might partake of his holy and heavenly
both and so hâ—s dealt unâ—aiâ—ly and not only in these but in many more Particulars hath he abused perverted and confounded our words as well as the Scriptures which would fill a Volumn to open distinâ—tly He makes no Conscience of belying us and grosly perverting our Words and Intentions 'T is probable he would take it as an Affront and Injury if we should retalliate upon him or enumerate the Consequences of his Carnal Conceits to shew what a strange Chriâ—t he has set forth But at present wee 'l suppose these two to follow from his Doctrine until he reconcile and clear himself better then he has yet done viz. 1. Thâ—t Christ being wholely in the highest Heaven and his Body there more bright then a Thousand Sons Antid p. 6. yet cannot be seen by any Teliscope or Prospective Glasses as many unseen Stars may He must needs be at a wonderful vast Distance from his Saints and Members on Earth 2. That his very Spirit or Soul is so bound up in that Body at that vast height and wonderful distance in Heaven that it cannot so much as extend to any Saints upon Earth to viâ—it and comfort them in any of their Tryals or See p 10. Temptations Satan it seems has more Power to come and tempt them then Christ has to come to help them though beyond measure endued with Divine Power sad and inconsistent News And yet the Flesh of Christ is such as giveth Life to our Souls in quickning of us to Righteousness Antid p. 7. It seems then his Flesh extends farther then his Spirit But the true Christ is not divided His Heavenly Humanity and Divinity act in Union in quickening whom â—e will the Seed that he has sown in the Souls of men and the Spirit of Life that he breaths in are of himself as truly as that HOLY THING conceived in the Virgin was of the Holy Ghost And was not Christ spiritually formed in the Saints by the same Power of the Holy Ghost And Christ said He that eateth my Flâ—sh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him John 6. 56. Moreover We do both firmly believe that the Worlds were made by the Son of God and that by him all things consist he being that Word that was with God and that was God in the Beginning and that this Son of God was the first born of every Creature and the first begotten of the Dead and since by Man came Death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead And also we do as really confess according to holy Scripture That this Son of God in due time took upon him a real Body prepared for him of the same Flesh and Blood which the Children had Hebr. 2. 14. was made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh and declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the Dead Rom. 1. 3 4. That this Christ the Son of God took upon him the Form of a Servant and was made in the Likeness or Habit of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Deaâ—h of the Cross wherefore God hath highly exalted him c. Phil. 2. So that he being come sâ— low as to be thus made and fashioned as in the similitude of men as man his Soul was capable of Humiliation Sorrow and Affliction for Mankind and of sympathizing with his Servants yet still was the Only begotten of the Father and was full of Grace and Truth the express Image of his Father's Substance he was also made a quickning Spirit to all who are spiritually quickened by him he was taken up into Glory he was glorified with the Deity or God himself with the same Glory that he had with the Father before the World began he ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things for it hath pleased the Father that ALL Fulness should dwell in him So that the True Christ is neither divided nor may we entertain such Mean Low Carnal Thoughts of this Son of God this only begotten of the Father as That he is a FINITE Creature in a natural earthly Body in Heaven and he therein wholly separate as one there circumscribed or limited to such a wonderful far Distance as is supposed from all his Saints and Church on Earth We have neither thus learnt Christ or received the Son of God nor thus read of him in the holy Scriptures under those Terms but have a Measure of the Knowledge of the Son of God as the Father hath revealed him in us Finally There is no more Inconsistency or denying the Man Christ between our confessing his Ascention into Heaven and Glory yea far above all Heavens and his coming again in Spirit to be spiritually present with and in his Church then is in these Testimonies of the holy Apostles viz. 1. That Saying of Peter Who is gone into Heaven and is on the Right Hand of God 1 Pet. 3. 22. And Behold I lay IN SION a Chief Corner-stone elect precious 1 Pet. 2. 6. As also Heb. 4. 14. Seeing then that we have a great High Priâ—st that 's passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God Compared with Hebr. 12. 24. Ye are come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant c. Ephes 1. 20. Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the Dead and set him at his own Right Hand in the Heavenly Places Compared with Ephes 2. 6. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 15. 3 4 5. Christ dyed for our Sins he was buried rose again the third day was seen of Cephas then of the Twelve c. Compared with 2 Cor. 4. 11. We which live are alway delivered unto Death for Jesus's sake that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest IN our mortal Flesh Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me c. Rom. 8. 10. If CHRIST BE IN YOU the Body is dead because of Sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU except ye be Reprobates Let our Adversary Answer these Scriptures if he can but we suppose he dares not accuse them with Inconsistency nor any of them with denying the Man Christ But if W. H. be minded to busie himself with an Answer or Reply to this Treatise and thereby put his Hearers to further Charge with his Books we would advise him first to consult with some of his learned Brethren who are wiser then himself that they may view his Work before it go to the Press and take special Care that he writes pertinently and consistently lest he run into further Absurdities and self-contradictions
it a general Charge which is falâ—e But thou sayest How honest soever they be in their Callings thou knowest there are Errors of a deep die amongst them Answ I say it is easie to prove a bad Conversation to be a Fruit of Error but it is hard to prove a good one to be so and it is not thy calling our Principles Error that doth prove them so to be I have often heard thee call them so both by Word and Writing but I never heard thee prove it by either Scripture indeed thou mentionest many to that end but so iâ—pertinent to the Business that there needs no other to prove thy self to be in Error and we to be in the Truth Thou sayest The Scriptures do no where call the Light that every man hath the Light of the Son of God and I may as properly call the Sun in ths Firmament so Answ The Scriptures are plentiful in this Case but that of John 1. vers 4 9. is enough In him was Life and the Life was the Light of Men and that was the True Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World I know thy answer will be That was meant of the Person of Christ which was to be believed in But I ask thee What Possibility was there then or is there now of knowing him to be the true Christ that should come and which was to be believed in without a measure of his spiritual Light to reveal him seeing that Flesh and Blood cannot real him and he that seeth him seeth the Father also But we know it to be the Light of Christ by the Effects thereof the Works that he doth bear Testimony of him thy own words also will witness against thee iâ— this in pag. 109. of thy Book where thou grantest There is a Spark remaining in fallen man of that Light which Adam had in a full Flame before Transgression and also that it will teach some Truths and some divine things that there is a God and he is to be worshipâ— and this the Sun in the Firmament could never do Thou also sayest Thou hast this Light and walkest not contrary to it but it is not thy Guide nor Rule but the Spirit leads thee to the Scriptures as thy Rule and there thou hast seen higher things then the Light could discover to thee and so bids me take heed I have not rebelled against the Knowledge I once had from the Scriptures Answ Dost thou here speak like a Minister of Christ tâ—at had received hiâ— Spirit Did the Spirit in Paul lead him to the Scriptures as his only Rule and Guide after he knew the Son of God revealed in him then His Spirit was his Rule and Instructer as he saith Ephesians Chap. 4. Vers 12. every where and in every thing and opened his Understanding to know the true Meaning of what the holy Men before him had writ and spoke which before he knew not notwithstanding all his Knowledge from the Scriptures and the Prophets and true Ministers of Christ in all Ages did point to the Spirit as the Rule and not to their Words for those high things which they saw could not be seen but by the same Spirit in which they saw them Thou sayest Thou considerest thy self to be in Christ and that thou art doing that which he would have thee do for him in thy Generation and thou art fighting for Jesus of Nazareth against the Quakers Christ Answ To be in Christ is a high State and it were well for thee if thou knewest what thou sayest but if thou didst truly know Jesus of Nazareth and wert in him thou couldst not fight against the Quakeâ—s Christ for he is the same and not anotâ—er and he never employed thee to fight against his Spiritual Aâ—pearance in his People thou hadst better lay down thy Weapâ—ns and submit to him for he will be too strong for thee and a Woful Reward for thy Work wilt thou receive at his Hands if thou Repent not Thou sayest Thoâ— art bâ—und to do thy Duty and leave thy Work with Christ and though thou mayest apprehend our Kingdom wâ—ll prosper yet thou art not discouraged but believest we are in Error stâ—ll and though none of you can yet Christ can and will in time still the Ragiâ—g of the Sea and divide and dry up these Waters and though wâ— soar as high as the Clouds in vain Boasting yet thâ—u canst mâ—uâ—t aâ—ovâ— us in the Spirit of Faith and Confidence Answ Vain Boasting we deny but none shall hinder our Glorying in the Lord bâ—t the Day will declare and the Fire will try every man's Work of what sort it is and the Righteous Judge will determine unto whose Judgment alone we desire to stand But what Spirit is it that hath lifted thee up so high seeing thou denyest and opposest the spiritual Light of Christ which is the Door of Entrance to all that find Pasture And the same that said I am the Light said also I am the Door of the Sheep fold John 10. 9. and all that climb up another Way are Thieves and Robbers and so although thou art climbed never so high yet down again must thou come to this else the higher thou mountest the greater will be thy Fall Thou sayest thou believest and therefore speakâ—st infinitely stronger is he that is with you then he that is against you Ans If he that you think is with you be in you as Christ said he would be in his People John 14. 17. by whom they overcame because greater was he that was in them then he that was in the World then you need not fear but he will overcome for you but there is cause to question it when as thou dost not adventure to say so and thy Words afterwards do import that thou dost hardly believe he is to be so known else what dost thou mean when in answer to my witnessing to Christ's being in his People to lead and save them thou say'st Why not Emanuel as well God with us as in us Ans His being in us denies not his being with us as he is known in us he is with us but what is it that renders us so Erroneous and such who by the Consequence of thy words thou accountest God's Enemies whom he will drive back and divide as the Sea and still the Raging thereof Ans The Saints who writ the Scriptures tell us it was Sin while they were in it and wicked Works that made them Enemies of God and it was those who remained in Sin that did oppose them when they departed from it which the Lord overcame both within and without them But thou sayest Thou never expects to be free from Sin whilest in this Tabernacle and that there is none of Christ's Righteousness at all in your Minds but in his own Person then that Hope is vain and will perish which expects to see Christ conquer his Enemies to thy Comfort when thou dost not know him in thee so
true meaning of Scriptures here thou art calling Evil Good and Good Evil and because the Scriptures declare of some Works which do not avail therefore thou concludest there are none available to Salvation although wrought by the Spirit of the Lord but that which thou callest Faith alone must save and all who assert the contrary they lead to the Covenant of Works and so to Popery to work for Life which is a heavy Yoke sayest thou Surely had the Apostle James been on Earth in our Dayes thou wouldst have noted him for a Papist when he saith Shew me thy Faith without thy Works and I will shew thee mine by my Works and wilt thou know O vain man that Faith without Works is dead even as the Body without the Spirit and by Works is Faith made perfect Well may we say as the Prophet David did It is time for thee O Lord to work for they have made void thy Law But thou art much mistaken in us for we work not of our selves for Life but the Life helpeth us worketh all our works in us and for us and his Yoke is easie and his Burden is light â—n be it known to thee God hath a People upon Earth at this Daâ— though thou knows them not unto whom it is become as â—n eat and Drink to do his Will and who can do nothing against the Truth but for it and their Obedience is not as Egyptian Slaves for Fear of a Whip page 91. of thy Book and so thou goest on and sayest although you Christians come not up to that Height the Law requires yet do not they love God more and obey better that apprehend God's Love in Christ Vnchangeable to them then they that after all their Toyl fear they may fâ—ll short But what doth that Love signifie that keeps not his Commands He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me saith Christ And he that loves the Lord with all his Heart and his Neighbour as himself fulfils the Law and if there be any other Command it is briefly comprehendâ—d in thâ—s Rom. 13. 9. Mat. 22. 40. for on these two hang all the Law and the Prophets for Love worketh no ill But according to your Love is your Obedience and according to that is your Assurance of God's Love to you for it seems you do but apprehend that his Love is unchangeable to you but the Assurance which God's People had in former Ages and in this also is another thing for his Spirit which acteth them in their Obedience to him the same bears witness with their Spirits that they are his Children Thou sayst It is sufficiently manifest there are Errors amongst us and we have been weighed and found too light and tryed and found Drâ—ss Answ What hast thou weighed and tryed us with seeing thou dost not profess the Spirit to be thy Rule which is the just and equal Ballance The Spiritual Man or he that is led by it judgeth all things by yet himself is judged of none and nothing else is sufficient to try Spirits but the Spirit of Christ so we may be Gold weight enough too for ought thou knows and if thou sayst Thou hast tryed us by the Scriptures if thâ— Spirit be not thy Rule therein thou mayst fail for those that persecuted Christ to Death thought they tryed him by the Scripture when they condemned him as a Blasphemer and no question bâ—t they thought their Conceivings or Apprehensions from them were right else they would never have said His Blood be on us and our Children Thou sayest O that you were built upon Christ the Rock his Person is the Rock of Eternity not tâ—e Light in every man Answ We are built upon the Rock of which the Fathers drank For they drank of that spiritual Rock which followed them and that Rock was Christ 1 Cor. 10. 4. He who said Before Abraham was I am which was before all Time who in Time took upon him that prepared Body of Flesh wherein he did the Will of God this is the Rock of Eternity the Foundation upon which Abraham and all the Saints of old did build But thou wilt say Abraham saw he was to come and upon that he built 'T is true he saw his Day but what was that which gave him to see Christ was to come in the Flesh Was it not a Measure of his Spirit in Abraham by which he was qâ—ickened and made alive unto God Christ's own words do fully declare it Mat. 22. 32. by which he put the Saducâ—s to silence which say There is no Resurrectioâ— I am the God of Abraham of Isaac and of Jacob now God saith he is not the God of the Dead but of the Living This is that first Resurrection in which he had a part over which the second Death shall have no Power Thou sayest We may hold out in a Day of Man's Persecution and Opposition but when the Tempestuous Sea of God's Justice beats upon us in an Hour of Death and in the Day of Judgment then the Sandy Foundation of our own Righteousness will fall and so thou bidst us Take heed that our Faith be the same with that which Peter professed whâ—ch was that of the Person of Christ Answ That Faith which will carry through inable to hold out in the Patience in a day of Man's Persecution and Opposition is more likely to be the True Faith and to be upon the Right Foundation then that which will not but yours will not uphold you in a day of Man's Persecution and therefore is very unlikely to uphold you when God's Justice beats upon you in an Hour of Death and in a Day of Judgment to come Thou sayest Against which Faith of the Person of Christ all the Powers of Hell shall not prevail but our Profession is thou sayest that not Christ Jesus of Nazareth but the Light in every man is Christ and against this Faith we may be sure it being false the Gates of Hell will never prevail for Satan will never fight against it Answ That we profess Jesus of Nazareth is not the Christ is wholely false and although Satan will never fight against the False Faith yet he hath already fought and prevailed against those that are in it and he doth still prevail over them first to make them believe a Lye and then to keep them in that Belief which is That although Sin which he hath wrought in them do continue in them while they live yet they may be saved when they dye And that he doth fight against the true Faith which we are in is very evident also and stirs up all the Force and Power he can too although to little purpose else what meaneth and from whence cometh all that Opposition we have mâ—t with ever since we were a People unto this day for he knows that it strikes at the Root and Foundation of his kingdom which is Darkness and the works thereof and
therefore he is come down in great Wrath because he knows his Time is short Thou sayest Do thou Repent poor Woman and do thy First Works and go to God as a poor Sinner and not think as thou fearest I do through Pride that I am rich and have need of nothing whenas I am blind miserable and naked and thou seest this to be my state Answ This Exhortation was given by Authority from him who held the Seven Stars in his Right Hand Rev. 2 4 5. to those that had left their first Love and to others that were neither hot nor cold whom God would spue out of his Mouth Rev. 5. 15. Now hast thou the Testimony that thou speakest from the same Authority and in the same Power and Spirit which is very unlikely to be seeing thou dost not profess the Spirit to be thyâ— Rule And also Canst thou make it appear that I have left my first Love and am neither hot nor cold or else of necessity these two things will follow First That thou speakest when the Lord hath not spoken to thee And secondly That thy Exhortation is improper and impertinent to me Thou also sayest Thou counsellest me to buy Eye-salâ—e to see my Poverty Nakâ—dness and Raiment which â—s Iâ—puted Righteousness that I be not found naked in the Day of Christ Answ If thou did know where to direct me to buy this Eye-salve certainly thou wouldst have bought some for thy self that so thy own Eyes might have been opened and not have manifested so much Blindness and Ignorance as thou hast done in this thy Work and also discovered thy own Nakedness notwithstanding all thy pretence to imputed Righteousness it will not cover thee in the day of Christâ— for all Coverings then will be found too short and too narrow except the Covering of his Spirit But if I should take this thy Counsel tâ—en mightest thou truly call me silly Woman to dispossess my self of the Earnest and First Fruits of an Everlasting Inheritance made manifest and enjoyed within for a bare Apprehension or Imagination of being saved by the Imputation of that Righteousness which Christ wrought wholely without me not that I do believe that it is possible for any to be saved without the real Imputation of his Righteousness but that is not imputed to any but those in whom his holy righteous divine Life is in some measure brought forth by the Operation of his eternal Spirâ—t to live and reign even in their mortal Bodies and then according to his Promise his Spirit that dwells in them it shall take of his and give it unto them But I have not so learned Christ as to be so easily perswaded out of him neither can all the false Aspersions and ignominious Terms which thou and all that joyn with thee can cast upon his pure holy Way of Truth those that walk therein make me out of Love with it but still his Reproach is greater Riâ—hes then all the Treasures of Egypt And this further I have to say to thee It will 〈◊〉 much more to thy Advantage and Safety to desist from teaching and giving Counsel to others and going about to try their Spirits till thou comest to know the most sure and infallible Guide thy self to try thy own spirit for in this state wherein thou now standest thou art but one of those blind Guides which will assuredly lead all that follow thee into the Ditch and therefore thou wilt do very well to take that good Counsel which Christ gave for it properly belongs to thee Mat. 7. 5. Thou Hypocrite first cast out the Beam that is in thine own Eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the Mote that is in thy Brother's Eye Mary Stout REader Note that in part of the Impression of this Book there happened this Mistake in the Title Page line 18. viz. Christian for Convert the Title of J. Crook's Book being the Counterfeit Convert as 't is mention'd in pages 10 35. Pag. 7. line 13. for 18. read Ezek. 28. and for 19. read Mat. 17. p. 32. l. 17 for in Form r. inform The literal defects or any of points may be perceived by the current of the matter