untruly vented of me which I feare not but they shall be cleered both now and also at the second appearance of the man Christ Jesus And therefore friend I say to thee be not so Pharisaicall as to say within thine heart I am not as this Publican Why am I reckoned with the Ranters Thou art both thou and thy fellowes of the same minde with them in many things and shall assuredly partake of the same plague with them if they and you repent not speedily Again in page 7. Thou wouldest make us beleeve that the Quakes do Really and truly laythe Christ of God God-man for their foundation Saying Wee prise the Lord Jesus Christ God-man to be precious to us and to all that do beleeve and have owned him to be the foundation c. Now friend this is fairly spoken But by words in generall we may be deceived because a man may speake one thing with his mouth and mean another thing in his heart especially it is so with those that use to utter themselves doubtfully therefore wee will a little enquire what it is to lay Christ God-man for a foundation First then To lay God's Christ God-man for a foundation is to beleeve that man that was borne of the Virgin Mary to be the Saviour 2. How he was and is the Saviour and therefore if you do indeed lay him for your foundation Then you do beleeve that when the man Christ did hang on the Crosse on mount Calvary that then your sins were satisfied for 1 Pet. 2 2â— at that time as it is written He bare our sins in his own body on the tree 2. If the Christ of God God-man be indeed your fâ—undation then you do beleeve that that every man in that very body did fulfill all the Law in the point of justification as it is written Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth So that now believ aright in what the son of Mary hath done without on the Crosse and be saved 3. If you have laid Christ that man aright for your foundation then you do believ that when he was raised out of the Sepulchre into which Joseph had laid him then at that time was accomplished your justification Rom. 4.25 How say you to these things do you make an open profession of them without dissembling or do you not notwithstanding your talke of Christ in very deed deny the vertue of the death and blood of Christ without as for Justification and Life if so you have not laid him for your foundation 4. If you have indeed laid Christ God-man for your foundation then you do lay the hope of your felicity and joy on this That the Son of Mary is now absent from his Children in his person and humanity making intercession for them and for thee in the presence of his Father 2 Cor. 5.6 And the reason that thou canst rejoyce hereat is because thou hast not onely heard of it with thine eare only but doest enjoy the sweet hope and faith of them in thy heart which hope and faith is begotten by the Spirit of Christ which spirit dwelleth in thee if thou be a believer and sheweth those things to thee to be the only things And God having shewen thee these things thus without thee by the spirit that dwelleth in thee thou hast mighty incouragement to hope for the glory that shall be revealed at the comming again of the man Christ Jesus of which glory thou hast also greater ground to hope for a share in because that that spirit that alone is able to discover to thee the truth of those things is given to thee of God as the first fruites of that glory which is hereafter to be revealed being obtained for thee by the man Christ Jesus his death on mount Calvary and by his blood that was shed there together with his resurrection from the dead out of the Grave where they had layd him Also thou believest that he is gone away from thee in the same body which was hanged on the Crosse to take possession of that glory which thou through his obedience shall at his the very same mans returne from heaven the second time have bestowed upon thee having all this while prepared and preserved it for thee as he sai h himselfe I go to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to my selfe that where I am there ye may be also John 14.2.3 Againe 5. If thou hast laid Christ God-man for thy foundation though thou hast the spirit of this man Christ within thee yet thou doest not look that Justification should be wrought out for thee by that spirit of Christ that dwelleth within thee for thou knowest that salvation is already obtained for thee by the man Christ Jesus without thee is witnessed to thee by his Spirit which dwelleth within thee And thus much doth this man Christ Jesus testifie unto us where he saith he shall glorifie me Marke He shall glorifie me saith the Son of Mary But how Why He shall take of mine what I have done and am doing in the presence of the Father and shall shew it unto you Joh. 16.14 I have been a little the larger in this because it is of weight But again thou saiest further The rest of this first Epistle I shall say little to onely thus much is the mind of the pen-man's spirit Here again he speaks falsly secretly smiting at the doctrine of true Faith and Salvation to wit Christ within Answ My friend by saying that my brother doth strike at the doctrine of true Fâ—ith and Salvation thou doest him a great deal of wrong for it is so far from him so to do that he telleth souls plainly that without true Faith in the blood of the Son of Mary who was crucified on Mount Calvary there is no remission for saith he It is onely through that one offering then given up to the Father that you must be justified And that is according to the whole stream of Scripture For by one offering What was that Why the offering up of the bodie of Jesus once for all Heb. 10.10 he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified For this man when he had offered up one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down Mark it This man when he had offered up one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God ver 12. And as for thy saying that salvation is Christ within if thou mean in opposition to Christ without in stead of pleading for Christ thou wilt plead against him for Christ God-man without on the Crosse did bring in salvation for sinners And the right believing of that doth justifie the soul Therefore Christ within or the Spirit of him who did give himself a ransome doth not work out justification for the soul in the soul But doth lead the soul out of it selfe and out
that I should say They are deceived who owne Christ no otherwaies then as he was before the world began This Question I briefely aske thee Had Christ a body of flesh before the World began If you say no as you must if you say true Then do not I say true when I say they are deceived who own Christ no otherwise then as he was before the world began because they owne him not with that body of flesh which he took of the Virgin Mary and so are Antichrists as the Scripture saith And how say you Do you believe that the same Christ who was â—efore the World without a body did in time come into the world and tâ—ke a bodie from the Virgin and in that bodie did obtain everlasting redemption for sinnesr and is gone with that very body into the presence of his Father above the clouds into heaven from his Saints on earth though in them by his spirit A plain answer to this would unlock your double meanings Again thou saiest the Saints drank of the spiritual Rcck that followed them Friend I confesse that that spirituall Rock that did follow the Fathers and long after was from the same loines with them even from the loins of Abraham and the rest of the children of the promise according to the promise was the meat and drink of Saints Rom. 9.4 5. But to look upon Christ no otherwise then as he was before the world was which was a spirit onely and not to own him now clothed with a bodie absent from his children touching the same bodie I dare be bold to say they are no Christians but Antichristians yea Antichrists He that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is Antichrist and of Antichrist Again At this also thou wranglest because I said that every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ who was with the Father before the world was did in the appointed time of the father come into the World take a body upon him and was very man as well as very God and did in that very body suffer what did belong to the sons of men c. So my book page 42. 43. 44. I answer if thou didst indeed believe the truth thou wouldest owne these things But being deceived rather then thou wilt let this pass for truth though thou dare not oppose it with open face yet thou wilt put on a vaile and venture upon it thus saying If every spiâ—it were of God wâ—ich doth confesse in words this then is not the Pope himselfe Antichrist Answer Friend it is one thing to confesse the things in words and another thing to believe them and to make a life out of them and therefore is thy life made out of Christ without thee by the operation of his spirit within thee yea or no Then in answer to my bidding people receive no Christ except God's Christ thou saiest thus That Christ is a mistery and unto him is light and shall be salvation where his person never came Thâ—s Question I aske thee did or doth Christ obtaine salvation for any without that â—â—â—y which he took of the Virgin And yet thou saiest it cannot be said here is the place where the Son is not I answer as the Son of God is also very man so it may be said here is the place where he is not and there is the place where he hath not been though as he is God it is otherwise let him that reads understand And now passing by many things that I might justly examine and also many unseemly expressions I come to the next thing and that is where you say you wrest not the Scrripture in Joh. 1.9 But it is evident that you do most horribly wrest it in that you though you seem to take it in the plaine words yet would hold that that light is the Spirit of Christ notwithstanding there is no such thing mentioned in that Scripture For marke as I have sometimes said and now also will say that that light wherewith Christ as he is God hath lightened every one with is not the Spirit of Christ as is cleere in that some are sensuall having not the Spirit which they must needs have if it were given to every one that comes into the World and therefore in that you say I say you lay down that scripture false I say again that you say many things which I do know to be blasphemie as I shall prove cleerely anon as also I have already And therefore to take thee off from this I shall say that Christ as he is a mediator a man between God and man so he doth not lighten every man that comes into the World though as he is God he doth And that is manifest where he often as he was man saith These things are spoken to them that are without in parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand Luk 8.10 And again where Judas not Iscariot said Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self to us and not unto the world He saith If a man love me he will keep my sayings and my Father will love him and we I as Mediatour and my Father as reconciled in me will manifest our selves unto him Joh. 14.21.23 And again No man knoweth the Father but the Son That is no man knoweth him as a Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.27 But above all take that Scripture where the Son saith I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to Babes ver 25. Here the Son and the Father are speaking one to another the Father he hides the glorious things of the Gospel from the world Mat 11.25 26 27. and the Son he rejoices in so doing At that same houre Jesus rejoiced in Spirit and said I thank thee O Father c. Therefore understand thus much that though Christ as he is God doth give to every man a light which is Conscience otherwise called Nature Rom. 2.14 1 Cor. 11.14 yet it doth not follow that every man hath enlightning from Christ as he is Mediatour No Christ as he is Mediatour doth neither pray for the world Joh. 17.9 neither doth he give his Spirit to all that are in the world for some are sensual and have it not But now the argument that thou do'st bring to colour the contrary with is this For what the Father doth saiest thou the Son doth also Answ Though this be true that the Son doth what the Father doth yet it doth not appear that either the Father or the Son hath given the Spirit to every one that comes into the world Again thou saiest thou deniest those that say That light which every ono hath as he coms into the world is Conscience though some call it Christ falsly Jude 19. Answ Friend What wilt thou have it called Christ No. If not Conscience
Jesus to be head in us and over us and our selvs to be members of his body which thou saiest is his Church And what thou intendest by making so many foldings in one quaery saiest thou it may be judged it is to insnare and in that thou answerest thou answerest thy self for us in some things that thou mightest have a further ground to lay a deeper snare we do deny thee and thy spi it and see thee to bee onely feeding in thy imaginations upon the report of things without the life And thy Religion stands in Disputes and Controversies and Quaeries and many words But our Religion stands in the exercise of a pure conscience towards God and toward man whether we speak or be silent These are thy words Answ Now in my Quaery thou saiest I slander in that I say You Quakers allow of no other body of Christ but the Church of Christ yet doest thou not clear thy self at all onely thou wouldest say something to dazle the eies of the ignorant But friend if thou wouldst have made it appear that I slandered in saying you own no other body but the Church you should have said Yes we do own this That Christ hath a body that is now in glorie ascended from his Disciples according to the Scripture Act. 1.3 compared with ver 9 10 11. But thou doest onely fling up a few words into the air that thou mightest thereby puzzle thy simple Reader But I blesse God for my part I do see thee that thou doest like a beguiled man seek by all means to beguile others And whereas thou saiest It is sufficient to salvation to know Christ Jesus as head in us and over us To this I answer whatsoever thy meaning is by these words yet there is none shall be saved but those who through the mighty operation of the spirit of Christ are inabled to applie what the man Christ Jesus the son of Mary hath done and suffered and is now a doing for sinners and saints and for him in the presence of his Father now ascended in his body of flesh and bones from his children which are alive in this world I say there is none shal be saved but those that are thus established or shal be so as is clear from these 1 Pet. 1.18 19. 2.24 3.18 22. 4.1 2 Pet. 1.17 Heb. 7.24 10.7 9. 7.24 25. 13.12 1 Tim. 2.5.6 Eph. 1.7 Act. 12 37 38 39. with many other Scriptures And again when you say I answer you in something if you mean that the body in which he did bear the sins of his children is his Church for that is partly my Quaery then do I say that your doctrine is desperate and divelish and you do thereby undervalue the death blood resurrection ascension intercession and second coming again of that man for salvation and therefore for a better satisfaction to all who may read your book I intreat you to answer Did he bear our sins in that body which is his Church or did he bear our sins in that body that did hang on the Cross on mount Calvary Answer plainly I beseech you And now friend passing by the rest of thy bawlings I shall come to thy several Quaeries and shall answer to them in the simplicitie of my soul not laying down any doubtful expressions but in all plainness and not as you do for the better understanding of them by those that read them These be the Quakers Quaeries and my Answers to them 1. Quaer Is any man justified in the sight of God but he that followeth Christ and is it not a work to follow Christ yea or nay and what is the sight of God Answ He that followeth Christ aright must first believe in Christ for how shall they follow him in whom they believe not Now then the Scripture saith He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life Joh â—â— 16 17 18. so then we are justified by believing and if so than to follow Christ is rather a fruit of our beâ—ieving than justification it self And whereas you ask What is the sight of God I answer To be justified in the sight of God by Jesus Christ is for God to look on such poor creatures as we are as compleat without spot or wrinkle in the obedience of the man Christ Jesus who otherwise could not behold them in love because of their iniquity Hab. 1.13 2. Quaer Whether will that faith justifie a man which hath not works seeing the Scripture or the Apostle saith faith witbout works is dead and what is that which worketh faith and where is it within or without Answ That faith that hath not works is dead being alone Yet it doth not follow that all that have works have faith No but contrariwise men may have works yea the works of the Law of God too and yet be under the curse which they could not bee if they had saving faith So then if faith without works is dead Gal. 3.10 11 12 13. and again if men may have works and yet no faith no saving faith I mean Then it will be good to enquire what it is to have a right faith which doth bring forth right good works and who have works without a right faith And first a right saving faith is for a man to be enabled of God's holy Spirit to lay hold on what the man Christ hath done in his own person when he was in the world as his birth righteousnesse death blood resurrection ascension and intercession and to apply the virtue and merit thereof to himself so as to see himself saved thereby Rom. 3.24 25. Being justified freely by his grace How Even through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation or reconciler through faith in his blood c. Again Be it known unto you that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins and by him all that believe mark all that believe namely in his blood which was shed on mout Calvary are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Act. 13.38 39. If the faith that applies these thing be of the operation of God it is very much accompanied with good works For the love of Christ constrains us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead And that he died for all that we which live namely by the faith of this that Christ died for all Gal. 2.20 should not henceforth live to our selves but to him that died for us 2 Cor. 5.14 15. But secondly they that deny the merits of the birth death righteousnesse blood c. of the man that was born of Mary which he fulfilled in his own person by himself Heb. 1.2 I say they that do not venture their souls on these glorious mysterious truths but deny the belief of them to be sufficient of themselvs to save from hell and all other
things and doth expect that salvation should be obtained by something that worketh in them by working in them It is impossible that these though they may be touching the righteousnesse of the law blamelesse as Paul was while he was a persecutor Phil. 3. to be saved hereby Wherefore because they seek it not by the faith of Christ but as it were by the works of the law Rom. 9.30 31. And whereas you ask me what is that which worketh faith And where is it within or without I answer That which worketh saving faith is the holy Spirit of God which is renewed through the hearing of the Word preached by the Apostles or Ministers of Jesus Christ Now the Spirit when it doth work it entereth into the soul and as I said before doth enable the soul to believe and lay hold on the merits of the Son of Mary Jesus Christ For saith he when he is come he shall glorifie me for he shall take of mine and shew it unto you Joh. 16.14 3. Quaer Whether any be justified but he that is born of God And whether doth he that is born of God commit sin And is that within the Creature or without that worketh the new-birth Answ Justification may be taken two ways either in the fight of God or in the fight of the soul or creature My meaning is that all that are or shall be saved are justified in the sight and foreknowledge of God before the foundation of the world Ephes 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the World c. Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself And again Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Rom. 8.30 Mark all these things are spoken as being already done predestinated called justified glorified He doth not say they shall be but he hath done it that is in and according to the fore-ordination of God 2. Saints are said to be justified in their own sight or knowledge as when God doth make manifest to the soul what he had determined before should be done Be of good Cheer thy sins are forgiven thee This is justification in the sight of the creature And whereas you ask me do they that are born of God commit sin To this I answer They shall never commit the sin against the holy Ghost as is the meaning of that place 1 John 3.19 There is a sin unto death and there is a sin not unto death He that is born of God sinneth not but keepeth himself and that wicked one mark that wicked one the sin unto death toucheth him not But they that are born of God notwithstanding do daily sin as it is evident Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all saith he I and you all of us And again If we say we have no sin we deceive our selvs and instead of having no sin the truth is not in us 1 Joh. 1.8 And who can say my heart is clean Eccle. 7.20 There is none righteous no not one And again There is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not And I am confident that while some would perswade others that they have no sin their own consciences tell them they lye and if it be not so in the rest it is because they are hardened and given to believe a lie As to the latter part of your Quaery I answer The new birth is wrought through hearing of the Word preached And yet not by conscience nor by the obedience to the Law or dictates of nature but by the Spirit coming into the soul and shewing its lost condition without the obedience of the Son of Mary the Son of God and his freeness and willingness to communicate or give himself and all his things unto it which being done the man is thereupon given up to God and is become a new creature I might spend much time in speaking to this but I forbear because of it self it is enough to fill up a small volumne 4. Quaer If Christ hath lightened all men as he is God as thou confessest then hath hee not lightened all men as he is the Son of God and is not the light of God sufficient in it self to lead to God all that follow it yea or nay Answ Christ as he is God doth lighten every man that coms into the world which light is conscience or otherwise nature it self which doth also convince of sin Joh. 8.9 Yet Christ as he is God doth not give unto every man that Spirit that doth lead to eternall life for all men have it not Jude 19. Secondly Christ as he was and is the Son of God before the world was being one in power and being with his Father hath lightened every one that coms into the world as aforesaid but hath not so neither given them his Spirit Some are sensuall c. 3. Christ as God-man or as he came into the world to die for those whom before as God he knew and loved I say he doth not in this way neither lighten every man with the saving light of life or give unto them his holy Spirit No they that have been and now are beleevers do know and can remember that all the time of their unregenerate state they were without Christ Eph. 2.12 So that here is no way or room for your doctrine take it how you will Christ hath not given to every one his Spirit 2. part of the Quaer Is not the light of God sufficient in it self to lead to God all that follow it yea or nay Answ First as I said before some are sensuall and have not the Spirit of Christ Secondly no man can come to God as a Father by adoption but by Jesus Christ then it must needs be that all men though they do follow that light which is given to every man it is not able to lead to God as a Father in the Lord Jesus Christ Yet this light that every man hath will shew a man there is a God and that this God is eternall and also will cleer out somthing of him to them by the things that are made But now if this light would lead to everlasting life then might the Devills also be delivered from everlasting damnation seeing they also do know God as a Creator and revenger of sin more perfectly then any natural man in the world though not as a Father by adoption But you say doth it not lead to God all that follow it Answ Not to be saved though to be condemned through the weakness and unprofitableness of that light or conscience or the law call it either and I cleer it thus Because if that light that every man receives were able by our following it to save us then Christ needed not to have suffered seeing all men had that light 2. If that light that every man hath which is
A VINDICATION OF THE BOOK CALLED Some Gospel-Truths Opened According to the Scriptures and the Opposition made against it by EDWARD BORROUGH a professed Quaker but proved an enemie to the Truth examined and confuted by the Word of GOD. AND ALSO The things that were then laid down and declared to the world by me are a second-time born witness to according to truth with the Answer of Edward Borrough to the Quaeries then laid down in my Book reproved And also a plain Answer to his Quaeries given in simplicitie of soul and is now also presented to the world or who else may read or hear them to the end if God will that Truth may be discovered thereby By John Bunyan Preacher of the Gospel of CHRIST I have found David a man after mine own heart saith God Act. 13.22 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised up to Israel a Saviour Jesus saith the Apostle ver 23. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him they took him down from the tree and laid him in a sepulchre But God raised him from the dead ver 29. 30. And we declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise which was made unto the fathers God hath fulfilled the same to us their children in that hee hath raised up Jesus again ver 32. 33. Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren that though this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins ver 38. And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses ver 39. LONDON Printed for Matthias Cowley Book-seller in Newport Anno Dom. 1657. READER WEe whose names are here under-written having through grace some blessed Faith and experience of the Truths declared in this Book and knowing them so to be having tried them by the Scriptures in the light of the Spirit thought it our duty to bear witnesse thereunto together with our Brother desiring the blessing of God may go along with these endeavours of his for the doing good to our Christian brethren or any other who may read it Farewell Yours in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ for which Faith we desire to contend Richard Spencly John Burton John Child TO THE READER SInce it hath pleased the Lord to work in my soul by his holy Spirit and hath translated me in some measure from darknesse to light I have seen and heard that such things have been done by those who did once pretend themselves to be the servants of Jesus Christ that it hath made me marvel Partly while I have beheld the vile conversation of some and also the seeming legal-holinesse of others together with their damnable doctrine which have notwithstanding their professions made shipwrack of the Faith both to themselves and their followers I having had some in-sight into such things as these was provoked to publish a small treatise touching the fundamentals of Religion supposing that God might adde his blessing thereto both for the establishing of some and the convincing of others which things I doubt not but they have been accomplished and will be still more and more But as it was in former daies so it is now That is some in all former ages have been on foot in the world ready to oppose the truth So it is now there are certain men newly start up in our daies called Quakers who have set themselves against the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ and do in very deed deny that salvation was then obteined by him when he did hang on the Crosse without Jerusalems gate Now these men do pretend that they do verily and truly professe the Lord Jesus Christ but when it comes to the trial and their principles be throughly weighed the best that they do is to take one truth and corrupt it that they may thereby fight more stoutly against another As for instance They will own that salvation was obtained by Christ this is truth that salvation was obtained by Christ but come close to the thing and you will finde that they corrupt the word and onely mean thus much That salvation is wrought out by Christ as he is within and by it though not warranted by the Scripture they will fight against the truth Namely that salvation was obteined for sinners by the man that did hang on the Crosse on mount Calvary between two thievs called Jesus Christ I say by what he did then for sinners in his own person or bodie which he took from the Virgin Mary according to the Word of God Secondly they will own the doctrine of Christ within This is truth that Christ is within his Saints But this doctrine they will take to fight against the doctrine of Christ without Ascended from his Disciples into heaven by whom salvation was obtained neither is there salvation in any other Act. 4.12 3. They will own the Resurrection of the Saints but their meaning is onely thus much That the Saints are raised from the state of nature to a state of grace and herewith they will sight against this truth Namely the resurrection of the bodies of Saints out of their graves into which they were laid some thousands some hundreds of Years before And if they do say they do own the Resurrection of the Saints out of their graves they do mean out of the grave of sin onely and nothing else These things I am an ear witnesse to 4. They will say they do own the second coming of Christ to judg the world but search them to the bottom and you will finde them onely to own him in his coming in Spirit within in opposition to the glorious coming of the Lord Jesus the son of Mary from heaven in the clouds with all his mighty Angels to raise the dead and bring them to judgment according to the Scripture And so for the the Intercession of Christ and the truthâ— of the Gospel they onely own them to be within in opposition to the glorious intercession and mediation of the man Christ Jesus in his own person without now in the presence of his Father between us and him pleading and making intercession for his children These things together with maâ—â— more I might mention but now I forbear knowing that none shaâ—â— be lost nor altogether carried away by them nor any Hereticks but the sons of perdition Now that they might the better make their doctrine take place in the hearers they endeavour to make a fair shew in the flesh that thereby they might now as did their fathers in time past compell and constraine them who are not hy the Lord 's right hand planted into the truth of Jesus to follow their covered errors as it is written Galath 6.12 For as many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh That is according to the workes of the Law do with good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16.18 And indeed it doth
and thou shalt live The Spirit saith that Christ Jesus came into the world to save those that by transgession had broken the law For for this cause saith the Spirit he Jesus the son of Mary the man Christ between God and us 1 Tim. 2.5 is the Mediator of the New Testament For what That by means of death for the redemption of the trangressions that were under the first testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Heb. 9.15 Now I would not be mistaken I do not say that the Spirit of Christ doth give the least liberty to sin God forbid But it's convictions are of a more saving and refreshing nature than the convictions of the law and do more constrain the soul to holiness then that The Law saying Work for life the Spirit saying Now to him that worketh not for life but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4.5 as thus If I should owe to two Creditors ten thousand talents the one should say unto me thou owest me five thousand talents pay that thou owest the other shoul say thou owest me five thousand talents and I frankly and freely forgive thee all Now these expressions are contrary one to another Even so is the end of the convictions of the Law not according to the end of the convictions of the Spirit of Christ the one saying Pay me that thou owest the other saying Thou art frankly and freely forgiven all The next thing thou utterest is where I say Those that are alive unto sins have not the Spirit of Christ But sayest thou It is given to every man Mark thou saiest It is given to every man The Apostle saith Some are sensual having not the Spirit Jude 19. Who must we now believe the Apostle or you Certainly your doctrine is not according to truth but a lie as is clear in that you will affirme that which the Apostle doth deny Then thou saiest I bring other vain arguments to prove that every one hath not the Spirit of Christ This one is enough to prove it that the Apostle saith Some men have it not But that which thou callest vain I am sure neither thou nor any of thy fellows are able to answer One is to this purpose The Divels are so convinced of sin that they did fear the torment that was to come upon them for their sins and did fear also that the Son of man was come to torment them for their sins and yet the Divels have not the Spirit of Christ So that it is evident that we may be convinced of sin and yet not by the Spirit of Christ A second argument which thou callest vain is this Man in his coming into the world hath this Conscience given him which doth convince of sin Joh. 8.9 yet man in his coming into the world or as he cometh into the world hath not the Spirit of Christ given him for that must be received ordinarily afterward by the preaching of the Word which is preached by the Ministers and servants of Jesus Christ Act. 10.44 While Peter yet spake to the people the holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the Word But farther thou saiest Untill I prove the light of Christ contrary to the spirit of Christ thou wilt say that every man hath that which is one in union and like the spirit of Christ even as good as the spirit of Christ in its measure Answer Friend I have proved already that every man hath not the Spirit of Christ though they have that which thou doest call the Spirit of Christ which is conscience and nature it selfe And this I say again thâ—t thou hast laied open thy weakness very much to say that every man hath that which is as good as the Spirit of Christ Friend seeing the Scriptures say some have not the spirit of Christ how durst thou so blaspheme as to say then it is as good as the spirit of Christ in its measure Was there ever such a deale of ignorance discovered at one time by a man as to say that every man hath the Spirit or that which is as good as the Spirit though the Spirit saith plainly that some have not the Spirit as I have proved plainly Jude 19. Friend what is there besides the Spirit that is as good as the Spirit Be silent and say no more so least thou do through ignorance or presumption set up thy coscience or nature as high and as good as the Spirit of Christ when indeed they are not worthy to be compared with it being weak and not able to do that which is and hath ben done by the Spirit of Christ Then thou art offended because I said the Devill doth deceive poor souls by bidding them listen within and see if there be not that which doth convince of sin Friend All men have not the Spirit though they have that conscience that doth convince of sin John 8.9 Now seeing all men have not the spirit is it not a great deceit of the Devill to perswade poor soules that because they are convinced for sin by their owne consciences therefore they have the Spirit of Christ Surely it is from the devill First because he would make thee believe that Conscience which is but a creature is the Spirit of Christ by whome the world was made Again because the Soule being perswaded that it hath the spirit when it hath it not as all men naturally are without it Eph. 3.13 If it kept off from sâ—eking and begging for it being allready perswaded falsely that it hath it And whereas thou saist the voice of the Gospell is to bid listen within the heart as Paul preacheth I deny that Paul biddeth listen within But the Scripture that you would faine make shelter for your errour is this where he saith The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart That is the Word of Faith which wee preach Now friend Faith is that which layeth hold of or beleeveth the Gospel And that this is the meaning read the next verse That saith he If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved So that it is cleer that the Word of faith is to believe assuredly from the very heart that God hath raised up Jesus from the dead out of the grave into which he was laid by Joseph And that he was raised again for my justification Rom. 5 25. as it is written· 1. Cor. 15. Moreover Brethren saith he I declared unto you the Gospell which I preached unto you at the first which also you have received and wherein you stand by which also you are saved if you keep in memory or assuredly believe what I preached unto you unlesse you have believed in vain But what was that Gospel you preached Why saith he ver â— I delivered unto you first of all that which
do indeed enjoy the light of life And whereas thou ask'st is not he a deeeiver that exhorts people to any thing else than the light of Christ Answ He that telleth any man that the ministration of condemnation will save him which is the law he is a lier and a deceiver but he that exhorts people to lay hold on what the man Christ Jesus hath done in his own person for sinners and presseth souls to venture upon that for salvation preacheth the truth Thirdly Christ hath given to every one the law and conscience within him yet these are not able to save him but let him follow the righteousnesse of the the law never so much yet if he be not directed of God to flie to Jesus the Son of Mary and to what he hath done in his own person for them he shall never be saved Act. 4. verse 12. Friend thus have I with all plainnesse of speech answered thy Quaeries and I fear not at all but I have spoken the truth as it is in Jesus And as for committing them to the judgment of others as thou wouldest have me set others say what they will I am sure I have spoken the truth of God and I make no question but at the second coming of my Lord Jesus from heaven to judge the world these things I shall not be ashamed of Neither am I now but am ready if God shall give me life to speak the same things to any man face to face and I desire thee and all even as many as shall read or hear this Treatise to consider and look to themselvs least they sin against God so much in their life time by rejecting these truths that it shall never be forgiven them to all eternity though they repent them of their rejecting the same There is one thing more to which I shall speak a few words and that is to a few words written at the end of thy book which is called the postscript wherein is severall charges against my self and som others which I shall speak somewhat to The first is agaist John Burton thuâ— John Burton said in a discours with some friends that Christ had two bodies and one of them is out of the sight of the Saints Answ My Brother Burton being absent I shall answer for him concerning the charge laid against him And therefore that Christ who is and was before the world began God equal with his Father did in the fulnesse of time take upon him a bodie from the Virgin Mary which was so prepared by God his Father it is evident in Scripture and in it after he had lived a while in the world he did hang on the Crosse was taken down thence again and laid in Josephs sepulchre was raised again and ascended away from his Disciples therewith into glory Act. 1.3 9 10 11. Again he hath another bodie and that is his Church Eph. 1. ver the last Now that he is out of the sight of his Saints in one of the bodies namely that which did hang on the Crosse it is also evident 1 Tim. 6. where Paul speaking of that very Jesus who did bear a faithful witnesse before Pontius Pilate saith in ver 16. Who onely hath immoâ—tality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see That is not with their mortal eâ—es in that glory as yet If you say still notwithstanding this that Christ as he was before the world began hath but one body and that to be his Church I ask you what that was that was taken down from the Crosse and laid into Josephs sepulchre Luk. 23.52.53 The second charge is â—gainst my self and is this John Bunyan said Christ second coming is not his coming in Spirit for his coming in Spirit is no coming This is a false thing spoken of me The former part of the words namely Christs second coming is not his coming in Spirit those I owne But the other namely * For his coming in spirit is no coming is a lie made of me by the Author Edward Borrough The former words were spoken at a meeting in Bedford some Quakers being present contradicting and blaspheming And now they could not be content with that but they must make up all with a lie and publish it in print Quaker there and I had some discourse concerning Christ's second coming and he would affirm that his coming in Spirit was his second coming spoken of in Scripture Then I asked him which was his first coming He answered when he was born of rhe Virgin and took flesh upon him from her Then said I I shall easily prove that his coming in the Spirit is not his second coming for I will prove that his coming in the Spirit was before that which the Scripture and you also do call his first coming and proved it by that plain Scripture where Peter speaking of the Prophets saitb searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them the Prophets did signifie when it testified before hand of the suffering of Christ and the glory that should follow 1 Pet. 1.10 11. and 3 18 19. where speaking of Christ's being put to death in the flâ—sh but quickned in the Spiâ—it By which Spirit he preached to the spi its now in pâ—ison but when was this only when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah ver 20. Which was long before the first coming of Christ so called in Scripture for that was as I said when he took a body from the Virgin Mary But secondly it seems cleerly by these words that you do look for no other coming but his coming in Spirit O! how suddenly and unexpected of you will the Son of man break down from heaven with all his mighty Angels in flaming fire and call you together with all Nations to judgment And though now peradventure you are ready to slight the personall appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ that man to judgment only looking for a judgment within yet you will I am certain very suddainly be made to pass under another judgment which will be more exceeding great then any judgment you shall have here and more terrible As for the latter part of the charge which is a very lie though I shal not trouble my self to lay it to your charge you have so manifestly declared your selvs already what you are Yet I beseech you that hereafter you would not be so ready to receive lies from others and publish them to the view of the world least you appear to all men as you do to some to be such as are of an accusing lying spirit But farther That Christ's coming in the Spirit is not his second coming it is evident partly in that the coming of Christ in Spirit was before that called in Scripture his first coming Secondly he that comes the second time is he that came the first time Now he that came the first time
justification for them when it is evident from the whole current of Scripture that the Son of Mary was delivered to be crucified for our offences and his Resurrection through faith in it is our justification as all along through grace I have declared and cleared And the work that the Spirit doth in point of justification is to shew us what the Son of Mary hath done and suffered in his own body on the tree and is now doing in the presence of his Father in the highest heaven Jude 19. Eph. 2.12 And to help us to apply this to our souls by faith now for a preservative against these and the like delusions observe First as I said before All have not the Spirit of Christ 2. That the law with all our obedience to it is not able to save or justifie any poor soul Rom. 3.20 For by the works of the law shall no flesh living be justified though it gives the knowledge of sin 3. That there is none other way to be justified in the sight of God but by laying hold of what the Son of Mary Jesus did do and suffer in his own person when he was in the world For it is by him and what he hath done in his own person by himself Heb. 1.2 that any man is justified from his sins and the wrath of God due to the same by believing that his blood was shed for their sins as it is written By his stripes we are healed Isa 53.5 as if their own blood had been shed for their own sins and that his righteousnesse is theirs by imputation as if they themselvs had actually fulfilled all the law of God for their own justification Rom. 10.4 The second thing is who are they that are carried away with this delusion and why Answ First not one of God's elect whom he foreknew shall be utterly destroied thereby I do not say they shall not be led away for a time but they shall not be utterly destroied for they are kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto salvation But they are such as are not indeed the elect of God not chosen in Christ before the world began Though Hymeneus Philetus fall away and overthrow the faith of some yet the foundation of God stands sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his 2 Tim. 2. ver 18 19. Secondly they are such as in time past for the generality of them were either but light frothie professors or else were shaken in their principles and unstable therein as saith the Scriptures They that are deceivers do beguile unstable souls Or if they were such as were in appearance sober and serious in the account of others it was either from those convictions they had from the Law or else from high notions they had of the Gospel which have both such influence at som time on the foul though not savingly that the soul will go very far in obedience to them as for example Herod who was an enemie to the truth yet for a time had such heart-workings being convinced by the preaching of John the Baptist that he feared him and observed him and when hee heard him he did many things and heard him gladly Mark 6. ver 20. Now the reason why such people are carried away with such heresies as these or the like is First that as they were not of the elect of God so God by suffering them to be carried away finally may make it appear that they were not of his elect They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us But they went out from us that it might be made manifest or that men might see that they were not all of us 1 Joh. 2.9 2. Because God will not have his Church so disturbed alwaies with such as are not of the truth Now there are some men that have their time to walk with the Church of God by permission and these men are ever and anon ready to broach their errours even while they are among the Saints to their trouble Now God having a care of his Church hath a time to suffer the Divel to run through the world with some erroneous doctrine or other which when these men taste being spirited before hand for that purpose do presently close in with the same to the purifying of the Church and the manifestation of hemselvs And thus every branch which the Lord 's right hand hath not plantd shall and must have a time to be rooted up Mat. 15.13 3. Because others that are of the right graffing in may notwithstanding not resume but fear least they also fall through the same example of others who re already fallen or may fall hereafter Heb. 4.1 2 11. 4. Because others may see that it is not by their own strength that they do stand but fâ—eely by the grace of God and his power and love towards them in the Lord Jesus Christ God hath chosen som before the foundation of the world Now to manifest this though they are even as bad as the worst by natuâ—e yet I say because God will shew his power and his love he doth preserve some to eternal life though others fall into eternal damnation Of all that thou hast given me saith Christ have I lost none but the son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled Joh. 17.12 Many other reasons might bee given why these things must and shall be but I rather chuse to forbear Onely thus much I have spoken because I know it is my duty to speak a few words unto you that you may either close in with the truth or else the more clearly be left without excuse at the great day The third and last thing is the way that Satan takes to make those delusions take place in the soul Now the way whereby he makes these or any other delusions to take place in the soul is first to perswade the soul that they are the truth and secondly to to stir up in the soul an enmitie to any thing or person that shall declare the contrary First they are given over to believe a lie that is To believe false doctrine to be the doctrine of God and of Christ And that he might bring this to passe he goeth about to change the names of things and because the Law Conscience and Nature it self can convince of sin therefore he calleth them Christ or the light of Christ Saying to a natural man one that is not yet converted Minde the light wihin you If they ask what light say they That which doth convince of sin If they farther ask Why what is that They say It is the light of Christ the light of life or Christ within Now these things are nothing else but conscience nature or the law for a naturall man hath nothing else that dwelleth within him to convince him of sin onely these things have a new name put upon them
who seek to be justified by their obedience to it it is made an Idol of and a Saviour though it were given to no such purpose For if there had been a Law given which could have given life verily righteousnesse should have come by thy obedience to the Law Gal. 3.21 Now at thy conclusions somtimes thou doest utter thy self in this wise Learn what this means Answ Indeed thy words are dark and enough to deceive the hearts of the simple but blessed be God he hath given me to understand that thou doest all along in the drist of thy discourse disown Christ without by pretending to a Christ within whereas hadst thou indeed the Spirit of Christ within thee It would be thy great businesse to extoll and magnifie the Son of Mary the Christ of God without thee because it is the nature of the same spirit so to do even to glorifie Christ without who went away from his Disciples into heaven Luke 24.50 51. to prepare a place for them Then thou further saiest with a kinde of disdaining spirit Many things more thou passest by in my book as being not pertinent to the thing in hand But I believe they are so pertinent that neither thou nor thy friends or fellows are able to contradict without blaspheming in the view of all them that have eyes to see for if they could it should have been don by thee And whereas thou saiest Fools must be medling Answer It must needs be that the Saints of God should be call'd fools by the enemies of the man Christ Jesus without because that the doctrine of the man Christ Jesus crucified without for the sins of poor sinners is also held to be fooilshness by them although it be the wisdom and also the power of God unto every one that believeth 1 Cor. 1.23 24. And further thou sayest that the Pope can speak as much of Christ without as I. Answer Friend doest thou put no difference betwixt the speaking of Christ without and believing in Christ without I tell thee though there may be many that can speak of the Christ of God without yet there are but very few that can or do believe indeed in him without by the mighty operation of his holy spirit within Nay you your selves do testify this who deny that the salvation of sinners was compleatly wrought out by that one offering of Jesus Christ without upon the Crosse on mount Calvary and that he is ascended from his Disciples above the clouds touching his bodily presence as in 1 Cor. 5.6 compared with Acts. 1.9 10 11. Then again thou saist I do ask my selfe a question and do also answer it my selfe deceitfully The question is Do not the Scriptures make mention of a Christ within And thou saist I answer it deceitfully my selfe But I answer again that I am not ashamed of that answer I then gave because I know it is truth and whereas thou saiest it is deceitfull and yet canst not find fault with any point thereof it confirmes me that had there been falsity in it such an enemy to the truth as thou art wouâ—dst have taken that advantage as to have discovered it that thereby thou mightest have rendered the truth the more odious The answer I shall leave to the Christian Reader which is so indeed yet am confirmed my selfe concerning it and shall give thee an answer to thy question which is Doth not the Scripture say or witnesse that all that have not Christ within are Reprobates Answer Yes the Scripture saith so and it is true they that have not the spirit of Christ in them are reprobates But there are some that are reprobates that you will confesse Then by your own argument you must grant that some have not the Spirit of Christ in them Pray take notice they that have not the spirit of Christ in them are reprobates There are some who are reprobates therefore there are some who are sensual having not the spirit of Christ in them see thy folly how it is made manifest Jud. v. 19. The next thing thou art offended withall is because I say the Devill deceives poore soules by perswad ng them to follow the light within which all men have Answer Friend I say again and again That there is nothing lesse then the Spirit of Christ that can give a soule a sight of justification by the blood of the man Christ Jesus without by following of it Now as thou saiest thy selfe some are reprobates and have not the spirit of Christ Then is it any heresie to say that it is of the Divel to perswade a soule to follow that light which is no better then conscience or Nature it selfe which are not able to lead to Christ his things being foolishnesse to it Rom. 2.14 or is conscience which every one is lightened withall the Spirit of Christ give an answer in sincerity Then thou sayest that my whole purpose is a secret smiting at the light wherewith Christ hath lightened every man I Answer My whole designe in my book is and was these following things First to shew soules where salvation is to be had Namely in Christ without 2. To shew souls how they should lay hold of this salvation Namely by the operation of the spirit of Christ which must be given within And 3ly To forwarne poor soules that they should not deceive themselves neither by conscience nor the Law which are both inferiour and much below the Spirit of Christ even as much as he that buildeth the house hath more honour then the house Heb. 3. And 4. to shew how poore soules should know whether they had the Spirit of Christ or not within them or whether the spirit of the Divell had exalted himselfe above the Spirit of Christ by transforming himselfe into an Angell of light Farther thou thinkest I contradict my selfe because I admonish poor souls to beg of God to convince them by his holy Spirit and thou saiest This is my confusion When alas confusion is of and from thy selfe who wouldest make a defiled conscience the Law and the Spirit of Christ to be all one as I shall further clear to the reader by and by But I tell thee friend there are many who have not the Spirit of Christ and yet are convinced of sin by their owne consciences John 8.9 He doth not say by the light of Christ in their Consciences that is a saying of your owne without warrant from the Word of God but by their owne Consciences Mark that Now I knowing that a man may be convinced and yet not by the Spirit of Christ for he may be without that but by nature itselfe 1 Cor. 11.14 I do admonish every foule if they love themselves to beg of God for Jesus Christ his sake that he would not onely let them he convinced by these poor low empty beggerly things their consciences in respect of the spirit of Christ but that he would convince them by that spirit of his effectually which is not onely
he cannot be able to lay hold savingly of and to hope for that glory that Christ as he is God-man hath accomplished in his own person without unless he have the Spirit But farther thou saiest It is not the whole mystery of salvation God manifested in the flesh Answ Truly to know that God out of love to poor sinners did in the fulness of time send forth his onely begotten Son who is equall with his Father to be born of a woman and made under the law to redeem them that are under the law that he might receive the adoption of sons this is to know the mystery of godliness Therefore when the Scriptures say God was manifested in the flesh they mean God sent forth his Son which was and is the Word of God God himself and he was made flesh Joh 1.14 And so in the nature of man he did become the Lamb of God or the sacrifice of God that doth take away the sins of the world ver 29 Now here I might enlarge abundantly but that I would not be tedious 7. Quaer Whether is it not possible that many may professe as much of Christ Without as thou hast sayd of him and yet be damned and if this be the faith to professe him born dead risen and ascended without then is there any unbeleever in England seeing all in the outward sound beleevs and professeth as much as thou hast said Yea or nay Answ I know there are many that do profess in word that Christ was born dead risen and ascended without and yet may be damned Yet he that doth really with the faith of the operation of God beleeve these things and doth also apply the virtue and merit of the same to themselvs for justification and life shall be saved If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt beleeve in thine heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 10.9 And also 1 Cor. 15.2 By Which ye are saved if ye keep in memory What I preached unto you What was that Why how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures that he was buried and rose again c. 2. It is not faith onely to talk of him with the mouth but as I said before to beleev the same by the operation of the Spirit in our hearts If this be faith saiest thou to profess him born dead risen and ascended Without then is there any unbeleever in England Answ All that professe this do not truly beleeve it for to professe in word alone and beleeve in heart are two things Secondly if to professe this were the faith yet were there a good many unbeleevers in England for the Quakers will not professe him ascended without neither making intercession without but contrarywise strike at this doctrine 8. Quaer Whether hath that man faith in Christ that is not changed in the nature and is not the liar and slenderer an unbeleever and of the cursed nature yea or no Answ He that hath faith in Christ is a new Creature and the liar and slanderer is an unbeleever and if he live and dye in that condition his state is very sad though if he turn there is hope for him therefore repent and turn quickly or else look ro your selvs for you are the men as is clear by your discourse 9. Quaer Whether any receive Christ Who receive him not into him if not shew how Christ can be received and whether many professe him not which never receive him Ans Christ as he is man as he was a sacrifice for sin cannot be received really and personally into any but yet he that doth indeed receive the Gospel and beleeve that he was a sacrifice upon the Crosse for his sins doth and hath also received his Spirit into him which giveth him the comfort of these things John 14.26 And secondly there are very many that professe him that at the day of judgment will fall short of eternall life notwithstanding all their profession for as I said before it is not the professor but the sound beleever that shall be saved by him But let the Reader mark how thou condemnest thy own doctrine by this Quaery for thou grantest many professe Christ that never receive him How then hath every man Christ or the light of Christ within him If it be within him either he must receive it or snatch it by force against the will of another however the Scripture saith what is it that thou hast not received yet all men have not received that Jude 19. 10. Quaery Whether to preach for hire for gifts and rewards and to divine for money and to make merchandise of the people for so much a year for preaching to them be not true marks and signes of false prophets or can any give truer signes of false prophets than Isaiah and Micha give yea or nay Ans There are a company of dumb dogs that are crept into the Nation that love give ye and desire to bear rule by their means and they are every one for his gain from their quarter Secondly there are a company of wolvs crept out also having warpped themselvs about with sheeps clothing and these are both alike abominable to the Lord Neither can a man give a more right description of a false prophet than the Prophets and Christ with his Apostles did give therefore examine your selvs 11. Quaer Whether must not the Devill be chained before Christ reign and what is that which chains him and whether art thou come to one of the days of the thousand years yea or no Answ Christ hath two severall times wherein Satan must be bound by him one is at the conversion of sinners the other when he shall come the second time and personally appear and reign in the world to come Again whether I am come to one of the days of the thousand years Ans No because he that doth reign with Christ one of these days shall live and reign with Christ a thousand years Rev. 20.4 But there is never a beleever in the world that doth or in any likelyhood shall live halfe so long before they die or be changed at the coming of the man Christ Jesus 12. Quaer Whether doest thou know any Christ preach or professe any Christ who hath not lightened every man that coms into the world with the light of life or of condemnation And is he not a deceiver that exhorts people for salvation to any other thing then the light of Christ Yea or no And how hath Christ lightened every man if not within him Ans That Christ I preach is the Christ of God who as he is God hath lightened every man that coms into the world wiâ—h conscience and the law which is the light of condemnation but nor of life for the law is the ministration of condemnation 1 Cor. 7.8 And all men have the law and conscience but these will not save them Again there are some that