That Christ was born of a Virgin so his Manhood 〈◊〉 without sin spotless and endued with the Spirit without Measure 〈◊〉 He did in his Holy Actions fulfil the Law 3. All his sufferings 〈◊〉 taken in being at last made an offering for sin he being God as well 〈◊〉 Man these Actions and sufferings are of infinite value now observe Reader not a word of this here in this place by J. C. but only in the general Righteousness manifested in him and by him Now what do the Quakers mean Let Pennington speak pag. 25. What Nature must these sacrifices be of which cleanse the Heavenly things whether of necessity they must be Heavenly If so then whether it was the Flesh and Blood of the Vail or the Flesh and Blood within the Vail Whether it was the Flesh and Blood of the outward Earthly Nature or the Flesh and Blood of the inward Spiritual Nature Whether it was not the Flesh and Blood which Christ took of the first Adams Nature or that of the second Adam's Nature Now John That Righteousness that in the fulness of time was manifested in Christ and by Christ was only the Obedience and Sufferings and Sacrifice of that Spiritual Heavenly Flesh and Blood of the first Adam's Nature that was in the Vail that of the Vail the Body and humane Nature that he had from the first Adam the Righteousness of this and the Sufferings of this is nothing Now let the Reader view the Harlot She is known now She is in her own Whorish Attire J.C. pag. ibid. And in due time made mine by the work and application of the Spirit in my inner parts Answ True we say that this Righteousness spoke of is really made mine thus The Spirit works Faith in my inward parts whereby I view it apprehend it receive it for my self having need of it therefore called so often the Righteousnss of Faith Through faith in his 〈◊〉 in Rom. 3. and it is really mine Faith is the substance of things hoped 〈◊〉 But now hear Penington Mysteries of the Kingdom pag. 17. Convered to the Creature in and through the seed and brought forth in the Creature by the seed and the Creature united to Christ in the seed here is Justification of Life This is the application of the Spirit in their sence This Righteousness is the Light Christ the heavenly flesh that was in the vail The seed through which it is conveyed is Christ and the Seed that brings it forth is Christ and the Seed in which the Creature is united to Christ is Christ the Light within every man The sum is then accâ—ording to Penington Christ the Light in every man is conveyed to the Creature by Christ and brought forth by Christ and the Creature is united to this Christ in Christ the Light This is John Crooks application of the Spirit Deny Peningtons Divinity if thou darest J. C. parag ibid. And God is well pleased or satisfied in and with him in whom I am accepted and not for works of righteousness that I have done nor yet for the works sake only or quatenus works though wrought in me by his Spirit but in and for the sake of him that works in us and for us Isa 26.12 Answ Would any think that it is the same man that writes a little further so much against my asserting that our own Righteousness consists in those Vertues and Gifts that the Holy Spirit works in our minds and that this is not the Righteousness in which we are accepted Oh would not any think that John had fully yielded herein to me and that he was very sound in this point and no Papist But now pray let us conster it by their own Dictionary and see what it will speak And God is well pleased and satisfied in and with him If this him was to be understood of the true Christ we need not one word further But Remember what the Quakers Christ is viz. the Heavenly Flesh Blood and Bones that came down from Heaven not Jesus of Nazareth and it is the man in every Male and Female that preacheth among the Quakers it is nothing but the Light in every man which is called the Spirit in the inward parts immediately before God is well pleased with this and satisfied with the Light and I am accepted in the Light he means and not for the works of Righteousness which I have done here is Pauls words but the Quakers sence still no but for the works of Righteousness that the Light does and are wrought in the Light that every man hath Naylor Love to the lost pag. 64. yet it is speaking of self-Sanctification and Mortification the Work of God wrought by Christ in the Believer whereby such become his workmanship in Christ Jesus wrought into 〈◊〉 Obedience and his Obedience into them in the measure till they 〈◊〉 of one heart one mind one Soul one Flesh one bone one blood 〈◊〉 one Obedience and one Life and that it is no more we that live 〈◊〉 Christ that lives in us Now by this line you may fathom to the 〈◊〉 the Mystery of works of Righteousness which he hath done i. e. J. C. did them not but Christ the Light in him it was the Obedience of that Light wrought into him and he made one Soul flesh blood with this Christ the Light in every one ye know what Naylor made himself Thou now Reader sees the snare and trap uncovered this Divinity will bring you to this that the Personality of J. C. is lost and his personal actions are all lost when he prays or preaches it is Christ Prayeth and Preacheth not John Crooks and that Christ and he are both one Person Such monsters have been among the Quakers J. C. not for the works sake only or quatenus works though wrought in me by the Spirit Answ For the works sake only why then J.C. thou would have the works that are wrought by the Spirit have some share in acceptation thou would not have it only for their sakes which we may thank thee for but partial causes they must be Christ of himself and his Merit is not sufficient unless something wrought by the Light in us doth joyn its Merit with him but this Phrase quatenus works why if not as works how 〈◊〉 as they are Christ the Light and his Obedience as before according in Naylors sense J. C. Wrought in me by the Spirit but in and for the sake of him that works all our good works in us and for us Answ That is plainly it is for the Lights sake in which the Quakers works all their works that the Quakers do are accepted and which doth work all their works in them and for them J. C. pag. 10. Thou believest to be saved by a Righteousness wholly without thee reckoned but not real which Righteousness Christ wrought 1600. years since Answ And I do J. C. solemnly profess in the presence of God Angels and Men that I believe that Righteousness
other Men. Reply That Scripture John 1.9 which thou bringest will not prove this viz. That every one that cometh into the World is lighted i. e. savingly by the Light of Christ for that Phrase cometh into the World hath reference to that Word Christ not the Word Man as appears by another Scripture John 12.46 I am come a Light into the World so that it 's said this Was the true Light having Respect to the person of Christ taking Flesh thus coming into the World he was the greatest Light and brought the greatest Light that ever was by his Preaching working Miracles giving the Spirit but saith not here that he is the Light in every one Now the other viz. that Lighteth every Man this cannot be meant universally of every individual Man or Woman in the World because many at that day were in darkness v. 5. The Light shined in darkness but the darkness comprehended it not Christ was among them yet they were darkness and they cannot be said to have a saving Light in them and yet be called darkness for then their state would be changed from darkness to Light Again the Apostles are the Light of the World will it therefore follow that all the Heathens and every one was Lighted within by them that they were that Light within that every Man hath It s said of Paul warning eâ—every Man and teaching every Man Col. 1.28 did Paul warn every individual Man and Woman in the World That Christ as a Creator doth give some kind of Light to every one may be granted to thee but not as a saving Light that must be as a Mediator thou must seek another Scripture It 's at hand Baily Titus 2. If the Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men then it appeared to the Heathens for they were Men. Reply It should have been said in the last Proposition viz. to all the Heathens to the Heathens it did for many of them were converted by the Preaching of the Gospel but what is this to thy purpose the Light in every Man cannot be called the Grace of God in that I proved it to be a Natural Light before But withal how camest thou to be so mistaken if thou hadst minded the Margin it would have corrected the reading but thou wast not willing it is not so in the Greek as thou reads it viz. hath appeared to all Men neither ought it to be rendred in the translation but thus the Greek hath it The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation to all Men hath appeared this then will not effect thy business yet unless thou wilt say that this bringing Salvation to all Men will do it but if Salvation be brought to every individual then every one is saved surely then it was only to every one that was saved by it The Third Argument of Bayly is W. H. calls it the Deity Ergo. This is a notorious falshood it 's well if not maliciously perverting my plain words I have given a fair account of it in my Answer to Crook Pag. here thou acts not according to the Light to do as thou wouldst be dealt withal The Fourth Argument is drawn from the Fruits of this Tree which thou Blasphemously calls the Tree of Life which should be spoke of the Person of Christ He and He only is the Tree of Life The young Man saith the Light that every Man hath is not the Light of the Spirit of Christ i. e. Of Regeneration and Faith because of it's Fruits which were these three 1. It taught that the first motions to evil arising in the heart if not consented to were not sin 2. That the Doctrine of Justification was a Doctrine of Libertinism 3. That Salvation was by our own Righteousness Now thou speakest not a word here to this corrupt Fruit that sprang from that which thou callest the Tree of Life but let us hear what the Fruits are as thou sayest Baily 1. Thou sayest It assented to the word of Christ and his Apostles therefore it must be the Spirit of Christ Reply The Devil did assent to the words of the Scripture it will follow then according to thy Arguing which I may not write 2. It doth not assent to all the Scripture which the Spirit of Christ doth for it taught him contrary as you may see in these three things 3. It assented only to the Abstaining from outward Evils which foolish talking and jesting were which it may do and yet not be the Spirit of the Son as I will make appear plainly in the Answer to thy next proof 2. Fruit. It convinced him of Evil and let us joyn the four following to this for they are all of the same nature 3. Kept him from stealing 4. From Lying that of few words was spoke to before 5. From doing any wrong outwardly sinning outwardly 6. It gave him strength and power to do that which was good in the sight of God and Men. Reply In this last passage thou greatly wrongs the young Man and in that other likewise viz. and delivered him from it his words are that he had power over Evil and was delivered but not that this Light within gave him the Power but let it go as thou wouldest have it what from all these therefore is thy conclusion It is the Spirit of Truth the Comforter that leads into all Truth pag. 30. Reply Then had Judas the Spirit of Truth that leadeth into all Truth the Comforter for the was convinced of sin and so the most wicked Man under Heaven hath sometimes convictions for sin 2. Then the young Rich Man had the Spirit of Truth the Comforter for he could say touching the commands of the Law All these have I done So had Paul before his Conversion while a Persecutor and Blasphemer for at that time he could say of himself touching the Law blameless Phil. 3. likewise by this Reasoning of thine the Pharisee had the Spirit the Comforter that thanked God he was not as others nor as the Publican Luke 18. it 's said Matth. 12.44 of the Jews that they were swept and garnished yet Satan entred outward Reformation of Life doth not evince the Spirit 's indwellings 7. Fruit. He had Joy Peace and Comfort in obeying the Light Therefore it is the Comforter the Spirit of Truth Reply Then had Paul the Comforter the Spirit of Truth before his Conversion Rom. 7.9 I was alive without the Law once What is that But that he had Peace before he came to have the Spiritual Knowledg of the Law convincing him that desires after evil though not consented to were sin 2. If all Peace was true then this Fruit would argue it to be the Spirit of Christ but all Peace is not right good true else why doth Christ say my Peace I leave with you John 14. and the Apostle speaks of the Peace of God that passeth all understanding c. 3. There can be no Good Conscience nor true Peace without Faith in the
those that are chose in him Is the Light within the Elect Seed Then it must be saved yet it goeth to Hell with many how comes that to 〈◊〉 But ye lose your selves for want of found knowledg and sound 〈◊〉 you speak you know not what following your Teachers 〈◊〉 chusing to use them rather than Scripture-Language The four next lines I have Answered before in the Body of the Book 〈◊〉 in the last line of the 55 Page thou callest it the Light of the Son of 〈◊〉 and a little before The Son of God and Elect-Seed See thy â—onsistency Mary Which he hath given for a Leader to his people to lead out of all 〈◊〉 into all Truth And those that have followed the Lord fully and â—â—â—thfully therein have found Life and Salvation According to that 〈◊〉 he shall save his people from their sins not in their sins Answ What an Efficacy hath Error upon the minds of poor people when the Lord hath given them up to blindness of heart How 〈◊〉 thou call the Light within every Man The Leader of the people which is applyed to Christ's Person in the Prophets who leadeth 〈◊〉 people by his Spirit in the use of the Holy Scriptures Is Nature â—me the Leader Fallen blind Nature the Captain of your Salvation What tumbling into Ditches must there then needs be What a â—phetess art thou in Israel to say likewise that this Light is Jesus 〈◊〉 therefore had that Name given it as it was to be born of Mary His 〈◊〉 shall be called Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins So 〈◊〉 why not Emanuel as well God with as in us God have merâ—â— on thee It 's Recorded in History that when some malevolent Spirits 〈◊〉 a mind to make disturbance in the Nation in the absence of the 〈◊〉 their treasonable way was to set up a Counterfeit to whom 〈◊〉 would give the Name of him that had Right to the Crown Thus 〈◊〉 Quakers do give all the Names Titles Attributes to the Light 〈◊〉 every Man that is but Nature that this way they might lift 〈◊〉 into the Throne of God Which is desperate Treason against Christ the Lord. Whose Glory he will not give to another Mary And therefore come down out of that high and lofty Spirit and 〈◊〉 that which convinceth thee of sin For all that will not how thereâ—â— will be broken thereby Answ The Law of Moses is greater than the Light that every Man â—â—th It will shew more sin in Man than the Light can Rom. 7. 〈◊〉 not known sin but by the Law But to make the Law of Moses Jesus Christ would be an intoleraâ—ble thing But it 's a higher villanie to make Nature to be the Christ 〈◊〉 to be be worshipped as here thou dost At the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow Phil. 2. 10. To the Law in my Conscience I have been faithful in 〈◊〉 drive me to Christ the Mediator By the Law is the Knowledg of 〈…〉 is this or the Light within every Man That Jesus that every 〈◊〉 must bow to Doth either the Law or the Light within convince of 〈◊〉 in order to drive to it self as the Saviour O what darkness is 〈◊〉 Christ and none but he is that Stone that whoever trusts not to 〈◊〉 be broken to pieces Mary There is not an easier way unto Life for thee than there 〈◊〉 for us Answ The Scripture saith Luke 13.24 Many shall seek to 〈◊〉 and shall not be able Many of the Jews did strive but missed 〈◊〉 they sought it as it were by the Works of the Law Rom. 9. 〈◊〉 as the Gentiles that followed not after Righteousness did attain to 〈◊〉 Righteousness of Faith You Quakers go the same way with the Pharisees I know thâ— Christ Jesus is the only way the Veil of his Flesh Faith in this 〈◊〉 10. He that confesseth with his Mouth the Lord Jesus and believeth 〈…〉 heart that God hath raised him from the dead shall be saved The Spirit make this way short and easie The work of the Law upon my Conscience hath compelled me to this way And this is the way for 〈…〉 you will be saved He that believeth not shall be damned Exceâ— Believe saith Christ that I am He ye shall die in your sins 〈◊〉 8. 24. Mary And yet we have no Cause to complain of a burdensome Yoke or that the Lord is a hard Master For the Yoke of Christ is easie and 〈◊〉 Burden is Light Answ Following the Dictates of Nature is not the Yoke of Christ for it leads into the Covenant of Works which is a heavy-Yoke 〈◊〉 work for Life And ye are under it And as many as are of the 〈◊〉 of the Law are under a Curse Galat. 3.10 Only you relieve your 〈◊〉 with that which is false As thou mayest see pag. 56. viz. that â—â—ons to evil within us are not sin if not consented to And so 〈◊〉 interpret the Law as the Pharisees that thought they kept it 〈…〉 they broke not out into external sins Christ is no hard Master For he gives strength to do that which he commands But the Light of nature is not our Master as it is yours For we call no thing nor person Master but Christ Jesus to teach us by his Spirit Mary And do not flatter thy self with vain hopes of our fall For the 〈◊〉 look for that shall perish in their holes 〈…〉 My hopes are that your Errors shall be blasted that every which the Father hath not planted shall be plucked up by the Roots This Hope shall not be in vain If I live not in the Body to see it yet 〈◊〉 be If the Tares which the Envious one hath sown grow till the 〈◊〉 they shall then be weeded out and thrown into the Fire The â—ture speaks it And now it is sufficiently manifest to all the Counâ—â— that there are great Errors amongst you You have been weighed 〈◊〉 found too light tryed and found dross 〈◊〉 For we are built upon the Rock of Ages and though the storm â—ction beat on one hand and the raging Sea which casts up mire and in the other hand yet shall we stand for our foundation is immoveable the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against us Answ O that ye were built upon Christ the Rock His Person is Rock of Eternity not the Light that is in every Man but the of Man Christ Jesus This is the foundation the Apostles laid and 〈◊〉 can any of Right lay But ye have gone about to lay another 〈◊〉 your building is according to the foundation You may hold out in an hour of Mans Persecution and Opposition but 〈◊〉 the Tempestuous Sea of Gods Justice beats upon you and his bilâ— go over you and the Whirlwind of his fiery indignation â—â—eth upon you in an hour of Death and in the day of Eternal â—â—â—gment to come the Sandy foundation of your own Righteousness â—all and great will be the fall O the sad disappointments of 〈◊〉
about to Answer a notorious Lie except the Lord lead thee to experience it yet dare I speak it viz. That you must unlearn all that you have learned and pull down that fair building of Righteousness and deny that great progress you have as you think made towards Heaven by your doing that which is Good and abstaining from evil Which yet is of use in its place and to deny all that you think is of Christ in you the Light Life Peace within you it must all become as nothing in the point of Justification or to deserve or merit Salvation not that they should be left off in their place And notwithstanding all your Righteousness you must be sensible that you are miserable sinners and you must be as a Man that hath not a bit of Bread to eat nor a rag to cover his nakedness I have said before and say again I mean not that you should turn to a vain Life and Conversation Quest But if there be such a Low estate to come before we attain thâ— Saving-Light which way shall we come to it that we may have the other Answ Thou must not think that if thou art Righteous in thy own sight that thou art so in Gods also Neither if thy Conscience do not Condemn is it enough but apply thy self to the Glass of the Law for by the Law is the Knowledg of sin Rom. 3.20 Remember that God looketh not at the outward appearance but upon the heart 1 Sam. 16.7 and see if thou dost not break the Holy Law of God every day by thought word or deed If there be not wandring Thoughts arising in thee or some evil desires in thee some envy to thy Neighbour or some Covetous desire at some time or other Then remember He that offendeth in one point is guilty of all James 2.10 And if thou shouldst commit sin in ignorance thy ignorance will not excuse thee but thou standest guilty before God Luke 23.34 Neither yet say in thy heart though I do not keep it I shall come up to it in time and so rest here When-as thou knowest not but death may seize on thee the next hour Again forget not this that God requireth a continual keeping of his Law Gal. 3.10 Deut. 27.26 And much more might be said as to this Try now thy self by this written Law and see if thou dost not break it frequently and by all the power thou hast canst not keep it as thou oughtest This is the way for thee to see thy self poor and naked miserable and undone without the personal Righteousness of Christ to justify thee Obj. But you say If the Righteousness by which we are justifyed be wholly without and satisfaction made 1600 years ago for all sin the Deâ—â— may play what Cards he will there is no need to fear the loss of Salvation through Miscarriages pag. 35. Thus indeed did I think once as well as you as you may see pag. 16. of my Book Answ And as I said in that my Book in Answer so say I here again from my own experience Whoso counteth it a Doctrine tending to â—y Unrighteousness they never truly knew the want of a Saviour But this Objection is no new thing For after Paul had spoke of being made Righteous by the Obedience of one Rom. 5.19 in Chap. 6. v. 1. 〈◊〉 brings in this very Objection presently What shall we continue in sin 〈◊〉 Grace may abound he meeting with what was in their Spirits v. 2. 〈◊〉 forbid how shall we that are dead unto sin live any longer therein As if he had said is it possible can this be Will it not be abhorred If Christ dyed for the sins of his people that so many as believe on him are buried with him and as he had victory over Death so have they by Faith Will not this Influence their Spirits so as to live to the praise of his Glory What if they are delivered from the loss of Salvation which the Scriptures speak Isa 55.3 Acts 13.34 Jer. 31 3â— John 6.37 Psal 89.30 31 32 33. Doth it therefore follow that they should go on in wickedness and not love and fear God Though their Life and Salvation consists not in it or their Reconciliation or acceptance with God They ought to fear and love him but it is as a Father not as a Condemning Judg But as being taken into Everlasting Covenant with him as having the Inheritance sure to them and not for fear of losing it and being cast out If they transgress his will presumptuously he deals with them as a Father with Children in love Châ—stiseth them which way he pleaseth Heb. 12.5 6 7 8. Prov. 3.12 Now a Son loveth his Father because he is his Father So it is with the people of God yet the Relation of a Father and a Son standeth â—â—re So doth the relation of God and his people through Faith So that when they sin as we said he correcteth them because he loveth them and delighteth in them And how great a difference is there betwixt the Correction of a Father and the Sentence of a Judg But W. Baily Thou Objectest That was a needless Doctrine to bid his Disciples watch and Pray lest they entred into Temptation and of Peter who bid them Give all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure Mat. 26.41.2 Pet. 1.10 as in pag. 35. of thy Book Answ O no! Though the matter of Justification be sure on God's part viz. the Righteousness of Christ and the Merit of Christ his fulfilling the Law and being the end of it and this he doth manifest to his people by degrees working Faith in them Our State is sure and certain on Gods part His foundation is sure yet as to us it is brittle and very uncertain considered in our selves by reason of our Corruption that dwelleth in our Flesh and the many Enemies we have within and without carnal reason gets up and it contendeth in our Breasts saying what Foolishness is this to trust to the Righteousness of another What must ye not be Righteous in your selves and can ye be Righteous else and unbelief gets up and saith what will ye believe that the promises of God are true That ye are made Righteous by the Obedience of Christ That he for you hath overcome Sin Death and the Devil how can this be when sin dwelleth in your Flesh to this day and the Law cometh with its Threatning to bring trouble upon the Spirit The Devil accusing and stirring up the Enemies of the Gospel to lay false Notions and errors and stumbling-blocks in the way and the half of our selves Warring against the other The Flesh against the Spirit and so hinders the view and sight of the Gospel for a time and our Faith is very weak and low As I may say by experience How many dark and gloomy hours have I met with in my life-time What ups and downs What struglings in my Spirit very often sometimes tossed in my Spirit
Ainsworth the corrupt Doctrines of the Jews Now Josephus will tell thee that the Fruit which grew in the place where Sodom and Gomorrah stood was always Bitter and of a Poysonous Nature nay the Grapes and Apples there were so Rotten that if touched they would fall into Dust and Ashes that were fair to the Eye But you delight in such Childish quibbles J. C. pag. 16. Thy following words taste of the same Leaven like those Pharisees that said Christ was a Sinner when he had opened the blind Mans Eyes Let God have the Glory so sayest thou let Christ have the Glory for bringing this young Man amongst you Answ How wide art thou in applying this of the Pharisees the Pharisees did think Christ was a sinner we Believe he is the Holy and just One a Lamb without spot harmless and undefiled such an High-Priest became us to have They did not Believe that Christ was God therefore would not give the Glory to him We Believe according to the Scriptures that he is and was over all God blessed for ever Rom. 9. and therefore we give the Glory of all his works and of this work of his upon the young Mans heart in opening the Eyes of his mind to see the glorious Gospel and discern your delusion who was in his first Birth Spiritually-blind Thou and thy Brethren are worse than the Pharisees they acknowledged matter of fact but you deny this young Mans Eyes to have been opened when-as the most inlightened Servants of Christ whos 's same is in all the Churches of the Saints have owned it as an eminent work of the Spirit giving thanks to Christ for it J. C. pag. 5. Again thy words None of those that went out from you were properly of you had Received the Gospel which you Believe No it is not possible for any to receive it truely and forsake it What that Gospel is which you Believe it concerns you to search that it be not another Gospel Gal. 16. than the Apostles Preached Answ It doth highly concern us I grant for we are saved by the Gospel Therefore we have searched the Scripture which you despise and say is not the Rule Where do you search for the Gospel You enquire of the Light within as of the Oracle Therefore that Gospel which we Believe is not another but the same with that which the Apostles Preached We are Built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Christ himself not the Light within being the chief Corner-Stone Ephes 2.20 The Gospel which we Believe is that Good Ancient Everlasting-Gospel which was revealed to Adam fallen and in vain was that Revelation if the Light within would have shewn it viz. The seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents bead The Light within cannot be said to be the Seed of the Woman When the Woman that is not to Prophecy in the Church according to your interpretation is the Carnal part but it is Christ that in the fulness of time was made of a Woman Gal. 4. Again it is that Gospel that was Preached to Abraham viz. In thy Seed shall all the Nations viz. Jews as well as Gentiles of the Earth be blessed Which Seed the same Apostle in the same Epistle saith is Christ's Person This Gospel is witnessed by the Law and the Prophets and the sum of it is in Rom. 1.1 separate unto the Gospel of Christ v. 3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord who was made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh This is more than to appear in a Body according to J Bolton's Faith and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the Dead in Cor. 1.15 I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you c. v. 3. how that Christ died for our Sins according to the Scriptures v. 4. And that he was Buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures This is the Gospel and we confessing with the mouth this Jesus Christ and Believing with our hearts that God hath raised him from the dead shall be saved Rom. 10.7 For he was delivered i. e. to death for our offences and was raised up again for our justification Rom. 4.25 J. C. For there were those that perverted the true Gospel and turned it upside down and wrested their sayings to their own destruction and others departed from the Faith which Paul Exhorts Timothy to hold fast 1 Tim. 1.19 Answ It 's very true there were such in the Apostles times and they were those that made themselves equal to the Apostles they transformed themselves into the Apostles of Christ and said Paul was but Carnal walked after the Flesh and do not you pretend to an infallible Spirit equal to the Apostolical Spirit And have not you cryed down all sorts of Ministers besides your selves Now what was that perverting the true Gospel in the Galatians but joyning something to Christ in Justification viz. Circumcision whereby they would make every one a debtor to the whole Law that they must keep it to perfection which whether it be not the same thing that thou art pleading for shall be tryed as we go on Only herein these false Apostles were not so much to be blamed as you we read not that they deserted the person of Christ but you have run up and down the Nation with this viz. That the Light in every Man was Christ from that Text John 1. This was the Light c. J. C. That others departed from that Faith which Paul Exhorts Timothy to hold fast Answ Now John what is Paul's Exhortation to Thee Whenas thy Brother Bayly pag. 35. in a derision saith the Scripture which you call your Rule is not your Rule what matters it what Faith you are Exhorted to thereby why do you thus make use of it But let us see what Faith it was that these departed from in I Tim. 1.19 See that v. 20. mention is made of Hymeneus and Alexander Now in the 2 Epistle to Timothy Chap. 2.17 18. Hymeneus is named again and his Error particularly mentioned saying the Resurrection is past already v. 18. Hymeneus was for an Allegorical Resurrection within and now how often have I heard this that when I have spoke with your Friends concerning the Resurrection of the Body viz. That they witnessed the Resurrection They are for an Allegorical Resurrection This old musty Error of Hymeneus we all know you be guilty of Thou hadst better not named that Scripture Thou goest on J. C. pag. 5. And is not the Gospel the power of God Rom. 1.16 and the being led away by sin and lust a departure from or a denyal of the power as 2 Pet. 3.17 where the Apostle exhorts the Beloved that knew the Truth of the Gospel to beware lest they also should be led away with the Error of the wicked Answ The Gospel is the Power of God to Salvation Christ who is the
ashamed I hope J. C. pag. 6. Thou sayest that thy dayly Prayers to Christ are that we all meaning thy Brethren in the Ministery may be made able Ministers of the New Testament and to this it is Answered Then it seems you are not yet so by your own Confession therefore be silent till you are made so Answ Yea and I continue my Prayers for my self and Brethren in this manner yet this doth not follow that there is no ability already to Preach the Gospel John 17.17 Christ prays sanctifie them through thy Word by this way of reasoning it would follow that then these he prays for were not sanctified at all yet in v. 6. he saith he had manifested his Name unto them And v. 8. That they had received his words and in v. 20. That they did Believe not for these alone but for them that shall Believe It is evident that it was for more degrees of Sanctification and a continuance of it so then here when I pray that we may be made able c. it 's for a continuance of that Ability that we have already and further degrees thereof Paul intreats the Colossians Chapt. 4. v. 3. that they would pray for the Apostles that God would open unto them a Door of utterance to speak the Mysterie therefore according to thy Logick they had no faculty for that Work Ephes 1. the Apostle prays that God would give unto them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Therefore though Saints and faithful ones in Christ they had none of the Spirit How wouldst thou have me pray if not thus wouldest thou have me pray that we should be made weak Ministers of the Old Covenant of Works J. C. Pag. 7. Thou sayest thou hast but Law and Gospel to Preach Where in all the New Testament dost thou find the Apostles preaching the 〈◊〉 and saying they were sent to Preach the Law but a Dispensation of the Gospel was committed unto them and they were made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter or Law but of the Spirit Answ It follows in the Epistle which thou mightest have writ the Law for the knowledg of Sin and might have understood by that and what follows that we Preach the Law in order to the Gospel to prepare the Spirit of Man by convincing of Sin and so humbling the Soul to a welcome reception of the Grace of the Gospel the Soul being weary and heavy laden seeing its weakness to keep the Law flies to Christ for Rest and laying hold of the free Remission of sins by the Blood of Christ so that when thou enquirest Where in all the New Testament do I find the Apostles Preaching the Law thou hadst forgot a passage when but three pages lower These are thy words 〈◊〉 And as for the Moral Law Christ is so far from repealing it that in Matthâ— he binds it faster and closer to his Disciples How now John is Christ and the Apostles Ministry in a different way Method and tendency and dost thou not here say the Apostles Preached not the Law in all the New Testament and yet the Apostle of our profession Christ himself Heb. 3.1 preacheth the Law and the Moral Law and to his Disciples and binds it faster than Moses to be kept for Life thou meanest surely of which afterwards But again do not the Apostles in several places speak of the Law explaining the nature use of it Rom. 3. That by the Law is the Knowledge of Sin in the Corinthians the Letter killeth in Galatians how it was added because of Transgression how it is a Schoolmaster to Christ in Timothy how it is not for the Righteous in the Hebrews how frequently is the Law spoke of now is not this Preaching the Law 〈◊〉 grant that the main work was to preach the Gospel they but Preach the Law in subserviency to the Gospel Thus they were Ministers 〈◊〉 of the Letter only for this doth but kill but of the Spirit the Gospel by the dispensation of which the Spirit of Adoption is communicated But Christ wounds as well as heals he kills as well as makes alive The one he doth by the Preaching of the Law the other by the Gospel The Spirit of Bondage accompanies one the Spirit of Adoption the other J. C. ibid. But why dost thou divide betwixt Law and Gospel 〈◊〉 they were not one in the End and Nature saying the one is for the conviction of sin and yet thou callest it Spiritual Answ How this agreeth with the former that in all the New Testament the Apostles Preached not the Law but the Gospel and here they are not thou sayest to be divided but are one in the End and Nature is not this a Contradiction Why then the Apostles when they Preached the Gospel Preached the Law And why shouldest thou quarrel with 〈◊〉 for saying we have the Law to Preach for the Law and the Gospel are one in the End and Nature Why then when the Apostle Paul said we are able Ministers not of the Letter or Law which thou addest above i. e. not of the Gospel or Spirit for the Law and Gospel are all one in their Nature it will cost thee some Sweat to untie this Knot What strange Divinity is this But when the Lord hath infatuated and left 〈◊〉 through Pride to delusion what will they not speak Law and Gospel are one in the End and Nature then are Moses and Christ one yet 〈…〉 came by Moses but Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ then Haâ— Sarah are one Ishmael and Isaac one Jerusalem beneath and that above one Thou hast brought Heaven and Earth together Gal. 〈◊〉 there the Apostle makes them distinct then the Covenants are one and the same Heb. 8. one made with the People when he brought them out of Egypt and that afterwards spoke of in Jeremiah then no difference betwixt Mount Zion and Mount Sinai they are come toâ—â—â—â—â— Thou John canst remove Mountains they are now both one In the Galatians The Covenant and Promise the Apostle saith was 430 years before the Law but John Crook saith the Apostle was out in his Chronology for they were both delivered at once for the Law and Gospel are one the Spirit and Letter are all one that which was Engraven in Stones and that work of God on the heart by the Gospel This is like the Divinity that you may hear from Quakers when you have discoursed them a little which I have seen in Jacob Behmen All things are but one so here Light Spirit Word and Gospel Heaven and Earth and Sea all but one The Creation is God and God is nothing but Creation what we do he doth O Confusion what 〈◊〉 this to but Rantism indeed and Atheism yet hitherto tends this admitting of no distinction of Law and Gospel But let us proceed 〈…〉 were not one in their End and Nature thou sayest John the Nature of the Law is by the Apostle described in 2 Cor. 3.6 the
good Works and yet sin remain in a Person and that Person notwithstanding be at Peace with God Paul in Rom. 7. complains of sin yet saith there is no condemnation Rom. 8.1 But the plain English of this is none have any Faith nor good Works but are in sin and Rebellion against God but the Quakers that obey the Light as their Christ these only must be said to have Righteousness imputed i. e. Put into them J. C. Pag. 11. In the next place Thou bringest forth thy own strange â—â—nceivings about Mans own Righteousness thou sayest our own Righteousness consists in those Gifts and Vertues which the Spirit of God works in ouâ— minds and we express these outwardly in the Observation of the Moral-Law in our walkings among Men. This is such an heap of Confusion that I remember not the like Answ Let it be Fairly tryed J. C. pag ibid. The Scripture calls what is wrought by the Holy Spirit in us the Vertues of Christ 2 Pet. 1.3 5. Answ It should follow Ergo It is an heap of Confusion to say that the Vertues that the Spirit works in Man is his own Righteousness as if Christ might not work Vertues in our hearts which we express in our Lives and yet these be but our own Righteousness but must needs be Christ's personal Righteousness as if because the Spirit of Jesus works Love in me Therefore it is not my Love and Wisdom therefore not my Wisdom If I be by Christ's Spirit enabled to walk in his Commandements therefore it is not my own Righteousness but Dent. 6.25 Moses saith it is See the weakness of thy reasoning Let me â—ell thee with all this none ever did or can shew forth Christ's Vertues in their Lives that were not first justified by imputed Righteousness neither can add any Vertue to their Knowledg c. according to that Scripture in Peter those he writes to there it 's plain he supposeth them Saints Believers in Christ that were forgiven and pardoned see the beginning of the Epistle of Peter J. C. Pag. ibid. To be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace Rom. 8.6 Then according to thy Interpretation we must have Life and Peace in our own Righteousness Answ Understand but the Scripture aright and there is no danger to draw such a Conclusion as this from thence viz. that therefore we must have Life and Peace in that Spiritual-mindedness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Wisdom of the Spirit in opposition to the Wisdom of the Flesh But let us enquire what this Wisdom of the Spirit is v. 9. So then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God now Hebrews 11. Without Faith it is impossible to please God why Then to be in the Flesh is to be without Faith to receive Christ's Righteousness By Faith Abel offered a more acceptable Sacrifice Heb. 11. So then the Wisdom of the Spirit is to Believe and Receive the Doctrine of forgiveness of Sins and that no Condemnation is to them that are in Christ to receive this in opposition to the Building as the Jews did upon Fleshly Priviledges being Abraham's Seed c. And leaning to the way of the Covenant of Works Now the Wisdom of the Spirit is thus rightly understood i. e. The Spirit gives Wisdom in this Doctrine of imputed Righteousness and hereupon comes Life and Peace Rom. 5. Being justified by his Blood we have Peaces So that Life and Peace ariseth not by Looking to this Wisdom and Spirituality for that is imperfect but in that this Wisdom looks to Jesus Christ himself and the advantage we have by him J. C. Parag. ibid. Thus like the foolish Woman dost thou Build an House and pull it down with thy own hands Answ Thou seest the Building raised upon Christ the Foundation stands still and I am so far from pulling it down that my work is to defend it against the assaults of such false Teachers as thy self that would either remove people to another Foundation or ruine all the good Truths that have been built as precious stones upon it and bring in thy Hay and Stubble J. C. Parag. ibid. For take away the Gifts and Vertues which the Spirit of God works in our minds and what remains but a Body of Sin and Death and Thoughts only Evil continually and yet Man as Bold and Confident as if he needed nothing Answ Who ever of us went about by our Doctrine to take away the Gifts and Vertues of the Spirit Thy Conscience gave thee the lye when thou writ this Thou knowest we are for Sanctification and Hâ—liness inward and outward and say there is nothing but Sin Death Flesh Evil where the Spirit of Regeneration is absent which is more than you will say for you say the Spirit is in every one making the Light of Nature and Spirit both one Again Why should you suppose such a thing as this viz. taking away the Gifts of the Spirit when-as we are treating of Righteousness imputed unto them that have Faith Now can any have Faith and have the Gifts of the Spirit taken away But yet shall there be no distinction May not the Gifts and Vertues of the Spirit remain in us and we thereby be Sanctified and yet not Justified by that Righteousness within but by that without us which is the cause of Sanctification J. C. Parag. ibid. As is spoken of the Kings Daughter Ps 45.13 To be all Glorious within is to abound in our own Righteousness according to thy Interpretation Answ There is Glory I grant in Sanctification but a greater in Justification Christ's personal Righteousness is far more Glorious than our Righteousness yea than the Righteousness of Angels Whoever hath it by Faith as the Church here are glorious both within and without both Souls and Bodies our Beauty lies in his own Comeliness that he puts upon us Ezek. 16. I do but query whether this Glory of the Church set forth by Gold and Embroideries be not rather the Righteousness imputed to her than any thing else or whether we may not take it so viz. That the Church while in the World is ragged and squalid through Afflictions and Persecutions but yet there is an inward Glory by reason of Christ's Love towards her which is discerned by her Spiritual Children when others see it not and how can this be understood of Sanctification when-as she is said to be all Glorious within yet this Work is not perfect in any as to degree but there remaineth sin in them But let it be understood as thou wilt of the Vertues of the Spirit We are not against having of these and abounding in them but would not have any to trust in them they being imperfect to justifie them but give the Glory of this to Christ's Righteousness wrought out 1600 years since J. C. Par. ibid. 2. Pet. 1.5 8. Speaking of the Vertue of Christ He that lacketh these things is blind Answ So he is but now John see what Vertues those were try whether
our Persons it is nothing but Sanctification the Quakers think nay nothing but an Obedienâ—â— to the Light that every Man hath B. According to the Scriptures of Truth Reply But yet not worthy to be the Quakers Rule it s well we call these Scriptures our Rule which are owned by the Quakers to be Scriptures of Truth B. And yet desire that the Gifts and Vertues that the Spirit of God works in our minds may stand Reply But why dost not thou speak out do you desire that they should stand for Justification B. Had not Gamaliel more Wisdom and Patience c. Who said iâ— the Work was of God it would stand and they could not overthrâ—â— it Reply That work was the Preaching of this Doctrine that we assert as thou mayst read in Acts 3.30 31. The Death of Christ and his Exaltation and Repentance and Remission of sins through him which Doctrine ye do plainly oppose and instead of Jesus of Nazareth ye set up Nature in his stead and say B. Man's own Righteousness is Rotten and must fail as in the last page of your Book Reply The young Man speaks this of a Righteousness that some go about to set up in opposition to the Righteousness of Christ apprehending which is true that there is no Christian that hath any 〈◊〉 of an inherent Righteousness but is so much inlightned that â—eseeth the way of Justification by the blood of Christ whoever then hath any such thoughts to make inward Righteousness to stand for Justification have indeed no true inward Righteousness but it s meerly 〈◊〉 they never had the Spirit aright nor Faith how can their Righteousness be but Rotten though indeed comparatively to Christ's personal Righteousness all Righteousness is but Rotten in that there 〈◊〉 mixture of the Flesh in the exercising all the parts of it though the Spirit of God be holy and pure that is the Author of it B. Who is Antichrist now W. H. the Quaker or thee Read 1 John 〈◊〉 3 4. and consider Reply It 's well W. B. If thou wouldest stand to the Test of this Scripture have you confessed that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh 〈◊〉 which of the Quakers you will say ever denyed the History 〈◊〉 do not the Devils own the History to be true yea they gave their Testimony That he was the Son of God Mat. 8.29 Then this is not 〈◊〉 there must be something more Now surely Christ's coming 〈◊〉 Flesh was for some end some great end we ask what it was To be a propitiation or only as an Example if you think that Christ 〈◊〉 not to offer up himself as a Sacrifice to atone Justice and so to expiate for sin you do deny Christ to be come in the Flesh Again what is become of that Flesh we say it 's in being still in Heaven Christ is 〈◊〉 still hath the Nature of Man in Union with the Godhead but 〈◊〉 for you to cry up a Light in every Man to be the Christ the Mediator and so to overturn the Manhood of Jesus you plainly deny Christ to be come in the Flesh he is come in the Flesh in Man's Nature you say but that Nature is vanished you conceive and Christ withâ—â—◠〈◊〉 a great Idol as Pennington writ in a letter to Cobbet And must this Manhood of Christ ever be seen again no we are called Gazers by the Quakers that speak any such thing Why but surely this waâ— implyed in this comprehensive Character viz. Christ to be come in the Flesh Is not he in that Nature to Judg the World Acts 17. by 〈◊〉 Man whom he hath appointed was not this one end why he took it â—â— him but the Quakers deny any second coming but that coming to their Spirits and hearts in Obedience to the Light now who is Antichriâ—â— Baily To deny the Propitiation Sacrifice to say there is no Justification No Remission of sins indeed no Resurrection of Christ For if Christ 〈◊〉 no Manhood now how can we say his Body rose what became 〈◊〉 after the Resurrection no Ascension no Intercession no second 〈◊〉 therefore by all my discourse with them and perusing of their Writings I believe it thorowly and believed it when I writ and writ it then deliberately calmly and so do now and am willing to 〈◊〉 of your Faces in the most solemn publick Meetings you have to make it good that your Doctrine is Antichristian and in Diametrical opposition to the Apostles Doctrine B. For we can prove our Doctrine to be parallel with the Doctrine of the Apostles and Christ himself by the Scriptures of Truth Reply I suppose thou meanest that the Doctrine George Fox brought out of the North is of equal authority with that of the Apostles Paul Peter and John what ever it was nay with that of Christ in that George Fox was as infallibly inspired as any of them thou Judgeâ— in this 38. Page the Reader may take notice of this passage B. I testifie for God you call his true and faithful Witness in you 〈◊〉 Devil Reply Is this one of the Testimonies that the Quakers give for God to testify to a Lye a plain Lye Where do we call his true 〈◊〉 faithful Witness in us the Devil The Devil the young man 〈◊〉 had two Cards to play which were Objections c. The sum is thâ— viz. He was tempted once to be loose upon the breaking in of Light and again to despair upon misapprehension that only sins to the 〈◊〉 of Conversion were taken away by the blood of Christ Now 〈◊〉 is it but the Devil that would drive Souls either into Loosness or Despair but how any can say that he calls the Light within the Devil from hence I see not There is only thus much in it that after God undeceived him and had shewn him that the Light within was not the Christ nor sufficient for Salvation but rather misguided himâ—â—â— several things and then the Spirit of Jesus did truly lead him to 〈◊〉 right Christ and gave him some sound knowledge then steps in Sâ—tan with his Temptations to blind and mislead him Thou mightest 〈◊〉 well say that when-as it is writ That Christ spoke to Peter Get 〈◊〉 behind me Satan that was the Light within Christ calls it Satan Wheâ— he told Peter that Satan had a desire to Winnow him i. e. the Light within the true and faithful Witness he speaks this of B. It 's the Word of the Lord unto you all Reply And yet quarrels with us for calling the Scriptures the Word 〈◊〉 B. And thou W. H. saith the Quakers catch many simple hearts and 〈◊〉 them in perfect Popish Slavery and Bondage and callest them Foxes 〈◊〉 Seducers Reply This hath been made good abundantly in the Answer to Crook where he takes notice of the same thing and here is not a word spoke 〈◊〉 to any purpose to invalidate my Charge Let the Reader new my Lines which would be tedious to transcribe Only pag. 39. 〈◊〉
while in his Natural State knoweth not hingof this It is a Riddle as it was to Nicodemus that had more than the Light within the Light of the Scriptures 7. The Mystery of the Redemption of Man from the Fall by the Sacrifice of Christ It 's utterly ignorant of it cannot see any thing of it nor shew it to Man But this seems foolishness to Man the Doctrine of being saved by the Cross of Christ It was so to the Greeks and is so to the Quakers at this day None of the Heathens therefore spoke any thing of Redemption by Christ if they did they had it from Moses Writings and the Prophets No these things are too high 1. That very God should become very Man 2. That a Virgin should bring forth 3. That by giving up that Body that he took into Union with himself unto Death he should make Atonement to God's Justice and expiate for all the sins of all those that were given to him These Man that hath no more than the Common Light cannot will not receive 8. The Resurrection of the same Body is a thing that this Light will not discover It is only the Scripture-Revelation The Heathens knew nothing of this but it was a scorn to them Jesus and the Resurrection And the Quakers attending to the Light within more than the Scriptures do err as to this Truth and gain say it 9. It cannot shew That the Soul of a Saint is immediately with Christ upon the departure from the Body nor indeed any thing of a future state This must be known by Scripture-Revelation According to that 2. Tim. 1.10 Life and Immortality was brought to Light through the Gospel 2. There is a Light that every Man hath not but is peculiar to the Saints Those that are born again and converted from their fallen Estate and condition and put into another state through Christ Jesus This we have proved before from the Scriptures only will add thus much viz. God suffered all Nations it 's said to walk in their own waies Acts 14.16 but had at that time a people Israel in the midst of the Nations Of whom he said Psal 147. He shewed his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and Judgments unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they have not known them Here it 's plain he gave Light and Knowledg to Israel and suffered others to walk in their Natural blindness 3. This Light is at the same time in a Saint with the other that is 〈◊〉 saving Light 4. This Light is a true Light as to it 's kind and Nature as far as it will reach 5. But that this Light that every Man hath and that we speak of which every one hath not are two different Lights as to kind and Nature and not only as to Degree as the Quakers would have it I prove as followeth 1. If the Roots from whence these two Lights do spring be different then the Lights differ in Kind and Nature But the former is true Ergo. Christ as a Creator is the Root and Fountain of this that every one hath but Christ as Mediator is the Root of the Light that the Saints have I prove that the Light that every Man hath is from Christ only as Creator If whatever Adam had in his State of Innocency was only from Christ as Creator not as Mediator Then this Light that every Man hath is only from thence But the former is true Ergo. If the Light that every Man hath be only a remnant of that same Light that Adam had in Innocency Then the consequence will hold But it is only a remnant c. Ergo. If it be nothing but Nature then the Minor of the last Syllogism is true viz. that it is nothing but a remnant of the Light that Adam had in Innocency But it 's no more than Nature which I have proved before Argument 2. If the Light that every one hath differ only in Degree and not in Kind from the Spirit of Regeneration then the most wicked ungodly person may be said to be truly Gracious and Sanctified and Regenerated though not in such a high Degree as a Godly one For the smallest Wire of good Gold is as truly Gold as the whole Wedg though not so much Water hot in the second or third Degree is as truly hot as that which is hot in the sixth or eighth Degree He that is strong in a less Degree is as truly strong as he that is in a greater Degree But what a ridiculous thing is it to say that the most wicked Man is a true Believer a true Saint When-as he is so far from this that he is not truely Moral and Civil 3. If they differ only in Degree then a Regenerate Man and an unregenerate differ no more from one another than a Babe in Christ and one strong in Christ But to say this is false Ergo. 4. If having the Light within be consistent with all manner of Wickedness and continuing in it to the end but the having of the other Light is not Then they surely differ in Nature and Kind But the former is true as all see and know daily Many that have the Light within which the Quakers speak of are Wicked Ungodly and continue â—â—to the end None that have the Spirit of Regeneration are so and continue so They may fall into sin but do not continue in it nor make a Trade of it He that is born of God cannot sin because he is born of God 1 John 3. 9. 5. If a Man may have the Light within which the Quakers speak of and yet be dead in Sins and Trespasses but not the other but must needs be spiritually alive in that it is the Principle of Spiritual Life then they differ in kind But the former is true For every one had the Light within the Quakers grant But every one is not Spiritually alive but most dead in sins and Trespasses Ergo. 6. If those that have the Light within which the Quakers speak of may go to Hell with it and the damned in Hell have it still in them then they differ more than in Degree But the former is true Otherwise what is that which accuseth in Hell and condemneth in Hell Answer But now to say that any part of the Spirit of Regeneration Adoption goeth to Hell and is in the Damned would be ridiculous if not Blasphemous Ergo. 7. If Flesh and Spirit differ more than in Degree then these two Lights do But surely Flesh and Spirit differ more than in Degree Ergo. All the Light that every Man has as he comes into the World is but Flesh John 3. Whatsoever is born of the Flesh is Flesh Now Flesh and Spirit are so far from being of the same kind that they are contrary one to another and lusteth one against another Baily If thou writest again Answer these Arguments fairly then thou mayest go far to reduce me to thy mind in
of obeying God hath not lost his power of Commanding and he may justly demand that of a Man which he hath wilfully lost and deprived himself of In a Word God condemneth none but those that have freely run on in sin and impenitency to the last And this Baily is Equal and Just Baily But if all Men are lighted with the true Light as I Believe then by your Doctrine some have two Lights another Light besides the True Light Reply It 's no absurdity at all to say that two Lights of two kinds and natures may be in one and the same Soul at one and the same time As the Light of the Sun and Moon are seen at one time in the Air. Baily If it be of another kind speaking of the Light that the Saints have then it must be a false Light because the other is a trâ—â— Light Reply We have granted that the Light every Man hath is a true Light in its kind and so is the other true in it's kind both true yet differ in Kind from one another The Light of the Moon some apprehend differs in Kind from the Suns Light Yet the Light of the Sun is not false because the Moons Light is true An Ass differs in Kind from a Man yet he is as true an Animal as a Man Here is all the strength of Argument I can find Let the Reader now judg who is guilty of confusion and blindness Baily And after thy confused Prayer p. 11. to Christ in thee and to Christ in the Heavens and by and in the Spirit as thou thoughtest thâ— sayest several weeks was I in this trouble making my Condition known to no one because I would not be perswaded to any thing but did wholly rely upon the inward instruction of the Lord Thus did my hope perish How did thou rely upon the inward instruction of the Spirit when thou prayed in that confused manner as aforesaid Consider it Reply He did rely upon them in the same way as the ignorant Quaker doth for he was one at that time and so this Lord was no other than the Light within and the instructions of the Lord that he speaks of no other but the Dictates of Nature No wonder he wandred Nature will not teach the right way of Prayer neither can 〈◊〉 will it shew that the Father through the Mediator Jesus is to Worshipped All may see by this what darkness ye be in in your â—â—ship and what Confusion and that you follow the dictates of 〈◊〉 Light of Nature and leave the Instructions of the Spirit in the Holy Scriptures It 's very lately a Quaker acknowledged she Worshipped Christ within and being ashamed of what she had spoke afterwards said she Worshipped Christ without also May not we say â—â— worship ye know not what Baily Did any ever rely upon the inward Instructions of the Lord and their hope perish Bring one Example for this Reply The Hypocrites hope will perish and every one that makes not Christ Jesus God and Man his Hope is a Hypocrite â— Tim. 1.1 Which is our Hope The inward Instructions of the Spirit lead to this Jesus Christ God and Man and whoever depends upon them in the 〈◊〉 of hearing the Word preached and reading the Scripture For the Spirit teacheth in the Use of these means their hopes shall be strengthned But this dependance was only as he thought upon the spirits teachings That expression viz. As I thought should be taâ—â—n in here But he was mistaken in that they were but Natures Dictates he was guided by when the Spirit came that led him to Christs Righteousness from his own And an Example as thou demandest I give thee in this same Case in Paul before his Conversion Acts 26 2â— I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to 〈◊〉 Name of Jesus of Nazareth He had the Light within at this time be thought this his Duty to Act against this Religion he rested in his Law-Righteousness he surely would have answered any that would have blamed him that he did all by the inward Instructions of the Lord for he followed his Light he verily thought c. it 's said yet in that State of Law-Righteousness his Hope perished Baily Thou sayest thou had'st peace of Conscience by the powerful work of God without thee Is this like Scripture-Language Reply Yea the Spirit doth every-where testify what the young Man instanceth in there viz. That the Fathers preparing a Body for Christ was the Work of the Omnipotent Power of God sixteen hundred years since his bearing sins in that Body and the Curse of the Law his dying in that Body and yet could not be held of Death but rose again God's upholding him in and through all those things was the wonderful work of God without us before thou and I and this young Man had our beings Let the Reader take notice that In Pag. 42. Baily acknowledgeth this that here he snarles at his Woâ—â— are viz. We deny not the Work of God and Christ without And likewise doth not the young Man own a work within This Doctrine he saith was manifest to him in the Spirit that was within surely His next Words are viz. Working Faith in me by this I had Peâ—s of Conscience All this was within Yet all this Work was not the Righteousness that justified him but that was by the powerful work without us in giving Christ for us Near the end of pag. 41. He threatens the young Man with trouble and concludes thus Baily The Lord hath spoke it Reply Doth he not pretend to as high an Inspiration as the Apostles And yet in the next Paragraph bewrays himself to be a weak fallible Man in that he saith Baily The Yoke which W. H. calls the burdensome Yoke Reply Whereas it was the young Man himself alone without the least intermedling of mine that gave this Title to the little Book as I have Witness calling that bondage he was in to the Law of Works when a Quaker the Burdensome-Yoke Baily Page 42. But did not the Saints and People of God in all Ages witness their Salvation and Peace of Conscience by the powerful work of God within them Reply Yea We heartily own it and the young Man owns it as before And thou art in this page and the next about a needless work none denying this If withal thou wilt but say that these Saints and People of God had some things within them of another Nature than the Light that every Man hath that did thus work in them which did still lead them forth to glory in the personal Righteousness of Jesus Christ for their Justification Therefore the first Scripture speaks for us not against us Baily 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined into our hearts Reply It appears by this plainly that they had not this Knowledg by any Light before but by some Light super-added and shining into them It
unskilful Pilot that undertakes to Steer the Ship and yet runs it upon Rocks and Quick sands So this teacheth the things contained in the Law and yet destroyeth the Gospel missing of the way of Obedience out of Love to God There is no Doctrine under Heaven begetteth this Love to God like the Doctrine of the forgiveness of all sin in the Blood of Jesus Christ But is there then a difference betwixt this Light in every Man reproving for sin and the Light of the Spirit in their Teachings and Operations Yea very much if I had Words to express my self though I am 〈◊〉 Condemned person by a Jury of eleven and though it be accounted 〈◊〉 Divination of my own Brain it matters not VVhat is the difference 1. The Light of the Spirit esteemeth reckoneth or prizeth the Personal-Obedience of Christ 1600. years ago viz. his keeping of the Law in every point He having fulfilled the Law in our Nature that knew no sin of his own as the only Righteousness by which we are justified before God Rom. 5.19 And makes the Soul gladly receive it and imbrace it in all humbleness of Spirit this Person and his Personal-Obedience as the greatest Treasure in Heaven and Earth and causeth the Soul in all thankfulness to walk in Obedience before and to the Lord. But the Common Light looks for a Righteousness within to be justifyed by the Righteousness in which Man liveth and consequently the Righteousness of the Law 2. The Spirit begetteth an esteem of the Sufferings of Christ the Sacrifice of his Body as the only means by which we are freed from the wrath of God due to our sins he being made a Curse for us Heb. 10.12 13 14. Isa 53.5 Gal. 3.13 But the Common-Light counteth it a Doctrine tending to Loosness as may be seen pag. 35. and 50. of the Book called Rebellion Rebuked And I my self did once so esteem it but now no such thing 3. The Spirit makes us esteem the Cross of Christ and the carrying forth the Person of Christ through it and the penalty of the Law and raising him to Life again and exalting him into Glory to be a Prince and a Saviour Acts 5.31 to be the Power of God to Salvation to as many as thankfully receive it and embrace it But the Common-Light esteemeth that power and dread in the Conscience which restraineth Man from sin binding Man to obey for Life and Salvation to be the power of God to Salvation And in many more things there is a difference in their teachings and directions Nay I scarce know one Gospel-Truth but this Common-Light contradicteth yet the Teachers of this Light come with the words of this Glorious Gospel So that word is true which hath comforted me many a time and may comfort others viz. If it were possible the very Elect should be deceived But notwithstanding all the subtilty of Satan it 's not possible But farther the Spirit causeth a higher Repentance than the Common-Light Such a Repentance such a Change in the Will that the Saints even loath their own Bodies they are as it were weary of them because of the Corruption that dwelleth in them though the power of it be broken that it doth not Rule and Reign over them Not because they would be justifyed by a Righteousness wherein they would live as Paul Witnesseth 1 Cor. 4.4 But that they might glorify God more in their Generation that they might be for the praise of his Name that hath redeemed them But the Common-Light worketh a Change in the Life and Conversation to merit Eternal Life by and to get into the Love and Favour of God So that there is not so clear a Love nor so free a Will to walk in the Commandements of the Lord as is in the Gospel-Repentance wrought by the Spirit As may plainly appear by what VVilliam Baily saith in the 35. pag. of his Book viz. If so be the Father hath poured out all his wrath upon his Son there is no need to fear miscarriages And again he saith If so the Devil may play what Cards he will Now whoever tasted of the Gospel that would make this use of it but did count it as their only happiness There is difference in the Motives and Arguments to move to a Holy Life between these two Lights My experience in this hath been as a second Pillar which the Lord hath made use of to uphold my Spirit for some time And comparing my experience with John 16.14 15. I have been relieved and perhaps it may be a relief to others if with me now they view the three Distinctions in those words v. 14. He shall Glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you 1. I considered who that was that should be glorified Whom I conceive is Jesus born of the Virgin Mary the Mediator or middle-Person betwixt God and Man having the Nature of both that he might accomplish the work that he had to do and that he might hear and defend his people when they cry unto him seeing he was touched with the feeling of our Infirmities Heb. 4.15 But is now Exalted in the Heavens in that very Body which he took of the Virgin Acts 5.31 Heb. 4.14 This is he that was to be Glorified For he doth not point them unto that within him or within every Man but to his Person v. 16. speaking of his departing a little while after signifying his Death which filled them with sorrow 1. Who that was that should receive of his which is plain the Spirit of Truth the Comforter whom he said he would send v. 7. in his personal absence Whose office is to take of Christ's things and shew them to his people For though the Spirit be the same in Essence yet it hindereth not but they may be are two in Office and Personality The Spirit thus taketh of Christ's Righteousness Sufferings the Travel of his Soul to redeem his people and sheweth them unto his people The 3d. thing To whom these things were to be shewed They were the eleven chiefly there mentioned But surely as well to all his people in all Ages and Generations For none seeth them but by the Spirit as it pleaseth God to reveal them to us And this Spirit he giveth to all his people Now Jesus Christ being born of a Woman was made under the Law Gal. 4.4 who in all things did fulfil the Law in all respects and at all times in all cases and conditions So that he knew â—s sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth 2 Cor. 5.21 By which Obedience Righteousness and Holiness of Christ we are made Righteous Rom. 5.19 Therefore he is called by the Prophet The Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23.6 A Saviour and a Deliverer Now the Comforter taketh of these things and sheweth them unto us When we see our miserable and wretched Condition under the Wrath of God and our inability to keep the Law of God And this is the Language of
Isaiah and he did affirm it likewise I can truly say so much ignorance and confidence did I find amongst this people there and so much errour and darkness and withal so much of a worldly Spirit in their Converse together that had I had stronger inclinations to them than thou thinkest I had I should have been alienated and at a greater distance from them my soul was grieved many a time by hearing what I did and I call the Lord to witness that I wrong them not but speak the Truth Since this J. Bolton made a disturbance in our Meeting and discoursing with him in the hearing of many he questioned my attributing an humane Nature to Christ be there would grant Christ to appear in a Body and that was all he would not answer to me asking him whether that Body of his taking hold of his hand rose again Lately from Green a Teacher among you I could have no answer where be believed the Man Christ was More lately in discourse with some That it was the Light within that was Crucified without the Gates of Jerusalem That the Mediator was in Heaven but that Heaven was any where out of him where the Mediator was I could not get him to Answer this was Thomas Prior of Stanstead and his Wife would not tell me whether she worshipped Christ within or Christ without I call to mind the Original of this people in the North I have been told by some that have seen them that they were extraordinarily acted by a Spirit being some of them thrown down upon the ground in foamings and tremblings and then would speak something in a strange way I have been told by one that was in the Room at Cambridge at the first Rise of them how in a Chamber where he was every thing in the Room Table Bedstead Stools c. and every person there being many trembled and shook himself excepted I my self did see Ann Blackling acted more than ordinarlily who now is no Quaker as I suppose thou knowest Now be not angry if for my own souls sake I enquire whether this Spirit be the same Spirit wherewith all the Holy Men of God were acted the Spirit of Jesus Christ the son that is in all Christ's people and how should I know but by examining the fruits of it I can never forget James Naylor whom I saw suffer and what was the fruit of that Spirit by which he was acted was he not strangely lifted up in Pride to make himself the Messiah and take divine worship to himself John Bolton told me that he stood by and saw three Women one after another fall down and worship him and one of them in her Bowings had these words viz. thy Name is no more James but I am And James Naylor told John Bolton that if he worshipped his Body he should refuse it but if that within he would accept it now by what Spirit was this Man acted Likewise I have called to mind all those extravagant things that some of you have been put upon contrary to all the Light of Reason and Nature beyond all the bounds of Civility and Modesty viz. the besmearing your naked Bodies with Dung and in that manner going naked into the Christian Assemblies how some of you have been put upon Voiages beyond Sea to Preach as I have heard and yet have been cut off by Death before you have come there But it is more than all this to me that this Spirit hath carried you forth most especially in Reviling and opposing the best people in the World the Godly in this Nation and the faithful Ministers of the Gospel and what Truth is there that you in your Writings and Preachings have not opposed at times of which our Brethren have given a late faithful account out of your own Brethrens Writings Now John blame me not if I have been wary and watchful least I should be possessed by a Spirit that leads to such things as these there is nothing more plain to me than this that immediately upon the entrance into your way there is in your Proselytes not such an attending to vocal Prayer as before nor such a diligent search of the Holy Scriptures nor such high thoughts of the person of Jesus and mighty slighting thought of his Gospel-Institutions viz. the Supper of the Lord c. By what thou sayest unto me in this Epistle that thou wonderest at the Fruit brought forth after such exercises of Spirit and such travels as thou hast seen me in I can collect nothing but this viz. that there is not one truly converted and born again but every one miscarrieth in this work and it proves abortive in case it doth not end in Quakerism a harsh censure John The Law in the hand of the Spirit hath been at work in my Soul and I have known the killing power of it it hath slain me but is there no life unless I turn Quaker nor any deliverance but a conclusion that I have licked my self whole by some proud and ungrounded presumption is not this enough John that by the Spirit of Bondage sin hath been made bitter to me and thereupon Christ precious And whereas thou speakest of flying I have fled for refuge to the Hope set before me and that Spirit of burning that was in me hath consumed in some measure those proud Pharisaical self conceited thoughts that I had of my own Righteousness This being a great work that the Lord hath to do in the Souls of his people which I presume if thou hadst known thou wouldst not have been a Patron for it and endeavour to make it stand which thy Brother Bayly fairly owns pag. 37. In the Epistle thou apprehendest it was with me as with Demas that imbraced this present World and fell in with those large preferments that are to be reaped amongst my Non-Conforming Brethren in the Ministry This it was that allured me to stay otherwise I had turned Quaker thou thinkest I thank thee for thy Charity still Love thinketh no evil Dost thou think it might not have fared better with me as to outward maintainâ—â—ce if I had conformed why did I not chuse that Why John shouldst thoâ— be angry that my Family hath a little dayly Bread I have had it from your Brethren viz. That we may have the milk of the Flock why John did not some of you roundly tempt me as some Quakers did a sick-Maid not long since promising her she should be taken care of if she would become one of them and be against all others I know your care for your Proselytes this way hath been very much And whereas thou sayest that I once spake so respectfully of the Light and Spirit within I do so still both publickly and privately and God forbid I should be an opposer of it or an Enemy to it Let my Tongue first cleave to the Roof of my Mouth let me first be dumb and never speak any more but the Lord hath learned me to
sum and substance of the Gospel as coming of the Seed of David according to the Flesh was declared to be the Son of God with Power by the Resurrection from the dead So it is the Power of God his power exerted in Christ's Resurrection whereby we have Justification He rose again for our justification Again the power of God was greatly exerted in working Miracles while they preached the Gospel Heb. 2.4 God bearing them witness with Signs and Wonders with divers Miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost While you pretend to a New Gospel you should have brought the Power of God to Seal it in Miracles When he calls it the Power of God it may be you understand it as Winkfield did that God's Essential Power is Communicated which cannot be for then would the Creature to whom it 's Communicated be omnipotent And if thou would'st plainly speak out dost thou not think that the Light that every Man hath is part of the essential Power of God which is able to save every one that doth obey it Now Paul speaks not a word of the Light that is in every one here he speaks of his readiness to Preach the Gospel to them at Rome v. 15. which Gospel what it was he had declared before v. 3 4. viz. a Doctrine concerning Christ's being Incarnate and his Resurrection now he saith he is not ashamed of this Doctrine but thou and thy Brethren are for you Preach it now now the reason why he was not ashamed of it is because it is the Power of God c. i. e. The Spirit who is God made use of this Doctrine that many despised to the Salvation of many The Spirit conveyed it self into the hearts of the hearers by this Doctrine and wrought Faith in them to receive it Therefore that Scripture 1 Cor. 1.18 doth explain the Preaching of the Cross i. e. Christ Crucified at Jerusalem without any Allegory not a word here of G. F's Doctrine of a Light that every Man hath to be turned to which thou hast been deluded by is to them that perish foolishness I pray God it be not so to you but unto us which are saved it is the power of God Now Paul Rom. 1.17 proceeds to tell us how this Doctrine not the Law nor the Light nor any other Doctrine is that which the Spirit makes use of to convert change and save because thereby the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith In the Doctrine of the Gospel is revealed a Righteousness that every way answers the holy Law of God which is the Righteousness that God approves of If I will be beloved of God reconciled have life I must have a Righteousness compleat to bring to God now no Doctrine declares this but the Gospel that declares the Remission of sins by the sacrifice of Christ and that by the Obedience of this one we are made righteous his Obedience without us Now he faith it is revealed from Faith to Faith therefore Faith is not that Righteousness but receiveth it being revealed I have writ the more upon this Scripture because it is greatly made use of by you And some will see hereby that it is not for you at all but against you Let me add this to what thou sayest that being led away by sin is a departure from or denial of the power To whomsoever God gives Faith in this Righteousness he sanctifieth inwardly and whoever hath this Faith he hath it in a pure Conscience and who-ever makes shipwrack of a good Conscience as to morals it 's a Token to us that he hath made shipwrack of Faith likewise if he continue so without Repentance This departing denying of the Power begins in unbelief an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Heb 3.11 The last Scripture thou bringest in is 2 Pet. 3.17 where the Apostle exhorts the beloved that knew the truth to beware left they also should be led away by the error of the wicked Now John what error is there scarce mentioned in the Scripture which thou and thy people are not guilty of In the late Scripture thou namest thou didst plainly read thy self in Hymeneus Now again what errour of the wicked in this vers 3. There shall come in the last days scoffers vers 4. saying Where is the promise of his coming for since the Fathers c. This was the error viz. They did not believe the second coming of Christ Now in the face of how many thousands have the Quakers denyed this speak of his coming again they answer he is come they witness his coming Tell them of that Scripture in remembrance of him till he come why Christ is come therefore the Lords Supper is antedated as to them Thus they are for an Allegorical coming the second time i. e. to the Spirit in giving heed to the Light and so it is without sin unto Salvation according to you Take heed lest your Salvation prove only Allegorical not real I have several times heard it can name one not long since of the Quakers of Hartford that hath spoke it That we that look for the second coming of Christ are but gazers and our eyes shall sink or rot in their holes before we see that day intimating it shall never be John the Scripture is against thee thou hadst better quote a piece of Jacob Beâ—eman J. C. pag. 6. The young man was fully of the Quakers way Spirit Faith and Principle Thy mistake also in this is very gross as may appear by the Answer to the young mans Book in this particular Answer I confess I said that the young man was fully of the Quakers way c. But it seems I am mistaken and that grosly as will appear by thy Brother Baylies Answers which I have looked over and find that the reason that he gives why this young man was no Quaker was because he did put off his Hat and was not satisfied in silent meetings So that I must it seems retract because I did not understand that these two things did essentially constitute a Quaker viz. Silence and Vnmannerliness so that even a Dumb Turk is a Quaker When wilt thou be ashamed of these things John J. C. pag. 6. Thou Say'st the young man was an honest Quaker 〈◊〉 to his perswasion as Luther said of himself before his Conversion c. 〈◊〉 which it 's thus replyed then what are they converted from or to that are 〈◊〉 true to their perswasion Examine thy self and thy people whether you is all things are true to your perswasion if nay then you are come so far a the honest Quaker by thy own confession Answer I said the young man was an honest Quaker c. because there be some Knavish Quakers John thou knowest as in Luthers time many pretended mortification under a Monks Cowle and at the same time were unclean sensualists So some of you it 's known pretend to exact honesty in trade and under pretence cheat
within every Man which according to Far the younger forgives Sin J. C. page ibid. And if thou hadst understood what thou saidst immediately before concerning the Blood of Christ which thou callest Oyl poured into the gashes of Conscience thou wouldest not have spoken thus slightingly not Blasphemously of the Quakers Christ Answer Through Grace I understand what I say in that expression and have experienced it in mine own Soul I understand by the Blood of Christ all the Sufferings of Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah and the Merit Virtue and Value of them I do not with Quaker Penington understand the Heavenly Blood in opposition to that Blood of his Earthly Body that was shed Penington in his Questions page the 25th saith can outward Blood cleanse the Conscience in thy confession upon this Article I Question not but thou art of the same mind that the outward Blood and Sufferings of Christ are all of no value for the taking away of Guilt notwithstanding all thy glorying words there This Blood and Sufferings the value of them towards God for the expiation of the Guilt of Sin I apply to my own Soul that is guilty of the breach of the Law and have peace hereby Rom. 5. Being justified by Faith we have peace with God are Reconciled and so must needs have Peace of Conscience through Jesus Christ As for my speaking slightingly if not â—sphemously of the Quakers Christ I am throughly perswaded by my reading and converse without the least desire in my heart to wrong them Nay this last Testimony of Fox the younger is enough to convince thee if thou hast been deluded by them That the Light in every one is the Quakers Christ and that they believe there is no Manhood of Christ now but it vanished when Christ ascended and diffused it self into every one Now if thou art of the same mind but will not pull of the Monks hood Why should you charge me with Blasphemy for saying that the tasters of Christ's Grace cannot take up with this Christ is this the Sealed One Him that was ordained as Peter speaks set forth Rom. 3. to be a Propitiation the Head of the Church the High Priest at God's right hand the first-born of every Creature the brightness of his Fathers Glory the Eternal Word that was made Flesh the Seed of Abraham in which all the Nations of the Earth shall be Blessed that Lamb of God that took away the Sins of the World Judge of quick and dead the only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Alpha and Omega all in all Therefore hear me John that it thou beleivest as these have expressed themselves I charge thee with the highest Blasphemies imaginable and if thou do it knowingly and wittingly such as never shall be forgiven if thou attribute any of these Titles to any thing that is in Man besides the very Person of Jesus Christ J. C. Page 8. Oh that the Gospel was studied by us and Preached by us more J. C. is very angry at these words and saith O vain Man dost thou think by the fleshly study and Preaching from the same to advance the true Christ Nay but Man and self instead of Christ and his Righteousness for the Gospel is a Mysterie and the Preaching of it Foolishness to all that Perish and the things of it are the heavenly things themselves searched 〈◊〉 only by the Spirit of God Therefore cease from thy own study and wait in the silence of all Flesh for the pouring out of the Spirit which can only open the Mysteries of Christ and his Righteousness and shew them unto thee Answ Had I said that with fleshly study and Preaching from the same we should advance the true Christ I had spoke like a vain Man but thou hast foysted that in apprehending that all the study and pains that we take in searching the Holy Scripture is fleshly and carnal and Mr. Faldo's Key will open this to us that all the enquiries after Knowledg is accounted by you but the Toyle Labour and Birth of the Flesh I perceive thou art not at all for searching into the Scriptures and comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual only for waiting upon the Light within you as your Teacher and Rule and Guide Couldest thou perswade all the Ministers to silence Thou and Fox might carry your Kingdom of Delusion the better The Gospel is a Mysterie thou sayest but John it is a Mysterie revealed it was hid in God and none knew it but himself If a Mysterie we had more need to Study and search out for it in the Scriptures The Angels stoop down to pry into this Mysterie and to learn it now revealed and yet thou wouldest not have us to study it O vain Man But what dost thou mean by the Gospel being a Mysterie Is it such a Mysterie as cannot be understood by Mans searching the Scriptures through the enlightnings of the Holy Spirit But the Key helps me again It is a Mysterie because it is only an Allegorie and J. C. thinks that Allegorism is only the true Preaching of it as once I heard thee make use of that passage spoke by the Angels to Mary viz He is not here he is risen intimating so much we are not to Look by Faith to his Death but to the Light Rising in our hearts Thus it is a Mysterie as in your sence That Preaching that thou mentionest from the Corinthians was the Preaching of Christ Crucified that was counted Foolishness looking for Life to come by the death of another Per mortem alterius stultum est sperare salutem Thus do the Jews Heathens Socinians Quakers What that death 1600 years since as far off thee as Jerusalem This is thy Language the Heavenly things themselves which thou mentionest are the things of the Gospel in Heb. 9.23 It 's true but I am jealous that thou meanest the Light within by these Heavenly things themselves whereas it is plainly in opposition to the Vessels Tabernacle c. under the Law that were sprinkled with Blood thou must understand either Christ himself who in Chap. 2. v. 10. was consecrated through sufferings or the Church and People of God who are the Heavenly Jerusalem or Heaven it self whereinto he is entred with his Blood The things of the Gospel are things searched out by the Spirit i. e. they are already searched out by the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God Christ Crucified which he speaks of before the things of this Doctrine v. 16. but we have the mind of Christ they are revealed by the Apostles and by the Wisdom Judgment of Man enlightned by the same Spirit that gave them forth we may attain the Knowledge of them and not without but this Spirit thou speaks of is nothing but the Light that every Man hath according to the Quakers but withal we cannot be perswaded by thee to
truth then is this That our persons are the Subjects of that Righteousness which sanctifies Christ's Person is the Subject of that Righteousness which Justifies J. C. Pag. 14. Another Reason thou givest to prove the Gifts and Vertues aforementioned to be our own Righteousness because we put forth the Actions both internal and External Is it not we that Believe and we that Repent and we that are said to pray By this Argument it 's best neither to believe nor repent nor pray because these are but our own Righteousness and the more we do them the heavier are we loaden with the filthy Bags of our own Righteousness Answ The Reason is good and stands and thy inference is ungodly and wicked This I say distinguishing our own Righteousness from Christ's Righteousness it is not Christ that Believes or Repents or Prays neither was it any of us that suffered without the Gates of Jerusalem nor that was born of the Virgin nor perfectly fulfilled the Law and the inference from hence that is Genuine is this viz. therefore ought we not to trust to our Repentings Believings Prayings Sufferings for these are imperfect but to Christ and we are not laden the more with these Rags as thou speakest but the defects are pardoned for Christ's sake and we are and so our Duties accepted in Christ Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God no other way but through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 that phrase in Isai 64 4. which thou in scorn so often repeats are the Prophets words and thou mocks at the Holy Scriptures he doth speak it of his own Righteousness our Righteousness not only the peoples but his and the duties which he and the people were found in were those that God had commanded in the Ceremonial Law yet of these all he saith this and it 's true Comparatively to that pure spotless Righteousness of the Son of God and if God through Christ should not cleanse us and wash us and put his own Robes upon us we should all be cast out But let me ask thee darest thou say that this moral Principle of doing to others as we would have them to do to us is the Righteousness that Justifies before the Glorious Tribunal of an infinite pure God whose eyes are as a flame of Fire that thou darest stand and fall to the strict judgment of God as thou hast all thy days for cursed is he that continues not in all things to do them been true or false to this Principle I trow not wo to thee then for thou hast in several things in this thy writing dealt with me as thou wouldest not have me to deal with thee why but then if it be not that which Justifieth it is better never be found at all in doing to any as we would have others should do to us for this is but our Moral Righteousness in the second Table commanded between Man and Man how dost thou like this retortion Withal by this is implied the mercenary Spirit of the Quakers who would neither Pray nor be Holy if they did not think to merit something by their Works J. C. Parag. ibid. These things manifest thy estrangedness to the Works of Regeneration and helpings of the Spirit of God Answ I have through Grace experienced that work upon my Soul and have pleaded it with thee as thou knowest in opposition to their tenent of the Light in every one which overthrowes it as if every one had the Seed of it in his heart but yet I have learned to distinguish between this forgiveness of sins wherein my Justification lies as in Rom. 4. Regeneration this is but a Fruit of Forgiveness had not God forgiven my sins he would never have healed my Nature no Regeneration without Faith Acts 26.18 Sanctified by Faith So that your Doctrine destroys Sanctification if no Justification by imputed Righteousness no Regeneration I own the helpings of the Spirit of God and more I can say for that word helpings is too narrow as if there were some power in Man the Spirits causing creating Faith in me on this Righteousness of Christ which my heart hath been so far in helping in that it hath opposed But yet I will distinguish and say it was Christ and not the Spirit died for me Those helpings of the Spirit in me do not Justifie me yet I praise God for them as an evidence and fruit of Justification J. C. Parag. ibid. A heavy charge upon all the Prophets and Apostles of Christ who were obedient to these inward Gifts Vertues and Motions of God's Holy Spirit Answ If thou canst produce one instance of either Prophet or Apostle that ever sought to be Justified in the sight of God for any obedience to any inward Gifts and did not apply themselves to God through Christ for Pardon of sin I will leave this Doctrine Remember Rom. 3.24 But now the Righteousness of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets But John thou hast forgot what thou said'st pag. 10. viz. Not for the works sake though wrought in me by the Spirit and here pleads for Obedience to the inward Gifts which must be Works and saith all Prophets and Apostles were Obedient to them and this in opposition to imputed Righteousness But I knew thou wast not in earnest in what thou seemed'st to speak them but to conclude I believe that the good Men of old were obedient to the inward Gifts of the Spirit and we all ought to he and are through Grace in some measure but then by all that the Spirit doth in us it doth lead us to Christ and his Righteousness according to that in John 15. The Comforter shall testify of me Chap. 16. He shall take of mine and shew it unto you and hereby know we the Spirit of Truth the Comforter from the Spirit of error The Comforter will Glorifie Christ's person J. C. Parag. ibid. By thy Account they did but obey their own Righousness in what they did they knew and understood that their hearts are as the Pen of a ready Writer as David speaks Answ This thou bringest is very impertinent to the thing in hand That of David Ps 45.1 My Tongue is the Pen of a ready Writer Thou changest Tongue here for Hearts Now doth not David a Prophet about to write great things of Christ in this Psalm make use of this Phrase to denote the Power of the Holy Ghost with him in giving forth this Holy Scripture that as Mans hand acts the Pen as its Organ so the Spirit the Tongue of David and thus the Holy Men of God that writ the Scripture are said in 2 Pet. 1. ult to be moved acted forcibly carried away by the Holy Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the speaking forth the Truths of the Scriptures and how sad is it that some of you should pretend to this same impulse to as high a degree in their Writings as I have seen some Title-pages of your Books filled
with such Blasphemies viz. Given forth by the Spirit through the Trunk of the Body of FOX or such a one Horrible Pride And therefore do your Disciples at this day account their Writings of equal Authority with the Writings of the Apostles nay beyond them because a newer Revelation of a later Date you be advanced to a good Degree but to the thing now what is this instance of an extraordinary Power of the Spirit to the ordinary working of Gifts in Sanctification which thou art treating of There are 7 Lines follows that are but Queries to the same purpose as before which I have Answered fully to viz. I have said in My Answer that we are for acting and doing and by the Holy Ghost yet dares not trust to it but to Christ In the End of this Paragraph you have this Neither is it we that speak as we are kept truly â—lent out of all our own thoughts but the Holy Ghost in us Mark 13.11 Answ Here is speaking and yet silence Reconcile contraries as you can that place in Mark speaks of the Holy Ghost being promised to the Disciples in times of Persecution to assist them in their Confessions of this Faith I am pleading for viz. Salvation by a Crucified Jesus as their Righteousness when they should be called to an account before Tribunals as if we could not have the Assistance of the Holy Ghost to enable before Magistrates or Quakers to confess the Faith but we must of necessity make this assistance our very Righteousness that Justifies us what weakness is this J. C. Pag. 15. Thou sayest our Righteousness is but the Righteousness of mere Man c. And yet before saith it consists in the Gifts and Vertues thâ— the Holy Ghost works in our minds See thy Confusion from thy 〈◊〉 words Answ I can see none and let the Reader Judg Thy Soul 〈◊〉 is the Soul of a meer Man yet the parts of it consist in Understanding and Will which God hath created and given the Light within is the Light of a meer Man yet it consists in a Faculty which God hath given of discerning Moral good and evil and a reflex Act of Coâ—science in accusing or excusing according to a Mans Actings thereunto So here when I say the Spirit works these there is the efficient cause when I say of meer Man there is the Subject in which it is wrought still to distinguish it from that Righteousness that Justifies that is the Righteousness of one who is God and Man Colâ—ss 2.9 This Scripture proves Christ to be God and Man for in him dwelleth All the fulness of the Godhead Bodily What is that Him and what that Fulness of the Godhead Where is now Confusion Reader J. C. pag. ibid. One Righteousness is perfect and compleat the other 〈◊〉 faulty imperfect and incompleat thou wouldest make them two in nature and kind the one from Heaven the other on Earth the one Christ's the other ours and yet saith it is incompleat as to Degree then they must be one in kind for Degrees varie not kind or Nature Answ That thy heart smote thee a little when thou was writing this John appears to me by thy way of expressing they self Thou sayest I would make them two in Nature and Kind c. Why then there was something spoken that made it evident as that the one was Christ's the other ours That an Adversary could not but take notice of it Degrees thou sayest varie not kind which is true in things of the same Nature But here I have plainly by thy own Confession made them of various Natures then this Sentence viz. faulty imperfect incompleat as to Degree must necessarily be restrained as to those things of their own Nature of which I am speaking viz. our own Righteousness and no more is in it than this viz. That the Spirit in working it in our Souls doth not work it up to that height as that 〈◊〉 thing of sin remains in us but as to the other Righteousness there was no spot in Christ Remember the Proverb Rather than Satan will 〈◊〉 he will play at a small Game Rather than thou willt not manifest thy enmity against Imputed Righteousness and be a Patron of our own to Justify us to take off from Christ thou wilt play a small low Game J. C. Pag. ibid. So it is manifest that thou knowest not what thou sayest such is thy confusion no marvel while thou errest from the form of sound words calling it a Righteousness contrived where findest thou such a word iâ— Scripture Answ Let the Reader judg if I know not what I say thou art a â—â—â—ty and not sit to judg in the Case now by saying the Form of 〈◊〉 words and then mentioning the Scriptures who would think 〈◊〉 J. C. began to be ashamed of the Quakers Principles and to own the Scriptures for the Rule which his Brother Bayly disowns and that 〈◊〉 was again returned to his old Christianity from which he had Apostatized and grew weary of those many uncouth strange words and Gibberish Language that Fox brought out of the North resolving to fashion all his words in his Prayers hereafter according to the Dialect of the Scriptures Oh that it might prove true Yet how can I but say this that an Ape that is most like a Man and yet of another kind is one of the most ill-favouredst of the Bruits so it rendereth thee most ridiculous in our eye when we see thee here Ape it so like a Christian and yet knoweth that thou art of a different Species Speak and write like a Quaker or else utterly forsake them my eye hath been deceived sometimes by the Art of Limning in thinking I have seen Living Creatures Men and Women Lions Bulls c. and yet turn but the other side and nothing but a thin painted Past-Board So here I fear many be deceived with thy expressions in thy lines wherein thou appears to a weak eye a Living real sound substantial Christian but I hope I have turned the other side and now it appears thou art but still a thin dead liveless rotten Apostate and Quaker only painted over with better Colours and a little more Art Thou hast got the Art that Gaptains have at Sea that they may have the greater advantage and thou thinkest it Lawful as they do thou comest up to us thinking to board us presently with an English 〈◊〉 and Colours when as thou art absolutely a French Man I have heard lately from one that hath read J. C's Books that in one of his Books he expresses himself to be for this viz. a Liberty for Quakers to admit themselves into all Churches of what Judgment soever This is the Man that is for overcoming not by force of Argument but 〈◊〉 Stratagems This is Romes way at this day And remember that 〈◊〉 writ before an Answer which J. C. gave to one that charged him with what he had said viz. If they were my Words that was
that think in these thoughts of Foolâ—â—ess Satan is frequently exciting and suggesting its true but yet 〈◊〉 experienced Christian may discern those Temptations that arise from 〈◊〉 in his Heart from those Temptations of Satan I grant that in 〈◊〉 we yield not to Satan we are not guilty His Temptations not 〈◊〉 to are our Afflictions not our Sins and likewise it 's true of Christ notwithstanding the Devil's Assaults yet was he without sin But then as I have said these Motions and Desires arise not from Satan 〈◊〉 our own Lust and the very presence of them in the Soul is sinful 〈◊〉 been proved Withal may not I say it 's easier to resist the Temptâ—â— than these in that they are so near close and continued and who is there that though he give not a formal express yet a virtual inâ—eâ—â—â—etative consequential consent he doth many a time unawares when he doth but in the least admit of that which is an occasion of sin Again there is sin habitually in the Will of every Man though at present his Will consents not actually to these Motions These Desires arise from a Will that is corrupted As to that of Christ we say he had no Lust 〈◊〉 his case was different he saith of the Tempter John 14.30 〈◊〉 cometh and findeth nothing in me So that his Temptations were only external and there was no mixture of Evil in them you see it 's nothing to the purpose then to instance in him Now John Crook Who are for Holiness more you Quakers or we who pleads for sin most you or we You say we plead for sin when we deny Perfection in this Life we say you plead for sin in saying 〈◊〉 the Motions to Evil in the Heart if not consented to are not sin we 〈◊〉 this now that your Perfection boasted of is no other than that which every Babe in Christ hath viz. Not to consent to these evil Moâ—â—â—â—â— who now hath most tenderness of Conscience you or we you 〈◊〉 that a motion to Adulteries Murthers Incests are not sin if not 〈◊〉 to therefore need not concern your selves about them groan 〈◊〉 them cry out of them be troubled for them but we say they are sins and their being in us is â—â—â—som and burdensom we 〈◊〉 against them the new Creature in 〈◊〉 is contrary to them and 〈◊〉 with them hates them and cannot bear them therefore we 〈◊〉 the the utter extirpation of them and again no wonder you your 〈◊〉 and your followers prize not Christs Sufferings and Atonemâ—nt but 〈◊〉 Proud Pharisaical resting in Moralities and legal Righteousness 〈◊〉 as you believe this and teach it the people that if no consent 〈…〉 Will to covetous and unclean thoughts there is no sin in them 〈◊〉 Blood is therefore despised by you Paul did despise it in Româ— 7. and was alive self-Righteousness led some to know this by understanding the spirituality of the Law Rom. 7. I was alive without the La◠〈◊〉 c. But to return from whence we came Their slavery appears greatly in this thing in that they adhere 〈◊〉 their Teachers as infallible so that whatsoever they say or write they dare not but believe it as Gospel now is not this Bondage and 〈◊〉 Popish Bondage Yea they are brought into Bondage to every 〈◊〉 Voice any thing they fancy to be but a Vision Revelation 〈◊〉 Oh poor deceived people Yea what Bondage ere long will you 〈…〉 to the Presbytery at Devonshire-House no marrying without their 〈◊〉 judging of matters of fact by their pretended Revelations G. 〈◊〉 solving at his Knees whom he will sending out to the Ministery 〈◊〉 he will You may see this in the little Book called the Spirit of the 〈◊〉 and the other stiled Tyranny and Hypocrisie of the Quakers detected Theâ—e is certainly a great Bondage and slavery to be in Bondage to sin and Lusts and not only the Quakers as thou writest think thus 〈◊〉 others But there is another Bondage i. e. to the Law which 〈◊〉 sore Bondage and that I see the Quakers are in viz. to the Law 〈◊〉 Covenant of works You have tempted God and displeased him 〈◊〉 putting this Yoke upon the necks of the poor people and galled 〈◊〉 necks with it and neither they nor any of you are able to bear 〈…〉 to go about to keep the Law so that in case they keep it not to the height they are damned Cursed is every one c. Gal. 3. J. C. Which you believe all Men must continue in term of Life Answ We say and believe that sin will continue in us for 〈◊〉 Life but that Phrase thou makest use of speaks more viz. our â—â—luntary activity in sin which thou knowest we are against we say 〈◊〉 know that the power of sin is broke by the Spirit in us Rom. 6. 〈◊〉 shall not have Dominion c. But yet it doth dwell in us the Leprosie of Original sin will eleave to us till the House of our Bodies be 〈◊〉 down But John if thou beest for absolute Perfection in this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayest thou not so in this place but thou art for lying hid 〈◊〉 J. C. Parag. ibid. As high as Heaven is above the Earth so far is that 〈◊〉 â—f the Faith of Jesus in you above the Spirit of Antichrist that 〈◊〉 them viz. the Quakers How now is your own Righteousness grown 〈◊〉 haft thou forgotten that thou callest the Gifts and Vertues that 〈◊〉 of God works in your minds but your own Righteousness Answ I am still of the same mind what ever is wrought by the 〈◊〉 is but the Righteousness of the Law i. e. what that Law doth 〈◊〉 in us and of us and that Paul calls his own Phil. 3.9 and 〈◊〉 Righteousness doth grow in us stronger and stronger as we hold 〈◊〉 Communion with Christ but my Confidence which I express in 〈◊〉 words doth not arise from my own Righteousness as thou 〈◊〉 left have it but still from Jesus whom I mention in these words 〈◊〉 height and strength of Faith doth not arise from it self as an Habit 〈◊〉 or Act of ours but from its Object Jesus Christ as before Beâ—â—â—â—â— I say the Spirit of Faith viz. That Spirit that is the efficient 〈◊〉 of Faith in Jesus opposing this to a contrary Spirit of Antichrist Now I have said the Spirit it self was not our own Righteousness but 〈◊〉 it in us and is not the Spirit of God above the Spirit of the 〈◊〉 and smaller Antichrists I believe it therefore speak it and I 〈◊〉 it still and affirm it J. C. Pag. ibid. But take heed of the Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 Francis Spira's condition be thine or madness and distraction befal 〈◊〉 Answ To the making up of that sin there must certainly be this 〈◊〉 viz. an Acting against high Conviction certain knowledge and perswasion now I ask my self am I convinced and perswaded that the Spirit of Jesus is in the Quakers I Answer my self 〈◊〉 certainly
God 5. Dost thou Believe that the Man Christ is any where now in being besides that being that the Quakers say he hath in them and if so â—here is he In Heaven Earth or in every Man and every Greaâ—re 6. Whether the Light that you say every Man hath be a Creature or no 7. Whether the Light that every Man hath be of the very same Nature with the Spirit of Faith and Regeneration or of a different kind or take it thus Whether it differ from the new Creature in â—â—cie 8. Whether that which Jesus Christ of Nazareth did and suffered above six hundred years since in Judea be not the matter of fallen Man's Instification in the sight of God 9. Whether any actions or sufferings of any besides these of his have â—y merit worth desert in them to purchase anything at God's hand for any of Mankind 10. Whether Christ Jesus died in the room place stead of any or only for their benefit or advantage 11. Whether God's imputing Righteousness to any Man be any thing else but his putting Righteousness into the Creature by Sanctiâ—ing of it 12. Whether Justification be not an Act of god in absolving and â—â—quitting a sinner for Christ's sake in opposition to condemning as in Rom. 8. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect it is Gad that Justifies who shall Condâ—mn and accounting him Righteous for the personal Righteousness sake of Christ that was wholly without the sinner 13. Whether God doth not find every one ungodly and in their sinâ— when he first gives Faith to them that justifies them according to that Rom. 5. He Justifieth the ungodly 14. Whether by the Blood of Christ thou mean est any thing that is not in thy heart and soul within thy self whether thou meanest that material Blood that was shed from that material Body of Jesus of Naâ—â—teth when he did hang upon the Tree at Mount Calvary without the Gates of Jerusalem withal his material real sufferings both of Soul and Body 15. Whether that Blood theâ—e shed was not the Blood of God according to Acts 20.28 he being God as well as Man 16. Whether Remission of all sins was not actually purchased by the Death of Christ above 1600 years since for all that have been or shall be saved 17. Is any Man any father Justified than Sanctified any farther forgiven than according to that Degree that sin is Mortified in him 18. Whether is Justification any thing else but an Act of the Light within every Man upon obedience to it giving Peace 19. Whether is there any good work done by any Man before he is Justified and forgiven all his sins 20. Whether Faith as a Habit in or Act of our Mind or any good work proceeding from the Spirit in us be any part of that Righteousness that Justifies 21. Whether there is any such thing in the Nature of God as Vindictive Justice so that sin must be punished upon all them that accept not of the Atonement of Christ Jesus by the Sacrifice of himself 22. Whether the Light within or the person of Christ without be the object of Justifying Faith or whether Faith be any thing but obedience to the Light that every Man hath 23. Whether have not all the Sons of Men Christ excepted the guilt of Adam's first transgression upon them before they are Justified and called and so are by Nature Children of Wrath Rom. 5. in him we all sinned 24. Are any so perfect in this Life as to be above the confession of Sin to God 25. Of what Use is that Intercession of Christ as a High-Priest in Heaven 26. Whether there be a higher Prophecy than the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles and it so where is it and what is it 27. Are not the Holy Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles the Rule of Faith and Life 28. Whether dost thou believe that the sime natural Body of Man after the departure of the Soul from it doth rise to Life again 29. Whether are our distinct personal Beings preserved in the future state whether we lose them being swallowed up into God at death 30. Whether the Light that every Man believed in obeyed trusted to is not the Jesus the Righteousness the Justification the Blood the Remission the Mystery the Experience the Faith the Cleansing the Sanctification the Shedding Drinking Sprinkling of the Blood is it not the price of infinite value that freeth from the Wrath is it not the Life the Vertue of the Blood the choice Raiment the putting it 〈◊〉 the opening of the Understanding to know the Mystery which words and phrases are all in this thy Testimony Answer plainly is there any more in thy whole Treatise and this Postscript than this viz. to the Light obey the Light and whoever doth not is but in the History is but a Prodigal in a 〈◊〉 Country seeding among the Swine a poor naked starved Sinner every one that takes not up this Pâ—inciple i. e. is not a Quaker Let the Reader in these two following Columns compared together 〈◊〉 how near a kin the Quakers erroneous ways opinions and Practiâ—â—â— are to those of the Papists and so judg whether they had not their Original from Rome and John Crook do thou see thy self in this 〈◊〉 and behold thy spots that they are not the spots of God's Chilâ—â—â— see how like the Daughter is to the Mother the young to the 〈◊〉 Antichrist and repent and come out from among them lest thou with thy followers tast of her Plagues The Quakers and the Papists Parallel'd The Quaker The Papist 1. THe Quaker Believes that every one of then Teachers is infallible whilst he is a Preaching and Writing in or by the Light 1. THe Papist Believes that the Pope is infalâ—ibâ—e in the Chair 2. That the Body at Devonshire House must determine all things and every particular Quaker is to stoop to the Light of that Body although his and her particular Light dictates otherwise See the Book stiled the Hypocrisie and Tyranny of the Quakers 2. The Papist for an implicit Faith and a believing as the Church believes 3. The Quaker sets up his Light within equal with the Scriptures nay above them 3. The Papist sets up their Traditions equal with the Scripture 4. The Quakers are for Enthusiasm immediate Revelations and Voices and Visions 4. Many of the Papist's Doctrines and Orders came this way by pretended Revelation see Stillingfleet's Fanaticism of the Church of Rome 5. The Quakers say the first Motions to evil arising in the Heart if not consented to by the Will are not sin 5. These say the same viz. that Concupiscence is not sin 6. For Perfection in this Life 6. So the Papist for a State without sin in this Life the Beguardij in Germany Stillingfleet Idolatry of the Church of Rome Page 294. 7. That to attend to the Light that every one hath is sufficient for Salvation 7. See Stillingfleet idolatry pag. 295. That
Resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 3.21 The Answer of a good Conscience through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ no Man can rightly Answer the accusation of his Conscience for not coming up to that absolute Perfection that the Law requireth but by Faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ who rose again for our Justification Rom. 4.25 Now one may have the Light within which you speak of and yet want Faith and this young Man it 's manifest had one at this time but wanted the other therefore his Peace was naught 4. Withal if this will hold many ungodly ones most prophane have the Spirit the Comforter for they have Peace both living and dying Psal 73. There are no bands in their Death and they say Peace in their Lives 1 Thes 5. They stretch themselves upon their Couches and Châ—unt at the sound of the Viol Amos 6.4 5. I read on page 31 and meet with nothing but the same over again which the Judicious Reader will take notice of till we come to that passage viz. That there is 〈◊〉 name under Heaven by which Men can be saved observe this is the second time of Baylies Blasphemy applying this to the Light within every man that is no more than Nature which can be attributed to none but Jesus Christ the Mediator calling it also the Deliverer and Counsellor from Isa 59. as well mightest thou call the Soul Reason Understanding of Man by these Names And whereas thou askest in this same place is there any other Spirit and Light which can deliver from sin and give power over it but what is of Jesus Christ Reply The young Man never owned this Light to deliver from and give power over sin as thou here intimates nay the scope of his Relation speaks the contrary and in the 17. Page he saith in the greatest of his purity and perfection there were longing desires after evil which he could be delivered from no manner of ways Observe Reader how these people make lies their refuge to defend their tottering Opinions if any deliverance it was only in externals Lust had as much power within as ever and this as hath been shewn may be had without the Spirit of Regeneration viz. external Reformation Before I conclude this let the Reader observe that Baylies Question runs thus viz. Any Spirit but what is of Christ why the Light of the Sun is of Christ the Wind is of Christ as a Creator is it therefore the Spirit of Regeneration proceeding from Christ as Mediator No surely But again in one place that we mentioned he calls the Light within the Tree of Life and in another a little before the Name whereby all must be saved the Deliverer and the Counsellor now here only of Christ a Spirit of Christ see what consistency is in these Mens lines Bayly Is it not the Light of Christ that makes sin manifest mentioing Ephes 5 Reply What Passage it is that thou hast thine eye upon I know not except the 13. Whatsoever makes manifest is Light Now this is true of all kinds and sorts of Lights they all make manifest but they act according to their several Natures yet Christ is the Author of them all the Light of the Sun will not make sin manifest yet another Light will the Quakers Light that every Man hath will manifest some sin but not all and it appears by the young Mans Relation for it will not shew desires to evil to be sin if they be not consented to according to what Paul doth testify in Rom. 7. I had not known sin but by the Law So then this Light thou pointest to in Ephes 5. was of â—nother sort in that all things were reproved by it and in that it was but lately bellowed on the Ephesians not having it before for in ver 8. Ye were sometimes darkness notwithstanding all the Light within that they had from the Womb. Bayly And doth not the Apostle say in that same place v. 8 9. the Fruit of the Spirit is in all Goodness Righteousness and Truth Reply By what I said before the Spirit spoke of in Ephes 5. is not the Light that every Man hath for they were darkness all that time they had that till Faith came This spoke of in the Ephesians was the Spirit of Grace Faith Adoption Regeneration the Spirit of the Son now the Root being different the Fruit must be different this Goodness Righteousness and Truth must be and is of another better sort and kind than that which yet is called by the same names springing from another Root viz. the Light that every Man hath B. And doth not W. H. Say it is the Spirit that maketh known 〈◊〉 which was not seen before then whenever any seeth sin it is the Spirit that makes it known and puts this word viz. Mark to it as a thing that he is happy in the hitting upon it and that what he saith is convincing and unanswerable Reply Now Reader see how acute this Man is in catching one in an Argument and holding one fast in it what a formidable Enemy I have to deal with This was spoke by me you may see in the sixth page of the little Book upon that Scripture viz. He shall Baptizâ— you with the Holy Ghost and with fire Luke 3.16 Saying that the Spirit did operate after the manner of Fire i. e. by Light and Heat As to the Light the Spirit maketh known sin when it cometh thou shouldest have repeated that Phrase and then said Mark but as often as thou reâ—eaâ—edst this thou ever omittedst that phrase is this fair play It followes as the shining of the Sun through a Crack into a dark Room we may behold every small dust within that compass these are the words 〈◊〉 let me reason with thee a little every one hath the Light within you grant but is every one Baptized with the Holy Ghost and Fire is it not such a Spirit spoke of here wherewith every one is Baptized that is regenerated and none else which cometh to us at that time and worketh and dwelleth in us and we had it not before a Spirit that will shew the dust and. Atoms of sin and lust in our Souls which this Light that every one hath will not I will pass over and take no notice of thy railing Words that thou art full of here and elsewhere but the Conclusion will hold still which thou art angry with viz. That the Spirit of the Quakers is a Spirit of delusion and let the Reader 〈◊〉 by our Lives whether thou or I are more like the clamorous Woman thou speakest of I must desire the Reader to turn back to the 27th Page there is something that Bayly saith which I cannot well omit to speak something to it 's that which this Man doth frequently touch upon and his Brother 〈◊〉 I could not well Reply to it before because I would take all the objections I could gather and Answer them in order Bayly And yet he
thee as to thy Wife and Estate to take them from thee What can be the tendency and import of this Phrase so frequently used in thy Book only that you think we have no Right or Claim to the Scriptures as our Rule or that you would if possible take them from us as the Pope from the People Your Rule we are sure they are not otherwise you walk not according to your Rule for ye practice not many things that Christ commanded in the Scriptures Baily It follows that the Faith that Justified them and their Salvation was without by a Righteousness or Person wholly without as ye do Reply I am not here concerned to Answer in that these are not my words nor the young Mans words my words were cited a little before in that same Page of thine line 4. the Reader may see them is this to do Justice Arguments of Baily to prove Man to be Justified by inherent Righteousness Answered B. PAg. 36. Did they not say their Faith wrought by Love Reply The Faith that receiveth Christ's Righteousness doth work by Love but as it works by Love in us it is not the Righteousness that Justifieth nor receiveth it any vertue or efficacy from this working by Love to Justifie us in the sight of God but still the Righteousness that Justifieth us is in the Person of Christ as its Subject Baily And purified their Hearts Acts 15.9 Reply There is a purifying the Heart in Sanctification and in Justification also and both are through Faith it is upon Faith we are Actually forgiven by the merits of Christ thus our hearts are cleansed from the guilt of sin and this is chiefly to be understood I apprehend in this Text. Again by Faith our Hearts are purified in that the New Creature begins in Faith upon our believing we are turned to God begin to Repent and be Holy but yet our Justification is not our Regeneration nor this purifying of the Heaâ—â— in our Sanctification the Righteousness whereby we are Justified B. And that the Righteousness of the Law was fulfilled in them who walk not after the Flesh Reply That Scripture Rom. 8. That the Righteousness of the Lâ—â— mighâ— be fulfilled in us cannot be meant that it should be fulfilled in our persons in that in v. 3. before he saith For what the Law could 〈◊〉 do in that it was weak through the Flesh Now if we could in our own persons fulfil the Law then might we be Justified by the deeds of it but in this v. 3. he had said the Law could not Justifie because it was weak through the Flesh i. e. since the fall none ever that was but meen Man could keep it so it was invalid to Justifie then it follows God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful Flesh c. That the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us By Christ coming in the Flesh and being a Sacrifice the Law was Answered in us he having our Nature and being our Head and Surety in our Room and the Law is not fulfilled by any other nor in any other way thou sayest in one place of thy Book that thou hast known the Scriptures from a Child O! that thou hadst but understood this one great place of Scripture thou wouldest never have turned Quaker B. And that the Anointing was in them and was their Teacher and that it was Truth and no Lie Reply May not this be true and yet the other Doctrine also The Spirit here spoke of is in all the Saints and is their Teacher what then did the Spirit therefore dye for the Church shed its Blood on the Cross was that made under the Law is there no distinction to be made betwixt Christ and the Spirit Is that which the Spirit works in the heart of a Saint that very self-same work and suffering and Obedience which Christ acted and sustained in Judea and at Jerusalem we are for inward Righteousness but this is not compleat enough to Justify us B. And was he not their Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Reply In this Scripture these two viz. Righteousness and Sanctification are plainly distinguished which thou wouldst confound we have both from Christ and by him but they are not both one B. How their Salvation was wrought out with fear and trembling and â—…t it was God which wrought in them to will and to do of his own good â—…ure Reply As to the first of these we shall have an occasion to mention when we come to that part of the Book wherein he goeth about to prove all God's people to have been Quakers The other is true and 〈◊〉 own God's working in us both to will and to do every thing that 〈◊〉 good but yet neither our willing nor doing by his enabling of us is the Righteousness that Justifieth us in the light of God These are all thy Arguments to prove we are Justified by a Righteousness within not without how strong they be let the Reader Judg. After some Repetition of my words in the Epistle viz. Of Christ's being amongst us and that I said we eat his Flesh and drink his Blood that we have Christ both within and without c. Thou Paraphrasest thus B. Now if Jesus Christ dwelleth in you doth not the Saviour dwell in you and if you eat and drink his Flesh and Blood is it not then in you Reply The Saviour Christ is in us by his Spirit but yet neither is the whole person of Christ in us for he is Man as well as God this Union doth not confound our Person and his Person nor our Actions and his but they are distinct neither is this In-dwelling and Union the Righteousness that Justifieth us we eat and drink his Flesh and Blood by Faith so have the benefit of his Obedience Sufferings and Death the Spirit causing us to trust to the Merit of them as Sinners but yet the Flesh and Blood of Christ is not in us unless the Quakers will turn Carpocrations that asserted that they did really eat the substantial Bodily carnal Flesh and Blood of Christ or Papists that assert the very Flesh Blood and Bones of Christ are turned into the Bread or rather the Bread into the Body of Christ Yet the Quakers have asserted this that the Man Christ is within us meaning nothing but the Light within but of this before Thou intimates thus much here Baily that the Flesh and Blood of Christ is nothing else but the Light that is in every carnal wicked Man In the close of Pag. 36. B. Would not this be madness and folly for Paul to say I count all loss and dung that I may Win Christ and that I may be found in him not having those Gifts and Vertues which the Spirit of God worketh in me Reply I query and Answer plainly whether those Gifts and Vertues of the Spirit which he had within him were not his own Righteousness i. e. his own Faith Love Humilty and Prayers Tears Fastings
follows to give the Light of the Knowledg See still they had it not in them before Again of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Now look into those that are well acquainted with the Greek Language they will tell thee this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth properly a Person Answering to that Hebrew word used in Leviâ— 19.15 Thou shalt not respect the Person of the Poor And it is used in 〈◊〉 1.11 by the means of many Persons Now was no the Perâ—oâ— Christ without them That which in 1 John 1. they had seen 〈◊〉 their eyes it was external to them And most of the Glory of 〈◊〉 did shine forth in Christ's personal coming Therefore when he 〈◊〉 which is the next Scripture thou bringest We have this Treaâ—â—e in Earthen Vessels It was the Knowledg the Apostles had in their 〈◊〉 of the Person without Pag. 42. Parag. 2. Thou ownest the Work of God without If thou wast plain-hearted and honest we would thank thee And we do say with thee there are none knoweth the things of God aright but by the Spirit And it 's the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead that dwels in his people and will at last quicken their Mortal Bodies But thou hast a reservation in all this Is it any less than Blasphemy to say that the Light within raised Christ from the dead and shall raise the Saints Mortal Bodies in the day of the Resurrection As that Scripture Rom. 8.11 iâ— to be understood All discerning ones by this time see that the Quakers deny the Resurrection of the Body and so consequently Christ's Resurrection Then this quickning of the Mortal Bodies mentioned by Baily is no more than what as the Quakers apprehend is attained by attendance to the Light within Are the Quakers Christians Baily Next quoteth Rom. 8.9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16. to prove the Apostle preached Christ within Reply Not for Justification those Scriptures speak of Sanctification He had spoke of Justification before which is the Cause of this and this an evidence of the other Baily And Christ Preached the Kingdom of Heaven within people Luke 17.21 Reply This place is much made use of by the Quakers Now it 's plain he speaks to the Pharisees whom he calls there Vipers Hypocrites said Satan was their Father Is it likely that Christ would give a Specimen of what his Kingdom was by it's being in the Pharisees What Children of the Devil and Unbelievers and yet the Kingdom of Heaven within them What the Holy Ghost's Sanctification Faith Love Holiness Peace and Joy For the Kingdom of God consists in these things what all these in the Pharisees The Quakers Light I grant was in them but is this any where called the Kingdom of Heaven What is Nature the Kingdom of Heaven Then this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is but intra vos or apud vos i. e. with you or among you used by the Greeks in their Translation of the Old Testament 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 among you there is no more in it than 〈◊〉 1 John 26. There standeth one among you These Pharisees dreamed 〈◊〉 an Earthly Kingdom in Earthly Glory Therefore he saith 〈◊〉 Kingdom cometh not with Observation Their Eyes were blinded 〈◊〉 this Conception of theirs and they stumbled at the lowness and 〈◊〉 verty of Christ and would not believe that he was the Messiah 〈◊〉 were inquiring for the Kingdom Now he tells them It cometh 〈◊〉 with Observation but it was come he being come and it was among them he in Person being among them working Miracles in the midst of them They sought for the Messiah as absent when he was present and very near them We still grant Sanctification within but here the Kingdom of Heaven is taken for the personal coming of Christ that is without Baily And the True Worship of the Father is in Spirit and in Truth Reply But had not the Father an existence of himself without 〈◊〉 before any had their beings Do ye Worship the Father within by the Light or Spirit as ye call it within And was not the Fathers powerful work in sending his Son And the Righteousness of Christ without notwithstanding this Worshipping of the Father in Spirit and Truth Baily And said what and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend 〈◊〉 where he was before John 6. It is the Spirit that quickneth the Flesh profits nothing When they cryed How can this Man give us his Flesh â—â— eat Whose Minds were wholly without like many of yours Reply These Jews did not believe that Christ was God but did despise his low estate He is convincing them here that he was God as well as Man though he did vail his Glory thus in the Flesh for the present Therefore he asserts his Original that it was from Heaven and his Eternal existence before he took Flesh and saith here the Son of Man was in Heaven before he took Flesh He useth a Phrase that is common in Scripture Attributing that to his humane Nature which was proper to the Divine Otherwise as the Son of Man he was not in Heaven before his Ascension from the Earth It 's well if thou and thy Brethren did Believe that he is now Ascended into Glory as he is the Son of Man But is evident ye do not That of his Flesh profiting nothing must be understood thus viz. That his Manhood is nothing for Salvation taken alone and apart from his Deity called the Spirit there And they believed him not as we said to be God The reason why they stumbled at that saying viz. That he would give them 〈◊〉 to eat was because they were ignorant of the way of Faith 〈◊〉 gross Conceptions of eating his Material Flesh with their Maâ—â—â— Teeth We Glory in the Flesh of Christ and know that it proâ—â—â— i. e. the Son of God taking Mans Nature into Union with himâ—â— and therein fulfilling the Law and bearing the Curse of it Ofâ—â—ng that Body on the Cross Thus he is the Bread of Life and by 〈◊〉 in this as done for us we have Life and entrance into Glory 〈◊〉 New and Living way which he consecrated for us through the Veil 〈◊〉 to say his Flesh Heb. 10.20 Baily And said 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Proâ—â—ty to which ye do well to take heed as unto a Light that shines in a 〈◊〉 place until the day dawn and the day-Star arise in your hearts 〈◊〉 Jesus is the Bright and the Morning-Star Reply Remember Reader that these Scriptures are brought to prove 〈◊〉 the Apostles did Preach Christ only within Now let us see whether in this Scripture Peter doth not point them to the Person of Jesus Christ and this day dawning and day-Star arising in their hearts was but a more clear knowledg of Jesus Christ Certainly he is pressing them to get into their hearts a more distinct knowledg of Jesus Christ's Person and of the
Pardon Peace Holiness Eternal-Life This word Drink is but a Metaphorical word implying that we can have no Benefit nor Good by Christ except there be an Application by Faith Baily For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts and Mark 7.21 22 23. From within out of the heart of Men proceed evil thoughts Adulteries and defile the Man Now must not these evil thoughts be purged out But how and by what means must these evil thoughts be purged Seeing they are within Must not the Antidot be taken inwardly when the Poison is within What is it that must cleanse but the precious Blood of Christ Reply This is the sum of what thou sayest in Pag. 43. We grant that sin comes from within therefore is there a Fountain within from whence these evils flow which we call Original sin Every Man is tempted Jam. 1.14 When he is drawn away of his own Lust c. Rom. 7. Sin wrought in me all manner of Concupiscence This the Quakers deny Now Man in his Natural state can do nothing else but sin Gen. 6. The Imagination of the thought of his heart is only evil continually notwithstanding all the Light he hath within Hereupon must there needs be great defilements upon his Mind and Conscience 1 Tiâ—â— 15. Their Mind and Conscience are defiled This defilement consists in the guilt of Sin and in the power and presence of sin These defilements must be taken away and there is nothing will do it but the Sufferings and Blood of Christ Now the guilt of sin is taken away by God's Act of not imputing sin to us upon Faith Which Faith is wrought in us by his Spirit in that Christ was made sin for us 2 Cor. 5.21 As for the power of sin this is broke in us by the New Creature and Sanctification which begins in Faith on Christ Now as this work is carried on in the Soul so the presence of sin is more removed But it 's the will of God that the work of Sanctification should not be so absolutely perfect in this Life So that Sin hath some presence in the best of Saints yet no condemnation to them because they are in Christ See then we are for an inward work upon the heart of Man a work of Sanctification which the Light of Nature will never produce but there is a necessity of the Spirit of Grace to be given This work is but the Fruit of the shedding of the Blood of Christ Thereupon it is that we have Faith given as well as pardon Phil. 1.29 To you it is given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the behalf of Christ not only to believe c. All this pains Baily that thou hast taken is only the Reader now seeth to throw down Christ's glorious Person and set up corrupt Nature in his place And by Blood and purging c. is nothing meant by you but the Light within and Obedience to that I would not omit any thing that hath the least shew of Argument and desire thee Baily if thou write again to do the like by me The next Scripture is 1. Pet. 1.19 Baily Speaking of the Blood Did it not Redeem people formerly from their vain conversation Reply Yea it did and it doth now and nothing else It was not the Light within Many had this the Jews had it the Fathers of these he is writing to yet they walked in vain Conversation i. e. in error and superstitions after Traditions as he there speaks And so multitudes of Heathens at this day and many in this Nation But whoever Christ hath died for shall effectually be called from such a Conversation The offering up of himself was the Meritorious cause of all Holiness Whoever then walk in the vain Conversation of error false Worships Superstitions Wickednesses to the end manifest Christ never dyed for them They were not Redeemed nor bought with his precious Blood In the last Parag. of the 43. pag. thou speakest of the Indwelling of Christ in his people by his Spirit 2 Cor. 6. I will dwell in them c. And of his presence in the Gospel-Churches walking in the midst of his Golden Candlesticks Reply Both these surely are consistent with Christ's being a person without and all his suffering without These all are but Fruits of Christ's dying for his Church But before I leave this one Scripture in Prov. 16. thou hast viz. By Mercy and Truth Iniquity is purged What meanest thou by this I am afraid thou art a down-right Papist The Papists say that by Alms-giving Iniquity is taken away Dost thou think so For that is Mercy So by doing to others as we would be done by is sin pardoned for this is Truth and Righteousness Speak out Is there any thing that Man can do which thou dost here imply that can take away his iniquity Is this the Blood that thou owned'st before Then may many unclean Drunkards have their iniquities purged yet remain so For several of them it 's known are merciful to the Poor and true in their Words and Promises and Righteous in their Trades Surely then it is more safe to understand this Scripture of the Mercy and Truth of God his Mercy promising forgiveness through Christ and his Truth in making this promise good Thus is Iniquity Forgiven Redeemed Covered In the Hebrew it is in Mercy and in Truth is iniquity redeemed or covered Thou art a very unhappy Man in citing Scriptures In the 44 and 45. pag. I find nothing of any weight or Argument Let the Reader view it Much of pag. 44. is the very same that he said before of me and of the young Man he sends some shot in Railing in Parag. 2. and breaks forth into the Praises of the Quakers and Thraso-like boasts in his confidence And thus goeth on threatning all but themselves as Babylon and Antichrist At length concludes pag. 45. in the 4th Parag. in Prayer He begins thus viz. Arise O God c. he ends with a Doxology viz. To whom be everlasting Praises Glory and Thanksgiving from all that know thy Name God over all Heaven and Earth blessed for ever and ever Hallelujah Now I have read over the Prayer once again I find not one word of Christ in it nothing desired in his Name or for his sake and am greatly jealous and desire therefore to be satisfied in this Question having said so much before as thou hast Whether thou dost pray this Prayer to any other Person or thing than the Light within which thou callest here God over all Heaven and Earth blessed for ever giving Halelujahs to it If thou write again I pray thee resolve me who thou prayest to and why not in the Name of the Mediator Jesus In pag. 46. The Reader may see much of the same he had before applying himself to me calling me to an account for what I have written appealing to my Conscience Where there is this passage Parag 1. And see if thou canst stand by them when
name I forbear to mention which were to my best remembrance these viz. Young Man I would have thee prepare thy self if it be upon the hearts of any our friends to write to vindicate the Truth that thou should'st not think they do it out of envy but in all meekness to reclaim thee For your Love and Care of me I humbly thank you being willing to learn knowledg in the Gospel by any But your Titles which you put upon me are not such as should Reclaim me viz. A Rebel Blasphemer Traitor wicked Person Dangerous to be believed in words or trustâ—â— in Actions Had these things proceeded out of my Mouth I have just ground to Judg thou wouldst have counted them fruits of envy by what thou toldest me of W. Haworth but I leave it to others to Judg what they are in you After a Repetition of several of my sayings in pag. 27. of my little Book I find thee W. Baily condemning me for setting forth my Condition while I was obedient to the Light in my Conscience for Life and Salvation by the similitude of Israel's being in Egypt Which thou lâ—st strained to make Confusion and render me odious to the World According to this Rule of thine might I say of Paul in Gal. 4.24 25. That the Covenant of Grace was no more than giving Abraham a Son in his old-Age And Hagar the Bond-Woman which bare Abraham a Son is the very Mount Sindi in Arabia on which God gave the Law Also I might say from Luke 18.3 c. That God is unrighteous and that he will not hear his People unless they trouble and urge him with their Cry Which God forbid I should say or think I know no more wickedness in setting forth working for Life and Salvation by Israel's being in Egypt than for the Scripture to set forth God by an unjust Judg. Is this abusing my Similitude in this manner a Fruit of the pure Light within But why may not my Condition in obeying the Light within be compared to a state of Bondage Seeing this Light teacheth the things contained in the Law though not all things contained in the Law as they ought to be taught As not to kill not to Steal not to Commit Adultery and many more and saith in this Language viz. Do this and Live Which is plainly the Covenant of Works This Light teacheth That the Man that keepeth his Statutes i. e. the Commandements of the Light he shall live in them As in Levit. 18.5 Rom. 10.5 Gal. 3. 〈◊〉 The Quakers words are these viz. Mind the Light heed obey the Light and turn to the Light which reproveth and such-like expressions Which words are good in their place but when Justification Life and Peace with God are placed herein they are stark naught For then the Gospel and the Honour and Glory of Christ are destroyed That Christ which was dead and is alive and liveth for ever Revel 1.18 Which cannot be the Godhead without the Manhood So then he that submitteth to the Light and obeyeth it doth not Steal as he that heeded the Covenant of Works And this Light as that Covenant shuts up people unto Good works only to do them for fear of punishment So that they that are thus obeying the Light differ not from those that all their Life-time were subject to Bondage by reason of the fear of Death Heb. 2. 15. Now Paul calls it no other than Bondage to be under the Law for Life and Salvation Gal. 4.25 Why therefore may not I compare it to such an Estate without such Wickedness as you speak of How often do you say there must be a cleansing from all sin in this Life else no Salvation Doth not this speak that the Righteousness in which Man is to live must justify him Is this any other than the Covenant of Works which is perfectly to be kept or no Salvation to those that are under it Where is Gospel-Repentance now Where is a freedom of Will and delight to do good It is all out of doors This I remember upon my own Spirit when the Lord enlightned me to see Justification by the personal Righteousness of Christ then came in a freedom of will to good and a Delight and sweetness in doing Good which I had not before Neither can this be in any where this Change is not There may be in you Quakers a Legal Repentance which is a turning from Wickedness to Civility because ye are bound so to do for Life and Salvation as you think But Gospel-Repentance is an Obedience to the Faith which Justifieth without Works And such an one receiveth thankfully and accepteth of the Righteousness of that Person Jesus Christ for his Justifying Righteousness And from thenceforth in Love to Jesus and for the honour of his Name liveth soberly as a Son obeyeth his Father But doth not look to be made a Son and owned to be a Son and so accepted and received by these works wrought in him and by him Which kind of Repentance the Light within every Man sheweth not So let him which hath the 〈◊〉 Judg of the Tree by its Fruit as thou sayest If the Spirit the 〈◊〉 are in be not the Spirit of Bondage which Paul speaketh of in 〈…〉 15. When as the fear and dread of the Majesty of God unâ—â—â— the Covenant of Works is such to those that remember that there eternal punishment for sinners that they dare not go on in sin 〈◊〉 this But then it is with them If I may draw a Similitude once 〈◊〉 as with a Merchant on the Sea loaden with rich Treasure which 〈◊〉 truly loveth and is loath to part with But there ariseth a Storm 〈◊〉 Tempest So that he must either part with his Goods or lose his â—â—â—e and then he says farewel my Treasure which I so dearly loved 〈◊〉 a kind of Will such a Repentance is theirs who are shut up in 〈◊〉 under the Law and bound to be obedient to the reproof of the 〈◊〉 that they may be delivered from the wrath of God and the punishment of sin 〈◊〉 farther because there is a Light in every Mans Conscience which 〈◊〉 Check for evil as was in Adam after the Fall Genes 3.10 unâ—o which I have been pointed by some And the more it is heeded the 〈◊〉 it will work So that when going to act some evil this Light â—â—oeth and the fear and dread of God because of punishment and 〈◊〉 of shame that will ensue seizeth upon Man so that he hath not 〈◊〉 to go on in sin Hereupon dark blind blockish Reason conâ—â—deth this is the Christ and the Power of God to Salvation By this 〈◊〉 of deceit I came to believe the Light and Power within to be 〈◊〉 Christ the Saviour of the World As some of the Quakers do â—nowledg the Light in overy Man to be They say it is both the 〈◊〉 and the way to the Saviour Upon this ariseth Love to the 〈◊〉 esteemed falsly to be the Lord
the Spirit to us viz. Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10.4 Now it is not the Office of the Spirit the Comforter much less of the Light within every Man which deserveth not the Name of the Comforter to work Righteousness in us to justifie us though it doth lead to Holiness Neither to bring us to fulfil the Law in our persons to be justified thereby before God 1 Cor. 4.4 Though I once was entangled with an opinion of this Nature viz. That it was Christ by the Spirit which wrought in me therefore it was not my Righteousness but his and this for Justification Jesus was put to death Crucified cut off not for himself he was an Offering for sin for ever Heb. 10.12 A sacrifice well pleasing to God And he rose again for our Justification Rom. 4.25 Signifying so much that he had satisfyed the Justice of God for the Sins of his people and could not be held of Death Now the Spirit taketh of these things when Man is as we have said before under the sence of the wrath of God and applyeth them unto his heart giving him Faith herein saying Christ was made a Curse for thee Gal. 3.13 i. e. in thy place room and stead He was in a bloody Agony he was forsaken of God and all for the sake of his people His Blood therefore cleanseth from all sin Now the Blood is not within us as the Quakers say Any Sacrifice any Crucifying withiâ— Man to purge to purify to make Reconciliation with God But the Spirit doth apply the Merit of the Sacrifice the Bloodshed of that Person Jesus Christ which was 1600. years since He it was not the Light within every Man that is often called the Redeemer in the Prophets And as Paul calls him from thence A Deliverer to come 〈◊〉 of Zion Rom. 11.26 when the time of his Birth drew nigh he was pointed at to be the Person Mat. 1.21 Luk. 1.31 32. to accomplish the Work This is said he gave his Life a Ransom for many Mat. 20.28 Now the Spirit as we said taketh of these things and applyeth them to his people and saith he hath not he will redeem but hath Redeemed us from the Curse of the Law Gal. 3.13 and hath made them Sons through Faith Gal. 4.6 though they had infirmities and had need of Reproofs and Exhortations to good works as may be seen in the Epistle he having obtained everlasting Redemption through the means of his Death entring into the Holy Place once with his own Blood Heb. 9.12 15. These things I say doth the Spirit Preach to the Souls of poor Men As an Ambassador receiveth of the King his mind and declareth it is a far Country so the Spirit receiveth of Christ's Love his Riches Care for his people and gives them to understand them for themselves for their own Comfort But to the last viz. He shall glorifie me So is it indeed the Spirit doth mightily exalt the Person of Christ it proclaims him to the Soul to be the fairest among ten thousand to be altogether Comely No deformity at all in him How excellently is he set forth in the Book of the Canticles And when the Spirit doth thus reveal Christ in his loveliness and Beauty they cry out O what a wretch was I that I should sin against so Gracious a God! That such as Jesus Christ must dâ— for my Salvation We that stood in the stouâ—ness of our Spirits and slighted and scorned to accept of his personal Obedience 1600. years since Now do melt in the remembrance of our hard hearts And thus is 〈◊〉 got likewise in the heart of Man a Love to live to the praise of the Name of Christ for ever because of a Rebel he hath made him a Son because he hath made Reconciliation by the Blood of his Cross from henceforth he would fear him and serve him as a Father that hath done so much for him that he cannot do so much for Christ never require or make amends So then you see it is not as the Quakers say Obey the Light within and submit to the power thereof that your peace may be made that ye may get into the Love and favour of God that you may be made the Sons of God by the Righteousness which the Light hath wrought in you according to that I have read that George Fox the younger hath writ These are his words viz. If ye would believe and wait in me or obey me the Light in you I will purge out all your iniquities and forgive all your Trespasses and I will change your Natures and make you New Creatures if you will hearken to me and obey me the Light in you Ye see the Motive of one and of the other Light to Obedience is different Again another difference is that the Light of the Spirit of Christ layeth a Man more humble and low in his own Soul than the Light the Quakers plead for It sheweth him that he hath nothing to boast or glory in but all is freely given him Nay if God should deal in Justice with him that he is a wicked person in that he hath sin dwelling in his flesh a corrupt nature if God should look upon him as in himself this might justly befal him to be condemned So that he cannot vaunt it over his Neighbour and say I am Righteous thou art Wicked I am good thou art evil I have done Righteousness thou hast done Wickedness and thou mayest be Righteous and hold on and do good if thou obey the Light in thy Conscience the voice of the Lord calling unto thee in the inward parts which thing the Quakers say by their Light and I have said it in heart many a time before the Lord humbled me to accept of the personal Righteousness of Christ for my Justification as I am a poor sinner Again there are things which the Light of the Spirit discerneth to be sin which the Light in every Man cannot discern to be sin As First to seek for and look for Justification Reconciliation Acceptance with God in with or by the Righteousness in which we live acted in our persons It seeth not this to be a Despising the Righteousness of Christ a corrupting the Gospel eclipsing the Glroy of Christ a contradicting God in his Way and appointment for the Salvation of poor sinners It seeth no evil in this which yet makes Christ of no Advantage not submitting to the Righteousness of God Yet I am not ignorant my Adversaries will say They are justified by the Righteousness of Christ and they do not despise the Gospel with many more good words as they have writ which would to God were true But I would here Answer a Question or two and then proceed If it should be in the mind of any to ask Quest What shall we do that we may attain to this Gospel-saving Spiritual Light Answ I know thou wilt count that which I am
suffered these to fall into the breach of that Commandement viz. Thou shalt not Bear false Witness As they have done in the four last Instances Which things are utterly false Obj. But if any yet Object against all I have said here and say in their hearts which I question not but many do say That they can do â—â—ll themselves upon the Lord i. e. The Light within and their hearts do not condeâ—â— them They have boldness towards God and that if they â—y in this Condition they shall be blessed Answ Let these but well consider Galat. 3.10 Cursed is every 〈◊〉 that continues not in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them Now I Reason thus with you Either ye continue in all that the Law requireth or no If you say yea then are you absolutely perfect without the least sin or spot or presence of sin If ye do not continue and be not thus and yet have peace and your hearts condemn ye not as you say It must be from one of these two things which are both false viz. Either because God accounteth that to be sin to one which he doth not account to be sin to another Or that God will not Condemn a Man for sin committed in Ignorance As if a Man Commit Adultery in his heart unawares if his Conscience smite him not for it but he dyeth without trouble in his Conscience for it that such an one goeth to blessedness whereas Christ desired forgiveness of his Father for them who knew not what they did Obj. If any will say that our words are darkly spoken and so that they could not be otherwise understood Answ They were not so dark but many have understood them aright which pretended not Immediate Revelation nor Infallibility as ye do Is it not strange then that Men that pretend not to obey the Light as their Rule should understand them aright and God as ye call the Light should not instruct ye aright in these things Seeing all things are naked and bare before him and there is nothing too hard for him to know The sum is this then viz. That which erreth in the less will surely err in the greater Or that which instructeth amiss in those of smaller will instruct amiss in those things that are of a higher Concernment and therefore it is unsound But as I have said this pure Light in every Man hath instructed these men amiss as to the understanding of our words and demonstration of my Faith and Judgment therefore it doth certainly mislead as to the right understanding of the Gospel and the Principles pertaining thereunto and therefore it is corrupt And as we said before that which will suffer a Man to rest in the breach of any one Commandment will suffer him to rest in the breach of any other of them and consequently suffer him to rest in the Righteousness which will not Justifie before God But the Common Light in every Man hath suffered these Men to do the First therefore the second likewise to take up in a Righteousness wherein they live and which was wrought in them by the Light which they call the Spirit But to return to my business in hand Quer. 2. Whether he be of the Quakers Faith and Principle who Believeth that the power which accompanieth the Light and restraineth Man from â—â—â—ng some evil is the power of God unto Salvation if it be obeyed If so 〈◊〉 was I one Quer. 3. Whether he be of the Quakers Faith and Principle that exâ—â—eth to be Justifyed accepted with God and to have reconciliation made in with or through that Righteousness in which he liveth acted in â—â— person wrought by Christ as they say i. e. The Light and Power within Then was I of their Faith Quer. 4. Whether he be of the Quakers Faith and Principle that yieldâ—th submitteth hearkneth to or obeyeth that Light and power in him for that very end viz. to be Justified to be brought into the Love and Faâ—â—ur of God to have his Peace made by those Works wrought in him Then 〈◊〉 I a Quaker Quer. 5. Whether is he of the Quakers Faith and Principle That believeth that the Washing Cleansing the Purifying by with or through the Blood of Jesus Christ is only that Life and Light and Power that is within Man when he gets any strength by attendance hereunto over any 〈◊〉 and iniquity and is led into any thing that is good In which sence I 〈◊〉 prayed that I might be washed in the Blood of Christ and cleansed from all my sins Yea many a time when I was in my distressed Condition If so then was I a Quaker Quer. 6. Whether he be of the Quakers Way Faith Spirit and Principle that believes that no Man of himself is able and sufficient to keep the Law of God it being weak through the Flesh to bring to Eternal Life therefore Christ the Light Life and Power within doth work in him to change him from darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to God to fulfil the Law in us i. e. in our Persons to make an end of sin and to bring in everlasting Righteousness viz. the Righteousness wrought in us So reconciling man to God breaking down the middle Wall of Partition destroying the Works of the Devil Sin and Wickedness all within no where else and in no wise else Of this kind was my Faith for some time Quer. 7. Whether he be of the Quakers Spirit Way Faith and Principle that through Christ i.e. the Light Life and Power within Man thinks he should be carried up freed from sin and live in holiness before Christ as the person of Jesus Christ was 1600 years since for an example to us being obedient to the Call of the Lord as they say in my inward parts So I believed formerly Quer. 8. Whether he be of the Quakers Faith and Principle who Believeth yea the Frame of his Spirit is to say when he seeth Man go on in wickedness Thou mayest be Righteous if thou wilt if thou wilt but obey the voice of the Lord in you i. e. The Light which calleth to you in your inward parts he will deliver you from sin for he delighteth not in the death of a Sinner These I once held with several others which I pass by for brevity sake as concerning the Taking an Oath the Sabbath the Law of Moses c. Now if he be of the Quakers Faith which thus believeth then was I. For the declaring whereof I have suffered Reproach and that none of the least because of a similitude used by me insomuuh that I am declared to be a Lyar a Thief a Wronger of my Neighbour and several more as may be seen When they say I have cast off Christ's Yoke and Burden and the Latitude of my Canaan is to have none of these things laid upon me He must of necessity mean that I am become a Thief and a Lyar c. Otherwise there would be
examined to thy Face Reply I have said enough upon this account in my Epistle to Crook and say here in all Calmness I have not wronged the Quakers but have acted in all things according to my Light and Conscience and it doth not in the least upbraid me If for any thing it is that I have not used more diligence and boldness in preventing their gross and damnable errors And now I am ready to speak with thee Face to Face or any of you Baily Pag. 47. Whom thou sayest is a Quaker converted to Christianity as if the Quakers were no Christians Shewing thy Envy against them and thy Ignorance or wilful-blindness concerning the Scriptures of Truth in which may be seen plentifully that God's People whom he hath regard unto above all people in all Ages were such as trembled at his Word As in Isa 66. And Moses was a leading Quaker Heb. 12. and Ezekiel was a Quaker see Chap. 12.18 And Daniel a Man greatly â—â—loved was a Trembler Chap. 10.11 12. And Paul preached in much trembling 1 Cor. 2. 3. And Paul bid the Christians Work out their Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2. 12. And exhorted Servants to obey their Masters with fear and trembling Ephes 6.5 And the true Christians received Titus with fear and trembling 2 Cor. 7.15 Reply I wish for thy own Credits sake thou hadst forborn these â—nes Every Babe in Christ smiles when they read them seeing the weakness and impertinency of them I find that the Quakers are very much distasted that we allow them not to be Christians Now how on they be Christians if they hold not the Head the Person of Christ â—ut make the Light within the Head of the Church I wish not onâ—y they but all the World were not almost but altogether Christians Were you but sound in the Faith had ye but the Vital Essential part of Christians what a good addition would there be by you to the Church of Christ Ah! have ye suffered so many things in vain in this Nation But it is not amiss to call a Spade a Spade Ye must I dare say change your Religion from top to bottom before ye be owned Christians by God's people in this Nation But to the thing Thou wilt prove them Christians thus viz. If the Christians of old â—ere Quakers then the Quakers now are Christians But the former is true thou sayest by many Scriptures which thou hast quoted Before we come to examine the instances let me but Query How this people came to be thus called Was it not upon their strange fits of bodily Tremblings which they had in their first Rise wherein all their flesh and bones would tremble I take it for granted having spoke with some that have seen them thrown upon the ground in this posture Now that such bodily Tremblings as these are essential to Christians and to the people of God as such I deny they never had such except it was upon some dreadful Visions or Appearances as you in the least can by no claim to This is no part of Christianity Though we do not censure the Quakers as no Christians because they trembled thus but because they deny Christ himself from whom that Name is derived and the Christian Doctrine So that your Religion is a Religion of another kind and sort and Species much more like Mahumetanism or Judaism or Heathen-Philosophy than Christianity Now to the Scriptures which prove the people of God of old Quakers Isa 66. v. 5. Such as tremble at my Word This is the first Scripture Reply Was this bodily Trembling here spoke of Is there not in the same verse a contrite Spirit mentioned Was it not in Spirit having a Holy awe and Child-like fear of the threatnings of God 2. Moses was a Leading Quaker Heb. 12. This may be spoken of Moses some think not as if it were verified in his own Person as if he did quake but he is brought in as the Mouth of the people speaking in the Name of the people Moses said i. e. in the Name of all the people he being a Mediator betwixt God and them See Exod. 19.19 20. that for all this it 's said there he spake to God and God called him and he went up to the Mount But be it so Was it not upon an Extraordinary occasion Had you ever the like Visions as the burning Mount Did you ever hear the voice of God Was your Doctrine among the Mountains in the North delivered with that Augustness as the Law at Mount Sinai But again grant he did quake was it any part of his Religion oâ— Christianity Nay it only argued this that he was imperfect a sinner legal in part It 's said in that Chapter that it ought not to be thus with Christians viz. to fear thus and tremble nor be discouraged For they are come to Mount-Sion and to the Blood of sprinkling being delivered from a cursing fiery Law and are come unto a State where there should be nothing but Peace Joy and sweetness The next is Ezekiel He was a Quaker in Chap. 12.17 18. The word of the Lord came to me saying Son of Man eat thy Bread with Quaking and drink thy water with trembling Now have you the same Reason for yours as this Prophet for his Any immediate Vision or Revelations by Angels Spirits Voices c. prove it to us Then the next Quaker that is brought is Daniel Chap. 10 11. in a â— you read of a marvelous Vision Daniel had which you dare not say you have any such amongst you which was the cause of his Trembling As for Pauls trembling prove it such Bodily trembling as yours We deny it and say it was not such That in Phil. 2. 12. was not Bodily Trembling but an holy fear and reverence of God in their Spirits rousing them from security upon consideration of the Decrees of God So the other two mentioned as to Servants and Titus But is' t not a strange Argument whereby to prove the Quakers Christians because the Prophets did upon some extraordinary Visions tremble in their Bodies and because others in their Ministry of the Word and servants in their places were not proud and secure but tender and modest and had a Child-like fear of God in their hearts therefore all Christians â—are Quakers and all Quakers Christians But excepting these extraordinary Cases what do these Tremblings signifie â—â—t horror and despair Who trembles more than Devils who believe 〈◊〉 tremble Doth it not argue that you rather come with the Doctrine of the Law the Covenant of Works which indeed you Preach â—an the Gospel As if you had been only at Mount-Sinai The Gospel Spirit is not a Spirit of such fear but of power love and of a sound 〈◊〉 And the more we get into a Spirit of Love the more is this 〈◊〉 cast out But to conclude I wonder not that any that are found upon the â—aw of works not owning the Mediator his Death Suffering Obedience
as having Eternal Vertue in them for the taking away of sin appeasing Justice making his whole Church compleat I wonder not â—at any such should Quake and Tremble In a dying hour they will â—â—mble more In the day of Judgment most of all Any that will â—ave no Saviour but the Light within and no Righteousness but what 〈◊〉 in Obedience to that to Justify them in God's sight such will call for the Hills and the Mountains to cover them in that day In the end he casts out like the Dragon a flood of Railing but I must not will not return Reviling but have learned to bless them 〈◊〉 that curse me and to pray for this Man that the Lord would not â—y this sin to his charge viz. of speaking evil of the Truth and of me â—ut forgive him for he knoweth not what be doth Let not the Gospel O Lord be hid unto him Let not the god of this World blind him that the Light of the Glorious Gospel may shine into him Give him the eyeâ—â—â—e open his dark Vnderstanding Let the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation be upon him in the acknowledgment of the Mystery In thy Light â—et him see Light Hide Pride from him bring down every high thing in him every thing that exalteth it self every thought into Captivity to the Obedience of Christ that he may come as a helpless Sinner to be reconciled to God through Christ and not any longer despise the Cross of Christ and count the Doctrine of it foolishness through a Confidence in the flesh lest he wonder and perish Amen WILL. HAWORTH An Answer to Mary Stouts Letter AH W. H. What is become of that tenderness that once was upon thy heart Answ That which was true tenderness in avoiding what was really evil is still through Grace maintained in me But Childish scrupulosity and that Bondage-Spirit that sometimes I have been in and which the Quakers remain in is removed from me through more Gospel Knowledg given to me M. Stout Then wast thou little in thine own eys Answ I am now nothing in mine own eyes as I am in my self By Grace I am what I am And this is the way to be little to have 〈◊〉 sence that by Nature we are sinners and Enemies to God and without strength fallen short of Gods Glory Children of Wrath And so humbly to receive the Doctrine of free Justification by imputed Righteousness which your Teachers oppose Whether is likely to be less in hiâ— own eyes he that seeth he hath nothing to justifie him but what iâ— without which God by a free Act of his imputeth to him or 〈◊〉 that thinks there is enough within from the Birth if it be obeyed 〈◊〉 which he hath Will and Power to do the Lord open thine eyeâ— Mary and humble thee Mary Thou didst then confess to the Truth Answ Christ's Person is the Truth John 14.6 I am the Way thâ— Truth and the Life I am still confessing against the Errors of the Quakers who are certainly against the person of Christ and set up another Christ a Quality that is in every Murderer and Robber which here thou callest Truth and yet it will not teach many things necessary to be known But with this which thou callest Truth and attendanâ—â— on it many have gone astray Witness all the Heathen World anâ— the Quakers at this day wandring in desperate Errors I have aâ— ways given this Light it 's due in its place which is that I suppose thoâ— meanest by Confessing to the Truth I never any otherwise professed Quakerism For then indeed had I been guilty of the highest Rebellion â—maginable to own the Light in every Man to be the Christ of God to lift Nature into the Throne of God to make a Deity of the Creâ—ture which the Quakers do The Lord convince thee Mary of thâ— Truth Mary And the Quakers were honest people in thy account Answ There may be honesty where no Godliness I should be glad if the Quakers were as sound in their Judgments as Moral in their Lives Though of late they have much declined from Morality Whatever thoughts I had of them formerly I know now them better and have no Reason to call Darkness Light having had so much Experience of them how honest soever they be in their Callings I know assuredly there are Errors and Scarlet Errors of a deep dy among them and the Scripture calls Error Iniquity 1 Tim. 2.19 They are then such an honest people among whom there is much gross Iniquity Mary How well had it been with thee if thou had'st grown in tenderness Answ Through Grace I am grown so in tenderness that I cannot but bear my Testimony against the Quakers Errors Where indeed is thy tenderness Mary when-as thou canst bear with such Blasphemies that are in thy Brother Bailies Book Yea Witness to them as Truth That is but a narrow-Tenderness that extends only to witness against some Pride in Apparrel against saluting with the Hat and in the mean while can hug embrace and kiss these Serpents Crocodiles Plague-Sores of Blasphemies I find my Spirit and rejoyce at it growing in this Tenderness every day more and more to loath Corruption stench and rottenness not only in Mens lives but in their Judgments Mary But it is just with the Lord that all them that have rebelled against the Light of his Son should be hardened Answ The Light that every Man hath of which thou speakest is no where in Scripture called The Light of the Son of God Thou mayest learn from Reading this Book that it is but the Light of Nature Your Teachers have beguiled you by putting a false Name upon it Thou might'st as well and may'st as properly call the Sun in the Firmament the Light of the Son of God It 's a far better and higher Light that should be so stiled As for my Rebelling against the Light thou mentionest I can say in a great measure I followed and obeyed it when a Child and a Youth But knew a time when I had a better guide bestowed upon me I have now that Light in me walks not contrary to it But it is not my Guide nor Rule But the Spirit of Christ leads me to the Holy Scriptures as the Rule There have I seen higher and greater things than the Light could discover to me Why should'st thou have me and others walk by Moon-light as in the night when we have the Sun-light to direct us in the day of the Gospel Take heed Mary lest thou hast not rebelled against the knowledg thou once had'st from the Scriptures That God hath thus left thee to Delusion and hardned thee in Error Mary It would be well for thee to consider where thou art and what thou art a doing Answ I cousider my self to be in Christ and that I am doing that which Christ would have me to do for him in my Generation Mary For doubtless thou art now found fighting against the Lord. Answer The Light