Rome have given a better definition of Justification then R. Gordon hath and in words at least shown a better esteem of the works of Grace and of the Spirit of God then he hath done which Works are above those of self and surely the Apostle James did not exclude the Works of Faith which are done by the aid of the Spirit of God from Justification when he said But wilt thou know oh vain man that Faith without Works is dead and was not our Father Abraham justified by works when he had offered Isaac his Son upon the Alter Jam. 2.20 21. Now was this an old Popish Trick or the old Law-working spirit as he calls it No sure it was before the Law was written and it was the Spirit of Faith by which Abraham obey'd God for Abraham believ'd and it was imputed to him for Righteousness and he was called the Friend of God Gal. 3.6 Jam. 2 23. And they that are of Faith are of Abraham and Partakers of the Righteousness of Faith wherein they are justified and accepted of God Now if I be exclaimed against herein for Pâ—pery I must say That wherein Papists hold any Truth though in unrighteousness I must not therefore deny it If the Pope and the Devil also confess there is a God and a Christ must I therefore deny it or be counted a Papist Nay I must speak the Truth in Righteousness however I be villified and scorned for it Again Our asserting the Righteousness of the Elect Seed rais'd in us and Obedience of Faith therein for Justification and Acceptance with God This doth neither deny nor oppose the Sacrifice of the crucified Body of the man Christ Jesus nor yet blot out of our hearts either the Name or Remembrance of him who is the great Propitiation for sin as unjustly the Elect Seed and its Righteousness within is accus'd p. 23. For the Appearance of Christ within and his Manifestation in Spirit doth neither deny nor oppose his Manifestation or Suffering in the Flesh but rather answereth and fulfilleth the Intent and End thereof for the outward Manifestation of the Son of God in the likeness of sinful Flesh as it did condemn sin in the Flesh so his inward Manifestation in Spirit doth destroy sin worketh Justification and Redemption in them who obey his Light within for he is the Author of Eternal Salvation to as many as obey him and it is through the Obedience of the Spirit that the soul is purified unto unfained Love c. And if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live so here is Righteousness Redemption and Salvation receiv'd in Christ the Light through obedience to his Light within however this be slightly stiled A Law-working spirit and falsly judged A Principle agreeing with all the false Religions in the World by this Antinomian Presbyterian Independant R.G. p. 24. who thus further preacheth as in the Name of the man Christ Jesus Receive the Attonement be ye Reconciled to God Believe and be saved the Man Christ Jesus having already slain the Enmity in himself the power of Sin and Death and the Law for us And thus he is our Saviour c. To which I say These Exhortations Receive 〈◊〉 Attonement which is the Peace be ye Reconcil'd to God Believe c. imply some Qualification and Good must be wrought in men before they be in Peace in a reconcil'd or justify'd Estate But how agrees this with those doctrines which wholly exclude the works Qualification and Good wrought in us by the Spirit of God and all Obedience done by the aid of the Spirit from Justification Reconciliation c. it being done at once as he saith by the Sacrifice of the crucified Body of the Man Christ whom he saith hath slain the Enmity in himself the power of Sin Death and the Law for us and thus saith he he is our Saviour to wit when no good is wrought in us by any Light or Spirit whatsoever so then is follows its only our Priest's Belief that all this is already done how much void of Good and full of Evil soever we be of our selves this R.G. hath prescrib'd an easie way to Heaven a broad way for Hypocrites to sooth and flatter themselves up in their sins but a way that is never like to lead them to Heaven though Christ bore the sin of many and suffer'd for the unjust even when in the Flesh and through suffering did both triumph over the Law of Ordinances and Shaddows which was the Enmity he slew or abolished Eph. 2.15 For he had no sin nor enmity nor power of it in himself to slay seeing by the eternal Spirit he offer'd up himself without Spot to God by all which though he by his Innocency condemn'd sin in the flesh and in himself became a Conqueror and Triumpher through Sufferings yet if R. G. and others come not to experience of the enmity and power of sin and death slain in themselves they are not actually reconciled nor sav'd by Christ neither yet freed from the condemnation of the Law nor Judgment of the Son of God who hath all Judgment given to him and Power to execute Judgment because he is the Son of Man but where he is receiv'd as a Saviour he saveth from Sin Death and Enmity in man and redeemeth from all Iniquity For for that end he gave himself It s not enough to say he hath slain the enmity in himself and the power of sin for Hypocrites make that a Cloak for the continuance of sin and enmity in themselves who know no Good wrought in them by any light or spirit whatsoever And such are the Corrupters of the Earth Destroyers of Souls Deceivers of the Simple and Perverters of the right Wayes of God such think themselves secure and safe in their sins while they Unscripturally and Antichristianly oppose the Work and Light of Christ within as not being of a justifying Nature to the Obedient and so they falsly apply reckon and impute Christ's Righteousness to themselves while they are actually rebellious against his Light within and I see no better tendency that R. G's work hath it being strictly examin'd and compar'd however therein he covers himself with a pretended applause and extolling of the Dignity and Suffering of Christ's Person but they that are sav'd and redeem'd from sin and enmity by him can say with the Prophet I will mention the Loving kindness and Praises of the Lord for he said Surely they are my People Children that will not Lye so he was their Saviour Mark So he was their Saviour as having sav'd them from Sin Iniquity and Falshood such are the People that are sav'd by the Lord who are Children that will not Lye in whom Deceit and Enmity is slain by the Power and spiritual Appearance of Christ Jesus within though I grant in general that he is the Saviour of all men as he affords them Preservation by his Power as Men and Creatures in
denied them and not to impose thy impertinent Tautollogies upon us which thy Book is fill'd with if we were either Jews Turks Jesuits or Papists which in any thing deny'd plain Scripture thou takest but a mean course to convince us by thy imposing and begging the Question But hadst thou dealt plainly and only brought us plain Scripture without thy Confusion Corrupt Glosses and Sin-pleasing Fancies we should not have had these Controversies nor such mudled stuff and ramblement to deal withal as thou hast divulg'd And as to thy speaking of two Gospel Mysteries viz. What was wrought in Christ and finished and perfected as once by that Sacrifice of his crucified Body and the second of what is to be wrought by Christ in us c. Answ. Truly to know Christ crucified and the Fellowship of his Sufferings and Conformity to his Death as also his Vertue as a Sacrifice by eating his Flesh and drinking his Blood is a Mystery which none but the Children of the Light know and receive who only receive Life thereby and such are they that see and walk in the New and Living Way which he consecrated through the Vaâ—l that is to say his Flesh and so witness the New Covenant or Testament which he the Testator confirm'd through his Death who in the Body offer'd up himself once for all to end the many Offerings and often sacrificing under the Law that Once is oppos'd to the many He offer'd up â—imself by the eternal Spirit to break down the Partition-Wall between Jew and Gentile and to abolish that Enmity that wâ—s between them in putting an end to that figurative Dispensation wherein the Jews gloried against the Gentiles that they might be reconcil'd in one Body and by the Spirit come to have the Mystery of Christ within and Fellowship of the Gospel reveal'd Now this was not to indulge any in sin or enmity thereof in themselves nor yet for any to plead that they are redeem'd and perfectly justified at once without them while in their sins and no good wrought within them for in that state they are so far from receiving the Attonement that they are Enemies to Christ and to his Cross and guilty of his Body and Blood not discerning either And this is thy state who thinkest thy self justify'd before thou wast born above sixteen hundred Years since and yet art in thy sins pretending to the Work of Christ in thee when otherwhiles thou reckonest all done without thee but now sayst It is daily doing in many Bodies till Mortality be swallowed up of Life And when dost thou think that will be Will it be on this side the Grave yea or nay Dost thou not expect a perfest Sanctification and Deliverance from Sin till after thou art deceas'd If thou dost not how art thou in the Method of the Gospel and how art thou perfectly justify'd It s they that are wash'd and sanctify'd that are justify'd As to the Sufferings of Christ without though the Scripture-Relation of them be true yet thou hast but a Traditional and Historical Faith thereof with some particular Conceits and wrong Constructions whilst thou coverst thy self in thy sins with a Profession thereof And so art upon a false Bottom not sanctified nor justified by the Spirit of God which is the immediate Cause of both unto them that believe in the Name of his Son Christ Jesus whose sufferings for Sinners was two-fold both inward and outward he bore the Burthen and Weight of the sins of the World And whereas thou wouldst have G. K. to prove That Christ doth bear Sins but as he did bear them in his Crucified Body p. 5. To which I say He was a Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World the Righteous Seed hath suffer'd through all Ages by the seed of Rebellion there is a spiritual suffering as well as there was a bodily suffering his Soul was made an Offering for sin he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the Transgressors Isa. 53. And said the Apostle The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with Groanings which cannot be uttered Rom. 8.26 And do not these Groanings imply an inward and spiritual suffering And was not Christ spiritually crucified in Sodom and Aegypt And that he doth suffer besides that in his crucified Body at Jerusalem is evident to them that know the Fellowship of his Sufferings though not to thee as the Apostle Paul witnessed when he said Who now rejoyce in my Sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh for his Body's sake which is the Church Col. 1.24 And whereas thou accusest the Author of the Book intituled The great Mystery of the Great Whore with saying That the Soul is infinite in it self without beginning more then all the World a part of God of his Beeing coming from God and returning to God again the Power of God c. And addest Doth a Part of God infinite need to be saved c And in p. 27. on the same occasion sayst This is the very Root of Rantism c. Reply We have alwayes distinquish'd between the Soul of Man and that which saves it and between the soul as in death under transgression and as quickened and united unto God by his Son as is plain to be seen in that Book accus'd by thee where mention is Of the Soul being in Death in Transgression and man's spirit not sanctified p. 91. And of the Soul being immortal and living in the Covenant of God where Christ is the Bishop of it it being in the hand that saves from Transgression And that Christ brings up the soul to God whereby they come to be one Soul page 129. In which state the soul is in Union with God as he that is joyn'd to the Lord is one Spirit And they that are Baptiz'd into Christ have put on Christ through whom they come to obtain the answer and end of his Prayer viz. That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us c. And the Glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one as we are one John 17.21 22 23. And it s said That Man is the Image and Glory of God 1 Cor 11.7 Now how absurd would it be to question Doth the Image and Glory of God need to be saved For man is called so he partaking of that Image and Glory and so it is no otherwise intended of the soul as to Divine Immortal and Infinite then as by participation of that Life and Light which is divine and infinite wherewith the soul is cloth'd and adorn'd in the renewed state But as to its being the Power of God a Part of God I find not these words so asserted by the Author of the said Book nor any thing like them with that general intent and consequence as strained by this Accuser for the Power of God is that
which saves the soul and it is the soul as in the Power that is unchangable And God is not to be divided into parts and particulars he is not divisable nor separable It was the Priests words That the soul is a part of the Divine Essence 〈◊〉 in the said Book pag. 227. And one of them confessed That there was a kind of Infiniteness in the soul pag. 90. And in p. 68. it is said God breathed into man the Breath of Life and he became a Living Soul for that which came out from God is the Cause that man became a Living Soul And is not this of God c Now Infinite Divine c. is no otherwise intended to the soul then as relating to the Breath of Life which immediately came from God by which the soul lives and subsists in its Beeing which figuratively some have put for or called the Soul as being the Soul or Life of it by which it lives and is upholden whether under a sense of Anguish or Peace And this hath no accord with Rantism but is a Testimony against it and thee too And it had been well for thee to have cleared thy self of Rantism ere thou hadst charged it on others for indeed thy doctrine hath a direct tendency to it as That men are perfectly justified and reconciled in the sight of God Gâ—d with them and they with him while Whoring Killing Stealing Cursing Roaring Ranting yea that Raâ—ters if all while Enâ—mies wicked no good wrought in them c. are perfectly justified reconciled with God and Gâ—d with them Doth not this tend directly to strengthen the Ranters in their Rantism And as touching G. F's words the places have been look'd and it s found that thou hast disorder'd them and left out what was necessary â—o clear their sense and his Intent R. G. If their Consciences accuse them not neither have I who have not so much as mention'd them Answ. Our Consciences do not accuse us but thou hast covertly and deceitfully when thou didst not mention us by name and now hast openly revil'd us and wrong'd our Principles contrary to that love so much pretended by thee So now thou appearest in thy own shape and for all thy shuffling and shifting in this matter I appeal to thy own Conscience if thou didst not chiefly mean the Quakers in thy other Pamphlet more than Turks or Jews Arians Papists Socinians or Ranters Will these Pretences excuse thee And as to thy not finding a plain consistency in our Principles nor a unanimous reception of them by every Person among us no doubt but thou hadst us'd thy skill to make an inconsistency in our Principles but art disappointed and to stumble the weak by thy undeâ—ly Insinuations against us But I ask What persons among us are so far from the reception of our Principles as to receive thine or own thy spirit R. G. What an inconsistency is there between thy words and this work published by you four against my Testimony and that not by the youngest among you Answ. Thou knowest in thy own Conscience that it was G. K. that chiefly answer'd thy Book A. R. and G. L. were little concern'd in it and it was thy irreconcilable Contradictions that I chiefly took notice of What a silly ambitious Boaster art thou then to seek to make the World believe that four of us were so deeply engag'd against thee and thy self to be such an eminent Champion against us Thy Testimony is so much of it false and confus'd that many more then us four would have testified agâ—inst it and what we did it was not so much to wage War with thee as to answer the Truth in our selves and clear it in general However through thy Ambition thou shewest thy Vapouring spirit and Ostentation against four oâ— us the least of which yea the youngest Child of Truth may see thy weakness Whereas G. K. said Though Redemption is wrought within by the Spirit of Christ. To which thou sayst Here I take notice of thy slighting that great Work of man's Redemption as already purchas'd by Christ for Sinners by that one Sacrifice of his crucified Body Answ. We do not slight that one Sacrifice nor the Dignity thereof by confessing to Redemption as wrought within by the Spirit of Christ if thou wilt own Redemption in the true sense thereof as Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity whiâ—h is not remov'd without his spiritual Operation within But thou contradictest thy Tutors thâ— Presbyterians and Independants in saying That man's Redemption is purchas'd by his Crucified Body for they say He did not satisfie as Man simply but as God and Man or as God Man which is all one as to say that God satisfied and paid God or that God purchased Redemption of himself for they say That his Suffering being finite could not purchase an infinite Reward for nothing but an infinite Price could procure that there must be an equivâ—lency between the Price and the thing purchas'd c. Whereas it was the Love and Good-will of God to send his Son into the World to redeem man from Sin and Corruption which is a work inwardly effected and Christ giving himself a Ransom for all was for a Testimony of Gods Love to all R. G. The Operations of the Spirit of Holiness being necessary for bringing the Believer into Vnion and Friendship with God c. p. 8. Answ. This confuteth much of thy work for then men are not in a reconcil'd state while out of that Friendship for where the mind is reconciled to God it is brought out of the enmity and evil works into union with God and so there is mutual union between him and the Creature R. G. He slew the Enmity in himself God reconcil'd us to himself through the Death of his Son while we were yet Enemies so no qualification wrought in us by any spirit whatsoever in order to the perfecting of the Purchase and paying the Ransom for Sinners pag. 8. Answ. Here is still thy old Story with thy additional Excuse of purchasing and payment to lessen the dignity and worth of the Spirit of God and its Qualification and Work within â—s as if God did not value the same Spirit of his and its work in his People now as formerly in Christ and his Followers whenas it is the same Spirit by which Jesus Christ offered up himself a Lamb without Spot to God and that rais'd him up from the dead which also quickeneth true Believers But thou preferest the Suffering of the Body before the Spirit and layest all the stress upon it as the only cause of Redemption Justification c. and the Works of the Spirit but as the Effect thereof How darkly hast thou herein consulted and set the Flesh above that Spirit which is the cause of Spiritual Effects for without the eternal Spirit his Body could not be offer'd nor rais'd nor the Saints quickened And concerning his Slaying the enmity
in Himself as thou wordst it and misconstrues Eph. 2.15 for thy sinful design against the worth of the Operations and Qualifications of the Spirit of Holiness within Christ had no enmity or sin in himself to slay but the enmity which he abolisht in his Flesh was the Law of Commandments contain'd in Ordinances for to make in himself of twain One new Man Eph. 2.15 or that both Jews and Gentiles might be reconcil'd in one Body Now the new Man hath the inward Qualifications and Fruits of the Spirit which thou wantâ—st and therefore art not in a reconcil'd state nor actually reconcil'd in thy self who reckonest all done purchas'd and paid in thy stead at once without thee while no qualification nor good is wrought in thee by the Spirit of God and yet thou must be qualified with Faith and both Reconciliation Justification and Redemption must be effected or fulfilled in thee or else thou canst not be sav'd according to thy own Concession What Confusion are you still in R. G. I say That the Works wrought for us by Christ in his crucified Body is the first Mystery the Foundation of all our Mercies the ground of the possibility of having any Works wrought in us by the Spirit of God tending to our being made like unto him pag. 8. Answ. The Ground and Cause of all our Mercies is the infinite Love of God in which he sent his Son whose Works for us and Example to us were Effects and Tokens of the Love of God to man and not the ground and purchasing cause thereof nor as by way of Payment and ridgid Satisfaction to vindictive Justice as Presbyters call it as if Christ were more kind to man and his Love more infinite than his Father's which is blasphemous like some of the Popish Fryars that said The Son was better then the Father And what better doth thy doctrine imply then that the Son's Works wrought without us are the previous procuring purchasing Cause of the Law of God to us while Sinners pag. 22. On this erronious stuff depends much of thy Book thou mightest as well say That God and his Love had a Beginning or were inferior to the Man Christ as that Christ's Works without were the previous or foregoing Cause of God's Love to us How then is his Love infinite in it self and free to us and the Cause of sending his Son Joh. 3.16 And darest thou say That God had not Love to Mâ—nkind before he sent his Son in the Flesh Or that the Love of God was not the previous Cause of his so sending his Son and of Christ's Testimony and Works in the dayes of his Flesh R. G. The Works wrought in us who Believe being but the Consequence and Effect of what he did for us even when Sinners pag. 9. Ans. If but the Consequence then men must begin first to learn and believe the History or outward Relation of Christ's Sufferings and not in the Spirit whereas the True and Well-beginning of the Churches of Christ was in the Spirit which is Life and then I ask If none can be saved nor sanctified but they who have that outward Relation or History When as it s confessed that the Operations of the Spirit of Holiness within do bring the Believer into Union and Friendship with God And is noâ— thâ—s absolute Reconciliation or Agreement with God So Justification making Righteous and accepted with God from thosâ— things from which we could not be justified by â—he Law of Moses and Redemption from Iniquity which are Effâ—cted within are the Effects and immediâ—te Consequences of the Operations of God by his Son or Power within who hath ordain'd Peâ—ce for us For note that he hâ—th wrought all our works in us Isa. 26 12. A Testimony whereof and of the Love of God to us was even Christ's outward Manifestation Works and Suffering in the Flesh in which he directed to the Spirit that quickens to God R. G. It hath been the work of the Devil and his Agents to darken this Doctrine of the justification of Sinners through the Death of Christ as already perfected with God c. pa. 9. Answ. By this the Reader may understand thy sense of Justification That Sinners are perfectly justified by the Death of Christ even while Sinners and Enemies But thou shouldst have defin'd what Justification is for if thy Doctrine be true all the World is in a justified State seeing Christ died for all while actually Sinners Polluted and Unjust only it remains for them to believe it is perfectly done without them and imputed to them so they may conceit themselves at peace with God in their sins A pleasant Doctrine to make Hypocrites like thy self who but in the same Page hast confessed That Christ died for our Sins and rose again for our Justification and that the Apostles intreated men to be reconcil'd to God But how agrees this with Sinners being perfectly justified without them by his Death when no good is wrought within them Did he so justifie Sinners by his Death and after rise again either to add to their Justification or do it over again What a Laborinth art thou now in But have not some of thy Brethren confessed That Sanctification and Justification are inseparable Companions R. G. But thou as doth thy Partner G. W. jumbles these things confusedly together speaking of the works wrought for us by Christ as lame and imperfect not as having finish the Work given him to do c. pag. 10. Answ. Thou belyest us for we affirm That Christ's Obedience and Works even in the dâ—yes of his Flesh were all perfect and that he therein finisht so much as the Father sent him to do having left a perfect Example to be followed being a perfect Captain Leader and Conquerer through all his Sufferings and by the eternal Spirit offered himself a Lamb without Spot to God But wherein we testifie That a meer Belief of his Works and Sufferings without are not sufficient to save man but he must know his spiritual Works wrought within and be saved by the washing of Regeneration c. this is no deeming his Works without either lame or imperfect For thou thy self sayest I do not say that he so finished it for us as if no more were to be done within us by his Spirit Now thou wouldst think much if we or any should accuse thee for rendring Christ's Works for us as lame and imperfect Hast thou done by us as thou wouldst be done unto Who also hast granted to the Operations of the Spirit within The living Testimony of Christ Jesus confirmed by him through his Sacrifice and Suffering in the flesh which we truly own is a Mystery to be known and fulfilled within where the Righteousness of Faith is experienc'd which brings the true Believers in the Light into the Fellowship of Christ's Sufferings which were both inward and outward and makes them conformable to his Death the Spirit baptizing them into it a Mystery thou
art yet a Stranger to R. G. Vnwilling to be manifested in the Light not telling us what that further influence and service was more then being a bare Example pag. 11. Answ. Jesus Christ in the dayes of his Suffering was not alone in his Testimony but as he said I and my Father c. and I can of mine own self do nothing He was endu'd with Power from on High whereby hâ—s Coming Offering and Testimony had a divine Influence upon the hearts of them that knew and receiv'd him and still hath And they who attain to the Blood of Sprinkling to have their Consciences thereby sprinkled and purged from dead works and to eat of the Flesh and drink of the Blood of the Son of Man do truly experience the End of his coming who hath given his â—lesh for the Life of the World and Himself a Ransom for all for a Testimony in due time which things are Mysteries hid from all Hypocrites and such who are dead in their sins R. G. Which of all the Prophets or Apostles ever so wrote of a Ransom an Attonement a Propitiation a Price of our Redemption as of a Work to be done in us as it was in Christ or that in these Christ was an Example to us that they might be over again effected in us And which of all those Holy Men ever so wrote of a Believer's being brought through the Ministration of Death Condemnation and Wrath after the Example of the Man Christ c pag. 12. Answ. Thou hast perverted our words by adding as it was in Christ and hast also shew'd thy wonderful Darkness for though we do not suffer in all Points after the same manner that Christ did yet it follows not that he was not a real Example of Obedience and Humility in his Suffering But how contradictory to thy own confession hast thou reasoned which is That Reconciliation Justification and Redemption are to be made eâ—fectual by the workings of his Spirit in all who through Faith receive the Attonement And did not the Prophet say to the Lord Thou hast wrought all our Works in us Isa. 26. And because the Chastizement of our Peace was upon Christ does it therefore follow That we must never be chastiz'd This is like thy doctrine Redemption was in Christ therefore not to be done in us Christ passed through Death therefore we must not be crucified nor perfectly dead to sin in this Life Is not this the very tendency or sum of much of thy Doctrine But is it not Sin and its Enmity within which Christ came to redeem and reconcile man from Thou art yet in Death far from being redeem'd or thus reconcil'd who hast not known the Ministration of Death Condemnation and Wrath but questionest the Believers passing through it though it be a plain Truth that they did and many do so pass they passed from Death to Life and through the Law became dead unto the Law And did not the Commandment which was ordain'd to Life work Death in the Apostle Paul who also knew the Terrors of the Lord But thou hast in thy Imaginations fram'd up a more easie way to Heaven or Redemption c. then through the Ministration of Judgment through which Sion is redeem'd and her Converts with Righteousness or of Death and Condemnation which in its time is glorious which is fulfilled where the Righteousness of the Law is fulfilled within even in them that walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit R. G. This new-coyn'd Mâ—stery of Faith in the Light in your Conscience or within you as your Saviour â—nd Obedience thereunto to be done and perfected in your bodies c. pag. 12. Answ. It s evident that the true Light and Perfâ—ction by it and in it were ever oppos'd by Darkness and its Children which cannot comprehend the Light of Christ within And this is Darkness to be felt that scornfully calls Faith in the Light a New-coyn'd Mystery But Jesus Christ the true Light that enlightens every man gave a better Testimony of the Light when he said Believe in the Light that ye may be Children of the Light Joh. 12.35 36. And so did his Ministers in these words God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 And if we walk in the Light as he is in the â—ight we have Felâ—owship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 2.7 And the Anointing which ye have receiv'd of him abideth in you and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him verse 27. See also 2 Pet. 1.19 and Rom. 2.7 10 13 14 15 16. And hath not the Grace of God which brings Salvation appear'd unto all men Titus 2.11 See how manifestly this man hath oppos'd both Christ and his Apostles plain Testimonies which are on the behalf of his Light within and Bâ—lief in it and Obedience to it in order to Perfection Cleansing from all Sin or a perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God Are these New-coyn'd Mysteries Nay they are Gospel Truths which stand against the Devil and his Darkness R. G. We who since we believ'd receiv'd that Attonement shall after our bodily death be rais'd from the Grave and be made Partakers of that Salvation which through Faith and Hope we wait for while in the Body pag. 13. Answ. Thou puttest Salvation at a great distance shewing thy self yet in the Grave of Corruption Is this thy meaning of Salvation that thou hopest and waitest for while in the body to be rais'd from the Grave after thy bodily death What strange Nonsensical Language is this And was this the Salvation that Christ's second Appearance was lookt for to effect Heb. 9.28 If thou livest and diest in thy Sins and be'st not saved from them nor rais'd out of them here thy Resurrection will be miserable and thy State sad hereafter even that of the Unjust which is to Condemnation R. G. It pleased the Lord to bruise him he was he hath left out we did esteem him smitten of God the Chastizements of our Peace were upon him then he adds This man should thus answer the Prophet Isaiah Is that divine Justice to take Vengeance on Wound Smite bruise the Innocent and let the Guilty go free Answ. The Prophet said he was despis'd and we esteem'd him not surely he hath born our Griefs and carried our Sorrows yet we did esteem him Stricken Smitten of God and Afflicted but he was wounded for our Transgressions c. Isa. 53.3 4 5. There are still those that reject and dis-esteem Christ and that esteem him smitten or plagued of God and even to have under-gone the Wrath and Vengeance of his Father in their stead to acquit them from Punishment though they live and dye in their Sins not expecting Salvation till after their Decease Whereas
strange Addition and Parenthesis is this that in effect denies him to be Christ that was manifest in that Body of his I ask if it be not true Language to say that Christ was manifest in the Flesh seeing that every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh mark that is not of God but is the spirit of Antichrist R. G. And to him as Saviour and to this Way of his Appearance in Believers throâ—gh Faith by his Spirit for Salvation and Remission of sins through him I have in plain words testified and you have oppos'd p. 22. Answ. Nay thou hast rather oppos'd it and not we for we own that God our Saviour according to his Mercies sav'd us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3.4 5 6. But thou thinkest Reconciliation Justification Redemption and Salvation are all compleated perfected and done at once by the crucified Body without but now it must be by his Appearance in Bâ—lievers through Faith by his Spirit See thy manifest Contradiction viz. A perfect Justification and Redemption of Sinners without them when no good is wrought in them contra But now it must be done by Christ's Appearance in Believers through Faith by his Spirit As also thou grantest that his appearing the second time is without sin to Salvation But when thinkest thou that must be is it in this life or hereafter Thou sayest that after the bodily death you shall be rais'd out of the Grave and made Partakers of that Salvatioâ— pag. 13. 'T is strange the Salvation of Sinners yea of the whole World as thy word is should be compleated at once above sixteen hundred Years since from whence thou shouldst look upon us whom thou revilest and condemnest to be in as good a state as thy self as yet to be so long after Death look'd for how long is not known to thee or dost thou look for Christ as the Son of Mary to appear outwardly in a bodily Existence to save thee according to thy words pag. 30 if thou dost thou mayst look until thy eyes drop out before thou wilt see such an Appearance of him THE Second Part Further asserting The Nature of Christianity c. WHereas G. K. did truly assert that the works of the Law excluded by the Apostle from Justification is when the Law is done without Life or Spirit the first Covenant or Law coming before the Seed be rais'd so the Works not done in Christ the Seed do not justifie and that the Righteousness by Faith is when the Law is perform'd in us by the Works of the Spirit Righteousness in the Elect Seed c. To this R. Gordon answers These are strange Vnscriptural Expressions in effect renewing again the old Popish Trick And further saith Scriptures do indiffinitely exclude all Works wrought in us or by us as the Ground and Cause of our Justification with God c. Also addeth That which requireth Works to be wrought in us as the ground of our Righteousness and Justification though wrought in and through the Spirit of God whether by obedience to a Law without us or in us before the Seed be raised or in the elect Seed is a Law of Works still This Doctrine is no other then the old Law-working spirit he saith pag. 23. Reply The Ignorance of this scornful man between the righteousness of the Law as immitated by Self and the Righteousness of Faith and so between Death and Life how obvious is it and how manifestly contrary to Scripture hath he here excluded all Work wrought in us even those of the Spirit and of the elect Seed from Justification Thus laying all the stress upon a suppos'd Purchase without or on the Suffering of Christ's Body without in opposition to his Works within as if the Seed of God and its Work in his Children had lost the Dignity it had in Christ's Person Oh sad doctrine and what gross Antinomianism and liberty in sin would this man lead People into In answer to whom I say That God sent his Son in the likeness of sinful Flesh and for sin condemned sin in the Flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfill'd in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.3 4. Now is not Christ fulfilling the Righteousness or Justness of the Law in us unto Justification it being both for the removing of sin which he hath already condemn'd and to make us Righteous And further the Apostle saith The Unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God and such were some of you but ye are washed bâ—t ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Mark that Was this any Popish Trick in the Apostle to assert the Operation of the Spirit of God within for Justification 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. And was not this in the Name of the Lord Jesus who is the Elect the promis'd Seed It appears this man is a Stranger both to the elect Seed which abides in him that is born of God and to the Righteousness thereof And why doth he so Scoff at plain words of Truth concerning the Seed being rais'd and the Righteousness and Works thereof which are those of the Spirit those of Faith and the Law thereof But that a contrary seed to wit that of the Serpent shows its dominion in him and such as he is who like the old Antinomians and Lybertines exclude the Works of the Spirit and of the Elect Seed from Justification caâ—â—ing it an old Law-working spirit as the Antinomians use to do And what is his then but an old Devil-working spirit For can any be justifâ—ed or made Righteous without the work â—f the Spirit or Seed of God within Is not the Seed sown to bring forth the Fruits of Righteousness And do not the Heavens drop down and the Lord rain down Righteousness that the Earth may open and bring forth Salvation and that Righteousness may spring up together Isa. 45.8 But you Sin-pleasing-Preachers have neither sown in Tears have not gone forth Weeping bearing pretious Seed nor reaped the Fruit thereof Your fallow ground is not plow'd up your Earth doth not open either to receive or bring forth Righteousness in the seed or fruit thereof your Earth is hard and barren Sin and Unrighteousness dwells in it whereby you have caus'd the Heavens to be as Brass and the Earth as Iron Again To oppose the Righteousness of the Elect Seed and Works of the Spirit within as unto Justification this R. G. scornfully tells us That in plainer words they of Rome thus express that the Apostle excludes from Justification works which we our selves do by our strength without the help of the Grace of God not those Works we do by the aid of the Spirit Now if he hath truly represented what they of Rome say in this case I must needs say However they may hold that and other Truths in Unrighteousness that they of
order to give them a day of Visitation wherein the tenders of Life and everlasting Salvation may be held forth unto them that believing and receiving the Son of God they may be sav'd from Sin and Death in themselves for he is the Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe whose Faith is not a meer Historical Faith of things only done without but a FAITH in the Name and Power of the Son of God a Heart-purifying Faith a justifying Faith a Faith that worketh by Love a Faith that is victorious over the World by which Faith we being justified we have Peace with God and by which Faith we have received Christ in Spirit and know him after the Spirit The Traditional Knowledge Faith and outward Profession of him as meerly after the Flesh will neither save nor justifie The Pope and Papists have as much of these as Robert Gordon who hath only his Tradition and Faith or Credulity for his Religion and Profession Although the concurring Testimonies of the holy Prophets and the four Evangelists and true Apostles and Ministers of Christ concerning his outward Birth Life Miracles Suffering in the Flesh Death Resurrection and Assention we never deny'd nor hereby in the least oppose by treating of the Nature and Effects of Faith in him as the Son of God the Foundation the Power and Wisdom of God the Light Life Salvation Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption of true Believers For he that believeth in and hath the Son hath Life but he that believeth not in him the Wrath of God abideth upon him How then is he or such perfectly justified with God Reconcil'd and Redeem'd at once without them aâ—â—ording to R. G. while the Wrath of God abides upon them and while no Good is wrought in them Is it good Doctrine to say That men are perfectly justified while under the Wrath of God And that thâ—y are perfectly Redeem'd and reconciled and so at Peace and imputatively Righteous while actually under the Wrath of God in themselves Were it not as good Doctrine to say That they are imputatively saved while actually Damned But this is something like the Doctrine of R. G. and his Teachers or Ministers the Presbyterians and Independants under whose Ministry he hath receiv'd what he hath testified which he deceivedly thinks came from the Lord. And whereas R. G. having deny'd that this Light which enlightens every man is Christ in which G. K. and I oppos'd him and to our saying So John Preacht him c. R.G. again answers in scorn Thou should rather have added So G. F. Preacht him and so others among the Quakers And further addeth John or any of the Pen Meâ— never so wrote of Christ neither canst thou show me one place of Scripture wherein it is inserted of Christ that the Light enlighteneth every man that comes into the World is the true Christ. Rep. What is this â—uâ— to deny the Divinity of Christ or to deny him to be that Word or Life which was the Light of men testified of John 1. which Word became Flesh and tabernacl'd in us Was not this still â—â—â—ist that John testified of that was the true Christ that enligâ—â—â—â—s every man that comes into the World Is it not Anti-christian Doctrine to deny this enlightening true Light to be Christ and to scoff at us for asserting it And because I distinguished between Christ the Enlightener and his Gift of Light or Illumination in man R. G. hath judg'd me severely as to be in Self-contradiction for my saying That we affirm a Spiritual Divine Light to be in eveâ—y man yet we do not say that Christ is in every man or that every man hath the Son though still I own the Son to be the Enlightner of every man This he counts a Contradiction but herein he hath but slightly overlookt and censured my words for there is no Contradiction in them any more then in saying Christ the true Light enlighteneth every man so that there is Christ and his Illumination yet every man is not a Child of Light walks not in the Light hath not the Son is not attain'd to the Revelation of Christ and yet hath a degree of his Light and Illumination in them wherein is his power and capacity of believing and receiving the Son of God or otherwise it is sufficient to leave them without Excuse yea the least Measure of Christ's Light is sufficient in each respect although this Opposer most ignorantly sâ—ights the Work of any Law or Light in man or Obedience wrought thereby as not able to deliver him from the Condemnation and Curse of the Law so as to obtain Justification with God theâ—eby pag. 25. Whereas the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ makes free from the Law of Sin and Death and this Law of the Spirit of Life is within this Law is Light this being obey'd thus freeth man from the power of Sin and Death where true Obedience to the Light is sin is not obey'd neither sin nor death doth raign in the Creature but Righteousness raigns within unto Life sin being forsaken the cause of Condemnation and the Curse is remov'd and where there is no Condemnation there is Justification even to them that walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit And is not this a state accepted of God seeing its the Doers of his Will that are just and justified But after this R G. hath oppos'd and scoffâ—d at that saying That this Light that enlightens every man that comes into the World is Christ having deny'd this he in plain Contradiction to himself is forc'd to acknowledge the Truth in these words I also acknowledge that it is said John 1.9 of Christ Jesus that was the true Light which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illuminat enlighteneth every man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 venientem coming into the World for so it is in the Greek and that every man is enlightened by Jesus Christ as he is the Word that made the World c. pag. 27 28. See here R. G. against R. G. one while the true Light which enlighteneth every man is not the true Christ with him another while Jesus Christ was the true Light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the World Do you think this is a trusty man to give credit to let the unprejudic'd Readers judge And further We do not call the enlightening in every man the Christ but the Light of Christ having already distinguished between the Enlightener and the Illumination and between the Giver and the Gift And now as concerning the Law and Nature by which the Gentiles did the things contain'd in the Law R. G. saith This Law or Enlightening thus planted in man'â— nature by generation is by Generation convey'd into every man as he cometh into the World and that it is called by Solomon the spirit of man which is the Candle of the Lord c. Pro. 20.27 Answ. This Law and Light that inwardly taught the Gentiles was
the Immediate Gift of God Christ as the Word being confessed to enlighten every man whose Light is not natural nor by natural generation convey'd as most grosly R.G. words it neither is it the spirit of man which simply knows but the things of a man but it is that Light which lighteth kindleth and stirs up the spirit of a man whereby it is the Candle of the Lord neither is it a Light or Thing form'd or made as the spirit of man is Za. 12.1 but a divine and spiritual Light manifesting the Good-will of God unto the Creature Again It is R. G's gross Error That the Law or enlightening in every man is the form'd spirit in man and yet in contradiction adding enlightened by him that made it pa. 29. So that the Law or Enlightening is not the form'd spirit of maâ— it being the Light of him that made it p. 29. So that the â—aw or Enlightening is not the form'd spirit of man it being the Light of him that made it that enlighteneth man's spirit Thus this R.G. is involved in his own Confusion as one in a Labyrinth Now concerning the nature by which those Gentiles did the things contain'd in thâ— Law R. G. gives this explâ—nation of it viz. As being born of the Seed and after the kind of Man they are naturally or by nature Men so being born of the seed of Man they do naturally or by Nature the things contained in the Law being written in their Hearts c. pa. 29. Answ. I would ask this man Whether this Nature he speaks of was pure or impure corrupt or incorrupt These Gentiles had not the Law outwardly but they had the Law inwardly written in their hearts according to which they should be either accus'd or excus'd in the Day when God should judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ this Law or Light in them was not Natural but Spiritual excusing the Obedient and accusing the Disobedient before God unto which Law the awakened and convicted Conscience doth bear witness and testifie either a mans Condemnation or Peace These Gentiles who obey'd it shew'd the Effects of it they had more of the Life of Christianity in them then many of the Professors of Christianity who are disobedient to his Law and Light within placing Christianity meerly in a dead Faith and Profession of Christ without the Knowledge of his Work of Righteousness within or the Obedience of Faith or Effects of his Law in the heart the Christianity of such is but meerly pretended and faâ—n'd and not real And the Life State and Nature of those Gentiles who obey'd the Law written in their hearts as they witnessed against the Jews outward so shall these Gentiles rise up in Judgment against you Hypocritical and Fain'd Professors of Christianity who are Strangers to the true Life Power and Nature thereof And what Confusion doth this R. G. show in saying That the Law or Light in every man is neither the Light of the Gospel nor the ingrafted Word within that is able to save the soul And yet confess That by it the Eternal Power and Godhead may be known How hath he broke the Neck of his own Cause Is there any higher Power then the Eternal Power and Godhead And can any Law or Light then what is Divine and of a Gospel Nature discover it For the Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation to all them that believe and it is the Gospel of God show'd forth or manifested by the Light of his Son and Preach'd in every Creature under Heaven And by this Light of Christ within is the Love Good-will and Grace of God to Mankind declar'd and signify'd both in its being so universally given and in its living Testimony in maâ— against sin and corruption and for Truth and Righteousness in order to direct man to Life and Salvation in the Son of God who is the Power and Wisdom of God the Brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express Character of his Divine Substance who proceeded and came forth from God whose Power and Glory is Eternal and Divine seen Spiritually not Carnally his own Royal and Peculiar Off-spring do in his Light beholâ— his Glory as that of the only Begotten of the Father As to R. G. his saying His Apostles and all his Ministers in all Ages all in one joynt Voice pointing to Jesus the Son of Mary this Son of Man with an Hosanna to this Son of David and to none before him or to any ever since Answ. That the Holy Prophets Apostles and Ministers both pointed and testify'd unto Jesus Christ both as man born of the Virgin or to his coming in the Flesh and unto his Divinity and Manifestation in Spirit this is own'd But that they all cry'd Hosanna to the Son of David is a Mistake for it was the Multitudes that went before and that followed when Christ rid to Jerusalem that cry'd Hosanna to the Son of David Matt. 21.9 Mark It was the Multitude that cryed Hosanna to the Son of David Many can now cry Hosanna who never knew his Salvation within nor believ'd in his Power but rather spiritually crucify him And the Scribes and Pharisees could talk of Christ's being the Son of David and some calling him the Carpenter's Son when they neither truly believ'd nor oâ—n'd him that was the true Christ either as the Root or Off-spring of David But Christ ask'd these Pharisees and Scribâ—s who said Christ is the Son of David this Questiâ—n saying What think ye of Christ whose Son is he They said unto him The Son of David He said unto them How then doth David in Spirit call him Lord saying The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou on my Righ-hand till I make thine Enemies thy Foot-stool If David then call him Lord how is he his Son And no man was able to answer him a word neither durst any man from that day forth ask any more Questions Matt. 22. and Mark 12.35 36 37. Now was not this the true Christ whom David in spirit call'd Lord before he took upon him Flesh or came of his seed And what is Hosanna Is it not Save now I beseech thee And did not David call to and beseech God to save him and to shew Mercy unto him long before Christ as of Mary was born How ignorant and confus'd doth this our Opposet shew himself see Psa. 3.7 6.4 28.9 I perceive he is ignorant of Christ both as the Son of God and as the Son of Man for according to the Spirit he was the Son of God and as the Son of man it s said of him that no man hath ascended up to Heaven but he which came down from Heaven even the Son of Man which is in Heaven John 3.13 And what if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before John 6.62 But it appears further that R. G's Hosanna and pretended Adoration and claim of Salvation is only to him as the Son of
of Jesus You have neither seen him nor known him and many such places could be mention'd And did not thy Darkness and Prejudice still blind thee thou mightest understand better how Christ is seen and how he is not seen We deny not but the names Messiah Jesus Christ c. were given to him as Man even as in the Flesh but they do more eminently and more originally belong to him as he was before he took that Body on him yea more immediately and more originally to the Word the Light the Seed the Life the Quickning Spirit that dwelt in that Body which he call'd this Temple and it was call'd the Body of Jesus Pag. 22. Thou deny'st That either Faith or Works wrought by us or in us by the Spirit of Christ are the previous procuring purchusing Cause of the Love of God to us while Sinners c. Answ. And who ever said that they were This is but a pittiful waving and shifting the state of the Controversie they are needful as qualifications requisite unto Justification and Life or eternal Happiness and that is the true state of the Question And thus I prov'd in my former citing Rom. 8.13 and Rom. 10.8 9. to which thou hast answer'd nothing but art mute as a Fish and these I recommend again unto the Readers and particularly Rom. 10.8 9. compar'd with Deuteronomy 30 14. which require not only doing under the new Covenant but such as is in order unto Salvation summ'd up in these two general heads to wit Believing and Confessing which is a work and that not a bare one but a living practical Confession which includes in it our whole Obedience and not only Faith but Repentance Conversion and a turning from the Darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan to God or requir'd in order to Forgiveness Repent and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out said Peter Acts 3.19 and Acts 26.18 to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and keep my Commandments and live said Wisdom Christ Jesus Prov. 7.2 and Rev. 22.4 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life c. And here the Spirit is not preaching the first Covenant or Law but the new And as for Tit. 3.5 it expresly mentions the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which are the Works of the Spirit of Christ in us by which we are sav'd as said the Apostle though in thy Blindness with the Priests thou dost not observe it but bring'st it against us which maketh very manifestly for us and the Works that the Apostle opposeth to Grace are works of the Law and not of Grace which can never be opposite Pag. 24. That with me the first and second Covenant are in effect but one is a false Charge though I must tell thee That the Spirit Life or Light of the New Covenant is universal and was from everlasting and reacheth through all Dispensations of God unto men both before under and since the Law and without it none could ever be sav'd and though the Manifestations and Ministrations of it were various and more and more by degrees came forth yet this Spirit Life or Light is still the same in it self and in its nature extending in some degree to all both Jews and Gentiles to make them capable of Life and Salvation though many harden their hearts against it that it hath not an Impression upon them as upon those who believe and obey it in whose hearts the Life of the New Covenant dwells and the Laws thereof are written or engraven as in Fleshly Tables not stony Tables nor Hearts Pag. 31. As for my Queries which thou only makest a shew to answer but indeed givest them a most pittious and slight go-by I return them upon thee to be directly and plainly answer'd in the tearms propos'd Pag. 34. Thy Insinuations That I seek a Hole to creep out at That I am ignorant of the Scriptures That I assert nâ—w Notions receiv'd from other men tending to the darkning and denying the joynt Testimony of the holy Men of God I reject as false and groundless together with diverse other false Charges against me and my Friends and it is a small matter for us to be judged by one who is over Head and Ears in the Mire of such Confusion and Contradiction as thy Books hold forth But that thou sayest it was none of thy work to prove Christ come in the Flesh or become Man Thou declar'st thy Impudency in so saying for Proof of which let the Reader see in thy Testimony so called from pag. 17. to pag. 35. though to thy own Contradiction G. K. The 3d Moneth 1671. Some of Robert Gordon's corrupt Doctrines 1. THat Christ without us upon the Cross hath already subdu'd all things finish'd Transgression made an end of Sin abolish'd Condemnation and Death pag. 4. of his testimony 2. That the Light that enlightneth every man that cometh into the World is not the true Christ pag. 10. testim 3. That Christ came to justifie and deliver us from the Law or Light in our Consciences pag. 11. testim 4. That Obedience to the Light in the Conscience is but the Work of the first Covenant and Righteousness thereof and that no man is justified thereby p. 10 11. testim 5. That God is fully attoned perfectly reconcil'd to man without any Consideration Qualification or Work to be wrought in any man by any Light or Spirit whatsoever but singly and solely upon the account of the active and passive Obedience of the Man Jesus Christ of Nazareth done in his crucified Body without us pag. 12. testim 6 That Redemption Justification and Reconciliation is finished and compleated by what Christ did and suffered outwardly And so according â—o R. G. all men are redeemed justified reconciled Christ having dy'd for all as he expresly affirmeth in his second Book pag. 12. testim 7. That our Salvation is wrought by Christ in what he did and suffer'd outwardly and our worâ—ing out of our Salvation is only as to Evidence and Manifestation And so according to R. G. all men are sav'd Christ having died for all but it is not made evident to all that they are sav'd pa. 12. testim 8. That Redemption Justification were finished and compleated in the crucified Body in Christ for us not in our persons pag. 3 4. testim 9. That the Lord did not direct man to the Light in his Conscience nor to Light and Power but promis'd him another kind of Saviour p. 18. test That the Worker of Redeâ—ption could not be the Light inlightening every man p. 21. test 10. That the Light in our Consciences that shews good and evil is not given for Righteousness nor able to reveal or give Lâ—fe any more then the Law written in Tables of Stone 11. That a Believer is pure beautiful in Christ