Historical Belief of what Christ did for us above Sixteen Hundred Years ago 't is not this only that will administer a sufficient true and saving knowledge of Christ and really interest us in his Death and Sufferings all which People may talk of and please themselves withal and yet continue as fast bound under the Dominion of Satan who still rules where disobedience is as those less perfect in that Lesson But the true and saving Knowledge of Christ is to know our selves turn'd from Darkness to Light Act. 26.18 from the power of Satan to the power oâ— God Col. 1.13 that by it we may be delivered from the power of Darkness and be translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son to know his saving power really to rescue and redeem us from under the power of him that hath enthrall'd us Joh. 8.32.36 Mar. 3.27 and leads Captive at his Will those who lives in the vanity of their Minds to know him bind this strong Man Mal. 3.2 3. to spoil his Goods and dispossess and cast him out to know Christ to sit in the Soul as a Refiner Luk. 3.16 17. Ro. 15.16 Joh. 13.8 1 Thes 5.23 1 Cor. 1.2 Joh. 14.23 Heb. 13.21 to burn up consume and destroy to purify and throughly to purge out whatsoever is contrary to him to wash us and make us clean that we may have right to a part in him that being cleansed and sanctified he may take up his abode with us exercising his Kingly power and working in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure The Mind being thus disentangled and having cast off its former Yoke the old things being done away 2 Cor. 5.17 Ezek. 36.26 all things now become new a new tender Heart of Flesh according to the Promise new Thoughts Desires Inclinations Affections Words and Actions this new inside producing a new outside also Mat. 23. â—6 even throughout a new Creature now in Christ indeed and â—eally entituled to those Benefits that â—…erue to Men through him That liâ—ing Faith that pleaseth God Jam. 2.18 to the end and gives Victory and is ever fruitful to him in â—ood Works being begotten and this work of Redemption and Regeneration thus wrought in the Soul by Jesus Christ Heb. 12.2 together with that most preâ—ious Sacrifice he offer'd up when his Precious Blood was shed upon the Cross for us we believe compleats the Salvaâ—ion of every Soul that is thus awakened and made alive and set free Ro. 6.11.13 by the power and Spirit of him that â—s the Way the Truth Joh. 8.36 and the Life of every Soul that truly lives to God to walk in that Holy way of Life Truth and Peace Isa 35.8 9. that was prepared of old for the Ransomed and Redeemed to walk in And we believe that he graciously waits with exceeding great kindness and long suffering that Men may Repent knocking at the Door of every Man's Heart freely offering Rev. 3.20 but not imposing his Assistance to this most concerning work and change in the Minds of Men Mat. 23.37 so that in the day wherein God will judge the World by Jesus Christ and every secret thing will be made manifest God will be justified and clear of the Blood of a Men and every Mouth will be stopped and every Man's Condemnatioâ— will be of himself for having rejected the Day of his Visitation where in God calls to Man and offers to be reconciled to him for resisting thâ— strivings and slighting the Reproofâ— of his Spirit Neh. 9.20 which in matchless Mercy he hath given Man to instruct him and shew and lead him in the way of Life and Peace We believe that though the pravity of Man's Nature in the Fall is such that the Natural or Carnal Man that is enmity against God in the state of meeâ— Nature Ro. 8.5.7 8. minds only the things of the Flesh and naturally brings forth the Works thereof and cannot please God nor keep and observe his Laws but is prone to evil yet that those who embrace the Visitation of God 1 Pet. 1.23 and are really Regenerated and born again of incorruptible Seed Heb. 4.12 by the Word of God that lives and abides for ever that ingrafted Word that is quick and powerful Jam. 1.21 Joh. 17.17.19 and able to Save and Sanctify the Soul are born into a new Life and invested with another and higher power and becomes Spiritually minded Joh. 3.6 and by the Spirit are set at liberty to walk after the Spirit and bring forth it's fruits and receive ability from the Spirit to serve God acceptably Ro. 8.14.15 being now led by the Spirit of God and become his Children taught of him and through the Spirit of Adoption receiv'd into their Hearts 1 Cor. 12.3 Ro. 8.13 6.6 Eph. 4.22 23 24. Gal. 5.24 Col. 3.9.10 have right to call God Father and Jesus Lord For having through the Spirit mortified the Old Man or first Nature with his corrupt and depraved â—nclinations and evil Deeds and put him off having crucified the Flesh with the affections and lusts thereof they put on the New and Heavenly Man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and being renewed in the Spirit of their Minds Ro. 6.4 7.6 they now walk in Newness of Life and are really in Christ and therefore are changed and become new Creatures and now think and act under the conduct of a principle Superiour to that which formerly governed them having their Minds raised to a Region above that of fallen Nature so that now the stream of their thoughts desires and actions runs in another current and the bent of their affections are after those things that are above where Christ is Col. 3.1 2. that Eye being now open'd that sees a more transcendent beauty and desireableness in the invisible and durable treasures of him than all the transcient felicitles of this World can afford â— Ro. 13.14 And we believe That whosoever expects the blessed imputation of Christ's Righteousness ought thus to put on the Lord Jesus and to be thus cloathed upon and covered with his Righteousness and in measure have his Holy Life brought forth in and through them and know him to enliven and influence their Minds Isa 26.12 Phil. 2.13 and 4.13 Joh. 15.5 and to work in and for them and that without him they can do nothing but through him that strengthens them they can do whatsoever he commands them that as they abide living branches in him through that sap and vertue they daily receive from him Joh. 15.5 8. they are made able to bring forth fruits well-pleasing to God whereby he is glorified For though God the Father accepts us in Christ and for his sake yet is the New-Birth the indispensible Qualification and true distinguishing Mark of those that are really in him He that is in Christ is a new
Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Gal. 6.15 1 Joh. 2.6 39.7 8 9. Old things are past away behold all things are become New John says He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even as he walked We ascribe nothing to Man as having any power or ability in or of himself to please God Joh. 15.4 5. but attribute all power to do that which is good to Christ alone in whom only the Father is well-pleased 'T is through him that Men so love and fear God as to eschew evil Acts 10.34 35. and work that Righteousness which is acceptable to him upon whom therefore Mans dependance ought to be daily to receive from him such suitable supplies as through a constant watchfulness may enable them so to walk as to continue in his favour and enjoy his smiles For 't is not as too many seem either to imagine or would gladly have it to be that they may live in sin and disobedience here and indulge their corrupt inclinations 1 Pet. 4.18 and yet hereafter have Christ's Righteousness imputed to them For though we are not under the Mosaical Law so as to be obliged to its Ordinances diverse Washings and Levitical Priest-hood Christ our High-Priest having offer'd up himself once for all and abolish't it Mat. 5.20 yet are we not so under Grace as to be discharged from living well though we are not tyed to its Rites and Ceremonies yet are we obliged to fulfil its Righteousness which Christ came not to destroy but to establish Ro. 3.31 8.3 4. For though God be gracious and mercifulâ— to forgive us our Trespasses through the mediation of Christ upon our true and hearty Repentance Isa 55.7 and turning from them yet 't is not that we should take a liberty to go on in Sin and Rebellion against him We are not to sin because he is gracious Ro. 6.1 2. that his Grace may abound if so Where is the straitness of this way If this be to take up a daily Cross to our own Wills that we may perform his Pray where is the liberty of the Flesh Those that are vertually in Christ which renders them acceptable to the Father and compleatly espoused to him must needs have resigned their Wills as an effect of true love and requisite to so strict an union opposite Wills being inconsistent therewith whence Obedience necessarily follows The Apostle John after having signified that God is Light and that those that would know the Blood of cleansing 1 Joh. 1.5 7. and true fellowship with him and one another ought to walk in the Light as he is in the Light tells the young and weak in the Faith whom he calls Children that he writ those things that they should not sin but yet if any through weakness or inadvertency should sin and so fall under the Fathers displeasure he tells them that Christ the Righteous is both a Propitiation and also an Advocate that intercedes with the Father Chap. 2. and first 6 Verses and that their keeping his Commands was the surest evidence of their knowing and being in him but of the strong whom therefore he calls young Men he says That the word of God abode in them and that they had overcome the Evil one These things may soon be spoken and comprehended in the Understanding but to experience them fulfill'd in our selves is our highest interest and only can make us sharers in them The essence of Christianity and happiness of Christians don't consist in having our Heads stuft with knowledge only to lodge there and feed upon but to have our Hearts filled with divine love Joh. 14.21 23. which animates us to diligence and inspires us with courage and vigor to observe and perform the Will of God who looks not at what People profess only or by what name they are call'd but regards the Heart and what Principle governs there People may make a profession of the best things and yet continue alive to themselves they may alter Opinion or Perswasion and yet not turn from Darkness to Light from the power of Satan to God There hath not been wanting a very large and splendid Profession of Christianity adorned with curious elaborate and elevated Notions polish'd with Rhetorick and Oratory but that power and life that reaches the Heart and gives Victory and Dominion over its lusts and affections which war against the Soul is that which too many are yet strangers to When yet to know our lapsed Souls restored from their first fallen state in Adam and raised to a station where we may both perceive the things of God and receive power to work his Will to know our Minds redeemed and that power vanquisht which led us captive and we leaven'd by the Heavenly Gift into its own nature as 't is the very Life and Marrow of that Religion about whose exterior parts the world is filled with Noise so 't is the proper and most concerning-business of our lives to find this great salvation accomplish'd in us The experimental working out whereof in the Heart by the saving Grace and Spirit of God that is given to Man to profit with Gal. 6.3 4. will yield more satisfaction and true contentment to that Soul that sincerely seeks the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof in whom 't is begun and carrying on than to hear or read all their days of what God hath done through all Ages for those that truly love and fear him For want of which 't is that the profession of Christianity is generally so empty and barren in producing a real Pious Life attended with the fruits of the Spirit and a due Obedience proceeding from the birth of the Spirit without which the most refined Methods of Worship and Devotion will not recommend us to God who is inaccessible by the birth of the Flesh Nor do we believe that 't is acceptable to God for People to sing before him those Songs and Psalms that were the Experiences and spiritual Exercises of Holy Men in times past without having some living Experience of the same things in themselves or that People can properly and truly speak more or farther of the things of God than what they have known and experienced Where amongst all these sound Gospel-Scriptural-Truths is lodg'd that latent Venome so much fear'd and talk'd of by our Adversaries that is so dangerously contagious and apt to infect the Minds of those that shall incline to converse with Us or our Books touching our Belief in these necessary Points of Christianity Which of them is it that being imbibed As said Tho. Vincent is more mortal and destructive to the Soul and defiles it more than drinking a Draught of Poyson or going to a Bawdy-house Where are those damnable Opinions and Heresies wherewith you have been terrified Which of them is it that being persisted in does necessarily lead to Damnation and for which the * T. R's unsavory
uncharitable Expression Devil must needs carry us a pick-pack to Hell Is it in that we hold forth the infinite Love of God to Mankind in not only freely of his meer Grace and Favour providing a Sacrifice through which an Atonement is made for the past Transgressions of Man who was never at all in a capacity to make any for himself Joh. 3.15 16. Act. 10.43 1 Cor. 12.7 which is applicable to every one who shall believe repent and return but hath also afforded to all the means of Faith Repentance and Conversion for God requires not impossibilities of Men but expects they should improve those talents distributed to them In not only sending forth the Son of his love to dye for their Sins that they should no longer live therein but also in sending forth his Light and Spirit of Truth into their Hearts Joh. 14.16 17 26. 16.13 to lead and guide them into all Truth and causing his Grace that brings Salâ—ation Tit. 2.11 12. to appear to all Men to inâ—truct and teach them to deny all Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World to rescue and save them from â—iving in the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and help and strengthen them to return to their Obedience and live a Sober Righteous and Godly Life to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of their Lives Which Gift from God to Man the Holy Scriptures plentifully testifie too under various denominations as Spirit Light Word Grace Seed Leaven Anointing c. By all which we understand that Spirit or Heavenly Talent Mat. 25.14 15. with which God hath endowed Mankind in some degree or other that he may profit with it in the improvement whereof by a diligent Co-working therewith to the answering those holy ends for which we receive it we doubt not but to be happy in rendring a good account of our Stewardship and entring finally into the Joy of our Lord. Our Opposers themselves also pretend to the Spirit and Grace of God or else what means their Praying for its Assistance and those plausible fine-spun Discourses of it wherewith they sometimes entertain their Auditory We Charitably hope 't is more real than only to beautify and recommend them to the Hearers as what they cannot well avoid for that the Scriptures are so full of that Language and if indeed it be real why is that aâ—… Fault and Error in us which is so sound and ornamental in them And we think it very strange that they should apprehend any incongruity in granting this Divine Principle to be a Divine Light to the Mind since its proper Office is to teach and instruct to manifest and point to us our Duty as well as to dispose and enable us to perform it and ought to be our Leader and Governour If the Godly Admonitions Tit. 2.11 12. Joh. 14.17 26. 16.7 8 13 14. 1 Joh. 2.27 and Exemplary Lives of Good Men were rightly called Lights to the World surely much more properly may this whose Fountain is Light and does more nearly illuminate and inform the Understanding and renders those effectual justly challenge that necessary and acceptable appellation If then the Grace and Spirit of God be in the Hearts of Men surely 't is not wholly unactive there â—â—t will be making some Attempts â—â—wards accomplishing the end for â—hich 't is placed there 't will be at â—â—mes attacking the Enemy and endeaâ—â—uring to supplant its contrary for â—â—ing holy and pure in its Nature it s â—…ver reconcileable to Sin and Evil â—…t ever strives against it and may as â—â—…en regard it be infallibly known by â—â—e nature of its efforts And we dare â—ppeal even to all Mankind whether â—â—ey find not something placed in their â—inds and Consciences which though â—erhaps not regent there yet never â—ingles with nor consents to their eâ—â—… deeds but always remains undefiâ—â—d and testifies against them and conâ—â—icts reproves Joh. 3.20 21. Eph. 5.13 and condems them for 〈◊〉 and also oft-times in the cooler â—…emper of their Spirits manifests their â—…ates to them and as 't were Reasons â—ith them discovering the evil of their â—ays secretly calling to them to come â—ut of it begetting Desires and Incliâ—ations sometimes to seek after God â—nd to make their Peace with him Now since Man in his meer natural â—tate is totally Dead and fallen from God that he cannot as of himself think 〈◊〉 good Thought and that God only â—…s essentially good and as that which is truly so must needs proceed froâ— him Joh. 16.8 13. this Principle in us that ever coâ—victs us for Vice and Evil whether 〈◊〉 Thought Word or Deed and disposeâ— us to consider of our latter end Prov. 14.13 anâ— oft makes Men sigh in the midst 〈◊〉 Laughter reminding them that fâ—… those things they must give an Aâ—count that draws us Heaven-ward and inclines us to Vertue and Goodness to do to all Men as we would bâ—… done unto to be Just Sober Merciful Temperate c. Must needs bâ—… something that is not of us but 〈◊〉 pure and immaculate and of a divinâ— nature ever aspiring and raising thâ—… Mind towards its Original Whence it cannot be a Natural Light or meer light of Nature as very manâ— would have it who yet talk of the Spirit of God being in Man for 't is aâ— undoubted truth that no Agent can act beyond its own sphere and raise its object to a state more noble that it self nor produce effects of a Nature more sublime than its own Original Besides 't is very clear and evident from Scripture Job 21.17 Psal 18.28 that the Mind of Man is oft lighted by a Light superiour to that of meer Reason and that Man by the utmost power and extent of Humane Reason and Speculation though 〈◊〉 may arrive to an implicit knowâ—â—dge that there is a God yet can â—ver attain to a true spiritual and â—â—ving knowledge of God without the â—oncurrence of a Divine and Superâ—â—tural Agent Ro. 1.19 2 Cor. 4.6 Prov. 20.27 Luk. 24.45 Joh. 1.9 Eph. 5.13 14 17. Psal 36.9 For though the Mind 〈◊〉 Man as a Rational Being be that â—apacity or Candle that is to be Lightâ—â— yet 't is Christ that must so enâ—â—ghten it as to give us a true disâ—â—rning of those things that appertain â—o him and his Kingdom and by adâ—ering and yielding Obedience to its Discoveries Prov. 4.18 1 Cor. 2.10 to the end we shall know an Accession â—f more Light And the Apostle speakâ—ng of what God by his Spirit had reâ—ealed to them saith expresly that â—he spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God and that as none knows the things of a Man save the Spirit of Man which is in him so the things of God knows no Man but the Spirit of God That the Natural Man neither knoweth nor receiveth the
and homely and consisted more iâ—… Power and Divine Love than outward Observations Which in process of time was so drest and garnished that its August Splendour becamâ— inviting to others Under this Degeneracy in degree sprung up Infant Baptism a meer Humane Invention without any Scripture-authority either by Precept or Practice wherefore for those who don't use Baptism as 't was instituted under its proper Dispensation to upbraid us for neglecting it is absurd and unreasonable But that which makes the loudest Out-cry of all is our Dis-use of the Sacrament so called of Bread and Wine 't is this is that pestilent mortal Error that in our Opposer's Account renders us worse than the Papists whatever 't is that makes us the Spawn of the Jesuites which with several others are Epithets that to be sure were calculated tho' unjustly to render us as odious as may be to the People and carry a great deal of Rancour in them and savour of too much Gall to proceed from the meek Spirit of Christianity that teacheth to be at Peace with 2 Tim. 2.22 and have Charity for all that call on the Lord out of a pure Heart But whether upon the whole Matter we deserve this severe bitter Censure or whether those that so liberally bestow it upon us have a just right to cast the first Stone is what we desire our sober Neighbours to consider and not judge us also meerly from an implicit Belief of what others say of us We are not ignorant of the great Noise and Stir there hath been about this in Christendom to the scandalizing Christianity among both Jews and Turks The Papists have improv'd it to downright â—dolatry affirming 't is the real Body and Blood and as such adore it one would think 't were better let aâ—one Others that Christ is in it though they know not how One faith t is this another 't is that while they all seem to expect that from it which â—t doth not necessarily administer for want of distinguishing between that Bread of Life that came down from Heaven Joh. 6.51 56. that Flesh and Blood of Christ that giveth Life to all that feeâ—… thereon by which they dwell in him and he in them and that Supper which was eaten by the Primitive Christians in Commemoration of his Death and Sacrifice which are not so conâ—… next as that the one necessarily in cludes the other as Experience abundantly testifies would People but bâ— true to themselves herein how manâ— are there that receive this from Yeaâ— to Year who yet complain all theiâ— Lives of Deadness Dryness and Leanness of Soul and want of Power noâ— receiving that renewing of Life and Spiritual Strength that is proposed iâ— it and so but an empty Shadow indeed For how can they in truth expect to feed on Christ Spiritually iâ— their Hearts Joh. 14.20 21 23. who will not admit thaâ— he really dwells in his Saints but esteem it an Error in those that do However we believe all People oughâ— to be well perswaded in their owâ— Minds and seriously considerate in thesâ— and other Religious Practises and noâ— take up things meerly traditionally because others do it nor ought they to be vehemently prest to or against things not absolutely essential to Salvation in which their Understandings are not clear Nor should any be scoft or reproacht for those things which to them are Matter of Conscience and therefore Sacred though to others it may appear of less moment a Practice that â—…s a great Shame among People professing Christianity Nor do we judge and condemn those that are found in the Practice either of this or Water-Baptism as 't was primitively used whose Sober Christian Circumspect Lives witnesseth to their sincere Intentions herein who may be conscienciously tender in it and fearful to omit it till they are otherwise fully perswaded But for us to whom the barâ—enness and emptiness of these outward visible Things are manifest we cannot continue therein they yielding no true Soul-satisfaction nor administring any â—nward Spiritual Grace to us 1 Pet. 2.2 3. Wherefore having tasted that the Lord is good and gracious we wait for the sincere Milk of that Word by which we have been begotten to God that we may receive strength thereby 2 Pet. 3.18 and grow in Grace and the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and a greater Acquaintance with that true inward Spiritual Communion and Fellowship with him wherein he sups with his Saints and they with him Rev. 3.20 and receive Life by him who dwells in them and they in him as the Members are joyned to the Head Eph. 5.30 Joh. 15.5 and partake of its Life and live by it or the Branches to the vine which receive Life Vertue and Nourishment from him whereby Fruit is brought forth to the glory of God and well-pleasing to him 'T is not sufficient that we participate hereof once a Month or Quarter but as the Jewâ— had their Manna Exod. 16.21 fresh every Morning so ought we to receive a daily Supply and renewing of Strength in our inward Man by eating that Heavenly Bread that nourisheth up to Eternal Life and drinking plentifully of that Well of Living-Water Joh. 4.14 which in the Saints springs up to Life Eternal for as in God we live move and have our very being so is Christ the true and proper Life of the inward Man by which it truly lives to God nor can it live but by him Those that are begotten to God by the Word of Life and are born again of the Spirit are prlvileged thus to feed on Christ and enjoy him which none can do that are not first quickened and made alive by him none can receive Life Sap and Vertue from him as Head and Vine that are not first joyned to him as Members and Branches of him nor is it sufficient to make People Members of Christ and give them admittance to feed on him in that they were sprinkled when Infants c. as we have already express'd though they should eat Bread and drink Wine all their Days Since then we no less enjoy the Substance without the Sign why may we not omit it as either being but temporary or not of absolute necessity as well as our Opposers do that which was instituted to use their own term at the same time and with as great solemnity and greater formality and was no less positively commanded under the same pretence Why may not the same Authority absolve us from the use of this and exempt us from being chargeable with the breach of a Command of Christ as discharge them from washing one anothers Feet Jo. 13.4 5 8 14 15. and secure them from the like censure As also that of the Apostles Acts 15.20 29. concerning things strangled and Blood and that of James Jam. 5.14 15. anointing the Sick with Oil Why should they be thus partial Have we not good reason to conclude that if
love him as for the future to live a holy Circumspect Christian Life and obey his Commands thereby continuing in his love Which Holy Life so much Celebrated and strictly kept to in the Primitive Ages of Christianity that whosoever named the Name or took the Name of Christ upon them were to depart from Iniquity we believe ought to be inseparable from a true and faithful Christian as ever accompanying a true living and active Faith and it seems was thought no less necessary by those who composed the promise that should be made in behalf of Infants before they were admitted into that once sacred Catalogue to wit that as they came to Years of discretion Tit. 2.11 12. they should forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World Luk. 1.75 and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all â—he days of their lives Ro. 6.18 19.22 2 Cor. 7.1 Eph. 4.24 1 Thes 3.13 4.7 Heb. 12.10.14 1 Joh. 4.4 This we beâ—…eve to be the bounden Duty of Manâ—ind and though our Opposers have â—coft us and branded us with error for holding Perfection because in pleadâ—ng for a Holy Righteous Life as that which is well-pleasing to God and avouching his power to be stronger in Man as Man believes and cleaves to it â—o rescue him from under the power of Satan than is that of the Devil to retain him in Thraldom we have sometimes made use of the Words of Christ and his Apostles as be you perfect Mat. 5.48 Col. 4.12 1 Joh. 3.3 as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect he that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he pure c. Yet have we never pretended to a Moral Perfection beyond what is contained in the above Promise which is sound and true in it self and is that which God requires of us and therefore 't is that we frequently press it's necessity and fervently exhort People to its performance Neither do we expect to be exempt from Temptations while we inhabit these frail Tabernacles Heb. 4.15 which is no Sin provided we consent not Christ himself was likewise tempted yet he Sinn'd not for tho both Good and Evil is presented to our Thoughts yet we appropriate neither but as we entertain and embrace it So that tho the number of Thoughts may sometimes press us and the nature of some grieve us yet they don't otherwise affect us or is Sin thereby conceived iâ— our Wills don't close with and joyn to them by assenting but if we consent we are culpable in the sight of God tho it proceed not to an open immorality And as we can't prevent the forming of some Thoughts so we can't wholly avoid the presentation of some Evil ones while our common Enemy is busie with his Baites but yet the more we resist and the more the Lusts and Affections of the Flesh which is the part that entertains them is mortified the more their Habit is weakned their Assaults Feebler and we the less infested by them And notwithstanding we have hence been falsely accused that we expect to be saved by our own works as being Meritorious yet we don't acknowledge a Holy Life as the Efficient and procuring Cause of our Salvation which we no less than you totally refer to the free Grace Eph. 2.8 and Mercy of God in Christ without any Merit in Man but we esteem it as a constant Companion thereto James â— 18 to the end and a necessary â—ondition on our part in complyance with God's gracious Offer without which we may not obtain it Heb. 11.6 Ro. 12.1 2. being â—nseparably annext to that Faith which only pleaseth God and is but our reasonable Duty And we believe that although Christ thus offer'd up himself once for all Heb. 2.9 10.12 for the Sins of all Men to the end of the World thereby rendring Repentance and Amendment of Life prevalent with God yet that the Traditional Belief of that alone is not sufficient to entitle us to that common Salvation that comes by him but that 't is of necessity that we truly Repent and be Converted from the evil to the good Act. 3.19 and therefore 't is no less necessary for us now than 't was for Believers in the Apostles Days and 26.18.20 that we be turned from Darkness to Light or in other terms from the dark power of Satan to the power of God who is light that thereby we may every one know the work of Redemption and Salvation wrought in and for our selves For 't is not enough to believe that Christ died if we feel not the blessed Effects of his Death who came to save us from our Sins and bless us by turning us from our Iniquities Mat. 1.21 Act. 3.26 and gave himself for us Tit. 2.14 that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good works Gen. 2.17 Ro. 5.12 2 Cor. 5.14 Gen. 6.5 Ro. 7.5 For we believe such to be the natural State of Man in the fall that by Nature we are dead as to God at a distance from him prone to Evil and to gratify the Desires of our Sensual Minds sway'd by the corrupt and sinful Lusts of the Flesh Eph. 2.2 and under the power of a strange King rul'd by the Prince of the Power of the Air 2 Tim. 2.26 so that our inward Man being thus Dead from God we cannot exercise our Spiritual Senses towards him nor can this natural Man perceive know or savour the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 which only are Spiritually discerned Wherefore notwithstanding our Saviour died for us we are yet by Nature in a miserable undone condition in Captivity to our Souls Enemy 1 Cor. 15.45.47 Eph. 2.1.5 Col. 2.13 Ro. 8.11 Eph. 5.13.14 Joh. 1.9 Eph. 2.3 5.6 except we know the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven that quickning Spirit to quicken our Souls and make us alive to God again that being restored to the use of our inward Senses we may by the assistance of his Divine Light wherewith for that end he hath blest all the Sons and Daughters of Men see our selves in â—his sad and lost state under the wrath â—f God and abhor our selves therefore â—nd under this living Sense wherein â—hings will appear with another aspect â—han before cry to God for deliveâ—ance therefrom 2 Cor. 7.10 with such an inward â—earty Sorrow as works a true Reâ—entance for the same 'T is not our â—eing sprinkled when Infants that will make us true Christians convert us â—rom being Children of Wrath Joh. 1.12.13 Ro. 8.14 to beâ—ome Children of Grace and Sons of God and Members of Christs Church and invest us in an Interest in him 't is not learning our Catechism and subscribing to certain Articles of Faith though never so Orthodox and being educated in a
things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned and to that end they had received the Spirit which is of God The Light of Nature is occupied about natural Objects those things that are within its own Region acting within its own propâ—… Orb but reaches not to that knowledg of God which is Life Eternal except our natural Powers or human Capacity be illuminated by the Rays oâ— Divine Light for the World by Humane Wisdom knows not God Anâ— Christ saith very plainly and positively 1 Cor. 1.20 That none knows the Father but thâ— Son Mat. 11.27 and he to whom the Son revealâ— him That these strugglings in us should be the suggestions of Satan that he should disquiet and disturb People for their Sins for serving him and put them upon endeavouring to be freed from their vassalage under his power were absurd to imagine no our Saviour puts that beyond a Question when he asks Mark 3.24 27. Luk. 11.21 Can a Kingdom divided against it self stand And by and by saith plainly That whilst the Strong Man arm'd keeps the House his Goods are at peace till a stronger than he comes to bind him c. So that 't is clear it 's not the Devil but the approaches of a Superiour Power that breaks the peace of People for Sin and that follows and condemns them for Disobedience and Transgression and is the same that would and only can redeem their Minds â—â—t of that miserable state and bind â—…at Strong Man and break his power â—nd cast him out would they but joyn â—ereto and accept of Deliverance by 〈◊〉 Nor does its being extended to all Men through all Ages from their Youth â—pwards bespeak it to be therefore natural or contemptible but on the contrary of the greater moment to all Men For besides that the Apostle saith 〈◊〉 manifestation of the Spirit is given â—o every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 the Blesâ—ings and Gifts of God are free and valuable from their intrinsick worth God in nature ordained nothing in vain â—ut by how much any thing is of the greatest use to us for sustaining and accommodating our natural Life the more common it is as the Sun that gives Light to all thro' all Ages c. 'T is we fondly rate things according to our Fancies and esteem and prize them more for their Rarity and Curiosity than Usefulness but God bestows most universally that which is of the absolutest necessity to Man Are not all Men that are born Strangers and Enemies to God in the dark and at a distance from him in the State of Nature and must therefore be enlightned Jo. 3.3 5. converted and born again and becoâ—â— Spiritural before we can be reconcileâ— to him shall not God then that woulâ— have all Repent and be Saved 1 Tim. 2.3 4. 2 Pet. 3.9 cauâ—… the Light of the Son of Righteouâ—…ness to shine upon all and give measure of his Grace and Spirit to aâ—… to assist them in the accomplishment oâ— that in themselves which they cannoâ— do of themselves and yet is of indiâ—pensable necessity to our Salvation Wherefore God by his Spirit strive with Man so long as his day of Visitation lasts Since then our Opposers acknowledge the Spirit and Grace of God which also is Light to be in Man unless they can shew it by its manifestly different and superiour nature tendency and operation to be contradistinct from that we have been speaking of we see neither absurdity nor error in concluding it to be one and the same grace and free-gift of God to all which is always the same in nature though it differs in degree and is that Heavenly Treasure which God hath committed to our trust And blessed will they be who rightly employ and improve it Mat. 13.31 32. and give place and room to this seed of the Kingdom in their Hearts where though it may appear at first contrary to the expectation of Man little mean and contemptible scarcely regarded amongst the stuff wherewith Mens Minds are filled yet â—oyn but to it that it may exert its power and energie and 't will grow and increase Mat. 13.33 Luk. 13.21 let but this leaven have its perfect work and 't will leaven the whole lump into its own Nature Be pleased to consider whether we have justly merited the invidious invectives of our Adversaries Jer. 17.10 Ro. 8.27 Rev. 2.23 Amos. 4.13 in believing that the Lord searches the Heart of Man and shews him his Thoughts that he hath and will remember this â—atter Age of the World and hath not forgotten to be gracious in performing those bountiful Promises made in times past to the Off-spring of the Gentiles Jer. 31.33.34 Ezek. 36.26 27. Joel 2.28 29. Act. 2.16 17 18. Isa 54.13 Mat. 11.27 Isa 42.7 and 61.1 â—n placing his Law in our Hearts and putting his Truth in our inward parts â—n pouring out of his Spirit upon all the Sons and Daughters of Men in becoming our Teacher and giving us the knowledge of himself through the Revelation of his Son Jesus Christ who â—s come to open our blind Eyes and to bring us that were bound in darkness â—ut of the Prison-house who hath promised to be with his People to the end of the World Joh. 14.16 17 26. 16.7 in believing that God hath sent us the Comforter the spirit of Truth to be our Remembrancer and to guide and direct us in the way of Truth in attesting the sufficiency and utility of the Teachings of this Holy Unction 1 Joh. 2.20 27. sent into our Hearts in believing that though Christ be in his glorified Body in Heaven yet that he is present also in the Hearts of his People Joh. 14.17 20 23. 17.23 26. Isa 57 15. 2 Cor. 6.16 Prov. 8.31 who is King of Saints and shall he not then rule in them The High and Holy One that inhabits Eternity hath promised to dwell also with the Humble and Contrite to revive and comfort them shall not he whose Presence fills Heaven and Earth be present in the Heart of Man Shall not he that rejoyceth in the habitable parts of the Earth and delights in the Sons of Men reside in his People Are they not Members of him 1 Cor. 6.15 17 19. and he their Head Can there be a more intimate Union and Communion than between the Head and the Body Joh. 15.4 5. the Vine and the Branches The same Spirit of Life that is in the Head is the Life of the Body also and acts it he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit doth not the Life that is in the Root pass to the Branches also and preserve them living Are not all dead Branches in whom this Life is not Whosoever hath the Son of God Joh. 6.56 57. 1 Jo. 5.12 and feeds on him hath Life by him and those that have not Christ who is the Life of his Saints have
not Life How could his People in all Ages partake of him if he were not present in them Surely this Doctrin don't deserve to be scoft but is most comfortable to those who are sick of Love and thirst ardently after the Enjoyment not Hear-say of him Consider seriously these things which are agreeable to Scripture Ro. 10.6 7 8. 2 Cor. 13.5 Col. 1.27 and with what reason People have derided us for our Belief herein terming it the Quakers Christ as though his manifesting himself in our Hearts were another or distinct from Jesus Christ of Nazareth that is glorified with God the Father in Heaven which we deny For though he be ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God far above all Principalities and Powers yet is not he so circumscribed but that as by him all things were made and created so he is the Life and Fulness Col. 1.16 Eph. 1.23 3.9 4.10 and filleth all in all in his Church and People Is the Divinity and Humanity of Christ divided Is not their inseparable Union the true and intire Christ Can then his God-head be present and he who is the Heavenly Man be absent What think you of him that appear'd to John and gave him his Commission to the Seven Churches whom he describes Rev. Ch. 1. who saith Behold I stand at the door and knock Rev. 3.20 2.23 if any Man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me The same saith I am he which searches the reins and hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to your works Was not this the true Christ the Mediator Act. 17.31 Ro. 2.16 by whom God will judge the World And can he make this near inspection into the innermost part of the Minds of Men so as no Thought can escape his notice if he be not present there What made Paul desire that our Lord Jesus Christ might be with Timothy's Spirit 2 Tim. 4.22 Joh. 1.16 1 Joh. 4.13 if he thought it impossible Do not all acknowledge the Spirit of Christ who is the Anointed to be in his People and is he then absent Is its being a Mystery far beyond our comprehension to conceive how it can be a sufficient Argument that therefore 't is not so Ought we not in such cases to exercise Faith and acquiesce in the Testimony of the Holy Ghost exprest in the Sacred Scriptures rather than interpose with our nice and curious Subtilties prying unnecessarily into things that are too high for us remembring that Secret things belong to God and that those that know most here know only in part the things that are invisible 1 Cor. 13.9 12. and see them but as through a Glass Shall Men that neither know themselves nor have any intuitive knowledge of the Essences even of the meanest things wherewith Nature every-where presents us which are obvious to our Senses aspire to those yet more abstruce and undertake to account for that which is beyond the reach of the most pregnant Wits to penetrate Nor do we thus celebrate Christ's inward and spiritual appearance in the Soul of Man with the least intent to diminish the true value and efficacy of what he did without us or transacted for us as God manifested in Flesh but in concurrence with it and pursuant to it for the compleating the Salvation intended in it neither is it in opposition to him as he is without us but we believe in him as he is inwardly revealed in measure and also as he is in his own immense fulness without us both as he is the one Offering for Sin and also as he is that quickening Spirit and immortal Seed by which we are begotten again and made alive to God and the Author of that Living Faith through which 't is savingly applied to us For though he offered up himself once for all and sat down at the right hand of God yet 't is of absolute necessity that he thus appear and operate in the Hearts of his People through all times or otherwise they can never be happy nor they receive the full advantage of his Death But that he doth thus appear and work is most evident for since he is the alone Saviour and none are saved but those who are Regenerated that Grace or Operative Divine Agent that is the Efficient of true saving Faith and Regeneration must needs be Christ in us our Hope of Glory Wherefore 't is that we so frequently invite People to regard believe in close with and submit to him as he is the true Light discovering Evil thus manifested in their inward Parts for the full accomplishing their Redemption and Restoration that they may taste and see for themselves that the Lord is good and gracious and to Christ within otherwise than thus a measure of the anointing from the Anointed we don't pretend whatever People have apprehended concerning us Which truth our very Opposers are obliged to acknowledge notwithstanding they so ridicule it in us We hope it 's no Error to avouch the Power of Christ to be stronger than that of the Devil Gen. 3.15 that he is able really to bind him to bruise his Head and break his Power to dispossess and cast him out to fulfil to the uttermost the end of his coming to destroy the Works of the Devil and to save those from their Sins who shall have true Faith in his Name and Power Surely it 's not inconsistent with Christianity to believe that Christ can or will throughly purge his Floor that he can indeed deliver out of the Prison-house 1 Thes 5.23 and restore Man out of the Fall to God again and give him power to forsake the Devil and all his Works c. We find it consonant to Scripture and the Gospel-dispensation to believe that those who are regenerated and born again of the Spirit Ro. 6.6 7 11. 2 Pet. 1.4 have through the Spirit mortified the first carnal corrupt Nature which cannot please God and if dead Eph. 4.22 23 24. Col. 3.9 10. and slain and buried too surely then it no longer lives but the Mind is at liberty and restored to act in a new Life to walk after the Spirit and fulfil the Righteousness of the Law the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Ro. 8.2 4. having set them free from the Law of Sin and Death which is its Wages 'T is for want of Peoples experiencing this real Birth of the Spirit brought forth and knowing Freedom in themselves by it which no Duties or Performances in the Will of Man nor entertaining of the most refined Opinions in Religion can administer short of the Law of the Spirit of Christ in their Hearts 't is for want of this that People are so very apprehensive of difficulty even to impossibility of living a Holy Righteous Life which yet is so necessary to our Salvation
12.15 16. it being disagreeable to his Justice to condemn those that have not deserved to be punished and having no pleasure in the death of him that dies Ezek. 18.32 Wis 11.23 24. should yet make the major part of Mankind with design to damn them unprovok'd thereto without ever tendring them Salvation or that he would make the far greater number wholly uncapable of accepting the Salvation tendred them by putting it out of their power to perform those Terms upon which he offers it and then condemn them to eternal Misery for not complying with those Conditions that 't was impossible for them to observe Isa 45.22 For he don't only call to all the ends of the Earth which implies all Mankind to look to him and be saved but he hath given to every one a Portion of his Spirit to enable them so to do he hath not only sent forth the Son of his Love to shed his Blood for every Man Joh. 3.14 15 16. to be lifted up as Moses lifted up the Brazen Serpent that whosoever believeth in him Joh. 6.44 45. should not perish but he also draws them and as they will receive it toucheth them with that Divine Magnet that only can incline and impower them effectually to turn to that Pole in which all our true Happiness centers But this is the condemnation Joh. 3.19 20. that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather than Light Eph. 5. â—â— because their Deeds are evil and hate the Light and will not bring their Deeds to it lest it should reprove them for whatsoever is reprovable is made manifest by the Light but Men love their own broad ways to pursue the sight of their Eyes and desire of their Minds Eccl. 11.9 and therefore hate to be control'd therein and reform'd The Apostle stirring up the Ephesians to Purity of Life and to avoid several Evils there mentioned saith expresly Eph. 5.6 7. Let no Man deceive you with vain Words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the Children of Disobedience And in another place Ro. 8.13 That those who live after the Flesh shall die So that 't is for want of Peoples embracing the Means and bringing their Deeds to the Light of Christ in their Hearts and heeding the Reproofs of Instruction Pro. 6.23 Gal. 6.8 which is the way of Life for want of sowing to the Spirit and by it mortifying the Deeds of the Flesh that People are lost and sentenced to Perdition and not because they were personally and inconditionally reprobated from all Eternity God who is Lord of all 1 Tim. 2.3 4. is gracious unto all and would have all Men to be saved but they disobey the Call of God and reject his Offers and resist the Strivings of his Spirit and are deaf to those Knocks of our Saviour for Reception and Entertainment in their Hearts Rev. 3.20 and choose and prefer the present World and will not deny themselves to follow Christ 'T is not as these Men say because Salvation was never within their reach if 't were not what must we think Were those feigned Tears then Luke 13.34 Mat. 23.37 that our Saviour shed over Jerusalem when the Day of its Visitation was over Saying also How often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathers her Chickens but you would not not you could not But if any Men can be so hardy as to entertain an Opinion so derogatory to the Justice Mercy Love and Paternal Care of God and repugnant to the Gospel-message we cannot but admire what should induce them to obtrude it upon others and urge it as though 't was a necessary Point to be believed in the Christian Religion for we cannot apprehend how this begets Love to God increaseth Faith in Christ and raiseth our Veneration for him excites to Diligence and encourages Piety which is that which advanceth true Religion but on the contrary it 's plain that it tends to the indulging some in a Security and procure in others a slight Esteem of the Death and Sacrifice of Christ as being partial and casts them into Despond and probably may encourage both to gratifie the Desires of their Minds to the full extent since nothing can alter such a supposed Decree of God one way or the other Yet we deny not the Prescience of God who fore-knows all things things past present and to come being at once present to him so that it may be said such who believe in Christ with that living active Faith that works by Love and excites to Obedience and persevere therein unto the end and so know Salvation by him are in him in whom the Election is before the World began and that those who so believe not but reject the Tenders of his Love and by persisting in Disobedience neglect so great Salvation are condemned already Nor do we deny such a Preference as that some are made Stewards over more and some fewer Talents according to which their Improvement ought to be Where much is given much is required and where less is given less is required for God is just and equal in all his Ways he is not a hard Master Mat. 25.14 to the 28. that he should exact or expect more than the Improvement of his own Had he that received but one Talent imploy'd it and made it Two we doubt not but it had been accepted for we believe that none are from Eternity absolutely excluded without any Talent and that a Day also is afforded wherein 't is possible for them to improve it So that though the Grace may work more powerfully in some than in others yet are all left without Excuse There is yet another Opinion dependant on this which we cannot receive neither as they state it for which our Opposers think very ill of us that is once in a state of Grace and ever so that there is no total or final falling away from Grace How this Doctrin promotes true Zeal and Piety and improves Christianity we can't understand nor see no other reason why its Votaries should be so fond of it but because 't is concordant to that of Personal Election and Reprobation so that those who imbrace the one are bound to believe the other But otherwise certainly it tends rather to slacken than spur on People to that care and diligence and constant unwearied watchfulness to Prayer which our Lord so much exhorted to and the Apostles so solicitously presse the Saints every-where to be found in as of absolute necessity What else means those Promises of Reward in the Revelations to those who should overcome and hold out to the end but to ingage them to a constant Perseverance Or what needed it if 't were impossible for them to fall short whom we suppose none will deny to have been in a state of Grace And the Church of Ephesus was threatned to have their Candlestick removed Rev. 2.5