a natural Light and so by this means they do what in them lieth to escape Judgment altogether by imagining themselves Christians and Believers in a State of Sin but we say that Light which you scorn and blaspheme and undervalue and set at nought will one Day bring the Flames of God upon you and be as a Thousand Witnesses against you because of your Hypoerisie and Self-Righteousness except ye repent All the Scriptures thou bringst against us are perverted by thee and they do not in the least prove what thou sayest viz. How that the Inward Work of the Spirit of the Lord in man or the Work of Regeneration is a man 's own Righteousness Legal Righteousness for if the Happiness and Blessedness of man consist not in the Work of Regeneration and the Work of the Spirit wherein doth it consist What will thy Ramble of Non-Sense and Perversion of Scripture and vain Profession of Christ avail thee saying Abraham 's Works done in the Spirit were not sufficient contrary to James 2.21 Was not Abraham our Father justified by Works when he had offered Isaac his Son upon the Altar Read also the next verse Seest thou how Faith wrought with his Works and by Works was Faith made perfect so that it is plain that in the Spirit he performed a Faithful Work and acceptable to God And so this blessed inward Work was of Faith and through Faith as all Works performed by the Spirit of Christ within are then this Righteousness and Obedience so performed is not Legal Righteousness or a man 's own Righteousness opposed to the Righteousness of Christ as that Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees was but is true real Righteousness in Unity of the same Nature with that blessed and heavenly Obedience of Christ in his own Person proceeding from the same Root viz. The Spirit and Life of Christ manifest in us and the matter of our Justification alwayes was and is the same not divided nor separated for he is the Head of his Body the Church inseparable and his Power and Grace which unites is the same and his Righteousness in all and through all is the same Real Righteousness and there is not another in the Head but the same that is in the Church his Body which is of his Flesh and of his Bone and whom God hath joyned together let not vain man put assunder as W. H. doth by calling that living Righteousness of Christ in his Church which is in God Legal Righteousness and A man 's own Righteousness Oh absurd and base did I not say well in mine to thee upon this Account viz. What a Traytor iâ— this man to God and his Gospel who hath seemed in Words and Profession thus far to love and to hugg Christ and the Scriptures and with his feigned Lips to betray him into the hands of the vilest of men and call this his most blessed work of Regeneration Legal Righteousness and A man 's own Righteousness thus betraying his most blessed Image into the Hands of Sinners to be trampled upon and vilified and abused under the Name of Legal Righteousness and a man 's own Righteousness and so as filthy Rags Isa 64.6 and so consequently Christ to be no more a Saviour upon this Account then the Jews accounted him who only reckoned him the Carpenter's Son and a Deceiver for indeed Man is meerly cheated of his Salvation if this Work of Christ be no more but Legal Righteousness and Christ's Coming by this means made of no more sufficiency then to bring forth Legal Righteousness but this man bears salfe Witness by his Lyes and Blasphemies as any who are truly Christians may easily perceive As for thy quoting Rom. 4.6 where thou sayest Even as David also discribeth the Blessedness of the Man unto whom God imputed Righteousness without Works what Works sayst thou done by the Spirit surely for such were David 's Works c. Unto which I answer That David's Blessedness consisted in that the Lord God forgave him his Sins and pardoned his Iniquities freely upon his unfeigned Repentance and so he was received in Mercy so read Psal 32. to the 6th verse and there it is plain that Forgiveness and Remission and Non-imputation of Sin was to that Man in whose Spirit there was no Guile which Guileless State was effected by the Spirit of the Lord which he calls Legal Righteousness and a Man 's Own Righteousness and so this Perverter of Scripture goes about to prove that the Works of the Spirit of the Lord even the best of them are sinful and blasphemes the Gospel-Power and Spirit and may as well and as confidently call Christ an â—…ctual Sinner in the best of his Actions for all his Actions were done by the very same Spirit that enables true Believers truly now to perform their acceptable Duty to God and this is perfect that is done by the Spirit of the Lord and according to his heavenly Will and To be spiritually-minded is Life and Peace Rom. 8.6 and so there is no Condemnation to such as walk after the Spirit of the Lord Rom. 8. and he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting Gal 6.8 If ye through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Body ye shall live Rom. 8.13 But according to this Man's Doctrine these Scriptures must be read thus There is Condemnation to such as walk after the Spirit of the Lord and they are in this Work and Exercise chargeable with Iniquity because their best Works performed by the Spirit of God are sinful and as rotten Rags and a Man 's own Righteousness and Legal Righteousness And again He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Condemnation and â—ins in his best spiritual Works And again Through the Spirit ye cannot mortifie the Deeds of the Body that you may live for this is but Legal Righteousness and a Man 's Own Righteousness c. So Reader observe that he goes about to prove that the Works of the Spirit and Power of the Lord are Legal and a Man 's Own Righteousness and effect nothing but Self-righteousness and sinful Obedience in a man's best Works where they are wrought and done by this Spirit of the Lord. And again he brings Isaiah 64.6 to prove it where the Prophet there saith in the Person of the Wicked Nation for which Wickedness and Hypocrisie God had brought would bring his severe Judgments upon them saith he We are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousness are as Filthy Rags and we all do fade as a Leaf and our Iniquities like the Wind have taken us away Mark W. H. goes about from this Scripture to prove that this Righteousness the Prophet calls as Filthy Rags was Spiritual Righteousness or wrought by the Spirit of the Lord for he saith Did not Isaiah observe Moses 's Law in the spirit and yet in that place of Isaiah calls it filthy Rags as to Justification This Man
and to thy own Consutation thou makes Christ the Author of both saying He wounds at well as heals kills as well as makes alive the one he doth by the preaching of the Law the other by the Gospel Doth not this prove Law and Gospel to be one in their End and Nature for which thou tauntest so much at me and spendest the whole 13th page by way of Derision saying It will cost me some Sweat to untye this Knot c. But before thou art aware thou hast done it For if it be Christ that kills by the Law as thou sayest and Christ that makes alive by the Gospel Is not he one and the same and is not his End the same like a wise Physician to cure and restore his Patient Haworth The Law in its own Nature is spiritual page 16 c. Crook And is not the Gospel so too What is it this man quarrels with is it not written The Ministration of Condemnation is glorious but the Ministration of the Spirit exceeds in Glory In it self it is not glorious but dreadful and terrible but because of its End by convincing of Sin and so humbling the Soul to a welcome reception of Christ or the Grace of the Gospel as thy self speaks p. 11. And the Apostle doth not say the Ministration of the Spirit differed in Nature and Kind but exceeded in Glory and therefore saith Diversity of Ministrations but by the same Lord or Spirit pag. 11 c. Haworth Yet hitherto tends this admitting of no Distinction of Law and Gospel p. 13. Crook My words are not so but thus viz. Why dost thou divide betwixt Law and Gospel Surely thou art not so ignorant as thou makest thy self as if there were no diffence between distinguishing and dividing But because the Scripture distinguisheth between Father Son and Spirit therefore by thy Logick they are divided and because the Scripture distinguisheth between Justification and Sanctification therefore it divides them according to thy dealing with me for I ask why thou dividest between Law and Gospel and thou abusest and pervertest my words as if I admitted of no Distinction between them Is this sair dealing William Haworth But remember for the time to come That a Man may lawfully Distinguish where he ought not to Divide as is proved Haworth The Law is spiritual i. e. requires that all the Thoughts of Man and Desires and Motions of the Heart should be holy and spiritual continually p. 14. c. Crook Here thou hast plainly confessed to that which thou hast been so long fighting against viz. that the Law is spiritual c. and is not the Gospel spiritual also if yea are they not One in Nature I never laid in Degree but want in Degree varies not the Truth in Nature and Kind and is it the End of the Law to require that all the Thoughts of Man and Desires and Motions of the Heart should be holy and spiritual continuaelly doth not the Gospel also do the same how now William who is infatuated now to speak that thou never intendest viz. that Law and Gospel are One in the End and Nature as thou speakest p. 12. But more of this may be seen in Title Contradictions c. and Title Scoffs c. Haworth I challenge thee to produce one Scripture where Law and Spirit â—re one c. Crook If I prove that the Word or Term Law is applyed to the Spirit I make good my own Assertion and overthrow thy vain boasting Challenge Now the Law is called Truth Psal 119.142 So is the Spirit 1 Joh 2.27 and 1 Joh. 5.6 The Law is called Light Prov. 6.23 and so is the Spirit If the Eye be single the whole Body is full of Light Rom. 7.14 We know the Law is spiritual how dost thou know it I feel it in my Mind by the Spirit saith Beza and also a Law in my Members warring against it Rom. 8 2. The Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus c. saith Beza is the Power and Authority of the Spirit against which is set the Tyranny of Sin Thus he c. The Term Law is applied both to Works and to Faith or the Spirit in Opposition to Works Rom. 3.27 The Law is also called the Testimony to the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8. The two Tables of the Law are called the Testimony Exod. 25.16,21 The Gospel or Spirit is called the Testimony 1 Cor. 2.1 2 Thes 1.10 Rom. 7.7 Except the Law had said thou shalt not lust by Law is understood the Law of the Spirit for the outward Law saith not so 1 Tim. 2.6 Where Christ is called the Testimony who gave himself a Ransom for all men that Testimony in due time c. by all which it may appear notwithstanding William Haworth's vain Challenge and confident to the contrary that the Term Law and Testimony c. are applied to Christ to the Spirit and to the Gospel or New Testament Haworth I have known the Spirituallity of the Law convincing me of that to be Evil which you say is not Sin viz Evil Thoughts arising in my Heart though not consented to Crook Here thou confessest that the Spirituallity of the Law which was the thing I affirmed to be one in End and Nature with the Gospel to be the Spirit or Power of God which is called the Gospel and is said Hebr. 4.12 to be A Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart which thou sayest it doth in thee this must needs be the Spirit by thy own Acknowledgment p. 14. calling the Law a fit Instrument for the Spirit to make use of so that it 's the Spirit 's Work whatever is the Instrument that is the Agent by thy own Acknowledgment But I perceive the Scriptures quoted by me have qualified thy Heat page 15. so that now it is the Doctrine of the Gospel not Law taken strictly c. but it may be called the Law so it be not taken strictly but in a mild or common Acceptation so that thou hast both made the Challenge viz. to produce one Scripture where Law and Gospel are Terms that signifie the same Thing as I asserted and to which thou makest this Challenge and also undertakest to make it good against thy self Haworth My tasting of the Grace of Jesus Christ was the Reason why I did not take up with the Quakers Christ finding so much Sweetness and Comfort in the Knowledge of him crucified and so abhorring to believe in the Light within as the Christ of God Crook David invites to Tasting as the best Way of knowing how Good and Gracious the Lord is Psal 34.9 and Paul also accounted the Revelation of Christ within to be the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Gal. 1.12,15,16 compared with Phil. 3.8,10,11 And called me by his Grace to reveal his Son in me but contrariwise that which thou callst the Grace of Jesus Christ caused thee to abhor believing in any such Revelation of
heavenly things themselves is this thy Fixedness and Consistency that they must be something but what thou dost not know and yet sayest I must understand what they are but surely it must not be by thy doubtful Teaching But tell me what purisying needed either Christ himself or Heaven it self and by what better Sacrifices Heb. 9.23 we read Ver. 9. 14. that the Conscience was to be purged by the Blood of Christ and this must needs be known in the Church and People of God whom thou confesseth are the heavenly Jerusalem which is the City of the living God where both God and Jesus the Mediator and the Blood of Sprinkling c. are come to by the Saints viz. Heb. 12.22,23,24 Haworth I ask now whether the Scriptures or our Imaginations and Thoughts be the Rule whereby we are to measure God and true Righteousness p. 21. c. Crook Is thy Memory so bad or thy Ignorance so great to ask such a Question which thy self resolvest in the same Page or art thou still in thy skiptical Mind as thou speakest of thy self seeing thou sayd'st but just before that it must be by the same Spirit that gave forth the Scripture that we can understand them and not without have thy Thoughts and Imaginations so great and the Spirit of God so little a Share in what thou dost which makes thee so soon forget its Usefulness to measure divine Things but I even tremble at thy ignorant Confidence to talk at this rate of measuring the unmeasurable God and that by the Scriptures or our own Thoughts without naming his Spirit Haworth The Scripture no where condemns Man's Conceivings of God by the Scripture and according to them p. 22. c. Crook Thou art condemned here out of thy own Mouth who sayest it must be Man enlightned by the same Spirit that gave them forth and not otherwise Haworth If John Crook consents to the Truth of this Principle viz. That such is the Purity of God that nothing is accepted by him but what is every Way or entirely compleat and perfect if so p. 23. c. Crook I grant this as also himself hath done in p. 26. Haworth Then he believes that the Righteousness within which consists in the Vertues and Gifts of the Spirit in every Quaker is every way perfect and compleat c. Crook Let the Reader judge if the latter be a necessary Consequence from the former but because some whole pages following in his Book are stuffed with Arguments and Consequents of the like nature about the same Subject to prevent his Boasting if possible I shall here once for all return a sober Answer viz. I believe that the Holiness and Righteousness in the Hearts of God's people which purely consists in the Virtues and Gifts of the Spirit which is one with the Father and the Son it is intirely compleat and perfect as to Nature and Kind which is sufficiently demonstrated by those worthy men Dr. Preston and Dr. Sibbs See Preston's Title Man's Vprightness pag. 214. Because the New Adam otherwise should not be so effectual as the old the new Adam should not be so powerful to communicate Grace and Life as the old Adam is to instill Corruption and Sin for this Sin that hath been conveyed to us by the first Adam hath an Integrity in it it hath gone over the whole Soul there is a whole Body of Death that hath possessed us now should there not be in those redeeming Actions by Christ a contrary Integrity and Perfection a throughout Holiness as I may call it the Plaister then should be narrower then the Sore the Remedy should be inferiour to the Disease Beloved you know a Leprosie is gone all over except the Holiness went all over too from top to toe I say there would not be an Answerableness in the second Adam he should not be able to do as much Good as the first was able to do Hurt 2 dly The Work of Redemption should be done but by halves if the Lord should dispense with imperfect Holiness The Works of Creation you know were perfect God looked upon all his Works and saw that they were very Good Beloved Do you think the Works of Redemption should come short of the Works of Creation Are not they likewise Perfect When the Lord shall look on that Work shall he not say likewise It is very good Pag. 216. If the Heart of Man be not intire if the Work of Grace be not throughout if there be a Defect in the Principle and Constitution of it there should be a defect in the Work of Redemption that cannot be c. Pag. 219. Blessed are the Pure in Heart Now what is it to be pure That is pure which is full of it self and hath no other heteregenial thing mingled with it so that heart is pure which hath no Sin in it which is holy which hath a renewed quality of Grace which hath an inward regenerate Man that will mingle with no Sin that is full of it self and admits not the mixture of any Sin c. Pag 221. When thou hadst the Prophet that would have separated the Precious from the Vile in thy heart as well as to do it in the Companies of men c. Pag. 222. So my Beloved it is not the having of Impurities in the Heart that makes the Heart imperfect but it is the suffering of them to be mingled even with the inward Frame of the Heart The Doctor also affirms That without this Holiness and Righteousness none can be saved c. See Dr. Preston ibid. p. 243. I say Let any Man's Heart be of this Constitution that he neglects the smallest Commandment that he hath not a special Eye to the Observance of them a special Care to keep them he is unsound and rotten at the Heart he shall never be saved continuing such Prov. 19.16 He that keeps the Commandments keeps his own Soul but he that despiseth his Way shall dye for it Thus far Dr. Preston Now Dr. Sibbs's Soul-Conflicts pag. 224. The Happiness of Man consists chiefly in a gracious Frame of Spirit and Actions sutable sweetly ssuing therefrom Ibid. pag. 156. Christ will never give over till by his Spirit he hath made our Nature Holy and Pure as his own till he hath taken away not only the Reign but the very Life and Being of Sin out of our Hearts that to this End he leaves his Spirit and Truth in the Church to the End of the World that the Seed of the Spirit may subdue the seed of the Serpent in us and that the Spirit may be a never failing Spring of all Holy Thoughts Desires and Endeavours in us and dry up the contrary Issue and Spring of Corrupt Nature Grace is nothing else but that blessed Power whereby as spiritual we gain upon our selves as carnal pag. ibid. It is a good Tryal of a Man's Condition to know what he esteems to be himself A godly Man counts the inward man the
sanctified part to be himself whereby he stands in relation to Christ and a better Life pag. 101. Thus far Sibbs But if I should have writ half so much I should have been censured for idolizing and setting up Man's Own Righteousness as W. Haworth calls the Righteousness within that consists in the Virtues and Gifts of the Spirit but these serious Men speak no such Language c. Haworth And for this Compleatness is accepted and that it will hold the Test before God's Tribunal and so will justifie us and it is beyond the Righteousness of the Elect Angels ibid. c. Crook Such as are Witnesses of this blessed Work within are accepted of God but not barely for that Holiness and Righteousness sake as it is a Work within but for his sake that is both the Author and Finisher of the whole Work of Man's Redemption For as the Builder is more honourable then the House so is Christ then his Work Heb. 3.3 He hath made us accepted in the Beloved Ephes 1.6 And chosen us through Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth 2 Thess 2.13 And this will hold the Test and these by this Faith are and shall be justified before God's Tribunal And that it is beyond the Righteousness of the Elect Angels is both an ignorant and needless Question Haworth I fly by Faith which the Spirit works in me by the hearing of the Gospel to Jesus Christ to deliver me from the Wrath to come 1 Thess 10. p. 28. Crook This flying in thy own Will is like to thy applying of him which I spake to before Christ saith No man can come to me except my Father which sent me draweth him Joh. 6.44 But this viz. I fly sounds like a customary word only gotten by rote while the true Believer depends upon God and Christ to receive the immediate Ability to use and exercise Grace and Virtue aright for the further Growth and Increase for Grace dorment will not save us saith Dr. Sibbs Soul's Conflict pag. 105. and further saith The first Justice begins within when there is a due Subjection of the Soul to the Spirit c. Now hadst thou born the Indignation c. and waited with David in the Way of God's Judgments then with Paul thou wouldst have said I thank God through Jesus Christ that is come unto me and made himself known in and unto me by his Spirit that takes of his Blood and Virtue and shews them unto me applys them as proper Remedies to cure my Malady and inriching Jewels to make me glorious But thy Speech bewrayes thee thou wantest the Shibboleth of a true regenerate Man Haworth I perceive this by what thou sayest here that thou hast tasted but very scantily of the Wrath of God in thy Conscience otherwise thou wouldst not have such sleighting Thoughts of it as to apprehend it to be attoned any other way then by Christ's bearing it who sweat drops of Blood under it and thy unacquaintedness with the Nature of Faith in that thou callest it an Easie Way p. 28. c. Crook I shall not make thee my Confessor of what I have tasted but if thou hadst not fled the Judgment it had been better for thee then to escape it to get Ease in the Flesh I know him in whom I have believed and received the Attonement as the true Christians did by having the Witness of it in my self And thou dost but flatter thy self and falsly accuse me in saying I apprehend Sin and Wrath to be attoned any other way then by Christ bearing it for I never said nor thought so But this I say knowingly That it is not the bare believing of the Doctrine of Attonement from the Record of Scripture without though that be true that is the real Passification to the saving of the Soul in God's sight except the inward Testimony of it by the in dwelling Presence of Christ be witnessed in the Heart All Books were written to amend this One Book of our Hearts and Consâ—ence saith Dr. Sibbs ibid. pag. 61. and though we have not a Book to look on yet we may look with Comfort into the Book of our own hearts and read what God hath written there by the Finger of his Spirit c. I have the rather inserted this here that thou mayest not forget to search this Book or Record and to be well acquainted with what is written there for such to be sure can never undervalue the Drops of Blood that he sweat for them nor be ignorant of the Nature of true and living Faith nor call the daily looking unto and depending upon God as the Eye of the Maiden unto her Mistriss an easie Way Haworth Ah John what meanest thou to turn the Scoffer like Julian Do the Saints find it an Easie Way who cry out daily Lord help our Vnbelief p. 29 c. Crook My words are these viz. An Easie Way if thou couldst escape God's Vengeance by casting it all upon Christ by imagining his doing and suffering God's Pleasure to be reckoned thine by a bare Belief of it wholely without thee Thou wouldst tempt the Reader by leaving out these last words to believe me to be a Julian as the Devil tempted Christ to cast himself down abusing the Scripture But let the Reader judge by my words together what a scoffing Julian I am if we compare Mark 9.24 14 15 16 17. vers it will not appear that that Saint as thou callest him there spoken of knew much of thy Faith if he was like thee in any thing it was in that he joyned with the disputing Scribes against the Disciples of Christ But those that are Saints indeed find that no less Power then that which raised up Christ from the dead is able to make them believe is that Christ to the saving of the Soul and they had need of daily help against the springings of the bitter Root of Vnbelief in themselves But to be wise to dispute of Salvation is one thing and to be wise unto Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus is another But I say still It s an Easie Way to Salvation if thou canst escape by casting all God's Vengeance on Christ by imagining his doing and suffering God's Pleasure to be reckened thine by a bare believing of it wholely without thee for do not all the Ungodly in England generally believe it But saith Dr. Sibbs Soul's Conflict It were an Easie Thing to be a Christian if Religion stood only in a few Outward Works and Duties but to take the Soul to taâ—k and to deal roundly with our own Hearts and to let Conscience have its full Work and to bring the Soul into Spiritual Subjection unto God this is not so easie a Matter p. 228. Haworth Ah John Crook here thou stumblest at the Cross of Christ and art leavened in thy Mind with hellish Socinianism the Dirt will out at last John here thou art plainly ashamed of the Cross of Christ dares
was not innocent when he suffered c. contrary to the Scriptures which testifie that the Just suffered for the Unjust But let us consider his Phrase The Guilt of Sin really charged on him this Word Really as it respects the Act of God is interpreted by himself p. 33. What the Lord doth is so or really done and as it respects Man p. 35. he saith Who of us ever denyed that we were to have a Real Righteousness c. Now let the judicious Reader consider how W. H. can clear himself from Blasphemy in saying Christ had the Guilt of Sin really charged upon him neither will those Words of the Apostle help him viz. For he hath made him to be Sin for us that knew no Sin this last Clause viz. that knew no Sin plainly dischargeth Christ from being really guilty or having the Guilt of Sin really charged on him and convicts W. H. as really guilty of Blasphemy against the innocent and the just and holy One of God Haworth If he had not Sin on him God in Righteousness could not have punished this innocent Lamb But thou art ashamed I tell thee of Christ's Cross p. 37. c. Crook As a guilty Man that hath spoke more then he can prove he shuffles out the main Matter of the Charge against him viz. the Guilt of Sin really charged on Christ so that I may take it for granted he sees his Blasphemy in that though he loves not the Sight so well as to confess his Error in plain VVords But why William dost thou a guilty Man take upon thee to measure the Omnipotency of the Almighty is not this Pride in thee with a witness but to prove Christ really guilty he saith God in Righteousness punished this INNOCENT LAMâ— Now if to deny this Confusion against Christ be a Denial of the Cross of Christ I tell thee then I am ashamed of it Haworth Paul in Rom. 7. complains of Sin yet saith there is no Condemnation Rom. 8.1 c. p. 78. c Crook What an Abuse is this put upon Paul's Words why did he complain then if God was pleased why was he displeased But the Apostle is speaking of several Conditions that he passed through as the whole Chapter manifesteth not that he was in them all at the same Moment of Time viz. Vnder the Law without the Law and delivered from the Law a wretched Man because of the Body of Sin such a Saint also that no Condemnation belonged to him therefore himself distinguisheth both the Time by the Word Now there is no Condemnation c and Manner or Condition of his Change viz. To abide in Christ not to walk after the Flesh but after the Spirit clearly implying that if he neglect the Spirit and walk after the Flesh there will then be Condemnation Haworth As if Christ might not work Virtues in our Hearts which we express in our Lives and yet these be but our own Righteousness c. as if because the Spirit works Love in me therefore it is not my Love c. Crook I have mentioned this under Title Contradiction I desire the Reader to observe how within six Lines after quite contrary he saith None ever did or can shew Christ's Virtues in their Lives that were not first justified by imputed Righteousness and yet here he saith The Virtues which Christ works in our Hearts and we express in our Lives are but our own Righteousness Observe and yet is wrought by Christ so that we may be found in our own Righteousness and yet at the same Time be justified by the imputed Righteousness of Christ without Works Oh Confusion But let 's examine his Reason for what he saith viz. because the Spirit works Love in me therefore it s my Love c. by the same Reason Christ's Righteousness may be called my Righteousness by thy own Confession p. 34. saying Indeed this Righteousness is not at a Distance from us but put upon us by the Father's Gift Thou hast now spoiled all after thou hast taken a great deal of Pains to prove the Righteousness that Christ works in us and the Righteousness that indeed is not at a Distance from us but put upon us by the Fathers's Gift as thou sayest to be two Righteousnesses and here thou givest a very good Reason why they cannot be two but must needs be one viz. For the Spirit works Love in me therefore it is my Love so Christ works Righteousness in me therefore it is my Righteousness and Christ imputes his Righteousness to me and indeed it 's not at a Distance from me but put upon me by the Father's Gift therefore it is my Righteousness And thus thou hast brought Christ's Two Righteousnesses as thou callest them into One and proved that I may call it Mine for the same Reason that I may call the Love that the Spirit works in me My Love Haworth How canst thou in Conscience go about to make People believe that we preach the worst People have the greatest Right to Christ's Righteousness p. 42. c. Crook I meddle not with your preaching but with what thou hast printed viz. That we must be without or free from all Good as Christ was without or free from all Evil when Christ's Righteousness is imputed to us to justifie us or in point of Justification and for the Gifts and Virtues of the Spirit which God himself works in our Minds and we express these outwardly in our Observation of the Moral Law in our walking amongst men this sayest thou is properly our own Righteousness c. therefore our own Righteousness saith W. H. who mixeth my words with his and then asks how I can in Conseience go about to make the People believe c. while his own words tend so much to Rantism and Loosness Haworth I challenge thee and all the Quakers in England to prove that Christ bound the Moral Law to any of his Disciples closer or faster then Moses p 43. Crook If Loosness be not pleaded for what means this lowing c. But why art thou so resolute in thy Challenge doth the Business so nearly concern thee that all the Quakers in England are summoned to appear c. I think the least amongst them may make good that from Mat. 5.21,22 where Christ saith to his Disciples whosoever is angry with his Brother without a cause shall be culpable of Judgment which he that killeth is guilty of and is not this to bind the Law closer Is it not easier to abstain from Murder then from Anger And ver 27 28. by the Law actual Adultery was forbidden but Christ saith Whosoever looketh upon a Woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his Heart is not this a closer binding of the Moral Law to his Disciples let the Reader judge And if thou hadst more Knowledge of thy own Heart and fewer Notions in thy Head thou wouldst not have made such a vaunting Challenge Haworth I charge thee
thou hast set up a few Prophets at Devon-shire House c. G. F. said the Man in the Male and the Man in the Female may speak and so interpret Scriptures in your Meetings c. Thou playest the Hypocrite John if thou wouldst not juggle and play Legerdemanin c. Crook These are invented Forgeries Falshood Perversion and Reviling c. Haworth p. 24. Are not the Scriptures and Christ mightily obliged to you Infallible Doctors that will condigne to own such Fragments and a Book patch'd up of so many Scraps to help a little when the Church had lost the Life of the Spirit c. John Crook replyed to one that charged him with it at Hartford that if these were his Words it was not his Judgment Crook These are light scoffing Words for which thou must come to Judgment notwithstanding thou wouldst father them upon me but I deny thy Slanders c. Thou hast heard me several times with many Professors in Hartford besides Friends is it probable I should ever speak such Unsavoury Words and they should escape the Press 14 or 15 Years and that W. H. and his Followers should after this go to hear such a man as I. Crook that as thou sayest speaks so scornfully of the Scriptures as to call them Scraps that it should never be printed till W. H. falling out with the Quakers undertook it I remember about 14 or 15 Yearssince or there abouts that I spake something of Eusebius's History touching the Dispersion Gathering together of the Scriptures possibly I might say to the man he speaks of repeating my Words wrong and yet justifying his own Repetition to put an End to his Contention that these were not my Words for it is not my Judgment and this is to say no more then thy self implies by the Word If they were my Words which argues my questioning whether they were so or no. Now what Fault is this that it must be proclaimed in print The worst that can be made of it supposing it true as it is not amounts but to this viz. Iohn Crook's Meaning was better then his Words then with the Younger Brother in the Gospel Iohn Crook is to be justified rather then those Hypocrites who like the Elder Brother say I go Sir but went not and then such now that exhort their Hearers to follow Christ fully and obey the Scriptures constantly but withal tell them it is impossible to do either in this World Therefore I would advise every well-meaning Abimelech to take heed that at any time his Meaning be not better then his Words for if W. H. hear of it as Doeg to Saul he will tell it to the World if possible to do thee a Mischief although it be 14 or 15 Years after But William how much Esteem soever thou pretendst to have of the Scriptures methinks thou shouldst not have so little for Christ as to name and prefer them before him this is no Sign that thou art an Infallible Doctor as thou scoffingly speakst of the Quakers Haworth p. 25. The Quakers never do confess Sin there is no more worth in the Blood of Christ in the Quakers Account then in other common Blood c. I find W. Bayly and J. Crook Brethren in Iniquity more Ignorant then School-Boyes Jesuit-like c. O horrid Blasphemy c. Crook The Cause of all this is from his own Words viz. The Heathen saw in the Deity a Vengeance ready to punish he saith W. B. applies this Sight in the Deity to the Light that was in their Consciences believing the Light to be God c Consider Reader 1 st Whether the Heathen could see what was in the Deity without some Light coming from the Deity to discover it 2 dly It 's called something of God in them Rom. 1.19 or that which may be known of God in them 3 dly That of God is called the Truth ver 18. 4 thly The Scripture calls the Knowledge of This the Knowledge of God ver 21. These things rightly considered what cause hath this man for all his Slanderous Terms Haworth p. 28. Thou dost make the Faith of Pharisees as good as the Faith of any of the Godly in the Nation c. Ah John what meanst thou to turn the Scoffer like Julian c. Ah Joh. Crook thou art levened in thy Mind with Hellish Socinianism c. And whatever thou pretendest it 's but to blind the People c. p. 29. Thou discoverst thy self to be a Papist c. How sad is is that every Truth must be struck at by a new Sort of Papists c Crook Besides his Falshoods and Slanders take Notice it 's W. H's Faith I have now to deal withal who thinks himself to be as Godly a man as any in the Nation as himself saith c. Haworth p. 30. Enough if thou wast but real in thy Expressions c. What a Knave is he c. There is no End of thy Dissembling it is a professed Trade thou drivest as the Mountebancks up and down the Country c. Crook When enough is said by me then my Reality is questioned and the Slander of a Knave fixed upon me and when I speak more then he would have me then he brands me with Papism and Hellish Socinianism Mountebank c. But let our Hearers judge who can best tell our Trade and yours what Sallery and other yearly Charges they are at to maintain such Physicians as keep them alwayes in Cure and put their Texts as Medicines to Sale yet tell their Patients it is impossible to make them whole c. Haworth p 30. Thou mistrusts God John c. and hear the Old Fox bark Christ being within there is Iustification c. Crook Contradiction is the Companion of Falshood for in the same page he himself saith that by Faith Christ dwelt in our Hearts and now scoffs at these Words viz. Christ being within there is Justification c. Haworth p. 32. This is John Crook 's Application of the Spirit deny Penington 's Divinity if thou darest c. When John Crook prayeth or preacheth it is Christ prayeth and preacheth not John Crook and that Christ and he are both one Person such Monsters have been amongst the Quakers c. p. 33. Crook When he can gather nothing out of my Books to asperse me withal then he perverteth others words and fathers that Perversion upon me but let I. Penington interpret his own words who best knows his own Meaning and then they will speak as plain as mine which W. H. cofesseth to be true See I. Penington's late Book entituled The Flesh and Blood of Christ This man acknowledgeth that such Doctrine is not now nor never was preached among Right Quakers but by such as have been Monsters amongst the Quakers but let him hear Dr. Sibbs Soul Conflict p. 219. It is Sacriligious Liberty that will acknowledge no Dependence upon God we are wise in his Wisdom and strong in his Strength who
the 146 pages of his Book and find little in it besides abusive Language and childish spending Paper and Pastime which himself calls playing at push pin and yet hath the Confidence to dare it to be answered Haworth The Quakers sit brooding upon this Principle in Expectation of a Chimera Perfection in this Life c. G. Fox absolving at his Knees whom he will sending out to the Ministry whom he will c. pag. 60 and 61. The Light within is exalted by you above all that is called God and worshipped c. You have changed the Christ of God into a Robber's Light that goes down to Hell with him c. p. 63. Crook Falshood and Slander c. neither do the Quakers exalt the Light above God c. but as God is Light and his Spirit is Light and this is to be obeyed and followed for he that is destitute of this is without God in the World and is in the Spirit of Antichrist which the Generation of the Godly know to be true and thy Affirmation to the contrary to be Blasphemy and contradictory to thy self p. 84. where thou callst the Light the Gift of Christ and p. 109. A Spark of the Light Adam had in Innocency and now thou callst it a Robber's Light that goes down to Hell with him let the Reader judge of this Confusion Falshood and Blasphemy c. Haworth The Quakers being faithful to the Light within they continue in Morality but they live not at all in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ c. Crook It is well thou wilt afford the Quakers this Testimony while many of thy Opinion who talk so much that Christ wholely without hath satisfied for all their Sins past present and to come sleight Morality and thy Words are of like Import as if to live up to Morality doth Necessarily imply that such as do so do not at all live in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ but let all such know that he which exhorts People to Holiness and yet tells them it is not necessary to Salvation doth but tempt them to let Holiness alone Haworth There are some amongst the Quakers that bewitch the poor Country People with Sorceries c. every one of them indued with a Tuning Juggling Jesuitieal Temper c. pag. 64. Crook This Language shews the man destitute of Morality thus maliciously to pursue his Falshoods and Slanders William Haworth's Answer to my Additional Postscript p. 66. Haworth THis Postscript is but a meer fallacious Horangue Of Woras purposely stitched together to dâ—cerve some weak ones a perfect Cheat c. And so gross a Heretick that thou John art not worthy that a Christian skould eat or drink with thee Crook I need not here set down the Additional Post script he speaks of because it is in Print already but do desire the Reader to peruse it and for his Encouragement I do seriously declare as in the Presence of God Angels and Men that the Testimony there given 1 st Concerning Jesus of Nazareth c. 2 dly Concerning his Righteousness c. 3 dly Concerning the Blood of this Jesus c. 4 thly Concerning Justification by his Blood c. is the Real and Very Belief of my Soul Now if this will not satisfie W. H. but I must still be accounted a Knave a Mountebank a Juggler a Bewitcher a Deceiver a Dissembler a Perfect Cheat a Rotten Apostate a Gross Heretick not worthy that a Christian should eat or drink with me all which Scurrility and Railery with much more I find in his Book though I was once a living Stone in Christ's Building as himself saith and yet challengeth me to answer thirty Interrogatories or Queries as if he were conscious to himself he had wronged me but it would be Folly in me to swell the Volumn barely to fulfil his Humour But might reply in his own Words as he doth to my Additonal Postscript I haye done it already and therefore need not do it over again but that the Reader may be acquainted with their Weakness and not think them to be unanswerable I shall as briefly as I can reply to them all An Answer to W. Haworth's Queries Haworth DOst not thou know that the Independents c. Query 1. are for an Experimental Spiritual Knowledge of Christ and that Truth must be inwardly taught by the Spirit c. Answ Crook These are Jacob's Words but Esau's Hands for he that dare not trust to the Spirit is not for Experimental Knowledge c. but W. H. saith p. 52. He dares not trust to the Holy Ghost therefore W. H. wharever he saith is not for Experimental Knowledge by the Teachings of the Spirit Q. 2. Haworth Dost not thou believe that some may know the Mystery and so be saved without the hearing or knowing the History of Jesus of Nazareth An. Crook Infants that dye in the Womb and soon after they are born c. I have so much Charity as to believe they are saved and likewise those believing Gentiles Rom. 2.14,15,16 of whom it is said they had not the Law or outward History and yet were excusable in the Day when God shall judge the Secrets of all men by Jesus Christ Q. 3. Haworth Whether is Jesus Christ now a Person out of man or only a Principle or Quality in man An. Crook If by Paerson thou intendest An Intelligent Being as thou confessedst at Hartford then He is both out of man and in man and so more then a bare Principle or Quality in man Q. 4. Haworth Dost thou believe that man that was born of Mary the Virgin at Bethlehem in Judea to be the Messiah the Christ of God An. Crook Yea. Q. 5 Haworth Dost thou believe that the man Christ is any where now in being besides the being that the Quakers say he hoth in them and if so where is he c. An. Crook Yea and that he is at God's Right Hand ascended far above all Heavens as the Scripture saith Q. 6. Haworth Whether the Light that you say every man hath be a Creature or no An. Crook That true Light which is called the Life of Christ Iohn 1.4,9 and lighteth every man that cometh into the World is not a Creature Q. 7. Haworth Whether the Light that every man hath be of the very same Nature with the Spirit c. or of a different Kind or whether it differ from the New-creature in Specie An. Crook The Life which is the Light of men is of an Increated and Divine Nature and Being yet the New-creature is formed in the Light and partakes of its Nature Q. 8. Haworth Whether that which Iesus Christ of Nazareth did and suffered above sixteen hundred Years since in Judea be not the Matter of fallen-man's Iustification in the Sight of God An. Crook Fallen-man is in a State of Condemnation yet through that one Offering of Jesus Christ of Nazareth both the Forbearance of God Reconciliation and Remission of Sins are declared
Q. 22. Haworth Whether the Light within or the Person of Christ without be the Object of Justifying Faith or whether Faith be any thing but Obedience to the Light that every one hath Answ Crook 1st The Light within gives the true Knowledge of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 2dly It is not the Light within disjunctive from Christ without but conjunctive as the Eye in its Object that is the Object of justifying Faith 3dly Faith is more then Obedience to the Light in that degree that every man hath it for it hath the whole Christ for its Object Q. 23. Haworth Whether have not all the Sons of Men Christ excepted the Guilt of Adam's first Transgression upon them before they are justified and called and so are by nature children of Wrath c Answ Crook Before Justification is Condemnation and Wrath upon every Soul of Man that doth Evil Rom. 2.9 and in the fallen Nature all are Children of Wrath but that this Proverb must alwayes be used viz. The Fathers have eaten sour Grapes and the Childrens Teeth are sâ—t on edge is contrary to Scripture but to this I have spoken largly in my Rejoynder to which I refer the Querist Q. 24. Haworth Are any so perfect in this Life as to be above the Confession of Sin to God Answ Crook If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from All Unrighteousness 1 John 1.9 He that 's Thus Forgiven and Cleansed is in a State above that wherein he confessed and glorified God for his Mercy Q. 25. Haworth Of what use is that Interecssion of Christs as a High Priest in Heaven Answ Crook Of great use to all that truly know and believe it Q. 26. Haworth Whether there be a higher Prophecy then the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles and if so where is it and what is it Answ Crook The Spirit of the Son in the Hearts of God's People is greater then the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles as the Builder of the House is greater or more honourable then the House Q. 27. Haworth Are not the holy Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles the Rule of Faith and Life Answ Crook That which first opens man's Understanding to understand the Scriptures aright is his first Rule or Guide and this is the promised Spirit of Jesus who said It shall take of mine and shew them unto you so that it is properly the Rule for as many as are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God yet the holy Scriptures are A Rule through the Direction of the Spirit Q. 28. Haworth Whether dost thou believe that the same Body of Man after the Departure of the Soul from it doth rise to Life again Answ Crook This Query is contrary to Scripture which saith A Natural Body is sown a Spiritual Body is raised there is a Natural Body there is a Spiritual Body 1 Cor. 15.44 which I believe Q. 29. Haworth Whether are our distinct Personal Beings preserved in the Future State whether we lose them being swollowed up into God at Death Answ Crook I believe that in the Future State we shall not lose our Distinct Beings by being swollowed up into God but shall be preserved in our Distinct Beings forever Q. 30. Haworth Whether the Light that every man hath believed in obeyed trusted to is not the Jesus the Righteousness the Iustification the Blood the Remission the Mysiery the Experience the Faith the Cleansing the Sanctification the Shedding Drinking Sprinkling of the Blood c. which words and phrases are all in this thy Testimony answer plainly Is there any more in thy whole Treatise and thy Post script then this viz. To the Light obey the Light and whoever doth not is but in the History is but a Prodigal in a far Country feeding amongst the Swine a poor naked starved Sinner Answ Crook My Answer plainly to the first part of this Query is That although the Jesus the Righteousness the Justification the Blood that I bear Testimony unto cannot be known but by and in the true Light yet I never said neither do I believe that the Light that every man hath believed in c. is the Jesus the Righteousness the Justification the Blood the Remission c. yet do affirm that God who is Light is All in All and Jesus Christ who is the Light is made of God unto true Believers Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption according to 1 Cor. 1.30 To the second part I say There is more in my Treatise and Postscript then to the Light obey the Light c. but do also testifie that whosoever doth not obey the Light that shines in the Heart and manifesteth Sin and Evil in the Conscience is yet in his Sins and feeding among the Swine Now I appeal from W. H's Rashness and Folly not only to those that have known my manner of Life for nigh Forty Years past how that from my tender years I have been seeking after God and his Truth but to that great Judge of Quick and Dead that will pass Sentence upon every man according to his Works unto whom none dare say at that Tribunal God made him to sin or made IT unavoidable I hope what I have said will satisfie the Honest hearted who will not easily believe that after them any weary Steps and toylsome years of hearing reading watching fasting believing praying c. I should sacrifice all this and much more unto a wilful Error and to such an one as is not only destitute of all worldly Preferments but exposed to all the Sufferings and Hardships in it which I must needs do if I am such a Person as W. H. represents me to be But were I guilty such confused Arguments Contradictions and hard Languages will never convince me that W.H. is in the Truth for he is but a weak Adversary that cannot distinguish between loud Clamours and Gospel Demonstrations John Crook VVilliam Haworth's Contradictions and Confusions Haworth I Do still speak respectfully of the Light God forbid I should be an Opposer of it or an Enemy to it let my Tongue first cleave to the Roof of my Mouth let me first be Dumb and never speak any more pag. 5. c. it is but Flesh all is called Flesh all the new Birth c. Light is from Christ and he is the Author of it pag. 6. c. it lusteth against the Spirit and is contrary to the Spirit pag. 109. c. they that live not up to it shall be inexcusably condemned page 113. c. it is but Nature fallen blind Nature page 135. it is a Spark of that Light Adam had in Innocency in a full Flame pag. 109. c. I scarce know one Gospel Truth but this Light contradicteth pag 161. c. I do now say it is a rotten corrupt and unsound Thing or Principle as to the leading or guiding into the Knowledge of the Gospel
pag. 149. c. this Light was in Adam after the Fall Gen. 3.10 I heard thy Voice c. the Lord God called to Adam c. this Light reproveth so that man hath not Power to go on in Sin pag. 143. c. it works a Change in the Life and Conversation pag. 150. c. which sheweth it to be unsound and impure pag. 146. he giveth Light to all ibid. c. it goes with the Damned to Hell Epist pag. 6. Crook I desire the Reader to peruse the Pages and he will find I have not wronged my Adversary in drawing this result viz. That full Flame Adam had in Innocency of which there is a Spark in every man that Voice of God that spoke to Adam that reproves for Sin and keeps from going on in Sin the Gift of Christ by which some divine things may be known which worketh a change in the Life and Conversation c. That which doth all this is but Flesh and that which lusteth against the Spirit and is contrary to the Spirit it is but Nature fallen Nature fallen blind Nature impure and unsound c. which is in every Murderer and Robber goes with the Damned to Hell remains with them there c. hear ye Heavens and give ear O Earth and be horribly ashamed of such Tenents as these as he saith Epist p 6. c. Haworth Christ hath subdued all my Enemies virtually already and will actually in time which I wait for Epist pag. 6. c. My rejoycing is in this that the Elect cannot be deceived c. My Prayer is that whoever of you belongs to the Electâ—… of Grace may be undeceived Epist pag 12. c. Thou art the dearer to us John in that thou hast been a stone once in Christ's Building ibid. c. The Restraining Grace of God joyned with the Light for I attribute it to that in indeed chiefly as in the Case of Abimelech Gen. 20. ibid. c. I kept thee the Light within would not have done it c. Crook In divers Pages of his Book he enveighs against Perfection as is shewed anon and yet here he faith he waits for it the Elect cannot be deceived yet he prayes that so many as belong to Election may be undeceived But by his Confession I am safe enough if either his Faith in this matter or mine be true for saith he thou John hast been a Stone once in Christ's Building and I am sure Christ's Building is made up of Living Stones if thou be but as sure that not one that was once such shall finally perish But that I am so dear to you as thou speakest doth not appear by thy calling me Knave Rebel Mountebank Juggler Impostor False Prophet c. however we should be dearer each to other if you would cease opposing the true Light and walk in it that we might have Fellowship therein Thy Proselyte confesseth The Light kept him from stealing Herrings though thou sayest it would not have with-held or kept Abimelech the Heathen King c. but the Notes on â—he great Bibles say God by his Spirit kept or retained him c. thus thy own Proof disproves a great part of thy Book which denyes the holy Spirit to strive in Unregenerate Men contrary to Gen. 6.3 on which place Hen. Ainsworth observes That the Spirit of God strove by Inward Motions and Checks of Conscience with the Old World which his Spirit gave them for their Sins against which they that struggle fall into the Sin against the Holy Ghost despiting the Spirit of Grace Hebr. 10.29 Take heed William Haworth that this be not thy Condition Haworth I will give thee a Taste of this way of Allegorizing c. if many Senses of the Scripture then no one sense is certain c. the Work of the Spirit in our Hearts is not God's Son Epist p 7. c. Crook He scoffs at Allegorizing of Scripture as he speaks as if he had forgotten Sarah and Hagar were two Women and yet were Allegories of two Mountains and those two Mountains of the two Dispensations of God viz. Law and Gospel c. and as if Christ's Words had no Certainty in them when he spoke of destroying the Temple meaning the Temple of his Body and the like may be said of the Apostle's treating of the Duties between Husband and Wife concludes that his Words had two Senses viz. concerning the great Mystery of Christ and his Church as well as that between Man and Wife Mar. 2.18 compared with Jer. 31.15 where the Weeping of Rachel for the Benjamites or Israelites her Children is one Sense and for the young Children killed by Herod in another Sense c. as if the literal Sense of Scripture could not be preserved where the Mystery also was understood Hen. Ainsworth in his Preface to the five Books of Moses saith In the Histories are implyed Allegories and in the Laws are Types and Shadows c. Dr. Slbbs saith The Seed of the Woman or Spirit in us bruiseth the Seed of the Serpent in us and yet its true of Christ's Conquest outwardly when he spoiled Principalities and Powers c. Brightman on 4 cap. Revel p. 174. Lamps of Fire burning before the Throne c. because they do inlighten the Mind do burn up the Stubble of inborn Corruptions and do moreover inflame the Mind with a Desire of all Godliness which God calleth the Baptism of Fire Mat. 3.11 Again saiâ—h he the seven Spirits of God by which words the Faithful may understand that that Power which they feel to be stirred up by God in their Hearts is a most undoubte Pledge of God himself dwelling in us c. Thus much to stop his Scorn c. Haworth The Seed of the Woman is Christ Gal. 4. c. which the Apostle in the same Epistle saith is Christ's Person according to the Flesh page 4. c. The First-born of every Creature The Brightness of his Father's Glory the Eternal Word that was made Flesh the Alpha and Omega All in All c. If thou John attribute any of these Titles to any thing that is in Man besides the very Person of Jesus Christ I charge thee with the highest Blasphemy imaginable p. 19. c. Whose Goings forth have been of Old from Everlasting which is certainly spoke as to Christ's Deity p. 27. c. Crook I find not the word Person but once mentioned in all that Epistle to the Galatians and that is Cap. 2. Vers 6. God accepteth no Man's Person which I hope he doth not apply to Christ so that it s no wonder if he abuses the words of others who is so bold and positive in charging the Apostle with that which is not to be found in all that Epistle to the Galatians befides its contrary to Scripture Dialect to say the Eternal Word the First-born of every Creature the Alpha and Omega the All in All was the very Person of Christ that was made a Person
dwelleth in me my witness is true and thus doth Darkness blind thee that thou canst not see the Oneness between the man Jesus and the Spirit of the Father that was in him Haworth He that worketh not but believeth there is Faith only a bare Belief John what sayest thou to that though that Faith that is justifying will work p. 29. c. Crook I say thou contradictest thy self William for thou sayest it is such a Faith as worketh not and yet sayest it will work Haworth My Surety paying such a some of Money for me at never such a Distance dischargeth me I have Benesit by it so soon as I hear of it and accept it the Sun is at a Distance in the Heavens but we have the Heat of it and feel it but indeed this Righteousness is not at a Distance from us but put upon us by the Father's Gift p. 34. c. Crook He dreams of an absolute Discharge from all Sins past present and to come by what Christ did and suffered 1600 Years since by that Righteousness that was wrought in Palestine at such a Distance from him c. as he speaks within a few Lines before yet makes the Benefit of all that Christ did and suffered to depend upon his Hearing of it and accepting it as if all was compleated there absolutely yet conditionally too viz. If heard and accepted c. and yet hearing the debt is paid by another at such a Distance saith W. H. dischargeth me where note he one while dates the Discharge of all Debts from Palestine 1600 Year since and another while from the time of his hearing and accepting of it besides it is uncertain whether by this hearing and accepting he intends only the believing of the Report without or the revealing of the Arm of the Lord within Isa 53.1 But to perfect the Contradiction of himself he implieth though it be at that Distance yet we are as really inwardly benefited by it as we are outwardly by the Light of the Sun that is at a Distance in the Heavens But saith he We have the Benefit of it and feel it c. But yet to manifest more plainly the Contradiction he saith Indeed this Righteousness is not at a Distance from us but put upon us by the Father's Gift citing Gal. 3.27 Ye have put on Christ c. So that he hath not only contradicted himself but also granted what I contend for viz. That Christ's Righteousness is not really reckoned and imputed to the Justification Acquitment and Discharge of such Persons as continue in Sin and Actual Rebellion against God by wicked Works and have no Feeling of it in their Hearts yet believe to be saved by a Righteousness wholely without them c. which Faith I affirm to be vain and but like a Body without a Spirit as the Apostle James speaks and in Confirmation hereof W. H. saith But indeed this Righteousness is not at a Distance from us then not wholely without us by his own Confession which was the very thing in express Words that I opposed and he endeavours to maintain that it was wholely without us yea saith W. H. Bare Faith without Works which Christ wrought in his own Personal Obedience and Suffering 1600 Years since c. and though this Righteousness was wrought in Palestine at such a Distance from me c. By this the judicious Reader may see his Contradiction and Confusion Haworth Christ was the Lamb of God but not the Light within p. 37. c. Crook In page 21 he saith The Church and People of God are the Heavenly Jerusalem and is not Christ there the Light within And page 35. he saith Christ works Sanctification in the Hearts of the sanctified c. and is not he there the Light-within what Confusion and Contradiction is this Haworth I am pleading that this Righteousness is imputed to Believers it is offered in the preaching of it to poor Sinners and if God gives Faith it will change their Hearts p. 38. c. Crook Now he hath resolved viz. When and to whom Christ's Righteousness is imputed the time is when God gives Faith the Persons are Believers so that he hath given away what he seemed to contend for p. 20. viz. We must be without or free from all manner of Good as Christ was without or free from all manner of Evil when we are justified by this imputed Righteousness and now he saith Till the Heart be changed Righteousness is not imputed But enough of this for I am weary of his Contradictions and Confusions Haworth While that which is contrary to God dwells in us yet being justified by Faith we have Peace with God Christ hath slain the Enmity c. p. 38. c. Crook If the Enmity be slain how comes that which is controry to God to dwell in us What slain and alive too The Apostle saith His Servants ye are whom ye obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Righteousness unto Life And Christ saith No man can serve two Masters Now this Phrase viz. That which is contrary to God to dwell in us is no where in Scripture applied to Believers that walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit but Christ is said to dwell in them and they in him for its one thing to have Motions to Evil As in my Flesh dwells no good thing and another thing to suffer them as an Inhabitant or that which is contrary to God to dwell in us I know not what degree of Insensibility thou art arrived at but for my part I believe Sin to be the great Troubler of Israel and what Peace while that Jezabel reigns examine thy self and possibly thou mayest sind this Saying true viz. There is no Peace to the Wicked saith my God Isa 20. Haworth Let me tell thee withal this none ever did or can shew forth Christ's Virtues in their Lives that were not first justified by imputed Righteousness p. 39. c. Crook Thi is quite contrary to the former Page which saith That this Righteousness is imputed to Believers it is offered in the preaching of it to poor sinners and if God gives Faith it will change their Hearts c. So that till the Heart be changed Righteousness is not imputed now he saith None can be changed or shew forth Christ's Virtues in their Lives that were not first justified by imputed Righteousness how these can hang together let the Reader judge one while Righteousness is imputed while that which is contrary to God dwelleth in us and another while it is offered but not imputed to Sinners till the Heart be first changed But I hope W. H. henceforth will never charge the Quakers or any others that shew forth Christ's Virtues in their Lives with denying Justification by Imputed Righteousness seeing all such Holy Lives by his own Acknowledgment are first justified by it c. But to perfect his Confusion and Contradiction he saith but six Lines before viz. As if Christ
might not work Virtues in our hearts which we express in our Lives and yet these be but our own Righteousness yet he here saith none ever did or can shew forth Christ's Virtues in their Lives that were not first justified by imputed Righteousness Haworth The Spirit gives Wisdom in this Doctrine of Imputed Righteousness and hereupon comes Life and Peace Rom. 5. so that Life and Peace ariseth not by looking to this Wisdom and spirituallity for that is imperfect c. p. 40. c. Crook So then that which Christ works as thou speakst elsewhere and the Spirit gives is in thy Account imperfect whenas the Scripture saith Every Gift of God is perfect Haworth We are treating of Righteousness imputed to them that have Faith now can any have Faith and have the Gifts of the Spirit taken away c May not the Gifts and Virtues of the Spirit remain in us and we thereby be sanctified and yet not justified by that Righteousness within but by that without us which is the Cause of Sanctification p. 40. Crook Page 35. he acknowledgeth Christ to be the Author of all Righteousness and I shewed under Title Rejoynder how that himself proves the outward and inward Righteousness to be one before he said We must be as free from all good when this Righteousness is imputed as Christ was from all evil and now he saith we must have Faith and the Gifts and Virtues of the Spirit remain in us and we thereby be sanctified he saith it is imputed to them that are sanctified and yet affirms it is the Cause of Sanctification what is Faith the Gift of God and a part of Sanctification and must first be received before this Righteousness is imputed and yet calls it the Cause of Sanctification Why then dost thou not say in Plainness that this Righteousness is imputed and we justified thereby before Faith or Sanctification while in Sin and Rebellion against God Which is the thing thou believest but art afraid to tell the World so Haworth God himself is the Author of them viz. the Gifts and Virtues that the Spirit works in our Minds c. I cannot say that the Righteousness which the Spirit works in us is the same but different from the Righteousness that was personally wrought out by Christ c. Crook Is God himself and his Spirit the Author of our own Righteousness which the Scripture calls filthy Rags I deny that and that the Gifts and Virtues which God himself works in our Minds are in Scripture called ours as man's own Righteousness and it is Confusion in thee to call them so how come they now to be so different thou saidst before they were contradistinguished and are they now different being the same God and Spirit works them all as thy self confesseth and not the same in Nature or is different and distinguished all one with thee Haworth Now the Righteousness of Christ is not in our Minds at all but in his own Person c. p. 6. Crook False Doctrine and Confusion and quite contrary to what thou saidst p 34. viz. But indeed this Righteousness is not at a Distance from us but put upon us by the Father's Gift as Jacob's Mother put Esau 's Garment upon him c. and now it is not in our Minds at all but in Christ's own Person and yet affirmest in thy Book that Christ's Person is in Heaven afar off as the Tendency of thy Words are at the End of page 34. Is not this thy unhappy Attempt to be so unsuccesful in all thy Designs Haworth Paul calls them viz. The Gifts and Virtues Christ and the Spirit works in our Minds his own Rigteousness Phil. 3.5 Not having my own Righteousness which is of the Law p. 47. c. Crook Is there no Difference between the Gifts and Virtues which Christ and the Spirit works in our Minds and the Righteousness of the Law that Paul there speaks of let the Reader judge what a Preacher thou art But let us hear Augustine viz. lib. de Gratia libere arbitrio Quid est non habens meam justitiam quae ex lege est cum sua non esset lex ipsa sed Dei nisi suam dicit just itiam quamvis ex lege esset quia sua voluntate legem se posse putabat implere sine adjutorio gratiae quae est per fidem Christi i.e. What is it saith he not having my Righteousness which is of the Law whereas the Law was not his but God's but that he calls it his Righteousness although it was of the Law because he thought that by his own will he could fulfil the Law without the Help of Grace which is by the Faith of Christ Haworth Only they prepare the Soul for Blessedness viz. Purity of Heart Poverty of Spirit c. p 47. Crook Before he said We must be as much without or as free from all Good when Christ imputes his Righteousness to justifie us as Christ was without or free from all Evil and now there must be Poverty of Spirit and Purity of Heart c to prepare the Soul for Blessedness Oh Unhappy Man and Unstable Haworth Thou still concludes that there is no Possession of Christ's Righteousness that none have any Enjoyments that are veal c. p. 48. Crook I may well conclude so when in pag 26. thou fayest The Righteousness of Christ is not in our Minds at all but in his own Person in Heaven afar off Haworth Let me add this as an Antidote still that the reality of our inherent Righteousness will not make it perfect p. 48 c. Crook This he calls an Antidote as if he had given some Poyson before and yet he confesseth over and over That it s wrought by God himself by Christ and by the Spirit and is Reality in the abstract yet now it is not perfect and all the Fault is because it is so near us if it were but far enough off he would like it better as I suppose but I never that I remember read of any before that called the real Work of God himself of Christ and of the Spirit imperfect Is this thy Antidote I dare say the true-experienced Christian will never drink it down though thou sayest we may be comforted by it Haworth We ought not to trust to our Repentings Believings c. for they are imperfect p. 49. c. Crook Is there no more difference between trusting to our Repentings and trusting in our Repentings if I do not trust to it in some sense how can I be assured its right If he that hath true Faith must not trust to it viz. that it is true then he must be distrustful of it and so continue in Un belief What Confusion is this Is the Gift of God imperfect Why then doth the Apostle say Every good and perfect Gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights James 1.17 Haworth The Phrase in Isa 64.6 which thou in Scorn often