Cant. 5.16 this is our Beloved and this is our Friend O Daughters of Jerusalem 27. What mean you concerning the Seed and how many Seeds are there The Seed to whom the Promise is made is Christ Gal. 3.16 the Seed of the Woman which should bruise the Serpents head Isa 62.2 But there is an off-spring of God even the workmanship of his hands Deut. 28.2 which that Seed comes to redeem Isa 61.8.9 the lost Souls of poor fallen man which when that Redemption comes to be known is also called by its name that Redeems it for that was the Promise of God Eph. 3.15 and thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name even by the name of thy God Isa 65.9.15 which Moses said all the people of the earth shall see and this is that Seed with whom God makes an everlasting Covenant even the Seed which God hath blessed the Seed which God brings forth out of Jacob and out of Judah the Elect chosen people which shall inherit his holy Mountain 28. Is Immediate Inspiratition Revelation ceased or no No Eph. 1.17 It is that which Paul prayed for that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory might give unto the Saints the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation It is the Inspiration of the Almighty which gives us an understanding Job 32.8 who revealeth to us deep and secret things Dan. 2.21 And that Spirit in all Ages saith Solomon entering into holy Souls Wisd 7.27 makes them friends of God and Prophets Isa 29.11 And without this Inspiration the Scriptures and things of God cannot be known or understood 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12. for no man knows the things of God but the Spirit of God and he to whom the Spirit reveals them till when the Scriptures are but a Sealed Book Eph. 1.13 4.30 which neither the Unlearned nor Learned can read till the opening of the Seal which is the Spirit of Truth by which we also are Sealed to the day of Redemption 29. What is it to believe in the name of Christ and what is the effects of that Faith To believe in the name is to live Hab. 2.4 to live the life of Righteousness and Holyness Heb. 10.38 without which none can ever see the Lord now the true Faith is known by the effects thereof Rom. 1.17 for that gives victory over the world 1 John 5.4.5 3.3 and brings forth a lively hope which purifies the heart as God is pure 30. To whom is the Righteousness of Christ imputed Only to them which believe Act. 13.39 who walk not after the flesh Rom. 3.22.25 4.22.23.24 but after the Spirit who bear in their bodies dayly the dyings of the Lord Jesus Heb. 10.29 But he that walks after the Flesh fulfilling the Lusts of the same tramples underfoot the blood of the Covenant as an unworthy thing and makes the death of Christ to himself of none effect 31. What mean you by Sanctification and of Justification and how are they distinguished Sanctification is by the Spirit of God 1 Thes 2.13 and blood of Jesus our Lord and it is a making holy as it is written Rom. 15.16 thou shalt be an holy people to the Lord thy God Heb. 10.29 and he that is Sanctified comes to be justified for they are Concomitants in the work of Regeneration for the unsanctified or wicked man I will not justifie saith God Ex. 19.6 1 Pet. 2.9 Ex. 23.7 and they are chiefly distinguished in name as the cause and effect that Gods faithfulness might appear who will not acquit the guilty person 33. But Wherefore doth Paul say who Justifieth the ungodly The Speech is Tropical by a Metonymia of the subject Rom. 4.5 in which place the word ungodly is put for a Believer as the following words inculcate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Imputatur fidei ejus ad justitiam his Faith is counted to him for Righteousness So that he is called ungodly only in respect to what he once was before he believed and not what he is by Faith 34. Can the Creature be perfectly Sanctified seeing John saith 1 Joh. 1.8 If we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us It is falsely Translated for the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Subjunctive Mood governed by the Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 si and the Preterimperfecttense of the same Mood ar appears by the ninth verse where he saith If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and how can that be if at the same time we cannot say we haue no sin the version should be thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Si dixerimus quod peccatum non haberemus nos ipsos seducimus If we say we have had no sin we deceive our selves and it is so rendred by Beza non est nobis peccatum to which Tremelius agrees nos peccatum non habere and I think out of the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established 35. What think you of Good Works They are the fruits of the Spirit the effects of the true faith and although that man is not saved by Works but by Faith yet he cannot be saved without them Jam. 2.22 for it is as impossible that the true Faith should be where the effects of it are not as that God should deny himself 36. What hold you of Prayer and Thanksgiving They are only to be done by that Soul which comes to dwell in the Life of Jesus 1 Thes 1.1 and 5.17 18. Jam. 1.5 6 7. and to dye dayly to Sin for to such God opens himself and then they see and know what they want and what to ask for and asking in Faith are fully assured that they shall receive the same at the hand of the Lord The Prayers and Praises then are presented to God from the Soul by the Holy Spirit which makes them a Sacrifice of sweet Savour in his Nostrils and then the Creature comes to seee that the Sacrifices of the wicked are not only sin but an abomination to the Lord. Prov. 21.28 And thus receiving an answer from God the Soul returns him a sacrifice of thanksgiving which is acceptable in his sight It is dreadful to appear before God with poluted hands and a wicked heart 37. How are the holy Scriptures to be understood By the Spirit only that gave them forth to which they are a Testimony and stand as a witness against all the wickedness and evil ways of men and all unrighteousness 2 Pet. 1.20 2 Tim. 3.16 and every evil work which is acted against God and the appearance of his holy Spirit 38. Tell me what you think of the death of Christ It was the means by which God was pleased to redeem
his Soul and will not inform him of it unless the Person so misled be willing to be subservient to his way of doing it O no unless he will condescend to my way of doing of it he shall be damned he shall perish this is the Charity of the Adversary with whom we deal not only to root us off from the face of the Earth but to cut us off from heaven also if so be it lay in his power O! prodigious kindness surely it is as Elijah said he is a God cry aloud to him But if the Adversary cannot prove his affirmation then it will appear that his Charges are not only horrid Lyes of an immeasurable Latitude but also the Productions of Malice whose Center is Hell it self 10. He now comes to speak to my Paper but yet not one word of Answer to what I desired The chief matter which he says is that I use an uncivil Dialect with high Rants and boasting Rhodomontadoes insult over my Adversary and that I can Encounter him and all his abettors and that this my undertaking is in the name of that despised People called Quakers To which I Answer The speaking of truth is no uncivil Dialect to tell a Lyer he lyes are but the words of truth the same Spirit which taxes me with uncivil Language would without doubt have charged Paul with the same when he said to Elymas the Sorcerer O full of all subtilty and mischief thou Child of the Devil thou Enemy of all Righteousness c. It is not plain Language and Truth which makes a Dialect uncivil but the affirmation of Lyes and therefore the Adversary's Accusation is returned upon himself again he talks of high Rants and boasting Rodomontadoes but they are his own till he hath proved his Assertions the Adversary although in his altitudes sees not himself and yet pretends he sees all others he needs not say that that is the way of our resuting our Adversaries whilst his own way whether of refuting or proving is only by accusing and confidently affirming upon no greater credit than his own ipse dixit that his protestations are true He is the insulter who would force our belief without demonstration and make us subject our reason to what our sences only are able to evince a salcity He tells me that I say that I can Encounter him and all his abettors but leaves out the former of my words viz. through the assistance of the Divine Power by which it appears the Mans only intention is Slander and Infamy He says that I say I did it in the name of that despised People called Quakers and what then must a Man deny the truth because Slanderers and Lyers despise it Is iâ— not the duty of a Christian to embrace that which the World is not worthy to receive But I talk to Prejudice and Folly for should he be bray'd in a Morter I see little hopes of his learning to speak the truth or probabilities of his amendment 11. He says The former words were Reasons of Inducement to make him believe me to be a Quaker but upon Inquiry of Samuel Newton and others they did say that they did hear my Conversation was not answerable to my Profession and that they did disown me Since which I have spoken with Samuel Newton and he affirms that he neither heard nor spake any such words but says he is very much abused therein It is to be feared that it is his design to tax the Conversations of other men with Guilt to cover the Infamy of his own and by disparaging Language to wound the Reputation and Credit of those whom he has a particular design to abuse He says he had the same report of others also but what these others are he either may not or cannot tell however who or whatsoever they were having found already that he has belyed Samuel Newton I have as much ground to believe that his slanderous tongue has done the same by those too 12. This Accuser because that he understands that I am a Professor of Physick would fain Insinuate to the world that my particular and private interest not my love to the Truth was the only motive and induction of my appearing in the behalf thereof this day Certainly this man measures the honesty and actions of every man by his own he was resolved that if what he had said before would not disparage me enough this should if that he had not told a lye big enough he would strain a little more to tell a bigger as far as I can perceive it is the only Art in which his chief Excellencies lie The opposition of his belief concerning me and belying and slandering of my Reputation and Credit he thinks may pass for an answer to me an excelent way of encountring with irrefutable Arguments Who should believe or credit a man that is false to his own Principles who could blame with Cowardise and Temporising his Brethren Pitman and Shewwell and tell them in a Letter he wrote to them That they had quitted the cause of Righteousness and ways of Holiness complying with the Precepts of men because they had taken Oaths which is indeed contrary to the Principles of Christianity and yet he himself our present Accuser in about five days after to avoid suffering not only did the same but also justified his Apostacy as more fully may appear in Samuel Fishers Antidote against Swearing in Calce Libri 13. But why should the Accuser tax me in respect of the Interest of my Profession since had I designed Interest I could have espoused that which should have been very much a greater than this whose Appendices should have been accompanied with worldly Glory and Repute but contrarily meerly for the Truths sake I have chosen that wherein I can look to meet with only Contempt and Ignominy to be made the Scorn and Mock of the World and instead of gaining Interest and External Happiness can expect nothing but Persecution Contumely and Reproach Surely no man that has reason would judge but that if I had made my Interest my end but that I could have made a much better choice had the love of the World been my design I would have had my eye upon that which to the appearance of Reason might in some measure have answered my expectations and not upon a despicable People which the World tramples upon and make the off-scouring of all* things I have now done hoping I have said enough to that which I can never expect should be just to me since it has been so unjust to it self III. An Explication of our Principles by way of Question and Answer 1. WHat is the way of God The way of God is the way of Holiness and Truth the way of Salvation Isa 26.7 a way of Uprightness Joh. 14.6 that leads to an Eternal Life It is a plain and easie way not hard and difficult to be understood but a way in which the wayfaring man Isa
is there of Scriptures Ministers Teachers and the like Though the Spirit or Anointing be sufficiently able both to teach and reveal yet by reason of the darkness of mens minds John 14.26 and understandings being alienated from the life of God Eph. 4.18 through the Ignorance that is in them it was necessary to have the witness and directions both of the Scriptures Jer. 1.5 and Gods chosen Vessels some of which were sanctified in the womb for that purpose as Jeremiah to direct them to the knowledge of that Holy Spirit Isa 49.1.5 which shall lead them into all Truth And because the Spirit of Truth is the same in all and answers through every Vessel as face answers face in a glass 2 Pet. 1.12 therefore the Saints of old were not negligent to put us always in remembrance of these things though we know them and are established in this present Truth 12. What is the Office of the Spirit of Truth The Office of the Spirit of Truth is to Reprove to Teach and to Sanctifie Rom. 15.16 It Reproves of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment It teaches us the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ It Sanctifies in body soul and Spirit through Faith in his holy name 13. How does it Reprove It Reproves by witnessing in our Consciences against all our evil ways in thought word Ro. 1.32 Eph. 5.5 and deed testifying against and condemning the same showing that all such as do those things are worthy of death and can have no inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God 14. How does it teach It teaches us by the example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to deny our selves and take up the daily Cross that as he dyed and offered one Sacrifice once for all for sin even the sins of the whole world so we also every one in particular should dayly dye to sin that through a mortification of the deeds of the the flesh we might come to witness a holy life in all righteousness in Spirit a new Birth a new man a new life in which Christ only rules and dwells all which is only to be known through the sanctification of the whole intire being 15. How does this Spirit Sanctifie It Sanctifies through Faith in the name of the dear Son of God which faith brings forth a lively hope by which the heart is purified as God is pure and if this Purification be not witnessed the faith is very much to be questioned for the true faith being grounded upon Knowledge and that Knowledge upon the Revelations of the holy spirit must needs have a purging force for who is he that shall really believe from a present Knowledge of the same the wrath of God to be revealed against the man of sin and all manner of unrighteousness of men and shall come to know the terrors of the Lord who is able to cast into Eternal Flames and yet shall persist on in their Wickedness what Vigor what force has the true Faith in it what a strong cord is that which holds the Anchor of hope no less than the possession of an Eternal Inheritance an Everlasting life in an Immense Ocean of Joy and unspeakable satisfaction in the Lord in the presence and communion of his Saints and holy Angels 16. How does this Faith Operate in the Soul There are several ministrations and dispensations and yet by the same Spirit the ministration of Condemnation which is a gloriouswork is first to be known Mount Sina is the way that tends to Mount Sion there is a Wilderness between AEgypt Canaan the Thunders the Jugments the Terrors are first to be past through before the feet of that Messenger which brings the Message of the glad tydings of Peace can be known there is nothing but the death of the first life can satisfie the wrath Isa 52. 7. and that Life that Spirit that Power is that which makes the Attonement and makes the Soul lay hold thereof thus the new Birth comes to be known the holy Life to be witnessed and that to appear which can behold the Mercy-Seat with open face Till then the Cherubims which are in number two according to the two dispensations of the Law and Gospel which are beaten out of the Mercy Seat and Figure out the Condemnation of the said dispensations Rev. 11.5.6 do like the two Witnesses out of whose mouth Fire proceedeth and who have power to smite the Earth with Plagues still remain 17. This Christian Pattern seems to be very hard how far must we go before we can enter into the good Land The work of Condemnation is first to be gone through before an enterance into the good Land can be administred mean season with Moses as a Servant upon Mount Nebo mayest thou have a sight thereof behold the excellency and the goodness thereof have great knowledge and openings of the Divine Life and infinitely desire it yet have no admittance till the vail of flesh is put off till the low carnal mind which is for death is dead and buryed till nothing but the pure part remains till even the Perfection of Holyness comes to be known 18. How Is perfection to be expected in this Life Yes And if our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ speak truth without any difficulty Mat. 11.30 Take my yoak upon you for my yoak is easie and my burthen light the which is confirmed by the mouth of the beloved Desciple who saith his Commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5.3 and what are his Commandments Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect love one another which Love saith the Apostle Paul is the bond of perfection to which he often exhorts the Saints But let us a little consider this Perfection more narrowly In what do we offend daily doubtless you will answer in thought or word or deed he then that offends not in one of these three is a Perfect man but saist thou how can this be I answer thee The God whom we worship and adore is an Almighty God and through his Almighty Power is not only able to keep us from falling Jud. 24. but also faultless and shall we mistrust his Power shall we doubt his Almightiness No No. How shall we do then I 'le tell thee thou must watch the Command is given to all I say saith the Lord watch Thou saist thou canst not how then that is true of thy self thou canst not the Psalmist saith Except the Lord keep the City the Watchmen watch in vain Thou hast many enemies to contend withal thou art but newly got out of Aegypt how shalt thou venture to engage them the answer is short and ready stand still wait and thou shalt see the Salvation of God since thou canst do nothing that is good go not backward rather stand still that good Spirit that has brought thee one step onward of the way if but barely out of Aegypt he
will certainly fight thy Battles for thee in standing still is thy strength Isa 30.15 and in that thou shalt overcome Is one spot cleansed is one sin taken away if so what did do that the Spirit of the Lord did it so yes what then dost thou think it has lost its purging and cleansing quality now No it has not trust to it that which has begun will finish That which has power to cleanse one spot has power to cleanse more than one and by degrees to cleanse from many and at last from all what reason is there that that which has kept me from swearing should not also keep me from lying and if from lying why not from stealing and murthering and if from the greater sins why not from the less It has either power to preserve me or it has not if it has power it can keep me from all if it has not it can preserve me from none 19. There is a great deal of reason in all this but if you can make it a little plainer He that offends not in thought word or deed the same is a perfect man and this is attained by diligently keeping upon the watch with the Spirit of the Lord for that neither slumbers no sleeps but continually attends the motion of the enemy Sin has a conception before a bringing forth it is first conceived in thought in the mind before it is manifest in word or action and if it be cut off whilst in conception the evil consequences of its birth may be prevented and this is done by carefully setting a watch before the thoughts of the heart that whatsoever evil thing the Devil may represent to the Soul it may not consent to nor embrace it so much as in the affections of the mind and by this means the soul is kept clean and clear from sin and the temptation is seen and avoided and the Enemy with his wiles put to flight and thus as conquest is once got over the Enemy the soul gets strength till at last it becomes more than conqueror through the strength of him which assists and as victory is gotten over one lust and another sin so joy springs up in the heart through the hopes of a perfect conquest and thus the hope which purifies as God is pure is seen and that faith which overcomes the world is known whereby in the end a compleat and perfect victory is witnessed thus is there a dayly growing from strength to strength and from glory to glory till the Creature becomes wholy cloathed with the white Raiment the Righteousness of God Thus a Watch being also before the lips of the mouth there can be no offending with the tongue for the vain idle needless or evil words are seen and so condemned by that which watches them and then the soul being free from them even in its secret affections they are cut off as it were before conception and the temptation is seen and avoided and the enemy put to flight Thus continually standing upon the watch Tower many victories will be obtained and thou wilt gather great strength and the Enemy will grow heartless and faint and every day wax weaker and weaker I astly let a watch be set upon all thy actions what art thou a doing with thy hands to what do's the paths of thy seet tend is the action good or evil what may be the end of it I say the watch being set the Lord will shew the what is good and will if thou art willing to follow him for he only accepts the free and willing heart save thee and deliver thee from every appearance of evil and bring thy feet out of the mire and out of the clay and establish thy footsteps upon Mount Sion the City of the Living God where thou shalt triumph over the Enemy and Adversary of thy soul over Sin Hell and Death and be kept faultless and spotless without danger of falling Thus at length shall the Kingdom of the Lord be exalted over all the Tempter cast out from the throne presence of God for ever Thus may you see the way of Perfection is short and easie to the man of God to him which has yielded up all to the service of his Maker who in resignation humility and Obedience continually waits to receive the daily bread and the fresh Springs of the Spirit of Life from the giver of every good and perfect gift 20. You make the way of Perfection to be a very short and easie way is there any or do many attain to it Thou oughtest to look inward into thine own particular what is it to thee whether any is now perfect or whether many do attain it the way of God is the way of God if none walk in it the Truth is the Truth though all men be lyers and walk contrary to it it behoves thee since thou hast a soul to save to take heed of thy self that thou maist walk worthy of this so high a calling to which thou art called and there is no doubt but in going on and pressing forwards thou maist at length attain to the mark and prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus forgetting as once that great and worthy Apostle Paul said those things which are behind Phil. 3.12 13 14. 21. What is no distinction to be made may all be saved that will The grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all the mercies of God are over all his works he would not the death of a sinner but rather that every man might be saved the which is known if he slight not nor over-passes the day of his Visitation if he do's he may then with Esau seek the blessing with tears and not obtain it 22. Has Man then free will and what and when is this day of Visitation that we may know it Man in his lost and fallen state has a will only free to evil so that not only all his Actions his words and his thoughts but his affections and desires are wholy evil and that continually and whatsoever he performs in this state and nature as his Prayers and Thanksgivings and Confessions and Worship are not only evil and sin but also an abomination to the Lord and since it is so what must man do now since he cannot think so much as that which is good he must wait till the day of Gods Visitation comes There is a time in which God visits the Sons of men Exod. 3.7 8. Psal 8.4 Luk. 19.42 Heb. 2.6 44. and beholds the afflictions of his people in Aegypt the Land of Darkness and Slavery a time in which he comes down to deliver them and to bring them up out of that Land unto a good Land and a larg unto a Land flowing with Milk and Honey Now that 's the time for man to look about him when the Lord begins to stir when his Holy Spirit begins to shew him the bondage and slavery of his sinful lost and