cause of Salvation but the effects And by what rule doth W. B. thus essay to correct the Scriptures which he counts his rule or thus detect the sayings of Chiist as being so improper as giving that to one thing which belongs to another in such a high concernment And has not he herein in effect accused the Scriptures and God with the same thing or as great offence as he has accused us withal as giving that to one thing which belongs to another as our attributing Salvation and Justification to God or Christ as the Eternal Word which he would lay all upon the Off-spring of man or upon the Body of Christ that suffered death upon the Cross and sometimes upon the shedding the Blood out of it denying Christ as the Word and Son of God to be the Saviour contrary to plain Scriptures as before is shewn Bapt. Christs ascribing and attributing that to the God-head that properly refers to the manhood is a stumbling-stone to this poor people pag. 35. Answ. What is this but to charge Christ with improper Doctrine or impertinent speaking wherein W. B. makes himself wiser than Christ and a Corrector of Christ's sayings 'T is no marvel that he hath so much accused us feignedly calling us poor People when he hath done no less to Christ as one not consenting to the wholesom words or sayings of Christ but in effect denies them improper in the case mentioned and then makes that the cause of our stumbling both which are false and wherein we are either accused for saying That God saveth Justifieth or the Eternal Word Redeems Saves c. and that God was in Christ reconciling the World If our Adversary should say this is improper and that it 's an error to ascribe that to God the Eternal Word or to Christ as the Eternal Son of God that properly belongeth to his Manhood as the Son of Mary not as the Son of God c. Has not he accused Christ to the very same purpose with speaking improperly What can we expect from such a one but the like reproaches and contradictions of sinners that Christ Jesus the Captain of our Salvation underwent and yet this proud presumptuous Opposer of Truth will pretend the Scriptures or sayings of Christ to be his Rule but when they please him not hee 'l assay to correct them by his dark confused meanings and corrupt interpretations Who further adds to his corrupt Doctrine as followeth Bapt. But as he was God without being Man or the Root and not the Off-spring he could not save Man for God was the Offended and Man the Offender and it was impossible for the Offended to acquit and clear the Guilty and to discharge the Debt and to imbrace the Offender for no man out of Christ can see God's face and live Answ. Here it appears what he means by saving Man and clearing the Guilty onely a pacifying of God and an acquitting Man from the penalty as he imagines which as he sayes God could not do but something that was not God but the Off-spring of Man as he saith So by this he doth not mean Salvation to be a work wrought in man as a saving and delivering from sin or the offence within but a satisfaction made to God that he may imbrace the Offender and yet he must be in Christ that sees God's face What gross contradiction is this and what falshood blasphemy is it to say God could not save or that it was impossible for him to discharge the debt Where first observe that if Salvation consist in pacifying or satisfying God without any inward work wrought by him in man which were a gross error so to say this is all one to say God cannot please himself but some other must do it and this is to deny that God had infinite love good will and favour in himself as the real cause of his sending his Son into the World And then I ask Who is he that satisfies and appeaseth God dischargeth the Guilty and payes the Debt Bapt. It is the Man Christ Jesus Quest. Whence came he Answ. God gave him Quest. And what is this Man Christ Jesus who can satisfie pacifie an Infinite God Bapt. He is God-man born of a Virgin Rep. How then doth it hold that God could not save and how would this divide God and set him at a distance from himself if that which satisfies be of infinite worth then whence came all these distinctions tending to make a variableness in God whose love is infinite and whose wayes are wayes of Truth and Righteousness Or is it good Doctrine to say That God pacified God when he saw himself angry For sayes the Baptist It was God-man that did it Which is all one as to say God corrected himself and not Man while perfection and freedom from sin is denyed in this life by Baptists and others and then he was Mediator to himself and so a Mediator of One whereas a Mediator is not a Mediator of One but God is One Gal. 3.20 and the cause of his displeasure and of the Law and sentence of death being added was sin which Christ comes to destroy and to put an end to that the Creature may be in him in whom the Face of God is seen in whom there is no sin and in him God is well-pleased and thus we know a Mediator is not a Mediator of One but we have a Mediator betwixt God and Man even the Man Christ Jesus We have an Advocate with the Father Mark we have an Advocate and we have life through the Son of God we know that the Righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in every one that walks after the Spirit And so we can rejoyce in God our Saviour and testifie against all such antichristian spirits as deny his Power and say He could not save as God whereas his Divine Power worketh mightily in the true Believers unto their salvation for he hath wrought all our works in us and it is his Divine Power that giveth unto us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness 2 Pet. 1.2 And how is Redemption purchased by the Son of God if he doth not save as he is the Word seeing it 's confessed he most properly was the Son of God from the dayes of Eternity pag. 34. And how hath he wrought off man's disobedience by his suffering is it wrought off whilest man lives in it and denyes Perfection and Freedom from sin tearm of life and how then doth the Seed of the Woman bruise the Serpents head if the Serpent must have a place and sway in man by leading him into sin the dayes of mans life must not the Serpent's head be bruised within and the Seed be known within which bruiseth it and hath not he that is born of God the Seed in him and is not this Seed Spritual But what is the price so much talk'd on that both satisfies God and saves man Bapt. The sufferings and blood sheding of Christ had in it
this for it is a truth that he does not answer but scornfully sayes p. 5. viz. You may see the Quakers Christ is manifest to be in the World in the Heart in that sence they preach that he is come in the flesh but not that he was flesh or that the flesh taken in the Womb of the Virgin was Christ but that Christ was in that body or in the World Rep. 1. As to man's coming to walke with God we know it is by the Light of Christ within for if we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth 1 Joh. 1.6 therefore it is by walking in the Light that fellowship with God is attained to And as to Christ's coming in the flesh we do confess according to the Scriptures and even in that particular body prepared for him in the Womb of the Virgin which we do not find that you Baptists do clearly confess to whilst you oppose us for confessing his coming in the flesh or for not saying with you that the flesh and body Christ took upon him was Christ which is all one as to say that Christ took upon him Christ which were to make two Christs whereas every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but is the spirit of Antichrist 1 Joh. 4. It is not Jesus Christ come in Jesus Christ. Thus you make your selves ridiculous by carping at the Truth and cavalling against Christ's Light which the Quakers own And as to our laying the stress of Salvation upon our obedience to the Light within Answ. Christ is the Author of Salvation to as many as obey him who is the true Light that enlightens every man and in his Light he is to be followed and obeyed and therein we lay the stress of mans duty in obeying the Light of Christ within and his Salvation in the Light or Grace which appears to all men And as to Christ's coming in the Clouds of Heaven his coming W. B. represents as the lightening out of the East to the West that he is sure a man may see without turning his eye within himself he saith Answ. His coming will be terrible to you that deny his Light within yet we confess the coming of Christ is in the Clouds and is as the Lightning though he is yet clouded from many As the Cloud at his Assention received him out of their sight who stood gazing so all the gazers abroad from the Light within may read their figure even the Cloud But Steven when he was full of the Holy Ghost saw Heaven open and the Son of man on the right Hand of God This Holy Ghost was the ground of his so seeing the Son of Man surely he did not see God nor his right Hand with Carnal Eyes And Christ said There are those that stand by that shall not taste of death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom or the Kingdom of God come with Power Mat. 16.28 Mark 9.1 Neither Christ nor the Holy Men of God said as this Baptist doth That neither God Christ or the Spirit or any thing capable to save is to be found in any unregenerate man to which he may turn for Salvation How false and gross is this Is God to be confined or the holy One to be limited whose presence fills Heaven and Earth and who filleth all things And did not Christ direct to the Kingdom of Heaven within Luke 17. and to believe in the Light that they might be made the Children of the Light So that they had the Light before they were born of it and it shone in their hearts but and if not any unregenerate man hath any thing in him that 's saving by this not any of Gods Children till they were his Children had the Light in them How came they then to be convinced and begotten to God Where was the Light in the Order of Gods Work in the Soul before it was effected if not at work in them But to his own Contradiction p. 8. he confesses That the Law was accompanied with the Spirit in that regenerating Work Then it was in man And as to that Story and Accusation against Ja. Naylor we never understood that he professed himself to be Christ neither in his examination before the Magistrates nor before but that Christ was in him so that he in the Story is wronged therein which savours of meer malice and envy in this Baptist to render us odious and obnoxious in the sight of our Enemies howbeit wherein J. N's weakness was either in suffering or not reproving the madness of those that were with him in Prison therein we never justified him nor them but testified against them and when he became sensible of his loss it became matter of great trouble and sorrow to him and he openly judged himself and through repentance found mercy by all which the truth and uprightness of our way so much villified and struck at by this Baptist was justified and he found to be unjust in upbraiding us with that which we never owned and in that hath done as neither he nor his Brethren would be done by neither is it reasonable to judge and condemn Principles either from the defect or abuse of any persons professing them But to the matter before it 's confessed from Rom. 7. That the Commandment being brought home with Authority and accompanied with the Spirit and he seeing himself a dead man he was forced to fly from his legal Obedience to the Righteousness of Christ therefore the Spirit is alive because of Righteousness c. By all which 't is confessed 1. That it 's the Spirit of Christ manifested within makes the Law of force 2. Which brings a man to see himself and his own works 3. Brings him to Christs Righteousness for refuge And this Spirit is that which the Quakers direct to that people may begin in it and live in it to see the work of Regeneration and of Righteousness thereby wrought in them and this is that Spirit which reproves the World of sin even the unbelieving World for their unbelief in Christ So that here our Opposer to his own confutation hath confessed to the Quakers Christ as in scorn he often terms him as he without whom neither true Conviction nor Regeneration is wrought nor yet Christ's Righteousness received for a refuge but what he means by that Righteousness will further appear And now this Baptist having undertaken to shew what that Light is in every man that convinces of sin unto which the Quakers exhort men to turn by which he hath confessed a convincing Light in every man but saith It 's neither God Christ nor the Spirit His proof is Ephes. 2.11 12. touching the Gentiles being Aliens Strangers without God in the World c. Reply He was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not John 1.10 These being Aliens and
as much efficacy to save a soul from the first day he was promised if believed on as the same day he dyed Answ. Was not the object and foundation of Faith in being through all ages did not the Prophets believe and follow the Spirit of Christ in them 1 Pet. 1. from whence then was the efficacy to Salvation derived was it from spirit or from flesh surely it is the Spirit that quickens if so the efficacy was spiritual not natural or that which could not be lost But whereas so much mention is made of the blood shedding and so much efficacy and vertue seems to be derived from it I ask is it not a spiritual supernatural vertue power and efficacy that cleanseth saveth and justifieth if it be how then doth it proceed from the shedding of the Blood outwardly which shedding by the Souldiers Spear was a wicked mans act or from the essence of the Blood if it perished and be not in being as is confest And is it good doctrine to say that that Blood or Life which sanctifies and justifies true Believers in all ages is not in being When sanctification purging the conscience c. is a real work can it be done by a thing that is not And yet we know that Christ the one Offering the living Sacrifice and the Blood of the Covenant which cleanseth them that walk in the Light 1 Joh. 1.7 is still in being and was throughout ages and he is said to be a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and made his Grave with the Wicked and with the Rich in his Deaâ—h c. And that his sufferings did all testifie for God his love and good-will though being reconciled through his death we are saved by his life Rom. 5. which Life is hid from all them that deny his work within and the effect of his obedience to be inward and spiritual and plead that God imbraceth the offender denying perfection in this life which is the tendency of much of W. B. his doctrine Bapt. The Spirit could not in that capacity be a Saviour for that could not be killed nor hanged on a Tree but he that was a Saviour was so pag. 37. Answ. Herein he has shewn us that he would fain deny the Spirit to save but then he minces and mangles his work telling us the Spirit could not in that capacity be a Saviour that is as hanged on a tree Indeed we never affirmed that the Spirit is a Saviour in that capacity but as it lives quickens gives life to the Soul c. So however seing it 's granted that the Spirit in some capacity saves the Saviour is not divided Christ was not a Saviour without the Spirit though W. B. his words imply so much if the Salvation depended on his Body when killed which his Brother Ives said was but an empty trunk when the Spirit was out of it now it would be sad to say that an empty trunk was the Saviour of the world Bapt. He was that day born a Saviour but had the Light within been the Saviour or the Spirit or the Godhead then this had not been that day born Ans. Hereby hath he denyed the Spirit the Light within or the Godhead to be the Saviour and so hath gone about to make a separation between Christ the Spirit the Light and Godhead whence then came this Christ and by whose power was he a saviour had he any power but what was given him of the Father But a Saviour was born what was he born for but to bear witness to the truth and by whose power and spirit but by the Power and Spirit of the Father and what he did and wrought it was what God did by him and though that day was born in the City of David a Saviour was he a Saviour distinct from either Light within Spirit or Godhead what manner of Saviour was he then this is sad doctrine to exclude Spirit Light within and Godhead from being a Saviour surely flesh and darkness is not the Saviour but the holy thing spoken of which was of the Holy Ghost Bapt. But in his 4th reason pag. 37. It 's again confessed That Saviour that good old Simeon waited for and was revealed by the Spirit and that he had the promise of seeing was the Child brought to Jerusalem in Maryes arms and taken by him into his arms Answ. This proves against our opposer in the first place for 1st By the Spirit within good old Simeon waited and had the Saviour revealed therefore the Spirit is saving 2ly I ask Was this Child a natural birth without either Spirit Light within or Godhead or without any Spiritual birth seeing the Light within Spirit and Godhead is so much excluded and excepted from being a Saviour But would it be good doctrine to say that Mary and Simeon carried their Saviour in their arms but had not the Light nor Spirit within them to save them or that they carried God in their arms and had him not within them if that Child was God-man as he tearms him But Simeon did see further then the Baptists for he confessed Christ to be a Light to enlighten the Gentiles and the Salvation God had prepared before the face of all people which Light within they have endeavoured to darken as much as in them lyes Bapt. The Spirit desended on him like a Dove Mat. 3.16 but had the Spirit been the Christ what nonsence would it be to say the Spirit desended upon the Spirit Answ. The Spirit 's descention on him in that likeness was a testimony to John the more to confirm his belief of Christ and does not argue that Christ was with out the Spirit before or had it not in him who was the Son of God neither doth it argue that Christ the last Adam is not a quickning Spirit now in his spiritual appearance 1 Cor. 15.45 because that John saw the Holy Ghost desend on him like a Dove in the dayes of his flesh And as to Christ within both to Save and Rule for which we are accused we are not ashamed of him but do testifie to him within and his Government Power and Authority within and have not been ashamed of him before men in stormy dayes and tryals when many of the Chieftains of you Baptists were fain to hide and secure your selves for all your boasting of your God and Christ at a distance above the Clouds Stars and Firmament It 's no marvel in such tryals fear surprizeth you and that now you can carp and cavel and vilifie such as have been faithful in sufferings when you so much oppose the Light and Saviour within and shew your selves to be in the spirit of Antichrist as this W. B. hath apparantly done to the shame of you that owne him who also pag. 38. accuseth us for owning that Christ took flesh or a body but will not own that body to be Christ. Answ. Indeed if we should say that Christ took Christ it would not
be good sense but that a Body was prepared him and Christ came in the flesh and was put to death as concerning the flesh but quickned by the Spirit is Scripture-language Bapt. The Galatians did crucifie to themselves Christ afresh by looking back from Christ to be justified by their own merits Gal. 3. Answ. They did crucifie Christ by disobeying the Truth and turning from the Spirit or Light within wherein they once begun well wherefore it was said to them Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect in the flesh Gal. 3.1 3. so they that oppose the Light within and deny the Spirit within to save are but still in the flesh partaking of the same foolishness and therefore there must be a travel known before Christ be formed in them And whereas we are accused with denying that Blood let out to be any way meritorious to Salvation p. 37. I ask Whether any thing is of eternal merit and worth that is not everlasting and where do the Scriptures use those expressions and so much vary about the Blood of Christ as one while to say that the shedding that Blood outwardly was the meritorious Cause of Salvation another while the word shedding to be left out and the stress laid only upon that Blood it self which the Souldier shed or let out of his side with a spear which was after he was put to death Joh. 19.33 34. But then of what effect were the drops of Blood that fell from him in his Agony Another while it is the Body that was crucified and not the Spirit within that saveth for the Spirit Light and Word within is denyed to be the Saviour by this our Adversary who does not know how to state his own Faith and Principles who in page 39 accuseth us with gross mistake meer fables and vain titulations for saying that the Blood that sprinkles the conscience cleanseth from sin sanctifieth c. is the Life or is of the Spirit and that it is the Blood of the Covenant c. Answ. Here is no mistake nor fables proved against us for the Spirit the Water and the Blood agree in one and by walking in the Light is the Blood of Christ known to cleanse from all sin Now the Blood that sprinkles the conscience clenseth c. is as truly spiritual as the Water is which Christ giveth and by which he washeth his Church through the Word for we are not to suppose two kinds of Saviours and Sanctifiers that is both a natural which is not in being as is said of the blood that was shed and the Spirit which still liveth And though Christ that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gates Heb. 13. I hope it will not be denyed but this work of Sanctification is wrought and fulfilled within by the Spirit and that sprinkling and purging the conscience is inward and then where the Blood is said to do it that must needs be spiritual for surely the Blood shed outwardly must needs have a spiritual signification as well as the Water and the Cross had and the Apostle attributes washing or sanctifying to Water as well as Blood Again it is confessed pa. 35. that God by his own Blood purchased to himself a Church Act. 20.28 Now the Blood of God or that Blood that relates to God must needs be spiritual he being a Spirit and the Covenant of God is inward and spiritual and so is the Blood of it But our opposer confesseth he is as ignorant of any such Blood as may be pag. 42. And indeed so is he like to be whilst he sets himself to contend against the very Mystery of God and against plain Scripture telling us that God hath not Blood pag. 35. contrary to Act. 20.28 Zech. 9.11 And now to his 40. pag. I query 1. Whether Christ abolishing and destroying the powers of Satan and bringing in everlasting Righteousness as is said be not a work to be fulfilled within where Satan has ruled 2. Whether man be discharged of his debt whilst he lives in disobedience to the Light or Spirit of Christ within 3. Whether Christ's obedience on the Cross will exempt man from his obedience to Christ or doth acquit him in the sight of God without having the Righteousness of the Law fulfilled within him 4. Whether God be satisfied that the many offences should remain and yet take the one Offering for a full discharge from the Penalty If you say he is then 1. Whether any mans Offences can deprive him of his discharge 2. Or whether it is but only a selected and chosen number that the Debt is payed for and Salvation merited 3. And then how did Christ die for all But if the benefit accrue to man only upon condition of believing 4. Then how is mans obedience excluded as not any cause of Sanctification Justification or Salvation but an effect only And then can there be any true believing without obedience And further I find contradictions about the same matter pag. 40. for one while the stress is laid upon Christ the one Offering which is still in being and his Flesh and Blood pertaken of eat and drunk of by the true Believers another while upon the Blood that was shed Touching which the Baptist saith Though that blood shed be not in being yet the efficacy of that blood is still in being Rep. What efficacy is it Natural or Spiritual If Natural then how is the Blood lost or not in being and then where is the Spirits work If the Virtue be Spiritual that saves and sanctifies c. it never dies nor perisheth neither was it derived from that which is not in being nor was any corruptible thing its original Again If the Blood shed cry afresh and sound in God's ears for mercy for sinners as he saith How is God fully satisfied and mans Debt discharged or his disobedience wrought off as before Is Mercy still to cry afresh for where Wrath is appeased and satisfaction made as is supposed This is strange confusion And can that which is of such infinite worth as to purchase man's eternal Salvation be corrupted or lost so as not to be in being As absurdly he brings a Comparison of a purchase among men and that which bought the purchase being lost or given away As if God should set such a small value of that which purchaseth man to himself Oh! gross ignorance and error And yet it 's confessed That Christ is the Purchaser and sinners or salvation the Purchase and the price his life pag. 40. Whereas before pag. 39. he has contended against that of the Blood that sanctifieth being the Life of Christ but now the price is his Life and is not that price which purchaseth and redeems sinners that precious Blood of the Lamb which is not corruptible no more than his flesh was But if W. B. intends that the blood outwardly shed by wicked hands was the price and life of Christ
THE Light and Life OF Christ within AND The Extent and Efficacy thereof DEMONSTRATED AND The Quakers Principles Justified by the Scriptures of Truth the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles from the false and Blasphemous Constructions put upon them by WILLIAM BURNET in his Book stiled The Capital Principles of the people called Quakers Herein the rest of the Baptists that own him may see His Antichristian spirit and doctrines detected By a Servant of Christ G. WHITEHEAD His Doctrinal and self contradictions compared By a Servant of Christ G. WHITEHEAD His Ignorance and Errours discovered By a Servant of Christ G. WHITEHEAD His Envy and Feign edness reproved By a Servant of Christ G. WHITEHEAD Professing themselves to be wise they became fools Rom. 1.22 London Printed in the Year 1668. The PREFACE I Should very willingly have forborn to appear thus publick in such Controversies at this time if the Truth might have been otherwise cleared for I have a life in peace more than in contests and a tender respect to the more Conscientious of all sorts professing Religion that have a tenderness and sincerity in them but I am necessitated thus to appear because of the hardness and perversness of some Baptists and their publick reproaching and scandalizing the Truth professed by us called Quakers both in words preaching and print and their clamouring up and down the Countries against us both in Buckinghamshire Surrey Sussex and other parts in which thing Matthew Caffin their great Agent and Contender and W. Burnet of Chertsey are chiefly concerned against us whereby they have to their power supplied the Persecuters place now in this little time of liberty like persons implacable envying our liberty and prosperity William Burnets personal reflections in his Book against some amongst us which he has gathered from Reports as the former persecuting Priests were wont to do I could more easily have passed by than his wronging perverting opposing the truth of our Principles though several of his Reflections are false and slanderous for that any particular fall or failings of persons cannot rationally be alleaged to destroy principles fallen from But considering the divisions that are amongst Baptists even the Leaders as to their Principles it might have been some stop to W. B. his outrage in this matter and they should have agreed among themselves before they had thus appeared against us some being for a particular Election of persons and both denying saving Grace to be free to all and Christ's dying for all Others being for Christ's death for all and General Redemption and some pleading for Free-will Several of their Teachers and some Hearers are for and observe the Seventh-day-Sabbath imposed on the Jews and have preached writ and printed for the imposing of it on Christians many others of them are against it And why doth not our Opposer plead for his Water-Baptism and Seventh-day-Sabbath here against us but therein he would not be popular enough Many affirm Christ to have done and compleated all for Man on the Cross without But some that the Offering was not compleated nor the Type under the Law fully Answered till he was entered into Heaven or the Holy-Place Many of them are for paying Priests Tythes rather than suffer others have writ against it as Antichristian and yet few stand out of it Some of their Teachers have contended and printed for taking the Oath several gratifying the Persecuters and swearing themselves out of Prison by which others have suffered the more which hath been a grief to some who were more Consciencious many of them running into holes and corners not daring to meet publickly if but a little storm break forth And has not W. B. heard how Thomas Tillam their great Seventh-day-Sabbath man and his fellow-prisoner deceitfully made escape out of Ipswich Prison which was no small blot upon them And have not some of them gotten into the Priests places Pulpits preached for Hire Tythes c. as Tombs and others when permitted As also two of their eminent Leaders viz. Robert Everard and Jo. Attaway of Brantree in Essex turned Papists and become great Contenders for the Church of Rome These things I mention as having been most obvious and publick besides gross corruptions both as to principle and practice might be further manifest against some of their Chieftains which at present I shall forbear to mention here And now though this W. B hath shewed his envious and persecuting spirit which hath put forth its sting against us We do in the Elect Seed tread upon its head and are not pierced thereby And that spirit shall be crushed and the Elect shall reign over it in the power of Christ and I have as much satisfaction in appearing against the persecuting spirit in W. B. as against it in other open Opposers and Persecutors For what could we reasonably expect from him and such as he is if they had power but they would be as great Persecutors as any that we have suffered under whilst they shew such enmity and implacableness at this time a day against us And whereas W.B. in his Epistle sayes he shall leave it the Cause is God's and whatever reproach he undergoes therein he hopes he shal quietly bear c. By which he seems as if he would be quiet now when he has done his worst against us But 't is probable he would have had more quietness and peace if he had never appeared thus against the Upright as he hath done in his confused Book Now Reader take a view of some of his Doctrines and apparent Contradictions hereafter whereby he hath given a deadly blow to his own Cause which is proved none of God's VV. Burnet his Contradictions HEre are several of William Burnets Contradictions collected in his own words out of his Book and compared as followeth W.B. in pag. 3. of his Book saith Paul preached a Christ made of a woman and not a Christ in them that God will redeem the world by But in contradiction he saith I do not deny that the fruits and effects of our Justification doth shew it self both within and without Pag. 4. Paul's knowledge of sin came by the Law and not by the Light within Contradiction The Grace of God received and the Love of Christ revealed in the work of Regeneration doth principle the heart with an enmity to sin and the Grace received in the work of Reconciliation begets a hatred to it so that it is from the principle within Pag. 5. I would not give any one ground of jealousie that I should judge that our obedience is any cause either of our Justification or Sanctification And p. 10. The spirit in man and obedience to that spirit is not the cause of mans union with God But in contradiction pag. 35. We are sealed by an obedience to the Gospel And Pag. 8. The Spirit is alive because of Righteousness Paul's knowledge of sin came by the Law not the Light within Contradiction P. 8. That Light is
in every man that doth convince of sin the Commandment being accompanied with the Spirit P. 9. There is a time when every man while unregenerated the best of Saints were in darkness to what then shall such turn within for Light that have there nothing but darkness without any light in them They have no light in them they have none in them c. But in positive Contradiction P. 8. I shall shew what that Light is in every man that doth convince of sin P. 16. That Light is in every man that doth convince and reprove him for sin or that a wicked man upon sins committing receives checks from the Law written in the heart in creation is the principal ground of Conscience-conviction Man being made every way capable of doing the will of his Maker having the Counsel or Law of God in his heart he did not wholly lose his creation-light for there was still a knowledge left in man of God P. 16 17 18 19. That Light in every man is the Light of Nature is Conscience is an uncertain Guide How sad will it be for that soul that gives up himself to follow it But in plain contradiction P. 10 16 17. Christ as he was the Word with God so he was the Light of the World and lighteth every man that cometh into the world The Spirit that God hath placed in man is called the Candle of the Lord the Spirit of Understanding Every man by Nature having the Law placed in his heart to wit the Ten Commandments in the substance or body of them The very Heathen that never had the Gospel preached unto them do witness to this Truth P. 31. Oh how do these Hell-hatched Errors that have been fomented by Satan and twisted into the hearts of these poor and ever-to-be pittied creatures Contradiction P. 28. I do much wonder where that Word or Doctrine was coyned that they so often teach and exhort that is to turn to the Light within Observation That Doctrine then may be founded in Heaven for ought he knows P. 19 20 21. The Scripture's mans rule to walk by the Rule of the Gospel and compass to rule and stear by not by the Light within Contradiction The Spirit doth principle a Saint for his duty the Spirit doth principle and fit a man for his worke both in praying hearing and obedience And P. 21. the reception of the Spirit is the only means to put a man into a capacity for and give him right to obedience nothing gives a soul right to Gospel Ordinances but the gift of Christ to us and his being revealed in us by his Spirit P. 21. The Scriptures ought to be a rule and weapon to be made use of at all times in defence against Satan our dear Lord was filled with the Spirit yet he had an eye in all his obedience to the Scriptures Contradictions P. 22. the Letter it self as it is written with Ink on Paper is dead but the matter therein is Spiritual and Powerful when carried home by the Spirit to the heart P. 24. All the Prophets actions recorded are not all for our example P. 34. Christ as he was the Word which was God was not a Saviour but as he was to be the Offspring of man P. 35. as he was the Word as he was God he could not save man for God was the offended and it was impossible for the offended to acquit the guilty Contradictions P. 34. The Scripture giveth this Character of Christ that he should be called Immanuel Mat. 1.23 that is to say God with us and in Isa. 9.6 he is called the Mighty God Joh. 1.1 he is called the Word and in this sence is said to come down from Heaven for as he from the dayes of eternity was with the Father he most properly derived that title of being the Son of God Heb. 7.3 1 Joh. 3.8 P. 35. God hath designed that Redemption should be purchased by the Son of God Observe In that 1 Joh. 3.8 the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil And is not this to Salvation and Christ saith the Son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do and the Father that dwelleth in him he doth the works John 5.19 14.10 and that God is Saviour and none besides him see Isa. 43.11 45.4 Hos. 13.4 So what less is it than Blasphemy to say God could not save P. 35. God by his own Blood purchased to himself a Church Acts 20.28 But in contradiction to the Apostle herein VV. B. saith God hath neither blood nor suffered P. 35. Where it is said No man hath been in Heaven but the Son of man that came down from Heaven But in Contradiction to Christ W. Burnet saith Christ's ascribing that to the Godhead that properly refers to the Manhood is a stumbling-stone W. B. in his 39 th pag. saith This is a gross mistake to wit that the blood that cleanseth from sin is the life of Christ. Contradiction P. 40. Christ is the purchaser and the price his life P. 42. The bloodshed upon the Cross the Material Blood meritorious to Salvation sprinkles the Consciences sanctifieth us p. 38 39. Justifies p. 42. Redeems c. But in Contradiction P. 40. that Blood shed is not in being But he compares it to a price lost c. Observe here a twofold stress is laid upon that Blood 1. Merit to Salvation 2. Work to Sanctification And so he hath set it up above God for God could not save he saith and yet is not in being gross absurdity Whereas Sanctification being a real work inward that is certain in being which effects it P. 24. W. B. tells of looking to Jerusalem to Jesus Christ as he was there crucified or to that Blood that was there shed for Justification Contradiction p. 27 33. That Christ that restoreth mans loss is both to be sought and found in Heaven viz. above the Stars and Firmament But in Contradiction to both p. 21. The reception of the Spirit the only means The Gift of Christ to us and his being revealed in us by his Spirit Observ. Then Christ and his Life is nearer than either Jerusalem or above the Clouds though he ascended far above all Heavens W. B. his false Aspersions HEre follows some of W. Burnets Aspersions Falshoods and Slanders cast upon the Quakers which are rejected and returned to that envious spirit from whence they came As first in his Epistle which hath relation to his dark confused bundle which is void of both spirit life and light After he pretends great respect to many of us for our honest lives whose meanings he judges good yet he falsly saith they are ensnared by their Teachers whose hearts he saith Satan hath greatly deceived which is also false and incongruent And False it is that our Teachers study twenty shuffles rather than discover their Principles when closely beset False it is and a slander That there is none more
a Persecuter but as he received the Commandment within by the Spirit and Power of God or his Light within he saw sin exceeding sinful But further in flat contradiction to his opposing the Light within or the Quakers Christ as he scornfully stiles it he confesseth That the Grace of God received in the work of Regeneration and Reconciliation doth so principle the heart with an enmity to sin and begets an hatred to it and love to Righteousness 1 Thess. 1.5 6 7. so that it is from the Principle within together with the observation of the Rule without that the soul is made to gather Sanctity and Holiness he saith Answ. Then the Grace within which works such a good effect in the soul must needs be saving for that it removes the sin which is the cause of condemnation and works sanctity and holiness through which is acceptance with the Lord and why then is the Quakers Christ within so much despised and scorned in many places throughout his Book And as for the Word together with the Spirit cleansing and sanctifying The Word and Spirit are one and he that hath the Word of God abiding in him hath the Spirit of God in him and this with its blessed effects we certainly know and therefore cannot slight the Scriptures of Truth or Words of God therein which he calls the written Words because they proceeded from the Spirit And whereas he would not give any ground of jealousie that he should judge that the written word and spirit in any man as abstracted from Christ in the titest and most uniform obedience doth cleanse or that our obedience is any cause either of Justification or Sanctification Answ. If this our Opposer deems that the Spirit in any is abstracted from Christ and that any obey the Spirit without Christ It 's none of our belief for they are not divided and we know that there is no condemnation to them that walk after the Spirit for they are in Christ and have life in the Son of God 2. Whereas our obedience to the Spirit is denyed as being any cause either of our Justification or Sanctification This is a denying of the Apostles Doctrine and is repugnant to the spiritual-obedience which is both acceptable to God and through the Spirit and the obedience of the Spirit the true Believers mortified the deeds of the flesh and purified their souls Rom. 8.13 1 Pet. 1.22 Besides the obedience and works of the living Faith which is not a self-righteousness are attended with Justification and some cause thereof for was not Abraham justified by works when he offered up Isaac Jam. 2.21 And the Saints were sanctified and justified by the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 6.11 But then if our obedience in this case must be wholly excluded as not any cause either of Justification or Sanctification how comes the suffering and Blood of Christ so often to be tendred and applied upon believing Is believing no part of the creatures obedience What ignorance and contradiction is in this W. Burnet's Religion what sayes he to this see how he comes off in the following words Bapt. I do believe that our Justification comes in by no other way or means or name under Heaven but by Jesus Christ which is so far true But further he adds and that by shedding of that Blood and offering of that Sacrifice upon the Cross Heb. 9.22 1 Pet. 1.19 and that our Justification is the real cause of our Sanctification Answ. If so and that our obedience be not any cause thereof as before then are all men in a justified state for whom he died and he was offered and dyed for all as is confessed by this our Opposer and others of them from which state men's not obeying or disobeying can be no hindrance if their obedience contribute nothing to it or be no cause of either Justification or Sanctification so their believing or not believing can neither further nor hinder by this account But then if it should be denyed that all men are justified by the sufferings and blood of Christ without I ask Why are not all It 's answered readily Because all do not believe Then it 's because they do not obey But what if they do not if their obedience of the Spirit or Light within be no cause of their Sanctification or Justification are they not therefore justified but then whence is this power of believing and obedience derived if not from the Light and Spirit of Christ within but as to Justification being laid one while upon the name of Jesus another while upon the shedding of that Blood without another while by the Offering or Sacrifice upon the Cross What confusion is here and how is this man put to it to patch up his own principles Christ's name is Everlasting it is called The Word of God who by one Offering hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified Where doth the Scripture say that Justification is the real cause of Sanctification or that men are justified in an unsanctified or disobedient state and if some be justified in that state only by the Offering and Blood of Christ without as is supposed and not all that are in the same state does not this render God partial and unjust if he withhold that from men which is both merited and purchased for them as these our Opposers affirm whilst their obedience is so little set by or esteemed that it 's deemed no cause of either Justification or Sanctification But then as to the shedding of Christ's Blood without which so much stress is laid upon whose work was that but a wicked mans after he was put to death and where is that Blood is it in being yea or nay or did it sink into the ground and corrupt as some of you have confessed and in P. 40. that Blood that was shed is not in being saith W. B. How then does it cleanse sanctifie justifie redeem save c. as he would have us beleive whereas in that 1 Pet. 1. cited by this our opposer it s said we are not redeemed by corruptible things but by the precious Blood of Christ Therefore that Blood which redeems is in being and not corruptible no more then his Flesh that saw no corruption but bears record with the Spirit But this is a mystery vailed from all such carnal contenders as carnally look upon things according to the outward appearance and no further Nor can they in that state see thorow the Vail unto the heavenly things themselves nor unto the perfect Tabernacle which Jesus Christ is the High-Priest and Minister of And another Testimony upon which W. Burnet scoffs and carps against the Light within is Humph. Smiths viz. That there is no other rule or means or name by which a man shall ever come to walk with God but that which is manifest of God even the Light of the Son of God the Light of him who saith I am the Light c. But how does W. B. assay to confute
and quickened by a supernatural or Divine Principle of Light for Conscience defiled perverted corrupted seared for such there is in some will not manifest nor reprove sin for sin is manifest by the contrary as whatsoever makes manifest is Light 3. Those Gentiles Rom. 2.15 whose Conscience also bare witness it was to the work or effects of the Law written in their hearts that it did bear witness see vers 15 16. and that Law was Spiritual for they had it not in the Letter 4. This Baptist has confessed That there is a Principle or Spirit that God hath placed in man sometimes called the Candle of the Lord Prov. 20.27 sometimes called the Spirit of the Understanding Job 20. which contradicts his denying that the Spirit is in every man For 1. there is a Divine Light or Spirit which lighteth kindleth and quickeneth the Spirit of man which makes it capable of being the Candle of the Lord searching c. 2. There is a Spirit in man but the Inspiration of the Almighty giveth understandeth and upon whom doth not his Light arise But now he asks Upon what bottom doth Conscience stand or by what rule doth Conscience act And then answers Bapt. The Conscience doth act variously in the Heathen and such as have not read Scriptures nor had the true God and Christ preached to them Rep. But Conscience did not act contrary to the Law of God in them spoken of Rom. 2.15 neither doth it act variously when quickened so as to reprove evil as before how then does it act variously in the Heathen Bapt. Answ. p. 17 18. Many there be that worship Planets many there be amongst the Heathens and others that make great Conscience of adoring that which they do attribute the title of a God to If a man in Gods Worship never so much err if he be serious in it Conscience is quiet but if there be a faultering Conscience reflects Rep. This is in those things wherein they are deceived and captivated in their understandings and their minds corrupted from the true Light in them that men are become a Law to themselves in those things wherein they are deceived and misled which are as so many Vailes and Mists and Clouds cast over their understandings and so their Consciences are defiled though Conscience simply considered whilst mans mind is not brought under those Clouds Delusions and Sorceries it is simply that computure of knowledge and understanding that God has placed in the mind and spirit of man which is capable of the exercise and guidance of the Divine Light or Spirit and as it reproves sin as confessed before and bears witness to the Law of God within which is Light it doth not act variously as to prompt man in any thing that is sinful either in things relating to Man or Worship It do's not act nor lead in any idolatrous way or worship for that 's sinful which they that are led into it 's commonly by mens traditions that corrupt the simple that originally flow from the power of darkness and not by the Light within as many are by corrupt doctrines and traditions perverted drawn from the Light within and kept from looking to it and so in a dark ignorant state And this is the tendency of your Doctrine who are warring against the Light within as thou W. Burnet hast done one while telling us There is not any Light in those that are in the dark another while There is a convincing Light in every man which is one while Conscience that so convinceth and reproves another while it is The Light of Nature another while The Law written in the heart and then its Creation Light Another while it is The Candle of the Lord the Spirit of the Understanding Another while 't is the Substance or Body of the Ten Commandments pag. 16 17. Alas poor ignorant and scornful contender how pittifully art thou put to it and how art thou puzled and confounded surely the Law of God in the Heart and the body of the Ten Commandments in the Heathen does neither lead nor prompt any of them in their idolatrous wayes so that in those wayes they are perverted and turned from the Law of God within which Law is unalterable Bapt. The Law written in the Heart in Creation is the principal ground of Conscience-Conviction Rom. 2.14 15. God in the Creation did so principle the heart of man with Righteousness and Holiness and Justice with the knowledge of himself having the Counsel or Law of God in the Heart that though he lost himself by sin he did not wholly lose his Creation-Light there was still a knowledge left in man of God but not abilities to do good Answ. And surely this Counsel and Law of God in the Heart and this knowledge of God left in man is more then an erring Conscience or a deluded mind for though mans mind may err so cannot the Law and Knowledge of God left in him Thus you may see how this our opposer overthrows and confutes himself and his own cause and not us nor our Principle but rather confesses to it after he has rendered us and it as odious as he can Besides as the Law of God is the ground of Conscience-Conviction Conscience in that capacity will not allow a man in any evil and did not God leave abilities in man to do good how then did he by his Law in man require good to be done And how could he then condemn man for not obeying him if he hath not given him power to obey Does he require impossibilities and then condemn man for not answering his requirings No sure if he did it would render him a very hard Master and what less hath our Opposer done But what sayes he further to the matter what capacity is fallen man in as to light and knowledge within Bapt. Every man by Nature having the Law placed in his heart viz. the Substance of the Ten Commandments and so much light and understanding left in him as to know good and evil in some measure though they never had the Letter of the Law yet having the Substance of it God doth expect an acting accordingly Answ. If God doth expect an acting according to his Law which is in man viz. The substance of the Ten Commandments then he expects man should truly love him and for that end he gives ability or else he would not require it man is not condemned for that he has not afforded him or is not capable of for he gives to all men liberally Bapt. And then whereas W. B. speaks of the Body of this Law or Light in the Heathen that they have an understanding there is a God and that worship is due to him though this God they know not nor how or in what form to worship him for that is revealed by the Scripture he saith p. 17. Answ. Yet notwithstanding in contradiction to himself he hath confessed The Law of God and substance of the ten Commandements to
be in their hearts to which God expects obedience Surely that which teacheth men to love the Lord God with all their hearts and souls teacheth them the substance of true Worship and the Law of the Lord is pure converting the soul yet it 's probable many that have a sense of this Law of God within and his Worship may not be in the form of these Baptists nor come under their form of Water-Baptism which such a great stress they lay upon and yet be accepted of God and saved notwithstanding being baptized by the Spirit Bapt. There is that light and understanding still left in nature that there is a God that there is worship due to him but the Light in man leaves him short of what the true God is and what worship is due to him Answ. The Light that God hath given in man doth not only shew that there is a God and a Worship due but also leads him to know the true God and his Worship where it is obeyed as it did to those Gentiles spoken of in Rom. 1.19 20 21. when that which might be known of God was manifest in them which was the ground of their discerning the invisible things of God even his Eternal Power and Godhead from the visible Creation so as they were left without excuse when they turned from it and liked not to retain God in their knowledg viz. which disobedience and abuse caused their Reprobation and further Apostacy and Idolatry Rom. 1.27 28. surely it would be improper to say they liked not to retain God in their knowledge if they had a knowledge of God Bapt. How uncertain a rule or guide is the Light within or the checks of Conscience for a man to build his Hope or Faith upon Ans. Not uncertain to them that have tryed it and beleived in it as Christ exhorted The Spirit that God hath given is certain the Law of God in every man is certain the substance of the ten Commandments within as is confessed is certain Conscience when acted by the Light and Law of God within is not uncertain in it's checks against sin Bapt. For if that Light that is in man be darkness or vailed with gross erorrs and so the soul run into strange enormities how sad will it be for that soul that gives up himself to follow it this is the Quakers Principle not only to look for Salvation from it but to be led by it Answ. Surely this is a very sad conclusion against the Light within and very false for he hath confounded erring conscience light and darkness together as not making a difference here in the end of his work for first a Light that convinceth and reproves the wicked of sin is confessed to be in them 2ly A knowledge of God left in man 3ly The substance or body of the ten Commandments 4thly Consciences conviction which the Law of God in the heart is the ground of none of which can truly be deemed darkness though some put light for darkness and darkness for light as this our opposer hath done Also to tell of the light in man being darkness or vailed with gross errors are two different things for the Light being vailed in some doth not change it from being light in its own essence And now it wil not be sad for that soul that gives up himself to follow the Light within which convinces and reproves for sin and teaches truly to love the Lord God and to do righteously justly before all men which answers and fulfils the substance of the moral Law which is confessed to be within men even in the very heathen as in p. 17. So that the truth of our Principle touching the Light within is evidently verified and proved both from the Scriptures of truth as also from our adversaries own confession therefore the rest of our Principles which depend upon it must needs be true the Light of Christ within being the fundamental or most binding as W.B. has confest so the less need be said to his frivolous objections against us in other particulars howbeit some things may be observed touching several passages following Bapt. Those that have not the Spirit to lead them if the Scriptures be the Rule what Rule have they Answ. Without the guidance of the Spirit the right use and end of the Scriptures cannot be known they are as a Book sealed only by the Spirit truly opened as to their not having the Spirit to lead them that 's but a begging the Question and contradicts much of what he hath said before for how are any said not to have it but in that they walk not in its way nor follow its leadings but rebell against the Spirit grieve and vex the Holy Spirit such are not without it as to its conviction and reproofs though not having it as to the true sense and apprehension of it guidances life virtue and glory of its ministration they being in that which is sensual and devilish Bapt. God never designed the Spirit to be man's Rule but to be mans assistant and helper to walk and build by the rule the Scripture doth direct him to his duty pag. 19. Answ. And are not the directions of the Spirit according to the Scriptures did not God ever design the Spirit to lead into all Truth and if the Spirit doth principle a Soul for his duty as this our Opposer confesseth then the Spirit is sufficient to guide order and be a rule to him in his duty so that in denying the Spirits sufficiency he hath denyed Scripture which testifies of the Spirit which many may be led by that cannot read the Scriptures and to his confessing That every Believer is as a wise builder that hath his judgment and skil principled within By what is the true Believer so principled if not by the Spirit or Light of Truth within Is it not the Spirit that doth so principle a man for his work both in praying hearing and obedience yea it is confest in the same page that it is the Spirit and doth it follow that the Spirit of God is not a rule sufficient or that the Light within must be excluded from trying Doctrines because the Bereans did search the Scriptures to see whether these things were so whereas they received the Word with all readiness of mind which implies that in the main they were satisfied in that they received the Word with such readiness and they searched the Scriptures which if in any particular thing this may be said to imply a doubting on their parts their doubt cannot be any Argument to detract from the Spirits sufficiency both to inform satisfie and guide them into the Truth declared of in the Scriptures So that to say It was by the Scripture without and not by the Light within This shews great ignorance thus to exclude the Light whereas he should rather have said as his former words intimate That it was by the Spirit or Light within together with the Scriptures that
they were assisted holpen principled and directed But now it is the man of God who is led by the Spirit that knows the true use and profit of the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.16 where it is said All Scripture is given by inspiration which should be read All Scripture given by inspiration is being added Now he that receives Scripture by inspiration knows the right use and profit of it thereby all which shews the sufficiency of the Spirit or inspiration of the Almighty which both gave Scripture and understanding And as for his pretending to square his work by the Scriptures he would make people believe he were very exact in the Scriptures but we find the contrary both in his medly confusion and darkness brought forth against the Light within as also in several things hereafter as in his saying Paul when he reasoned with the unbelieving Jews about Christ was so far from turning them to the Light within that he proves his Doctrine wholly by the Scriptures without p. 20. Answ. If he were far from turning them to the Light within this would make him oppose his own Commission which was to turn men to the Light within which his proving his Doctrine by the Scripture is no reason against for he was a Minister of the Spirit and his Ministry tended to bring to the Spirit in reasoning out of the Scriptures he reasoned for Christ the Light and in proving Christs Suffering and Resurrection he witnessed unto the Power by which he was raised and the love and good will of God in sending his Son But this W. B. in contradiction to himself sayes That the Letter of it is written with Ink and Paper is dead but the matter contained is spiritual and powerful when carried home by the Spirit By which he hath here confessed to the Spirit or Light within without which the Letter is but dead Again it is objected That Daniel understood by Books that the captivity of Babylon was near at an end and not by the Light within Dan. 9. Answ. This was a particular case touching the number of the years of the desolation of Jerusalem and not a matter of Salvation though the knowledge thereof was given to Jeremiah by the Word of the Lord that came to him Jer. 25.12 And neither Jeremiah nor Daniel did thus exclude the Light within from their understandings as here it is slighted But W. B. does not tell us how God gave Daniel knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom and that Daniel had understanding in all Visions and Dreams Dan. 1.17 Nay in his thus slighting the Light within he hath shewed himself worse than the very Heathen who did confess that an excellent Spirit was in Daniel and that Light and Understanding and Wisdom like the wisdom of the Gods was found in him Dan. 4 8 9. 5.11 12 14. 6.3 And so however though they mentioned their Gods yet herein the excellency of the Spirit Light Understanding and Wisdom that was in Daniel they did confess to and highly esteem more than W.B. hath done Again in his 21 page touching the Reception of the Spirit acquitting a man from his obedience to the Scripture I ask who affirms that it doth herein he hath but beaten the Air for we affirm that the Spirit brings to the fulfilling of the Scriptures and doth not destroy the Truth contained in them but whereas he tells of the Scripture being a Rule and a Weapon to be made use of at all times against Satan of such as had the same Spirit in as great a measure as the Pen-men of the Scriptures and to prove it saith our dear Lord was fill'd with the Spirit above measure yet he had an eye in all his obedience to the Scriptures Answ. What then was the rule to those Pen-men of the Scriptures in this writing them What was the Rule before they writ them and their Weapon and Defence against Satan Was it not the Spirit the Sword of the Spirit the Shield of Faith the Armour of Light c. whereby they were defended And did our Lord eye the Scriptures for his Rule in his obedience that here he is made the proof who had the Spirit above measure Has not this our opposer both undervalued the Light the Guidance of the Spirit and Christ himself As if they could not square their work right without going out to the Scriptures whereas Christ ought to be preferred and in all things to have the preheminence as is confessed pag. 21. That the reception of the Spirit is the only means to put a man into a capacity for obedience and that there is nothing that gives a Soul right to Gospel Ordinances but the gift of Christ to us and his being revealed in us by his Spirit Thus far W. B. in confutation of himself and as one bafled and confounded in his work is made to confess to the Quakers Principle contrary to his own intention And what were these Gospel-Ordinances and Gods Commands that he sayes Paul preached and practised in all his life Did he practise Water-Baptism all his life time Or did he pretend Scripture or command for it when Christ sent him not to it Was the Scripture herein his Rule or the Spirit which he was a Minister of Or was the Scripture the Apostles Rule for denying and opposing Circumcision or the guidance of the Holy Ghost to which it seemed good and unto them that no such yoak should lie on the Disciples necks Acts 15. And now W. B. to prove his false accusation against us of falling under strong delusions so as to believe a lie he asks or else what makes them to appoint their silent meetings and to run several miles to them and sit hours together without speaking a word Answ. What proof is this of delusion or believing a lie when nothing is spoken but this telling that we appoint silent Meetings Herein is his mistake for we do not appoint any meetings intentionally to limit them to silence but singly to wait upon God either to learn of our High Priest Christ Jesus or to speak or exhort as he requires which was the practice of many of Gods People who knew a time of silence and a waiting in silence before they went forth to preach and did know the teaching of God within to direct them both in silence and in speaking Isa. 41.1 Jer. 8.14 Ezek. 3.15 16. Eccles. 2.7 Job 2.13 Luke 24.49 Acts 1.4 and this we are witnesses of who are come to know a subjection to the Power of God and may not run nor preach nor pray in mens will nor act in a voluntary and feigned humility like such will-worshippers as can put one another on to praying and preaching and say Brother will you pray Brother will you perform the Duty And Brother I pray do you pray you are more able and worthy than I c. Again we have born a testimony for God in our meeting together both when we have ministred and when we
as W. B. hath done pag. 24. Yet though we do oppose his imaginations and confusion concerning Christ neither his ascension into the Heavens and also far above all Heavens and Clouds nor yet his coming the second time without sin to Salvation do we in the least deny or oppose knowing in measure the effect of his appearance and coming to wit Salvation as they did of old that in Faith looked for his coming the second time without sin unto Salvation wherein their Faith and Hope and expectations were not made void but fulfilled and answered and as to that 1 Thes. 4.17 which W. B. brings to prove that Christ shall come in the latter end of the World from Heaven above the Clouds Now in vers 15. it 's said that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord. Now I ask if they did live and remain to a personal coming of Christ in the Clouds yea or nay or can it be reasonably thought to be a coming that is not yet that they lived and remained unto and further John in Rev. 1. said Behold he cometh with Clouds he also when he was in the Spirit saw him that was the first and the last and in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks he saw one like unto the Son of man whose eyes were as a flame of fire out of whose mouth went a sharp two-edged Sword whose Countenance was as the Sun shining in his strength who laid his right hand vpon John Now did John see him with carnal eyes or was this coming such as you expect outwardly Moreover Christ said the Son of man shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall reward every man according to his work Verily I say unto you there be some standing here which shall not tast of death till they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom Math. 16.27 28. Luke 9.26 27. Now what is that Glory of the Father in which his coming is is it visible to the carnal eye And when was that coming to be is it now to be looked for outwardly But farther we do acknowledge the several comings of Christ according to the Scriptures both that in the Flesh and that in the Spirit which is manifest in several degrees as there is a growing from Glory to Glory But three comings of Christ not only that in the flesh at Jerusalem and that in the Spirit but also another coming in the flesh yet to be expected we do not read of but a second coming without sin unto Salvation wch in the Apostles dayes was look'd for Again that the dead in Christ shall rise first we own to be an effect of Christs coming and know that there is a dying in Christ a being Baptized into his Death before a coming forth or rising in the likeness of his Resurrection and if we be dead with him we shall also live with him 2 Tim. 2.11 and Paul to the Colossians said For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God But now to know these states what 't is to dye with Christ to be conformable unto his Death and to partake of the Power of his Resurrection these things are hid from that eye and expectation which is carnal and only known to them that are come to the Mystery of Faith in a pure Conscience and to know that Power by which the Faith of the operation of God is known and the work and effects of it But at these things blind and ignorant contenders may carp and cavel till they be more blind and plunged in gross darkness and unbeleif Bapt. I would know where the Spirit in so many words is called the key Answ. It seems as if he would be very exact in keeping to the words of Scripture when he calls for a proof of that in so many words which he dare not deny the matter of and sayes it may be a good comparison so it appears he was presently checked and saith he would not be found to carp at any thing that may agree with sound Doctrin though he has carped at many things that are sound and now do's he not deserve to be tried by his own rule and ask'd where he proves that he is justified by the shedding of the Blood that was let out by the spear in so many words and where in so many words that Blood shed without the gats of Jerusalem is the means of Salvation as in Pag. 28. whereas if that be his Justifier and Saviour where is it 't is not in being pag. 40. so then his Saviour it appears is not to be found whereas the Blood of Christ which justifieth purgeth the Conscience cleanseth from all sin and wherein he washeth them that follow him is still in being cleansing and washing being a real act and spiritual work in every true Beleiver that walks in the Light whereby the Blood of Christ is known 1 John 1.7 Bapt. I do much wonder where that Word or Doctrine was coyned that they so often teach and exhort that is to turn to the Light within P. 28. Answ. Why art thou so positive against it then W. B. to oppose that thou knowest not whence it rose But this Light within has sufficiently manifested thy darkness and ignorance of Scriptures which so plainly witness to the Light within but thou confessest the Scriptures are a Mystery and if you are not careful to compare Scripture with Scripture you may soon miss and split your selves p. 30. Indeed thou hast egregiously missed and split thy self against the Light within and how then is the Scripture thy rule and how is it known it seems thou seest no farther then comparing the Scripture with Scripture like the hireling Priests that deny revelation and immediate teaching instead of having recourse to the Spirit that gave them forth and opens them it being the Key that opens the Mysteries of God as thou hast granted before P. 28. Again touching the Grace of God that hath appeared to all men Tit. 2.11 W. B. gives his meaning upon it in these words viz. The word all is often taken restrictively and may intend all that have heard it and such to whom it appears to be Grace Thus you may see how he can turn plain Scripture with his meanings to serve his own end as if he should say it appears to all to whom it does appear or where it s said Christ dyed for all and tasted death for every man he dyed but for all that he dyed for or for every man for whom he tasted Death What gross absurdity and nonsence is this he has put upon plain Scripture and how has he set himself and his meanings to be Judge over the Scriptures when at other times he would make us believe the Scripture is his best and most perfect rule but here denies the general extent of the Grace of God so plainly and frequently owned in Scripture without any such restriction or exception as