I also received How that Christ died for our sinns according to the Scriptures And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to Scripture and that he was seen of the brethren after his resurection c. The Word of the Gospel my friend is Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he rose again according to the Scriptures And that he is ascended from his Disciples to prepare a place for them according to the Scripture That he ever liveth to make intercession in his own person without as Mediator beâ—ween God and man according to the Scripture Heb. 7.25 That he wil come again in the Clouds with all his mighty Angels 1 Thes 4.16 17 and before him shal all Nations be gathered according to the scriptures Mat. 25.31.32 after which time his Saints shall be ever with him according to the Scriptures Again thou art offended in that I said Now the poor soule finding this to be so that it is convinced of sin all in haste if it be willing to professe through ignorance of the Gospel Here my words are corrupted claps in with the motions of it 's owne conscience wich doth command to abstain from this evill to practice that good Which words of mine thou corruptest and wrestest and layest down in another form as are to be seen in thy book p. 18. But now friend is not he ignorant of the Gospel which thinks his own conscience will lead him to eternall life by commanding to abstain from this evill and practise that good Surely if salvation coms by our conscience or by the convictions or commands thereof Christ Jesus died for nothing Gal. 2. last ver And whereas thou askest what and how doth the light of the Gospel work if not in the conscience I answer though the light of the Spirit of God and the Gospel be in the hearts of the Elect of God yet the Gospel light is hid and doth not shine so much as unto much lesse into the consciences of some of them that be lost 2 Cor. 4.3.4 that though the light of the Gospel doth shine and that gloriously too in the hearts of Gods Elect yet it doth not follow that the convictions of Conscience is the Gospel no nor the convictions of the law neither And again though every one of Gods Elect have the light of the glorious Gospel shining in them what argument is this to prove all men have the light of rhe Gospel shining in them No saith Christ I thank thee O Father rhat thou hast hid these things the things of the Gospel from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes And whereas thou sayest as I gather by thy words that I call conscienee the light of Christ I say if thou mean by these words the light of Christ the Spirit of Christ I do deny that every man hath it but if thou call conscience the light of Christ or the highest light that is in an unconverted man the light of Christ then I say that the highest light that is in a naturall or unconverted man which you call the light of Christ is not able by all its motions and convictions not yet by all the obedience that a man can yield to these convictions I say they are not able to deliver him from the wrath to come for deliverance from that is obteined by the blood of Jesus which was shed on the Cross without the gate of Jerusalem as I have often said Ephes 1.7 compared with Heb. 13.12 And not any light within a naturall man And whereas thou sayest that I sayd the Devill counterfeits the new birth by perswading to follow the light of the world I answer * bere is another of his false accusâ—tions of me thou hast most naughtily belied me The words that I said speaking of the Devil before are these Now he counterfeits the new birth said I by perswading them that it is wrought by following the light that they brought into the world with them as is clearly seen in my book page 76. Friend I wonder that you should so boldly profess your self to be led by the Spirit of Christ when you make it manifest that you are guided by the spirit of Satan Was not he a lyar and hast not thou been led by a lying spirit also in wresting of my words as thou hast done But I do freely declare again that Satan doth deceive those souls whom he perswads the new birth is wrought in by following the light they brought into the world with them for men as they come into the worid do not receive the Spirit for it is given the Elect afterwards neither have all men the Spirit And he that hath the new birth must have it by and through the Spirit as it is written except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven Therefore if men do not bring the Spirit into the world with them and if nothing without the Spirit or nothing but the Spirit will or can work the new birth in a man It must needs follow that they who think the new birth is wrought by that light or conscience which they brought into the world with them must needs be beguiled by Satan I do pass by many of thy raging expressions which I might justly charge with much unrighteousness but I know the time is but short and then whatsoever thou hast done in secret shall be laid open upon the house tops therefore I forbear them Again thou art offended because I said now Satan makes the soul believe he is its friend and that he is a Gospel Minister 2 Cor. 11.14 and if the soul will be led by what shall be made known to it from the light or conscience within it shall not need to fear but it shall do well page 76. of my book I said it then and I say it now and I know that he that doth think to be born again by following his conscience or any other light that is in an unregenerate man wil be deceived and shal one day know that there is a difference between conscience and Christ between the light of nature and the Spirit of God But you may say how can you prove that conscience is not of the same nature of the Spirit of Christ Answ They that are unbelieving even their conscience is defiled Titus 1.15 But so cannot be the Spirit of Christ 2. Conscience is not of the same nature with the Spirit of Christ for conscience may be hardened or seared with an hot iron as it is written 1 Tim 4.3 But so cannot the Spirit of Christ 3. Our consciences naturally are evil having saith the Scripture our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience Heb. 10.22 But so is not the Spirit of Christ But again whereas you said that I said they will not speak except the Spirit move them c. thou doest falsly speak of me
Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world by his blood on the Crosse who is now also at his Fathers right hand making intercession for all those that do come to the Father by him but they that are not for the truth will advance any thing but the truth And as for that which thou callest the second clause which is The Law sayest thou must be obeied I answer Christ Jesus hath done that in his own person and justified me thereby and for my part I will not labour now to fulfil the Law for justification least I should undervalue the merits of the man Christ Jesus and what he hath done without me and yet will I labour to fulfil if it were possible ten thousand Laws if there were so many and O! let it be out of love to my sweet Lord Jesus 2 Cor 5.14 for the love of Christ constrains me and thus much to thy 16 page In the next place Thou art offended with this because I say though Christ doth give a light to every one that coms into the world yet it doth not therefore follow that this conscience or light is the Spirit of Christ or the work of grace wrought in the heart of any beâ—iever This I shall pass also as having spoken to it already only mind thee of thy weakness in that thou shouldest mâ—ke this conscience that Christ hath given to every man to be the same with the Spirit of Christ And thou sayest further that the light that Christ hath lightened every one with is the same in narure with the Spirit of Christ O wonderful that a man should be so foolish and so much besides the truth as to compare that nature or conscience that is given to every man equall to the Spirit of Christ Nay thou sayest that it is one with it in nature Did'st thou not blush when thou laydest it down If thou did'st not thou mightest have done with shame enough As I said before because thy conscience will convince thee of sin therefore thou wilt call it Christ or as good as Christ What! because the Law will convince of sin therefore the Law must be called Christ What ignorance is this Nay nature it self that must have the preheminency even as high as Christ Jesus because it can tell a man that it is a shame for him to wear long hair Then thou askest me can there be a surer thing for the Creature to walk by than by the light of Christ which thou confessest every one hath that cometh into the world Answer Friend to the law and to the testimony sai h the Scriptures for they testify of Christ And if thou or any else shall leave the Scriptures to follow the convictions of their own conscience ye are not like to know Christ Jesus the Lord for they may be defiled And again it is through the promises laid down in the Scriptures that we may partake of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and not by our following of the law or conscience Gal. 3.1 2 3 4. But again where I say Heathens Turks Jews Atheists c. have that which doth convince of sin and yet are so far from having the Spirit of Christ in them that they delight to do iniquity and to serve their lust Upon this thou movest this Quaery Do they or I or any other serve sin and lust because Christ hath not given us light or because we hate this light Answ This I do really confefs that every Heathen Turk or Jew in this world hath a conscience within them that doth convince of sin for the Gentiles which have not the law that is not the law in tables of stone or written as we have these do by nature the things conteined in the law these having not the law are a law unto themselvs which shew the work of the law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing them witness c. And all men and women shall be left without excuse even by the convictions of their own consciences or the law But now that these things are the Spirit of Christ that I deny For conscience is but a creature a faculty of the soul of man which God hath made Neither is the law the Spirit of Châ—ist for the law is not of faith They that are of the works of the law are under the curse but they that have the Spirit of Christ they are the children of God and under grace and delivered from the curse as it is written Gal. 3. As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse But what is it to be of the works of the law or under the law Answ Why to seek to be justified by their obedience to the law Israel which followed after the law of righteousness Mark They that follow afâ—er righteousness do not attain to the law of righteousness if they seek it not by faith but as it were by the works of the law But Christ hath delivered uâ— from the curse of the law Rom. 9.30.31 being in our nature made a curse for us Gal. 3.10 11 12 13. But whereas thou sayest this conscience or law which you would fain have called the Spirit of Christ works in all men either to justifie or condemne I do plainly deny that either conscience or the law can justifie though they can condemne Mark the law is called the ministration of condemnation but not of life The Gospel is called the ministration of life but not of condemnation 2 Cor. 3.9 the law was given that sin might be discovered The Gospel was sent that sin might be taken away The law worketh wrath but the Gospel is a Gospel of peace Rom 10. The law makes nothing perfect Heb. 7.19 but Christ justifieth from all those things from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses Act. 13.39 And whereas thou askest me whether any thing doth convince of sin contrary to or besides the Spirit of Christ I answer there is conscience and the law yea and nature it self that doth convince of sin as before I have proved at large Yet neither is conscience the law or nature it self the Spirit of Christ no but are much inferiour to it as being things of no glory in respect of it And again that somthing doth convince of sin besides the Spirit of Christ it is evident for the law saith 2 Cor. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in it to do them But the Spirit convinceth men of their unbelief together with other sins Now mark the law also convinceth to work for life the Spirit convinceth to believe for life the law saith he that doth not fulfil me shal be damned The Spirit saith he that believeth in Christ shal be saved Now observe the terms of the law and of the Gospel are different one from another as to justification If men seek for life by the law then the law saith fulfil me perfectly
and again doest corrupt my words This is another of his false accusations of me for I said now they will not speak except their spirit move them I do not say the Spirit of Christ said I friend if you can be led to life by your own spirit if your own spirit will learn you the things of the Spirit of God and if you can speak them with and in your own spirit in that demonstration that they are spoken when they are spoken in the Spirit of Christ which all men have not then say that I speak false things but till that time hold your peace Thus I pass by thy 19. page leaving many of thy scolding terms to thy self The next thing thou sayest is that I did run but was not sent like unto my forefathers and therefore sayest thou I do not profit the people at all Another false accusation Answ Which accusation of thine I shall leave to be taken notice of by the people of God in the Countrey where I dwell who will testifie the contrary for me setting aside the carnall ministery with their retinue who are as mad against me as thy self But farther thou art somwhat distempered and discontented that I sayd Many sad and horrible doctrines are vented by you And you faid I named nothing Answ I need not thine own speech bewrayeth thee that thou art one of them that do such things and I need go no further then thy own mouth and doctrine But if it will be more satisfaction to tell you wherein they of your society do hold sad doctrine I shall First therefore your society do hold and affirm that that man which was hanged on the Crosse between two theevs called Jesus in his person is within you contrary to the Scripture Acts 1.11 Secondly you say that Christ is crucified within dead within risen and ascended within which also you have no word of Scripture to prove Thirdly your society affirm that the coming of the Spirit into the hearts of believers is Christ his second coming When the Scriptures do plainly hold forth that the coming of Christ in the Spirit was before his coming in the Flesh as in 1 Pet. 1.10 11. where the Apostle speaking of the Prophets inquiring into the great salvation which was afterwards to be accomplished saith Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when it testified before hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow Mark here is the Spirit of Christ in the Prophets long before the first coming of Christ ln the Flesh which was when he was born of Mary the Virgin The Spâ—rit of Christ saith he did testifie before hand the suffering of Christ to the Prophets which were before Christ came in the Flesh as the Scriptures hold forth plentifully But again you deny the second coming of that very man with that very body which was born of the Virgin Mary and say his second coming ls not his coming again personally but his coming in the Spirit onely and that is all you look for when the Scripture saith That same Jesus who appeared to his Disciples after his Passion Acts 1.3 shall so come even as they did see him depart from them into heaven which was a very man as well as very God And will come again a very man as well as very God at the end of world For it is that man namely he that was crucified whom God raised again that must be the judge of quick and dead Acts 10.39 40 41. seriously compared Again you say that every man hath the Spirit of Christ which is a sad doctrine because contrary to the Scripture Jude 19. And you say there is that in every man which is as good as the Spirit of Christ which is a blasphemous doctrine Besides many other things which they of your own spirit have most sadly spoken which I shall not mention being so commonly known to the Saints of the Lord before whom you have openly without fear at least in shew spoken Which will doubtless belaid open â—o your sorrow and great amazement at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ Then thou art offended because I said I wonder that the Lord doth not either cause the ground to open her mouth and swallow you up or else suffer the Devill to fetch you away to the astonishing of the whole world Certainly Coraâ—â— Dathan and Abiram did not so horribly transgress as you have done Yet his hand on them no question was as it were the astonishment of the world Therefore I may well wonder that you are not served so Onely this I consider it may be you have not yet filled up the measure of your wickednesse therefore is not the hand of God as yet upon you The next thing I take notice of is that thou findest fault with mine answer to this question But doth not the Scripture say that it is the Spirit of Christ that doth convince of sin Thou sayest it is a good question but I have confounded it in the answer and not answered plainly Wherefore I shall not at all stick at the pains to give the reader in brief some of the heads of the answer I then gave to it word for word or to the same purpose The answer was Yes the Spirit doth convince of sin but for the better understanding of this place I shall lay down this said I That there are two things spoken of in Scripture that do manifest or convince of sin First the law Rom. 3.20 For by the law is the knowledge of sin Secondly the Spirit of Christ doth also the same as it is written And when he is come he will convince the world of sin Joh. 16.7 8 9. Now say I somtimes the law it self by its own power doth manifest sin as in the case of Judas who was so far from having the Spirit of Christ that the Devill had very great possession of him Which things my adversary doth wrangle at yet dares not affirm the contrary only saith this he had the righteous law of God written in his heart which thing is not the Spirit of Christ The law is not of faith The law is not the comforter but rather a tormentor yet the Spirit of Christ is a comforter Again say I the Spirit of Christ doth take the law and doth effectually convince of sin c. Then I put forth another question saying But how should I know whether I am convinced by the law alone or whether the law be effectually set home by the Spirit To which I answer when the law doth convince by its own power it doth convince only of sins against the law as lying swearing stealing c. pronouncing an horrible curse against thee if thou fulfil it not and there leavs thee but gives thee no power to fulfil it compleatly and continually which thou must do if thou be saved thereby With which my adversary is much offended also
A VINDICATION OF THE BOOK CALLED Some Gospel-Truths Opened According to the Scriptures and the Opposition made against it by EDWARD BORROUGH a professed Quaker but proved an enemie to the Truth examined and confuted by the Word of GOD. AND ALSO The things that were then laid down and declared to the world by me are a second-time born witness to according to truth with the Answer of Edward Borrough to the Quaeries then laid down in my Book reproved And also a plain Answer to his Quaeries given in simplicitie of soul and is now also presented to the world or who else may read or hear them to the end if God will that Truth may be discovered thereby By John Bunyan Preacher of the Gospel of CHRIST I have found David a man after mine own heart saith God Act. 13.22 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised up to Israel a Saviour Jesus saith the Apostle ver 23. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him they took him down from the tree and laid him in a sepulchre But God raised him from the dead ver 29. 30. And we declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise which was made unto the fathers God hath fulfilled the same to us their children in that hee hath raised up Jesus again ver 32. 33. Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren that though this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins ver 38. And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses ver 39. LONDON Printed for Matthias Cowley Book-seller in Newport Anno Dom. 1657. READER WEe whose names are here under-written having through grace some blessed Faith and experience of the Truths declared in this Book and knowing them so to be having tried them by the Scriptures in the light of the Spirit thought it our duty to bear witnesse thereunto together with our Brother desiring the blessing of God may go along with these endeavours of his for the doing good to our Christian brethren or any other who may read it Farewell Yours in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ for which Faith we desire to contend Richard Spencly John Burton John Child TO THE READER SInce it hath pleased the Lord to work in my soul by his holy Spirit and hath translated me in some measure from darknesse to light I have seen and heard that such things have been done by those who did once pretend themselves to be the servants of Jesus Christ that it hath made me marvel Partly while I have beheld the vile conversation of some and also the seeming legal-holinesse of others together with their damnable doctrine which have notwithstanding their professions made shipwrack of the Faith both to themselves and their followers I having had some in-sight into such things as these was provoked to publish a small treatise touching the fundamentals of Religion supposing that God might adde his blessing thereto both for the establishing of some and the convincing of others which things I doubt not but they have been accomplished and will be still more and more But as it was in former daies so it is now That is some in all former ages have been on foot in the world ready to oppose the truth So it is now there are certain men newly start up in our daies called Quakers who have set themselves against the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ and do in very deed deny that salvation was then obteined by him when he did hang on the Crosse without Jerusalems gate Now these men do pretend that they do verily and truly professe the Lord Jesus Christ but when it comes to the trial and their principles be throughly weighed the best that they do is to take one truth and corrupt it that they may thereby fight more stoutly against another As for instance They will own that salvation was obtained by Christ this is truth that salvation was obtained by Christ but come close to the thing and you will finde that they corrupt the word and onely mean thus much That salvation is wrought out by Christ as he is within and by it though not warranted by the Scripture they will fight against the truth Namely that salvation was obteined for sinners by the man that did hang on the Crosse on mount Calvary between two thievs called Jesus Christ I say by what he did then for sinners in his own person or bodie which he took from the Virgin Mary according to the Word of God Secondly they will own the doctrine of Christ within This is truth that Christ is within his Saints But this doctrine they will take to fight against the doctrine of Christ without Ascended from his Disciples into heaven by whom salvation was obtained neither is there salvation in any other Act. 4.12 3. They will own the Resurrection of the Saints but their meaning is onely thus much That the Saints are raised from the state of nature to a state of grace and herewith they will sight against this truth Namely the resurrection of the bodies of Saints out of their graves into which they were laid some thousands some hundreds of Years before And if they do say they do own the Resurrection of the Saints out of their graves they do mean out of the grave of sin onely and nothing else These things I am an ear witnesse to 4. They will say they do own the second coming of Christ to judg the world but search them to the bottom and you will finde them onely to own him in his coming in Spirit within in opposition to the glorious coming of the Lord Jesus the son of Mary from heaven in the clouds with all his mighty Angels to raise the dead and bring them to judgment according to the Scripture And so for the the Intercession of Christ and the truthâ— of the Gospel they onely own them to be within in opposition to the glorious intercession and mediation of the man Christ Jesus in his own person without now in the presence of his Father between us and him pleading and making intercession for his children These things together with maâ—â— more I might mention but now I forbear knowing that none shaâ—â— be lost nor altogether carried away by them nor any Hereticks but the sons of perdition Now that they might the better make their doctrine take place in the hearers they endeavour to make a fair shew in the flesh that thereby they might now as did their fathers in time past compell and constraine them who are not hy the Lord 's right hand planted into the truth of Jesus to follow their covered errors as it is written Galath 6.12 For as many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh That is according to the workes of the Law do with good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16.18 And indeed it doth
clearly appeare that those that are carried away are such as are not able to discerne between fair speeches declared by hereticks and sound Doctrine declared by the simple-hearted servants of Jesus 2ly Now I shall lay down severall grounds not onely why errors are broached in the World but also why so many are carried away with them 1. One ground why so many errours do from time to time come into the world is because those that are not indeed of the planting of the Lord 's right hand might be rooted out Mat. 15.13 Now these are many times carried away by deceivable doctrines And truly in this our God hath both a care of his own glory and of his Churches welfare For fiâ—st should they not be swept away by some heresie or other there might be great dishonour brought to his name by their continuing among his people And secondly that he might take away such grievances as such may bring had they continued still in the society of his children 2. Another ground why the Lord doth suffer such errours to come into the World is because those that are Christians indeed might be approved and appear 1 Cor. 11.19 For there must be heresies among you that thâ—se that are approved may be made manifest Should not the Lord goe this way to worke sometimes there would be many that would make people beleeve that they are Christians and yet are not And again that he might make it appeâ—r that though there be heretickes yet he hath a people inabled by his Spirit to contradict and oppose them and plead to the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ and his glorious Gospell against them 3. Another ground why the Lord doth suffer yea even send delusions among the people is That those who were so idle and slothfull as not to seek after the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity might be taken away and violently possessed with errour and be made to run greedily after the same That they might smart the more for their neglect of the truth For alwaies those who were lazy in seeking after the truth when it was profered and afterward hasty after the Doctrine of Divels when that is declared to them shall be sure to have their latter behaviâ—ur to riâ—e up in judgment against them in that when the truth was profered to them they were Idle and did not receive it and yet when delusion did profer it selfe they were industrious and labouring Now mark that they all might be damned who beleeved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse because they received not the truth in the love of it that they might be saved And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they might beleeve a lye and be damned 2 Thes 2. ver 10 11 12. Now in the second place why so many are so easily carried away with errours in this day The grounds are these â—â—at follow 1. Because men count it enough to be professors of the truth without seeking to be possessors of the same Now because men are but onely professors of the truth not having it in their hearts in reality they are carryed away with an errour if it come in never so little power more then the truth they professe And this is the reason why so many are carried away with the errours that are broached in these daies because they have not indeed received the Lord Jesus by the Revelation of the Spirit and with power but by the relation of others only and so having no other witnesse to set them down withall but the history of the Word and the relation of others concerning the truthes conteyned therein though the knowledge of the truth this way shall abundantly aggravate their damnation yet they having not had the Spirit of the Lord to confirme these things effectually unto them they are carried away with delusions 2. Another reason why so many are carried away with delusions is those differences that are among the Children of God about smaller matters O friends how is the hand of the enemy strengthened by our carnality while one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollo many apoor soule is carried away with delusion And why so They are not satified that this is the truth because the Children are at disfference among themselves about some outward things And againe it makes those that are not so desperatly possessed with a spirit of delusion as are others but are meere morall men I say it makes them to say within themselves and one to another There are so many sects and judgments in the World that we cannot tell which way to take And therefore you that have the spirit pray that these things may cease least you blush for your folly at the appearing of Jesus our Lord. 3. The pride covetousnesse and impiety of hypocrites and carnall professors are great stumbling-blocks to the poore World And the cause why many at this day do drink down so greedily a deluding Doctrine and especially if it come with a garment of pretended holinesse But as for these they shall go to their place in their time with the curse of the Almighty pow ed out upon them for their casting of stumbling-blocks before the simple by their loose conversations if they do not hastily repent of their wickednesse and close in reality with our blessed Lord Jesus 4. Another reason why delusions do so easily take place in the hearts of the ignorant is because those that pretend to be their teachers do behave themselves so basely among them And indeed I may say of these as our Lord said of the Pharisees in an other case All the blood of the ignorant from the beginning of the World shall be laid to the charge of this generation They that pretend they are sent of the Lord and come saying Thus saith the Lord Wee are the servants of the Lord our commission is from the Lord by succession and the like I say these pretending themselves to be the preachers of truth but are not do by their loose conversation render the Doctrine of God and his Son Jesus Christ by whom the saints are saved contemptible and do give the adversary mighty encouragement to crie out against the truths of our Lord Jesus Christ because of their wicked walking Now shall not his soule be avenged on such a Nation as this who pretend to be teachers of the people in goodnesse when as for the most paâ—t of them they are the men that at this day do so harden their hearers in their sins by giving them even their hearers such ill examples that none goeth beyond them for impiety As for example Would a Parishioner learne to be proud hee or shee nâ—ed look no further then to the Priest his wife and family for there is a notable pattern before them Would the people learne to be wanton they may also see a patterne among their Teachers Would they learne to be Drunkards they may also have that from some
and thou shalt live The Spirit saith that Christ Jesus came into the world to save those that by transgession had broken the law For for this cause saith the Spirit he Jesus the son of Mary the man Christ between God and us 1 Tim. 2.5 is the Mediator of the New Testament For what That by means of death for the redemption of the trangressions that were under the first testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Heb. 9.15 Now I would not be mistaken I do not say that the Spirit of Christ doth give the least liberty to sin God forbid But it's convictions are of a more saving and refreshing nature than the convictions of the law and do more constrain the soul to holiness then that The Law saying Work for life the Spirit saying Now to him that worketh not for life but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4.5 as thus If I should owe to two Creditors ten thousand talents the one should say unto me thou owest me five thousand talents pay that thou owest the other shoul say thou owest me five thousand talents and I frankly and freely forgive thee all Now these expressions are contrary one to another Even so is the end of the convictions of the Law not according to the end of the convictions of the Spirit of Christ the one saying Pay me that thou owest the other saying Thou art frankly and freely forgiven all The next thing thou utterest is where I say Those that are alive unto sins have not the Spirit of Christ But sayest thou It is given to every man Mark thou saiest It is given to every man The Apostle saith Some are sensual having not the Spirit Jude 19. Who must we now believe the Apostle or you Certainly your doctrine is not according to truth but a lie as is clear in that you will affirme that which the Apostle doth deny Then thou saiest I bring other vain arguments to prove that every one hath not the Spirit of Christ This one is enough to prove it that the Apostle saith Some men have it not But that which thou callest vain I am sure neither thou nor any of thy fellows are able to answer One is to this purpose The Divels are so convinced of sin that they did fear the torment that was to come upon them for their sins and did fear also that the Son of man was come to torment them for their sins and yet the Divels have not the Spirit of Christ So that it is evident that we may be convinced of sin and yet not by the Spirit of Christ A second argument which thou callest vain is this Man in his coming into the world hath this Conscience given him which doth convince of sin Joh. 8.9 yet man in his coming into the world or as he cometh into the world hath not the Spirit of Christ given him for that must be received ordinarily afterward by the preaching of the Word which is preached by the Ministers and servants of Jesus Christ Act. 10.44 While Peter yet spake to the people the holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the Word But farther thou saiest Untill I prove the light of Christ contrary to the spirit of Christ thou wilt say that every man hath that which is one in union and like the spirit of Christ even as good as the spirit of Christ in its measure Answer Friend I have proved already that every man hath not the Spirit of Christ though they have that which thou doest call the Spirit of Christ which is conscience and nature it selfe And this I say again thâ—t thou hast laied open thy weakness very much to say that every man hath that which is as good as the Spirit of Christ Friend seeing the Scriptures say some have not the spirit of Christ how durst thou so blaspheme as to say then it is as good as the spirit of Christ in its measure Was there ever such a deale of ignorance discovered at one time by a man as to say that every man hath the Spirit or that which is as good as the Spirit though the Spirit saith plainly that some have not the Spirit as I have proved plainly Jude 19. Friend what is there besides the Spirit that is as good as the Spirit Be silent and say no more so least thou do through ignorance or presumption set up thy coscience or nature as high and as good as the Spirit of Christ when indeed they are not worthy to be compared with it being weak and not able to do that which is and hath ben done by the Spirit of Christ Then thou art offended because I said the Devill doth deceive poor souls by bidding them listen within and see if there be not that which doth convince of sin Friend All men have not the Spirit though they have that conscience that doth convince of sin John 8.9 Now seeing all men have not the spirit is it not a great deceit of the Devill to perswade poor soules that because they are convinced for sin by their owne consciences therefore they have the Spirit of Christ Surely it is from the devill First because he would make thee believe that Conscience which is but a creature is the Spirit of Christ by whome the world was made Again because the Soule being perswaded that it hath the spirit when it hath it not as all men naturally are without it Eph. 3.13 If it kept off from sâ—eking and begging for it being allready perswaded falsely that it hath it And whereas thou saist the voice of the Gospell is to bid listen within the heart as Paul preacheth I deny that Paul biddeth listen within But the Scripture that you would faine make shelter for your errour is this where he saith The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart That is the Word of Faith which wee preach Now friend Faith is that which layeth hold of or beleeveth the Gospel And that this is the meaning read the next verse That saith he If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved So that it is cleer that the Word of faith is to believe assuredly from the very heart that God hath raised up Jesus from the dead out of the grave into which he was laid by Joseph And that he was raised again for my justification Rom. 5 25. as it is written· 1. Cor. 15. Moreover Brethren saith he I declared unto you the Gospell which I preached unto you at the first which also you have received and wherein you stand by which also you are saved if you keep in memory or assuredly believe what I preached unto you unlesse you have believed in vain But what was that Gospel you preached Why saith he ver â— I delivered unto you first of all that which
things and doth expect that salvation should be obtained by something that worketh in them by working in them It is impossible that these though they may be touching the righteousnesse of the law blamelesse as Paul was while he was a persecutor Phil. 3. to be saved hereby Wherefore because they seek it not by the faith of Christ but as it were by the works of the law Rom. 9.30 31. And whereas you ask me what is that which worketh faith And where is it within or without I answer That which worketh saving faith is the holy Spirit of God which is renewed through the hearing of the Word preached by the Apostles or Ministers of Jesus Christ Now the Spirit when it doth work it entereth into the soul and as I said before doth enable the soul to believe and lay hold on the merits of the Son of Mary Jesus Christ For saith he when he is come he shall glorifie me for he shall take of mine and shew it unto you Joh. 16.14 3. Quaer Whether any be justified but he that is born of God And whether doth he that is born of God commit sin And is that within the Creature or without that worketh the new-birth Answ Justification may be taken two ways either in the fight of God or in the fight of the soul or creature My meaning is that all that are or shall be saved are justified in the sight and foreknowledge of God before the foundation of the world Ephes 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the World c. Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself And again Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Rom. 8.30 Mark all these things are spoken as being already done predestinated called justified glorified He doth not say they shall be but he hath done it that is in and according to the fore-ordination of God 2. Saints are said to be justified in their own sight or knowledge as when God doth make manifest to the soul what he had determined before should be done Be of good Cheer thy sins are forgiven thee This is justification in the sight of the creature And whereas you ask me do they that are born of God commit sin To this I answer They shall never commit the sin against the holy Ghost as is the meaning of that place 1 John 3.19 There is a sin unto death and there is a sin not unto death He that is born of God sinneth not but keepeth himself and that wicked one mark that wicked one the sin unto death toucheth him not But they that are born of God notwithstanding do daily sin as it is evident Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all saith he I and you all of us And again If we say we have no sin we deceive our selvs and instead of having no sin the truth is not in us 1 Joh. 1.8 And who can say my heart is clean Eccle. 7.20 There is none righteous no not one And again There is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not And I am confident that while some would perswade others that they have no sin their own consciences tell them they lye and if it be not so in the rest it is because they are hardened and given to believe a lie As to the latter part of your Quaery I answer The new birth is wrought through hearing of the Word preached And yet not by conscience nor by the obedience to the Law or dictates of nature but by the Spirit coming into the soul and shewing its lost condition without the obedience of the Son of Mary the Son of God and his freeness and willingness to communicate or give himself and all his things unto it which being done the man is thereupon given up to God and is become a new creature I might spend much time in speaking to this but I forbear because of it self it is enough to fill up a small volumne 4. Quaer If Christ hath lightened all men as he is God as thou confessest then hath hee not lightened all men as he is the Son of God and is not the light of God sufficient in it self to lead to God all that follow it yea or nay Answ Christ as he is God doth lighten every man that coms into the world which light is conscience or otherwise nature it self which doth also convince of sin Joh. 8.9 Yet Christ as he is God doth not give unto every man that Spirit that doth lead to eternall life for all men have it not Jude 19. Secondly Christ as he was and is the Son of God before the world was being one in power and being with his Father hath lightened every one that coms into the world as aforesaid but hath not so neither given them his Spirit Some are sensuall c. 3. Christ as God-man or as he came into the world to die for those whom before as God he knew and loved I say he doth not in this way neither lighten every man with the saving light of life or give unto them his holy Spirit No they that have been and now are beleevers do know and can remember that all the time of their unregenerate state they were without Christ Eph. 2.12 So that here is no way or room for your doctrine take it how you will Christ hath not given to every one his Spirit 2. part of the Quaer Is not the light of God sufficient in it self to lead to God all that follow it yea or nay Answ First as I said before some are sensuall and have not the Spirit of Christ Secondly no man can come to God as a Father by adoption but by Jesus Christ then it must needs be that all men though they do follow that light which is given to every man it is not able to lead to God as a Father in the Lord Jesus Christ Yet this light that every man hath will shew a man there is a God and that this God is eternall and also will cleer out somthing of him to them by the things that are made But now if this light would lead to everlasting life then might the Devills also be delivered from everlasting damnation seeing they also do know God as a Creator and revenger of sin more perfectly then any natural man in the world though not as a Father by adoption But you say doth it not lead to God all that follow it Answ Not to be saved though to be condemned through the weakness and unprofitableness of that light or conscience or the law call it either and I cleer it thus Because if that light that every man receives were able by our following it to save us then Christ needed not to have suffered seeing all men had that light 2. If that light that every man hath which is
conscience were able to lead a man to justification by following it that promise was made in vain by Jesus the son of Mary when he said I will send you mark I will send you the Spirit and he shall lead you into all truth for they had a light before But it is evident that that was not sufficient because they must have another sent them by Jesus Christ and that must be the Spirit 5. Quaer Whether is not the same light in him that hates it as it is in him that loves it Joh. 3. If there be a difference in the light shew it wherein whether in the natuâ—e or otherwise Answ First that Scripture quoted in Joh 3. Light is come into the world c. is not meant of that light or conscience that every man hath but the man Christ Jesus is speaking there of himself as God-man come into tâ—e world born of the Virgin if thou compare ver 19 20 21. with ver 14 15 16 17 18. of the same Chapter it is clear for they all do speak of the same thing namely the son of Mary And again saith he I am the light of the world Now the man Christ though he was then in the world and walked up and down in the same yet he was not within any man in the world as man though he calls himself the light thereof though he was in some I say in some as God by his Spirit Now the light which was the man Christ was the very same whether loved by some or hated by others but if you conclude every man hath Christ or that light spoken of there Joh. 3. within him That I deny having proved the contrary But secondly Whether is there a difference in the light Answ First there are more lights than one there is a light that may be suspected to be darknesse where he saith If the light that is in thee be darknesse c. Again there is the light of the Law Prov. 6.23 Again conscience also will convince of sin Now there is none of these that can save a sinner from the evil of his waies Take the best of them which is the righteous law of God that cannot For had there been a Law given which might have given life then verily righteousness had come by the Law But if you conclude that righteousnesse or everlasting life cometh by the Law you must conclude this again that Christ did die in vain Gal. 2.21 So then these things being not able to save the soul the next thing is the Son of God the son of righteousnesse arising with healing under his wings he is also a light and indeed the saving light far surpassing all the other mentioned Now though Christ doth not differ in himself yet there is a difference in the power of these lights the law Christ the one not being able to save the other being able And again there is also a difference in the nature of them the one being a condemning light the other a saving light It is Moses that accuseth you saith Christ even Moses in whom yee trust But do not think saith Christ that I will accuse you to the Father No saith he it is Moses or the Law given by him But again where Christ speaks for himself as a Saviour he saith God sent not his Son into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saved Joh. 3.17 so that I say First that light spoken of Joh. 3. which is the man Christ is not in every man that coms into the world Secondly that the man Christ or the light spoken of there is not against himself Thirdly there is the light of the Law conscience and nature it self which are in all men which things are altogether insufficient to save a man from death by his seeking of justification thereby Again there is Jesus Christ he is the Saviour but not in all men And again neither is the man Christ Jesus the condemning light 6. Quaer Whether is it possible that any can be saved without Christ manifested within If no then whether is not the doctâ—ine of salvation wbich is only necessary to preach Christ within and is it not the whole mystery of salvation God manifest in the flesh Answ There can none be saved but they that have the Spirit of Christ given unto them But it is not the Spirit of Christ given to the Elect that doth work out the salvation of their souls within them for that was obteined by the blood of the man Christ Jesus on the Crosse Hebrews 9.12 compared with Heb. 13.12 Again every one that is or shall be saved must and shall have the Spirit of Christ within them yet doth it not follow that to preach Christ onely within is the onely doctrine of salvation For then also the preaching of the blood of Christ shed on the Crosse as I said before must be of none effect But he that doth preach the doctrine of salvation aright must first begin to preach that doctrine that Paul preached in 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4. For I delivered unto you saith he first of all how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again according to the Scriptures Now Christ or the Spirit of Christ is received by such preaching as this is as is clear from that Scripture Act. 10.38 to 44. where Peter speaking of the word that was published throughout all Judea How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth or which dwelt at Nazareth with the holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devill for God was with him And we are witnesses of all those things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem saith Peter whom they slew and hanged on a tree Him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly not unto all the people but unto witnesses chosen before of God Even to us who did eat and drink with him after his resurrection from the dead And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead And is that all No. But to him give all the prophets witnesse to him even Jesus of Nazareth whom the Jews crucified on the tree that through his name whosoever beleeveth in him shall receive remission or forgiveness of sins Now mark And while Peter yet spake these words the holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word While Peter spake these words that by Jesus of Nazareth forgivenesse of sins was preached to them that believe in his name the holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word Namely which Peter spake this is the way in which the Spirit is given Namely by preaching a crucified Christ But now no man can be saved without Christ or the Spirit of Christ be given to him because
And poor Creatures heating the name Christ being ignorant of the nature of Christ do presently close in with these things supposing nay verily beleeving that these are the Spirit of Christ Which things being thus received if at any time one come and oppose them and tell them that it is an errour that they have taken up to think that that which is in an unregenerate man is the Spirit of Christ and contrarywise telleth them plainly that it is but their own conscience that doth convince them or the law written in their hearts by nature Nay say they it is the light of Christ in the conscience when there is no Scripture hath any such manner of expâ—essions onely a fancy of their own taken up without ground from the Word But the soul being possessed with this doctrine presently its heart riseth against any thing that doth contradict it and is filled with a secret enmity against it Now the way that Satan takes to bring this about is to perswade poor souls that all these thoughs that do any wise contradict the Principles received is but a temptation of the Devill And if at any time there be the doctrine of Jesus held forth in truth his death buriall resurrection ascension and intercession now without in the presence of his Father for sinners and that there is salvation no where else but in the merits of the first born of Mary which is Jesus Christ without the works of the Law Rom. 3.28 Presently with envie they are enraged and cry Doest thou not know that every man hath a measure of tbe Spirit given to him Follow that listen to that turn thy mind to that and walk in the light of that When alas there is no such thing as the Spirit of Christ in every man as I said and proved before at large onely the Devill hath gotten this way to call conscience Christ the law Christ and hereby to intangle the soul with the name of a thing without the thing it self But now the soul is set down in its principles and he that doth any way confute that Spirit presently it falls a raging and cries out Seâ—pent Liâ—r Wolfe Dragon Devill be silent with thy serpentine wisdom and smoak of the bottomlesse pit Now in this the Devill is wonderfull cunning for least he should indeed be discovered he doth set the face hard against the truth and counteth it such a deadly enemy that he will not cannot bear it but le ts flye against it all the hellish words and madnesse he can And now he begins first to cry avoyd Satan All which is onely to harden him in whom he doth dwell more and more against the truth Now he doth also harden souls in delusions by presenting the ugly and base conversations of a company of covetous wretches who do professe themselvs to be the Ministers of the Gospel but are not now poor creatures being shaking and doubtfull what way to take seeing the conversation of these men to be wicked and the doctrine of these deluders coâ—ered with a seeming holinesse they presently embrace it saying surely these men are in the right way they cry down the Priests whose lives we also see to be profane they are very strict in their ways and if such be nor good men who are But yet that which is most taking is through the corruption and pride that is naturally in the heart of man these men propose such a way to salvation as is in the compasse of a mans owe abilitie even works of righteousnesse done by him which is very agreeable to mans natâ—re which would willingly be saved but would not be altogether beholden to God for it and these works not being wrought by the Priests or Nationall Ministers but by the other though in opposition to the righteousnesse of Christ the Messias God-man poor souls not onely suck in these erroneous principles but are hardened in them against the doctrine of God and his Son Jesus Christ by their ungodly conversation and thus dishonour the Son of God But come brethren let us be patient stablish our hearts wait but a while and I doubt not but you will see that those who dishonour our Jesus shall soon be brought down both Ranters Quakers Pâ—iests and people also that shall continue in opposing him either in doctrine or practise for our God hath said Ah! I will ease me of my adversaries Now a few words more to those who do beleeve in Christ aright and lay him for their foundation First blesse God that you are not carried away with the delusions that are on foot in this generation Secondly see that you are laborers after a more experimentall knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ flye more to his birth death blood resurrection ascension and intercession and fetch refreshing for your souls more and more from him without through the operation of his Spirit within and though the fruits of the Spirit be excellent and to be owned where they are found Yet haue a care you take not away the glory of the blood of Christ shed on the Crosse without the gates of Jerusalem and give it them which you will do if you do content your selvs and satisfie your consciences with this that you finde the fruits of the Spirit within you and do not go for peace and consolation of conscience to the blood of Jesus shed on the Crosse Therefore learn of the Saints or rather of the Spirit Revel 5. who teacheth to sing this song Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seales thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood And as for you that cannot yet well indure to think you should be justified by the blood of the Son of Mary shed on the Crosse without the gate I say to you Kiss the Son least he be angry and you perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all they tbat put their trust in him Psal 2.12 FINIS Some Questions put forth to them commonly called Quakers for to answer whether in London or elswhere Be alwaies ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you 1 Pet. 3.15 And I beseech you do it in sincerity 1. IF thou saiest that every man hath a measure of the Spirit of Jesus Christ within him Why say the Scriptures Some are sensual having not the Spirit Jude 19. And when Christ tells his Disciples of sending them the Spirit he also saith The world cannot receive it Joh. 14.17 2. What is the Church of God redeemed by from the curse of the Law Is it by something done within them or by something that is done without them or by something that worketh in them Gal. 3.3 Act. 13.38 1 Pet 2.24 Col. 1.20 c. If thou Answer It is redeemed from the curse of the law by something that worketh in them then I ask Why did the man Christ Jesus