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
information concerning the things before published by me and also concerning the opposition made against them by the Adversarie And here because I am loath to be too tedious I do conclude and desire thy praiers to God for me if thou be a Christian that I may not onely be preserved to the end in the faith of Jesus but that God would enable mee to bee an earnest contender for the same even to the last and rest The servant of the LORD JESUS John Bunyan 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. IT is very expedient that there should be heresies among us that thereby those which are indeed of the truth might be made manifest and also that the doctrine of GOD and his Son JESUS CHRIST might the more cast forth its lustre and glory For the Truth is of that nature that the more it is opposed the more glory it appears in and the more the adversary objects against it the more it will clear it self which doth give me and all that stand for it and doth plead on its side in the wisdome of the Spirit much boldnesse and incouragement to venture without any slavish fear upon those that have already or shall hereafter stand up to oppose it I did some few weeks past put forth a small Book called Some Gospel-Truths opened and so forth and the thing I looked for from them was namely opposition from the adversary which hath been accomplished in that as I did look for it so it did happen not that it daunted me for had it so done it might have made me kept those Truths within my breast which are now made manifest by me as well as others to the world Now I have not onely met with some opposition from others face to face in secret but there is one Edward Borrough as I heard his name is so by some of themselvs that hath ventur'd to stand up against the Truth with the rest of his companions and hath published a book called The true Faith of the Gospel of peace contended for in which book of his there is a very great number of heresies cunningly vented by him and also many things there falsly reported of me which things in this my discourse I shall very plainly discover and the way that I shall take shall bee First by laying down some of thy expressions and also some of mine and by inquiring into the truth of one and the errour of the other through the assistance of the Spirit of CHRIST and according to the Scriptures Onely by the way I think good to mind thee of thy cloathing thy self with the words of the Prophets and Apostles against whom thou doest fight as will appear in my following discourse and also of thy endeavouring to wrest the sword out of the hands of the Saints and art fighting against them bitterly with a parcel of scolding expressions But I wish thee to learn if thou canst to be sober and to keep under thy unruly spirit and do not so much appear at least not so grosly a railing Rabshakeh but contrariwise if you would be looked upon to be holy which we know and believe that as yet many of you are not Let at the least some appearance of moderation be manifest among you After many words that are flung into the wind by thee my adversary in the 1. and 2. page of thy book thou couldst not be contented therewith as being too few to vent thy self wi hall but thou breakest out in page 3. with a false testimony of John Burton and his fellow saying * This is a tie I blesse God spoken of the Adversary against me They have joined themselvs with the broken army of Magog And have shewed themselvs in the defence of the Dragon against the Lamb in the day of war betwixt them When alas poor soul we do know and are bold to declare in the name of the Lord Jesus the son of Mary that our God hath owned us with others of his servants in his own work against the Divel devices and false doctrine as instruments both for the comforting and establishing of his own and also for the convincing and converting of some of them who afore-time were not converted And friend why doest thou say that we join with Magog in the defence of the Dragon against the Lamb when thou seest the whole drift both of my Brothers Epistle and also of my Writing is to exalt and advance the first born of Mary the Lord of glory and to hold on his side notwithstanding there are so many tempests go through the world and the rather because we know that it is he and he alone that did bear our sins in his own body on the tree 1 Pet. 2.24 for it is he that hath taken away the sins of the world Now I say therefore do not thou thus accuse the Brethren for speaking good of the Name of Jesus least thou be troubled at thy end for thus spending thy beginning in taking part with the Divel to accuse God's children Then in the same page thou saiest thou hast numbered up part of our work and the sum is A corrupted graine of Babylons treasure c. Answ Friend the summe of our discouse is of the birth righteousnesse death blood resurrection ascension intercession and second coming of the Son of Mary the Virgin by which righteousnesse blood death buriall resurrection ascension and intercession we are saved And dost thou count this a corrupted graine of Babylons treasure Have a care what thou sayst least thou utter that with thy mouth now which will lye heavie on thy conscience for ever Then as though this thy unwise speaking were too little thou breakest out with a taunt or a jeere saying A larger portion and more to the purpose might have been brought in but with such as you had or could procure from your Neighbours are you come Answ Friend Who hath despised the day of small things But again we desire not to bring to others no nor to know our selves any thing else but Jesus Christ the Son of Mary and him crucified for our sins 1 Cor. 2.2 Then thou saiest further in the same page That though thou hast not seen our faces yet our spirit is tried and we are cleerely described to thee saiest thou to be of the stock of Ismael of the seed of Caine whose line reacheth to the murthering Priests c. Answ Friend thou art verie censorious and utterest many words without knowledge We blesse God for the most part of our line we do labour to stretch it out eiâ—her in building up and exhorting the Saints of the most high to cleave close to their Jesus or else much as in us lies we labor to convince poor souls of their lost condition according to the word of
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
of their Ministers for indeed they are Ministers in this to minister ill example to their Congregations Again would the people learne to be covetous they need but look to their Minister and they shall have a lively or rather a deadly resemblance set before them in both riding and running after great Benefices and Parsâ—nages by night and by day Nay they among themselves will scramble for the same I have seen That so soon as a man hath but departed from his Benefice as he calls it either by death or out of covetousnesse of a bigger we have had one Priest from this Town and another from that so run for these tithe-cocks and handfulls of Barley as if it were their proper Trade and calling to hunt after the same O wonderfull impiety Ezek. 13. read that whole Chapter and you will find it as it was a looking glasse by which thou mayest notably see them with their marks and discoveries and ungodliness are you not ashamed of your doings If you say no. It is perhaps because you are given over of God to a reprobate mind Read Rom. 1. towards the end As it was with them so it is to be feared it is with many of you who knowing the judgments of God that they who do such things are worthy of death not onely do the same but have as I may so say pleasure also in them that doe them And now you that pretend to be the teachers of the people in verity and truth though we know that some of you are not Is it a small thing with you to set them you say are your flock such an example as this Were ever the Pharisees so prophane to whom Christ said Ye vipers how canye escape the damnation of hell doth not the ground groan under you surely it will fauour you no more then it favoured your fore-runners Certainly the wrath of God lyes heavie at your doores it is but a very little while and your recompence shall be upon your owne head And as for you that are indeed of God among them though not of them Separate your selves why should the righteous partake of the same plagues with the wicked O ye children of the harlot I cannot well tell how to have done with you your stain is so odious and you are so sensless as appears by your practices But I shall at this time forbear having in some measure discharged my conscience according to the truth against you hoping if God do give me opportunitie and a fair call that I shall a second time in this world give testimony against your filthy conversations though now I shall say no more onely thus much Be ashamed of your earthly-mindednesse if you can and be converted or else you shall never be healed Here might I also aggravate your sin by its several circumstances but I shall rather forbear supposing that you may entertain wrong and harsh thoughts of me though I have spoken the truth therefore I shall at this time rather keep silence and wish you to amend then to rake in your soars for thereby would your stink go more abroad in the world Therefore I say I forbear And now to the Reader I beseech thee to have a care of thy soul and look well to the welfare of it And that you may do so have a care what doctrine it is that thou receivest Be not contented untill thou indeed and in truth in the light of the Spirit of Christ see thy sins washed away in the blood of that Lamb who did offer up himself a ransom on the Crosse on mount Calvary for the sins of thy soul and body together with the rest of the Saints of God And let not the legall holiness of the one nor the loose prophane conversation of the other beat thee off from pursuing after the truths of Jesus as the truth is in Jesus and so laid down in this my discourse Neither let the plausiblenesse of the other beguile thy simple heart And now to you that are carried away with the delusions at this day broached in the World by the instruments of Satan and that after a profession of the truth I say to you turne againe if you can peradventure there may be hope and that you may escape that wrath which justly you have deserved But if you shall still refuse the Lord that speakes now from heaven in mercy to you you shall not hereafter escape the Lord that in his owne time will speake to you in his wrath and vexe you in his sore displeasure And now a few words to you that have indeed closed in with the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of Mary and they are these that follow First he of good cheer all your sins are forgiven you for his name sake 1 John 2.12 2. Know he that hath begun the good work of his grace in you will perfect it even to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 3. Know that though your Lord Jesus who is in you by his spirit be absent from you tâ—uching his bodily presence yet he is not forgetfull of you but is preparing a place for you Jo. 14.1 2 3. 4. Consider That he is also at this very present in his very person in the presence of his Father now in the heavens praying and making intercession for you that you may be brought safe to glory Heb. 7.25 Father I will saith he that those that thou hast given me may be where I am that they may behold my glory John 17.25 5. Know also that he hath overcome in his own person when he was in the World Devill Death Sin Hell the curse of the Law the power of the Grave and all other evills in the body of his flesh for you Heb. 2.14 6. Beleeve also that while you are in the World all things shall fall out for your good at the end whether they be Temptations Doctrines of Devils workings of corruptions all things shall fall cut for your good who love our pretious Lord Jesus Rom. 8.28 7. Be assured that all your enemies shall very suddenly be under your feet even Satan and all Rom. 16.20 8. Consider That there shall no temptation befall you in the days of your pilgrimage but God will enable you to bear it I and make away also for you to escape the destroying danger of it 1 Cor. 10.13 9. When the time of your dissolution shall come your Jesus will deal with you as he did with Blessed Lazarus that is he will send his Angels to fetch your soules away to glory Luke 16.23 10. Beleeve also and know assuredly that at the last day he wil also raise your bodyes out of their graves and make them also for ever vessels of his glory Rom. 8.23 compar'd with Joh. 5.28 1 Thes 4.14.15 16 17 18. 11. And lastly consider That though now by the world and hereticks you be counted as not worth the looking after Yet you have your day a comming when as the
the ministration of condemnation 2 Cor. 3. That is the proper work of the Moral Law or Ten commandements is to condemne if it be not obeied and yet not to blesse until it be every jot fulfilled wh ch is impossible to be done by any man for justification in that exact and severe way which the Law calls for which makes the Apostle say as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse Mark he doth not say as many as are of the works of sin are under the curse though that be true but as many as are of the works of the Law aâ—e under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to do them But that no man is justified by the deeds of the Law it is evident For the just shall live by faith Gal. 3.10 11. If it be meant of the Ceremonial Law as I am most inclinable to believe because he saith it was our Schoolmaster he doth not say it is but it was our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ being a Tutor or Governour holding forth Christ to come by its types and significations untill the time appointed of the Father which appointed time and so that Law was to have an end when God sent forth his Son made of a woman Jesus the Son of Mary who was made under the Law to redeem those that were under the Law Now the Ceremonial Law did bring or lead to Christ these two waies First In that it did continue in full force until he did come into the world and had done that which was by it held out for him to do Secondly in that the several types and shadows as thc blood of Bulls and Lambs with diverse other services did lead to or hold forth Christ that was to come but the Moral Law or Ten Commandements is so far from leading us to Christ by our following it that it doth even lead those that are led by it under the curse Not because the Law hath an evil end in it but because of our weaknesse and inability to do it therefore it is forced as it is just to passe a sentence of condemnation on every one that in every particular fulfills it not In the next place thou art offended because I said It is not of works least any man should boast as those fond hypccrites called Quakers would do Thou art offended it seemes because I call you boasters You need not for I do not know your fellows for boasting under heaven In that you Pharisees like do crye up your selves to be the men and condemne all others when you are the men that are the greatest enemies to the Christ of GOD without who is the Saviour of any man under heaven And in that you pretend you are perfect when you are the notablest lyars and corrupters of the sayings of the peopl of God yea and of the Scriptures also that ever I came neer in all the daies of my life And I doubt not but before I have done with you I shall make it appear to them that read or hear my lines aright Thy Quaerie in page 13. runs thus Will that Faith which is without works justifie I answ No Neither will those workes which are without faith sanctifie What then Is it faith and workes together that doth justifie No it is onely faith in the blood of the man Christ that did hang on the Crosse on mount Calvary that doth justifie in the sight of God and the soule and it is the fruits of faith good workes which do justifie in the sight of men So that when it is said wee are justified by workes It is not meant that workes will justifie in the sight of God No but shew me or shew men thy faith or justifie thy faith to be true and right before men by thy workes Shew men thy faith by thy workes it is in the sight of men So that wee conclude a man is justified by faith without the workes of the Law in the sight of God and so his owne soule also and his faith is justified or made manifest to be indeed that which is right both to believers and to the world by it's works Though I must confesse that both Paul and Peter and the rest of the Saints may sometimes be deceived in the truth of the faith of others by their workes Again in page 17. thou seemest to be offended because I say Living by faith is to apply the Lord Jesus Christ his benefits as birth righteousnesse death blood resurrection ascention and intercession together with the glorious benefits of his second coming to me as mine and for me c. Friend methinks thou shouldest find no fault with this but that the man Christ Jesus the son of Ma y is not very pleasant to thee because thou hast swallowed down secretly another doctrine but friend I speak of applying these things and thou speakest of talking of them I know that there are many who talke of Christ that will fall short of heaven and glory But tell me what saiest thou to him thaâ— doth apply all these things to his soul is there not enough in them to justifie him that doth really and truly in the power of the Spirit believe this to be true which I have said Or doest thou deny it and preach another Gospell And whereas thou sayest The word of the Gospell saith not who shall ascend to fetch Christ from above for salvation Though there is never a scripture that saith these words word for word Yet the Scripture saith The word is mghthee even in thy mouth and in thy heart But marke it is the word of faith not the man Christ Jesus but faith which layeth hold on him Rom. 10.8 9. Read the 9. verse which is this Tbat if thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus who was borne of the Virgin Mat 1.21 And shaâ—t believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved These great and precious Scriptures with which by corrupting of them the Quakers have beguiled many have this meaning That if thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus that is in profession and practise own him and believ him to be the Anointed Saviour And shalt believe in thine heart there is the word of faith if thou shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt he saved for with the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation But what should men believe with the heart Namely this that God raised him that is Christ from the dead ver 10. And therefore I wonder thou shouldest so scold as thou doest against the truth If this be not truth blame the Scripture which do testifie of these things for truth For I am ruled and would be ruled by them thtough the Spirit But farther thou art offended
do indeed enjoy the light of life And whereas thou ask'st is not he a deeeiver that exhorts people to any thing else than the light of Christ Answ He that telleth any man that the ministration of condemnation will save him which is the law he is a lier and a deceiver but he that exhorts people to lay hold on what the man Christ Jesus hath done in his own person for sinners and presseth souls to venture upon that for salvation preacheth the truth Thirdly Christ hath given to every one the law and conscience within him yet these are not able to save him but let him follow the righteousnesse of the the law never so much yet if he be not directed of God to flie to Jesus the Son of Mary and to what he hath done in his own person for them he shall never be saved Act. 4. verse 12. Friend thus have I with all plainnesse of speech answered thy Quaeries and I fear not at all but I have spoken the truth as it is in Jesus And as for committing them to the judgment of others as thou wouldest have me set others say what they will I am sure I have spoken the truth of God and I make no question but at the second coming of my Lord Jesus from heaven to judge the world these things I shall not be ashamed of Neither am I now but am ready if God shall give me life to speak the same things to any man face to face and I desire thee and all even as many as shall read or hear this Treatise to consider and look to themselvs least they sin against God so much in their life time by rejecting these truths that it shall never be forgiven them to all eternity though they repent them of their rejecting the same There is one thing more to which I shall speak a few words and that is to a few words written at the end of thy book which is called the postscript wherein is severall charges against my self and som others which I shall speak somewhat to The first is agaist John Burton thuâ— John Burton said in a discours with some friends that Christ had two bodies and one of them is out of the sight of the Saints Answ My Brother Burton being absent I shall answer for him concerning the charge laid against him And therefore that Christ who is and was before the world began God equal with his Father did in the fulnesse of time take upon him a bodie from the Virgin Mary which was so prepared by God his Father it is evident in Scripture and in it after he had lived a while in the world he did hang on the Crosse was taken down thence again and laid in Josephs sepulchre was raised again and ascended away from his Disciples therewith into glory Act. 1.3 9 10 11. Again he hath another bodie and that is his Church Eph. 1. ver the last Now that he is out of the sight of his Saints in one of the bodies namely that which did hang on the Crosse it is also evident 1 Tim. 6. where Paul speaking of that very Jesus who did bear a faithful witnesse before Pontius Pilate saith in ver 16. Who onely hath immoâ—tality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see That is not with their mortal eâ—es in that glory as yet If you say still notwithstanding this that Christ as he was before the world began hath but one body and that to be his Church I ask you what that was that was taken down from the Crosse and laid into Josephs sepulchre Luk. 23.52.53 The second charge is â—gainst my self and is this John Bunyan said Christ second coming is not his coming in Spirit for his coming in Spirit is no coming This is a false thing spoken of me The former part of the words namely Christs second coming is not his coming in Spirit those I owne But the other namely * For his coming in spirit is no coming is a lie made of me by the Author Edward Borrough The former words were spoken at a meeting in Bedford some Quakers being present contradicting and blaspheming And now they could not be content with that but they must make up all with a lie and publish it in print Quaker there and I had some discourse concerning Christ's second coming and he would affirm that his coming in Spirit was his second coming spoken of in Scripture Then I asked him which was his first coming He answered when he was born of rhe Virgin and took flesh upon him from her Then said I I shall easily prove that his coming in the Spirit is not his second coming for I will prove that his coming in the Spirit was before that which the Scripture and you also do call his first coming and proved it by that plain Scripture where Peter speaking of the Prophets saitb searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them the Prophets did signifie when it testified before hand of the suffering of Christ and the glory that should follow 1 Pet. 1.10 11. and 3 18 19. where speaking of Christ's being put to death in the flâ—sh but quickned in the Spiâ—it By which Spirit he preached to the spi its now in pâ—ison but when was this only when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah ver 20. Which was long before the first coming of Christ so called in Scripture for that was as I said when he took a body from the Virgin Mary But secondly it seems cleerly by these words that you do look for no other coming but his coming in Spirit O! how suddenly and unexpected of you will the Son of man break down from heaven with all his mighty Angels in flaming fire and call you together with all Nations to judgment And though now peradventure you are ready to slight the personall appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ that man to judgment only looking for a judgment within yet you will I am certain very suddainly be made to pass under another judgment which will be more exceeding great then any judgment you shall have here and more terrible As for the latter part of the charge which is a very lie though I shal not trouble my self to lay it to your charge you have so manifestly declared your selvs already what you are Yet I beseech you that hereafter you would not be so ready to receive lies from others and publish them to the view of the world least you appear to all men as you do to some to be such as are of an accusing lying spirit But farther That Christ's coming in the Spirit is not his second coming it is evident partly in that the coming of Christ in Spirit was before that called in Scripture his first coming Secondly he that comes the second time is he that came the first time Now he that came the first time
of that can be done within it selfe to look for salvation in that man that is now absent from his Saints on earth 2 Cor. 5.6 Why so For it knoweth that there is Salvation in none other Acts. 4.12 And therefore I would wish thee to have a care what thou doest For I tell thee That man who is now jeared by some because he is preached to be without them will very suddenly come the second time to the great overthrow of those who have spoken and shall still speak against him Jude 14 15. Thou sayest also the next thing thou mindest is this in the second Epistle where a question is asked Who are the men that at this day are so deluded by the Quakers and other pernicious doctrines but they that counted it enough to be talkers of the Gospell c. This man saith the Quaker is of the same spirit with his fellow and will more abound in lies c. And why because he saith the Quakers are those deceivers that at this day beguile poore soules by their Doctrine Alas poor man why shouldest thou be angry for my speaking the truth in saying The Quakers are deceivers this will easily appear For first they deny the man Christ to be without them and owne Christ no otherwise but as he is within contrary to that Scripture which saith For while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. This is touching his bodily presence And again he was parted from them And a cloud received him out of their sight And he was carried away from them and so received up into Heaven Acts. 1.9.10 11. Now he that denieth this is a deceiver as is cleer in that he doth speak against the truth laid down in the Scripture 2. The Quakers are deceivers in that they perswade souls that Christ is crucified in them dead within them and kept down with some thing within them which was never taught by those that spoke the Scripture from the Spirit of God Shew me a Scripture to confirm such a doctrine as this which hath been avouched over and over by the Quakers 3. The Quakers are deceivers because they do perswade souls that that man that was born of the Virgin Mary is not above the clouds and the stars when the Scripture saith A cloud received him out of the sight of his Saints And again that he is above the highest heavens which must needs be above the stars for they are not the highest 4. The Quakers are deceivers because they perswade souls not to believe that that man that was crucified and rose again flesh and bones Luke 24.38 39.40 shall so come again that very man in the clouds of heaven to judgment as he went away and at the very same time shall raise up all the men and women out of their graves and cause them to come to the valley of Jehoshaphat because there will he that very man fit to judge all the Heathen round about I say they strive to beat souls off from believing this though it be the truth of God witnessed by the Scripture Joel 3.11.12 as also Acts 1.10 11. This same Jesus which is taken from you into heaven shall so come mark the very same in like manner as yee have seen him go into heaven And his feet shall stand in that day the day of his second coming upon the mount of Olives Zech. 14.4 Where is that Not within thee but that which is without Jerusalem before it on the East side I say now hee that perswades souls not to believe this but makes them believe there is no such thing as the Quakers do he is a deceiver Again the Quakers make no difference between that light wherewith Christ as he is God hath inlightned all and the Spirit of Christ he gives not to all which I shall shew by and by to be a deceit 5. The Quakers are deceivers because they say That every one hath that which is like the spirit of Christ even as good as the spirit of Christ page 10 of his book which is desperate blasphemie The Scripture saith plainly That some are sensual having not the Spirit And yet though they have not that They have saies the Quakers that which is as good as that O wonderfull deceit as I shal farther shew by and by when I come to the place But to cover himself and so his deceit he doth apply that to himselfe that should be applyed for the encouragement of the Children of God saying The Children of God was alwaies counted deceivers we saith he have a cloud of witnesses Answer Friend they were called deceivers and were not so but you are rightly called so as I have already shewed and shall shew farther by and by In the meane time know that the Devill knowes how to take the Childrens bread and cast it to the doggs Then the next thing that he is grieved with is because I said there are none but a company of Light Notionists Ranters with here and there a Legalist that was shaking in their principles that were carried away by the Quakers c. When this appeares in all mens sight that can see though you would not have it so it is like And as for your saying Because all sorts of people are brought to God Another false thing spoken of me by the Quakers I am offended therewith I Answer No friend I blesse God my soule can rejoyce that soules come into Jesus Christ though it grieves me to see how some with a spirit of delusion are deceived and destroyed by it's coming unto them as an Angel of light And whereas thou saiest I am like the Pharisees who said None believe but a company of poor people which know not the Law Answ I blesse God I do know they are the poor that receive the Gospel but Friend I must tell you that you and your fellows may seek for justification from the Law and yet have no better a recompence then to be condemned by the Law Now passing many raylings I come to the next thing that thou doest stumble at which is in that I say Some of those delusions the Devill doth deceive poor soules withall is first in that he doth perswade them that Salvation was not compleatly wrought out for sinners by the man Christ Jesus though he did it gloriously upon the Crosse without the gates of Jerusalem Now these words He did it gloriously on the Crosse without the Gates of Jerusalem thou leavest out Therefore I aske Do you believe that at that time when he did hang upon that Crosse on mount Calvary that he did by that death he died there redeeme all his elect from eternall vengeance If not what ever thou saiest thou wilt certainly see that Satan hath caught thee in his snare notwithstanding thy rayling against the Lord Jesus And Friend thou mayest call thy conscience the man Christ Jesus or the light as thou callest it in thy Conscience the man Christ Jesus which
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
and for those that are with me when I have opportunity And I trust that the Lord Jesus who hath helped me to reject the wages of unrighteousness hitherto will also help me still so that I shall distribute that which God hath given me freely and not for filthy lucres sake Other things I might speak in vindication of my practise in this thing But ask of others and they will tell thee that the things I say are truth and hereafter have a care of receiving any things by hear-say only least you be found a publisher of those lies which are brought to you by others and so render your self the less credible but be it so And as for your thinking that to drink water and wear no hat-bands is not walking after your own lusts I say that whatsoever men do make a religion out of having no warrant for it in the Scripture is but walking after their own lusts and not after the Spirit of God Thus have I passed thy 23 page And least you should think that the Quakers are not such as condemned me and others for preaching according to the Scriptures as you would fain clear your selves of this charge laid against you in my book by your saying you deny the accusation to be true upon any of the Quakers I shall therefore tell you of your sister Anne Blackly who did bid me in the audienee of many To throw away the Scriptures To which I answered No for then the Divel would be too hard for me And again because I said The man Christ Jesus was above the clouds and the heavens now absent from his people in the world touching his bodily presence She said I preached up an Idol and used conjuration and witchcraft Which things I should rather have desired her to repent of then to make her a publick example for others to take warning by but that it is expedient that your folly be laid open that others may fear to do as you have done But farther thou chargest me with a loud This is anothâ—r of his false accusations of me crying out against Christ within This is thy throwing of dirt in my face again for I have said it often that if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Again thou saiest that in page 203 I do take in hand to prove or discover that the doctrine of Christ within Here is another lie made of me is a false opinion Thou do'st also here speak falsly of me for all that I take in hand to prove is this That they hold a false opinion and principles too who hold up a Christ within in opposition to Christ without who is the Saviour as doth plainly appear by my following discourse if you read from page 203. to the end of my book But in the next place after much railing thou comest to the place where I again ask this question Doth not the Scripture make mention of a Christ within To which I answer Yes and he that hath it not is none of his But to lay open thy folly at last thou sai'st doth not the Scripture say Christ is within you except you be reprobates and is not this thus much are not all they reprobates say you but they in whom Christ is within Answ They are indeed reprobates who have not Christ within them but now how is thy folly manifest that in one place thou shouldest confesse some are reprobates who have not Christ within And yet in page 18. of thy book thou sai'st it is given to every man And in page 26. of thy book thou saiest that a measure of the Spirit is given to every man and is given within him too though the Scripture declareth the contrary and thy self also now at last It is well thou doest recant so much as to eat thy first words at the last or at least to shew thy self unstable in judgment Friend thou maist see the more thou doest fight against the truth the more thou foilest thy self Partly by helping of it and partly by contradicting thy self One thing more thou doest befool thy self with and that is In that thou in the first place saiest thou ownest the words in my book and yet hast spent some four sheets of paper to vent thy thoughts against them But peradventure thou wilt say those words that I owne are not those that I spake against but the other To which I answer There are many things in my book spoken of by me that are truth which if you owne you must leave professing your self a Quaker As first That that man that was born of the Virgin Mary called Jesus I say you will not owne that he in his own person by himself without us did compleatly bring in everlasting life for us by offering up himself once for all upon the Cross Secondly that Christ who wrought out redemption for his Children did after he had wrought it out go away from them and not into them in his person Thirdly that he ever-liveth that very man to make intercession in his person in the presence of his Father without untill the end of the world Fourthly that that very man who did go away from his Disciples into heaven will come again personally the same man the second time and before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall judge them for their sins and take his to himself who shall soul and body be with him to all eternity these things I say thou couldest not owne though they are the truth of God But leaving thee to the great God who will give the according thy works in this as in other things I shall come to thy Answers to my Quaeries The first Quaery that I propounded is if thou say that every man hath a measure of the Spirit of Christ within him why say the Scriptures some are sensuall having not the Spirit And when Christ telleth his Disciples of sending them the Spirit he saith the world cannot receive it Here in the first place thou hast not onely answered deceitfully but hast also corrupted my words in laying down the Quaery in that thou didst leave out some words for thou didst lay it down thus If thou saiest that every man hath a measure of the Spirit of Christ within him why say the Scriptures Some are sensual having not the Spirit and Christ saith the world cannot receive it Reader compare them both together Now thy answer is Some are sensual having not tbe Spirit because they receive it not and some cannot receive it because they believe not on him from whence it comes Yet saiest thou The measure of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall as the Scriptures say When there is no Scripture saith a measure of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall But again see here thy strange confusion 1. To say some have it not 2. To say every man hath it But you would make a difference between having and
that was crucified between two theevs whose name was Jesus the Son of Mary is he the very Christ of God yea or no Thy answer is Yes he is the very Christ of God which was before the world was by whom the world was made who was made manifest from Maries womb and was persecuted to death by the Scribes and Pharisees in whose steps thou treadest in asking subtill questions to insnare the innocent as they did Read thy example saiest thou and thy self to be an enemy to God's Christ This answer is doubtfully given I did not ask thee whether he was the Christ of God that was before the world was but I asked thee whether he was the Christ of God that did hang between two thievs on mount Calvary Now I know the Christ of God was before the world was but thou art afraid to look upon him as suffering on the Crosse on mount Calvary between two thievs for our sins But contrariwise wouldst willingly own him to be no otherwise but as he was before the world which thing is very dangerous for he that doth so doth lay aside all things that in his own person he did in the Flesh that he took from the Virgin Mary as to justification and salvation onely supposing him to be but an example and so bespatters all his merit and righteousnesse by your false conclusions which in his own person he accomplished for our justification And friend hadst thou not been afraid of thy self thou wouldst have been so far from calling these my Quaeries subtil Questions that thou wouldst have owned them and have given a sober Christian answer to them in stead of a railing accusation But it matters not it hath but made thee shew thy self the more which peradventure for a time might otherwise have lien hid My 5 Quaerie was Is that very man with that very body within you yea or no To which thou answerest The very Christ of God is within us we dare not deny him and we are members of his bodie of his flesh and of his bones as the Ephesians were they that are led with a spirit of delusion shall answer the rest of this thy Quaery if they will Thy answer is nothing to the question for I did not ask whether the Spirit of Christ was in thee though I question the truth of that But I asked you whether that very man with that very bodie or the bodie of Christ that was hanged on the Crosse be within you But I see you are minded to famble and will not answer plainly But thou answerest saying We are members of his bodie of his flesh and of his bones as the Ephesians were This is nothing to the purpose neither for it is one thing for a man to be a member of the flesh and bones of Christ and another thing to have the flesh and bones of Christ within him What because believers are members one of another must they therefore be also one in another No. Even so though a believer be a member of the body flesh and bones of Christ it doth not therefore follow that Christ flesh and and bones is within him But thou art loath to discover thy self in plain terms though thou art made manifest full sore against thy will for thou do'st here also though very cunningly signifie that thou ownest Christ no otherwise but as he is within And to own him no otherwise is still against the Gospel and faith of the Apostles who said they were absent from him while they were at home in the body or here below 2 Cor. 5 6. My 6. Quaerie was this Was that very Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary a real man of flesh and bones after his resurrection out of Josephs sepulchre yea or nay The Scriptures say he was And if so then did that man go away from his Disciples and not into them as the Scriptures declare or did he with that body of flesh go into his Disciples as some fond dreamers think Thy Answer is What the Scriptures speaks of Christ we own to be truth and own him to be what the Scriptures speaks of him and all men's imaginations of him we deny and their false interpretations of the Scripture concerning him And let the fond dreamers who err in their thoughts be reproved for we dare own nothing but what the Spirit of the Lord bears witnesse of according to the Scriptures And thus far I answer in the behalf of the Quakers And let them that are led with a spirit of delusion answer the rest which concerns themselvs This answer hath some pretended fairnesse in it But yet we know you that you can wrest the Scriptures to your own destruction and that is clear in that though you say you own him as the Scriptures speak of him yet you deny him as the Scriptures speâ—k of him in part And if at any time you plead one truth it is that you might by your corrupt dealing with that clash again another as for instance You professe you own Christ within but withall with that doctrine you will smite against the doctrine of Christ Jesus in his person without and deny that though that is a truth as is also the other 2. You do use that truth of the resurrection of Saints from a state of nature to a state of grace to fight against that truth of the resurrection of the bodies of saints out of their graves together with other things that I might add as your holding forth the intercession of the Spirit of Christ within in opposition to the intercession of Christ in his person without in the heavens Which things being thus done they shew forth a great deal either of ignorance or presumption knowingly to fight against the truth And in this that thou answerest so generally and not particularly to the question it is evident that thou doest not plainly declare thy minde but doest keep that in thy bosome which thou darest not manifest to the world My 7. Quaerie was Hath that Christ that was with God the Father before the world was no other body but his Church If you say No as it is your wonted course Then again I ask you What was that in which he did bear the sins of his children If you say in his own body on the tree Then I ask Whether that body n which he did bear our sins was or is the Church of God yea or no Again if you say he hath no other body but his Church then I ask What that was that was taken down from the Cross But here thou puttest a stop to the rest of my words with an c. Thy answer is In this thou hast not onely quaeried but slandered therefore thy slander saiest thou I do remove It is our wonted course saiest thou to say that Christ hath no other bodie but his Church Thou art here a false accuser But we say the Church is Christ's bodie and it is sufficient for salvation to know Christ
man who was laid in the manger hanged on the Crosse c. I say it sheweth that those who do not lay hold on what he hath done and suffered without them in his own body on the tree through the operation of his Spirit which he hath promised to give to them that ask him or else they have not yet been convinced of the sin of unbelief and so are still in a perishing condition notwithstanding their strict obedience to the light within them or to the law And now tell me you that desire to mingle the law and the Gospel together and to make of both one and the same Gospel of Christ Did you ever see your selvs undone and lost unlesse the righteousnesse blood death resurrection and intercession of that man Christ Jesus in his own person was imputed to you and untill you could by faith owne it as done for you and counted yours by imputation yea or no Nay rather have you not set up your consciences and the law and counted your obedience to them better and of more value than the obedience of the Son of Mary without you to be imputed to you and if so it is because you have not been savingly convinced by the Spirit of Christ of the sin of unbelief Other things thou doest quarrell against but seeing they are in effect the same with the former I pass them by and shall come to the next thing thou doest think to catch me withall and that is because I say that God only is the Saviour there is none besides him Therefore sayest thou how contrary is this to that in page 24. where I say how wickedly are they deluded who owne Christ no otherwise then as he was before the world began Now this is no contradiction as thou wouldest have it for though I say there is none but God our Saviour Yet I did also then in my book shew how he was our Saviour namely in that he came into the world being born of a Virgin made under the law that he might redeem them that were under the law by his obedience in that nature by suffering in that nature by his rising again in that nature and by carrying that nature into heaven with him as the Scriptures at large declare and therefore though I say God is our Saviour and none besides he yet they that owne him to be the Saviour no otherwise then as he was before the world began are such as deny that he is come in the flesh and so are of Antichrist 1 Joh. 2. For before God could actually be a Saviour he must partake of another nature then the divine even the nature of man Heb. 2.14.15 Again thou sayest it is a slander put upon the Quakers to say they slight the resurrection Answ What say you Do you believe the resurrection of the body after it is laid in the grave Do you believe that the Saints that have been this four or five thousand years in their graves shall rise and also the wicked each one with that very body wherein they acted in this world some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt Answer plainly and cleer your selvs but I know you dare not for you deny these things But if you speak doubtfully or covertly in answer thereunto I doubt not but God will help me to find you our and lay open your folly if I shall live till another cavill by you be put forth against the truth The next thing thou cavillest at is that Quaery raised from Eph. 4.10 and thou sayest I have not answered it You should have answered it better or else have confuted that answer I gave unto it and then you had done somthing but the great thing that troubles thee is because I say further in my book he that ascended from his Disciples was a very man For handle me and see saith Christ a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have Now let the adversary shew by the Scripture said I that there is in them any place called heaven which is able to contain a man of some four or five foot long or a competent man of flesh and bones for the space of fifteen or sixteen hundred years but that above the clouds which troubles thee so that it makes thy tongue run thou canst not tell how But know that when the Son of man shal come from heaven to judge the world in righteousness that which thou callest foolishness now thou wilt finde a truth then to thy own wrong if thou close not in with him who said handle me and see for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have Luk. 24.38 39 40. Another thing that thou art troubled at is in that I do reckon the Quakers to be of the deluding party when alas all men that have eyes to see may easily discern that you are of that generation as will appear in part by your own expressions both now and also at other times But that you may take off the brand from your selvs you say that the false ptophets and Antichrist were in the Apostles days as though there should be no false prophets now when the very time we live in doth manifestly declare and hold forth that there are many who at this day seek to beguile unstable souls of which sort you are not the least though for ought I can learn as yet you are the last that are come into the world but that you may the better shift it from your selvs you say that in those days there was not a Quaker heard of namely in the days of John Friend thou hast rightly said there was not a Quaker heard of indeed though there were many Christians heard of then By this you your selvs do confess that you are a new upstart sect which was not at other times in the world though Christian Saints have been alwaies in the world Friend here like a man in the dark in seeking to keep thy self out of one ditch thou art fallen into another instead of proving your selvs no false prophets you prove your selvs no Christians saying there was not a Quaker heard of then But if Quakers had been Christians then they would have been heard of to the glory of God and his Christ Again to defend thy self thou throwest the dirt in my face saying If we should diligently trace thee we should find thee in their steps meaning false prophets through famed words through covetousness making marchandise of souls loving the wages of unrighteousness Friend doest thou speak this as from thy own knowledge Another of his false accusatons or did any other tell thee so However that spirit that led thee out of this way is a lying spirit For though I be poor and of no repute in the world as to outward things yet through grace I have learned by the example of the Apostle to preach the truth and also to work with my hands both for mine own living