Contradicts the holy Scriptures which say Flesh and Blood shall in no wise inherit the Kingdom of God if not Elemental it loses its Accidents and then cannot be the same but do's as much differ as a Natural and Spiritual But with the Apostle Paul we say The Body that is sown is not the Body that shall be it is sown an Earthly but is raised a Spiritual the which Spiritual Body shall really be Our Body 6. He says that The Light in every man he should have said the Light of Christ which is the Light of the Spirit of the Living God but we will suppose that is his meaning for if it be not he there also wrongs us could never teach discover or reveal unto him that Christ was born of a Virgin and that he dyed and rose again though that Light did teach them that Lying Stealing Drunkenness and the like was sin yet it could not tell how God would Pardon and Save This is the greatest Presumption that ever I met withal to charge Gods Holy and Wiâ—e Spirit with inability as that because it do's not ordinarily do those things that therefore it cannot do them before our Lord was manifest in flesh it revealed not unto all that he should come and be born of a Virgin yet to some it did to wit to his Servants the Prophets and shall we believe that that Spirit which did reveal to some that Christ should come in such a manner could not if it so pleased the Divine Wisdome reveal the same to some others since he is come if there had deen no record thereof in being since his Arm is not shortned that he is God and changes not but is the same to day yesterday and for ever But thanks be to God the Record of the Son of God is left amongst us yet I ask the Adversary one Question How he knows that Record to be Truth except that God has revealed it to him by his Holy Spirit which he so slights and dispises 7. He saith that Every man in the world is not enlightned with the Light of Christ because that the Scripture saith that many are in darkness and stumble and have no Light in them Here the Adversary contradicts not us but the Scriptures and gives the Holy Spirit which dictated them the Lye for they testifie that that Light which John came to bear witness of was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world John 1.7 8 9. The Adversary Errs not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God We doubt not but many do quench the Holy Spirt else how should the Candle of the wicked be so often put out there may be a time in which the Spirit of the Lord may cease striving with man because that he is flesh and may give him up to strong delusions and to believe a Lye that he might be damned but the reason is because he believed not the Truth but had pleasure in Unrighteousness Who are they that daily Crucifie afresh the Lord of Glory and put him to open shame to whom is he a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of Offence to them who shall stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and be taken From whom was the Talent or capacity of Salvation taken away but from him that had not improved it yet it appears by the Context he had a time of receiving of it The fault is not in the Giver for he without respect of Persons gives to all but in him to whom the offer is made that he accepts it not There is a great difference between Lumen Illuminatio and Illuminatus between the thing it self the action of the thing and the matter upon which it operates The Light and Spirit of God is a free gift to all and because it is a living and active thing it cannot but enlighten all and so without doubt it do's that they might reap benefit thereby in the first place till such time as the heart waxes gross that man stops his ears and closes his eyes lest he should see with his eyes and hear with his ears and understand with his heart and should be converted and healed and in this state man is not only said to be without Light or true understanding but also without God in the world and in that sense he is said to be without God because he is not with him nor joyned to him in his Spirit but is at a distance and opposition with him But yet his Judgment and Condemnation follows such And we have one reason more to believe that the Grace of God has appeared to all men not because that wicked men turn it into wantonness and set at nought the reproofs threof Prov. 1.23 25. But because that God might be just when he judges and man might be left without excuse when he condemns for that he gave unto him his good Spirit but he rebelled against it Nehem. 9.20 26 33. Psal 51.4 Prov. 1.29 30 31. which Spirit persues the Rebellious to the Pit of Misery 8. He saith that men may sin out all sence of sin and become dark and have no light in th m The first part of this Assertion is very strange and positively contradicts the very Letter of the Holy Scripture for to those that were so bad as that they had transgressed after all the Abominations of the Heathen which mocked the Messengers of God dispised his Words and misused his Prophets yet the Lord sent to them his Messengers rising up betimes and sending them because he had compassion on them even so long till there was no remedy till the very time that his wrath brake forth upon them 2 Chron. 36.14 15 16. And the Apostle Paul saith That those which did not like to retain God in their knowledge who were given up to a reprobate mind and were filled with all Vnrighteousness Fornication Covetousness Wickedness Maliciousness full of Envy Murther Malice Debate Deceit Malignity Whisperers Backbiters Haters of God Dispiteful Prowd Boasters Inventers of evil things disobedient to Parents without Vnderstanding Covenant breakers without Natural Affection Implacable and Vnmerciful that these knew the Judgments of God that they which commit such things are worthy of Death yet notwithstanding did not only do the same but also had pleasure in them which did them Rom. 1.28 29 30 31 32. As to the last part of this Assertion and the next following in his Paper we have fully answered in the preceding Paragraph 9. The next thing the Adversary urges for is a Dispute as though it was impossible for him to prove his Charges in any other way Either the Adversary can prove what he asserts or he cannot If he can prove what he says and will not without a Publick Dispute it argues his want of Charity for who is he that has any thing of Christian Charity in him that shall see another in the Paths of Error and in the way that leads to the eternal destruction of
AN APOLOGY FOR THE Innocency and Iustice OF THE QUAKERS CAUSE AND A short ELUCIDATION of their PRINCIPLES With some Reflections upon J. IVES his PAPERS Written in the Behalf of the CHRISTIAN RELIGION By William Salmon Professor of Physick Non enim possumus quicquam adversus veritatem sed pro veritate 2 Cor. 13.8 Thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory through Our Lord Jesus Christ London Printed in the Year 1674. TO THE READER OMnia Flumina properant ad Mare nec tamen Mare impletur Although all was written which might be written yet would not the Enemies of the Truth be satisfied should an Angel appear from Heaven with an evident Demonstration of the Justice of this Cause the Adversarys would hardly be enduced to confess their Error although the Evidence thereof be crowned with their own belief Such an Impression has the Spirit of the Enemy of Mankind the Devil made in their Souls that they had rather at present lose the Salvation of them than embrace that which would Eternally make them happy and only because it is our Friend and has had mercy upon us But my Counsel and Advice is that they would while there is a day and time lay hold of the Truth if not for our sakes or the Truths sake yet for their own Souls sake there would be more Comfort found in one hours enjoyment of the sweet Influences of that holy Spirit although in the ministration of Condemnation than in many days and months years living senceless thereof or in opposition thereto People may feed themselves up with Fables put their trust in broken Reeds the strength of the Aegyptian Hosts but shall at length come to know it may be when it is too late what they have dispised and how they have slighted and done dispight to that which only and alone was able to save them It is them that walk in disobedience to the Holy Spirit and make a mock at its reproofs which Crucifie the Lord afresh and put him to open shame this did our Enemies but seriously consider might put a stop to their slanderous Tongues if they made never so little inspection into their own Lives and Conversations A small reflection upon themselves by the Light of the Divine Spirit would strike their Souls with horror for that they should go to tax others with Denying the Lord and themselves his daily Murtherers I have only one small Objection to remove out of the way and that has relation to my self that whereas the following Papers are written in the Plural Number and I have put my self in that Discourse into the Body of that People this is to inform in the first place that I there speak what I know is the Truth according to the faithful perswasion of my Soul and so abstractly consider the cause according to the Justice thereof that only and simply for the real Truth sake But in the second place knowing the equity of their Cause the Excellency Glory and Power of that Truth which they hold I also put that Discourse in the aforesaid stile as being really one satisfied therein and so having by that conjunction a just cause to appear in their vindication and so the Adversary may take me if he pleases if not in the other sense But which way soever let him charge only me for what I have writ as being immediately concerned and responsable for the same and I have hope I shall approve my self to that holy and just Spirit of Truth in Faithfulness thereunto and by the Power and Assistance thereof not only maintain and defend that Truth which in the following Lines I have appeared in vindication of but take a part and portion with that and them from hence forth and for ever Fastend of Pauls neâ—r the Free-School William Salmon AN APOLOGY FOR THE Innocency and Iustice OF THE QUAKERS CAUSE I. Of our Religion and Faith in general 1. IT was an eminent truth which was delivered by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that the Disciple is not above his Master nor the Servant above his Lord if they have called the Master of the House Beelzebub how much more them of his Houshold It is the Portion of the little Flock to suffer Persecution which the Devil and his Instruments were ever ready to present them withal not only by exquisite tortures of their Bodies and ruine of their Estates but also by the wounding of their Reputation if possible through the detraction of slanderous and malitious Tongues But as we have learned of our Master to go through good report and evil so that holy and Christian Spirit has taught us to rejoice and be exceeding glad when Men speak all manner of evil of us falsly for its name sake And indeed there is little reason to be given why we should not be partakers of his Portion who enduring the Cross despised the shame and suffered the contradiction of sinners since we expect to be sharers with him in his glory How have Men incensed themselves with madness and sury against our Religion and taken up a resolution to condemn us without so much as hearing the reasons we offer for our defence And think that all the Calumnies slanders and abuses which Ignorance and Envy can heap upon us to be infinitely less than what we deserve Be pleased then to take this following refutation in Paper since you are dull of apprehension or will not understand it by word of mouth This truth which we profess and defend seeks no favour at your hands since we are without hope to meet with any better measure than what her Enemies have formerly given Our Religion drawing its Original from Heaven is indeed a Stranger upon Earth where we conclude it must meet with as many Enemies as the Author thereof all that we desire is that it might not be condemned unknown which if any shall refuse they will not only stand charged with manifest injustice but may be justly suspected to act wilfully against the secret witness in their Consciences 2. It is Ignorance of the truth we profess which makes your Censures against us unjust you say we are no Christians but it is because you know not what Doctrines we hold it is that which blinds your eyes which renders your Judgements faulty were it a thing which ought to be hated yet nothing is more unjust than to speak evil of it before it is known It is not the evil of the thing but a Mans knowledge thereof which gives him a right to condemn it till when we fall not under the lash of your Judgement Did you know our Religion the holiness and Piety thereof you could not but embrace it unless you wilfully should refuse the offers of the saving health We our selves when ignorant as you are believed as you do but when we became informed we were necessitated to hate what we formerly loved and the Progress which truth hath made in our Souls has forced us to
Shame but that which causes Repentance grieving that we should so long as we have done put off the day There is only required for the condemnation of us the Judgment of our Adversaries their bare affirmation of the matter wherewith we are charged is enough to pronounce us guilty and to expose us to the publick hatred of the misguided World 7. Now to let the World know our Principles we shall do our endeavour to express our Faith in a larger Character than that in which we have but now declared it Not but that which William Pen has said is the substance of all that can be spoken But because all are not of equal Capacities and that the aforesaid word Doctrine is by Adversaries abused and we thereby rendred to hold such things as are repugnant to the Holy Scriptures we shall here do our endeavour to rend the Vail and dispel these Clouds which either has or may yet blind the mind and understanding of the Intellectual part of Man We believe that there is One only Heb. 11.6 Great Almighty Eternal and holy God Eph. 4.5.6 the Maker Creator and upholder of all things Nehem. 9.20 who has given a measure of his Spirit or Grace unto all Men by which they might come to know him the true God Gen. 1.1 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Joh. 1.9 Through this Grace we believe that Jesus Christ our Lord Tit. 2.11 was in the fulness of time manifest in flesh 1. Cor. 12.7 being Conceived of the Holy Ghost Born of a Virgin Mat 1.20 and made in all things like unto us 1. Tim. 6.13 sin only excepted That he witnessed a good Confession before Pontius Pilate Act. 2.23.32 was condemned suffered the death of the Cross Heb. 10.12 was Buried and rose again the third day Ascended Heb. 8.1 and in his own glorious and Heavenly Body Eph. 1 2â— sits at the right hand of the Heavenly Majesty Phil. 7.9 And that this same Jesus God hath highly exalted and given him a Name above every Name Joh. 3.16 that whosoever believes in him Act. 4.12 should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3.16 and that there is no other Name under Heaven given among Men Joh. 11.26 whereby we must be saved We believe in the Holy Ghost Joh. 14.17.26 which is the Spirit of truth the Vnction or Anointing from the Holy One that he proceedeth from the Father Joh. 16.13.15 and will shew us things to come 1. Joh. 2.20.27 and that he beareth witness of the Son and will dwell both with us and in us and that he shall teach us all things and abide with us for ever Eph. 28. Through the teachings and demonstrations of this Holy Spirit we believe 1. Joh. 5.4 that as through faith in Christ we shall be saved so that by the vertue of that faith we shall overcome the World Tit. 2.12.14 and bring forth the blessed fruits of Repentance in an boly Life Eph. 1.7 We also believe that Sanctification is by the blood of Jesus Heb. 9.14 and that so far as we are sanctified so far we are justified and so far made the Righteousness of God in him Phil. 3.9.10 And we believe that the Righteousness of Christ is no otherwise imputed unto us but as we are true Believers and in conformity to his death and sufferings Heb 2.9 And that although Christ our Lord made his Soul an Offering for sin tasted death for every Man and is a propitiation for the sins of the whole World 1. Joh. 2.2 yet none receives the peculiar benefit thereof unless through faith in his name power 2. Thes 2.12 or spirit denying themselves and taking up the daily Cross Col. 3.5 they dye unto sin and live unto righteousness and so through a mortification of the deeds of the flesh come to witness a new Birth Tit. 3.5 and Regeneration in Spirit Joh. 4.23 We believe that the Worship of God is a Spiritual Worship Joh. 3.3.5 and that they that Worship him Rom. 6.4 must Worship in Spirit and Col. 2.11.12.14 truth and that we are Circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands Eph. 1.12 in putting off the Body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ Rom. 2.26.29 and in like manner Buried with him in Baptisin if we be also risen with him Philip. 3.3 through the faith of the opperation of God who hath raised him from the dead Eph. 2.15 And that he has blotted out the Handwriting of Ordinances which was against us which was contrary unto us and took it out of the way nayling it unto his Cross Col. 3.17 We believe that Prayer and Thanksgivings are incumbent duties 1 Thes 5.17.18 and holy Ordinances of Gods spiritual Worship to all the Worshipers in Gods holy Temple Prov. 2â— â— 27 but being performed and not in the sence and power of the holy Spirit and in the fear and dread of Gods great and glorious name Psa 50.16 they are not only sin but an abomination to the Lord. Isa 66.3 And we believe that the holy Scriptures are the Jer. 6.20 Declarations Amos. 5.22 Writings and Testimonies not only of holy Men but of the Spirit of Truth it self and that they ought to be read believed and practised 2. Tim. 3.15 being profitable for Doctrine reproof correction and instruction in righteousness that the Man of God might have comfort through the same be made perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works and through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord are able Joh. 5.28.29 to make wise unto salvation Lastly We believe the Resurection of the Dead both of the just 1. Cor. 15.16.17 and unjust the one to salvation to an Inheritance Incorruptible and undefiled which fadeth not away 1. Pet. 1.4 reserved in Heaven where our vile or low Bodies shall be changed Phil. 3.21 and fashioned like unto his glorious Body 2. Pet. 3.7 according to the working of his mighty power whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself the other to Condemnation and wrath Eph. 1.19 according to the Judgement of the great day 8. Having thus in few words given an account of our Faith without any Equivocation Mental Reservation or secret Evasion we must tell the Adversary in the words of our Lord that Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Our good Confession then being fully agreeable with the tenour and sense of the holy Scriptures is not only an Evidence to our Salvation but also a matter of Justification thereby demonstrating that it is as well the intent and belief of our hearts as the expressions of our mouths And we think the Dilemma is
his Soul and will not inform him of it unless the Person so misled be willing to be subservient to his way of doing it O no unless he will condescend to my way of doing of it he shall be damned he shall perish this is the Charity of the Adversary with whom we deal not only to root us off from the face of the Earth but to cut us off from heaven also if so be it lay in his power O! prodigious kindness surely it is as Elijah said he is a God cry aloud to him But if the Adversary cannot prove his affirmation then it will appear that his Charges are not only horrid Lyes of an immeasurable Latitude but also the Productions of Malice whose Center is Hell it self 10. He now comes to speak to my Paper but yet not one word of Answer to what I desired The chief matter which he says is that I use an uncivil Dialect with high Rants and boasting Rhodomontadoes insult over my Adversary and that I can Encounter him and all his abettors and that this my undertaking is in the name of that despised People called Quakers To which I Answer The speaking of truth is no uncivil Dialect to tell a Lyer he lyes are but the words of truth the same Spirit which taxes me with uncivil Language would without doubt have charged Paul with the same when he said to Elymas the Sorcerer O full of all subtilty and mischief thou Child of the Devil thou Enemy of all Righteousness c. It is not plain Language and Truth which makes a Dialect uncivil but the affirmation of Lyes and therefore the Adversary's Accusation is returned upon himself again he talks of high Rants and boasting Rodomontadoes but they are his own till he hath proved his Assertions the Adversary although in his altitudes sees not himself and yet pretends he sees all others he needs not say that that is the way of our resuting our Adversaries whilst his own way whether of refuting or proving is only by accusing and confidently affirming upon no greater credit than his own ipse dixit that his protestations are true He is the insulter who would force our belief without demonstration and make us subject our reason to what our sences only are able to evince a salcity He tells me that I say that I can Encounter him and all his abettors but leaves out the former of my words viz. through the assistance of the Divine Power by which it appears the Mans only intention is Slander and Infamy He says that I say I did it in the name of that despised People called Quakers and what then must a Man deny the truth because Slanderers and Lyers despise it Is iâ— not the duty of a Christian to embrace that which the World is not worthy to receive But I talk to Prejudice and Folly for should he be bray'd in a Morter I see little hopes of his learning to speak the truth or probabilities of his amendment 11. He says The former words were Reasons of Inducement to make him believe me to be a Quaker but upon Inquiry of Samuel Newton and others they did say that they did hear my Conversation was not answerable to my Profession and that they did disown me Since which I have spoken with Samuel Newton and he affirms that he neither heard nor spake any such words but says he is very much abused therein It is to be feared that it is his design to tax the Conversations of other men with Guilt to cover the Infamy of his own and by disparaging Language to wound the Reputation and Credit of those whom he has a particular design to abuse He says he had the same report of others also but what these others are he either may not or cannot tell however who or whatsoever they were having found already that he has belyed Samuel Newton I have as much ground to believe that his slanderous tongue has done the same by those too 12. This Accuser because that he understands that I am a Professor of Physick would fain Insinuate to the world that my particular and private interest not my love to the Truth was the only motive and induction of my appearing in the behalf thereof this day Certainly this man measures the honesty and actions of every man by his own he was resolved that if what he had said before would not disparage me enough this should if that he had not told a lye big enough he would strain a little more to tell a bigger as far as I can perceive it is the only Art in which his chief Excellencies lie The opposition of his belief concerning me and belying and slandering of my Reputation and Credit he thinks may pass for an answer to me an excelent way of encountring with irrefutable Arguments Who should believe or credit a man that is false to his own Principles who could blame with Cowardise and Temporising his Brethren Pitman and Shewwell and tell them in a Letter he wrote to them That they had quitted the cause of Righteousness and ways of Holiness complying with the Precepts of men because they had taken Oaths which is indeed contrary to the Principles of Christianity and yet he himself our present Accuser in about five days after to avoid suffering not only did the same but also justified his Apostacy as more fully may appear in Samuel Fishers Antidote against Swearing in Calce Libri 13. But why should the Accuser tax me in respect of the Interest of my Profession since had I designed Interest I could have espoused that which should have been very much a greater than this whose Appendices should have been accompanied with worldly Glory and Repute but contrarily meerly for the Truths sake I have chosen that wherein I can look to meet with only Contempt and Ignominy to be made the Scorn and Mock of the World and instead of gaining Interest and External Happiness can expect nothing but Persecution Contumely and Reproach Surely no man that has reason would judge but that if I had made my Interest my end but that I could have made a much better choice had the love of the World been my design I would have had my eye upon that which to the appearance of Reason might in some measure have answered my expectations and not upon a despicable People which the World tramples upon and make the off-scouring of all* things I have now done hoping I have said enough to that which I can never expect should be just to me since it has been so unjust to it self III. An Explication of our Principles by way of Question and Answer 1. WHat is the way of God The way of God is the way of Holiness and Truth the way of Salvation Isa 26.7 a way of Uprightness Joh. 14.6 that leads to an Eternal Life It is a plain and easie way not hard and difficult to be understood but a way in which the wayfaring man Isa
Cant. 5.16 this is our Beloved and this is our Friend O Daughters of Jerusalem 27. What mean you concerning the Seed and how many Seeds are there The Seed to whom the Promise is made is Christ Gal. 3.16 the Seed of the Woman which should bruise the Serpents head Isa 62.2 But there is an off-spring of God even the workmanship of his hands Deut. 28.2 which that Seed comes to redeem Isa 61.8.9 the lost Souls of poor fallen man which when that Redemption comes to be known is also called by its name that Redeems it for that was the Promise of God Eph. 3.15 and thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name even by the name of thy God Isa 65.9.15 which Moses said all the people of the earth shall see and this is that Seed with whom God makes an everlasting Covenant even the Seed which God hath blessed the Seed which God brings forth out of Jacob and out of Judah the Elect chosen people which shall inherit his holy Mountain 28. Is Immediate Inspiratition Revelation ceased or no No Eph. 1.17 It is that which Paul prayed for that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory might give unto the Saints the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation It is the Inspiration of the Almighty which gives us an understanding Job 32.8 who revealeth to us deep and secret things Dan. 2.21 And that Spirit in all Ages saith Solomon entering into holy Souls Wisd 7.27 makes them friends of God and Prophets Isa 29.11 And without this Inspiration the Scriptures and things of God cannot be known or understood 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12. for no man knows the things of God but the Spirit of God and he to whom the Spirit reveals them till when the Scriptures are but a Sealed Book Eph. 1.13 4.30 which neither the Unlearned nor Learned can read till the opening of the Seal which is the Spirit of Truth by which we also are Sealed to the day of Redemption 29. What is it to believe in the name of Christ and what is the effects of that Faith To believe in the name is to live Hab. 2.4 to live the life of Righteousness and Holyness Heb. 10.38 without which none can ever see the Lord now the true Faith is known by the effects thereof Rom. 1.17 for that gives victory over the world 1 John 5.4.5 3.3 and brings forth a lively hope which purifies the heart as God is pure 30. To whom is the Righteousness of Christ imputed Only to them which believe Act. 13.39 who walk not after the flesh Rom. 3.22.25 4.22.23.24 but after the Spirit who bear in their bodies dayly the dyings of the Lord Jesus Heb. 10.29 But he that walks after the Flesh fulfilling the Lusts of the same tramples underfoot the blood of the Covenant as an unworthy thing and makes the death of Christ to himself of none effect 31. What mean you by Sanctification and of Justification and how are they distinguished Sanctification is by the Spirit of God 1 Thes 2.13 and blood of Jesus our Lord and it is a making holy as it is written Rom. 15.16 thou shalt be an holy people to the Lord thy God Heb. 10.29 and he that is Sanctified comes to be justified for they are Concomitants in the work of Regeneration for the unsanctified or wicked man I will not justifie saith God Ex. 19.6 1 Pet. 2.9 Ex. 23.7 and they are chiefly distinguished in name as the cause and effect that Gods faithfulness might appear who will not acquit the guilty person 33. But Wherefore doth Paul say who Justifieth the ungodly The Speech is Tropical by a Metonymia of the subject Rom. 4.5 in which place the word ungodly is put for a Believer as the following words inculcate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Imputatur fidei ejus ad justitiam his Faith is counted to him for Righteousness So that he is called ungodly only in respect to what he once was before he believed and not what he is by Faith 34. Can the Creature be perfectly Sanctified seeing John saith 1 Joh. 1.8 If we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us It is falsely Translated for the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Subjunctive Mood governed by the Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 si and the Preterimperfecttense of the same Mood ar appears by the ninth verse where he saith If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and how can that be if at the same time we cannot say we haue no sin the version should be thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Si dixerimus quod peccatum non haberemus nos ipsos seducimus If we say we have had no sin we deceive our selves and it is so rendred by Beza non est nobis peccatum to which Tremelius agrees nos peccatum non habere and I think out of the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established 35. What think you of Good Works They are the fruits of the Spirit the effects of the true faith and although that man is not saved by Works but by Faith yet he cannot be saved without them Jam. 2.22 for it is as impossible that the true Faith should be where the effects of it are not as that God should deny himself 36. What hold you of Prayer and Thanksgiving They are only to be done by that Soul which comes to dwell in the Life of Jesus 1 Thes 1.1 and 5.17 18. Jam. 1.5 6 7. and to dye dayly to Sin for to such God opens himself and then they see and know what they want and what to ask for and asking in Faith are fully assured that they shall receive the same at the hand of the Lord The Prayers and Praises then are presented to God from the Soul by the Holy Spirit which makes them a Sacrifice of sweet Savour in his Nostrils and then the Creature comes to seee that the Sacrifices of the wicked are not only sin but an abomination to the Lord. Prov. 21.28 And thus receiving an answer from God the Soul returns him a sacrifice of thanksgiving which is acceptable in his sight It is dreadful to appear before God with poluted hands and a wicked heart 37. How are the holy Scriptures to be understood By the Spirit only that gave them forth to which they are a Testimony and stand as a witness against all the wickedness and evil ways of men and all unrighteousness 2 Pet. 1.20 2 Tim. 3.16 and every evil work which is acted against God and the appearance of his holy Spirit 38. Tell me what you think of the death of Christ It was the means by which God was pleased to redeem