Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
truth_n believe_v faith_n justify_v 5,380 5 8.8463 5 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A77832 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 Burrough to the quæries then laid down in my book reproved. And also, a plain answer to his quæries, 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 ... Bunyan, John, 1628-1688.; Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.; Bunyan, John, 1628-1688. Some gospel-truths opened according to the Scriptures. 1657 (1657) Wing B5606; ESTC R170889 81,202 76

There are 7 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

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 truth● 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 ma●● more I might mention but now I forbear knowing that none sha●● be lost nor altogether carried away by them nor any Hereticks but the sons of perdition Now that they might the better make their doctrine take place in the hearers they endeavour to make a fair shew in the flesh that thereby they might now as did their fathers in time past compell and constraine them who are not hy the Lord 's right hand planted into the truth of Jesus to follow their covered errors as it is written Galath 6.12 For as many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh That is according to the workes of the Law do with good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16.18 And indeed it doth
clearly appeare that those that are carried away are such as are not able to discerne between fair speeches declared by hereticks and sound Doctrine declared by the simple-hearted servants of Jesus 2ly Now I shall lay down severall grounds not onely why errors are broached in the World but also why so many are carried away with them 1. One ground why so many errours do from time to time come into the world is because those that are not indeed of the planting of the Lord 's right hand might be rooted out Mat. 15.13 Now these are many times carried away by deceivable doctrines And truly in this our God hath both a care of his own glory and of his Churches welfare For fi●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 th●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 appe●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 behavi●ur to ri●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 ●●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 pa●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 n●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 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
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 a●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 tha● 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 sha●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
that I should say They are deceived who owne Christ no otherwaies then as he was before the world began This Question I briefely aske thee Had Christ a body of flesh before the World began If you say no as you must if you say true Then do not I say true when I say they are deceived who own Christ no otherwise then as he was before the world began because they owne him not with that body of flesh which he took of the Virgin Mary and so are Antichrists as the Scripture saith And how say you Do you believe that the same Christ who was ●efore the World without a body did in time come into the world and t●ke a bodie from the Virgin and in that bodie did obtain everlasting redemption for sinnesr and is gone with that very body into the presence of his Father above the clouds into heaven from his Saints on earth though in them by his spirit A plain answer to this would unlock your double meanings Again thou saiest the Saints drank of the spiritual Rcck that followed them Friend I confesse that that spirituall Rock that did follow the Fathers and long after was from the same loines with them even from the loins of Abraham and the rest of the children of the promise according to the promise was the meat and drink of Saints Rom. 9.4 5. But to look upon Christ no otherwise then as he was before the world was which was a spirit onely and not to own him now clothed with a bodie absent from his children touching the same bodie I dare be bold to say they are no Christians but Antichristians yea Antichrists He that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is Antichrist and of Antichrist Again At this also thou wranglest because I said that every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ who was with the Father before the world was did in the appointed time of the father come into the World take a body upon him and was very man as well as very God and did in that very body suffer what did belong to the sons of men c. So my book page 42. 43. 44. I answer if thou didst indeed believe the truth thou wouldest owne these things But being deceived rather then thou wilt let this pass for truth though thou dare not oppose it with open face yet thou wilt put on a vaile and venture upon it thus saying If every spi●it were of God w●ich doth confesse in words this then is not the Pope himselfe Antichrist Answer Friend it is one thing to confesse the things in words and another thing to believe them and to make a life out of them and therefore is thy life made out of Christ without thee by the operation of his spirit within thee yea or no Then in answer to my bidding people receive no Christ except God's Christ thou saiest thus That Christ is a mistery and unto him is light and shall be salvation where his person never came Th●s Question I aske thee did or doth Christ obtaine salvation for any without that ●●●y which he took of the Virgin And yet thou saiest it cannot be said here is the place where the Son is not I answer as the Son of God is also very man so it may be said here is the place where he is not and there is the place where he hath not been though as he is God it is otherwise let him that reads understand And now passing by many things that I might justly examine and also many unseemly expressions I come to the next thing and that is where you say you wrest not the Scrripture in Joh. 1.9 But it is evident that you do most horribly wrest it in that you though you seem to take it in the plaine words yet would hold that that light is the Spirit of Christ notwithstanding there is no such thing mentioned in that Scripture For marke as I have sometimes said and now also will say that that light wherewith Christ as he is God hath lightened every one with is not the Spirit of Christ as is cleere in that some are sensuall having not the Spirit which they must needs have if it were given to every one that comes into the World and therefore in that you say I say you lay down that scripture false I say again that you say many things which I do know to be blasphemie as I shall prove cleerely anon as also I have already And therefore to take thee off from this I shall say that Christ as he is a mediator a man between God and man so he doth not lighten every man that comes into the World though as he is God he doth And that is manifest where he often as he was man saith These things are spoken to them that are without in parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand Luk 8.10 And again where Judas not Iscariot said Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self to us and not unto the world He saith If a man love me he will keep my sayings and my Father will love him and we I as Mediatour and my Father as reconciled in me will manifest our selves unto him Joh. 14.21.23 And again No man knoweth the Father but the Son That is no man knoweth him as a Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11.27 But above all take that Scripture where the Son saith I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to Babes ver 25. Here the Son and the Father are speaking one to another the Father he hides the glorious things of the Gospel from the world Mat 11.25 26 27. and the Son he rejoices in so doing At that same houre Jesus rejoiced in Spirit and said I thank thee O Father c. Therefore understand thus much that though Christ as he is God doth give to every man a light which is Conscience otherwise called Nature Rom. 2.14 1 Cor. 11.14 yet it doth not follow that every man hath enlightning from Christ as he is Mediatour No Christ as he is Mediatour doth neither pray for the world Joh. 17.9 neither doth he give his Spirit to all that are in the world for some are sensual and have it not But now the argument that thou do'st bring to colour the contrary with is this For what the Father doth saiest thou the Son doth also Answ Though this be true that the Son doth what the Father doth yet it doth not appear that either the Father or the Son hath given the Spirit to every one that comes into the world Again thou saiest thou deniest those that say That light which every ono hath as he coms into the world is Conscience though some call it Christ falsly Jude 19. Answ Friend What wilt thou have it called Christ No. If not Conscience
Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world by his blood on the Crosse who is now also at his Fathers right hand making intercession for all those that do come to the Father by him but they that are not for the truth will advance any thing but the truth And as for that which thou callest the second clause which is The Law sayest thou must be obeied I answer Christ Jesus hath done that in his own person and justified me thereby and for my part I will not labour now to fulfil the Law for justification least I should undervalue the merits of the man Christ Jesus and what he hath done without me and yet will I labour to fulfil if it were possible ten thousand Laws if there were so many and O! let it be out of love to my sweet Lord Jesus 2 Cor 5.14 for the love of Christ constrains me and thus much to thy 16 page In the next place Thou art offended with this because I say though Christ doth give a light to every one that coms into the world yet it doth not therefore follow that this conscience or light is the Spirit of Christ or the work of grace wrought in the heart of any be●iever This I shall pass also as having spoken to it already only mind thee of thy weakness in that thou shouldest m●ke this conscience that Christ hath given to every man to be the same with the Spirit of Christ And thou sayest further that the light that Christ hath lightened every one with is the same in narure with the Spirit of Christ O wonderful that a man should be so foolish and so much besides the truth as to compare that nature or conscience that is given to every man equall to the Spirit of Christ Nay thou sayest that it is one with it in nature Did'st thou not blush when thou laydest it down If thou did'st not thou mightest have done with shame enough As I said before because thy conscience will convince thee of sin therefore thou wilt call it Christ or as good as Christ What! because the Law will convince of sin therefore the Law must be called Christ What ignorance is this Nay nature it self that must have the preheminency even as high as Christ Jesus because it can tell a man that it is a shame for him to wear long hair Then thou askest me can there be a surer thing for the Creature to walk by than by the light of Christ which thou confessest every one hath that cometh into the world Answer Friend to the law and to the testimony sai h the Scriptures for they testify of Christ And if thou or any else shall leave the Scriptures to follow the convictions of their own conscience ye are not like to know Christ Jesus the Lord for they may be defiled And again it is through the promises laid down in the Scriptures that we may partake of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and not by our following of the law or conscience Gal. 3.1 2 3 4. But again where I say Heathens Turks Jews Atheists c. have that which doth convince of sin and yet are so far from having the Spirit of Christ in them that they delight to do iniquity and to serve their lust Upon this thou movest this Quaery Do they or I or any other serve sin and lust because Christ hath not given us light or because we hate this light Answ This I do really confefs that every Heathen Turk or Jew in this world hath a conscience within them that doth convince of sin for the Gentiles which have not the law that is not the law in tables of stone or written as we have these do by nature the things conteined in the law these having not the law are a law unto themselvs which shew the work of the law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing them witness c. And all men and women shall be left without excuse even by the convictions of their own consciences or the law But now that these things are the Spirit of Christ that I deny For conscience is but a creature a faculty of the soul of man which God hath made Neither is the law the Spirit of Ch●ist for the law is not of faith They that are of the works of the law are under the curse but they that have the Spirit of Christ they are the children of God and under grace and delivered from the curse as it is written Gal. 3. As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse But what is it to be of the works of the law or under the law Answ Why to seek to be justified by their obedience to the law Israel which followed after the law of righteousness Mark They that follow af●er righteousness do not attain to the law of righteousness if they seek it not by faith but as it were by the works of the law But Christ hath delivered u● from the curse of the law Rom. 9.30.31 being in our nature made a curse for us Gal. 3.10 11 12 13. But whereas thou sayest this conscience or law which you would fain have called the Spirit of Christ works in all men either to justifie or condemne I do plainly deny that either conscience or the law can justifie though they can condemne Mark the law is called the ministration of condemnation but not of life The Gospel is called the ministration of life but not of condemnation 2 Cor. 3.9 the law was given that sin might be discovered The Gospel was sent that sin might be taken away The law worketh wrath but the Gospel is a Gospel of peace Rom 10. The law makes nothing perfect Heb. 7.19 but Christ justifieth from all those things from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses Act. 13.39 And whereas thou askest me whether any thing doth convince of sin contrary to or besides the Spirit of Christ I answer there is conscience and the law yea and nature it self that doth convince of sin as before I have proved at large Yet neither is conscience the law or nature it self the Spirit of Christ no but are much inferiour to it as being things of no glory in respect of it And again that somthing doth convince of sin besides the Spirit of Christ it is evident for the law saith 2 Cor. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in it to do them But the Spirit convinceth men of their unbelief together with other sins Now mark the law also convinceth to work for life the Spirit convinceth to believe for life the law saith he that doth not fulfil me shal be damned The Spirit saith he that believeth in Christ shal be saved Now observe the terms of the law and of the Gospel are different one from another as to justification If men seek for life by the law then the law saith fulfil me perfectly
and 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 th●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 s●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 ● I delivered unto you first of all that which