unfairly quoted G.F. upon trust leaving out what 's most material both Distinction and Explanation about the Soul or Spirit of man both with Relation to its Creator and to the Creature man being spoken of in both respects by our Friends 1. Where G.F. insists on the Words God breathed into Man the Breath of Life and he became a living Soul It was to this Breath of Life as immediately coming from God that our Friends Words related as his Question plainly shews i. e. Was not that of God and of his Being which came out from God meaning that divine Breath or Spirit of Life by which Man became a Living Soul and from whence came not only Man 's natural Breath and Life but also his spiritual and this does distinguish between the divine Being and the Creature Man and not confound their Beings And for the Soul or Spirit of sanctified Man to center with God this is not to render it the Being of God or God himself We know none professing the true God and Christ so grosly absurd as to say That Man made himself or was his own Maker Saviour or Redeemer 2. Our Friend speaks plainly in the same Book quoted against him Gr. Myst. Fol. 90 91 100. That the Soul should be subject to the Power of God that Christ is the Bishop of the Soul who brings it up into God the Soul being in Death in Transgression Man's Spirit not sanctified c. This could not intend the Being of God for that never sinned though there be something thereof in the Soul even in that reasonable Soul or Spirit of Man which God by his divine Word Breath or Spirit formed in Man Zech. 12.1 and so made Man a living Soul On Jonathan Clapham's Authority and Report R. Hubberthorn is charg'd by this credulous Dr. That he expresly said The Soul was the Being of God Quoting R.H. his Truth and Innocency and Clapham's Discovery Epist. to the Reader for proof How envious and unjust is it thus to condemn Persons upon report of their Enemies who regard not Truth but revenge and perversness as in this We find not in all R.H. his Answer to Clapham any such Expressions as that the Soul of Man was the Being of God but rather the contrary yet that 't is immortal That the first Man Adam was made a Living Soul that the immortal Life in the Soul came from the same Being and so says Clapham that the Soul came indeed from God and is Immortal and that God breathed into Man the Breath of Life and he became a Living Soul that the Soul is to be watched over that Peoples Souls are to be redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb raised up by the Power of God out of Death R.H. his Collect. p. 30.38 How can the Charge before stand with these Passages i. e. That the Soul of Man should be the Being of God and yet to be watched over by his Ministers redeemed by Christ and raised up by his Power That divine Sense which he hath given us would never admit us so to confound the Being of the Creature with the Being of the Creator as to render them both one and the same Being For though the Soul of Man be a Spiritual Being it is not God nor Christ but is saved by him This Adversary by his Instance in his second Charge which he takes upon Trust from our old Adversary Jonathan Clapham his saying that R.H. in his Book against Sherlock p. 30. brings Phil. 2.5 6. To justifie the Quakers Equality to God We look upon this Charge to proceed from meer Malice and as a foul Abuse of R.H. his words for the same Mind that was in Christ to be in us Phil. 2.5 6. was in respect to his Humility and Obedience There 's no mention of the Quakers Equality to God in R.H. his Answer But of Christ being Equal with God on Phil. 2.5 See his Collect. p. 34 Charge 3. Against W.P. and R.H. about the Term Trinity That God is the Holy One c. That few are so blind as either to affirm or believe that there are three Subsistences and but one Divine Being c. Obs. Pray where is the Unchristianity or Antichristianity here If he believes the contrary Viz. That God is not the Holy One that there are three Subsistences or Bottoms in the one Divine Being This appears not to us either consistent with the Holy Scriptures or good Sense See Deut 6.4 Mark 12.29 32. 1 Joh. 5.7 Joh. 10.30 Besides he has dealt very unfairly in this Charge taking no notice either of the Doctrin opposed by our Friendâ— which was that of Three distinâ—t and separate Persons in the God-head which we do not find their own Articles of Religion will warrant nor yet of their Arguments to the contrary See our Friend's Book Divinity of Christ yet the Dr. grants they i. e. the Quakers seem to own the Thing but not the term Trinity he might have added of separate Persons in the Deity because the Father Son and Holy Ghost are One and Inseparable and then his Sentence or Charge against us is because we are not satisfied with those unscriptural Terms of Trinity of Three separate Persons or Subsistences in the God-head and reverently profess the Father Son and Holy Spirit in the words which the same Spirit hath taught us in the Holy Scriptures Thus uncharitable and envious some of the Priests have appeared against us to condemn us as no Christians because we could not in point of our Christian Conscience come under their imposing unscriptural Terms upon us whilst they cannot deny but grant that we own the Thing or Doctrin intended Charge 4 5 6 and 7. Against some of our Friends for manifesting their Dislike of the Terms Human Personal Christ and that he took to himself an Human Soul and some Adversaries terming Christ himself an Human Body and some Friends asserting the Oneness of Christ's Body 1 Cor. 12.20 and his Heavenly manhood and Christ as but one in all his Saints Obs. Here again the Dr. has condemned our Friends as Unchristian about Unscriptural Words and Terms imposed upon us whilst we deny not the Thing it self namely the real Manhood of Jesus Christ as he is compleat Man the Heavenly Man yet his Soul Divine and Body Heavenly Spiritual and Glorious And cannot the Dr. with all his Learning find out an Oneness between Christ in Heaven and his Members on Earth and between his Members or Church on Earth and his glorious Body in Heaven so as to admit his Body in the fulness of it in Heaven and Earth to be but One are not his Members in spiritual Union with him 1 Cor. 12.12 And why the Man should either Antichristian or Unchristian any of our Friends because they think the Term Human too low to give to the Soul of the Messiah whilst he cannot prove it so termed in Holy Scripture we are yet to seek He still imposes without Proof or Demonstration as if his
is very plain I believed and therefore I have spoken Psal. 116.10 2 Cor. 4.13 And there were many true Believers before the Scriptures were writ who wanted not a true Foundation or Rule 'T is wonderful strange this old great Doctor should represent such Doctrins as these either Antichristian or Unchristian The Lord teach him better and humble him unto Repentance for his unchristian and uncharitable Opposition Charge 14. Against E.B. for saying All who go before the moving of the Spirit their Prayers Preaching and Ordinances I deny c. We own the immediate Spirit of God which was before the Scripture was written to be the Rule of our Conversation And against G. Keith viz. We are to wait for an immediate Call Motion c. to preach pray or give thanks and forbear till it be given Charge 15. Against being infallibly guided by the infallible Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and speaking from the Mouth of the Lord. Charge 16. Against that which was spoken from the Spirit of God in any being of as great Authority as the Scriptures or greater and our Friends pretending to speak or write by one and the same Spirit according to measure by which Christ and the Apostles and Prophets spoke Obs. We do not perceive any Antichristianity or Unchristianity either justly chargeable upon these Passages but rather on this Doctor for so judging them all From which it naturally follows 1. That he is for praying and preaching before or without the moving of the Spirit of God and so runs when the Lord never sent him contrary to the true Prophets Christ and his Apostles Doctrin and Christians Practice Jer. 23.21 22. 1 Pet. 4.11 2. He does not own the immediate Spirit of God and Christ to be the rule or guide of his Conversation contrary to Christ and his Apostles Doctrin 3. Nor waiting for any immediate Call or Motion from God to preach pray or give thanks so that he promotes only a Will-Worship which God never accepts 4. Though we always confess the holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament to be given by divine Inspiration and prefer them before and above all other Writings or Books and in no wise question the Truth of them yet we must needs allow the holy Spirit from whence they came the preference and its immediate Teaching and Speaking in the Soul as of greater Efficacy Power and Authority to that Soul than the bare writing or Scripture without or only reading thereof though it contain the same Words immediately taught And so Christ and his Apostles living and powerful preaching in and from the powerful motion of the holy Spirit as being of greater Efficacy Power and Authority than the outward Writing or Scripture it self simply or abstractly considered as distinct from that Spirit tho' the Words preached and the Words written may be the same For the Gospel as livingly preach'd came not in Words only but also in Power and in the Holy Ghost 1 Thess. 1.5 For the real Authority Efficacy and Service the Holy Scripture has upon a Soul is from the holy Spirit or Word of Life giving the true Belief and right Understanding thereof But we may suppose that our Adversary's Charge in this Point is from his not owning the immediate teaching of God or preaching by the immediate motion and guidance of his blessed Spirit in these days but only by Tradition his Acquirement by reading and study of other Mens Works and Lines made ready to his Hand and therefore that he wants divine Power Authority and Efficacy in 's Ministry And then he might be more ingenuous to lay aside his Trade of Preaching and leave the People to read the Holy Scriptures without his meanings or private Interpretations upon them Charge 17. In this he accuses our Paper asserting our Christianity with a Tedious and Obscure Harangue under pretence of enjoying the spiritual Part of Baptism and the Lord's Supper but neither Refutes nor Answers what we have writ in that Case both of our Christian Experience and agreeableness to holy Scripture so the less notice need be taken of his Charge against our Friends for Asserting the Baptism of the Holy Ghost Charge ibid. And that the Bread and Wine being no other than a Figure of a spiritual Thing which is the Substance which being witnessed the Figure or Shadow is not obliging being ended i. e. In the New Covenant Charge 18. Against some of our Friends telling them That they set up their Carnal Ordinances in Christ's stead calling them their Means and not witnessing the immediate Appearance of Jesus Christ in their Souls drawing them in his Life and Testifying against the beggarly Rudâ—ments of the World and their Carnal Observances Obs. What more than a Figure does this Doctor suppose the Bread and Wine which they minister to be in the Sacrament so called Does he think them to be the Substance which is Christ If not then 't was very unadvisedly and uncharitably done to charge our Friends as Antichristian or Unchristian either in this Point for calling the outward Elements of Bread and Wine c. A Figure only as Protestant Martyrs esteemed them Vid. Dr. Cranmer Disp. at Oxford c. 3. v. Mar. In opposition to the Papists affirming them to be the Substance Christ. Let him therefore tell us what he esteems them if not a Figure For the Spiritual Substance is Christ he is that One Bread John 6. 1 Cor. 10. and his Spiritual Baptism is The one Baptism Ephes. 4. and in him the Shadows and Figures are ended Charge 19. About the Resurrection That W.P. said To assert the same Body that falls shall rise is inconsâ—stent with Scripture Reason c. And against another Friend for saying The Seed of God is hid in thee c. Obs. He having not wherewithal justly to charge us with denying the Resurrection it self for that we never did but always believed it of both the Just and Unjust and that they shall come to Judgement every Man for himself Now our Friends are charged because they believe a Spiritual Resurrection in opposition to their Adversary's asserting a Carnal or Sameness of Bodies to rise wherein this Adversary's Charge reflects upon the Apostle's Testimony in this Case as well as on our Friends as Unchristian For the Apostle answers such Fools Questions by way of Allusion plainly And that which thou sowest thou sowest not that Body that shall be c. God giveth it a Body as it pleaseth him and to every Seed his own Body There is a natural Body and there is a spiritual Body 1 Cor. 15. ch and 35 36 37 44 Verses c. Which is no other than what our Friends believe and hold Charge 20. Of Christ's second coming to Judgment against this Question i. e. Where proves he that Christ's second coming without Sin to Salvation is a Personal Coming Obs. And where proves he that it is Unchristian to ask such a Question to any that holds it Or that
and Robert Barcley especially G.K. in opposition to several of their and our ancient Friends and Brethren i. e. R.H. Ja. Parnell E.B. W.D. I.N. G.F. G.W. W.P. T. Speed c. The first Five being deceased And we have cause to assure our selves that both G. Keith and R.B. would abominate this false Brother's Attempt to make Divisions between them and their ancient Brethren divers whereof are gone and have laid down their Head in Peace And as to his giving these Commendations of G.K. as agreeing with them i. e. Protestants in this important Truth of the Divine Word assuming the true Nature of Man in Soul and Body into an immediate Vnion c. That Jesus Christ is true and perfect God and true and perfect Man c. very largely and fully c. All which Truths we firmly believe and own But says the false Brother Others in as great Repute among us as G.K. clearly contradict him which we do not believe Whereupon we solemnly declare that we find nothing asserted by G.K. and R.B. where rightly cited but we really own in the matter and intent thereof as about the Holy Scriptures the Word the blessed THREE in Heaven Christ's Divinity and Manhood Body Sufferings c. And also we do not find but what our Ancient Friends have written in these Points are reconcilable to the other upon a fair and rational or charitable Interpretation of their true Intentions and Meanings and taking due and serious Notice of the Tenor and Import of what they writ upon each Subject without mangling or curtailing as this and other Adversaries are apt to do where any things seem to oppose or vary as to some Terms or Expressions no doubt they may be easily reconciled by the Authors i. e. some of our Ancient Friends and G.K. and R.B. though many cannot so learnedly express their Minds and Meaning as they Howbeit this false Brother N.N. who seeks Division and Discord among Brethren feignedly pretends to defend G. Keith and the Protestant Churches against G.F. E.B. and others and says that G.K. owns as fully as they can desire the Doctrin intended by the Word TRINITY which he says they contend not for but the Doctrin intended the Truth of the thing it self we deny not says G.K. That these THREE are one in Nature and Substance yet Three otherwise than by mere Name Operation or Manifestation c. Being distinct in their relative Modes and Properties G.K. and R.B. are for us says he and hopes some of us are of their Mind and so far we may very well be call'd Protestant Quakers and says God forbid that we or the major part of us should approve such as say they are Prophets but are not but have said and done such things as are not to be named among Christians or Men. By these partial Insinuations this false Brother would still render us a divided People and some who are esteem'd as Ministers of Christ among us very suspicious and odious Though we know no reason to disown or protest against either W.D. E.B. R.H. I. P G.W. W.P. or the rest named by him because he has reviled and abused them as no Protestants nor to disown our Friends G.K. or R.B. whom he pretends to defend for we have a true tender and Christian esteem of both even of them all and of their Christian Testimonies and innocent Conversations and Sufferings for Christ. The Author of the Libel or false Brother condemns many things he neither answers nor refutes He supposes Contradiction in Matters reconcilable He reproaches the Dead whom he did not answer nor confute when Living One principal Contradiction supposed is this Title of a Paper i. e. Certain Papers which is the Word of the Lord and yet may not the Scripture be so called We say such a Title to any Paper or Writing is improper from the word should be instead of which is the word we shall not stand by the said Title as 't is worded without such Amendment Yet charitably think it was worded contrary to the intent and meaning of the Author for Paper and Ink cannot be the Word of the Lord nor can the Eternal Word be contained therein Yet that Word hath and may immediatly move upon the Spirits of some to speak and write and that 's our case The words cited against G.W. and others Thus Viz. and here thy Antiquity thy Reasons and about the 3 Persons thou dreamest of which thou wouldst divide out of one like a Conjurer are all denyed and thou with them i. e. his dark Reasons and Imaginations shut up in perpetual Darkness c. G.W. positively disowns the Words and affirms they are none of his and that he writ not that part of the Answer to Townsend which was about the Year 1654. yet looks on the words as wrong writ or wrong printed and that he raced them out or corrected them long since where he has met with that Answer For instead of and the 3 Persons it should have rather been about the 3 Persons And G.W. shall neither stand by nor own those words as charged after he see them in Print he was sorry his Name was to that Paper without distinction between what he writ and what he did not write in it wherein those words are which give the Occasion Let this Advertisement clear G.W. and others and suffice wâ—ry charitable and ingenuous Reader as we hope it will And now seeing this false Brother has so much commended Geo. Keith and Robert Barcley as to their Soundness in Doctrin c. We say there is matter sufficient in their Books in Vindication of the Doctrins Principles and Christian Religion of the People called Quakers which if this false Brother should oppose he 'll run into further self-contradiction against them he has so highly applauded Besides his Misquotations uncharitable and unjust Reflections and Falshoods here omitted and his wicked Attempts to sow Discord cause Divisions and Contentions among Brethen he most unfairly picks and nibbles here and there at our Friends Books and Words taking them in Pieces Bits and Scraps here and there leaving out the stress and explanatory Part of the Matter in divers things we could evince And thus 't is possible for a disingenuous Person to do by the best of Writings And lastly Whereas this false Brother would hear whether we would protest against the Errors his Letters implead c. Yet neither tells us his Name nor Residence nor how to direct to him nor who this N.N. is that 's subscribed to his Letters nor what religious Society he belongs to we have more to say or write to him for his better Information if we knew his Name and where he lives to direct to him and we should not be unwilling to subscribe our Names to such Defence as we have Cause to make in Truths and our own behalf for we are only defensive in these Controversies which this and other obscure and sculking Adversaries have begun against us the peaceable People called Quakers now in a Time of Liberty and Freedom from open Persecution which is an Indication that these secret peevish Smiters do secretly envy our present Liberty and therefore are in the same persecuting Spirit with our open Enemies and Persecutors This N.N. should come forth like a Man and discover himself that some of us whom he has accused might have some friendly Discourse with him which probably might tend to his Convincement and better Satisfaction if not obstinately set to oppose For hitherto he lurks he smiteth privily in the Dark he sitteth in the lurking Places to murther the Innocent he skulks privily to shoot at the Vpright in heart like the wicked If he would be plain and let us know how and whither to direct to him by his right Name it would give us Opportunity to let him hear more particularly from us till then excuse our Brevity FINIS Books Printed for and Sold by Thomas Northcott in Georgh-Yard in Lombard-street RObert Barclay's Apology for the true Christian Divinity as the same is held forth and Preached by the People called in scorn Quakers being a full Explanation and Vindication of their Principals and Doctrins c. G. Keith's Way to the City of God His Way cast up and the Stumbling-blocks removed His fundamental Truths of Christianity His true Christ owned as he is true God and perfect Man His Rector corrected His Truths Defence G. Fox the Younger's Collections E. Bathurst's Truth 's Vindication G. F's Heavenly Salutation His true Christian distinguished from the false A Narrative concerning Grace Watson's Death Abigal Fisher's Salutation of true Love Buds and Blossoms of Piety with some Fruit of the Spirit of Love and Directions to the Divine Wisdom Mankind Displayed or the History of the Little World being curious Collections out of the best Authors of the most wonderful and remarkable Things that have been performed by Men and Women in the several Ages of the World c. Scephen Strisp's Epistle concerning Present and Succeeeding Times Grammatista or the young Grammarian being a very useful selling Book containing Bills Bonds and Receipts c. * To this †I subscribe Geo. Whitehead Psal. 10. 11.2
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shape or Figure of a Man See the difference in Crit. Sacr. and the Translation of the Church of England In Phil. 2.7 Of Christ its expresly said and found in Figure as a Man as Dr. Fulk against the Papists has it He was also said to be made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them under it Gal. 4.4 He was Circumcised presented to the Lord with an Oblation Luke 2.21 24. He eat of the Passover c. and thus came under the Law to fulfill it in these Things which were figurative and shadowy yet was the Substance and End of them Charges 10 and 11. Against an Actual keeping of the Law of God so as to avoid all Sin though he grants such a Perfection as imports Sincerity Integrity and Constancy in our utmost endeavours perfectly to keep God's Law entirely to avoid all Sin c. which Perfection he confesses to be requisite to Salvation Yet contrariwise chargeth one of our Friends for saying He had proved by manifest Scriptures that some were perfect in this Life even without Sin and that our Sanctification is Christ himself 1 Cor. 1.30 And another Friend he charges for saying In your Vnbelief you judge that none can live without sinning Obs. Now take the Doctor as believing the contrary thus viz. Though 't is our Duty sincerely to use our utmost endeavours perfectly to keep God's Law and entirely to avoid all Sin yet none were ever so perfect in this Life without Sin and that our Sanctification is not Christ and that 't is our belief to judge that none can live without sinning Thus faithless is this great Doctor how contrary to the Faith of Christ and true Christians is his belief herein And such endeavours for such a Perfection as never attain it but still fall short are not in the true Faith nor so sincere as they should be for Christ said Whatsoever ye ask in my Name believe that ye shall receive it and the same shall be given you Mark 11.24 Luke 11.9 10 11 13. John 14.13 14. and 16 23. Mat. 7.7 And by Faith in Christ comes the Heart to be purified Acts 15.9 And Christ is of God made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 And blessed are the undefiled in the way c. Psal. 119.1 2 3. And seeing the Son of God is manifest for this very purpose to destroy the Works of the Devil 1 John 3. Why then should Sin which is the Devil's Work be thus Preach'd up or contended for by any who profess Faith in Christ Jesus Their's must needs be a faithless Preaching who when they have told People 't is their Duty to use their utmost endeavours entirely to avoid all Sin yet contrarywise tell them That none can live without sining With what Faith or Sincerity can this Man or any of his Brethren engage Childrens God-Fathers and God-Mothers as they call them by Promise and Vow that they shall forsake the Devil and all his Works and yet endeavour to perswade them 't is impossible for them so to do i. e. to live without Sin or to avoid all sinning wherein they obey the Devil and do his Work And note that this Doctor S.F. has in this Point also contradicted the said Doctor Stillingfleet his now Bishop See his Sermon Preach'd before the King March 13. 1666 7. Wherein he does not only plead and argue it as our Duty to obey God's Laws and Commands but the Possibility thereof through the Assistance of his Grace and good Spirit against them who charge God with laying impossible Laws upon Mankind c. and puts the Question What then is wanting but only setting our selves with a serious obedience to them to make his Commands not only not impossible but easy to us Now that this Priest S.F. who styles himself D.D. has apparently contradicted his said Bishop the Contradiction being between the Impossibility and Possibility of living without sining or avoiding all Sin Charge 12. Against some of our ancient Friends for asserting that he calls main fundamental of all our Religion namely The Light and Christ within us and that this Light is in its own being no other than God himself the Christ of God and Saviour of the World the living Principle of God of the Divine Nature c. Obs. And we do not believe this to be either Unchristian or Antichristian as he has rendered it by his Title over it which is no Proof but his own bare Affirmation and Charge wherein he imposes still we preach no other Light but what is Divine of the divine Nature and Being and manifest by degrees in us God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all and hath shined in our Hearts 2 Cor. 4.6 1 John 1.5 And Christ saith I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not abide in Darkness John 8.12 and Chap. 12.46 And he saith Believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light John 12.36 And his Apostles Preached not only Christ as without but also Christ as within in Spirit and so did Christ himself John 14.20 and 15.4 and 17.23 2 Cor. 13.5 And therefore our Adversary is far out and shews himself Unchristian in opposing such ancient Christian Doctrin as this of the divine Light and Christ within c. Rendring it both Unchristianity and Antichristianity The Lord deliver poor Souls from such ignorant dark and unchristian Preachers and Doctors who neither know the holy Scriptures nor Jesus Christ nor his divine Light or power of God within them Charge 13. Is about the Holy Scriptures that one said They are not the Word of God not the Rule and Guide of Faith and Life to the Saints but the Spirit of God that gave them forth the Covenant of Life and Peace That a Man may lawfully deny the Scriptures to be the Foundation of Faith and Rule of Life c. That another Friend said Faith is the Ground of the Scriptures and of the Scriptures the Ground of Faith c. With more of like Nature in his Charge elsewhere Answered and Explain'd in our Friends Books quoted by him Obs. Where any of our Friends have said or writ such things it was so far from undervaluing or slighting the Holy Scriptures that the matters here charged as unchristian are agreeable to the very Doctrin of Christ and his Holy Apostles as First That the Word of God is Christ. In the Beginning was the Word John 1. His Name is called The Word of God Rev. 19.13 Secondly That the Spirit of God and Christ is the Saints Guide and Rule of Faith to lead and guide them into all Truth as Christ Jesus promised John 16 â—3 Thirdly That Christ is the Foundation of the Saints Faith and not the Scriptures No other Foundation can any Man lay than that which is laid which is Christ. Fourthly That Faith is the Ground of the Scriptures and not the Scriptures the Ground of Faith