own Practises without the immediate guidance of the Spirit And therefore this Woman hath cause for ever to bless the Lord thâ—â— she turned from them if she continue in this Anointing within which is true Thirdly As to that 2 Tim. 2.17 1 Tim. 1.20 These concerned such as did blaspheme and used profane and vain bablings of whom was Alexander and also Hymeneus and Philetus who said That the Resurrection was past already and overthrew the Faith of some But no such thing as vain Bablings Blasphemy or saying That the Resurrection is past already have these Baptists proved against this Person whom they have Excommunicated And therefore it is 1st A great sin in them thus to misaply the Scriptures against such as they were never intended And 2dly A great presumption in them to assume an Authority from the Apostles words 1 Tim. 1.20 to deliver up to Satan when they have no Commission Power or Authority given them of God so to do as the Apostles had c. 3dly What great folly and madness do they shew and bewray in Rejecting Excommunicating or Delivering up to Satan such as have before rejected and denyed them and refused to have any Communion with them as this Hester for some time hath for such as were rejected and cast out of the true Church they were either such as would have continued among them in scandalous Practises as Fornication c. 1 Cor. 5. Or 2dly Such false Brethren as by Blasphemies or Heresies troubled the Church and would have sown Sedition and Strife amongst them for Testimonies in truth against such we own Fourthly As to that of Acts 3.22 23. It 's on the behalf of Christ that great Prophet â—hom every one ought to hear in all things And it 's said Every Soul that will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the People c. Now it is not every Soul that will not hear you Baptists and come under your Water and Ordinances as you impose them that must therefore be deâ—troyed however you pretend to deliver such to Satan but every Soul that will not hear Christ that great Prophet of God in all things that Soul must be cut off And can you say that you have ever heard the Voice of Christ who pretend your selves to be his Church which we both deny you to be As also we deny that you have any Call from Christ to the Ministry Do you judge that none hear his Voice but such as you plunge in Water And that all must be condemned who cannot own you in your imposed Shadows called Ordinances upon pretence of the Scripture being your only Rule when you never yet did either prove or demonstrate that ever you heard the immediate Voice of Christ or had a Call from him for your plunging People under Water which is but a Shadow Much less can we believe that you hear him in all things else which you practise and impose for Christ is the Life and Substance and they who hear him in all things receive Life and the One Spiritual Baptism which yours is not John Newman set against himself HIS Book and corrupt Principles being Answered by John Newman himself His Principles and Contradictions are Collected and set opposite in his own words and the Pages of his Book cited where they are and briefly Noted and Annimadvertized upon particularly as followeth Whereto is added Tho. Danson W. Kiffin and Jer. Ives their Contradictions J. N. his Contradictions THE Scriptures of the two Testaments is properly and principally called the Word of God and that distinct from Christ This is asserted above twenty times over Pages 3 4 5 7 8 9.10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 22 42. Jesus Christ in Scripture is stiled the Word of God a Name that 's given to him his Name is called The Word of God Rev. 19.13 but then again to shufle off this J.N. adds Christ is not alwayes really that which in Scripture he is called comparatively He is called a Door a Vine c. pag. 3 46 47 49. Animadversion Surely the holy Men who spake and writ Scriptures from the Spirit of God knew how to speak properly and truly better than J.N. who in effect reflects on them all as for speaking improperly what bold presumpâ—ion and pride is it in him when they called God or Christ or his Name the Word and said In the beginning was the Word c. Therefore Christ was principally the Word for the Scriptures were not in the beginning nor do they any where call themselves the Word as improperly J. N. doth For Scriptures signifie Writings And is not Christ really the Door in the sense intended to them that enter in by him Howbeit he was really the Word before his Name was held forth in the many Parables J. N's Contrad The Scriptures of the two Testaments in which is contained the Will of God properly and principally the Word c. Or Way of God in which is contained the will of God p. 5. The Prophet saith God's Word is a Lanthorn to his feet and a Light unto his paths Psal. 119.100 105. Animad Christ is the Way the Word and Light and not the Writings they are not Christ And the Word that was a Lanthorn and Light to David was within him before he wrote the words and when much of the Scriptures of the two Testaments were unwritten And said he I have hid thy Word in my heart that I may not sin against thee Psal. 119. J. N's Contrad The Scriptures of the Two Testaments principally called the WORD distinct from Christ. God's perfect Way enlightned David p. 4. and this is called the Word Psal. 18.28 30. Thou wilt light my Candle the Lord will enlighten my darkness Animad God's perfect enlightening Way and Word and the Light and Candle of the Righteous which was Spiritual Living and Powerful was before the Scriptures were written J. N's Contrad The Scriptures principally called the Word The words that God hath spoken by his holy Prophets blessed Son and Apostles p. 3. Animad Is there no distinction between the Word and words In the beginning was the Word but since were the words spoken and Scriptures written Besides the holy Prophets and Apostles who preached the Word from the immediate Power of God were living witnesses of what they spoke and their Ministry was attended with the same Power and the plain Evidence of the Spirit went along with it which was more than barely the writings received by tradition J. N's Contrad The Commands of God in the first Testament or Scriptures of the Prophets the Word p. 7. I shall labour to prove That the Scriptures of the new Testament is also called the Word distinct from Christ. The Teaching and Preaching Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures is called the Ministry of the Word is stiled is called the Word of God Act. 4.25 26 27. 5.45 Animad The Word was in the beginning before the Commands Words or Writings
Excommunication given forth by divers of the principal Baptists about BOW against one that forsook them and their dead wayes wherein the Reader may also take notice of their envy and falshood London the 12th month 1669. CHRIST Ascended above the Clouds c. JOHN NEWMAN's Instance to prove the Scriptures the Word Isa. 28.9 10 11 12 13. The Word of the Lord was to this People Precept upon Precept c. Pag. 6. Answ. Scriptures signifie writings and not the Word neither doth this Instance prove them to be the Word for the Prophets of God who speak as the holy Spirit moved them did both inwardly receive and speak forth Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little from the immediate Spiâ—it and Power of God as immediatly taught by him which is before and above the Scriptures thereof which no where â—ffirm themselves being the writings in an abstract sense to bâ— the Word Also preaching Jesus Christ the Word and the Scriptures aâ—e two things the one being in a living Power and Voice and the other in written Characters Moreover the Lord sendeth out his Word and melteth the Snow the Hoar-frost and Ice Psal. 147.18 Surely this Word is not the Scriptures J.N. There are a People labour to blind this Truth by affirming That Christ is the Word not the Scriptures for they say the Scriptures are the Sayings or Words of God pag. 13. Answ. To affirm Christ to be the Word and not the writings but that in them are the words or sayings of God words of his Covenant c. or that they contain a Declaration of God and Christ is no blinding of Truth but what is â—ffiâ—med in and by the Scriptures themselves and the Word of the Lord came to the Prophets before they spake forth or writ the words see Jer. 1.1 2. The words of Jeremiah to whom the Word of the Lord came J. N's Instance from Mark 4.14 What Word was this that the Devil taketh out of mens hearts None will think it Christ but the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Answ. The Seed sown in the heart by the Son of man hath virtue and life in it in the very being of it for rooting growth and increase of fruit which is more than the writings which no where in Scripture are called the Seed and can he say the Son of man did sow some Scriptures in the High-wayes which the Devil took Also many retain Scripture in the profession of it who notwithstanding are but as the high-way ground unfruitful in whom the Seed of Life doth not take root so that the Devil doth not steal away the Scriptures or Bible from them not properly Christ out of their hearts but he steals away their hearts and minds blinding them from the sense and sight of the vertue life and light of the Seed or Word of Life withiâ— J. N. The Word of God grew and multiplied Acts 19.20 Cannot be understood of Christ a multiplication of Christ p. 17 18. Answ. Can he then think that Bibles grew and multiplied Surely the Word had Life and heavenly Virtue in it that was capable of growth and its multiplying was both in the increase of gifts and adding to the number of them who received it and though Christ be but one yet his Life his living Word and Gifts both grow and increase where he is received J.N. Christ cannot be the Word because Christians may and ought to receive his Word into their hearts Christ is not received into the hearts of men nor in Person dwell in their hearts p. 21. Answ. How grosly Erroniously and Irrationally hath he asserted and reasoned that Christ cannot be the Word because the Word is received into the hearts and how contrary to plain Scripture to say Christ is not received into the hearts see 2 Cor. 13.5 Rom. 8.10 Col. 1.27 Christ in you except you be Reprobates Christ in you the hope of glory c. but that Christ in Person doth not dwell in the hearts who ever affirmed that he doth J. N's Instance from Luke 11.28 Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it None that will makâ— use of Reason can believe that Christ did intend that Christians should keep himself for every Christian is kept 〈◊〉 and Christ 1 Pet. 1.5 p. 15. Answ. Though Christians be kept by God and Christ it s through Faith and Obedience in the Light whereby they continue in both and retain God in their knowledge holding the Head which is Christ and holding fast the faithful Word keeping the Word of his Patience such keep the Truth all which amounts to the same or is equivolent with keeping Christ the Word the Truth the Life wherein is the Patience of God and Faith of the Elect exercised against all Temptations and Tryals which are not overcome by the writings without whicâ— cannot truly be called the Word of his Patience as J. N. doth without distinction when they express words of his Wrath Judgment and Displeasure against sin and wickedness But the word of Faith Life and Patience in the Soul immediately expresseth the Love and Patience of God and Christ unto it to aâ—m it in times of Afflictions and Tryals and this we are to keep For many both profess and keep Scriptures or Bibles who are out of the Patience of Câ—rist And now I Query What Reason is it this Opposer would have us make use of and what is the ground of it in man for he speaks of carnal Reason which cannot reâ—ch God and also a Reason to be made use of Pag. 64. Surely we cannot look on him to be such a Mastâ—r of Reason as infallibly to distinguish how highly soever he thinks of himself whilst he denies and opposeth the Light within as being but a feigned light John Nâ—wman where 's thy Reason and what and wâ—ence is it We must not take thy carnal dark and prejudiced Conception for Reason nor be swayed thereby when thou art ignorant of the very Grounds and Principles of true Reason and so much opposest plain Scripture which hypocritically thou pretendest for thy only Rule J.N. To deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God is to deny the very fountain and well-spring of comforts to the Soul in Affliction which is brought out of the Promises in the Scriptures to the Soul by the Spirit through Faith p. 44. Answ. How grosly Erroneous is it to deem the Scriptures the very Fountain and Well-spring of comforts and to say that the Spirit brings the Comforts from thence to the Soul whereas God is the Fountain which to say of the Writings is all one and as blasphemous as to say they are God as some of the Ranters have said as once one of them affirmed to me at Emnith near Wisbitch That the Bible which I had in my hand was God but he quickly after came to be distracted 2dly The Spirit and Gift of Christ is as a Well of Living Water in true Believers
and it is the Spirit of Promise the Comforter having the Life of all Gods Promises and Truth of Scriptures in it self from God the Fountain and this Spirit is infinite and so not â—ontained in the Scriptures though it contains the truths that are in the Scriptures of Truth for they came from the Spirit and it opens the understanding in the Scriptures as it 's waited in J.N. His sad Consequences which he thinks do follow the denying the Scriptures to be the Word and Rule proved inconsequent and his great Ignorance therein detected In Answer to his 43 44 45 pages There are no sad Consequences as he asserteth in denying the Scriptures to be the Word and Rule for Salvation And Fiâ—st I doth not take away the ground of Faith for Remission 2dly Nor Assurance for Christ and his Light within is the Ground and Foundation of Faith and Assurance 3dly Nor doth it make void the Exercise of Faith in the precious Promises for the Spirit of Promise both as a Rule manifests the Promises exerciseth Faith in and fulfils them 4thly Nor doth it deny the Comforts of Faith from the Promises the Spirit of Promise being both the Comforter and sheweth us things to come 5thly Nor doth it destroy the support supplies of Grace to the Soul in affliction For these we receive from God in his own Spirit and not from the writings outward 6thly Nor doth it deny the knowledge of Acceptance for that is given to us by the Spirit of God by which we are sealed unto the day of Redemption and know that we are oâ— God and the Mystery of Life and Salvation is revealed unto us by the Spirit 7thly Where the Spirit of Truth and its Light within is obeyed and truly owned to be the Guide and Rule it leaves not men in the dark nor out of the knowledge of God or enjoyment of Life eternal But to deny the Spirit or Ligh◠〈◊〉 Christ to be the Rule for Life and Salvation doth leave 〈…〉 dark void of saving Knowledge and Life J.N. 8thly Without this viz. the Scriptures to be 〈◊〉 c. we know not that there is any God or Christ or Salvation by God in Christ nor by what means it may be obtained all men are left in the dark and no man knoweth how to enjoy Life Eternal pag. 45. Neither do we know what God counteth unclean and what holy And in short without the Scriptures we know not any promise that belongeth to this life or that to come these dreadful conclusions will follow denying the Scripâ—ures to be the Word and Rule to Salvation and it leaves men to walk by fancy and imagination Answ. Poor men you hâ—ve shewn your selves sâ—fficiently herein and what an empty implicit Faith you are in and how void both of the knowledge of God Christ and Salvation you are and how yet in your sins having denied Christ and his Light within to bâ— your Rule Way and Foundation as he is to his followers and so you are walking by your fancies and imaginations wâ—o â—et the Scriptures in the place of Christ as your only and absolute Rule and Ground of your Faith and Knowledge And then if one should ask you How you prove the Scripâ—ures to be true if they must be the absolute and only Rule and none other then you mâ—st prove them by themselves or plead their own authority from an implicit Faith you have of them which is but still an absurd way of reasoning or assaying to convince gain-sayers being but Petitio principii a begging the Question And how would this convince either Papists Turks Jews Infidels or Athiests to tell them our Bible or Scriptures are infallibly true and the only Rule to know there is a God and a Christ and Salvation by him and to know what God counteth unclean and what holy And then what a sad sentence of no less than Condemnation doth this pass upon all People and Nations who have not the Scriptures as being all void of knowledge thâ—t there is either God Christ Salvation good or evil whereas there is a living Evidence throughout the Creation or Works of God therein of the eternal Power or Maker see Psal. 19. Rom. 1. Job 12. and many do know and have known these things written of which concerns Salvatâ—â—â— by the Light of God and Christ in them that never could 〈◊〉 or had the Scriptures outwardly as those Gentiles which 〈◊〉 the Law yet did those things contained in it and shewed 〈◊〉 â—ffects of the Law written in their hearts Rom. 2. though the Scriptures are profitable to the Man of God who hath them being led by his Spirit which opens them J.N. The Eternal Power and Spirit that was in Christ cannot properly be called Christ this Power or Spirit is God and not Christ. Answ. Contrary to plain Scriptures opposing both the Divinity and Deity of Jesus Christ who is both the Power and Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. The second Adam the quickning Spirit ch 15.45 And the Father the Word and Spirit are One 1 Joh. 5.7 J.N. The will and mind of God is contained in the Scriptures in order to mans Salvation p. 49. Answ. The Word contained is erroneously place for the Writings contain only a Declaration of the Mind and VVill of God in order to Salvation God and his Mind Thoughts VVill and Wayes are Infinite and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Him J.N. The Word was in the beginning but Christ was in time not till he had taken Nature upon him and became in the likeness of sinful Man being born of the Virgin Mary Christ was not the Word before Christ was pag. 50 51. Answ. This Assertion opposseth the Deity and Divinity of Jesus Christ and contradicts the faithful Testimonies of the Holy men of God in the Scriptures of Truth For if the Son of God was not the Word nor in the Beginning nor before the Virgin Mary then Jesus Christ was not God but is represented as a finite Creature But the Erroneousness of this is apparent for the Word was with and was God in the beginning by which he created the Heavens and framed the Worlds Joh. 1.1 2 3. Heb. 11.3 And that this Word was Jesus Christ is plain seeing it's expresly said God created all things by Jesus Christ Eph. 3.9 Yea all things visible and invisible were created by him Col. 1. But if Jesus Christ the Son of God was not in being before he took flesh in the womb of the Virgin or was not before Mary how could all things be created by him And Nebuchadnezzar was of a better belief than to think that the Son of God was not in his time for he said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God Dan. 3.25 And was not this before Mary or Christ's outward-birth of her All ye Baptists answer me what Scripture had he
path but only where the Scriptures are Or Presbyterian or Independant Teachers or such-like go What a pitiful narrow Spirit and Principle is this among them And had not those Gentiles spoken of Rom. 2. those things contained in the Law written in their hearts when they had not the Law or Scriptures outwardly And were they not either accused or excused before God by his Law written in their hearts T.D. They not walking up to the Light they had was the cause of their Codemnation and they were left without excuse T. D's Contradiction But it was not sufficient to lead them to Life or Salvation it was a Natural Light c. Answ. Then from this it follows That all was a case whether they walked up to the Light they had or not they were like to be Condemned do what they could a sad Doctrine charging God with no less than Cruelty and Injustice then for what Reason was the Light given to them and what was God's End therein if it was insufficient â—ow should they be left without excuse And for what end were they brought into the world if a capacity of Salvation was not afforded them As to his calling it a natural Light what rule hath he in Scripture for so calling it For the Law in their hearts was spiritual and it 's said When they do by Nature it is not said By a Natural Light and what Nature was it by which they obeyed the Law of God in the heart Surely it was not a Nature repugnant to the Law And when I demanded of these men to produce us that Scripture that saith The Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith and it shall end the Controversie Ald. H. Answ. I will in the last of the Revelations If any man shall add to this Rule c. Obs. Here he was mistaken for it is not said this Rule but these things c. the words of the Book c. see Revelations 22.18 19. T. D's Arg. That which the Scriptures direct to as the Rule of Faith that is to be the only Rule But the Scriptures direct to themselves Ergo. Answ. The first part I own that which the Scriptures direct to is the Rule and that is the Light within the Spirit or Unction from the Holy One 1 Joh. 2. that gave them forth therefore I deny that the Scriptures direct to themselves as the only Rule T. D. That the Scripture directs to its self as the only Rule and no other I prove from Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures c. Rep. Christ did not say the Scriptures were the only Rule but rather reproved these unbelievers whom these men resemble in these words viz. In them to wit the Scriptures ye think to have Eternal Life and ye will not come to Me that ye might have Life vers 40. T. D. The more sure word of Prophesie 2 Pet. 1.19 was the Scriptures c. Rep. Here he hath confounded and perverted the Scriptures as if the word of Prophesie and the Writings and Prophesies were all one and as if it were to be read You have more sure Scriptures of the Prophets whereas they were not more sure than the Scriptures of the Apostles and the word of the Prophesie or Holy Ghost that moved in the Prophets to speak or write Scripture was before the Prophesies of it or the Scriptures were written the Word came to the Prophets before they Prophesied it was in their hearts and the same Word now appears in many as a Light shining in a dark place whereunto ye shall do well to take heed until the day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 Obs. So this Light within was in all Ages and still is the most absolute perfect and universal Rule to all the Righteous who believed in the Light and were the Children of the Day where God hath appointed the Great Light of Himself to Rule His People in Faith and Practise At the Second Discourse which was the 20th of the 11th Month 1669. Will. Kiffin and his Brother Jeremiah Ives with some others appeared against us Some of their Contradictions follow W.K. THe Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith from 2 Tim. 3.15 16. the Spirit considered as a Rule is absolutely excluded but as a Director as my Way and my Guide are distinct c. as before Obs. First This Scripture cited by him proveth not his Assertion to wit That the Scriptures are the only Rule Secondly His so absolute excluding the Spirits Rule is contrary to this Scripture which saith All Scripture given by inspiration of God c. the particle is being added Here the Inspiration of God is owned to give Scripture as also it 's the Man of God that knows the use thereof who doth not exclude Divine Inspiration or the Holy Spirit from being his Guide Rule and Way for he walks in the Spirit So that if Rule and Way be one and the same as here they are rendered that which is the only Way to Life and Salvation must needs be the only Rule and surely neither Christ nor his Light or holy Spirit within must be excluded from being this Way in which we are to walk And now mark how Jer. Ives coming into the Meeting after his Brother W. K. had thus absolutely excluded the Spirit did positively contradict him Jer. Ives Our saying the Scriptures are the only Rule doth not exclude the Spirit or the Spirit 's Illumination the Scripâ—ures including the Spirit are the only Rule c. that is our meaning Obs. See how manifestly they have contradicted one another here the one wholly excluding the Spirit as a Rule and the other including it But this Jer. Ives was not aware of his Brothers having excluded the Spirit before he came in upon which we urging them to confess their Error and Contradiction Jer. Ives endeavoured to salve up the business as well as he could saying We are reconciled And in order thereto he proceeded thus viz. J. I. Our saying the Scriptures are the only Rule does not exâ—â—â—â—e every thing else or the Spirits Illumination from being a Rule any more than to say God Only hath Immortality doth exclude all else from having Immortality c. Obs. Still he could not hide himself from contradicting his Brother W.K. and the terms of their own Question For if the Spirit 's Illumination be included as in Rule then to say the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith is not true and wholly to exclude the Spirit as a Rule is erroneous And to instance in this case That God only hath Immortality which is dwelling in the Light 1 Tim. 6.16 Was this a fit comparison for their Assertion of the Scriptures being the only Rule For hath not God Immortality above and before all others And hath he not it only dwelling in the Light And have any it out of him or out of his Light But hath he it not only as more eminently and above all others As he is
were given forth the Commands are called words that God spake Is not there a manifest difference between the Word that made all things and the words spoken or writ As also between the Ministry of the Word which is the preaching Jesus Christ and the Writings of the Two Testaments which this ignorant man makes no distinction between for was not the Apostle Paul a Minister of the Word though not of the Letter Did not he distinguish between them which this confused Opposer hath not done J. N's Contrad The Scriptures in which is contained the will of God in order to man's Salvation is properly and principally called the Word and not Christ. There are a People labour to blind this truth by affirming that Christ is the Word of God and not the Scriptures for they say The Scriptures are the Sayings or the Words of God Christ cannot be understood to be the Word of God whereas some do affirm Christ to be the VVord of God Such an Assertion would make Christ a Monster rather than a compleat God and Man c. p. 12 13 15 17 17 49. I shall freely grant That Christ is called by this Name the Word of God Christ being the Word of God Christ may be said to be in men He may be called the Word of God because he will be that dreadful Executioner By the Word of God's Eternal Power c. He shall by by the Word of God slay all his enemies in this he may be truly called the Word of God p. 14 46 47. Animad Thou art a blind Opposer who perverts and darkens Truth with thy monstrous prejudice who denies Christ to be the Word of God and blasphemously sayest Such an Assertion would make Christ a Monster c. Yet for all this thou shalt freely grant Christ to be called the VVord yea the VVord of God's Eternal Power doest thou herein make him a Monster And did not the holy Men of God call him the Word And did they blind the Truth or make a Monster of Christ supposest thou Must we reject their Testimonies as improper and monstrous and believe thine as only proper which is so repugnant to the Scriptures which are the Writings that do contain sayings or words of God which to affirm is no blinding of truth And where provest thou these words in the Scriptures That the will of God is contained in them Is not the will of God Infinite and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain God So take thy Contradictions back again viz. That to affirm Christ to be the Word of God is to make him a Monster yet I shall freely grant Christ is called the Word of God the Word of God's Eternal Power J. N's Contrad The Scriptures properly and principally called the VVord The Word of God therein contained Or the Teachings therein contained The Will and Mind of God contained in the Scriptures p. 19 45 49. Animad See the Contradiction and falshood of these for one while to say the Scriptures are the VVord another while they contain the Word and Mind of God these are different and thou mightest as well say that God is contained in the Scriptures as to say the Word and his Mind and Will is and so grosly go to circumscribe and limit him who is Infinite and unlimitable who is the Eternal Word Mark also how J. N. his Doctrine of the Scriptures being principally called the VVord is absolutely confuted by himself in what follows J. N's Contrad How was Heaven and Earth and the VVorld made by the VVord of God and also by the same VVord are kept in store p. 48. The wicked shall be destroyed by this VVord The Rod of his mouth Isa. 11.11 The Spirit of his mouth Rev. 2.12 The sharp Sword with two edges The word of God's Grace in convincing and converting of Souls quick and powerful sharper than a two edged Sword In this sense Christ may be called the VVord Animad But surely the Scriptures are not all this nor ever had this sense given of them that is here given of the Word which made Heaven and Earth and keeps them in store and this did not the Scriptures J. N's Contrad The Scriptures principally called the VVord of God may be corrupted by man This Word may be and is corâ—upted by man c. p. 19 20. Being born again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever p. 57 c. Contradiction again This maketh nothing to prove this word here to be Christ. Animad The Incorruptible Seed or Word by which we are born again is not the Scriptures which have been corrupted by such Perverters and Corrupters of them as thou art who goes to set them in Christ's place and yet Hypocrite like art not willing to keep to the language and terms or Doctrines of them J. N's Contrad The Scripâ—ures are an absolute perfect Rule for all men c. unto the end of the world Faith is bâ—gotten by Preaching the VVord with the work of his blessed Spirit Christ the Way to bring us to Life c. pag. 42 43 50. Animad The Spirit of Truth leads into all Truth therefore this Spirit or Christ within is both the Guide Way and Rule to all that are Spirtiually minded All men have not the Scriptures to the World's end but Christ is given both for a Covenant and Light for Salvation to the ends of the Earth J. N. his Idolatry in exalting the Scriptures into the place of Christ. The Scriptures the enlightening way of the Lord The perfect way of God A Light unto his paths p. 4 5. The Gospel The Seed in the hearts The will of God in order to Salvation pag. 11 17 20. Eternal Life therein viz. in Scriptures pag. 24. The Scripture's an absolute perfect Rule in order to man's Salvation for all men to walk by and none other pag. 24 25 26 27 28 29. The Scriptures may be corrupted by man False Teachers corrupted the Scriptures The Scriptures may and is corrupted by man p. 19 20. The Devil taketh out of mens hearts the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Animad To the first part these are high Names put upon the Scriptures but not so proved thereby For the Enlightening perfect Way and Word of the Lord God the Gospel the Seed the Will of God Eternal Life c. were before the Scriptures were written and did preceed the writing thereof it them who spake or writ them as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and Eternal Life is in Christ not contained in the Scriptures as the unbelieving Jews vainly thought Joh. 5. who set up the Scriptures above Christ the Life And the Scriptures are not the absolute sole Rule for Salvation and none other especially if they be corrupted by the Devil and Wicked men But the Rule of the spiritual mind is spiritual of that Spirit which leads the true Believers into all truth For that which must be owned
for that And Christ is called the Wisdom and Power of God 1 Cor. 1.24 30. And was not this He the only begotten of the Father that said I was set up from Everlasting before the Earth and when there was no Depths was I begotten before the Mountains were setled and before the Hills was I begotten or brought forth Prov. 8.23 24 25. And also see that Prophesie of Christ Mich. 5.2 Thou Bethlehem-Ephratah though thou be little among the thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel whose goings forth have been from of old from everlasting which plainly proves the Eternity and Divinity of Jesus Christ against such Baptists and Professors as this our Opposer J. N. who also in his Antichristian Doctrine of denying Christ to be the Word or to be in the beginning hath followed the steps of those old reputed Hereticks mentioned in the Ecclesiastical Chronography viz. The Allogians who denied Christ to be the Word as this J. N. hath done and of them it is said They condemned the Gospel after John who gave such a plain Testimony for the Divinity of Jesus Christ Joh. 1. Also Theodatas denied the Divinity of Christ and he it 's said was the first Author of that Heresie of Artemon who took Christ but for a bare and naked Man which is like this Assertion That Christ was in time not the Word in the beginning nor till He became in the likeness of Man being born of Mary which hath also affinity with that of Arrias and his Sect called Arrians who said That the Son of God had a beginning of Essence that there was a time that He was not And doth not J. N. affirm as much That there was a time when Christ was not the Word was in the beginning not Christ which is like also to that of Photinus Bishop of Sirmium who as it s said maintained the Heresie of Sabellius agâ—inst Christs Divinity and said The Word was at the beginning with the Father but not the Son Eccl. Chro. fol. 584. Soc. l. 2 c. 24. Ephiphan Haeres 71. Also several others noted in History for Hereticks held the like Also if J. N. or the Baptists should use these words as his Doctrine imporâ—s when they Baptize viz. I Baptize you in the Name of tne Uncreated God in the Name of the Son Created c. would they not then plainly appear like Eunomius Bishop of Cyzicum teaching his Heirs viz. That the Son was Created as when he Baptized all that came to him In the Name of the Uncreated God in the Name of the Son Created c. Eccl. Chro. fol. 583. Now if John Newman did think to be more Popâ—lar and gain Repute by this Piece intended against the Quakers he will be frustrated of his end when his Antichristian and corrupt Doctrines come to be viewed in this Treatise and the Baptists and others that have owned him therein may be ashamed of him and his works and it would be more reputable and commendable for him and them all to study to be quiet and charitable to follow peace with all men and not to revile the Light and Christ within as but a feigned Light or Christ nor to to oppose the Divinity of Christ the Son of God as he hath done J. N. His Names Jesus Christ are not attributed to his God-head but to his Man-hood For his Name Jesus signifies a Saviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anointed He was not Jesus or a Saviour as he was God p. 51.65 Answ. Though Jesus signifies a Saviour and Christ Anointed yet to confine those Names only to the Manhood still agrees with the erroneous Doctrines before That Christ was not the Word from the beginning whereas He took upon him the Man-hood in time in which though we own Him as the Anointed of God yet He was also God's Anointed as He was His only begotten and delight and so the Son from His Eternal Being or Substance before the Mountains and Hills were settled Also J. N. though to his own confutation grants That He was the Son of God from the beginning pag. 66 67. and theâ— He was God's Anointed from the beginning But his saying That He was not Jesus or a Saviour as He was God is still as gross and false Doctrine as the former denying God to be a Saviour which is contrary to plain Scripture O God of Israel the Saviour a Just God and a Saviour there is none bâ—sides me see Isa. 45. And also this J. N. notwithstanding he thinks he hath proved his matter by Scripture elsewhere wherein he would shew himself some noted Divine now he would shew us what a profound Logician or Mr. of Arts he is as if he would confirm his matter stop our mouths and bind us down thereby with an invented Argument His Argument runs thus Argument If Christ as Christ was not from the beginning then Christ was not the Word from the beginning But Christ as Christ was not from the beginning Therefore c. pag. 52. Answer The first Proposition in that it renders Christ and the Word both one contradicts himself in his denying Christ to be the Word For however it must follow from this Argument That Christ was when the Word was Christ being the Word and so the Word Christ. So that if the Word was from and in the beginning then Christ was from the beginning but the Word was from the beginning c. And then this flatly contradicts his whole Assertion and proves it false which with the pretended Reason thereof being not grounded upon any general Rule or Maxim of either Truth Scriptures or Reason as all Arguments ought to be but upon a meer Heretical Opinion that denies the Divinity of Christ in denying him to be from the beginning either as Christ or as the Word Now doth not this deny Christs very being in the beginning and make way for that old Heretical Opinion That Christ or the Son of God was not in being before the Virgin Mary But to give my Opposer his Due every way I judge he has out-run himself in this matter at unawares for he hath though to his own Confutation confessed That Christ was the Son of God from the beginning and was He not then the Anointed For if the Son then the Anointed And his words Christ as Christ was not supposes that He was in some other capacity yet his denying Him to be either as Christ or the Word from the beginning is contrary to plain Scriptures For in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God c. Joh. 1. And He was in the VVorld and the VVorld was made by Him and the VVord was made Flesh and dwelt among us speaking of Christ So that He was in the beginning the VVord and is still Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever J. N. This Word cannot be Christ because it is here called the Seed by which
above all and through all and in all his own Eph. 4.6 And he that dwelleth on High and inhabiteth Eternity dwells with such also as are poor in Spirit and tremble at his Word Oh! how ignorant are these Opposers of the Scriptures and of the Power of God W's Doct. I do believe That essentially from Eternity the Scripture was as really God as a man's mind is himself before it is revealed so before that Spirit that proceedeth from Father and Son gave forth the Scripturâ— the Scripture was really God Can the Quakers shew you That Christ the Word is not Scripture c. pag. 17. Thus far his Assertion Answ. Let this be kept on Record for his Brethren to peruse and for all other that reade this to judge of that the Scripture was really God from eternity yea and that essentially as much as to say the Essence of the Scripture is the Essence of God What say you Baptists and Professors do you own this doctrine If you do not then give forth your Testimony against him and it and correct and stop such Nâ—vices and ignorant men amongst you from medling with Controversies and from scribling their Confusion and Blasphemies against us For do you own that the Scriptures are God or that the Scriptures made all things Or when you carry a Bible in your pocket do you carry God and his essence there Is not this Rantism in the highest that your Brother hath affirmed and doth it not tend to lead into Atheism let Truth in all judge Many of this Opposers Impertinencies gross Lyes Slanders and Abuses against us called Quakers in his Pamphlet I here pass by my recital of these few passages of his being that the rest of his Brethren may take notice thereof and be cautioned not to suffer enmity and darkness to lead them to war against the Light and its Children as too many have done lest that shame and confusion of face instead of Justification and Peace with the Lord be their reward Here followeth a Copy of the Baptists Bill of Excommunication WEE the Church of Christ meeting near Bow of which you Hester Bird were once a Member Do by these presents signifie and declare That you have turned out of the right way of the Lord both in Doctrine and Practice viz. Departing from the Foundation Doctrine of Justification by Grace From the Resurrection of this Body The Personal coming of the Lord Jesus And the Holy Ordinances of Christ viz. Baptism Communion of Saints and the Lords Supper And you having been by Us or some of Us Admonished and remaining Incorrigible WEE do hereby declare That you are gone out from Us because you were not of Us having rejected the Word of the Lord and Us his People WEE also do reject you according to the Sentence of the Lord exprest by the Apostles in these Scriptures mentioned in the Margent George Barrett Benj. Dennis Edw. Annesley Rich. Mathyson Ralph Chapman Signed in the Name and by the Appointment of the Church the 17 th of the 7 th Month 1669 Here followeth a Copy of the said Hester Bird now Hester Andrews her Answer GEorge Barret Benjamin Dennis and the rest concerned I do not own you to be the Church of Christ as you call your selves For the true Church never gave out such a false Bill of Excommunication as you have against Me therefore your pretended Authority therein I deny Whereas you falsly charge me with turning from the Communion of Saints I have sensibly known and felt the Communion of Saints blessed be the Lord since I have been from amongst you As to the Personal Reign of Christ I never owned it when I was amongst you but his Spiritual Appearance I am a witness of Your outward Bread and Wine satisfies not the Soul I have had more peace when I did not touch your Shadows than when I did As to the Water-Baptism I never found any thing in it I was the same when I came out as when I went in Blessed be the Lord I have known one Baptism the Baptism of Christ viz. being Baptized with the Holy Ghost and with Fire for he will throughly purge his Floor As to departing from the Foundation Doctrine of Justification by Grace as you falsly and slanderously charge me I know the Foundation of God standeth sure and another Foundation can no man lay than that is already laid which is Christ in us which is the Hope of Glory by whose Grace I am Justified freely and this I find to be the Doctrine of Christ and his Ministers which I own A Word from the Lord unto you That you would come out from among your dark Customs of this World and come to the Appearance of Christ in you As to your Excommunication it 's known I came from you some years ago take heed your Censure falls not on your own heads but it shews of what spirit you are Your charge of departing from the Resurrection of this Body as you state it It s neither truth nor sense nor have you told me your meaning For what Resurrection and Body have I come to that I have departed from Howbeit the Resurrection I believe according to the Testimony of Christ and his Ministers see Joh. 11.25 1 Cor. 15.42 to the end And Christ's Answer to the Saduces Mat. 22.29 30. H. A. A few brief Observations on the Scriptures in the Margent of the Baptists Bill or rather Bull against the said Hester Bird alias Andrews which they have perverted and misapplyed As FIrst That of Jer. 8.8 9. was against the Rebellious Jews who were backslidden and knew not the Judgment of the Lord and had rejected his Word who were all given to Covetousness and to deal falsly from the People to the Priest vers 7 10. None of which Evils have these angry Baptists proved against this Person whom they have Rejected or Excommunicated for she did first reject them as she was perswaded she had good reason for and that therein she did not reject the Word of the Lord but such as have rejected it whom she denyes to be either Called by Christ to the Ministry or to be of his Church Secondly That 1 Joh. 2.19 was against those Antichrists who went out from the true Apostles and Church where note these Baptists have neither proved their Call to the Ministry nor themselves to be either true Apostles or a true Church nor yet Convicted this Woman to be such an one mentioned 1 Joh. 2.18 19. for she is now directed to and owneth the Vnction within from the Holy One which preserves out of Antichrist's Delusions Lyes and Deceits c. which if she continues in and obey to the end she shall continue in the Son and in the Father and not deny Jesâ—â— Christ or the Father as the Antichrists did vers 22 23. But this Anointing within these Baptists have never turned People unto that they might follow and obey it in all things for they impose upon People their
seeing there was a certain Rule to the Holy Men of God long before the Scriptures were written which was more infallible than they even that of the Spirit which is above and greater than the Letter as is confessed Reader take notice of this his ample confession to the Spirit against himself and his carnal conceits in his so highly exalting the Letter as he hath done in much of his Book J.N. his Doct. There are a People that have need to have more Christ's than one otherwise I know not how they will have a Christ in every man especially those who cry up a Light in every man which this Opposer stiles a feigned Christ or Light within p. 18 29 61 72 74. Answ. See the ignorance and scornful spirit this man shews forth in this erroneous stuff For 1. Jesus Christ that was in every Saint and true Believer was not more Christs than one He was still one and the same Christ how or in whomsoever manifest 2dly His Light in every man is a true divine and spiritual Light and not a feigned Light as blasphemously he accuseth it 3dly It 's a falshood still to accuse us with affirming That Christ is in every man For we say a true Light or Gift of Jesus Christ is given to every man whereby to enlighten the Consciences of mankind J. N's Contrad The Word in their hearts Rom. 10.7 was not Christ. The true Christ doth not dwell in any man as he is Christ as he is properly and principally Christ he cannot dwell in man If he be with the Father then he is not in man pag. 54 60 61 66. Christ may be said to dwell in man I shall freely own the giving forth of his blessed Spirit into the hearts of his children whereby they are directed in his most holy will by the enlightening of their spirits So far as the Spirit of God and Christ dwelleth in men or any of his Attributes so far God and Christ both may be said to dwell in his Saints If we Love one another God dwelleth in us He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him p. 77 78 79 80. Animad To the first part I say his insinuation against us of Chrisâ—â—eing in every man is still false and not our Principle but that a spiritual Light of Christ is his Contradiction and Confutation to himself is obvious in 1st asserting that the true Christ doth not dwell in any man 2dly The true Christ doth dwell in man viz. in good men in that the blessed Spirit doth dwell in his Children and direct them in his most holy Will and is not this their Rule then J. N's Contrad God dwelleth in them Now the Apostle doth not intend the real Being of God viz. in Saints in his Glorious and Immortal Substance God and Christ are out of all men in order to their Glorious and Immortal Being Those that receive Christ's blessed Spirit such are said to receive his Father yet neither of them in their real Being pag. 79 80 87. This Indwelling of Christ in his People is by his Word and blessed Spirit and other pure Graces that are of his pure Nature and Being dwelling in his Saints and his Saints dwelling in the pure Life of the same so Christ may be said to dwell in them and they in him When we dwell in the Life of his Word and powerful operation of his Spirit and the Life of those Gifts and holy Graces being of the same Nature with Christ. God and Christ cannot be separate in in their givings forth Christ in them the hope of Glory p. 81 82 83 86 87. Animad The manifest Contradictions in these passages run thus viz. God and Christ in their Immortal Being are not in Saints yet the Spirit and pure Graces that are of his pure Nature and Being dwell in Saints So then this eternal Spirit of God and Christ who are inseparable is of the glorious Immortal Being of both and in the Saints And when God and Christ are said to dwell in them dare J. N. say they are divided from their own Being What place is God in where his Being is not And who art thou that wouldst limit the infinite being of God from his place and habitation in his Saints J. N's Contrad â—oh 1.1 proveth the Word to be God for Christ was not Christ in the beginning but Christ was in time when the Godhead took flesh to it self and not before he was born of the Virgin Mary And it cannot be in reason concluded that Christ was the Word before Christ was c. p. 50 51. Of Christ He was not the Son of man from the beginning for then he was only the Son of God and the Son of Man aâ— he was of the Seed of Abraham pag. 66 67. Animad What a gross Error is it to affirm That Christ was not from the beginning or that he was not the Word in the bâ—ginning And what a denyal of his Divinity like the old Hereticks And how plainly contradicted in confessing the Son of God was from the beginning and was then I ask If the Son of God was not Christ Or the Anointed of God Seeing he was the Son of God before he took flesh or was born of Mary and the Anointed then also for God created all things by Jesus Christ Eph. 3.9 and by the Son he made the Worlds Heb. 1.2 The Anointing was Spiritual and spiritually received by the Heavenly Birth the Anointed the holy Seed which is spiritual as that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit c. Much more might be said on the behalf of the Divinity of the Son of God or Christ who was the Word in the beginning and with the Father in his Glory before the world began J. N's Contrad Christ was remote from them Christ doth not dwell in any man Christ in person remote at the right hand of God viz. in his body of flesh Personal being transhapen manhood a glorified body of flesh at the right hand of God c. pag 55 60 63 66 67 71 73. The Indwellings of Christ by his Word and Truth being of the same nature with him Joh· 15.4 to v. 11. Christ is setting forth himself to be the Vine and his People the branches and adviseth them Abide in Me and I in you from Eph. 5.30 for we are members of his body of his flesh and of hiâ— bones pag. 75.83 Animad If the Indwelling of God and Christ be such in his People and the Saints in such near union and conjunction with Christ as the branches with the Vine and members with the Body Then 't is false and a lying Imagination to imagine either Christ God and his right hand so remote as not to dwell in any man no not in their own People and these wordâ— Christ in Person remote in his body of flesh c. and not in any man are not Scripture but added What strange conceits and limitations would J. N.