abhorrency and detestation of such Hellish Spirits to hear Gods holy Name prophaned in such a horrible execration in such a Brazen-fac'd way as if Satan himself had appeared with Fire and Brimstone and a nasty stink among us I would be glad to hear that God gave him Repentance for his great sin who did not live to see his sentence fulfilled but was soon after cut off by death at Sea whether Shipwrackt or otherwise I have not yet learned These look for the fulfilling of this Prophecy I perceive it s well I am not in their hands nor in Satans hauds but in the hands of Jesus Christ I commit my self to him he is righteous in whatsoever he doth to me peradventure he will turn Shimeies and Balaams cursings and Rabshekahs railings for good unto me In this case I appeal unto the Christians and Ministers of Christ with whom I have to do if hitherto I speak not the words of truth and soberness the Lord lay not this great evil which they are now too much hardned in to their charge Before they mention the two Inconsistencies they have a small Peroration about Original sin Pag. 13. Christopher Tayler denying Infants to be guilty of it calling them Innocents but they dare not meddle with this Contoversy pro nor con only say that I have manifested a great deal of ignorance and hardness but proves not a Syllable of their Charge only craftily suggests to the People that we condem these Innocents upon the Predestinarian principle Answ We have proved Infants no Innocents but such as have the guilt of Adams sin upon them and I am at any time ready to make good this Truth against their calumnies and withall say for the satisfaction of all against this false insinuation that God is righteous in charging the guilt of the first sin upon all and that he doth not predestinate any to damnation but with respect to sin But where are these inconsistencies 1. That I say we are by nature children of wrath Eph. 2.3 and yet saith that the light within every one is nothing but nature which is corrupt yet affirm withall that this light within is the Law of Moses written in the heart this they say is to write like a mad man Pag. 14. Answ The Quakers I observe are always much moved when we do not give that honour to their Light which they think is due when we allow it to be no more than Nature Now the Apostle I am sure calls it Nature Rom. 2.14 The Gentiles do by Nature things contained in the Law and yet the same Apostle saith likewise Eph. 2.3 And we were by Nature children of Wrath even as others Now it is not I but the Apostle that is charged for a mad man for they are his words must the Apostle be guilty of mad inconsistencies God forbid I did say the Light within was the Law of Moses written in the heart of man giving that Rom. 2.15 to prove it Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts this Scripture must guide in the sense of my words The Law of Moses in the heart that I spake of is the work of the Law he doth not say that all the matter of the Moral Law was written in their hearts nor that they did all things contained in it but only saith the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the work of the Law was written in their hearts and that they did things contained in the Law there is then no more in it but this that these Gentiles by doing somethings that were contained in Moses's Moral Law did manifest that there was an impression of some part of the Moral Law upon their hearts Now it s no mad Heresie to maintain that a mans doing part of the Moral Law as to the matter of it by the meer strength of Nature is nothing but sin and that a natural man so doing is a Child of Wrath and in a damnable condition not withstanding how can it be otherwise when there is no right Principle from whence he acts Heb. 11.6 not a dram of true Faith in Jesus Christ and without Faith it is impossible to please God he is dead in sin not being born again and all his works are dead works and cannot please the living God And therefore the Apostle saith of these Gentiles that had done by Nature things contained in the Law and had the works of the Law written in their hearts notwithstanding this they were unrighteous sinners guilty fallen short of the glory of God Rom. 3. Oh that this was but well marked by these Patrons of Nature the Quakers where is now the inconsistency 2. Inconsistency Because I will not admit works done by us in the Spirit in the point of the justication of a sinner and yet confesseth that Regeneration id the making meet for the inheritance and that I say the actions of the Deity perfects all good in us and prays that the Lord by his Spirit would establish my Friends seeming here highly to esteem of the holy Spirit and its workings how sleight soever I made of them in other places Pag. 15. Answ I do with all my heart highly esteem of the Holy Spirit who is the ever blessed God and of his inward work in the hearts of his Saints and God forbid that I should sleight them or manifest my madness as this people say against them sooner let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth I have some experience of that good sweet Spirits working in my own heart through Grace in his Convictions Renewings Quicknings Comfortings and I do really value them Yet I must not advance these works done upon us by the Spirit or done by us in the Spirit to that dignity which God never appointed them unto viz. To justify a sinner in his sight to make him accepted with God for their sakes no we are accepted only by the grace of God i. e. his free favour in the Beloved Eph. 1.6 i. e. the Person of Jesus Christ and the works done in the Spirit are not the Person of Jesus Christ nor his Personal Righteousness we would know from the Quakers which would give us to understand their thoughts let them speak plainly and tell us whether the Person of him that is justified or the Person of Jesus Christ be the subject of that Righteousness whereby a sinner is justified in Gods sight whether the soul and body of the Believer or the soul and body of the Man Christ be the seat wherein dwells that Righteousness that justifies in God sight whether they be the works done Personally by us or the works done Personally by him we are not ashamed without mincing without darkening counsel by words firmly and constantly to confess with our Brethren in many Protestant Churches that we cannot dare not must not admit of any thing no not so much as our Faith though it 's wrought in us by the Spirit into that Righteousness that justifies us in Gods
doth Christ say the work of the Comforter should be upon his sending of him John 15.26 He shall testify of me and John 16.14 He shall glorify me i. e. in the hearts of men for be shall receive of mine and shew it unto you Now if that Spirit which at present you boast of doth not this work viz. Enlighten your understandings aright in the truth of the Gospel though you may find a power as you often speak acting of you if this Spirit do not testify of the Christ of God begetting high thoughts of his Person Righteousness instructing your souls in his things his Death Resurrection Intercession his Priesthood in Heaven which you never talk of though it should have so much power in you as thereby you should be caught up and carried to Azotus though thereby you could as they say of Simon Magus fly in the Air yet it is not the Spirit of Christ Jesus the Comforter 1 Pet. 2.7 2 Cor. 13.14 2 Cor. 11.4 If Christ be not precious to you you are unbelievers I wish it might be considered there is no communion of the Spirit where the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ it not sweet to us where ever there is another Gospel and Jesus there is another spirit who ever hath not the Son hath not the Father how then can they have the Spirit No man speaking by the Spirit of God called Jesus accursed 1 Cor. 12.3 Be not deceived if this Gospel be hid the heart and life whereof consists in the knowledge of this point of Justification It is the Gospel of Righteousness it manifests the Righteousness without the Law Rom. 3.21 therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from Faith to Faith if this be hid though you may be very confident is is hid to them that are lost 2 Cor. 4.3 the God of this World having blinded their eyes O that you would remember what the Apostle said to the Galatians who thought they had as much of the Spirits Righteousness as the Quakers being corrupted in their judgments in this very matter yet had not cast off their mentioning of Christ but allowing him a place in their Religion Gal. 3.1 Gal. 5.4 who hath bewitched you and in another place ye are fallen from Grace and its a great convincing word Rom. 9.31 Israel which followed after the Law of Righteousness did not attain to the Law of Righteousness yet were as confident as you but I shall be despised for this my love in debating this matter with you and I doubt you will call this as Pag. 15. you do monstrous and distracted Doctrine The instances that I gave against Christopher Tayler to prove that we are not justified by works done in the Spirit are reckoned Pag. 14. viz. Abrahams works Davids works Paul's and Isaiahs works all done in the Spirit but not a word of answer to them no I calmly challenge them all to answer to them Only they ask a Question Is it good Doctrine to say that Paul when a Christian counted his spiritual obedience loss and dung for Christ Answ Yes very good sound blessed and comfortable Doctrine received by Millions of Saints in Heaven and Earth add but that which you ought for of that I speak viz. in the point of Justification in the same way are you to understand that of Isaiah Isa 64.6 all our Righteousnesses are as filthy rags i. e. as to justify us in Gods sight Pag. 15. they repeat the Question but slily addeth this to it viz. and that as a Christain he must suffer the loss of this i. e. his spiritual obedience so as not to have it in his heart O the creeping Serpent to insinuate as if I taught the people such Doctrine Answ Yes he was to have it still in his heart but not to plead it with God for his Justification Phil. 3.9 not having my own Righteousness which is of the Law c. But how can I make that out for which they quarrel me here Pag. 15. That all the Righteousness that all the Saints have within them or without them is but the Righteousness of the Law Answ It is not difficult otherwise the Law of God is not a perfect Rule of Righteousness but that must be grante Ergo it requires all we do and more then any can do not only outward duty but an inward spiritual upright frame of heart yea the Image of God to be compleat and perfect in us then my Argument holds good we are not justified by any Righteousness of ours done in the Spirit for the Scripture is peremptory in it by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his fight Rom. 3.20 They produce two Scriptures here to prove Justification by the works of the Spirit in us First Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8.4 That the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us I have opened both these places in my Book against Crook and Bailie I am of that mind that they both speak as to our Justification of the Righteousness of Christs Person so they are nothing to their purpose if they will in their next plainly and openly say from the first Scripture that the Spirits work in us is the matter of our Justification and that the Law is fulfilled in our own persons for our acceptation from the second Scripture I promise them a fuller answer in the mean while we are of this mind that we are not justified by any works done by us in and by the Spirit yet we freely acknowledge that it is Regeneration makes us meet for the Kingdom but not in a way of Merit that is only by the blood-shedding of Jesus Christ but only disposeth us for Heaven without it none shall see the Lord Regeneration is to be distinguished from Justification as the Cause from the Effect Justification the cause of Regeneration if God did not forgive us our sins for the Merit of Christ he would not renew our nature we confess again that the Deity perfects all good in us and for us but them the Humanity is in union with it and acts with it and they must not be put asunder it was the Humanity that was the Offering and Sacrifice he offered himself by the eternal Spirit Heb. 9.14 The Flesh profiteth nothing i. e. alone it is the Spirit that quickneth John 6.63 yet the Flesh of Christ is the Organ and Instrument in by and with which Christ performs all his Mediatory works of Redemption and these two Natures are but one Person and whatever was done by the Spirit in the hearts of any before Christs manifestation in Flesh it was done in reference to and for the Merit of his Incarnation so then in the last place and then we have not left a hoof of an exception behind when I pray that the Spirit would settle strengthen preserve I believe that the Spirit is given
sight but holds still that it 's solely and alone the Personal Righteousness of Jesus Christ the Son of God in his Active and Passive obedience whereby we are justified and accepted in the sight of an Infinitely pure and holy God who charged his Angels with folly Gal. 1.8 and if any man or Angel preach any other Gospel let him be accursed Thus as chast Virgins espoused we will not through Gods grace suffer our selves through the subtilty of the Serpent 2. Cor. 11.3 to have our minds corrupted from this singlenest that is in Christ in this great business of Justification this Article raigned in Luthers heart he said and I desire it should raign in my heart and it is as that great Patron of it against these Pharesaical Merit-mongers was wont to say the Article of the Churches standing or falling and how can he be a Christian that is not hearty in the belief of it though never more than at this day spoke against Christ in this day is a very great stumbling-stone to the Quakers and Socinians as he was to the Jews and Greeks of old it is no wonder the Quakers care not to have Christs Manhood maintained in its sameness truth and reality now carrying on the work of his Mediation in Heaven pleading the vertue of his Attonement when as they will not own the Righteousness which was wrought out in and by that blessed Manhood sixteen hundred Years since for the Justification of sinners They talk much of the works of the Spirit I would put a few Queries to them 1. Whether the works done by the Man Christ when on Earth here and the works he now doth in Heaven be not works done in the Spirit he had the Spirit and hath in without measure were not his works absolutely and compleatly perfect in Holiness he was a Lamb without spot there was no guil found in his mouth he pleased the Father in all things 2. I would ask whether there be any works done by the Spirit upon any of the sons of Men except Jesus Christ but there still remains a body of sin in them and whether there be any works done by us in the highest degree of the Spirit that any can attain to in this world but God can find some fault with them there is some defect and imperfection let them that dare deny that Scripture Eccless 7.20 There is not a just man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not 3. If this be true which now of us are mad against the works of the Spirit we that honour these compleat works of the personal Obedience of Christ and receive them with thankfulness for our Justification according to the command of God in Scripture to believe and withall are glad that God works upon us by his Spirit to renew our evil natures after his own Image though it be but in part and that we are enabled by the same Spirit to shew forth any good works to his glory in our Conversation among men though they fall short of that which the holy Law requires and therefore we dare not plead them with God but daily prays for forgiveness in his Blood and that he would accept us not in this our own Righteousness within us or without us but in his Sons Personal Righteousness having union with him or they now on the other hand that are only and altogether for the works done in the spirit both for Justification as well as Sanctification though none of them can ever evince that these works are in every degree compleat and at the same time disown dispise contemn the compleat works of the Imputed Righteousness of Christ calling it a Doctrine of Devils which of us is mad against the works done in the Spirit Let the Reader judge What an unsavoury lorry do many of them make in the ears of Christians in their books and discourses saying and writing you look to be saved by a Righteousness wrought out sixteen hundred Years since and as far off as Jerusalem we cannot but pity their blindness and enmity to the Cross of Christ the Lord reveal his Sons Righteousness to them and make them ashamed of such kind of Pharisaical sayings as that of Bailies viz. if this be to make our own Righteousness stand speaking of the Righteousness of the Law then will we go about to make them stand if they would but remember that great instance given by Christ and consider it it s enough surely to silence them for ever in this matter Luke 18.9 He spâ—ke this Parable to certain that trusted in themselves as being righteous and despised others vers 10. Two went up into the Temple to pray c. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself God I thank thee I am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this Publican I fast twice in the week I give Tithes of all that I possess Vers 13. And the Publican standing afar of would not lift up so much as his eyes to Heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner Vers 14. I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other What is this instance of a Pharisee to a Quaker that speaks so much of the Spirit and the inward works of the Spirit Answ Did not the Pharisee think that he had the inward work of the Spirit Yet surely for he gives thanks to God that did inable him to be thus religious he acknowledged that all he had was the gift of God and did not in the least attribute it to his freewill might or power that he had made himself to differ that he did thus fast pray was thus just holy and zealous let is be weighed he was as confident as any Quaker or any other could be that his Righteousness was good of the right sort the Righteousness of the Spirit in that he durst plead it before the Lord for his acceptance yet what was the issue he was not accepted it was the humble sinner that was justified that applyed himself to the mercy of God in Christ Jesus but where do you at any time find this people acknowledge Grace Mercy Attonement confessing their sins with shame and humility are these in the way of Justification They will say why doest thou talk so of the Pharisees thinking he had the Spirit and the inward work thereof we know and are sure we have it are regenerated and act from thence in our lives and whilst it is so if there be any such thing as imputed Righteousness as we think there is not it s only an imagination of your own brains we shall have it for according to you they both go together Righteousness within and without I say to them with as great confidence and boldness and much better grounded that in case they go on thus they do manifestly declare that they have not neither ever had the right Spirit of Christ the Comforter for what