Public Trial of the Quakers, Discourse 1 · Part 6 (2 of 3)

Public Trial of the Quakers · Discourse 1 · Part 6 (2 of 3)

p. 28Queſt. 2. Whether we could be ſaved by Chriſt, without the operation of the Spirit in us?

I Anſwered: Although it were granted. ſc. That we could not be ſaved, without the operations of the Spirit in us: yet, this would be nothing to the buſineſs befo…e us: that is, it doth not prove a Quakers-pretended Saviour within him, to be the true, not the falſe Chriſt: foraſmuch as the operations of the Spirit in us, are not Chriſt, God-man, therefore not our Saviour: again, I told her, let it be granted, that we cannot be ſaved without the effects and operations of the ſpirit in us: yet herehence it will not f…llow, that we are ſaved for, or by theſe effects and operations of the Spirit in us: ſo that the me…r tendency of her Queſtions we…e (by the judicious hearers) plainly diſcerned, to lay aſide the material Saviour: and to inſinuate a Spirit, and its operations (ſtill the Idol-light) p. 29within, to be the true Chriſt… and only Saviour; thereupon, I denied the Sp…rits operations in us, to be the previous, procuring cauſe or ground of redemption, juſtification, and ſalvation with God; and that it is one thing to affirm that we cannot be ſaved without the efficacies of the ſpirit in us, as evidential, and another thing to be ſaved for, or by theſe operations in us, as cauſal; to which ſhe made no return:

Let me here add, what her laſt Queſtion hath ſince brought to my remembrance; namely, ſomewhat (touching this Queſtion) the men of Rome, have commonly expreſſed: the Apoſtle (ſay they) excludes from juſtification, works which we our ſelves do meaning, Tit. 3. 5. Not by works of righteouſneſs that we have done, & Rom. 11. 6. If it be by works, then were grace no more grace,) that is (as they wrongly gloſs) works done by our own ſtreng…h, without the help of the Grace of God, not thoſe works we do by the aid of the ſpirit within us, which is the ſame with that of the carnal Propheteſs above, only it is expreſſed in plainer words, ſo that in truth, her Queſtion is but a ſly deſign, to renew again the old Papiſh trick, to elude the genuine force of ſuch Texts, as above aſſerted: and in good earneſt, a Quakers light within, is but the Pope without:

By the way, in reference to her laſt queſtion, let two things be ſeriouſly conſidered:

1. That Carnal Goſpellers do but deceive their own ſouls, by reſting in a bare literal, or hiſtorical aſſent, that the Man Jeſus Chriſt of Nazareth is the true Chriſt, and our only Saviour; while they are in no degree partakers of the divine nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. i. e. of the effectual graces of Chriſts ſpirit, ſc. a living ſaith, a lively hope love unfeigned, true repentance, &c. but are ſlighters, and profeſſed rejectors of th…m.

2. As Carnal Goſpellers do thus deceive themſelves; ſo do Anti-Goſpellars (as Quakers) no leſs (yea, much more) put a …heat upon their own Souls, by their idle pretences, viz. that the Graces, effects and operations of the ſpirit within them, maketh the true Chriſt, and their only Saviour from ſins: Alas, poor deluded ones, this is to teſtifie, that the effects of Chriſts death, ſufferings, redemption, and righteouſneſs do conſtitute the true Chriſt, and Mans only Saviour: which effects and operations (ſay ye) being followed in all righteouſneſs, will bring you to Salvation: now, what is all this? but in plain Engliſh, to be brought to ſalvation, by the obedience of works: Oh, let every good Chriſtian tremble to think of the dreadful conſequence of this your God provoking Doctrine; for, it is a manifeſt renouncing of the righteouſneſs and obedience of the Son of God, Jeſus Chriſt of Nazareth, whom God the Father hath exalted to be the only Saviour to give remiſſion of ſins and p. 30ſalvation to all, that rightly believe on him, as is aboundantly foreſhewed.

Next to Mrs. Bullock, the Champ…n Francis, ſtarts up, who (who (after the truths of God had ſilenced his fellow labourer in the work of the falſe Chriſt) repeats ſome words in the New-Teſtament; But ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified by the ſpirit of God.

Anſw. 1. I requeſted him, to ſhew me where I might find thoſe words; he replied, that the words which he had ſpoken, were Scripture: But (I ſaid) thou haſt d…membred that Scripture, as the Text it ſelf made it to appear, which is in the 1 Cor. 6. 11. And ſuch were ſome of you, but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the ſpirit of our God.

2. Note here, that the only words which concern Juſtification [ſc. In the Name of the Lord Jeſus] were omitted the more craf…ily to abuſe our judgements, that we might believe juſtification in the ſight of God, is a work of, the ſpirit in us, and conſequently, that a Quakers pretended Saviour was within him.

I pray thee Frances, how doth this accord with the confeſſion of thy faith contained in thy Anſwer to my Queſtion above: ſurely Captain B…ſcomb might have told thee, that thou wouldeſt deny that thy confeſſion of the Faith not only by, but before tomorrow, by this all men may ſee what a blind, Guid he is: to be at once (almoſt on a breath) guilty of ſuch groſs contradiction, and yet inſenſible of it:

3. My ſpecial Anſwer was that [Spirit] in the laſt clauſe of that verſe, is to be referred to ſanctification as it is in all other New Teſtament Scriptures, 2 Theſſ. 2. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 2. &c. and to be ſanctified is moſtly attributed to the ſpirits efficiency: and as to the Text above, it is as if the order of the words had been thus: But ye are ſanctified by the ſpirit of our God, but ye are juſtified by the Name of the Lord Jeſus: I know, that the Teaching, Seducing Quakers, do convert the tranſpoſition in the Text, into a confuſion, by confounding juſtification and ſanctification: where is the tranſpoſition in that Text, doth no more co…found juſt fication and ſa…ctification, then the tranſpoſition in Mat. 7. 6 confounds Swine and Dogs: Give not (ſaith Chriſt) that which is holy to Dogs, neither caſt your P…arl before Swine, leſt they tra…p…e them under their feet, and turn again and rent you: Though turn again, and rent you, be in the laſt clauſe of the …erſe, yet it is to be referred …o the D…g…, not to the Swine: for as Swine do tramp…e under heir …ee…, ſo Dogs … upon a man, renting and tearing him down: Thi… inſtance plainly ſhe…s that the … poſi…ion in 1 Cor. 6. 11. above … joyning of ſanct…ficati…n to he Spirit, nor juſtification to the Name of the Lord Jeſus alone, it p. 31being according to the tenour of th… whole New-Teſtament.

And inſtead of a Reply, Francis tells us of his experimental intereſt in that Text: ſaying, that he was waſhed and juſtified in himſelf from his ſins: and at length he told us, how; to wit, in ſome meaſure: Hereup…n …emanded, what the ſins in particular were, from which he was in himſelf waſhed and juſtified in ſome meaſure? whether it were from … or Drunk…neſs, Oathes, or Adultery? he replied, I am not to tell thee: then more ſeriouſly I requeſted the Aſſembly, to take notice of his want of knowledge in the Scriptures; inaſmuch, as that he makes juſtification from ſin, not only a work with…n him, but to be daily wrought in himſelf by meaſure, or degrees; which aſſertion of his, is directly contrary, to the manifold Scriptures of truth, which proved the third Argument, to wit, that our juſtification from ſins, was at once finiſhed and perfected (without …) on the Croſs, by the offering of the one body of Jeſus Chriſt one for all; and ſo already do…e by Jeſus Chriſt, and in being, in him our head: nevertheleſs it was readily granted by me, ſc. that all things relating to our waſhing and juſtification from ſins, by that one ſacrifice of the body of Chriſt, as above; is to be believed in for the remiſſion of ſins, and for the making of that bleſſed work (ſo already finiſhed) effectual in us it is to be received and wrought, not at once, but by degrees and in meaſure, by the working and operation of the Spirit of God in us, until Mortality be ſwallowed up of life; hereunto agrees the words of the Apoſtle Paul, 1 Tim. 2. 5. 6. The man Chriſt Jeſus, who gave himſelf a ranſome for all, to be teſtified in due time; [Gave] referring to the time paſt, the work of ranſome being already done, and perfected. [To be teſtified] i. e. by the ſpirit of Faith (2 Cor. 4. 13. and b… its effects in the hearts of Believe…s, [ …due time] i. e. in Gods appointed time: ſo then when the ſpirit ſaith, as above ſc. That the Man Jeſus Chriſt ga…e himſelf a ranſome [For all] i e. for all them, by whom the ran…mer is believed on▪ and in whom …he virtue and eff…cts of the ranſome are by the ſpirit influenced … theſe things are, according to the Scriptures, give… by the conſpiration of God, (2 Tim. 3. 6) whereas this Doctor's new Divinity (to wit, That he is in himſelf waſhed and juſtified from his ſin…, in ſome meaſure) it is moſt falſe and dangerous Doctrine: for it doth clearly deny, that the M…ſſias, Jeſus Chriſt of … hath at once by his own crucified bo…y (without u…) on the Croſſe, finiſhed Tran…reſſ…n, and … all which (and much more) is the joynt Teſtimony of the Prophets a…d Apoſtles concerning the Man Jeſus Chriſt, and the work … ſome effected by him for ſinners while … to God …

Note, that this truth, doth …lly anſwereth. Quakers ca…il, about this p. 32matter: how is ſin (ſay they) finiſhed without a Man, while no good is wrought within him: and ſeeing (as they further ſay) Chriſt works all things in us by his Spirit, how then can all things be finiſhed by Chriſt without us, before any good is wrought by him in us?

Anſw. It is moſt neceſſarily preſuppoſed, that all things were finiſhed by the Man Jeſus Chriſt (as above explained) for ſatisfaction to his Fathers juſtice for ſin, before we could receive that ſatisfaction by Faith or its effects by the ſpirit within us: Now, its moſt certain, that before Faith (with its fruits and effects) was wrought in us by the ſpirit: we were unbelievers, ungodly, unjuſt, and enemies to God in our minds by wicked works, Col. 1. 21. then according to right reaſon; if the one had not been firſt wrought by Jeſus Chriſt without us, it had been altogether impoſſible for the o…her to have been wrought in us. or received by Faith, and to witneſſed unto by us; conſider once more, if the Man Ieſus Chriſt had not firſt given himſelf a ranſome for our ſins, we could not have received it by Faith, nor could it have been Teſtified or witneſſed unto, by us: Moreover, let it be well obſerved, that all the righteouſneſs of Sanctification that is in us from Chriſt, is but a fruit of that righteouſneſs of Iuſtification, which …eſus Chriſt of Nazareth wrought out by his own perſonal obedience and ſufferings upon the Croſſe: yea all the graces and operations of the Spirit wrought in us, were thereby merited and purchaſed for us.

Therefore Francis, your being in your ſelf waſhed and juſtified from your ſins, in ſome meaſure; is, plainly to deny that one Propitiatory Sacrifice, of the one crucified body of the true Man Ieſus Chriſt, which can be no other then a wretched deſign, to blot out of our hearts the bleſſed Name and Remembrance of that one great propitiation once offered for ſins, together with the redemption, righteouſneſs and reconciliation to God, as already (in Chriſt our head and ſurety) purchaſed and perfected for us until, no other righteouſneſs or redemption be known, but that of obedience to the Light (that unbloody Redeemer) which is (ye ſay) in every man that comes into the World: and thus, ſo much obedience to the Idol-light within, ſo much redemption, waſhing juſtifying and no more. (Here hence Francis, comes (thus in ſome meaſure in thy ſelf) this is the voice of your Law-working ſpirit within: teaching, that he that doth theſe things ſhall live by them; The Pope without is become a Quakers Light within: I have now done with the enlargements upon his affirmation, to wit, That he was [In ſome meaſure] waſhed and juſtified in himſelf from his ſins: The next Apparition is of

William Bullock again: And he tells us, the Law of the ſpirit of life in Chriſt Jeſus, hath made us free from ſin.

p. 33Anſw. 1. I prayed him to tell me, where I might find thoſe words, as uttered by him; he had been taught his Anſwer, ſc. It is Scripture: But I told him, that he had (according to a Quakers practice) m…ngled and abuſed that holy Text of Scripture, intended by him; Namely,

Rom. 8. 2. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Chriſt Jeſus, hath made me free from the Law of ſin and …ath;

But he repeated [ Ʋs] for [Me] and free from ſin: for, free from the law of ſin a…d left out the word [Death.]

2. I deſired him, to frame his Argument, to prove the matter controverted, ſc. That a Quakers pretended Saviour within him, is the true, not the falſe Chriſt: But no Argument from the Text (nor any thing like it) was alledged by him, long fa…ting perhaps, made him ſo empty.

There…ore, 3. I ſaid, That it is the Law of the Spirit of life (not in a Quaker, but) in Chriſt Jeſus and that there is not (nor ever was) any other Jeſus Chriſt, a Sav…our from ſin, but the Holy Child Jeſus, born of Mary in Bethlehem, the City of David, Luk. 2. 4, 11. which Saviour is not to be ſound in any Quaker; and therefore this place of Scripture pretended by th…e, falls ſhort of maintaining your cauſe, as it reſpects the firſt part of the charge: which …id appear on a due examination of the Text it ſelf, in this man …: to wit.

Exam. By the Spirit of Life in Chriſt Jeſus, we are to underſtand, the Spirit which the Father gave him (as the Son of Man (without meaſure, Ioh. 3. …4. Ioh. 1. 6. Now from this fulneſs of Spiritual Life in Chriſt, Paul received ſuch a degree of it, as made him free from the Law (i. e. from the reign and dem…nion) of ſin, and from Death, Rom. 6. 12. 14 (i. e. from the power of natural death) Note, that the Spirit in the Text above is ſe… …own two wayes:

1. By the Subject in whom it is; that is, in the Manhood of Chriſts Perſon.

2. By the Effect it is a ſpirit of life if this life be not (from Chriſts fulneſs) conveyed into us, we are but dead men, ſpiritually dead in ſins, Eph 2. 1. But when the ſpirit of … (from Chriſts unmeaſurable fulneſs) is derived to us t…en we feel its law (or power) weakening and aboliſhing the Law (i. e.) the ſtrength and Authority) of ſin in us; and thereby ſin hath now, no reigning, domineering power in or over us, nor can it condemn our perſons: and thus, we are …reed from the Law of ſin & death.

Note, Not ſo …reed, as if we were ſimply delivered from both or either of theſe, as that we cannot afterwards ſin, and die: but the meaning is, ſin cannot rul…, or exerciſe a command now over us, n…r can it damn …s, nor can the natural death hurt us: now tell me William, whether there be ought in this third Text of Scripture alledged by thee, that doth in p. 34the leaſt (though never ſo much ſtrained) prove this firſt part of the charge againſt you, to be falſe; for the mind of the Apoſtle therein is plain and evident, viz. that the law of the Spirit of life inherent in us, hath only a virtue to eat down the Law (or commanding power) of preſent ſins, and to deſtroy the power of our natural death: what (I pray thee) is in all this, to prove a Quakers pretended Saviour within him, &c. ſurely William, either thou art very ſilly thy ſelf, or thou didſt think thy hearers to be ſo:

After him ſteps F. E. again, and ſaid, the Scripture ſaith of Chriſt, I in thee, and thou in me: but he could not tell us, where to find the Scripture, that ſaid thoſe words of Chriſt.

Anſw. That I did not remember any ſuch Scripture, for manner, and fo…m; as ſpoken by him: to wit, I in the…, and thou in me; but this Parret muſt prate as he hath been taught; howbeit, if it might be ſuppoſed (not granted) that Chriſt had ſaid to any particular perſon▪ [I in thee, and thou in me:] It muſt needs follow, that the perſon of Chriſt w…s without (not within) him, to whom he then ſpake; and the perſon of Chriſt, being the Believers only Saviour: this allegation, could not concern the charge before us

Tis true, we read in Joh 17 23: I in them, and thou in we, that they may be made perfect in me: i e. in oneneſs of affection; for ſo it is interpreted, in the laſt clauſe of the ſame verſe, ſc. and haſt loved them as thou haſt loved me; alſo in Joh. 14. 20. and you in me, and I in you: theſe words do only ſignifie the reciprocal love, that ſhall be fully experienced between Chriſt and his members, at the glorious reſurrection of the juſt, as it is implied in the former part of that verſe: At that day (namely of Chriſts ſecond comming in glory, ver. 18.) ye ſhall (ſc. at that day) know that I am in my Father (i. e. in his love) and you in me (i. e. in my love) and I in you (i. e. in your love, ver. 21.) Now Francis, if thou doſt mean, either of theſe Scriptures, thou wilt be ſtill at a loſs: for it was the man Jeſus Chriſt, which ſpake to his Diſciples, and it is very ſtrange, that thou wilt produce a Chriſt for evidence, in whom you do not believe: its a ſign, that thou art almoſt ſpent; I do not remember that he made any reply to ought ſaid by me, as above: but as a mask for their nakedneſs, he urged another Scripture, (not naming where, as to the chapter or verſe) to wit Chriſt ſaith of h…mſelf, I am Alpha and Omega:

Rev 1. 1. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending ſaith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come. The Almighty, after the reciting of this Scripture, I expected an Argument, to be drawn from thence by the Diſputant, to prove the thing for wh…ch he brought it; But it ſeems Franks Seducers could never make him capable of formal p. 35Argumentations, which defect, conſtrained me to inſiſt upon the explication (herein more fully and diſtinctly enlarged) of thoſe Texts of Scripture, which (for the moſt part) were only repeated by the titular Diſputants, and that many times after their own moſt preſumptuous mode and manner, adding or diminiſhing contrary to Gods command, Deut. 4. 2. But I proceed to the Text it ſelf:

Anſ. The place of Scripture above, ſc. Rev. 1. 8. conſiſts of three parts. Firſt part, I am Alpha and Omega, in theſe words Chriſts creating power is Metaphorically expreſſed, being the firſt and laſt letters in the Greek Alphabet; which (by a figurative ſpeech) are applied to any beginning and end; and are here interpreted, by the next words, namely, the Beginning, and the Ending: which Phraſes, do ſignifie unto us Chriſts divine Nature, eternal Power, and Godhead, as in Joh. 1. ver. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, (ſc. God the Son) and in Col. 1. 16. All things were created by him (his dear Son, ver. 13.) and for him (ſc for his glory, as the ultimate end, Rom. 11. 36.) this therefore is the meaning of [I am Alpha and Omega] that is Chriſt is the efficient cauſe of all things, and the end alſo, wh…ther all things are referred: that he hath at firſt created all things, and that for his own glory alone.

Second part, Saith the Lord, which words denote Chriſt the faithful promiſer▪ for all the promiſes of God are in him. 2 Cor. 1 20. in him i. e. in the man hood of Chriſts perſon, Col. 2 9. hereunto agrees the title [Lord.] which is moſtly appropriated to Chriſts huma…e nature, as before his Birth Luk. 1 43. And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord ſhould come to me, and on the day of his birth, Chap 2. ver. 11. For to you is born this day, a Saviour, which is Chriſt the Lord: and afterwards, Joh. 13. ver. 13, 14. Ye call me Maſter, and Lord, for ſo I am: If I thou your Lord and Maſter, have waſhed your feet: Alſo, after his reſurrection, Luk. 24. 34 ſaying, The Lord hath riſen indeed, and hath oppeared to Simon, ver 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I my ſelf, (meaning, your Lord and Maſter) and likewiſe after his aſcention, Act. 22. 8. And I anſwered, who art thou Lord? and he ſaid unto me, I am Jeſus of Nazareth, whom thou perſecuteſt: to theſe many more might be added, to evidence that by [Lord] in the Text above … man hood of Chriſts perſon is to be underſtood, at leaſt not to be excluded: For in ver. 11. Chriſt ſaith, I am Alpha and Omega, the firſt, and the laſt▪ here Alpha and Omega, are explained by the terms [Of the firſt and the laſt] that is to ſay, the Lord Chriſt is the firſt, to wit ſubſiſting in the beginning with God, and equal with the Father: and the laſt, having taken the … of a Servant, i. e. of the meaneſt man, and ſo laſt in reputation, Phil. 2. 6, 7.

p. 36Third part; Which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty: by the diſtribution of the threefold time, is meant (as Aretas, and Brightman on the 4th. verſe) the trinity of perſons, which is, or I am, (as in the firſt part) are here of the ſame import, and do refer to the Father. Exod. 3 14. and which was, to the Son, Joh. 1. ver. 1. And which is come, to the Holy Ghoſt. Iohn. 16. 8, 13.

The Almighty; This laſt word of the verſe, denotes the omnipotency, eternal eſſence and Godhead of Chriſts perſon: the ſum of both (ſc. 1. 11.) verſes above, do reveal unto us only two things.

1. The union of the two Natures in the perſon of Chriſt; namely; that he was and is true God, and true man in one perſon.

2. The Trinity of perſons, in the unity of Eſſence.

Now Francis, doeſt thou think, that either of theſe things (containing the true ſenſe, of the Texts alledged by thee) will prove your cauſe, That a Quakers pretended Saviour within him, is the true Chriſt: ſurely, thou canſt not be ſo bruitiſh as to think ſo, but rather the contrary, ſc. That it is the falſe Chriſt the Devil: this Concluſion made Patience (an impatient) Bullock, ſhe being unable to forbear any longer, calls to me, What (quoth ſhe) doſt thou make our Chriſt within us, to be the Devil?

To her I made Anſwer: ſaying, that I did ſolemnly, and with much reverence (as in the preſence of God, to whom I muſt ſhortly be accountable for my words) declare, that I do moſt aſſuredly know, that a Quakers pretended Chriſt within him, is the falſe Chriſt, the Devil, whom ye ignorantly believe in, and worſhip, and with whom ye will be damned in: Hell, if ye repent not; to this moſt ſerious Declaration, ſhe made no reply at all:

But F. E. forthwith replied, ſaying, Thou haſt no warrant from the Scripture, thus to ſpeak: I told him, that I had ſufficient warrant from the Scriptures, to make good what I had (in the fear of God) declared: and forthwith I alledged the words of Jeſus Chriſt of Nazareth himſelf, Ioh. 8. 24. I ſaid therefore unto you, that ye ſhall die in your ſins, this Scripture ſilenced him likewiſe, and thereupon I told him, that the true Chriſt had ſtopt his mouth.

Let me here add ſome other Scriptures, for ſome further warrant, as Ioh. 3. 18. He that believeth not (ſc. on the Son of God▪ ſent into the World, ver. 17.) is condemned already, that is, he is as ſure to be damned, as if he was actually in Hell: and in ver. 36. He that believeth not on the Son (ſc. bo…n of Mary▪ Luk. 1. 35,) ſhall not ſee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him: likewiſe in Luk. 19. 14. And his Citizens hated him, (ſc, the Son of Man, the Saviour, ver. 10) and ſent a meſſage after him, ſaying, we will not have this Man to reign over us: let it be here well Noted, that p. 37the true Chriſt calls thoſe Citizens his Enemies, and ſuch Enemies as he would deſtroy, ver. 27. But thoſe mine Enemies, which would not that I (the Son of Man, ver. 10. above) ſhould reign over them, bring hither, and ſlay them before me: in Mark alſo, Chap. 16. ver. 16. He that believeth not (ſc. on Jeſus riſen from the dead, ver. 9.) ſhall be damned.

Now Frank, didſt not thou ſpeak under the Power of Satan, when thou didſt ſo openly and confidently affirm, that I had no warrant to ſpeak as I did, when I ſpake to thy fellow-Labourer in the work of the falſe Chriſt?

The next Bolt was ſhot by William Bullock, and he tells us, The Light makes manifeſt; lifting up his voice lowder and lowder, crying out, tell me, tell me, the true, and real meaning of thoſe words; the Light makes manifeſt: I ſurely thought, that his lowd Lowing and Bellowing, was to prevent my asking of him, where thoſe words might be found in the Scriptures: which I did forbear to ask, becauſe I knew his Anſwer, (ſc. tis Scripture.)

Anſw. 1. I told him, that he was at his old trade of mangling the Scriptures: and then ſhewed him wherein; namely, that it was not the Light maketh manifeſt; but whatſoever doth make manifeſt, is Light: which, the …ext made to appear, in Eph. 5. 13. But all things that are reproved, are made manifeſt by the Light: for, whatſoever doth make manifeſt is light.

2. By Light, here; we are to underſtand, a Sin-reproving-light: inaſmuch as the latter part, doth interpret the former part of the verſe, ſc. But all things that are reproved, are made manifeſt by the Light, (i. e. by the Light of Scripture) whence Paul argues thus: for whatſoever doth make manifeſt, (in a way of Reproof) is light (ſc. Scriptural light as before) for the written Scriptures are frequently deſcribed by Light, Pſal. 119. 105. Thy Word is a Light unto my path, Iſai. 8. 20. To the Law, and to the Teſtimony, if they ſpeak not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them: Here, the written Word (ſuch, was the Law and Teſtimony) is the only manifeſting, and ſo determining-light, either for reprehenſion, or ſatisfaction (in caſes of error and doubts) and the reaſon of it, is aſſigned by the Apoſtle, 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by inſpiration of God, and is profitable for Reproof, for Inſtruction (or manifeſtation) and hereunto agrees the words of our Lord and Saviour, Joh. 3. 26, 21. For every one that doth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, leſt his deeds ſhould be [reproved:] But he that doeth truth, cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifeſt.

1. By Light (in theſe verſes) Chriſt underſtands the Doctrinal-light (contained in the written Scripture of the New-Teſtament) which was p. 38preached by him, and his Apoſtles: hence it is that the Lord Chriſt, Joh. 8. 12. and his Apoſt…es, Mat 5. 14 are called the …ight of the Wonld.

2. That this Light, doth reprove, ver. 20. and manifeſt, ver. 21. well then William, thy …em…d is granted thee; namely that the true and real meaning of the Text (… by thee) is this: to wit, That the light of Scripture, doth make reproved evils manifeſt, or evils manifeſt, which are to be reproved: this being the true and re… meaning, how doth it prove the thing deſigned? ſc. That the light within thee, … the true, not the falſe Chriſt: I hope, thou art not ſuch a Bull…ck, as to think it the t…ue Chriſt. Now fora…much as that I have the advantage of more liberty (without interruptio…) to enlarge I will ſhew thee (…. B.) two things (from the Light in the Text recited by th…e, as above)

Firſt. That the Light of Scripture, doth make ſome of a Quakers evils manifeſt.

Secondly, That it doth reprove thoſe their evils.

For the firſt, ſc. That the Light of Scripture, doth manifeſt ſome of a Quakers evils. … As 1. The evil of Antichriſtianiſme, 2 Joh. ver. 7. For many Deceivers are entred into the World, who confeſs not that Jeſus Chriſt is come in the fleſh, this is a deceiver and an Antichriſt.

Obſerve by the way, when ever this Text of Scripture is mentioned againſt the Quakers, they preſently frame a pretence, whereby they would ſeem to go off with ſome credit; telling us, that we make a man of ſtraw, and then knock him down: for who is it (ſay they) of us, that doth deny Jeſus Chriſt is come in the fleſh; we do (ſay they) confeſs that Jeſus Chriſt is come in the fleſh, that he ſuffered, and died in the fleſh.

Anſw. This is ſuch a pitiful ſhift, nay, ſuch a deceitful covering, that the weakeſt eye may look through it; they well kn…w, how unable they are to deal with the Arguments, which are in the inſpired Scriptures of God, againſt the feigned light Chriſt within them, have therefore made the hole above, to creep out at: but this their juggle, is no other then what hath been a ready diſcovered: namely, That it was not the viſible body of Chriſts fleſh, which was or is Chriſt the Saviour, but the Chriſt in that appearing body of his fleſh; and as the Chriſt was in this his fleſh, ſo he is in every mans fleſh that comes into the World. And hence it is, that a Teaching Quaker, when he is prat…ng of the Idol-light within, he laye …his hand upon his breaſt; ſaying Jeſus Chriſt is manifeſt in this fleſh: (meaning in his real fleſh: but Chriſts fleſh was only in ſhew and appearance.) T…is their …olly brings to mind, what Mr. Haworth (a converted Quaker) doth aſſe…t in his Epiſtle to John Crook, a Teaching Quaker. Being (ſaith he) lately in diſcourſe with ſome Quakers, who held, that p. 39it was the Light within, that was crucified without the Gates of Jeruſalem: An… in the ſame Epiſtle, he further ſaith, I can never forget James N…yler, whom I ſaw ſuffer, and what was the fruit of that Spirit b… which he was …cted, was he not ſtrange…y lifted up in Pride, to make … the M…ſſi…r, and take divine Worſhip to h…mſelf: For (ſaith he) … tol… me, that he ſtood by and ſaw three Women, … and worſhip him, and one of them in her bowings …: to wit. Thy Name is no more Iames, b…t I Am: And … Nayler told Iohn Bolton, that if he worſhipped his body, he ſhoul… reſu…e it, but if that within him he would …ccept it: Hereunto agrees …. D…ctrine (at the time o… the Diſputati…n) we do (quoth he) … the out ſide Chriſt, to be the …rue Chriſt and Saviour; ſo then, accordi…g to this Doctors Divinity: there is another Chriſt, namely, an inſide Chriſt▪ which he doth worſhip and believe in, for his Salvation from … wrath; …ut I ſhall tell him more of my mind, in its due place.

I now return to ſome further conſideration, of what they have above affirmed; which is, that they do not deny (but confeſs) that Jeſus Chriſt is co…ſidered as diſtinct from the fleſh: and therefore (according to a Quaker, Faith) the true Chriſt and Saviour is within the fleſh: that is, (as to their ſenſe) in th… fleſh, of every man that comes into the World, and therefore (as they ſay) they are neither Deceivers nor Antichriſts: To …ear this Smoa…y coſt:

I Anſwer. Theſe words [In the fleſh] though they are frequently inſerted in the Scriptures of Truth, y… … never ſign fie a thing diſtinct from the fleſh, but alwayes the fleſh it ſelf, as it may appear by mani…old inſtance (re…erring to man kind fleſh, conſiſting of Soul and Body, the true or whole man) Gen. 17. 34. …5. Abraham a…d Iſhmael, circumciſed in the fleſh, i e. the fleſh it ſelf was circumciſe…, Rom. 2. 28. outward in the fleſh, i. e. the outſide fleſh, 1 Cor. 7. 28. Such ſhall have trouble in the fleſh, i. e. their bo…ies of fleſh ſhall have trouble: furthermore, the Apoſtle puts this matter … …ll Diſpute, Phil. 1. 22. But if I live in the fleſh, i. e. to abide in the fleſh, ver. 24. which he explains in ver. 25. I know, that I ſhall abide and continue with you all, i. e. I (Paul, true man, conſiſting of Soul and body) know … I ſhall abide with you; wherein it is moſt plain that his … (in the fleſh, doth not denote a thing diſtinct from the fleſh but the very mankind fleſh it ſelf. For here, by Paul's being in the fleſh he un…er an…s his whole man: Howbeit, let me improve theſe laſt verſes a little more by propounding thence a Queſtion.

Queſt. What is it to confeſs that Paul is come in the fleſh?

Anſw. It is to confeſs, that Paul is come true man, conſiſting of Soul p. 40and body (as above, ver. 25.) And conſequently, not to confeſs that Paul is come true man, is to deny him come in the fleſh:

But, to ſay that Paul is come in the fleſh; doth ſignifie ſc. Paul is to be conſidered as diſtinct from his body of Fleſh: And ſo to be in the fleſh of every man that comes into the world, would be an interpretation, not only contrary to the Scripture, above, but ſo abſurd and irrational, as becoming none but ſeduced, ſeducing Quakers: from whence I may ſafely infer: That whoſoever doth not confeſs that Jeſus Chriſt is come true man, conſiſting of Soul and Body, doth deny that Jeſus Chriſt is come in the Fleſh; But Teaching, Seducing Quakers, do not confeſs that Jeſus Chriſt is come true man, conſiſting of Soul and Body: Ergo, they do deny that Jefus Chriſt is come in the Fleſh: And by good conſequence from the whole, they cannot deny (unleſs they will deny truth in God) themſelves to be Deceivers and Antichriſts Moreover the ſame Apoſtle John, puts a Queſtion, 1 Joh 2. 22. Who is a lyar? and then Anſwers it: But he that denieth that Jeſus is the Chriſt; and forthwith adds, he is Antichriſt: well then, according to the Scripture of truth, he that denieth that Ieſus is the Chriſt, is a lyar and an Antichriſt: But a Teaching Quaker doth deny Jeſus, to be the Chriſt: Ergo, a Teaching Quaker is (by the ſpirits Teſtimony) a Lyar and an Antichriſt: The Propoſition, being the words of that Scripture, ver. 22. may not be gain-ſaid: the Aſſumption I do prove thus; The Ieſus intended by the Apoſtle, is Ieſus born of Mary, (who is called Chriſt, Mat. 1. 16.) the Ieſus of Nazareth a man approved of God among the Iews, Act. 2. 23. But a Teaching Quaker doth deny Jeſus of Nazareth (born of Mary) a man approved of God among the Iews, to be the Chriſt, and therefore the Concluſion is undeniable: ſc. That a Teaching. Quaker doth deny that Jeſus is the Chriſt: And as this is undeniable, ſo is the other; namely, That a Teaching Quaker is a Lyar and an Antichriſt: which is further evidenced, 1 Ioh 4. 3. And every Spirit that confeſſeth not that Ieſus Chriſt is come in the fleſh, is not of God, and this is that ſpirit of Antichriſt: (in the fle…, here is put for the fleſh it ſelf) as in Scriptures aforementioned: now to deny Chriſts Manhood to be a Saviour, is to deny Ieſus to be the Chriſt.

Secondly, As the Light of Scripture doth manifeſt, Teaching Quakers (eſpecially) to be Liars, Deceivers, and Antichriſts, (yea the Spirit of Antichriſt) ſo it doth alſo reprove them:

1. Becauſe, as ſuch, they are of the Dragon and Beaſt, making War with the Lamb, …ev. 13. 9, 10 The Man Ieſus, Ioh. 1. 29, 30. and the faith delivered to the Saints.

2. As ſuch, they are Contradicters and Blaſphemers of the Truth, which the holy men of God ſpake, as they were moved by the Holy p. 41Ghoſt, 2 Pet. 1. 21. For inſtance, Ioh. 1. 14. And the Word, (God, ver. 1.) was made fleſh [Fleſh] i. e. true man: for he dwelt among us, (the Iews) and we beheld the Glory of him, (this dweller among us) concerning whom, the Witneſs-bearer (ſent of God, ver. 6) hare Record, that he was a true man, ver. 30. there by witneſſing, That …eſus Chriſt was true Man, as well as true God, and both in his one perſon: which Article of our Chriſtian Faith, is deried by moſt Teaching Quakers. Another Inſtance we have. … Tim 3. 16. God was manifeſt in the fleſh, i. e. Mankind fleſh, or true and whole Man; for ſo the Phraſe (in the Fleſh) can…otates, as it hath been already cleared from the Scriptures of God: ſo that, [God was manifeſt in the fleſh] doth not teach us that God is to be conſidered as diſtinct from the fleſh; but that God was manifeſt fleſh, real man-kind fleſh, and thereby the Godhead and the M…nhood were united in the one perſon of Chriſt, and made manifeſt to the Apoſtles bodily ſenſes, of ſeeing, hearing, and …eeling, 1 Ioh. chap. 1. ver. 1. 2.

Likewiſe Paul, Act 63. 38. Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveneſs of ſins: through (or by ver. 39.) This Man, viz. The man Ieſus of Nazareth, who by the wicked hands of the Iews, was ſlain, and hanged on a tree: and then, by God the Father raiſed from the dead the third day, and exalted to be a Saviour to give remiſſion of ſins, Act. 2. 22. Chap. 5. 29, 30. through [This Man] is preached the forgiveneſs of ſins as above: For ſo hath the Lord commanded us, ver. 47. at which commanded Preaching, the wicked Iew… were filled with envy, and ſpake (as Teaching Quakers do) againſt thoſe things ſpoken by Paul (as above) contradicting and blaſpheming▪ ver. 45. So much for your firſt evil manifeſted and reproved by the Light of divine Scripture: though there are many profeſſed evils amo…g Quakers, which the Light of holy Scripture doth manifeſt and reprove: yet, I ſhall now make men …on but of one more, becauſe I would not be too voluminous:

The Second Evil: is, The profeſſ…a perfection of a Quakers ſeeming Sanctity, conſiſting in [Thou and Thee] thereby denying all reverential reſpects to any ſort of men, of what rank or quality ſoever.

For method ſake: we will in the firſt place, …ear what they have to ſay for themſelves, touching this matter.

1. They are apt to ſay (becauſe they have often ſaid it) that [Thou, and You] are of diſtinct ſignifications in Scripture, and likewiſe [Thee and You] the one ſignifying a Singular, the other a Plural.

Anſw. Theſe terms of (thou, thee and you) are to alwayes in Scripture of diſtinct ſignifications: as it appears, Lev. 19. 12. Ye (or you) ſhall not Swear by my Name falſly, neither ſhalt thou prophane the Name of thy God▪ In this Scripture, Ye (or You) and Thou, are of the ſame ſignification: p. 42and in Ier. 3. 12. Return thou, backſliding Iſrael, and I will not cauſe my anger to fall upon you: here likewiſe, thou and you, are of the ſame ſignification: again, in Luk. 17. 21. the Kingdome of God is within you; you, here doth (in your ſenſe) ſignifie each particular Quaker.

2. Nor are theſe words (ſc. thee and you) alwayes in Scripture of dictinct ſignifications, as in Deut. 28. 9. herein, thee, (a ſingular) and holy People (a plural) are of the ſame ſignification, ſo in Iſai. 26. 20. here People and thou are of the ſame import: To theſe Scriptures (would it not render me tedious to the Reader) I might add many more, to gainſay this their trifling Aſſertion: for you and thou are oft in Scripture and reaſon convertitable terms, for inſtance, thou in the Decalogue is indefinitely underſtood.

2. They are ready to affirm. ſc. To ſalute a ſingle perſon, under the notion [You] is both improper, and irrational, for it were to confound ſingular, and plural in point of right reaſon:

Anſw. Its neither: for, its not improp…r nor irrational, to ſay to a ſingle man, This Youth is your Son; for you a…e his Father, which to …, is as proper and rational, as to ſay, thou art is Father and the reaſon is becauſe (you and your,) are of the ſame nature: unaſmuch as the one is derived from the other: Now as [Your] is applieable to one as to many, ſo is (You) likewiſe. Again it is both proper and rational to …ell a ſingle perſon, This houſe is your houſe, for you have a good …itle to it; which is as proper and rational as to ſay, thou haſt a good …itle to t…o hou…e; and conſequently it is not only irrational to affirm, that this dot … confound the terms of (thou and you.) …ts Diabolical to … (a the Quakers do) [thou and thee] making it the daily …, for your levilling inflamed-pride.

3. They ſay for themſelves; That holy men (in the Scriptures) did uſe the words (thou and thee) not only one to another, but to God himſelf:

Anſw. This is granted; howbeit I pray, can any of you Quakers produce me one holy Man (in Scripture expreſſed) which uſed theſe words (thou and thee) that he might thereby take occaſion to deny (as ye wickedly do) all reverential reſpects to any ſort of men of what rank or quality ſoever: ſure I am, ye cannot produce me one ſuch man; for this bruitiſh kind of practice, is contrary to the manifold Precepts and Preſidents alſo, in the Scriptures of truth, as afterwards ſhall plainly appear. Indeed we Chriſtians do acknowledge, that holy men (in Scripture) did uſe the words (thou and thee) not only one to another, but to God himſelf, for two eminent Reaſons.

1. That they might thereby be kept to the unity of the Godhead▪ for p. 43although Jehovah is Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, yet he is not three Gods, but one; therefore holy men holding their minds to the unity of the eſſence; Thou and Thee, were (and are) moſt proper and neceſſary to preſerve their minds from a plurality of Gods: But this ground cannot be pleaded by a Quaker, who denieth a Trinity in Unity, and ſo, he denies the only true God.

2. Reaſ. Holy men uſed theſe words (thou and thee) to God, and one to another, as occaſionally they were by Holy Spirit, drawn out to either of theſe words (ſc. thou or thee) for all Scripture is given by inſpiration of God, … Tim. 3. 16. and in 2 Pet. 1. 21. Holy men of God ſpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt; ſo then, its plain that Holy men (in Scripture) ſpake theſe words (thou and thee) to God, and one to another; but it was then, when they were moved thereunto by the Holy Ghoſt: but I pray, do ye Quakers never uſe thoſe words (thou and thee) but then when ye are occaſionally drawn out, or moved by the Holy Ghoſt to either: if any of you, ſhould be ſo notoriouſlyvile, as to father the uſe of thoſe words (thou and thee) upon the Spirit; would not the Holy Ghoſt tell thee, that thou art of thy Father the Devil, who is a lyar from the beginning.

Again, Although holy men frequently uſed thoſe words, as above; yet they never thereby took occaſion to deny, but ever uſed reverential reſpects to all ſorts of perſons, according to their rank and quality: as for inſtance, Abraham, Gen. 18. 1, 2, 3. as he ſat in the Tent-door, he lift up his eyes and looked, and lo, three men (Angels unawares) ſtood by him, and when he ſaw them, he ran to meet them from the Tent-door, and bowed himſelf to the ground, and ſaid my Lord: And David, 1 Sam. 20. 41. roſe out of his place, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himſelf three times to Jonathan: Again, in the 1 Sam. 25. 23, 25. Abigail ſaw David, and fell before him, on her face, and bowed her ſelf to the ground, and called him Lord: Likewiſe Ruth, Chap. 2. 10. She fell on her face, and bowed her ſelf to the ground to Boaz: And in ver. 4. Boaz courteouſly ſaid to the Reapers, the Lord be with you; and they (in reverential reſpects) to him, Anſwered, the Lord bleſs thee. Furthermore we read of reverential reſpects, between Abraham, and his Idolatrous Neighbours, Gen. 23. 7. Abraham ſtood up, and bowed himſelf to the People of the Lana, even to the children of Heth, and ver. 8. he communed with them ſaying, if it be your mind: And ver. 5. the children of Heth anſwered Abraham, ſaying, hear us my Lord: thou art a Prince of God amongſt us. And Solomon alſo, 1 King. 2. 10. aroſe from his Throne, and bowed himſelf to his Mother; and Joſeph, Gen. 28. 12. bowed himſelf to his Father Jacob, with his face towards the ground: And in the 2 Pet. 3. 6. Sarah obeyed Abraham, and called him Lord: p. 44unto theſe Preſidents, many more might be alledged: Thus we ſee, though theſe holy perſons often uſed (thou and thee) yet, they ever uſed reverential reſpects to all ſorts of men; and that according to Gods expreſs command, as Lev 9. 32. Thou ſhalt riſe up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God, I am the Lord. Thus Moſes by Gods own inſpiration: but this ye Quakers do not: therefore the Light of this Scripture reproves you, as no Fearers of God: And Exod. 20. 12. Honour thy Father and thy Mother, which is alſo recited by the Apoſtle, Eph. 6. 2. Honour thy Father and thy Mother, which is the firſt Commandment with promiſe; Note this Commandment comprehends not only Natural Parents, Heb. 12. 9. the Fathers of our fleſh, but the Fathers of our Country, as civil Magiſtrates and Rulers, Iſai. 49. 23. yea, likewiſe Spiritual Fathers, as Goſpel Miniſters are phraſed by Paul, 1 Cor. 4. 15. we read, that in our Saviours time, there were ſome proud Profeſſors, who inclined much towards this Principle and practice of a Quaker, (but not in ſo bad a ſenſe) Mark 7. 10. ye (ſaith Chriſt) ſuffer him no more to do ought for his Father and Mother, making the Word of God (the commandment above) of none effect; and indeed as much more do the Quakers) Paul alſo, by the ſame inſpiration of God, Rom. 13. 7. Render therefore to all (meaning higher Powers and Rulers, ver. 1, 2.) their dues, honour to whom honour: and the Apoſtle, 1 Pet. 2. 17. Honour all men, eſpecially in places of honour) fear God, honour the King, as Supream and Governour, ſent by him. Moreover, 1 Tim. 5 3. Honour Widows, that are Widows indeed; and in ver. 17. Let the Elders that Rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, eſpecially they that labour in the Word and Doctrine. Theſe Precepts are given by the inſpiration of God, and conſequently are obligatory on Conſcience, to be performed in that uſeful, commendable, and neceſſary duty of reverential reſpects afore declared: and which hath been (in conſcience of Gods ſtrict, and indiſpenſible command (obeyed by the holy Preſidents above.

Secondly, As the light of Scripture hath manifeſted this your ſecond evil alſo; even ſo likewiſe the Light of Scripture doth reprove it.

1. It reproves you, as ſuch who want the fear of God, as above, Lev. 19. 32. and as ſuch, who harden their hearts againſt, not only the many Precepts above, to bind the Conſcience, but the many Preſidents to evidence the practice; Now, as both are manifeſt reprovers of you, ſo I wiſh they might make you not only aſhamed of your ſneaking, ſurley, dumb, and ſcurvy carriage towards Chriſtians: but alſo convince you, that this kind of Behaviour, is not in the written Scripture without, but from the pretended unwritten Scripture (that Idol-light) within: proudly contemning the ſacred Oracles of God, above aſſerted. And p. 45which is thus further argued: what can the Saints (in all places and Countries) be more ſenſible of, then that the generality of Quakers, do purpoſely uſe thoſe words (thou and thee) to deny all reverential reſpects to any ſort of men, of what rank and quality ſoever: that by that means, they may intrude themſelves to be equal with any of what rank or ſort ſoever: nay, thereby to advance themſelves, above all men, under the notion of a ſeeming perfection, which is a manifeſt product of their (God and Man) provoking pride: according to that of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 123. 4. Our ſoul is exceedingly filled with the ſcorning, and contempt of the proud: and how is the Propheſie fulfilled in you, Iſai. 3. 5. The child ſhall behave himſelf proudly againſt the antient, and the baſe againſt the Honourable: and obſerve ye well the words of the Lord Chriſt, Mark 7. 22. Deceit, Blaſphemy, Pride, Fooliſhneſs: of theſe four links, hath Satan made your Chain of darkneſs; which is moſt evident, from a due conſideration of the foregoing truths: Oh, how ſuitable is the Prophets Viſion to a Quakers condition, Obad. 1. ver. 1, 2. Behold, I have made thee ſmall, thou art greatly deſpiſed, the pride of thy heart hath deceived thee, &c. From the whole be ye adviſed.

1. To ceaſe from making your Idolized Thou and Thee, (the ſpring of your ſcurvy and ſurly deportment) with their mask, to wit, that holy men (in Scriptur recorded) did oft uſe (thou and thee) one to another, and to God himſelf: Now, what is your deſign herein? can it be ought elſe, then to put a cheat on the judgements of ſome ignorant creatures: as thus, Oh ſurely (ſay they) the Quakers do make Conſcience of the Scripture for their warrant and authority; thus poor ignorant ones are deluded by your equivocations: though its moſt certain, that the Scripture no here commands a Quaker to (thou or thee) any man, much leſs Chriſtian Rulers, Governours and Magiſtrates, (yet th…ſe things the unmannerly Quakers will do) But the Scripture doth command all men to pray for Rulers, Governours and Magiſtrates, to ſubmit unto them, and to give the honour which is due to them, as Fathers of the Country, (1 Tim 2. 1, 2. 1 Pet. 2. 13. Iſai. 49. 23) (yet theſe things they will not do) ſo that in a word of truth,, the profeſſ…d perfection of a ſeemingly ſanctified Quaker, is a conſcience of obeying his proud luſts, and diſobeying Gods inſpired Laws.

2. Ceaſe from calling the reverential Preſiden…s above the corruptions that are in the World through Luſt: for this is to make the fore expreſſed precepts of God, and the Practiſes of his eminent Sain…s, guilty of theſe corruptions: but its no new thing, for a Quaker boldly to Blaſpheme.

3. Ceaſe from wreſting the Holy Scriptures: eſpecially that of Chriſt p. 46himſelf, John 5. 44. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, The other part of the verſe (giving light to theſe words) is uſually omitted by them, ſc. and ſeek not the honour that cometh from God only.

Queſt. What is that Honour which cometh from God only?

Anſw. The 23d. verſe tells us, All men ſhould honour the Son, even as they honour the Father; he that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which hath ſent him, (meaning, to fulfill all righteouſneſs, Mat. 3. 15.) Its then clear, that the Son of God, is the honour intended above; if any ask, who is this Son of God? the good Angel tells us, Luk. 1. 35. That holy thing, which ſhall be born of thee, (Mary▪ ver. 34.) ſhall be called the Son of God: ſo then the Man Jeſus Chriſt, is the honour that cometh from God only; which honour the Jews (like the Quakers) received not, as this Son of God told them, ver. 43. I am come in my Fathers Name, and ye receive me not (ſc. by Faith,) hence Chriſt infers, ver. 44. above, How can ye believe, which receive Honour one of another, and ſeek not the Honour which cometh from God only.

Now the Honour which the Phariſees received one of another, was the Doctrine of Juſtification, and Eternal Life, by the works and righteouſneſs of the Law, fulfilled in and by the Son of God alone: which righteouſneſs of the Son, is the juſtifying and ſaving honour that cometh from God only, to right Believers: will it hence follow, becauſe the proud Phariſees took divine honour to themſelves, and thereby received honour one of another; therefore civil honour ought not to be given one to another: let me tell you, ye Quakers could not have brought a Scripture more full againſt your ſelves: for, under Heaven, there are not a People to be found, that receive more honour one of another, then the men of your Sect do: For ye affirm, and boldly teach, That he who made Heaven and Eearth, Angels, Principalities and Powers, that hath a Name above every Name that is named: King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the Prince and only Saviour, that gives repentance, and remiſſion of fins, is in each of your vile bodies. Its not to be wondred at, that ye are ſo poſſeſſed with the infernal Spirit of ſuperlative pride againſt Jeſus of Nazareth, the man approved of God, and all true Believers on, and lovers of him. So much for ſome further ſatisfaction to William Bullock, and his Light making manifeſt: The next to him was,

F. E. He makes another motion, on the behalf of his Cliant (the falſe Chriſt, and pretended Saviour within him) to wit, The blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all ſin: The Text intended by him, is in the 1 Joh. 1. 7. And the Blood of Jeſus Chriſt his Son [His Son he left out] cleanſeth us from all ſin.

Anſw. Nor, doth this Text of Scripture, prove the thing for which it p. 47is brought: For, 1. Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God, in this 7th. verſe, is that Word of Life, which the Apoſtles, ve. 1, 2. had heard and ſeen with their eyes, and looked upon, and with their hands had handled; who could be no other than the Man Ieſus Chriſt, which to prove, they bring in the operations of three of their five ſenſes: Now, this Man Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God, as ſuch, he cannot be in a Quaker.

2. By the Blood of this Son of God, is meant the grievous ſufferings, pains, and tortures, which he endured on the Croſs to the death; and therefore called the blood of the Croſs, Col. 1. 20. as the Man Jeſus Chriſt, cannot be in a Quaker, ſo conſequently, his bloody ſufferings cannot be in a Quaker.

3. That this blood of Chriſt cleanſeth (meaning all right Believers on it) from all ſin, i. e. from all the pains, and eternal ſufferings due to the nature of ſin: for (cleanſing) here, is the ſame with waſhing, in Rom. 1. 5 And from Ieſus Chriſt, the faithful Witneſs, that loved us, and waſhed us from our ſins in his own blood, i. e. in the ſufferings of the Manhood of his p…rſon: for the former part of the verſe, concerns Chriſts Propetical Office: and the latter part, his Prieſtly Office; which referred to Chriſts humane Nature: and for that reaſon, the cleanſing, or waſhing cannot be within, but without us, ſc. in Heaven, Heb. 10. 19. Having therefore Brethren boldneſs to enter into the Holieſt, by the blood of Ieſus: So then, to be cleanſed from all ſin by Chriſts blood, is to be acquitted and juſtified in the ſight of God, from all the deſerved miſeries of ſin, as Rom. 5. 8, 9. But God commendeth his love towards us; in that while we were yet ſinners, Chriſt died for us: much more then being now juſtified by his blood, we ſhall be ſaved from wrath, through him: And the ſame Apoſtle tells us, Col. 1. 21, 22. Yet now hath be reconciled; in the body of his fleſh through death, (or through the death of his body of fleſh, Heb. 10. 20.) To preſent you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in his ſight, (not in our ſelves) for, Rom. 4. 5. He juſtifieth the ungodly; Abraham was juſtified in the righteouſneſs of Chriſts perſon, when he had ſome ungodlineſs in his own perſon: a Believer is compleat in Chriſt bodily, Col. 2. 8, 9, 10. when he hath ſome incompleatneſs in his own body: In a word, theſe things do clear this Truth, Namely, To be cleanſed from all ſin by the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, is to be underſtood, for a cleanſing from all the guilt, and paſſive fruits and effects of ſin: but not for a cleanſing (as in your ſenſe) from all the movings, and actings of ſin, in or by us while in this World, which the following verſes make moſt plain: for even they which are by the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, cleanſed from all ſin, ver. 7, 8. They have ſin, and in ver 9. ought to confeſs their ſin: Now Francis, upon the whole it doth appear, that the Patterns cut out by thee, do ſtill come ſhort of p. 48the meaſure; which plainly argues, thou art not (as yet) thy Craftsmaſter; yea this was manifeſted, by thy Anſwer to this Queſtion: to wit,

Queſt. Whether the Saints was cleanſed from all ſin by the water of regeneration, or by the blood of juſtification?

Thy Anſwer was, by the Water; which gave occaſion to ſundry perſons to laugh at him: But he endeavoured to compoſe them, ſaying, it is no laughing matter, but indeed matter of melting pity, that thy ſeduced Synagogue of Libertines, ſhould be led by ſo blind a Seducer. The next after F. E. was William Bullock again; alledging, But a Body haſt thou prepared me: which he repeated again and again, and then moſt earneſtly called upon me, tell me, what is meant by [Me] for whom that body was prepared? and what that body prepared was? the ſame was as eagerly required by Francis Eaſtlack and William Harriot: The place of Scripture intended by them, was Heb. 10. 5. But a Body haſt thou prepared me.

I Anſwered: By [Thou] God the Father is meant: by [Me] the Godhead of the Son: by a Body prepared, the Man hood united to the God-head of the Son. And hereunto agrees the …ormer part of the 5th. verſe, Wherefore when he (Chriſt God-man) cometh into the world, he ſaith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldeſt not (or didſt not deſire) and therefore were refuſed by God: it being impoſſible, that they ſhould purge ſin▪ ver. 4. For it is impoſſible that the blood of Bulls, and of Goats, ſhould take away ſin: But a body haſt thou prepared me: (meaning, to receive and do his Fathers will, in taking ſin away, Joh. 1. 20.) Go… the Son having now taken, and put on the body o… fleſh, prepared for …im as above; he now undertakes the great work of ſatisfying Go…s Juſtice for ſin; (and ſo to take away ſin) ſaying, ver. 7. L… I come to do thy Will, O God. And why? he tells us, [In the volume of the Book it is written of me] i. e. in the Record of thy Decree, from everlaſting, is clear for it, that I am he, whom thou (O Father) haſt inſtituted and ordained to do thy will, for the taking away of ſin:

For ver. 10. By the which will, we are ſanctified (or ſaved) through the offering of the body of Jeſus Chriſt once for all: So then the body offered in the 10th verſe, was the body prepared in the 5th verſe: But the body of Jeſus Chriſt offered, was a real man-kind body, as the Spirit of Truth witneſſeth. Ver. 12. But this [Man] after he had offered one Sacrifice for ſin, for ever ſat down on the right hand of God: here hence it is manifeſt, that the very offering of the body of Jeſus Chriſt, could not have ſaved us, but by the will and ordination of the Father, who prepared p. 49that body: for Chriſts hanging and dying on the Croſſe had not delivered us from the pains of the eternal death, unleſs it had been written in the volume of the book: Its moſt ſure, all that our Lord Chriſt did, or ſuffered (in his Soul and Body (for us, had not ſatisfied the juſtice of God for ſin, if God had not appointed, that Chriſt his Son (made of a Woman Gal. 4. 4.) ſhould be ſent forth, to come into the World, to do, and ſuffer thoſe things for the ſatisfying his juctice, to the taking away of ſin; upon the whole, I did inter, that the true Chriſt, and our only Saviour, muſt neceſſarily … both without and above us: Here I made ſome pauſe, to invite a Reply; but they were ſilent, at which I much marvelled, inaſmuch as ſundry of the …ding Quakers, had imprinted ſo many corrupt gloſſes on thoſe words, it may be 'twas forgotten; as the Preface notes [But a body haſt thou prepared me.] As thus,

The Body prepared (ſay they) was prepared in Heaven, and brough… by Chriſt into the Virgins Womb, which body, they call a Myſtical, Inviſible, Spiritual, Heavenly body of Fleſh and Blood: and withal, that the Myſtical, Inviſible Body (ſtill the Idol light Chriſt within) is the …rue and only Saviour: whoſe Birth, Death, Reſurrection, and Glorification, is only Myſtical and Inviſible.

Hence, (as I ſuppoſe) it is, that George Fox (in his Folio Book, intituled the Great Myſtery, page 71.) aſſerts; That Chriſts Nature is not humane, which (ſaith he) is earthly, the nature of the firſt Adam.

Anſw. I would gladly kn…w of this Fox, whether [Humane] doth not rather ſignifie, a Man-kind nature, conſiſting of Soul and Body: Its true, we read (1 Cor. 15. 47. compare Gen. 2. 7.) the firſt Adam was of the earth earthly; in regard of his body (not his ſoul) which God formed out of the Earth: But the word humane, comprehends both Soul and Body, which is much more then Earthly, or Earth, Simply, litteral-material Earth.

Again whereas he adds, the ſecond man is from Heaven; To which I Anſwer:

The ſecond Adam (or Man) is the Lord from heaven as above.

1. Becauſe, Chriſts Man kind nature was conceived in Mary, by the power of the Higheſt overſhadowing her, Luk. 1. 35.

2. The true Chriſt is ſtiled the Secona Man, becauſe the firſt Man▪ was his figure, Rom. 5. 14. likewiſe in the Geneologie, Mat. 1. Chriſt is ſaid alſo, to be partaker of the ſame fleſh & blood, that the children were partakers of Heb. 2. 14; but the fleſh and blood, which the Children were partakers of, were real, viſible, humane (or man kind) fleſh and blood (not Myſtical, Iviſible fleſh and blood.)

Beſides, this Title, (ſc. Th. Son of Man) is frequently attributed to Jeſus Chriſt, in the New-Teſtament, as in Mat. 8. 20. The Foxes have holes, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head: alſo in Mat. 10. 23. & 11. 19. & 12. 8. &c. The Lords Chriſt is called the Son of Man, which is to ſhew the truth of his humane mankind Nature, it being lineally deſcended from David, according to the fleſh, and therefore Chriſt is ſtiled the Son of David, (Luk. 20. 41.) Moreover, he hath the appellation (of the Son of Man) in reference to his participation with our humane Nature, in all things which concern created-nature, as its ſtated by the Apoſtle, in Heb. 2. 17. and in Chap. 4 15.) In all things it behoved him (Chriſt) to be made like unto his Brethren: and he was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without ſin: ſurely, he that is in all things like man, except ſin, is rightly called the Son of Man: for, ſin is not at all the Form, but all the Deformity of Man: The iſſue is, that the Fox hath concealed his craft, putting no difference between the terms, ſc. Humune and Humane: he knew full well, that the Fox's craft would be ſoon diſcovered, ſhould he admit the Lords Chriſt to have a humane Nature, or a body as is common to Man kind: and therefore (in Pag. 71. above) he quarrels the word [Humane] and querieth, where doth the Scripture ſpeak of Humane? where is it written, (quoth he) that we may ſearch for it? Rep. Though we have not the Word, yet having the Thing, it might ſatisfie all, with whom the light of Reaſon hath any credit.

Once more; Chriſt the Second Man, is ſaid to be Lord from Heaven, becauſe, he is to reſtore the heavenly life, which was loſt by the firſt man Adam: who was alſo ſaid to be Earthly, by reaſon of Tranſgreſſion: and Chriſt is alſo ſaid to be from Heaven, by reaſon of Reſtoration. By he firſt mans fall, all mankind were deprived of all heavenly and ſpiritual graces: By the ſecond Man from Heaven, the Elect of God have thoſe Graces (in ſome meaſure) reſtored: As Calvin in his Expoſi…ion on the (47th. ver. above) Paul doth not (ſaith he) ſpeak of the ſubſtance of the ſecond M…ns body, but of the habit of Graces, and heavenly gifts of the Spirit of Chriſt: And on the ſame verſe, he affirms, that the Manichies were the firſt knaves, which invented that Hereſie, Namely That Chriſt brought from Heaven an inviſible body of fleſh and blood into the Womb of the Virgin. And undoubtedly the Quakers have drunk this Poiſon originally from them, by whom the Devil (according to Calvin) firſt ſet it abroach; which as it was, ſo ſtill it is, a deſign from Hell to beget not only a denial, but an utter blotting out of the very Name and remembrance (as before) of the true Jeſus Chriſt, and to ſet up a Spiritual Chriſt, a Myſtical, Inviſible, Heavenly King Jeſus: and all this only to advance the Idol-light within, and the more eaſily to deceive p. 51poor ignorant and unſtable perſons; which hath been, and ſtill is, their ſtragling Trade; I have yet one thing more to mention concerning this Fox; which is, in his Book above, Page 135. to wit, That Thomas M…or had ſaid, that Chriſt was abſent from us, while we are in this mortal body; which (ſaid the Fox) is contrary to the Apoſtle, who ſaith, The life of Jeſus, is [Mark, is] manifeſted in their [Mark, their] mortal fleſh▪ but he (Fox like) quotes not any place of Scripture; the Text of Scripture abuſed by him, is in 2 Cor. 5. 11. Eor we which live, are alway delivered unto death, for Jeſus ſake, that the life alſo of Jeſus might (not is, but) be made manifeſt in (not their, but) our mortal fleſh.

Note, the Fox ſaith, The life of Jeſus (is manifeſted) making it preſent: but Paul ſaith, that the life of Jeſus (might be made manifeſt) making it future: nay, he hath not only believed the Letter, but the Senſe alſo of the Text, which may appear partly by the former part of this 11th. verſe, and partly by the ſubſequent verſes: in the former part of the verſe, thus, For we which live, are alway delivered unto death, for Jeſus ſake, i. e. we have (ſc. for the teſtimony of Jeſus) Death (that is ſufferings to death, as in the ſubſequent verſes 9, 10.) continually before our eyes; that we might be prepared for the fellowſhip of the glorious reſurrection; when there will be a full manifeſtation made of the glorious life of Jeſus in our mortal fleſh: this may yet further appear, in ver. 12. ſo then, death worketh in us, i. e. our daily ſufferings (from the cruel hands of unbelieving men) for our Faith in, and Teſtimony for Jeſus; and as it worketh in us, ſo it (ſc. the ſtrokes which are deadly to our bodies) works, ver. 17 for us: And what work they? the 17th. verſe Anſwereth, For our light Affliction, which is but for a moment; worketh for us, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory; But how do they work it? Anſw. Not by way of merit or earning (our ſtriving to blood, cannot oblige God) but by way of preparation to the reſurrection, in ver, 14. Knowing that he which raiſed up the Lord Jeſus, ſhall raiſe us up alſo by Jeſus. Then that glorious life of Jeſus, ſhall be manifeſt in our mortal fleſh: the ſum o… all is this; to wit, That the Lord ſends afflictions, yea, death it ſelf (which to the Saints, is the laſt and greateſt affliction) not only to cleanſe their ſouls, but to faſhion and prepare their bodies, as veſſels to hold the exceeding weight of glory: Now let any ſober Saint judge, whe…her Thomas Moor, or George Fox hath contradicted the Apoſtle; ſurely that Fox which endeavours (as much as in him lies) to choak the Lamb of God, w…ll be ready to wreſt the mind of the Apoſtle. This Fox, is ſeconded by Quaker Penington: ſc. That the body prepared, Heb. 10. 5. above, was a Myſtical, Inviſible body of fleſh and blood: for, in his Book, called Myſteries of the Kingdome, he ſaith, That the external blood of Chriſt cannot p. 52cleanſe the Conſcience; for the blood of Bulls and Goats could not do it. no more can his blood, (putting no more worth or vertue in the blood of Chriſt, than in the blood of Beaſts,) the conſideration of this inſufferable Blaſphemy, did ſo provoke the Spirit of Mr. Francis Duke (a Man eminent for Meekneſs and Modeſty) that in his anſwer to one John Chandler (a Teaching Quaker) for the like expreſſions from him, Page 67. he plainly tells this Chandler, That he and his fellow-leading Friends [are a Pack of ſuch Villains, as baſe as ever the Earth bor… ] as for Penington, he declares in his Book above, That the heavenly body of fleſh and blood, which Chriſt brought with him from heaven (meaning into the Virgin) and dwelt in the Garment of his body a while, and now is in every Saint, (ſc. Quaker Saints:) his mind herein, is ſhortly this: ſc. That a Mans wearing Garment, is not his body; ſo the viſible material body of Jeſus Chriſt, (which he calls the Garment of his body) is not the Saviour Chriſt: but as the natural body of a Man is within his Garment, even ſo the true Chriſt, was within the Garment of his external body: whence, its moſt evident, that this Seducing Teacher doth not confeſs (with the Apoſtles) That Ieſus Chriſt of Nazareth, the Man approved of God, and by him exalted to be a Saviour, is the true Chriſt, Act. 5. 31. Let me add a little more of Peningtons Divinity, in the ſame Book, Page 25.▪ What nature (ſayes he) muſt theſe Sacrifices be of, which cleanſe heavenly things (ſc. Souls) whither of neceſſity, they muſt be heavenly; if ſo, then whither it was the fleſh and blood of the vail, or the fleſh and blood within the vail: whither it was the fleſh and blood of the outward earthly nature, or the fleſh and blood of the inward ſpiritual nature: whither it was the fleſh and blood which Chriſt took of the firſt Adams nature, or that of the ſecond Adams nature?