The Quaker Converted to Christianity, Treatise · Reply · Answer to objections
The Objections that Baily raiſeth, are here Anſwered.
THe firſt ſtone that out of the Rubbiſh of this Babel, is thrown at us is this.
Baily, And in that he ſaith the Light by which the Heathens did the things contained in the Law, Rom. 2.14. Which ſhewed the work of the Law, written in their Hearts, is not the Light of the Spirit of Chriſt, he is found a denier of the Scriptures, John 1.9. If every Man that cometh into the World be lighted with the Light of Chriſt, then the Heathens, and all other Men.
Reply, That Scripture, John 1.9. which thou bringeſt, will not prove this, viz. That every one that cometh into the World, is lighted (i. e.) ſavingly by the Light of Chriſt; for that Phraſe, cometh into the World, hath reference to that Word Chriſt, not the Word Man, as appears by another Scripture, John 12.46. I am come a Light into the World, ſo that it's ſaid, this Was the true Light, having Reſpect to the perſon of Chriſt, taking Fleſh, thus coming into the World, he was the greateſt Light, and brought the greateſt Light that ever was by his Preaching, working Miracles, giving the Spirit, but ſaith not here, that he is the Light in every one: Now the other, viz. that Lighteth every Man, this cannot be meant univerſally of every individual Man or Woman, in the World, becauſe many at that day were in darkneſs, v. 5. The Light ſhined in darkneſs, but the darkneſs comprehended it not, Chriſt was among them, yet they were darkneſs: and they cannot be ſaid to have a ſaving Light in them, and yet be called darkneſs; for then their ſtate would be changed from darkneſs to Light. Again, the Apoſtles are the Light of the World, will it therefore follow, that all the Heathens, and every one was Lighted within by them, that they were that Light within that every Man hath? Its ſaid of Paul, warning e…every Man, and teaching every Man, Col. 1.28. did Paul warn every individual Man and Woman in the World? That Chriſt as a Creator doth give ſome kind of Light to every one, may be granted to thee, but not as a ſaving Light, that muſt be as a Mediator, thou muſt ſeek another Scripture. It's at hand.
Baily, Titus 2. If the Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men, then it appeared to the Heathens for they were Men.
Reply. It ſhould have been ſaid in the laſt Propoſition, viz. to all the Heathens; to the Heathens it did, for many of them were converted by the Preaching of the Goſpel, but what is this to thy purpoſe? the Light in every Man cannot be called the Grace of God, in that I proved it to be a Natural Light before: But withal how cameſt thou to be ſo miſtaken? if thou hadſt minded the Margin, it would have corrected the reading, but thou waſt not willing, it is not ſo in the Greek as thou reads it, viz. hath appeared to all Men, neither ought it to be rendred in the tranſlation, but thus; the Greek hath it, The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation to all Men, hath appeared, this then will not effect thy buſineſs yet, unleſs thou wilt ſay, that this bringing Salvation to all Men will do it, but if Salvation be brought to every individual, then every one is ſaved, ſurely then, it was only to every one that was ſaved by it.
The Third Argument of Bayly is, W. H. calls it the Deity,] Ergo.
This is a notorious falſhood, it's well if not maliciouſly perverting my plain words, I have given a fair account of it in my Anſwer to Crook Pag. here thou acts not according to the Light, to do as thou wouldſt be dealt withal.
The Fourth Argument is drawn from the Fruits of this Tree, which thou Blaſphemouſly calls the Tree of Life, which ſhould be ſpoke of the Perſon of Chriſt, He, and He only is the Tree of Life. The young Man ſaith the Light that every Man hath, is not the Light of the Spirit of Chriſt, (i. e.) Of Regeneration and Faith; becauſe of it's Fruits; which were theſe three:
1. It taught that the firſt motions to evil, ariſing in the heart if not conſented to, were not ſin.
2. That the Doctrine of Juſtification was a Doctrine of Libertiniſm.
3. That Salvation was by our own Righteouſneſs.
Now thou ſpeakeſt not a word here to this corrupt Fruit, that ſprang from that which thou calleſt the Tree of Life: but let us hear what the Fruits are as thou ſayeſt.
Baily. 1. Thou ſayeſt, It aſſented to the word of Chriſt and his Apoſtles, therefore it muſt be the Spirit of Chriſt.
Reply. The Devil did aſſent to the words of the Scripture, it will follow then according to thy Arguing — which I may not write.
2. It doth not aſſent to all the Scripture which the Spirit of Chriſt doth, for it taught him contrary as you may ſee in theſe three things.
3. It aſſented only to the Abſtaining from outward Evils, which fooliſh talking and jeſting were; which it may do, and yet not be the Spirit of the Son, as I will make appear plainly in the Anſwer to thy next proof.
2. Fruit. It convinced him of Evil, and let us joyn the four following to this, for they are all of the ſame nature. 3. Kept him from ſtealing. 4. From Lying (that of few words was ſpoke to before.) 5. From doing any wrong outwardly, ſinning outwardly. 6. It gave him ſtrength and power to do that which was good in the ſight of God and Men.
Reply. In this laſt paſſage thou greatly wrongs the young Man, and in that other likewiſe, viz. and delivered him from it; his words are that he had power over Evil, and was delivered, but not that this Light within gave him the Power, but let it go as thou wouldeſt have it, what from all theſe therefore is thy concluſion?
It is the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter that leads into all Truth, pag. 30.
Reply. Then had Judas the Spirit of Truth, that leadeth into all Truth, the Comforter, for the was convinced of ſin, and ſo the moſt wicked Man under Heaven hath ſometimes convictions for ſin.
2. Then the young Rich Man had the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter; for he could ſay, touching the commands of the Law, All theſe have I done; So had Paul before his Converſion, while a Perſecutor and Blaſphemer, for at that time he could ſay of himſelf touching the Law blameleſs, Phil. 3. likewiſe by this Reaſoning of thine the Phariſee had the Spirit, the Comforter, that thanked God, he was not as others, nor as the Publican, Luke 18. it's ſaid Matth. 12.44. of the Jews, that they were ſwept and garniſhed, yet Satan entred, outward Reformation of Life, doth not evince the Spirit's indwellings.
7. Fruit. He had Joy, Peace, and Comfort, in obeying the Light; Therefore it is the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth.
Reply. Then had Paul the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth before his Converſion, Rom. 7.9. I was alive without the Law once. What is that? But that he had Peace before he came to have the Spiritual Knowledg of the Law, convincing him, that deſires after evil, though not conſented to, were ſin.
2. If all Peace was true, then this Fruit would argue it to be the Spirit of Chriſt, but all Peace is not right, good, true; elſe why doth Chriſt ſay my Peace I leave with you, John 14. and the Apoſtle ſpeaks of the Peace of God, that paſſeth all underſtanding, &c.
3. There can be no Good Conſcience, nor true Peace without Faith in the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 3.21. The Anſwer of a good Conſcience through the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt; no Man can rightly Anſwer the accuſation of his Conſcience for not coming up to that abſolute Perfection that the Law requireth, but by Faith in the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt, who roſe again for our Juſtification, Rom. 4.25. Now one may have the Light within (which you ſpeak of) and yet want Faith, and this young Man it's manifeſt had one at this time, but wanted the other; therefore his Peace was naught.
4. Withal, if this will hold, many ungodly ones moſt prophane, have the Spirit the Comforter, for they have Peace both living, and dying, Pſal. 73. There are no bands in their Death, and they ſay Peace in their Lives, 1 Theſ. 5. They ſtretch themſelves upon their Couches, and Ch…unt at the ſound of the Viol, Amos 6.4, 5. I read on page 31, and meet with nothing but the ſame over again, which the Judicious Reader will take notice of, till we come to that paſſage, viz. That there is … name under Heaven by which Men can be ſaved: obſerve, this is the ſecond time of Baylies Blaſphemy, applying this to the Light within every man that is no more than Nature, which can be attributed to none but Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator, calling it alſo the Deliverer and Counſellor, from Iſa. 59. as well mighteſt thou call the Soul, Reaſon, Underſtanding of Man by theſe Names.
And whereas thou askeſt in this ſame place, is there any other Spirit and Light which can deliver from ſin, and give power over it, but what is of Jeſus Chriſt.
Reply. The young Man never owned this Light to deliver from, and give power over ſin, as thou here intimates, nay, the ſcope of his Relation ſpeaks the contrary, and in the 17. Page he ſaith in the greateſt of his purity and perfection, there were longing deſires after evil, which he could be delivered from no manner of ways; Obſerve Reader, how theſe people make lies their refuge, to defend their tottering Opinions, if any deliverance, it was only in externals; Luſt had as much power within, as ever, and this as hath been ſhewn, may be had without the Spirit of Regeneration, viz. external Reformation. Before I conclude this, let the Reader obſerve that Baylies Queſtion runs thus, viz. Any Spirit but what is of Chriſt; why, the Light of the Sun is of Chriſt, the Wind is of Chriſt as a Creator, is it therefore the Spirit of Regeneration proceeding from Chriſt as Mediator? No ſurely. But again, in one place that we mentioned, he calls the Light within the Tree of Life, and in another a little before the Name whereby all muſt be ſaved, the Deliverer and the Counſellor, now here only of Chriſt, a Spirit of Chriſt; ſee what conſiſtency is in theſe Mens lines.
Bayly. Is it not the Light of Chriſt, that makes ſin manifeſt, mentioing Epheſ. 5?
Reply. What Paſſage it is that thou haſt thine eye upon I know not, except the 13. Whatſoever makes manifeſt is Light. Now this is true of all kinds and ſorts of Lights, they all make manifeſt, but they act according to their ſeveral Natures, yet Chriſt is the Author of them all; the Light of the Sun will not make ſin manifeſt, yet another Light will; the Quakers Light that every Man hath, will manifeſt ſome ſin, but not all; and it appears by the young Mans Relation, for it will not ſhew deſires to evil to be ſin, if they be not conſented to, according to what Paul doth teſtify in Rom. 7. I had not known ſin but by the Law: So then this Light thou pointeſt to in Epheſ. 5. was of …nother ſort, in that all things were reproved by it, and in that it was but lately bellowed on the Epheſians, not having it before; for in ver. 8. Ye were ſometimes darkneſs, notwithſtanding all the Light within, that they had from the Womb.
Bayly. And doth not the Apoſtle ſay in that ſame place, v. 8, 9. the Fruit of the Spirit is in all Goodneſs, Righteouſneſs and Truth?
Reply. By what I ſaid before, the Spirit ſpoke of in Epheſ. 5. is not the Light that every Man hath, for they were darkneſs all that time they had that, till Faith came. This ſpoke of in the Epheſians, was the Spirit of Grace, Faith, Adoption, Regeneration, the Spirit of the Son; now the Root being different, the Fruit muſt be different, this Goodneſs, Righteouſneſs and Truth muſt be and is of another better ſort and kind than that which yet is called by the ſame names, ſpringing from another Root, viz. the Light that every Man hath.
B. And doth not W. H. Say it is the Spirit that maketh known … which was not ſeen before, then whenever any ſeeth ſin, it is the Spirit that makes it known, and puts this word, viz. Mark, to it; as a thing that he is happy in the hitting upon it, and that what he ſaith is convincing and unanſwerable.
Reply. Now Reader, ſee how acute this Man is in catching one in an Argument, and holding one faſt in it? what a formidable Enemy I have to deal with? This was ſpoke by me (you may ſee) in the ſixth page of the little Book) upon that Scripture, viz. He ſhall Baptiz… you with the Holy Ghoſt and with fire, Luke 3.16. Saying that the Spirit did operate after the manner of Fire (i. e.) by Light and Heat: As to the Light, the Spirit maketh known ſin when it cometh (thou ſhouldeſt have repeated that Phraſe and then ſaid Mark) but as often as thou re…ea…edſt this, thou ever omittedſt that phraſe) is this fair play? It followes, as the ſhining of the Sun through a Crack into a dark Room, we may behold every ſmall duſt within that compaſs, theſe are the words; … let me reaſon with thee a little, every one hath the Light within, you grant, but is every one Baptized with the Holy Ghoſt, and Fire? is it not ſuch a Spirit ſpoke of here, wherewith every one is Baptized that is regenerated and none elſe? which cometh to us at that time, and worketh and dwelleth in us, and we had it not before, a Spirit that will ſhew the duſt and. Atoms of ſin and luſt in our Souls, which this Light that every one hath will not? I will paſs over and take no notice of thy railing Words that thou art full of here and elſewhere; but the Concluſion will hold ſtill, which thou art angry with, viz. That the Spirit of the Quakers is a Spirit of deluſion, and let the Reader … by our Lives, whether thou or I are more like the clamorous Woman thou ſpeakeſt of.
I muſt deſire the Reader to turn back to the 27th Page, there is ſomething that Bayly ſaith, which I cannot well omit to ſpeak ſomething to; it's that which this Man doth frequently touch upon, and his Brother …, I could not well Reply to it before, becauſe I would take all the objections I could gather, and Anſwer them in order.
Bayly. And yet he compares this bleſſed Light which hath done all this … for him to the Egyptians, (which grievouſly and wickedly oppreſſed … afflicted the people of Iſrael ) on whom the Lord ſent his Plagues, becauſe of their Cruelty which they exerciſed upon his people, as may be ſeen in pag. 18. And yet confeſſed he had Joy, and Peace and Comfort; and … in Spirit under theſe Taskmaſters; which the poor Iſraelites had …, but cryed to the Lord, as may be read in Exod. 3. and ſo no fit, but a wicked and unrighteous compariſon, which the Lord will one day judg him ….
Reply. Thou and thy Brother Criſp, are very Angry with the young Man I perceive, for making uſe of this Compariſon in pag. 18. of the little Book; Criſps piece is nothing but a meer paraphraſe upon this Compariſon, which will be Anſwered here, beſides what the young Man hath written concerning it to vindicate himſelf. How eaſily be ye ſtirred if any reflection be but ſeemingly caſt upon the Light, more Zealous you be here, than if any ſhould reproach the perſon of Chriſt, for many of us are perſwaded (and upon good Grounds) that you Believe there is no ſuch perſon as Jeſus Chriſt God and Man. But why ſo moved? ye be jealous for your God, the Light, there being no juſt ground given: you might as well be angry with the Apoſtle for comparing the Covenant of works to Agar, ſaying it gendreth to Bondage, Gal. 4.24. and all that are under this Covenant to Iſhmaels Children of the Bond woman to be caſt out; thou mighteſt as well ſay that the Apoſtle here in this place, compares the Light within to Agar, and it's Children to Iſhmael, and call this a wicked unrighteous compariſon, that God will Judg Paul for one day, as to ſpeak this of the young Man, who only ſets out by this Compariſon, that eſtate and condition that he was in before Chriſt did ſavingly reveal himſelf to him by his Spirit, when he followed the Quakers Light within as his Guide, which led to the way of the Covenant of works, to obtain Life by his own doings, wherein he had ſome Carnal falſe Peace and ſatisfaction, as the Iſraelites had in Egypt upon performing their tasks, not being beaten when they did that which was required, but had Garlick and Onions and Meat to the full, in remembrance of which they had frequent longing deſires to return; there was ſomething then deſireable to their Carnal Appetite, ſo it was with this young Man and with every one under the Covenant of works, they have Peace in their Conſciences, as long as they are toiling for Life and Salvation in ſome external things, but no Peace ariſing any other way, whereas afterwards when in Can…an the Iſraelites had not theſe Tasks impoſed on them, neither were they beaten for the neglect of them, but were free from this Bondage, and had an inheritance given them of God, and were to ſerve Chriſt in the improvement of theſe good things he had given them. Thus the young Man upon the Faith of the Goſpel was ſet free by Chriſt, If the Son ſhall make you free, ye ſhall be free indeed, John 6 36. He ſaw now a better and more compleat Righteouſneſs in Chriſt his Head without him than that which was wrought in him; hereupon he had a better Peace drawn from a ſurer ground, that would endure, Being juſtified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 5.1. and ſo there muſt needs be ſweet and ſteady Peace of Conſcience; for who can lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect, God Juſtifieth, who can Condemn? Rom. 8. he now continueth in his Duty, but from another principle to another end, than when a Quaker. viz. The Life of Faith, doing what he doth not for fear of a whip (like an Egyptian o… Turkiſh Slave) for fear of Hell-fire, and the Wrath of God, but what he doth, he doth it now with delight and ſweetneſs; it's pleaſant, this is Love that we keep his Commandements, and his Commandements are not grievous, 1 John 5.3. now he aims not only at himſelf in his obedience, which one under the Covenant of works doth, and therefore his Righteouſneſs is nothing worth, it is but Hypocriſie: but he aims now … Glory of Chriſt, and would not leave Holineſs, in caſe his hapneſs was not concerned in it; So that this Canaan is not as thy Brother … weakly inſinuates a Canaan of Looſneſs but Godlineſs: where the … of God is, there is Liberty; the Chriſtian walks in the Royal … of Liberty, not fearing the loſs of Salvation, becauſe it is ſure … Election and Purchaſe; and Chriſt hath taken poſſeſſion of it for … already, although he comes not up to that height that the Law …ires; and do not they Love God more, and obey better, that apprehend the Love of God in Chriſt, unchangeable towards them, than thoſe that after all their toil, fear they may fall ſhort. The Phariſees faſted oftner than Chriſt's Diſciples; but were not ſo really Godly as they; what is all Obedience, without Love, and how can there be Love, but by apprehenſion of God's Love to use.
I find nothing in Pag. 32 but vain Repetition, till I come to that Paragraph, that begins thus, viz. Take heed of the Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, for it is near, when that which caſts out Devils is called Beelzebub, … how you ſport your ſelves with a conſuming Fire.
Reply. Is it not Blaſphemy to ſay that the Light that every Man hath, all the Heathens have, that worſhips Devils; every unclean Adulterer, every Murtheren, Thief and Robber hath, is Common and …ſſential to Man, as his Soul, Conſcience, Reaſon; in a word is Nature; That this is the Holy Ghoſt who is God, of the ſame Nature and Eſſence with the Father.
2. To ſay that the Light within every one hath power to caſt out Devils.
3. That it is a conſuming Fire; which here thou doſt.
Obſerve, this is the third time of Baylies Blaſphemy, making the … to be the very omnipotency and Juſtice of God, which are himſelf.
Bayly in the fourth Paragraph, Whether the Lord requireth Obedience, and Service, and Worſhip, to any other Light or Spirit (of Chriſtians) but … own?
Reply. The Lord requireth Obedience of Chriſtians to the Magiſtrate, yet the Magiſtrate is not the Spirit of Chriſt; to the Moral Law; yet … not the Spirit, to Officers in Churches, to the Light of Nature and Conſcience, yet are they not the Spirit of Regeneration: Worſhip to any other Light thou ſayeſt… Here thou doſt plainly, imply, that the Light within may be Worſhipped (for thou ſurely ſpeakeſt of Divine Worſhip) as it was in Naylor, this is the fourth time of thy abſ… Blaſphemies; yet in the next breath, ſaith, It is but a Plant of the … … thers Planting, yet ſuch a Plant, as it is a Tree of Life, and a con… ming Fire; and that which caſts out Devils, and to be Worſhip… Thoſe Plants ſpoke of in Matth. 15. which thou mentioneſt, … the Phariſees themſelves with their erroneous Principles, directly ſuch … ſort of People as the Quakers, as thou mayeſt ſee, in the Anſwer to Crook, and the Lords hand will aſſuredly pluck up all Hereſies and H…reticks in due time.
In Pag. 33. He pretends to deſcribe the Glorious State of the Kingdom of Chriſt, as brought in by Obedience to the Light Within.
Read it over, for it is too long to Tranſcribe, and you will ſee this is the ſum of it, viz. That all the Earth would become outwardly reformed, living Peaceably, Sobe…, Civil, Neighbours, one to another, not wronging one another, that Law-Suits and Wars would be no more, but every … growing Rich, Building and Planting, they would all have Vines and Figtrees, and ſo ſit under them in Peace, and Eat and Drink the good of the Land.] Live merry ſenſual proud lives, yet all this while Carnal, Ignorant, have Luſts Reigning in their hearts, not a Dram of the Knowledg of a Mediator, or any thing of the Spirit of the Son upon them, not a word of that in all this; but only guided by the Light within, (i. e.) In a word, the Subjects of this Kingdom, and all Inhabitants of the World, will all be Quakers, honeſt civil Heathens; and Baily apprehends, this Kingdom will never come, till we all take up this Principle of obeying the Light of Nature, and ſo turn Quakers; Baily ſaith peremptorily, that Chriſt's Kingdom would come this way, viz. By attendance to the Light, and appeals to the wiſe in heart to Judg. Now, let the Judgment be made from theſe two Scriptures that he hath quoted, Iſa. 2.4. and Micah 4.2. For out of Zion ſhall go forth the Law, and the Word of the Lord from Jeruſalem. Whether is this, the Light within that every Man hath, or the Preaching of the Goſpel by Apoſtles, is the queſtion? Now to reſolve it, what we are to underſtand by the Law going forth from Zion; and the word from Jeruſalem, whether it was not the Apoſtles Preaching firſt to the Jews according to their Commiſſion, they were ſent to the loſt Sheep of the Houſe of Iſrael, and not to go into the way of the Gentiles; and this they did, and when they had done it, then they turned to the Gentiles. The Preaching of the Goſpel did thus go out of Zion, and from Jeruſalem, from among the Jews to the Gentiles; the Law of works was from Mount Sinai, but the Law of Faith as it is called Rom. 3.27. did come from Mount Zion, according to that in Luke 24.47, That Repentance and Re… of ſins ſhould be Preached in his Name among all Nations, beginning Jeruſalem.
Whether was it this Doctrine, or the Doctrine that George Fox …ght out of the Mountains in the North, about 20. years ſince, that … in the Kingdom of Chriſt? Let the wiſe Judg:
…. 34. Baily, Thou art running the ſame round again, like — in the 2 Paragraph, thou haſt this, How would the very Root of wickedneſs decay, and wither inwardly, if all were ceaſed from outwardly, would it … ſpeak Barrenneſs if no Fruit appeared?
Reply. By this it's clear, what the Quakers Kingdom of Chriſt is, that this Man hath ſpoke of, what a Reformation they would have wrought in the World, only outward, if this be not right Phariſaiſm where is there any, to paint the outſide, when all is full of Rottenneſs within? not a word of any change of heart, but thou ſuppoſeſt neceſſarily, that if no Fruit outwardly, the Root muſt decay; when-as ſome external means as Cold, Mildews, Blaſtings, Shakings by Wind, may the away all the Fruit of a Tree, and yet it's Root be in it's full Life and Vigour: may not fear of the Law, awe of Parents, the ſtrength of … Diſeaſe, Old Age, take many off their Practice of Sin, when-as at the ſame time the Love of it is in their Hearts? thus we have counted the number of the Beaſt (as thou biddeſt us) and ſee that the Quakers Religion is meerly external. Before we leave this, let the Reader take notice, how this blind Man perverts that Scripture, 1 John 3.8. For this purpoſe was the Son of God manifeſted, that he might deſtroy the works of the Devil, and puts a mark upon it, applying it to the Light within every Man, calling it the Son of God, who was of the ſame Nature with the Father: the Jews knew that who-ever called himſelf the Son of God, made himſelf God, and therefore they charged Chriſt with Blaſphemy, and would have ſtoned him, when he called God Father; now here it's plain, he calls this Light of Nature the Son of God, coequal, coeternal with the Father; An Eternal Father muſt have an eternal Son, this is the 5th time of thy Blaſphemy.
Now, would you know what the manifeſtation of the Son of God is, nothing but Obedience to the Light, and Chriſt's deſtroying the works of the Devil, only ſome outward Reformation attained by Obedience to the Light according to the Quakers.
The other Scripture is, Matth. 28.18. All Power is given to me [in Heaven and in Earth.]
Bayly. Why doſt thou leave out theſe laſt words, viz. in Heaven and in Earth? why doſt thou quote Scriptures as Satan did, omitting … thereof? now Anſwer, is all power in Heaven and Earth, given to the Light within, which is in every Drunkard, Swearer, and Robber… If ſo, this Light then is to ſend forth Apoſtles as Chriſt did, at that time he ſpoke this of himſelf, and they are to Preach in the Name of this Light, and teach them to obſerve all things that this Light commandeth, and this Light is with them to the end of the World, and this would enable them to caſt out Devils, to convert many, and would give Eternal Life to as many as it pleaſed, John 17.2. there it is ſaid, as tho… haſt given him power over all fleſh, that he ſhould give Eternal Life to as many as thou haſt given him; Doth not thy Ears tingle Reader, and thy Heart tremble at theſe Rampant Blaſphemies.
B. pag. 35. And W. H. ſaith, that the Righteouſneſs of Faith, by which we are Juſtified, is wholly without us, and that the Father hath poured out all his Wrath upon his Son Jeſus Chriſt, now if this Doctrine … true, and ſound Doctrine, there is no need to fear miſcarriages for there is … Wrath left to puniſh ſinners, if all be poured out upon Jeſus Chriſt.
Reply. I have already given Anſwer to this Cavil, conſiſting of two Branches.
As for the firſt, touching the Righteouſneſs of Faith, I have abundantly ſpoke to it, as the Reader may find in many places, both in my Anſwer to Crook, and this Caviller, and to the other concerning Gods pouring out his Wrath; but will add here a little to that.
This is true, Baily, rightly underſtood, as it's ſpoke of in the Epiſtle, viz. That the Father poured out all his Wrath upon his Son Jeſus Chriſt; by the Wrath of God, we underſtand, as in the Epiſtle may be ſeen, his Juſtice; the Holy Nature of God is ſuch, that he cannot but be againſt ſin, and puniſh it, he cannot indure iniquity; to ſpeak properly, there is no ſuch thing in God as Wrath, as it is a boyling up of anger to the height, but it is his Holineſs & Juſtice; this is attributed to God after the manner of Men, in that God when he comes forth in Juſtice to puniſh, he Acts as if he was in Wrath: Now if all the ſins of the Elect were charged upon Chriſt, then all that Wrath (i. e.) Juſtice of God that was obliged to puniſh theſe ſins, muſt exert it ſelf upon him that had thoſe ſins; Yet is there Wrath enough (i. e.) Juſtice in God to puniſh ſinners that believe not, nor truſt to the Grace of God in Chriſt, ſuch proud Phariſaical ones as thy ſelf (if God give thee not Repentance) who mocks thus at Chriſt's Croſs; I ſay again, that Juſtice of God which the ſins of all the Elect, for whom Chriſt died, deſerved, which was infinite, was exerted upon Chriſt, and God doth no…g toward the Elect to ſatisfie his Juſtice. All Afflictions are Chaſtiſe…ts in Love towards them (as the Scripture ſpeaks but are all Elect? … all Faith? Are there not multitudes that believe not, and ſo are … puniſhed here, and damned for ever? There is Wrath (i. e.) Ju…ce upon them that will not come to Chriſt, and receive the Atone…t. As to that paſſage, viz. fear of miſcarriage; I ſay, this Doctrine … ours, begets in them who have the Faith of it, and ſee themſelves intereſſed in Chriſt, Confidence, Comfort, Joy, Eſtabliſhment, inſomuch that thoſe tormenting, ſlaviſh, deſpairing fears of being damned, loſt, reprobate, are diſpelled; therefore it is expreſſed by the young Man to this purpoſe, viz. fear of Miſcarriages to the loſs of my Salvation; a true fear of God, leſt they ſhould offend their Father by …nning againſt him, is never ſeparated from thoſe that believe this Doctrine; yet this is true, Luke 1.74. Being delivered from our Enemies we ſhould ſerve the Lord [without fear] in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs. But W. B. Thou art for ſuch a ſound Doctrine it ſeems in the belief whereof thou mighteſt ſtill fear miſcarriages to the loſs of thy Salvation (i. e.) ſo as to deſpair and be damned, and likewiſe ſuch a Doctrine that teacheth that ſome of Gods wrath might light upon thee, unleſs by thy works from the Light that every Man hath without the Atonement of Chriſt, thou couldſt ſatisfie and appeaſe it.
Baily. And that ſatisfaction was made 1600. years ago, for all ſins paſt, preſent and to come. The Devil might play what Cards he will …w, if this be true, there is no need to fear the loſs of Salvation through miſcarriages.
Reply. The Papiſts are of this mind, viz. That there is no aſſurance of Faith to be attained in this Life, but that it's the Duty of Chriſtians to doubt all our days, thus likewiſe the Quakers. But remember Baily, though thou ſayeſt the Devil might play what Cards he would, yet the Devil is never ſo beaten, as when this bleſſed Doctrine of Free Grace is revived, (Witneſs Luther's time) the Doctrine of Juſtification by Faith alone in Chriſt's Blood (which that Worthy of Chriſt maintained in the Face of all Merit-Mongers and Shavelings, and Hypocrites) did in very many places, and among multitude of Souls put the Devil quite off his play, and laid open his ſhuffling tricks, praiſe to the moſt high for that time; Luthers followers were Holy, and yet believed the forgiveneſs of all their ſins by Jeſus Chriſt. Could we but know your …hind concerning this Truth, we would write more, but it is not your time as yet to open your ſelves; but let me query, are any ſins at all forgiven by Chriſt's ſacrifice and Atonement? If ſo, then I ask, if the… ſins are only ſins paſt (i. e.) only thoſe committed before we attend … Light; if ſo, then how are thoſe ſins pardoned that are fallen into afterwards? We do believe according to the Scripture, That the Blood, of Jeſus Chriſt his Son, cleanſeth from all ſin, 1 John 1. That being in Chriſt God hath forgiven us all Treſpaſſes, 2 Col. 13. Acts 13.39. By him all that believe, are Juſtified from all things, &c. all ſins paſt and preſent are Actually forgiven us, all ſins to come not yet committed, virtually; If any one ſin be charged upon us, there is condemnation, but there is now no Condemnation to them that are in Chriſt, Rom. 8.1.
Baily. And that was needleſs Doctrine of Chriſt, to bid his Diſciples Watch and Pray, Matth. 26.41. And of the Apoſtle Peter, who bid them give all diligence, &c.
Reply, Theſe Exhortations are means that the Lord makes uſe of to continue the Elect for whom Chriſt died in perſeverance, and God thinks them not needleſs.
Baily. Who among all the ungodly in Chriſtendom (ſo called) would turn their ears from this kind of Doctrine, O ye Daubers; and ſo Railes on.
Reply. This Doctrine of Grace and free Remiſſion of ſin, is ſent on purpoſe for the ungodly and ſinners, remember Chriſt came to call ſuch, not the Righteous to Repentance, (i. e.) thoſe that think themſelves Godly, and are not (as the Quakers) do deſpiſe this Doctrine. W. B. who wouldſt thou have ſaved, only Godly ones (i. e.) thoſe that think themſelves ſo, and have no need of an Atonement and forgiveneſs? O that all the ungodly in Chriſtendom, would turn their Ears to this ſweet Doctrine, it would effectually change their Hearts! Bleſſed be God we have ſo good a Doctrine to Preach, for we are all ungodly ones by Nature, and are all tranſgreſſors of the pure Spiritual Law of God. I ſee the Phariſees are ſtill angry with the Goſpel.
Baily. Was there ever ſuch a Doctrine Preached by any of the Holy Men of God as this, ſince the beginning of the World?
Reply. But what Doctrine doſt thou mean? It muſt be that, viz. that the Righteouſneſs of Faith by which we are Juſtified is wholly without us; now that this Doctrine was aſſerted in all Ages by all the Holy Men of God, let the Scripture be Judg betwixt us. I have ſaid enough to this in my Anſwer to Crook, which I pray thee peruſe, and the Lord open thine eyes, for I know thou art blind; there the Reader may ſee we own Faith to be within, but the Righteouſneſs that Faith Embraces is without; for Chriſt's Perſon is the Subject of it, and …, either as an Act or Work of our Mind, is not the Righteouſneſs that Juſtifieth.
B. Search the Scriptures, and ſee which ye call your Rule.
Reply. Are they not worthy to be called the Quakers Rule, which … call your Rule, wouldſt thou like that Language uſed to thee (if thou art married) the Woman thou calledſt thy Wife; if thou haſt an Eſtate, the Ground, the Land, the Houſes thou calleſt thine, would i… not imply a denyal of thine Intereſt, Property, Title, and that the Man that ſpake ſo, had a mind to wrong thee as to thy Wife and Eſtate, to take them from thee? What can be the tendency and import of this Phraſe ſo frequently uſed in thy Book? only that you think we have no Right, or Claim to the Scriptures as our Rule, or that you would (if poſſible) take them from us, as the Pope from the People. Your Rule we are ſure they are not, otherwiſe you walk not according to your Rule, for ye practice not many things that Chriſt commanded in the Scriptures.
Baily. It follows that the Faith that Juſtified them, and their Salvation was without, by a Righteouſneſs or Perſon wholly without as ye do.
Reply. I am not here concerned to Anſwer, in that theſe are not my words, nor the young Mans words, my words were cited a little before in that ſame Page of thine, line 4. the Reader may ſee them, is this to do Juſtice?