Therefore 't is a great and gross Lie to say of the Quakers They all pretend to such Perfection and Equality As it was also likewise answered in the said Just Inquiry into the Libeller's Abuse as followeth p. 12. It 's therefore a gross Slander implied against the Quakers that 't is their Boasting Doctrin or Principle that they or any of them are equal with God because they partake of his Spirit that raised Jesus from the Dead and of the divine Nature and Image they pretend to no such Equality or Principle neither doth G. F. but the contrary he denies it of himself or any other Creature as that any Creature should be equal with the Creator as in his Great Mystery fol. 127. and we abhor any such Boasting Sn. p. 216 217. That most of all are they inraged against G. Keith for Preaching up the necessity of a Christ without and that the Light within is not sufficient to Salvation without something else that is Christ Jesus without us suffering and dying outwardly for us Ref. 1. The first part is not true We are not offended at G. K.'s preaching Christ or his Suffering and Dying without us truly considered But 2. at his undervaluing the Light within as not sufficient to Salvation or not sufficient without something else seeing G. K. confesseth That the Light within in a true sense is God and Christ the eternal and essential Word as in his Antichrists and Sadducees p. 23. Surely Christ within and Christ without are not two Christ's Christ without is not another Christ than Christ within tho' his being without and within are in different manners By the Light within being sufficient to Salvation or to bring Salvation we mean able to save as the ingrafted Word is able to save the Soul yea even where the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a little Leaven which leavens the whole it bespeaks its Vertue and Efficacy surely then God and Christ the eternal and essential Word is all-sufficient and able to save Man from Sin Wrath and Damnation nevertheless God hath respect to Christ Jesus his Mediation Suffering and Dying for us in his so saving us but that God and Christ the eternal Word of God within who cannot be divided are absolutely sufficient and able actually to save and deliver Men from Sin and the Wrath to come and so do ought not to be questioned we being reconciled by the Death of Christ are saved by his Life The Light and Life of Christ within cannot be without Christ no more than the Light of the Sun can be without the Sun or a Stream without a Fountain the Light and Life of Christ within us hath livingly made us Partakers of the Fruit and Benefit of his Suffering Death and Resurrection without us and as much has been asserted of the Light within and sufficiently thereof by G. K. as any of us in his former Books How he is shaken and varied in this and some other Points we may refer to his Vniversal Grace and Immediate Revelation and other Books as also to the Remarks made on them and his latter Books by Tho. Ellwood John Penington and the Moderate Church-man Sn. p. 218 219. That Christ's making an outward attonement and satisfaction for Sin by an outward shedding of outward Blood they i. e. the Quakers turn all this to a meer Allegory tending only to an inward Christ that is their Light within to spiritual Blood shed inwardly in their Hearts Ref. 1. We are injuriously and wrongfully accused in this Charge We do not turn Christ's outward Suffering Sacrifice Blood or Attonement made for Sin thereby into a meer Allegory as if there had been no such thing in reality both outwardly and literally this is far remote from our Intentions thus to allegorize away all these to the Inward as if no Christ had outwardly been or suffered for Mankind 't was never our Opinion 2. Yet deny not but it has been and still is our sincere Belief and Persuasion as well as our Experience in measure that all Christ's Sufferings and Sacrifice his Cross his Blood and Water shed without had a misterious and allegorical Meaning and interpretation as well as a literal in them who are crucified with him and really washed from their Sins in his Blood and there is his spiritual Blood and Water as well as the outward for all that is spoken of the Blood of Christ in Scripture is not to be taken only in a literal sense Sn. p. 219 220. That this inward Christ they make to be the Archi-Type of which that Man Christ Jesus was but the Type Figure c. Ref. 'T is a new Notion imposed upon us that we make Christ as inward the Archi-Tipe chief or principal Type for Christ who is not divided is the substance and end of all Tipes and Figures and therefore 't is not true in it self nor of us That the Man Christ Jesus was but the Type or Figure for it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell in him which Tipes Figures and Shadows are far short of Sn. p. 220 221. That this Doctrin which he charges against the Quakers makes no more of Christ Jesus than a good Example as a Man who had a great measure of the true Christ and that the Body of that Man Christ Jesus he has now thrown off and is no more a Man Thus saith he has the Devil in the Quakers totally destroyed Christ's Humanity as in the Socinians he has taken away his Divinity Ref. Here are five notorious Falshoods contained in this Charge against the Quakers In opposition to which we say our Belief and Doctrin is That Christ Iesus was and is more than a good Example he was also a most acceptable Sacrifice and Saviour in whom we have Life and Salvation through Faith in him his Name and Power 2. He received the Spirit not by measure but in fulness and that he is the true and very Christ of God 3. That the Man Christ Jesus has not thrown off his own particular Body for 't is a most glorious Body 4. And Christ himself a most glorious heavenly Man in Soul and Body 5. The Devil is a great Enemy to all faithful Quakers and hath no place in them by the Power of Christ they have overcome that wicked one and he cannot destroy Christ's Humanity or Manhood 't is blasphemous to affirm it tho' he persecute the Seed of the Woman and bruise his Heel this Seed shall bruise his Head and hath done it and will destroy the Devil and his Works from having any Power or Dominion where Christ the promised Seed is truly received and reigns Sn. p. 222. That they make themselves equal to Christ Jesus yea to be Christ preferring of themselves before him p. 224. Ref. These gross Lies and blasphemous Calumnies are utterly denied being also refuted before We have abundance of such Stuff reiterated in the windings and turnings of this Snake in the Grass Sn. p. 239. That
Man's Redemption both outwardly and inwardly outwardly by the Ransom given by Christ's Sufferings and Sacrifice and inwardly by the operation of his Life Power and Spirit which Mystically is that precious Blood that is opposed to all corruptible things which redeems from the vain Conversation from all Iniquity and effectually washeth and clcanseth us from our Sins purgeth and sprinkles our Consciences c. And farther to Answer to Types and Shadows under the Law of shedding Blood and sprinkling c. That God according to his Mercy saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Titus 3. 5 6. And I 'le sprinkle clean water upon them and wash them from all their filthiness saith the Lord. And the Blood of sprinkling which the spiritual believers were come unto has the same effect And if the name of Water be attributed to the Spirit as it is Jo. 7. 38 39. Light and Life The name of Blood may also which is not to Allegorize away or invalidate the outward Blood or Sacrifice of Christ or any part thereof yet the Mystery thereof we may not deny but confess And according to the answers I have given for the Blood of Christ and the Mystery thereof our deceased Friend and Brother Robert Bercley expresly agrees whose Testimony therefore I am the more willing to cite because G. Keith has approved of his Works p. 60. R. B's Testimony in his Works p. 10. follows in these words viz. This Blood speaking of the Blood of Christ that is healing c. is known and felt within to wash and purge the Conscience for Christ as he is within is not without his Blood which is Spiritual even the pure Blood of the Vine and is that Wine of the Kingdom which is inwardly felt to wash and to refresh which he gives to them who know not distinctly the outward shedding of his Blood as it was many hundred years ago and which many are ignorant of who have heard much of the outward shedding of his Blood but know not the Blood as shed and poured forth in them to sprinkle their Consciences from dead Works for it is a Mystery sealed up from all who stand in opposition to his Light within But there mark thy own Words saith he to his Opponent The Plaster must be applyed er'e the Sore be healed Must not then saving Grace be applyed er'e the Soul be Converted or Healed And R. B. treats much more largely concerning the Flesh and Blood of Christ to the same purpose as before cited for the Blood of Christ as 't is Spiritual and Mysterious c. p. 494. 495 496 497 498. upon his thirteenth Proposition of his Apology and in page 494. He has recourse to Agustin viz. § II. The Body then of Christ which Believers partake of is Spiritual and not Carnal and his Blood which they Drink of is Pure and Heavenly and not Humane or Elementary as Augustin also affirms Ps. 98. Except a Man Eat my Flesh he hath not in him Life Eternal And he saith The Words which I speak unto you are Spirit and Life understand spiritually what I have spoken Ye shall not Eat of this Body which ye see and Drink this Blood which they shall spill that Crucifie me I am the living Bread which have dscended from Heaven He called himself the Bread who descended from Heaven exhorting that we should believe in him c. Unto which I further add for Illustration That the pure Blood of Grapes promised to Judah and Israel Gen. 49. 11. Deut 32. 14. was Typical of this spiritual Blood and Fruit of the Heavenly Vine Christ Jesus which truly relieves and comforts the afflicted and sorrowful Soul that comes unto him And also the Milk and Honey the Butter Oyl and Wheat and other Temporal Blessings which were in the promised Land were all Types of Christ and the spiritual Blessings received in him in his Kingdom and Heavenly Canaan And the Oyl and Wine which the Compassionate Samaritan poured into the Wounds of the Man that was wounded by Thieves and left half Dead Luke 10. 34 were also Typical of the healing Vertue Life and spiritual Blood of Christ Jesus which he graciously poureth into many wounded Souls As concerning the word Personality and Personal Existence as applyed to God and Christ I have sometimes questioned as also the word Humane as ascribed to the glorified Body of Christ which is spiritual and also to his Soul or Spirit for these reasons 1. Because imposed on us by some Adversaries without Scripture proof of those terms and not to Question Christ's glorious Manhood for in that sense I admit of and sometime may use the word Humanity either for Man or for the Good Nature and disposition of Man as of the word Trinity for Three being not willing to maintain contest about Words but to mind the thing intended thereby 2. Because false Arguments have been drawn thence against Christ and his Light in Man 3. Because of the carnal Imaginations of too many thereof who under pretence of expecting Christ to come again in the Flesh in the same manner as he was on Earth and to be seen with their carnal Eyes neglect the introversion of their Minds to Christ's inward appearance in Spirit 4. Because whilst Men feed upon such Notions and Imaginations of Christ excluding him out of their Hearts they exclude the living and Heart-purifying Faith of Christ so that their Faith is but Dead and Fruitless whilst such seem to adore Christ as only an outward Christ or as wholly without them and not in them instead of opening the Door of their Hearts unto him to let him in they harbour and indulge their own Corruptions Pride Scorn Envy and Covetousness c. in their Hearts out of which proceed all these bitter Reproches Revilings and Calumnies which we meet with this Day as heretofore In all my former questioning their unscriptural terms who profess the Scriptures to be their only Rule ascribed to God and Christ I never designed to deny his being our Mediator as Man nor to oppose his coming in Power and great Glory in his gloryfied spiritual Body to Judge the Quick and the Dead in the last Day tho I have sometimes shunned controversy on that Point and about the Resurrection and last Day of Judgment Urging not to put the day of the Lord afar off nor to neglect the present day of their Visitation and Judgment of Christ by his Spirit and Light within them The Question how are the Dead raised and with what Body come they forth I have often waved as unnecessary as well as unwarrantable being reprehended in some 1 Cor. 15. 35 26. I being willing to acquiesce in the will of God in that matter to give a Body as it pleaseth him and to every Seed it s own Body as proper thereunto ver 38. One thing I would be better understood in Not having
attempts against us that he may not be suffered to sculk and hide himself like a Snake under Grass And as to the seven Queries which he upbraids us with reproaching us As puting them all off with one general Answer c. as a trick and deceit of ours to hide and cover our monstrous Heresies and a full confession of our Heresies Pref. p. 350. Which being monstrous Calumnies and from which our general Answer to the unprejudiced clears us though we expected it would meet with such ill Treatment and Mis-construction as it hath from G. K. and this Author therefore thought meet to publish the said Answer herewith for the information of others more Charitable and Impartial than this our present Accuser and unjust Judge The said Queries appear to be of so little weight and some of them so indirect and in unscriptural Terms and perversly designed for cavil that I do not think they deserve to be reprinted here The following Answer being positive plain and scriptural as well as comprehensive of what 's necessary to be said to the matters chiefly Questioned And tho' I have long had a more particular Answer to the said Queries ready I do not think my self obliged at present to gratifie such imperious arbitrary Inquisitors as our present Adversaries with the publication thereof but rather for farther information in these matters chiefly Queried refer them and others to these our Books viz. First A Testimony of what we believe of Christ both as he was God and Man c. By G. F. Printed Anno 1677. And Secondly The Christian Doctrin and Society of the People called Quakers c. And Thirdly The Harmony of the Old and New Testament concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ c. With many more ancient Books whereby it may appear that we were not to seek our Faith concerning Jesus and the Resurrection before the said Queries came to our hands G. W. Lon. 3d day 4th Month call'd June 1695. Friend William Lancaster HAving received a Paper of great Objections against us the People called Quakers with seven Queries therein subscribed William Lancaster directed to our Yearly Meeting in Whitson-week 1695. and delivered to some of us very near the conclusion thereof and therefore only read in the said Meeting with not having any further time to consider the Contents thereof or to give any particular answer thereunto It was by the said Meeting left to a few to consider and answer as in the Fear of God and Meekness of Wisdom we should see Cause Wherein we observe is noted great Objections have been made against us by those who have departed from our Communion as by others To which we reply that 't is true and they have been answer'd to which we refer And we observe in the said Paper it s said We would not take an account of you only from your Adversaries c. And we have chosen this solemn Time And again And we have chosen this most proper and convenient Opportunity c. And then states the several Queries and says the Questions may be proposed and their Answer demanded Now the Objections having been publick and our Answers publick we desire to know who the We are that are intended in this Paper that we may apply our selves to them or give such Scriptural Answers as we hope may tend to satisfaction But to repeat Answers in writing or print to we know not who so often as demanded to the same things already answer'd We think it not needful Therefore have herewith only sent thee a few brief Lines being grosly Wronged and Misrepresented in the said Objections and divers of the Queries contain several Questions in them in different Terms and some Vnscriptural so not plain and direct Queries therefore cannot positively be answer'd by our simple YEA or NAY to each Query as designed We therefore at present send this general Answer to the Queries for thy information as follows viz. We sincerely believe and profess Jesus Christ and the Resurrection according to the Holy Scripture Testimony and to that measure of Vnderstanding which God hath been pleased to give us by his Holy Spirit We sincerely believe in Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of the living God both as he is true God and perfect Man our Emanuel and Mediator and as in the fulness of Time he was Conceiv'd by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea Suffer'd under Pontius Pilate was Crucified and put to Death was Buried rose again the third Day and visibly Ascended into Heaven and was received into Glory and that this same Jesus Christ that was Crucified shall so in like manner come as he was seen to go into Heaven in Power and great Glory to Judge both the Living and the Dead according to their Works at the last and great Day of Judgment in that great Harvest which is the End of the World And that by Jesus Christ there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Vnjust unto the righteous Judgment of the great Day consequently that the Resurrection is not past as Hymeneus and Philetus said 2 Tim. 2. 18. And that the Dead shall be raised incorruptible Every Man in his own order and that our low Body shall be changed and made like unto Christ's glorious Body The Resurrection of the Bodies of the Saints We Believe shall be Spiritual and Glorious and that the Sons of God and of the Resurrection shall be equal with the Angels of God in Heaven and shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father and yet there is such a great Mystery in the Resurrection as that Flesh and Blood cannot Inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption 1 Cor. 15. The whole Sacrifice of Christ whereof his Blood outwardly that was shed was a part was of great Price with God for Mans Redemption Christ's Blood that was shed without the Gates of Jerusalem together with the whole Sacrifice himself both of Soul and Body was a true Propitiation and Attonement for Mans reconciliation and peace with God for remission of Sins through a living Faith and true Repentance in his Name given and wrought by his Spirit and Word of Power in Mens Hearts whose sincere obedience to Christ and Walking in his Light being required of them in order to experience Christ the Author of their eternal Salvation and to wash them from their Sins in his own Blood For without this true Faith Repentance and Obedience to Christ Jesus Men lose and forfeit the great Benefit of Christs Sufferings and deprive themselves of the Eternal Redemption and Salvation which he hath hereby obtain'd for us Tho' he dyed for all Men tasted death for every Man and gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified of in due time being a true Propitiation for the Sins of the World From thy Friends and Well-wishers John Gratton Samuell Wattson Thomas Lower James Parke John Bowater George Witehead John
of Wrath and Envy that he notoriously belies us in his Prayer in saying That they i. e. the Quakers will not pray for themselves He seemingly prays but rails and reviles as it were with one Breath both next before and after his Prayer Sn. p. 319. That thus the Quakers say That he Christ dwelt only in the Body of that Man Jesus as in a Vail but took not that Body into his own Person so as to become Hypostatically united to it Re. We are to seek herein as not knowing where the Quakers say these things of Christ and his Body which he took and dwelt in as if he took it not into his own Person so as to be really or substantially united to it we never understood that it did not properly belong to himself but to some other Person The Objection herein against us is not only some Perversion but frivilous and impertinent Tho' his Flesh is called the Vail yet 't was that he owned as his own Body being also called the Body of Jesus which was not a fantastical but a real Body and he who is the entire Christ the Man Jesus is not divided in Body or Spirit Nevertheless Christ the eternal Son of God was as to his divine Nature and spiritual Being as the spiritual Rock before he took on him that Body that was prepared for him Sn. p. 320. That the Quakers most expresly make Christ's outward Blood the Type and Figure of inward Blood shed spiritually in their Hearts Re. We know not what Author he has for this Charge However the Quakers really own Christ's outward Blood as a part of his precious and acceptable Sacrifice and we deny not but that Blood of his as well as the Water that came out of his Side with it had an allegorical and misterious signification as well as an outward and literal evâ—â— of the spiritual Blood and Water of Life which Christ our High Priest sprinkleth and really washeth our Hearts and Consciences withal which we hope no sensible Soul will say is an outward or literal Sprinkling or Washing but an Inward and Spiritual Sn. ibid. That the Quakers make Christ without but the History and the Light within the Mistery or Substance which the Christ without as a History or Shadow of it only pointed Re. The Quakers do not so make Christ they make him no otherwise than the Father has appointed and made him to be He is more than either the History or Shadow of the Light within he as in himself is the substance of all Shadows and fulness of Light and Life from whom we have received both Spirit Light and Life Pray how proves he that the Quakers call Christ without but the History or Shadow of the Light within We want proof of this Point Sn. p. 321. That this the Quakers have done viz. set up other Scriptures against those received by the Church beyond any that ever went before them Re. We positively deny this Charge What other Scripture have they so set up against those Let 's have plain Proof for we are wholly ignorant of any such thing Sn. p. 322. That none ever have so contemned and vilified the Holy Scriptures as they have done Re. This is still maliciously to reproach and odifie us with the same old reiterated Calumny We know none that esteem and own the Holy Scriptures more than we both in Faith and Practice by the assistance of the Holy Spirit from whence they came Sn. p. 323. That a Man bringing a Bible into the Quaker's Meeting-House in Grace-Church-street and reading part of a Chapter the 14th of St. Luke it being the Bible so moved their Indignation that one of the chief of them snatched the Bible out of his Hand and thrust him along the Gallery down several Steps Re. We know no such Indignation or Action shewn by any of us against the Bible nor against any Person because thereof neither do we believe it let the Author prove it if he can We disown any such Indignation either against the Bible or any Person meerly because thereof Possibly some publick Disturber might by some or other present be gently turned out of Doors not because of the Bible but because of some offensive turbulent Behaviour Sn. p. 325. That upon pretence of the Light within the Devil the grand Deceiver drew them away from reading of the Scriptures c. discovers their preference of their own Writings to the Holy Striptures Re. We deny both these as utterly false scandalous and relative to many more Lies of the same kind in this Point Sn. p. 327 328. That they give all the threatning Discouragements that can be to deter any from reading of them Re. This is as gross and notorious a Falshood as the rest Sn. p. 330. I can saith the Opposer name those that now stand high among them who did before many Witnesses of the principal Quakers not stick to say That Paul was dark and ignorant and that they saw beyond him Re. We know none either High or Low among us that ever so said of Paul therefore let him produce his many Witnesses to prove who those were that so said that Paul was dark c. or otherwise for ever be ashamed of such odious Defamations Sn. p. 335. That Simon Magus was the Father of the Quakers Socinians and all the rest of the Anti trinitarian Hereticks Re. A gross Calumny against the Quakers rendring them a Sorcerer's Children But they deny both Simon Magus and all Sorcerers and the Devil the Father of Lies and all such as would persuade People to buy the Gift of God the Gospel for Mony The Quakers are as opposite to such Simony as Light is to Darkness Sn. p. 338. That E. Burrough pag. 47. determines clearly That the Scriptures are not now of any Authority at all to us at this Day Re. He perverts E. B.'s Words We find not such a determination of his but where he speaks of that not being a Command from God to me which he commands to another he intends this of special Commands that were to some as to Baptize and Preach the Gospel as he immediately explains it and not of general Commands of Duty incumbent upon all nor against the Authority of the Scriptures it being the Holy Spirit that makes them authoritative and binding and enables Men to live accordingly who are led by the same Spirit Sn. p. 342. That G. Whitehead in his serious Apology p. 49. prefers not only their Writings but their Ex tempore Preachments and even all whatsoever they speak upon any Account to the Holy Scriptures themselves Re. He very perversly wrongs G. Whitehead in all these Expressions for there 's not a word of preferring our Writings to the Holy Scriptures much less of all whatsoever we speak thereto but a preferring the Holy Spirit and its immediate Teaching in Man to the Letter of Scripture and preaching in the true sense of the Spirit with divine Authority according as Christ did
cleanseth from Sin and that this was not to be resolved into the Light within nor to be spiritualiz'd away from the Letter Re. Let us be excused if we cannot take that Text 1 John 1. 7. altogether literally if cleansing from all Sin be a spiritul and inward Work or Act as no doubt it is there 's as much ascribed to the Spirit as to the Blood in respect to the Work of Sanctification Washing and Cleansing from Sin And therefore the Blood of Christ may be both taken spiritually and literally and this is not to spiritualize away the Letter relating to the outward Blood and Sacrifice of Christ seeing we have always believed both in the Letter and receive the Fruit thereof in the Spirit Sn. p. 148. Sect. 11. These Men whose chief Principle is to decry and damn the Letter Re. This is a most gross and foul Calumny Our preferring the Spirit to the Letter as the Apostles did is no decrying nor damning the Letter nor so intended by us but to bring People to the Life and Substance and real fulfilling of Scripture To what he saith in distinction between Christ the Word of God and the Book of Scriptures p. 151 152. this makes for us and against them who have often affirmed that Book to be the Word in opposition to our owning Christ to be the Word of whom the Scriptures testifie And this on our part is no Contempt of the Holy Scriptures nor in their place any deifying of our own Spirit and our own Scriptures as this Adversary most falsly accuseth us p. 152. His most seeming pretence for Proof against us of Contempt of Holy Scripture is in p. 142. Sect. 11. where he quotes a Passage out of a Book Entituled The Quaker's Refuge c. thus viz. Whether the first Pen-man of the Scriptures was Moses or Hermes Or whether both these are not one Or whether there are not many Words contained in the Scriptures which were not spoken by Inspiration of the Holy Spirit Whether some Words were not spoken by the grand Impostor some by wicked Men some by wise Men ill applied some by good Men ill express'd some by false Prophets and yet true some by true Prophets and yet false And here the Accuser breaks off in his Citation like as F. Bugg used to deal by us who has the same Passage to defame us as he hath done Whereas next after the Words And yet false these follow viz. Is not the Subject of my Argument at this time Here 't is plain the Author R. R. has cited these Questions about the Scriptures not as the Subject of his own Argument but of some others he would not then be concerned to dispute those Questions or Doubts For the said Author farther confesseth That such Scriptures and Prophesies as have been written and prophesied by the Holy Men of God as they were moved by his Spirit treating of the Mystery of God in the Redemption and Salvation of Mankind by Jesus Christ and the Duty of Man in his Obedience to and Worship of the same God as his reasonable Service for the Gift of so great Salvation are the great Concerns now under our most serious Consideration From hence it 's clear the Author was no Contemner of Holy Scripture and 't is clear the Subject of his Argument was for the Authority of the Holy Spirit in judging or discerning the Mind of God in the Holy Scriptures as truly own'd by the Quakers thus in the said Book Quaker's Refuge p. 17. which could not intend any Contempt of the Holy Scriptures much less a deifying either of our own Spirit i. e. the Spirit of Man or our own Writings in their place We have rarely ever met with more mad unlikely and improbable Aspersions than these from our most outragious Adversaries To what is objected p. 155. Sect. 11. viz. That they i. e. the Quakers cannot be bound by any Command in the Scriptures unless their Spirit anew require the same This is falsly stated 't is not our own Spirit i. e. the Spirit of Man abstractly that we profess to be under the Conduct of but the same Spirit which gave forth the Holy Scriptures And is not awanting to require of us the performance of its own necessary Commands and Doctrins contained in the Scriptures seeing 't is the same Spirit which leads it's sincere Followers into all Truth consequently not to undervalue any of those blessed Truths recorded in the Holy Scriptures And therefore this Adversary's Consequence intended against us viz. That the Scripture remains of no Authority with us p. 155. is very unjust being deduced from his own false Suggestions supposing us to set the Spirit in opposition to the Scriptures of Truth whereas we plead for the divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures in so much preferring the Holy Spirit from whence they proceeded and derive their Authority and not from Human Tradition And this is far from spiritualizing away all the Letter of the Scripture or Christ's Humanity as in p. 166. as we are often unjustly aspersed To what he saith p. 168. That Enthusiasts have no Principles they have no Rule but their own Fancy which is strongest in mad Men and this they mistake for Inspiration and then their Madness is at the height We say take Enthusiasm in the truest and best Sense and then such are inspired of God and by his Inspiration have a true Understanding and right Principles given them both Divine and Moral and do not mistake Fancy for Divine Inspiration But to whom does the Man apply this Enthusiasm which he renders Fancy more strong in mad Men and height of Madness In his next Page 't is to the Quakers He says No Quaker can deny but that the Principle of the Quakers is all Enthusiasm There never was any Enthusiasm in the World that exceeded it p. 169. Sect. 11. Here he seems to take Enthusiasm in the Quaker's Sense which is Divine Inspiration or inspired of God which sure cannot be meer Fancy much less the height of Madness as before The Quakers certainly deny this of themselves Thus the Man's confused in 's injurious Attempts to defame us with the height of Madness His Objection against the Quaker's Enthusiasm as he calls it That none that ever called themselves Christians have advanced themselves so high to have the same infallible Spirit and immediate Revelation as the Prophets and Apostles or as Christ himself c. p. 169. Herein he 's greatly out All true Christians are Partakers of the Spirit of Christ in some degree or measure for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his and his Spirit is infallible and a Manifestation of the same Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal and the Effusion of this Spirit upon all Flesh was promised and we believe the Promises of God which are all Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus Therefore this our Adversary who is so much averse to having the same infallible
the Tabernacle which was called the Holiest of all in the Old Covenant that the golden Censor and Ark of the Testament were put and the golden Pot which had Manna and Aaron's Rod that had budded and the Tables of the Testament and over the Ark the Cherubims of Glory shadowing the Mercy-seat Heb. 9. Exod. 26. So the most excellent things were within the Veil tho' there was a Beauty and Glory also without it All which I doubt not were Shadows of the New Covenant and the spiritual Dispensation thereof in Christ Jesus in whom the most holy place of that divine Service and Worship in the New Covenant Sanctuary which the Lord has placed in the midst of his People is in the Spirit and in the Truth And all our spiritual Blessings and heavenly Treasures are in Christ Jesus who is our Sanctuary and Hiding-place And it is in the inmost or most inward and spiritual Dispensation of the New Covenant that Mercy and Forgiveness is receiv'd and Christ most livingly and effectually known to us and enjoyed and in him the most holy and heavenly Places wherein the true spiritual Believers sit down with him and as being washed from their Sins in his Blood by his Spirit are his Church and Sanctuary also and thereby have boldness to enter into the holy Place even by that new and living Way which Christ hath prepared for us through the Veil that is to say his Flesh Heb. 10. that we may follow him therein into Heaven it self And what entrance through Christ our Mediator we have here in measure received into this new and living Way and holy and heavenly Places in him we doubt not but it is to us an Earnest of a more full Enjoyment of Heaven and Glory hereafter with Christ Jesus our Fore-runner Leader and Captain of our Salvation we continuing faithful to the end in this his new and living Way as true and constant Followers of him God in his great Love and Wisdom has afforded several Dispensations one higher and more glorious than another in order to bring Man nearer and nearer to himself as that of the Law and of Shadows and Types that of the Prophets that of John the Baptist that of Christ in the Flesh and that of Christ in the Spirit and New Covenant which is higher more powerful and more glorious than the former and therein a more clear knowledge of Christ than in all the former wherein there was some Sight of him through Shadows and Veils but by his divine Light shining in our Hearts God is pleased to give us the Light of the knowledge of his Glory in the Face of his dear Son Christ Jesus that we all with open Face as in a Glass may behold the Glory of God and be changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. Ch. 4. 6 7. Now tho' our Adversary has made a deal of Dispute and Quarrel with us about calling Christ's Flesh the Veil as in Heb. 10. yet he is fain to grant That Christ's Body is called a Veil in relation to its Type the Veil of the Temple p. 262 263. but he 'll have this not to be in the Quakers Sense They call it a Veil that is saith he a Garment in contradistinction to its being Christ's Substance and of his Nature p. 262. Whereas its rather in contradistinction to its Being his Divine Natnre or to its being in the first place or principally or chiefly Christ himself who is the Son of God for whom the Body was prepared because he did pre-exit it or was in Being before he took upon him that Body even in his Father's Glory before the World began wherewith he is glorified However the Veil which was Christ's Flesh through which he set open the new and living Way we never deny to be Christ's Body or to be a real Body but own it was and never believed it to be a Fantastical Body as I have often said but that Christ the Son of God took upon him real Flesh and Blood of our Nature yet pure and incorrupt in him And as his Flesh was called the Veil it answers its Type or Figure i. e. the Veil of the most Holy Place or Oracle where God gave Answers 1 Kings 6. 20. 8. 6 8. 2 Chron. 3. 10 16. And these most Holy Places in the Tabernacle and Temple being Places of divine Service then peculiar to the High Priest to enter into their Antitype is in Christ Jesus the New Covenant where in the Spirit and in the Truth God is truly worshipped and meets with and speaks to his People even by Christ Jesus their High Priest who is present in the midst of his Church and Assemblies of his People the true and spiritual Worshippers who meet in his Name Spirit and Power whose Light and Truth brings its Followers unto his Holy Tabernacles Psal. 43. 3. And as to Christ's Substance and Nature what does our Opposer mean thereby How has he distinguished in this Point Christ has in him a divine Nature as well as that of Man which he hath also in the purest Sense But which is the greatest Is not the divine Nature the Deity in him greater than the Manhood As he said My Father is greater than all greater than I John 10. 29. Nevertheless as our great and only Mediator and Intercessor it was necessary he should be Man as he is the most glorious heavenly Man and as the Christ of God he is spiritually in us in his Saints and Members in some measure by his Spirit Light Life and Power even as the incorruptible immortal Seed in Man is of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and therein all true spiritual Believers do in measure partake of the divine Nature being born again of this incorruptible Seed The gross Calumnies cruel Mockeries false Stories and Perversions of the Author of The Snake in the Grass are therein so numerous together with his partial picking nibling mincing and carping at our Books which is so perverse and much on 't so silly that I confess many of them are waved in this Answer as not worthy of spending more precious time about them and I shall leave the said Author to the just Judgment of him that judghth righteously wishing his Repentance before it be too late And tho' he sculks and hides himself as if he were afraid or ashamed to own his Work with his Name to it so am not I of my Name or Vindication tho' I be and expect to be reproached and misrepresented for Christ's sake whose Servant I am George Whitehead A BRIEF EXAMINATION OF Some Passages IN THE Second Book of the Author OF The Snake in the Grass FALSLY STILED Satan dis-rob'd from his Disguise of Light Or The Quakers last Shift to cover their monstrous Heresies laid fully open WHEN I looked upon the Title of the said Book stiled Satan dis-rob'd from his Disguise of Light With this additional
saying That Blood is not in Being this Advocate will have it that he only gives way to this supposition of the Quakers by way of Concession not as his own Opinion p. 16. 'T is a wonder the Man 's not ashamed to use such a slim come off and false cover for him when 't was a real Confession and not forced from him as a meer Concession for Argument sake why should he compare it then to a price lost And another Baptist Thomas Brown confess'd that the Blood that was shed is not in Being it sunk into the ground Light and Life p. 66. The occasion of my Questioning them so much about this matter was because they seem'd to place the great stress of Man's Salvation upon the outward Blood of Christ and the act of shedding of it as if it were the present agent operating in them Purging sprinkling their Consciences Sanctifying and Justifying without making the Spirit the Operator or Efficient thereof whereas both Sanctification washing and cleansing from Sin Regeneration Justification and so Salvation are more principally ascribed to the Spirit the Grace the Word of God yea to Christ himself than to the act of shedding that Blood or to that Blood it self yet I never opposed that as being a part of the Sacrifice of Christ offered for Sinners in order to a Pacification Attonement and Reconciliation And farther to his comparison between the Baptists declaring the Blood shed on the Cross not in being and the Agonies and Passions of Christ upon the Cross as not now in being I do not therefore dissolve all the merits of his Sufferings or Death to our Justification thereby I do not so Argue as implyed against me that because his Passion was Temporal and Finite therefore not Meritorious for the Merits or disserving on Christ's part is placed upon his Obedience in humbling himself to Death even to the Death of the Cross wherefore God hath highly exalted him c. Phil. 2. 8 9. whose Exaltation and Dominion is for our Salvation if we submit to him as our Leader Commander and King But my distinction for Argument is this Tho' that Blood and Sacrifice were offered as a price in order to Man's Redemption it is the Power and Spirit of Christ that inwardly operates and quickens the Soul to God purifies and sanctifies the Conscience and so effectually saves us from Sin and Pollution The Price is already paid but the Work is yet undone in many we value the Price but must not neglect the Work of our Redemption and Salvation in us for Christ's Sacrifice will not save justifie or acquit any in a State of impenitency or unbelief they must know the work of his Grace and Good Spirit in their hearts unto Repentance and Obedience of Faith in Christ or else they perish in their impenitency and wilful unbelief whereby they make both the Cross and blood of Christ of none effect unto them Except a Man be regenerate and born again he cannot see nor enter into the Kingdom of God And I conceive I am not to be blamed much less ranked among Ranters as G. K. has Narr p. 25. for ascribing the saving work of sprinkling the Conscience sanctifying and justifying principally to the inward Grace and Spirit more than to the Blood shed upon the Cross. I say again I see no necessity of directing Men to the Type for the Antitype to Jerusalem or the Temple p. 17. either for Jesus Christ or his Blood there but that such direction is contrary to what the Righteousness of Faith saith Ro. 10. 6 7 8. compared with Deut. 30. 11 12 13 14 15. Tho' we also Preach Christ as he was Crucified and Dyed at Jerusalem and raised from the Dead and I do not say that 's contrary to Ro. 10. as G. K. wrongs me several times over Narr p. 26 27. But to direct Men either to go to the material Temple at Jerusalem or to look to Jerusalem for Jesus Christ the Antitype of that Temple c. This I deem'd contrardictory to Ro. 10. above quoted but they are to turn and look to the Word of Faith nigh in the Heart where they may Livingly find feel and know Christ in Spirit and Power even in the Power of his Resurrection so as to be enabled both to confess with the Mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in the Heart that God raised him up from the Dead And this word of Faith and of God is confessed unto by G. K. himself to be the Object and Foundation of true Faith and that this is Christ in them and that from the same Scriptures I quoted Deut. 30. 12 13. Ro. 10. 5 6 7 8 9. As more fully appears in his immediate revelation p. 3. p. 64 65. Print 1668. Therefore 't is not to destroy nor allegorize away the Object of Faith to direct People to Christ as the word of Faith nigh in the Heart as the Object thereof nor is it Antichristian Doctrin as G. K. has unjustly accused me in this Point Narr p. 27. contrary to his former confessions And suppose any one in deep distress for want of Christ to free and save him from Sin should earnestly enquire where shall I find him Whither will you direct me to find Christ And one should answer I direct thee to Jerusalem to the material Temple to the Type for Christ the Antitype and should again say I direct thee to Christ as above the Clouds and not to Christ as the Light within and then call the Light within an uncertain Guide as the Baptist did whom I answered in this Case How would this answer the distressed Soul Or agree with the Testimony of Moses or of Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ in Deut. 30. 11 12 13 14. and Rom. 10. 6 7 8 9. As for what the Righteousness of Faith saith I should rather answer the Question according to the Testimony of Moses and the Apostle Whither shall I be directed to go to find Christ Answer Say not in thine Heart who shall Ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above Or who shall Descend into the Deep that is to bring Christ again from the Dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thine Heart that is the Word of Faith which we Preach And this Word of Faith will bring thee to know the great benefit and fruit of Christ's Death at Jerusalem for thee and the power of his Resurrection that thou mayest thereby be enabled livingly to confess with thy Mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine Heart that God hath raised him from the Dead so as thou mayest be saved by him But I yet say to preach Christ as a remote outward Christ only in opposition to his Light and Word of Faith within as in the Heart is to keep People in unbelief remote from the true Faith and Knowledge of Christ either as without us or within us which opposition ought not to be to
Christ in either respect As concerning Sol. Eccles saying That the Blood that was forced out of Christ's Side with the Spear after he was Dead being no more than the Blood of another Saint p. 19. and Nar. p. 28. Concerning which I said I do not make S. E. his Expressions therein an Article of our Faith for I own that in one sense the Blood shed was more than that of another Saint tho' not in the visible matter of it more in that it had a peculiar signification for Christ the one offering was the Man peculiarly ordain'd and appointed of God both to bear the Sins of many and to end the many offerings under the Law and in all his Example and Sufferings that were permitted to be laid upon him he both Answered Fulfilled and ended the outward part and administration of the Law and Shadows and performed the Father's Will therein and was particularly Eyed and Prophesied accordingly by the Holy Prophets and through all his sufferings in the Flesh he gave an universal Testimony and Consecrated a New and Living way even through the Veil that is to say his Flesh that the way into the most Holy might be manifest Light and Life p. 58 59. In the first place I did shew a dislike of S. E's Expressions before cited in not allowing them as an Article of our Faith tho' I was willing Charitably to improve his own explication so far as it would bear a Charitable Construction with respect to his own declared Estimation of the Blood of Christ it 's Value and Vertue 2dly I shewed in part my estimation of the Blood and whole Sacrifice or Offering of Christ both in respect to the Blessed Testimony Value and Efficacy thereof more than that of any other Saint or Saints which manifestly differs from S. E.'s Expressions before cited However if I have not been thought plain enough in this matter let me be allowed so much candor as to be credited in being more full and plain therein I disown his said comparison of the Blood of Christ with that of another Saint and believe he was not in the Counsel or Wisdom of God therein tho' I did charitably construe his meaning with respect to the sincerity he had towards God and his self denying crucified Life and Testimony he bore for Truth in divers sufferings and respects and I believe he dyed in Peace tho' in some things he in his zeal was not guided in true Wisdom which was his own weakness and personal Failure not justly chargeable on us as a People much less on our Principle or belief of the Spirit of Truth or the infallible guidance thereof Howbeit this Adversary appears so eagerly bent against us as a People that he is willing to take any occasion to Defame and Brand us as in this very Passage which he calls The Broad and Impious Blasphemy of Sol. Eccles. He Scornfully yet Bitterly reproaches us as a People and my self in particular in these Words viz. There never was surely such a Company of good natur'd forgiving People They can slip over cover and excuse the Lewdest Blasphemies in a Charitable way c. They can see no faults in their own Friends G. W. says of this very Passage of Sol. Eccles. That it was so harmless as might have satisfied any spiritual or unbiassed Mind p. 21. And that this is in his Light and Life before quoted p. 58. Wherein he notoriously wrongs me and perverts my Words I did not call this very Passage or comparison of S. E's harmless but his Words declaring his high esteem of the Blood of Christ and of the new Covenant which was not his comparison of the Blood of Christ with that of another Saint which I have disown'd In my answer to W. Burnet quoted but lamely and partially cited p. 22. 23. § 5. I did not call Christ's outward material Blood a Type of the mystical Blood or Light within as my answer is perverted but closely pursued his Argument with exceptions which he is not cleared from by this Advocate his Argument is this viz. All things under the Law in the Type were purged with Blood and this Blood was material Blood and not mystical and that Blood that Christ shed in order to the effecting the Salvation of Man must needs be visible and material Blood Which is to Argue thus that because all things under the Law were purged with material Blood and not mystical Ergo the Blood of Christ which purgeth the Conscience and Effecteth the Salvation of Men must needs be Material and not Mystical I still deny the inference and my answer shews where and against what my Exceptions lye The Types and Shadows under the Law did both point at what was Material and what was Mystical in Christ If the legal Sacrifices were Types of Christ and so Mystical as is confess'd p. 23. contrary to Burnets asserting them Material not Mystical As in his asserting That 't was Material Blood not Mystical whereby all things under the Law were purged but now contrarywise those Sacrifices are granted to be Mystical because Types of Christ the Substance and Mystery of them My Answer to Burnet's Argument even in the first part left out by this Adversary is plain and clear viz. As if one should reason That because the Type was Material visible and not Mystical therefore the Antitype or Substance must needs be Material and not Mystical by this all Mysteries of divine things are excluded from being either spiritual the Antitype or substance Whereas it was the Heavenly things themselves that are in Christ in which consists the substance and end of Types and Shadows And my subsequent exceptions against the said Argument are as plain and unanswered That if the Antitype was Matterial and Mystical because the Type or Shadow was Material then this is like as to argue That because Circumcision which was a Type was Material or outward therefore the Circumcision of the Spirit which is the Antitype of it must needs be outward too and not Mystical and thus he might as well reason touching all other Types and Shadows under the Law and the Heavenly or good things to come Prefigured or Shadowed by them That because the Priests under the Law at the outward Tabernacle or Temple were Ministers of outward or Temporal things Carnal Ordinances Shadows c. Therefore those good things to come which Christ was said to be the High Priest of must needs be Temporal and not Mystical which to assert were absurd c. And I farther proceed in my Answer about the Heavenly and Spiritual things which the Law had the Shadow of viz. Whereas both the Heavenly and more perfect Tabernacle and Altar with the Heavenly things are all Mystery and Spiritual the Offering and living Sacrifices are Spiritual the Passover Spiritual the Seed Spiritual the Bread the Fruit of the Vine the Oyl the Flesh and Blood which give Life to the Soul yea the Water and Blood which washeth and sprinkleth
to the bare reading the Letter as the Pharisees did which was not at all to lessen the Authority of Holy Scripture Sn. p. 343. To prove gross Contempts of Scripture daily found among them i. e. the Quakers he gives us another particular Instance of a Quaker-Servant that took the Bible and in the open Day publickly burnt it against the Church in Bread-street to shew her Zeal Re. Upon a late Enquiry we understand That there was such a Servant-Maid who under some Discomposure and Temptation attempted such an evil and mad Action but was severely rebuked and testified against by our Friends who came to understand that Attempt or Action which we utterly abhor and therefore not justly chargeable upon us as a People any more than all the mad Actions of the People in Bedlam who belong to the Church of England Wherefore the great Envy and Injustice of this Defamer is very remarkable in this Passage as 't is extended against the Quakers to prove gross Contempts of Scripture daily found among them which is as bad as to say They daily burn their Bibles Oh sad and sordid Stuff Sn. p. 346. I assure thee Reader that there is no mixture of any personal Prejudice in this Vndertaking for I do freely own that I have a real Kindness and good Wishes for every one of the Quakers that I have hitherto been acquainted with and I never received any sort of Disobligation from any of them in my whole Life Re. 1. We have no reason to believe this Person has no personal Prejudice in this his reproachful Undertaking being against a whole People where every Person of their Society is concerned and shamefully defamed by him under as gross Terms and Characters as the Devil and Malice could invent and produce through a poor dissembling Hypocrite as thus pretends such real Kindness and good Wishes for every one the Quakers of his Acquaintance while at the same time he 's endeavouring to murther their Reputations both as Men and Christians 2. And yet he has received no sort of Wrong from any of them to disoblige him in his whole Life More shame for him then thus sordidly to abuse the whole People as he hath done Sn. p. 348. As to the Nature of Christ they can subscribe the whole Creed and yet not mean one word of it of a personal Christ existing now in Heaven in his own true human Nature without all other Men or that he is now any otherwise a Man than as existing in his Saints But that they mean ALL they say of their own Light within ONLY which they call a spiritual Christ and shedding spiritual Blood c. within them Re. Here are several Things very perversly and falsly insinuated in these Passages 1. As if we did not believe the Man Christ Jesus to be now in Heaven without us as well as spiritually within us which is not true 2. As if we did not own Christ Jesus to be intire and perfect Man in himself or in his own proper Being or Existence without us as well as he is by his Spirit in us which also is not true for we really own him in both And though Christ being the spiritual Rock and as he is the Word of God the immortal Seed and a quickning Spirit he is in us and livingly felt and known in all true Believers yet not to lessen his intire Existence or limit him the Holy One as if he were no where or otherwise in Being than within us Such limitation we disown as well as wholly to exclude Christ out of his Saints as some have done under those unscriptural Expressions of a personal Christ existing in Heaven wholly without us which Terms some of us have questioned chiefly because imposed by some to oppose the Light Life and Spirit of Christ within whereby we can only truly know the Lord Jesus Christ to our eternal Salvation and Peace 3. That Christ is truly spiritual and glorious we confess and shall never deny and that he has spiritual Blood too spiritual Water Wine and spiritual Drink to sanctifie refresh and comfort our Souls we must confess as that we daily experience as well as he had natural and outward Blood to offer and shed on the Cross for the sins of the World Sn. p. 350. That the Quakers general Answer to the seven Queries of the 15th of May 1695. was a Trick and Deceit of theirs to hide and cover their monstrous Heresies Re. This is a very severe and high Charge especially from one pretending real Kindness for us and as false as any of the rest of his Railery against us But what Proof is offered of these monstrous Heresies or covering them viz. Sn. They tell of Christ born of the Virgin Mary who suffered under Pontius Pilate c. but they keep off the whole stress of the Queries viz. Whether they believe in such a Christ as without them And that he is now this day a Man without all other Men No not a word of this this pinches too close And I think this a full Confession of their Heresie Re. Our Adversary appears very much out here For suppose we did not answer expresly in all the Terms of the said Queries being indirect and confusedly stated seeing we gave a scriptural intire substantial and comprehensive Answer which he is not able to confute This could not amount to any confession of Heresie on our parts neither does his thinking so prove any such thing He judges with very dark and evil Thoughts in this Matter Where did we ever say That Christ being born of the Virgin Mary and suffering under Pilate were not without us Or that Christ is not a Man without all other Men as well as spiritually in them We are to seek for such a Confession by us for we know none such but the contrary we are bound to believe in Christ intirely in all respects as he is both as he is within us and as he is without us both as he is God and as he is Man according to Holy Scripture-Testimony of him and 't is not uncharitable or envious thinking the contrary of us that can be any valid Argument to convict us to the contrary or of any Heresies whatsoever Sn. p. 351. Out of some of their i. e. the Quakers Books George Keith has collected their true and genuine Answers to each of the said Queries c. under this HOLY Title Gross Error and Hypocrisie detected c. Re. The first part is false For G. K. did partially and perversly collect divers Passages which could be no proper nor direct Answers to those Queries nor so intended nor by us adapted to any such Queries therefore the greater Abuse in him to collect and place them for Answers thereto 2. His Title and Charge of Gross Error and Hypocrisie is blasphemously termed HOLY for 't is altogether Unholy as well as Malicious and G. Keith is accountable to the just God for scandalizing and defaming us not only
R. G. as if I denied Christ to appear in or to have a Bodily Existence or Being I see no just Cause but rather that G. K. does therein as in many other things interfere with himself and his own former Testimony which is directly agreeable to what I have said and more severe and positive as in his Help in time of need p. 78 79. In these words viz. And now whether ye will hear or forbear this I do declare unto you in the Name and Power and Authority of the living God the day of the Lord is of a truth broken up among us and ye shall look till your Eyes fail you and rot within your Eye-holes e're ever you see another day or appearance of Jesus Christ to your comfort than what we the People of the Lord called Quakers do witness come and yet more abundantly coming and if ye will not hear my Soul shall mourn for you in secret places and weep before the Lord on your behalf Quere Was this to deny Christ to have any Bodily Being If G. K. may be cleared herein I may be clear from and against his own Judgment unduly given upon me I see no vehement or any denyal of Christ's being either Bodily or Spiritually at God's right hand as I am accused p. 3. by Questioning the Words and Terms of R. G. What Scripture proof has he for these words That Christ existeth outwardly bodily without us at God's right hand And what and where is God's right hand Is it Visible or Invisible Within us or without us only And is Christ the Saviour as an outward Bodily Existence or Person without us distinct from God and on that consideration to be Worshipped as God yea or nay And where doth the Scripture say he was outwardly and bodily glorified at God's right hand c. These Questions are no conclusions nor any positive determinations and they carry in them the reason thereof namely 1. Our then Adversary's excluding Christ as to his being out of his People and Saints because at God's right hand which has been the common Argument of divers of them 2. Their neglect and opposition to Christ's inward spiritual appearance and saving work in the heart under pretence of his outward and bodily Existence at God's right hand which expressions I did the more Question because of the common and gross sense wherein many are apt to take them as a bodily Being like their own earthly Bodies of Flesh and Blood which cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. And because they commonly have opposed his being at God's right hand to his inward and spiritual appearance asserting the one in opposition to the other having expressed very gross and carnal conceits of Christ's outward and bodily Existence at God's right hand thence inferring that the true Christ is not in Men which Argument and Inference I deny the reason whereof may farther appear As for instance John Newman whom G. K. and his Advocate has sided with against me argues thus Christ cannot dwell in Man for Christ is perfect Man as well as perfect God in his Book stiled The Light within p. 61. Again If Jesus Christ be with the Father then he is not in Man and that therefore 't is a feigned Christ and Light within p. 47 66 72. I deny the Argument both of the first Proposition and Consequence Christ being with the Father or at God's right hand is no reason or proof that he is not in Man To which I then Answered J. N. Christ ascended p. 20 21. Doth Christ's being with the Father or at his right hand hinder him from being in his People This is gross Error and contrary to plan Scripture 2 Cor. 13. Know you not how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates and this is neither a feigned Christ nor a feigned Light as Blasphemously and Scornfully he words it And what doth J. N. think or imagin concerning God his right hand and being And Christ at God's right hand that he thus would exclude limit and seem to confine them out of all Men Doth not this oppose the Infiniteness and Omnipresence of God and Jesus Christ and bring them under the limitation of finite Creatures With much more upon this Subject in the places Quoted I do not find that my Answer to J. N. is a denying Christ's outward appearance at the great day as accused p. 4. But rather a Questioning such a manner of appearance as he and others carnally expected to be seen with their carnal Eyes as having declared that Jesus Christ Rose and Ascended Flesh and Blood and those that pierced him in his Body shall see that Body visibly come again I Answered These are not the words of Scripture but added and for Answer to him I referred to Rev. 1. 7 8 13 14 16. In none of which is Jesus Christ called or represented as a Body of Flesh Blood and Bones visibly to come again c. The words Blood and Bones G. Keith has in recital hereof injuriously left out in his Gross Error and Hypocrisie p. 3. And yet makes use of the place to defame me with unbelief in a fundamental Doctrin of Christian Faith and the same words as Body of Flesh Blood and Bones he has likewise left out in his injurious Citation and Construction in his Nar. p. 17. He has also left out this following Passage on the same Subject Howbeit His Christ's appearance shall be universal seen both to the Joy of the Righteous and universal Conviction and Condemnation of the Wicked who have rejected his Light within and his saving appearance thereby made manifest yea every Eye shall see him both of Good and Bad both those that have waited for his second coming without Sin to Salvation and they also which have Pierced and Crucified him c. Christ Ascended Printed in 1669. p. 22 23. I never heard before That 't is a Fundamental Doctrin of the Christian Faith That Jesus Christ either consisteth of a Body of Flesh Blood and Bones or is in such a Body to come again visibly to Mens carnal Eyes they now have which was the very thing I Questioned in the places Quoted against me by G. K. Light and Life p. 41. Printed in 1668. And Christ Ascended p. 21 22 23. Wherein in the first he has left out the Question Did John see him with carnal Eyes on Rev. 1 And of the glory of the Father wherein the Son of Man shall come Mat. 16. 27 28. Luke 9. 26 27. Is it visible to the carnal Eye left out and in the latter after in none of which i.e. Scriptures Quoted is Jesus Christ represented as a Body of Flesh here Blood and Bones are left out which is very unfair and more unjust to render me an unbeliever thereupon like as if one should deal thus by a Quotation out of G. K.'s Way cast up p. 131. After it being no more a Body to leave out of Flesh Blood and Bones
and then how would but a pure Ethereal or Heavenly Body stand or co-here which he speaks of the glorious Body of Christ. Though I have always opposed the Gross and Carnal conceirs of many about the Resurrection I do not believe that Christ's glorious Body and the Saints Resurrection Bodies which must be like unto his shall be all shut up in Invisibility so as not to be seen or known one of another But that in Christ's Kingdom of Glory hereafter they shall as truly see and know one another as the Angels of God in Heaven do to whom they shall be Equal Note That our present Adversary's granting Christ's Body to be glorified in Heaven and much changed from the condition it was in upon the Cross p. 4. And also That such a gross Notion of the Resurrection no Christian ever held as if the Body were to rise in the same Grossness and Carnality that it has in this Life And that G. K. has sufficiently explained himself and that the Body when raised shall be the same as to substance but not as to the Grossness and Carnality as now and did Illustrate it by the Chymical Extraction of Spirits out of Herbs c. p. 26. As G. K. saith How much more ought we to acknowldge the Wisdom and Power of God who not only can but will change the Bodies of the Saints from all gross and terrestrial Qualities to be Heavenly and Spiritual the Husk or drossy Part that is no more the true Body than Dross in a lump of rich Oar of Gold is Gold being excepted Gross Er. p. 13. and p. 9. We must needs think saith he That Christ's Body was really Terrestrial i.e. had Terrestrial Qualities when it was upon Earth But now it is Heavenly endued altogether with Heavenly Qualities as the Bodies of the Saints will be at the Resurrection c. But to be more full and plain observe what he saith in his Way cast up p. 131. That Body that was crucified on the Cross at Jerusalem and is now Ascended and Glorified in Heaven which remaineth the same in Substance that it was on Earth although it be wonderfully changed as to the Mode and Manner of its being It being no more a Body of Flesh Blood and Bones but a pure Ethereal or Heavenly Body like unto which the Bodies of the Saints are to be at the Resurrection Now observe this great and wonderful change of Christ's glorified Body and of the Saints Resurrection Bodies was not heretofore granted by our former Adversaries as T. Elwood truly observes though very untruly charg'd with horrid and sensless Imputation and notorious Falshood p. 4. for saying It is well known that many of the Baptists as well as others of other Professions do hold the Body of Christ now in Heaven to be as really and materially a Body of Flesh Blood and Bones as it was when it was upon the Cross. That many have so held both of Christ's glorious Body and the Resurrection Bodies hath been notoriously known to us and many others as my said Answer to the said Newman partly shews p. 17. 18. And our answers to Tho. Hickes and Mathew Caffin and T. Grantham rendred Christ's Body Heaven such a one as his Quakers Ref. p. 40 41. And Thomas Vincent and others his gross conceits may be seen in his Illustrations about the Resurrection noted in our Book entituled The Christian Quaker in folio 2d part p. 161 162 163 164 165. c. The most that ever I discoursed of those our former Adversaries have held the Resurrection in that gross sense mentioned by T. E. except Jer. Ives tho' a contentious Adversary yet in that Point more ingenuous than most of his Brethren in those Days At a publick Dispute between some of us and some Baptists at Chersey in Surry when a Question about the Body of Christ in Heaven was Ignorantly obtruded by William Burnett his Brother Jer. Ives in answer to my speaking of Christ's various appearances as in divers Forms after he rose said What change or alteration His Body might have we cannot determine nor what Glory he is in for to enquire with what Body the Dead are raised is absurd Christ Ascended p. 19 20. Now it is observable in our former controversies on this Point The Question put to us was not Whether the Saints shall come forth in the Resurrection with their Bodies of such a Spiritual Pure and Heavenly Extract as to be free from all Carnality Grossness Dross Husk and Terrestrial Qualities even so as no more to be Bodies of Flesh Blood and Bones but Pure Ethereal or Heavenly Bodies like unto Christ's glorious Body According to G. K's and his Advocates confession I say this was not the Question we controverted then But whether the same numerical Body of Flesh Blood and Bones that dies shall be raised This we have objected against and the same Substance that is the same gross Substance and Bodily Existence of Flesh Blood and Bones this we have excepted against But Resurrection Bodies of such a refined Extract and Celestial Substance as is not Flesh and Blood but free from that Dross and Husk as is now proposed was not in controversy that ever I remember between us and our former Adversaries However G. K. should be so ingenuous as to tell the People what he means by the same Body for Substance that shall rise that it is not the same Body of Flesh Blood and Bones but a pure spiritual ethereal heavenly extract Body and then see how that will take And I think he 'l gain no more popularity in that Point than those of us he Quarrels with without just Cause Otherwise 't is very disingenuous to hide himself under general and indefinite Terms by telling the People the same Bodies that dye shall arise the same in Substance and not tell them what Substance that is that is not Flesh Blood and Bones for under those general Terms they may take him to mean in the common and gross sense of the same Flesh and Blood who understand nothing of a Celestial Seed or Ethereal substance hid in these gross Bodies or in their first Elements which they are to be dissolved into whether in the Earth Fire or Water wherein many Bodies have been destroyed dissolv'd and consum'd That Scripture Jo. 14. 19. Yet a little while and the World seeth me no more which G. K. thinks he better translates as yet or not as yet Nar. p. 17. However I did not alledge it to prove that Christ has no Body at all as in Nar. p. 17. herein G. K. wrongs me but that the World should see Christ no more in that manner wherein they then saw him That which they then saw of him with their carnal Eyes they should see no more i.e. as in the Flesh. And how should they if his glorified Body be no more a Body of Flesh Blood and Bones but a pure Ethereal or Heavenly Body they must have other Eyes to see
the Conscience are Spiritual and Mysterious as the New Covenant it self is which they belong to and these things known in And this is the New and Living way which Christ set open through the vail of his Flesh Heb. 10. Let him receive this who can And if our Adversary and his abetters know no more of the Mystery of Christ's Blood or Work of purging and sprinkling the Conscience than their profession and application of the Material Blood without the sanctifying Spirit and Operation of it they may remain long enough with defiled Consciences and full of Envy and Malice That precious outward Offering and Blood of Christ outwardly shed has long been greatly abused by misapplication and the holy design and ends thereof perverted by carnal Professors to indulge themselves in Sin and Disobedience against Christ during Life Now laying aside the Baptist's Argument aforesaid I do grant that the Material Blood whereby all things under the Law were purged as it had the very Image of the Material Blood of Christ that was outwardly shed it was Typical thereof And that Blood of Christ including his whole Sacrifice argued by the Apostle to the Hebrews as the Antitype answering and fulfiling the Types thereof and which were not only Types of that Blood and Sacrifice as outwardly offered but also a shadow of the inward and spiritual sprinkling purging and sanctifying of the Conscience by Christ our High Priest with his Blood and Spirit of Grace The good things to come which the Law had the shadow of but not the very Image of them were Heavenly and Spiritual things Heb. 10. 1. But the Law had the very Image or Resemblance of the Material Blood of Christ that was shed in that it had material Blood of Sacrifices one Blood resembles another therefore that Material or Natural Blood outwardly shed was not those Spiritual and Heavenly things which the Law had the shadow and not the very Image of The Material and Typical Blood whereby all things were purged under the Law was sprinkled on them by Moses and the High-Priest therefore 't is Christ our High Priest who sprinkles and effectually purgeth the Conscience which he doth not Literally but Spiritually in which work his Spirit and Power is livingly concerned as the efficient Cause and his Blood and whole Sacrifice in preparing and making way for and obtaining Redemption and Remission of Sins received upon true repentance on our parts It 's said How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Consciences from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9. 14. The value efficacy and fruit of his offering himself without spot to God is greatly or principally placed upon the eternal Spirit and so is the work of Sanctification and effectually purging the Conscience both from dead works and the pollution of Sin That which inwardly and effectually purgeth the Conscience and sprinkles the heart from an evil Conscience is the Spirit the spiritual Vertue Blood and Life of Christ that actually purgeth and cleanseth them from all Sin who truly walk in his light which has the sanctifying life and vertue in it There was a kind of expiation and purging by way of Sacrifice under the Law and old Covenant yet the Consciences thereby not purified nor made perfect But the Expiation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Purgation or Cleansing Heb. 1. 3. That 's made and prepared by Christ himself and his Sacrifice and the Covenant of Grace and Mercy wherein that work of Grace is fulfiled Sealed with his own Blood this reacheth the Conscience to a real purifying and perfecting thereof by the Spirit and Power of Christ. By one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified whereof the Holy Ghost also is witness to us Heb. 10. 14 15. Therefore that Expiation made by that most excellent Offering without us is fulfilled by the Spirit in the work of Sanctification within us We are delivered from the outward Law and the Curse of it by the Body of Christ but are made free from the Law and Sin of Death by the Law of the Spirit and Life in Christ Jesus Ro. 7. 4. 8. 2. To that of Act 20. 28. The Church of God which he purchased with his own Blood Hereupon the Man has some slight flings at me but makes very little work on 't As to my saying The Blood of God which is God's own Blood and whereby his Church is purchas'd must needs be spiritual and the Covenant of God is inward and spiritual and so is the Blood of it consequently both Mystical I did not hereby hold that God is either Material or has a Material Body or Blood but the contrary that his own Blood whereby his Church is purchased is more than the Material or Natural Blood of Christ that was shed though that was a part of the Sacrifice offered for Man's Redemption neither dare our Adversary say that Blood could be properly called God's own Blood unless he holds that God has a material Body and Blood no more than the Annotation thereupon which saith Of God's own Blood that which appertaineth to Christ's humanity is attributed to his Divinity because of the Communion of properties and union of the two Natures in one Person Which Notation or the Terms of it I shall not now dispute But I 'le take leave to explain my self farther for the spiritual vertue and mystery of God's own Blood and the Blood of his everlasting Covenant the Blood of sprinkling therein c. wherehy God has purchased his Church God's own Blood was no less than his own dear Son Christ himself It was a manner of speaking the Blood put for the whole Offering the innocent Blood that Judas betrayed was Christ himself Mat. 27. 4. And the Ransom or Price given for Man's Redemption was Christ himself who came to give his life for the Ransome of many Matt. 20 28. And he gave himself a Ransome for all Men to be testified of in due time 1 Tim. 2. 6. God spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all There 's a twofold work in the Redemption that is by Jesus Christ 1. By the Sacrifice and Mediation of Christ general for all Men. 2. By his Power Spirit and Life actually freeing and delivering the truly believing Soul from Sin and from the Nature and Being of Sin and Condemnation because thereof in which sense God's Church was purchased with his own Blood and in which last and special sense my Answer was intended as not only by the natural or outward Blood shed but principally by the spiritual Blood or Life of Christ Jesus God's sparing not his own Son but delivering him up for us all includes the whole Sacrifice of Christ in Soul and Body which were offered therefore God's own Blood is such an high and elegant Phrase as bespeaks the great love of God in Christ as the whole Ransom and Price of