from the Life in the Eternal Word In him was Life and the Life was the Light of men § 3. Pr. Ibid. W. P's best Reason assisted with his Light within is Fondly at work to prove that the Light and Spirit and not the Scriptures were the Rule of their Faith that gave forth the Scriptures Answ Seeing he deridingly opposeth this we must take him as believing or speaking the contrary viz. That not the Light and Spirit of Truth within but the Scriptures were the Rule of their Faith that gave them forth Gross Ignorance as if the Scriptures were the Primary Dictater and Revealer of Scriptures and not the Light and Spirit of God within Contrary to plain Scripture Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Spirit of God Surely the Scriptures could not be the Rule before they were but the Holy Spirit was both the Mover Rule and Guide in giving them forth Pr. Ibid. Its matter of Lamentation that the Quakers false Light and their lying Spirit do counterfeit the true Light and holy Spirit to decry the Scriptures from being the Rule of Faith and Life Answ It s matter of Lamentation that such blind Guides as this should keep People in Darkness from the true Light and holy Spirit under pretence of the Scriptures being the Rule of Faith and Life Which though this be a main Article of his Faith yet for this very Point he has not produc'd any plain Scripture that saith the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith and Life Which if he cannot produce such proof for they are not that only Rule but rather a Rule or Instruction subordinate to the true Light and holy Spirit as directing to it Pr. p. 8. Surely this Quakers Light within burnt dim in his Socket the Light within is no such Infallible Teacher as the Quakers brag of like the Papists infallible Judge it s not without its gross Mistakes Answ See how again he blasphemously scoffs against the Light within in his Comparing it with the Papists pretended Infallible Judge wherein he is grosly mistaken but so is not that Divine Light of Christ within which we profess believe and own In him was Life and that Life was the Light of men Though men may Err yet this Light cannot § 4. Pr. Ibid. The real Quaker is for Go teach baptizing with the holy Ghost and with Fire If this be not to turn People from Light to Darkness from God to the Power of Satan let the sober-minded Reader judge Answ The true Ministry and Preaching of the Gospel in Spirit and Power wherewith Christs Ministers were and are endued was for the Conversion and turning People from Darkness to Light and from Satans Power to the Power of God which does no whit fall short of a Spiritual Baptism or dipping into the Name Power and Life of the Father Son and Holy Spirit Go teach baptizing them into the Name c. was a Commission by divine Power and Authority and in the same was fulfilled by Christs presence with his Ministers Lo I am with you alway even unto the End said he and therefore it was by virtue of Christ's Presence with them that they were made Instrumental in baptizing with the Spirit And this was not to turn them from Light to Darkness as most ignorantly is alledged by this Priest Pr. Pag. 9. Surely W. Penn was as Oxford to Lick Glass-Windows Answ A scornful Detraction which shews the Pride of the Priest's Heart Pr. Ibid. It is the Judgment of a real Quaker that Water-Baptism is none of Christ's Institutions and that Paul was of the same mind which is a most gross mistake Answ No Mistake at all that Christ sent not Paul to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel as he himself expresly saith 1 Cor. 1. And this he gave as his most general Reason why he Baptized no more of them than he did And surely his Commission was not short of the rest of the Apostles Wherefore Water-Baptism was not included in it § V. Pr Ibid. That the real Quaker confesseth himself guilty of a base Doctrine viz. That â—ustification by that Righteousness which Christ fulfilled WHOLLY without us is a Sin pleasing Notion Answ No such Confession of Guilt by the Real Quaker who confesseth to Christ's Righteousness both without and within as 't is received by Faith unto Justification or making men Righteous for he cannot own that men can truly be reckoned Righteous or Just while they have none of Christ's Righteousness within them or while his Image is not at all renewed in them nor they in any Degree sanctified None are justified without living Faith in Christ Jesus Therefore none are justified in an unsanctified State so not wholly without them especially if Christ's living Faith be the instrumental Cause of our Justification or Causa sine qua non without which there 's no real Justification he that believes not is condemned already though Christ who is the Author of Faith be the Principal Cause of Good to us Pr. Ibid. The Papists call it a Putative Righteousness This Justification by Christ's Righteousness imputed by Faith which is a comfortable Doctrine is basely murthered betwixt these two Thieves Answ He has here maliciously as well as basely slandered us called Quakers in his Comparison for we never denyed Christ's Righteousness as imputed or reckoned to us by Faith taken in the Real Scripture Sense But some Professors reckoning of it to men in an Unbelieving Unconverted and Unsanctified State or when no Good is wrought in them in which State I suppose he dare not directly say Men are justified for without Faith its impossible to please God and yet he says little or no less if he tell us that men are justified and acquitted before God by a Righteousness of Câ—aist WHOLLY without them for that leaves no room for Christ's Righteousness to have any place within them for their Justification And is not this a Sin-pleasing Notion I would ask what that Righteousness that Christ fulfilled wholly without them was Did it not consist in his Obedience to the Father and fulfilled in his Sufferings and Death If this then has compleated Justification wholly without men then it must be compleated for all Mankind for whom he dyed And he dyed for all men tasted Death for every man for the whole World What then are all men yea the whole World that lies in Sin compleatly justified by this Priest's Doctrine they must if it be effected wholly without them See now what Sin-pleasing Work our Adversary's run into whereas Christ dyed for our Sins and rose again for our Justification Therefore 't was not wholly accomplished by his Death Pr. pag. 10. We are accounted Righteous before God ONLY for the Merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith That we are JUSTIFIED by Faith only is a most wholsome Doctrine Answ Here he joyns Faith to the Merit of our Lord in the Matter of Imputation but then says We are justified by Faith
6 7 10 12. Pr. Art 10. We Q. do believe that Jesus our Saviour is not the Son of Mary nor the Son of the Substance of the Father Answ These are both Gross Lyes the point is cleared before We never denyed but alway believed Jesus our Saviour as Miraculously conceived by the holy Ghost overshadowing the Virgin Mary and born of her As also we never denyed but ever believed him as he is the Eternal Son of God to be of his Fathers Substance § 13. Pr. Art Ibid. That Mary is not the Mother of God its Popery to call Mary the Mother of God Answ This he has set down as part of the Qrs. Unsound Faith and therefore his Faith is That Mary is the Mother of God 't is not Popery to call Mary the Mother of God The rest of the Forgeries in this Article are answered before § 13. Pr. Art 12. We Q. do believe that Deliverance from Condemnation is not by believing in Christ who dyed to save Sinners by his Blood but by obeying the Light within Answ This is a Gross Perversion and Forgery again Christ and his Light within are not to be divided in the matter of Faith or Salvation We never opposed Christ who dyed for Sinners or Faith in his Name by believing or in obeying his Light within For he that believes and walks in his Light believes in his Name and thereby partakes of the Fruit of his Death and Blood to cleanse from all Sin § 14. Pr. Art 14. We Q. do believe that there is no Knowledge of any Truth to be gotten by the Scripture Answ Here is a Falshood and Perversion again for we do believe that a Knowledge of some Truths may be gotten by the Scripture and more especially through the Blessing of God enlightening the Vnderstanding in the serious reading the Scripture but no saving Knowledge is gotten by the Scripture alone without the Blessing of God by his Spirit enlightening the Understanding § 14 15. Pr. Art 29 30. We Q. do believe that there is no outward Civil Honour due to the King to Magistrates and Men in Authority or any others Answ False again 't was never an Article of the Qrs. Faith we have fully exprest the contrary even upon outward and Civil Accounts as in paying our Taxes Customs and Duties and actually submitting to Authority as Christians in all cases consistent with the Peace of our Consciences and passively in suffering in cases wherein we could not be active for Conscience sake But it is the Hat and Knee Honour Bowing Creeping and Cringing Flattering Titles and Complements which this Priest is doting upon 't is not the substantial Honour Dignity Estimation or Reverence that his Contest is for but what 's meerly Complemental and pleasing to the fleshly Mind and Pride of Man § 17. Pr. Art 47. We Q. do believe that all Lords Ladies Knight◠Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Young and Old Rich and Poor c. who are no Qrs. are the Children of the Devil Fruitless Trees for the Fire to be cast into the Lake that there they must lie for evermore c. Answ His Falshood and Knavery herein is sufficiently detected before in his leaving out the general Conditions of Mercy and Salvation proposed to the Wicked viz. Repentance Fersaking their Iniquities c. without which they are liable to Destruction and Misery which are in their way see Sect. 24. 'T is a plain Lying Forgery to make their being No Qrs. the Condition of their Destruction as if we should condemn all to utter Destruction who are not formally Qrs. so called We never went about thus to confine the Mercy of God For there are both Thousands of Infants that dye Innocent as also many Thousands of Persons that have a Degree of Innocency being free from Envy and Malice against us and others and many in Dark Times and Dispensations that having a Secret Sincerity in their Hearts to God who never were Reputed Quakers nor formally gathered into an outward Society with us that yet may and do find Mercy and partake of the common Salvation tendred in Christ Jesus to Mankind But No Fallen Sinful or Poluted Man or Woman can find Salvation without Repentance or Inward Conversion by the Grace of God that has appeared to all men that they may be taught to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts § 31. But now more briefly to sum up and recite some more of the Priests Lyes Wicked Forgeries and Falshoods in others of his Articles I shall thus proceed Art 54. That there are no Right Magistrates but Qrs. and such Quaking Magistrates c. This is a Knavish and Idle Forgery § 25 26. Art 54. That not Thouing one another is a Damning Sin is a Lying Forgery again § 17 26. Ibid. That all Superiority Nobility Honour Breeding c. are under the Curse of God is a Perverse Lye Ibid. That there is no true Nobility true Gentility but in us Qrs. that Honour is only due to us Qrs. These are Knavish Forgeries still § 26. Ibid. That any of us despised Qrs. is more Noble than either King or any Nobles after the Flesh because of the Noble Seed in us No Article of the Qrs. Faith but the Priests Forgery Ibid. That all Noble men Gentlemen Superiours Men of Honour Breeding c. are Bastards An Odious Forgery to render us Odious See § 17 18. Art 58. We Q. do believe that it is the Devil who tells men that Christ dyed for all This is a Horrid Lye Wicked Slander and Most Abominable Forgery for that Christ dyed for all men we have alwayes believed and owned as testified by his Spirit in his holy Apostles and Scriptures § 9 10. Art 59. That they who said they believed that that was the Christ who dyed at Jerusalem and that he dyed for their Sins and rose again and sitteth at the Right Hand of God were no Christians in Truth This again is a Wicked Perversion and Falshood and also a Curtailing of J. Parnel's words as the Priest has more at large cited them pag. 105 106. as if the Qr. denyed these things relating to Christ whereas 't is spoken of such false Christians as had the History or Profession of Christ but were not in the true Knowledge of God or Christ but under Anti-christ's Reign yet under a Gospel Profession looking at God as a God afar off only and sotting up Idols Temples False Teachers Hirelings c. § 26. Art 66. That to know God according to the Scripture is no true Knowledge of him This is a gross Lye and Forgery again for truly to know God by the Revelation of his Son is according to Scripture though given by Christ § 14 15. Art 72. That all true Quakers have the same Gift of the H. Ghost or gift of Miracles that the Apostles had The last is a gros Lye for though true Quakers confess and own a partaking of the Gift of the holy Ghost yet pretend not the
G's Terms viz. That God-man purchased and compleated Reconciliation Justification c. with God at once without us which I could not own to be a Scripture-Phrase or good Sense Hereupon instead of any Convincing Confutation the Priest flies out in Railery and Reviling at his wonted rate Pr. viz. That God purchased of God an old Socinian Cavil Thus the Light within is at unawares singing the old Cuckoes Song Thus the Quakers Ignis Fatuus c. What a blind pitiful Elf is this Quakers Light within that it cannot discern Redemption by Christ God-man as purchase made without us Answ Though he has herein revil'd me with Socinianism and a Cuckoes Song and shamefully blasphemed the Light within as an Ignis Fatuus a blind pitiful Elf c. This makes nothing to my Conviction but shews that this Proud man glories in his Shame Blindness Scorn and Blasphemy which is no convincing Argument Let him call it what he will I am not yet convinced that the Phrase viz. God-man purchased and compleated Justification with God at once without us is either Scripture-Language or good Sense why does he not produce us Scripture for it for it renders God in the first place as the Agent purchasing or buying Justification c. of God himself and so over-looks and confounds or mis-placeth his Mediators Office which as Man through God's Help he performed as God hath said In a Day of Salvation have I helped thee he was made lower than the Angels in respect of his Sufferings yet God the Father helped and supported him even in his Sufferings for Mankind Again If the Father's Kindness to Mankind was no whit inseriour to the Son's Kindness or that they were both alike kind to Man as 't is not to be doubted then it was in the freeness of the Father's Love that Christ came to redeem or purchase lost Man to God It was by the Grace of God that he tasted Death for every man and became a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling Savour to God But where the Priest sayes God-Man purchased our Redemption of God this supposes him as God to be the chief Agent in purchasing Redemption of God Can this mean any otherwise than that either God did so purchase or buy this of himself or else that Christ as a God inseriour to the Most High God did buy it of him which so much borders on Socinianism denying the Deity of the Son of God or that he is the Most High God that I cannot be thus Socinianiz'd For though Jesus Christ be both God Man in absolute and wonderful Union yet those Works and Sufferings of his in the Flesh which concern'd Man's Reconciliation Eternal Redemption and Salvation with Respect to his Merit and Dignity therein they all related to Christ as Mediator between God and Man and as such he is called the Man Christ Jesus and in these Considerations he is made inferiour to the Father as he said My Father is greater than I We have one Mediator between God and Men even the Man Christ Jesus It was as Man that he dyed and gave himself a Ransom for all and it was by this One Man Jesus Christ that the Grace and Gift of God hath abounded unto many as by man came Death so by man came the Resurrection of the Dead this is Scripture Language and accordingly Redemption by Christ as his giving himself for us to Redeem us from ALL Iniquity from the Vain Conversation from the Earth c. is truly owned by us Pr. pag. 14. God the Son made Man purchasing our Redemption of God the Father by the price of his own Blood as God Intâ—rnate Answ Now he has mended the matter 't is as he was made Man that he purchased or rather obtained our Redemption By his own Blood he entered once into the Holy Place heb 9.12 having obtained eternal Redemption for us And this Redemption that he obtained for us was our Deliverance and Freedom from under Sin Death and Condemnation as the following words clear it For if the Blood of Bulls and Goats sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the Flesh how MUCH MORE shall the Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot to God Furge your Conscience from Dead Works to serve the Living God Hence it most clearly follows that that Eternal Redemption which Christ obtained for us by his Blood and Sacrifice without us must be partaken of and enjoyed within us by a real purging and sanctifying of our Conscience as before And since Remission of Sins Redemption and Justification are attributed to the Blood of Christ as Means or Cause thereof through Faith it follows that though these were obtained by the Sacrifice of Christ without us they are effected and compleated by him within us for our absolute discharge from the Guilt of Sin Condemnation and Curse by a real Purging our Consciences and Purifying of our Hearts by a true Faith in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby we partake of the Effects and Benefits both of his Merit and Sufferings outward and his effectual Work inward to our Salvation from Sin and the sad Effects thereof He hath obtained Eternal Redemption for us he hath gotteâ— the Power thereof for us that we might have it and enjoy it through his effectual Work in us in setting us free from the Bondage of Sin and Corruption and this allows not that men are compleatly justified and redeemed while no Good no Qualification is wrought in them by any Light or Spirit whatsoever as R. G. affirmed and whose Cause this Priest has espoused and therefore 't is Chargeable upon him wherein they have at once justified the Unclean the Wicked the Unbelievers the Unconverted the Impenitent c. and excluded the Light and Spirit of Christ Faith Repentance Conversion Sanctification Humility Sincerity c. which are Inward Qualifications and Fruits of the holy Spirit from being conterned in this great Work and State of Justification and Redemption contrary to Christ's own Testimony Except I wash thee thou hast no part with me Pr. pag. 15. This Quaking Proteus turn'd into a Socinian shape It s still no less than unscriptural that God-man hath purchased all of God without Farewell to the received Doctrine of the Church of England Answ Quaking Proteus a Fabulous Flout and Falshood The Quakers greatly differ from the Socinians both touching the Deity of Christ and his divine Light in man and Perfection in this Life as owned by Quakers not by Socinians The Doctrine of the Church of England allows of no such Doctrine as that Persons are compleatly justified while no good is wrought in them by the Spirit of Christ and that under the Pretence of God-Man having purchased all of God without For even E. Still Treat pag. 270. Stilling fleet in his discourse of the Sufferings of Christ against Socin Crel counts it an Opinion which few who have consider'd these things do maintain
WHOLLY WITHOUT By which 't is still evident how he has contradicted the Church of England in this Point Pr. There is not one Syllable of Redemption by Purchase to be found in it p. 16. Answ He intends this of my sense of certain Scripture-terms relating to Christ and his Work pag. 8 9. of my Book Nature of Christianity but herein he has shamefully belyed me For Redemption is found and thus explained in it viz. A Ransoming Buying again a Rescuing or Recovering such as were under Bondage c. Pr. p. 17. Not only ignorantly but basely explain'd they must be all felt and experimentally fulfill'd within Professors Answ No base Explanation to feel and Experience Justification Salvation c. the Works of Christ fulfilled within But this man shews his Baseness in contemning this and his Contrapiction to the Bishops Article before cited else what mean those words therein viz. Such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the Works of the Flesh c. Pr. Ibid. Justification is altogether Popishly explained a plain Instance that the Quakers Light within is from Rome below and not from Heaven above This is an Abuse again 't is not Popishly explain'd by us For though the Papists place the first Justification of men through the Means and Merits of Christ to be when God finds no good Works to Reward but Sins to Pardon unto such as have Faith in him yet they hold a second Justification and Salvation through the Merits of their own Works by the Assistance and Co-operation of God's Spirit * Vide Rhemists Annot. in Nov. Test on Rom. 2 3 4 9 10. Chapters and on 2 Tim. 4. Chap. Vers 8. where they say That all good Works done by God's Grace after the first Justification be truly and properly Meritorious and fully worthy of Everlasting Life and that thereupon Heaven is the due and just Stipend Crown or Recompence which God by his Justice oweth to the Persons so working by his Grace by which Merit or Meritoriousness of their own Works they do not mean in a mild sence an obtaining acceptance with God as by doing their Duty but in a strict sence that they have so deserved their Hire or Reward at God's hand as that they reckon God as a Debtor to them Whereas we place the Merit Deserving or Dignity wholly upon Christ both in his obtaining Redemption for us and his working in us that which is well-pleasing to the Father and his enabling us to do those things that please him wherein our Acceptance is wholly in him both with respect to his Suffering for us and his working in us and his working by us and what good we do by his Assistance 't is but our Duty not our Merit 't is that wherein we obtain Acceptance through the Assistance of his free Grace and not that whereby we can be said strictly to merit buy or purchase Salvation to our selves For what 's of Grace is not of Debt as from God to us we are Debtors to him for Christ's sake but he is no Debtor to us in his Gracious Rewards For we have all that 's good Root and Branch from him who hath ordain'd Peace for us having wrought all our works in us and we are bound to give thanks to God always for what we have and are even by his Grace and Goodness in Christ to us § XI Pr. Pag. 19. To believe and wait for the Life Everlasting after Death is no Article of this Quakers Faith this is a putting Salvation at a great Distance Answ This is a foul Perversion as if I did not believe Life Everlasting after Death whereas I only detected R. G. his Mistake on Heb. 9.28 his making the Believers looking for Christ and his Appearance the second time without Sin to Salvation to be a hoping and waiting for Salvation after the Bodily Death whereas I intended a Salvation from Sin and consequently from Wrath that this Salvation ought not to be put off till the Life to come For all that truly know this Appearance of Christ for this end experience him to save them from Sin and can truly say Now is come Salvation and Strength and the Kingdom of our God and the Power of his Christ Rev. 12. Pr. p. 20. To affirm that the Salvation of Sinners yea of the whole World should be compleatly finished by Christ's Death upon the Cross above Sixteen Hundred Years since this is strange Doctrine to this Ill principl'd Quaker Answ If the Salvation of the whole World was compleatly finished by Christ's Death on the Cross so long since what should hinder any man of Salvation And if so compleatly finish't there is none like to miss of it let them be as Corrupt as they will in themselves there is no exception of Condition on Man's part But if Salvation was so long since compleatly finished for Sinners yea for the whole World why does this Priest so Rail against me and the Quakers He should think by his own Rule that we are compleatly saved as well as he But if he says that we want Faith Christianity and sound Principles and therefore are not saved this still confutes himself and grants an inward work of Christ to produce Faith Christianity c. for the compleating our Salvation although Christ dyed for all men Pr. Ibid. You see clearly it s no part of this Quakers Faith to believe that Christ is the Son of the Virgin Mary Answ This is an apparent Lye and gross Perversion we have alwayes believed the Scriptures even in this very matter of Christs being born of the Virgin Pr. Ibid. This Quaker is bold to say to this Purpose If any man believes that Christ shall come at the last day to judge the quick and the dead to adjudge the Righteous to Heaven to condemn the Wicked to Hell then he may look till his Eyes drop out c. Answ A Notorious Perversion again I said nothing to this purpose against Christ's coming to judge the quick and dead at the Last Day but against my Opposer's putting off Salvation till after the Bodily Death in reference to that Appearance of Christ without Sin to Salvation to them that look for him and this on Heb. 9.28 Upon which I said 'T is strange that Salvation of Sinners yea of the whole World should be compleated at once above sixteen hundred Years since and yet to be so long after Death look't for how long is not known to thee c. Nat. Christ p. 29. Here is not one word in opposition to Christ's coming to Judgment But what was argued by me in this Case was in respect to the Salvation of Sinners and Christ's Appearance to save from Sin For but in page before I mentioned his Saving us by the Washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the holy Ghost on Tit. 3.4 5 6. Pr. p. 21. As for Christ's Righteousness without us made ours by Faith this is the Doctrine which is disowned by
Spirits who further manifests his Folly and Ignorance in his Discant or Paraphrase upon Nicholas Knights Book Entituled A Comparison between the true and false Ministers Printed 1675. After this Priest hath told us that in this Quaking Book the false Ministers of England are thus described and after several Descriptions given of them the Priest cites these following in his pag. 142. which I recite directly as he has done viz. Tythes are only claim'd by false Teachers I ask him where did true Ones or Christ's Ministers ever claim them They deny the Doctrine of Christ enlightning every one with a saving Light and that truly for it is a Quaking falshood They deny the manifestation of the Spirit in all they reproach the true Ministers of the Light and justly because of their Folly They are Persecutors of the Children of Light but the Quakers have no Truth nor Righteousness to be persecuted for They deny that any are made Perfect from all Sin in this Life which they ought to do Observation Observe that these Words within the Crotchets are the Priest own very words wherein first he hath blasphemously charged the Light of Christ who is that true Light which lighteth every man that comes into the World John 1.9 2dly He has reproached the true Ministers of the Light in directly charging them with Folly 3dly He has slandered the Quakers in saying They have no Truth nor Righteousness 4thly He counts it a Duty to deny that any are made Perfect from all Sin in this Life herein he has justified the false Teachers against Christs Doctirne and Work who taught his to be Perfect and is come throughly to purge his Floor to sanctifie wash and cleanse his Church and People that there may be no spot in his Spouse But this work of Christ the false Teacher denyes he says they ought to deny it The Lord deliver People from such blind Guides § XXVIII Pr. p. 101. You see that the Quakers are accused justly for asserting a perfect freedom from all Sin on Earth of this false Doctrine this Quaker is a sorry Champion Answ Such a freedom from Sin must be on Earth or never there is no Purgatory after Death and no unclean thing shall enter into Gods Kingdom If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all Sin 1 John 1.7 Unto him that loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood Rev. 1.5 Blessed are the Undefiled in the way who walk in the Law of the Lord Psal 119.1 They also do no Iniquity ver 3. And this was on Earth therefore no false Doctrine Pr. Ibid. Nothing less than a perfect freedom from all Sin on Earth was the End and Aim of Redemption by Jesus Christ to deny a perfect Freedom from all Sin in this Life is according to this Quaker to make Christ only a part of a Redeemer and to establish a middle way betwixt Earth and Heaven in which to be made free from Sin Answ Our Saviour Jesus Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem us from ALL Iniquity and Purifie unto himself a peculiar People Zealous of good Works Tit. 2.14 By one Offering he hath perfected forever them that are Sanctified Heb. 10.14 This was the End and Aim of Redemption by Jesus Christ who therefore is not only a Redeemer in part but wholly wherefore to deny such freedom from all Sin in this Life is to suppose Christ only a Redeemer in part some middle place to be freed from Sin in after Death Pr. Ibid. To assert this great Truth that there is no perfect freedom from Sin to be attained to in this Life is as the Quaker doth basely speak a great Delusion of the Devil Answ 'T is a great delusion of the Devil to assert that there is no perfect freedom from all Sin to be attained in this Life and contrary to Scripture-Testimonies before cited Pr. p. 102. That if they lay hold on him by Faith their Sins shall not be imputed to them though they Sin daily that the Righteous man sins seven times a day Answ Here he hath accused true Believers and the Righteous man without exception both with sinning daily and sinning seven times a day such a Champion is this Priest for Satans Kingdom against the Righteous for which he has no rule in Scripture that we know that saith The Righteous man sins seven times a day but that a Just man falls seven times and rises up again Prov. 24.16 Here 's neither sinning nor day mention'd he may fall so often into Trouble Affliction and Suffering Psal 56.1 and not into Sin and rise up again out of his Troubles The Lord knows the dayes of the Upright and their Inheritance shall be forever Psal 37.18 Also in Zachariah's Prophecy of Christ and his Salvation he saith That we being delivered out of the Hands of our Enemies might serve him without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the dayes of our Life Luke 1.74 75. And thy Testimonies are very sure Holiness becometh thine House O Lord forever or to length of days Psal 93.5 Pr. Ibid. That their Sins shall not be imputed to them that believe in Christ though they sin daily Answ Sinning daily is neither consistent with true Faith in Christ nor with the estate of the Righteous and blessed of the Lord to whom Sin shall not be Imputed see Psal 32.1 2. Blessed is he whose Transgression is forgiven whose Sin is covered Blessed is the Man unto whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity and in whose Spirit there is NO GVILE unto which the Apostle refers Rom. 4.6 7 8. Pr. Ibid. That the Righteous man doth sin often in one day that the Holy men of God have sinned that do deny a perfect freedom from all Sin attainable in this Life Answ His Charge against the Righteous man without exception is refuted before as contrary to Scripture and indeed 't is Antichristian Sin pleasing and Impious thus to plead for Sin against the Righteous and 't is a great aggravation of this Impiety to accuse the Holy men of God with denying a perfect freedom from all Sin to be attainable in this Life Come Priest thou that say'st The Scripture is thy only Rule produce us plain Scripture to prove this thy Charge which is general against the Holy men of God where ever they denyed such a freedom from all Sin to be attainable in this Life either bring us Scripture-proof for this or else forever be silent and deceive the People no longer Pr. Ibid. To speak this Quaker's mind without being perfectly cleansed from all Sin no man can witness Christ to be his Redeemer nor that he is come to destroy the Works of the Devil nor can he witness that Christ is come to redeem him Answ The Priest hath here utter'd his own mistake and not the Quaker's mind For every true
Believer in Christ can witness that Christ is come to destroy the Works of the Devil and to redeem him from under his Power before this saving Work of Christ be effected or compleated from the very first appearance of Christ and work of his Grace in the Heart through Faith which he is the Author of there is a real Belief Sense Expectation and Hope that he who has begun a good Work will perfect it in his own due time he that hath begun to Cleanse to Purifie to work out Sin to engage the Soul in a Spiritual Warfare against it will in his own time even in this Life perfect this Work of Cleansing and Redeeming the Creature from all Sin so that he is known to be a Redeemer by that effectual Progress which he makes in his Work in Man in the gradual carrying on of it unto Perfection there is a time of Washing and Cleansing and a time of being Washed and Cleansed from Sin there is a time of Warring and a time of Conquering as also a being made more then Conquerors through him that loved us Pr. pag. 103. It s no marvail that the Qrs. do ignorantly plead for a perfect Freedom from all Sin in this Life for this is their Top-gallant Error which makes them reign like Kings above the World Death Hell and the Devil Answ See here how mad against Perfection this Priest is he likes not to hear of perfect Freedom from all Sin in this Life he calls it The Quakers Top-gallant Error his Clamour against us on this occasion he reiterates over and over and therefore I recite his words that the Reader may see how earnest he is for Satan's Kingdom he has done no less herein than Blasphem'd the Work and Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles which was against all Sin and for a perfect Freedom from it in this Life as being a Top-gallant Error thus he has shewn himself an Industrious Agent for Satan's Kingdom Pr. Ibid. By this Quaking Doctrine of Perfection this Quaker saith that the Children of God and the Children of the Devil are made manifest Behold in this Qrs. account they are manifestly the Children of the Devil who do not hold a perfect Freedom from Sin on Earth Answ That which here he scornfully calls Quaking Doctrine is according to plain Scripture which he has flatly opposed see 1 John 3.9 10. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother Pr. Ibid. Thus this Idoliz'd Perfection of the Qrs. serves to Vnchristian all but themselves Answ Manifest Scorn and Falshood we do not idolize Christ's Work of Perfection nor unchristian any by vindicating of it but seek to bring them to true Christianity that they may know Christ his Image and divine Nature formed and brought forth in them by the Operation of his Spirit and Power Pr. Ibid. In vain doth this Qr. tell us that they who dwell in the Righteousness of Christ sin not for the Scripture records no such Over-holy Inhabitants Answ The Scripture doth record such Holy Inhabitants in Christ as sin not Ye know that He was manifested to take away Our Sins and in him is No Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not 1 John 3.5 6. But this the Priest counts Over-holy that is with him 't is Over-holy to abide in Christ and not to sin whereas Christ said Abide in me and I in you Pr. Ibid. It s true it s the Devil who pleads for Sin and let that man's Mouth be stopt forever that doth so Answ Then Priest to be sure thy Mouth ought to be stopt for much of thy work here is pleading striving and contending for Sin reiterating the same sinful Doctrine of thine against Perfection and Freedom from Sin in this Life over and over frequently and therefore thou art therein the Devil's Mouth and not the Mouth of God nor Christ The Devil pleads for Sin and so dost thou thou and the Devil are manifestly united together against Christ and all his Followers in this matter and therefore stop thy Mouth for shame thou Flattering Sin-pleasing Priest who strengthenest the hands of Evil-doers that they may not forsake their sins like the false Prophets of old promising them Life Justification Peace and Salvation in a sinful state Pr. Ibid. But to affirm the In-being and Dwelling of Sin in the best of men in this World is no siding with the Devil in the same Plea Answ Here the Priest hath accused the best of men in this World with the In-being and Dwelling of Sin and is not this a pleading for Sin and a siding with the Devil against Christ's Manifestation and Work which is to take away Sin to destroy the Work of the Devil and if to Destroy it then not to let it have a Being or Dwelling in any true Believers The best of men are free from consenting to the In-being of sin much more from pleading or contending for it for being made free from Sin and become Servants to God such have their Fruit unto Holiness and the End Everlasting Life Rom. 6.22 Pr. Ibid. Ministers of the Gospel who teach that none can be Perfectly cleansed from all Sin in this Life Answ They that teach that none can be perfectly cleansed from all Sin in this Life preach another Gospel than the holy Apostles preached whose Preaching and Work of the Ministry was to present Believers Perfect in Christ and for the Perfecting of the Saints But such Ministers as teach that none can be cleansed from all Sin in this Life are like or of kin to such as hold a Purgatory or place of Purgation to cleanse in after Death only they fall short of the Papists in this that they 'l allow none no not the best of men on Earth to be perfectly cleansed from all sin in this Life whereas the Papists do grant that their Canonized Saints and Martyrs escape Purgatory and go directly to Heaven when they dye but yet they will imagine a Purgatory for the greatest part of their People to give them ease in their Sins and get Money and Gifts of the Richer sort to mitigate and shorten their pains in Purgatory Thus Satan has divers wayes to sooth up Sinners and to maintain his own Kingdom against Christ his Work and Kingdom Pr. pag. 104. O Quaking Perfection from all Sin in this Life O Brain-sick Whimsy To what Extravigant Assertions to what Devilish Expressions hast thou transported this Poor Deluded Quaker This Quaking Error Answ Thus the Priest Hectors Rants Vapours Vilifies and Reproaches the Quaker for pleading against the Devil's Work which is Sin and for Christ's Work and Service which is Perfection and perfect Freedom But the Priest in his pleading for Sin and therein siding with the Devil Rants it
is with us manifested in the Flesh Answ But this the Priest believes not either of us or any people else for he counts it a high base Doctrine intolerable Blasphemy an abominable Quaking Assertion and all one as to say that they are no less God than himself is Godded with God and Christed with Christ Thus he has exploded such a Doctrine as the Saints partaking of the Divine Nature of Christ as an Abominable Quaking Assertion as his words are more at large aggravated in his 116th page whereby he hath discovered his gross Darkness Blasphemy and Ignorance of the Scripture and Testimony of holy Apostles see 2 Pet 1.3 4. According as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto Life and Godliness through the Knowledge of him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these ye might be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE having escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lust But this partaking of the Divine Nature the Priest counts an Abominable Quaking Assertion Quaking Blasphemy c. see now what an Ignorant Blasphemous Person he hath shewn himself one that neither knoweth the Scriptures nor the Power of God See § 30. Pr. Art 63. We Q. do believe that the true Church is where there is one Lord one Light one Life one Priest over the Houshold of God one Hope one Baptism one God and Father of all § 30. Answ Yes we must believe this whether the Priest will believe it or no and if he will not believe it he will not believe as the Scripture faith There should be One Shepherd and One Sheep fold there is One Body and One Spirit even as ye are called by One Hope of your Calling One Lord One Faith One Baptism all which the true Chutch partaketh of Pr. Art 64. We Q. do believe as G. F. writes that the Priests of England are going mad in preaching for Rewards and Gifts in Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning so that Balaam 's Ass may reprove them all Answ And we have no Cause to believe that the Priests of England are going Wise in Preaching for Rewards and Gifts in Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning such as do not put into their Mouthes But it seems this Priest believes they are Wise Priests that preach for Rewards and take these harsh and severe Courses of Cursing Excommunicating and Imprisoning them that cannot put into their Mouthes But did not Paul confess he was Exceeding Mad when he persecuted For he counts what G. F. has written in this Case one of the Articles of the Qrs. Unsound Faith Pr. Art 75. We Q. do believe that there is a Way to go through Moses and through the Prophets and through John to come to Christ that when a man hath gone this strange Way then he may see that the Light is but one Answ This is a Strange Way to our Adversary the Priest and to all that are alive without the Law but 't was not a Strange Way to the Apostle Paul nor to any true Christian who have traversed those steps of Judgments and through Death and Condemnation under the spiritual Administration of the Law under which the Offenders Mouth is stopt and all the World become guilty before God and the Righteousness of God is witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Rom. 3. And I had not known Sin but by the Law saith Paul Chap. 7.7 And we know that the Law is Spiritual Vers 14. And saith Paul I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.19 20. And therefore he did spiritually pass through the Law And see what Christ saith Matth. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil Again he saith Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you do even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets Matth. 7.12 Luke 6.31 And this is no strange Way to any true Christian Pr. Art 77. We Q. do believe that Jesus Christ remains in Heaven that the same that did descend did ascend Answ This is also rank't in among his Articles of the Quakers Unsound Faith which plainly reflects upon the Apostle Paul's Testimony Ephes 4.10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things Pr. Art 79. We Q. do believe that Christ lives in that Body which is the Church Answ And must this needs be an Unsound Faith too Does not Christ live in his Church To deny this how contrary is it to Christ's and his Apostles Testimonies see John 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one And did not he walk in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks which were the seven Churches of Asia Rev. 1.13 20. And his being in the Heavens and living in his Church are not inconsistent Hebr. 8.1 2. We have an High Priest who is set on the Right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man And where was this Sanctuary and true Tabernacle but in his Church where he lives and ministers to the Edification of all those in whose Hearts Christ dwells by Faith Pr. Art 97. We Q. do believe that all the Teachers of England who are not sent who have no Commission from God who go forth only in the Will of Man that they are no Ministers of Christ that their Doctrine is not from Heaven but men below they teach for Doctrine the Traditions of Men. Answ And how should we believe otherwise of them who have no Commission from God but go forth in the Will of Man how should we believe that they are Ministers of Christ or that they receive their Doctrine or Commission from Heaven * §. 15. If our Adversary will still believe that such unsent Teachers as have no Divine Commission from Heaven are Christ's Ministers he may believe so long enough before the QVAKERS will be of his Faith There are several more things in his Ninety Eight Articles wherein his Ignorance as well as his Falshood appears But I think I have given Instances sufficient to evince both to any impartial and unbyassed Readers as also to Vindicate Truth from his Malicious Perverse and Knavish Attempts for which I leave him to the Just God to Reckon with Judge and Reward him according to his Works