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A42711 Election and reprobation scripturally and experimentally witnessed unto &c. wherein the love of God in Christ is freely and clearly held forth to all mankind ... / by ... William Gibson. Gibson, William, 1629-1684. 1678 (1678) Wing G681; ESTC R30407 94,220 120

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and justifie themselves in their Ranterism and Debauched Wicked Conversations the State also of the latter is greatly to be Lamented and it is the earnest desire of my Soul with many more that those might come to Unfeigned Repentance for this their great EVIL that so they might come to a true and godly use Esteem of the holy Scriptures and so to have profit by them and comfort in them as the true Believers had in Primitive Times and such now have Glory to the Lord God for the same it is the Spirit or Light of Truth which leads the true Believers into all Truth and convinceth the World of sin that giveth a right Understanding and leadeth to a right use of the Scrip●●●es this Spirit was mans Guide before the Scriptures were written by it men were made holy before they gave forth the holy Scriptures this is the Key which openeth them and leadeth to a right use and application of them but they whose Minds are gone ASTRAY from this Spirit who have not do not LEARN of it those do WREST the Scriptures to their own Destruction as some did in the Apostle Peter's Dayes against whom he testified Christ told some amongst the earthy Wise Jews Ye neither know the Scriptures nor the Power of God yet those were great Talkers of them and even as they knew them not not owning the Key that openeth them so many in our day knoweth them NOT because they believe not in the Spirit of Truth which ONLY openeth them Concerning Good Example CHrist suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps who did not Sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth 1 Pet. ● 21 22. Here the holy Apostle shews that it is the Duty and Practice of all true Christians to follow the Example and the holy clean Steps of the holy man Christ Jesus who did not Sin But those who do continue in Sin and plead for a continuance in the same all their dayes upon Earth who Sin as they say in their most Holy Duties these are very far from the holy Faith and holy Conversation of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ and all true Christians and very far from following his pure Examples and his holy clean Steps The Apostle John saith concerning Christ Hereby do we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar But whoso keepeth his Word in him verily is the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked 1 John 2. 3 4 5 6. Reader see how these holy men of God agree in their Testimony in this weighty matter these holy men did abide in Christ and Christ in them they by virtue of his divine spiritual dwelling in them were strengthned and enabled in their Lives and Conversations to follow that holy Example which he gave them in the dayes of his Flesh who went about doing Good who never did Evil and though they had sinned he redeemed them from it and from the Devil the Author or Original of it And so many came to behold their good Conversation in Christ COUPLED WITH FEAR as the Apostle exhorteth 1 Pet. 3. 2. John saith We know that whosoever is Born of God sinneth NOT And we know that we are of God and the whole World lieth IN WICKEDNESS And we know that the Son of God is come and hath give us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and Life eternal Little Children keep your selves from Idols Amen 1 John 5. 18 19 20 21. Here the Apostle shews plainly who are true Christians and who are not the true Christians are in Christ who hath redeemed them out of the bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Sons and Daughters of God and such have the Spirit of Christ bearing witness with or unto their Spirits that they are the Children of God according to the promise of God Rom. 8. 16 21. And they are NOT TRUE Christians who Lye or continue all their dayes in Sin and Wickedness these are the World as John saith Certain it is those who go on in Sin who plead a necessity to continue in it all their days they live or abide upon Earth these are NOT the Bride the Lambs Wife the true Church whom HE presents to the Father a glorious Church WITHOUT spot or wrinkle or any such thing Holy and without Blemish as in Ephes 5. 27. But those pleaders for and continuers in Sin all their dayes these are the Harlot these are the World that lieth in Wickedness whom the cursed One is the God of who hath BLINDED THEIR MINDS these are in the broad way that leads to Destruction IN VAIN DO these call Jesus Lord who do not believe his Commands who are not governed by him who do not that which he saith he said Learn of me I AM MEEK AND LOWLY and ye shall find rest to your Souls A Remnant hath learned of him in this Age and hath found his Promise true Glory to the Lord God for the same they have found Rest and Peace to their Souls in him THEIR PRINCE of PEACE though they have Trouble Oppression in the World for his SAKE yet these can truly say as the holy Apostles said of the faithful followers of Christ of Old GREATER IS HE that is in you then he that is in them to wit the World by whom we overcome them they are of the World therefore speak they of the World the World heareth them We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth NOT US hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and Spirit of Error 1 John 4. 4 5 6. The Apostle Paul said unto the the Philippians Brethren be followers together of me and mark them who walk so as ye have VS for an ENSAMPLE for many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even WEEPING that they are Enemies of the Cross of Christ Phil. 3. 17 18. to the end of the Chapter The same Apostle said to the Corinthians Be ye followers of ME even as I also am of Christ 1 Cor 11. 1. The Apostle Peter writ unto the Elders of the Church of Christ saying Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof NOT by constraint but willingly NOT for filthy Lucre but of a ready mind NEITHER as being LORDS over Gods Heritage but as ENSAMPLES TO THE FLOCK 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3. Reader there are several things worthy of thy serious and weighty Consideration in these words of the holy Apostle Peter the first is that the Elders of the Church of God and Christ did and do as Instruments in ●od's Hand Ministring that is Serving
concerning Christs putting an End to the Work of the Law we do NOT believe that Christ has put an end to the Command of God who said Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and thy Neighbour as thy self Thou shalt do no Murther Thou shalt not Steal nor Covet any thing that is thy Neighbours Thou shalt not bear False Witness nor remove the Antient Land-mark c. But we believe that Christ fulfills these Commands in all them that through Faith and Obedience grow up in him who is the true Vine by leading them to do those before-mentioned things which God Commands so the true Christians cease from the Shadows and in Christ by his Vertue and Power do Love God with all their Hearts and their Neighbour as themselves on which Commands as Christ saith hang all the Law and the Prophets Mat. 22. 40. Concerning Perfection IN page 24. J. B. saith speaking to the People called Quakers You hold that Perfection in degree is attainable in this Life Answ We do own the command of God who said unto Abraham I am God all-sufficient walk thou before me and be thou Perfect We say God was sufficient to enable him to keep his command and we believe he did so And we do believe the Command of Christ who said Be ye therefore perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect And we do believe it is possible to keep this command of Christ by and through the Virtuous spiritual Presence of Christ in and with the believing DILIGENT SOUL And we do believe that the Gifts which were and are given for the PERFECTING of the Saints did and do accomplish that for which they were and are GIVEN The Apostle said We Labour that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus And we do believe that many were perfected in Christ Jesus though some Crucified Christ unto themselves afresh and put him to open shame as the Apostle saith We do believe the holy Apostle who said 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 Now as to J. B's Charge That we hold forth and own that Perfection in degree is attainable in this Life I Answer The Word Degree concerning Perfection is neither our Word nor did I ever read it in the Scriptures of Truth as used by him concerning Perfection But this word Degree he hath thrust into his Charge against us thinking no doubt thereby to make it the more strong but all his labour is in vain He doth not declare what he meaneth by the word DEGREE but if by Degree he mean a freedom from acting or committing Sin such a Perfection we do believe is attainable in this Life by and through the mighty working of God and Christ in men and women and this is according to the command of God Christ the Doctrine and Experience of the holy Apostles But if by the word Degree J. B. mean a Perfection of Glory in the HIGHEST attainment of Glory that can EVER be enjoyed then we DEEM that such a Perfection is attainable in this Life or while we dwell here upon Earth For WE are of the same Faith the holy Apostle was of who when he was near to depart out of this World said I have fought a good fight I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the Righteous Judge shall give unto me at that day and not to me only but to all those that love his appearance J. B. hath taken upon him to interpret the Apostle John's words who saith Whosoever is Born of God doth not commit Sin he cannot Sin c. J. B. saith The meaning of these Words can be but this Whosoever is Born of God doth not make it his practice to Sin Answ What Confusion Falsness and Nonsence is this to say that he who commits Sin doth not practise Sin this is horrible abuse and wresting the holy Scriptures which God will bring him to Judgment for and if he do not Repent and cease from such Ungodly silly work as this he will bring Destruction upon himself As I do understand this J. B. is one of that sort of men who do in their Confessions tell the Lord God that they do Sin in their most holy Duties Now if their most holy Duties have Sin in them then there is Sin in all those other things which they call Duties and consequently in their Actions which they do not account Holy Duties and so they make it their Practice to Sin and so according to his own Argument Such who make it their Practice to Sin are not born of God But to speak his mind more fully I do apprehend his meaning is that the Children of God do not commit so much Sin as the Children of the Devil do Answ When the Apostle saith He that is Born of God doth not commit Sin he also saith He that commits Sin is of the Devil In the next verse he saith In this is the Children of God manifest and the Children of the Devil c. 1 John 3. 10. J. B. I ask thee dost not thou believe that God is GREATER then the Devil why then must Sin needs be in those who are Born of God as thou wouldst have it Oh that thou saw thy Blasphemy herein it would surely make thee ashamed and bring Sorrow upon thee But if in thy judgment those whom God BEGETS who are BORN of him must commit Sin and live in it all their dayes and Sin in their most Holy Duties I ask what DIFFERENCE dost thou put between God's Children and the Devil's Children whom he begets and who are Born of him for the Devil hath a Generation of whom he is the Father as Christ said see John 8. 44. For we believe that he that is Born of God is REGENERATED that is washed and cleansed through the virtue of the holy Spirit of Christ which is shed abroad abundantly in the Hearts Souls of the true Believers by virtue of this growing up in it as the Branches in the living Vine are they redeemed out of the ACT of Sin and have dominion given them in and by Christ over IT and the Devil who is the Author of it and such can say as the Apostle said Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the World to wit the Wicked BY WHOM we overcome them and such can say as the Apostle said Of my self I can do nothing but I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me and such can say as the Apostle said We are CONQUERORS and more than Conquerors through him that hath loved us and such do know Satan BRUISED under their Feet BY CHRIST the blessed Seed whom God promised should bruise his HEAD and the Apostle told the Believers in Christ That God whom they waited for should suddainly come and