but took it in writing as matter of accusation against me shewing what Generation you are of such as ever sought accusation against the Son of God where hee is manifest to salvation but who are ignorant of his salvation could never bear the confession of his name And when I confessed the flesh of Christ your carnal reason stormed at it like the blind Jews saying How could I have his flesh in me which one of you after confessed too when he saw the letter declared of it so that further than your carnal reason can read in the lâ—tter You will not beleeve what a Generation would you have been had you lived in the times of the Apostles who preached down Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices without such things as the letter said should continue for ever yet they preached them down without and confirmed them within in spirit which is the ground and bottom of all and in which all must end And that the word which became flesh which is ascended they knew to be the Bread of life which they broke and fed on who was their Rule and Mediator But the ground of your Faith is seen and what testimony you bear who say The Scripture is the absolute rule and medium of Faith as thou Thomas Moore didst before the people And when I asked thee if God could not give Faith without it then thou wast forced to deny what thou hadst said But such Doctrine as this thou makest people beleeve who are ignorant and not able to try thy spirit Oh shame with thy preaching If the Scripture be the absolute Rule and medium then Christ is not the absolute Rule unless thou say the Scripture is Christ And thus thou not knowing Christ to rule thee thou settest the letter in his stead for the Rule of Faith But of Abrahams Faith thou are not nor knows it who had an absolute Rule before the Scripture was But this Doctrine excludes all from faith who have not the letter so thou that art a Minister of the Letter preachest another Rule and Faith than ever any of Christs Ministers preached who preached the Word and Faith in the heart of them to whom they preached and Christ in them who is the absolute Rule and ground of Faith and the Law written in their hearts and the Spirit of Truth their rule and guide into all truth and the light in their hearts which gave them the knowledge of God and his glory which never was known by the letter without and Christ saith the Kingdom of God is within you which the Pharisees durst not deny Rom. 10. 8. Hebr. 8. 10 11. Joh. 16. 13. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Luk. 17. 20 21. But thou art more brazened against the truth and wouldest exclude God out of his Kingdom and perswade all thou canst not to look for him within but without lo here lo there But Christ saith Go not forth to such Teachers and thou art found to be one of those he forewarned of and in that work he foretold of which is against him and with the same spirit thou art seen to be an enemy to his Appearance who is the eternal life of his people which is not without the knowledge of God in his Temple for death reigns in the creature where God is not present and this word of Reconciliation thou withstands and all that are led by thee will have cause to curse thee when it is too late and time is spent to no purpose and the day of visitation passed over And from the immediate call which I witness wherewith I am called I do testifie against thy false Doctrine who denies That any have been immediately called since Christ ascended onely those who saw him bodily upon earth and when I instanced Paul thou saidst he saw Christ personally with his bodily eyes when he was called And when I said then must he be come personally again since he ascended then thou saidst Paul was in Heaven and saw him there with bodily eyes when the Scripture saith he was fallen to the earth and saw no man with his bodily eyes being blind three days and such confused stuff thou utteredst forth to uphold thy lyes wherewith thou keepest blind people in Babylon but with the light thou art comprehended thy ground root off-spring and end praised be our Redeemer for ever and in thy paper thou tellest of his seeing Christ after the same manner the other Apostles did Then must it either be bodily upon earth or the other went bodily into Heaven to be called both which are yet unproved by plain Scripture And thy implying is no ground for me to beleeve that which I know is alye and here thou art found preaching another Gospel which no plain Scripture will warrant and all that know God in them sees thee acoursed and thy Antichristian Doctrine who denys the Father and the Son and fellowship with them who hath spoken to his people in all ages and does at this day where the â—ar is circumcised but the serpents seed could never hear him whose ears are open to that wisdom yet canst thou not be content to speak thy own condition but in thy busie mind wouldst exclude others and this is thy work to shut up the Kingdom and deceive the Nations that are without but we are entered and the Elect is witnessed which cannot be deceived and we know him that is in us and we in him onely they who will not own the light such are made to be deceived and over such onely hast thou dominion for a season But thy time is coming to an end that makes thy rage great And thou are forced to utter what testimony thou bearest such as none of Christs ever preached That God is not known in his people Is this thy word of Reconciliation and to what must they be reconciled if not to God And how must they all be taught of God if they must never hear his voyce more but thy Ministry begets not such children nor such sheep thou knows not but opposes who have seen him and heard him such thou callest false witnesses so thou appearest to be a witness to that which thou hast never seen and many such witnesses there are in the Nation who preach up separation instead of reconciliation which pains might be spared amongst them you preach to all having that by nature but that the Devil fears his Kingdom which is onely upholden by ignorance of God in his people whose eyes are blinded but whose eyes are open and have seen him bear witness of him and what we have seen and heard we declare against all false witnesses who have nought but by hear-say from others who have eyes and see not ears and hear not a heart that doth not understand who knows not the spiritual man his eyes and ears and so judge of God to be like themselves as thy companion did say That God had neither eye nor ear nor heart and thus with your carnal imaginations you will judge of
the Gospel immediately from that person was that I said though indeed not on such occasion as thou mentionest in they letter but in Answer to thy witness That thou hadst seen Christ as Paul had And also by way of demonstration That Timothy and so all secondary Ministers in the Gospel since had not their demonstration of the person of the Lord nor their furniture in the Gospel in the same manner that those first and great Apostles had who were also the Apostles last in that respect of which Paul was one though born out of due time and the last so immediately called and furnished On this occasion I say was that assertion forementioned And that also that appearance or immediate Demonstration of the person of Christ was such as his bodily eyes were strengthened some little time to behold or see that also at least I supposed and gave my reasons for But that I positively affirmed so much I remember not I suppose you will find in my Answer to your Charges that on the mention of that Charge I neither own nor disown it as charged on me but being then in haste onely desired you again to consider what was propounded as to that This I mention not as doubting whether he did or no though to dispute such a thing with men that have no faith in that person I think is in vain because such men are also unreasonable or absurd 2 Thes 3. 2. They will not regard understand or be swayed by the plain import and force of the words of the Holy Ghost they would as lightly cast off the words themselves and reject all use of them or allusion to them if they did not fear its being disadvantagious to their design among a people where the Scriptures are generally esteemed But to that which I said about this whether laid down by way of position or supposition it matters not this was plain enough to be understood in both my saying and writing That he was on earth when he enjoyed that immediate demonstration was so strengthened to behold that person that glorified body in the Heavens that Just or Holy One Act. 22. 14 with chap. 2. 27-30 31. and to hear the words of his mouth I say that he was on earth then is plain in what I said about it for I brought that Act. 9 3 7 8. as implying that he was strengthened to behold that glorified body in the Heavens even in that light shining round about him above the brightness of the Sun which sight occasioned his falling to the earth And it is clear that then he appeared to him in the way vers 17. And that he had then and probably after such a sight of the Just one as was as to the manner of his seeing equivalent with the manner of hearing vouchsafed him of the words of his mouth see Act. 22. 14. which whether it was not with bodily ears also let the Text be considered Act 9. 7. which saith The men that were with him heard a voyce also they heard a sound of a voyce though the voyce or the distinct words of that sound they understandably heard not Act. 22 9. that discovers what manner of bearing was vouchsafed but saith the Text seeing no man as it even thereby appears Paul dâ—d even that mâ—n Christ Jesus from whom the voyce came before his falling at least And that which makes it more clear is that he saith 1 Cor. 15. 8. Last of all he was seen of me as of oâ—e born out of due time And it is evident he was not the last to whom he was spiritually demonstrated nor born out of due time for that yea to prove himself an Apostle as well as the rest 1 Cor. 9. 1. even one of those immediate Messengers and Ambassadors of the Lord for obedience to the faith among all Nations for his name as Rom. 1. 5. though last of all called and furnished he saith Have I not seen the Lord which must needs bee in another manner of demonstration than onely spiritual for so all beleevers have seen him as Gal. 3. 1 2. in or through the hearing of saith yet all are not Apostles 1 Cor. 12. 29. yea his sight was in such manner of demonstration as other beleevers since have not seen as in my first Answer and might be more fully shewed but I forbear onely this I have mentioned partly to discover the falseness of thy charge in this Letter And that it may appear as in all said it dâ—th That I do and did in all said about it apprehend and fully signifie my appreheâ—sions to be such that Paul was on earth when he had that demonstration of the person of Christ in the Heavens And are you so sensual that you cannot beleeve that God may manifest his Son even in his person visibly to men on earth while yet the same person so demonstrated remains in Heaven Is not he able to give supernatural demonstration of objects and strengâ—h to behold them too And what more is this we have said of Paul as to sight of the person than was vouchsafed to Stephen the first Martyr we read of after Christs A scension with what eyes did he look up sted fastly unto Heaven and was it not with the same that he saw the glory of God and Jesus even the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God See Act 17. 55 56. But why art thou not ashamed to mention my words by peece meaâ— leaving out such a material clause and yet calling it my saying As when thou chargest me with saying That Paul saw Christ after the same manner that the other Apostles did I did indeed in the paper query whether that last of all of me c. 1 Cor. 15. 8. as added to the former Verses do not signifie that he appeared or was demonstrated to him in the same mannen that he had been to the other after his Resurrection and before this But thou well knowest its backed with this caution which is so placed that it cannot go for my saying without it But thou leavest it out knowing it would spoil thy intention and clear me of thy slander as likewise all fore-written about it in that paper will do The Caution is this I stretch not my words in the same manner further than to a personal Appearance or visible Demonstration of his person which surely he might injoy as well as Stephen though he on Earth and the Lord in Heaven But thou wilt not beleeve any thing thou sayest that thou knowest to be a lye however fully implied though in Scripture for there was no other implications mentioned I suppose thou wilt not say whatever thou think that the Scriptures do by any fair and clear implication signifie a lye But to wave that How dost thou know that this is a lie That Paul enjoyed such a visible demonstration of the person of Christ as before for thou speakest to that as well as to the other branch which I
doctrine which we have learned in the word of the truth of the Gospel compare Rom. 16 17. with Col. 1. 5. and 1 Cor. 15. 1 4. and to avoid them for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly their lust will or spirit or the light in them which is darkness what ever it be if it spring not from the person of Christ as declared in the Gospel who is even so the true light they magnifie not Jesus but themselves in the internal or external operations of their own spirits And by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple under pretence and shew of godliness they deny the power and root of godliness are the enemies to the Cross of Christ his personal sufferings and the only vertuousness of them for the taking away our sin and the love and glory of God as appearing in that face of him This they seek to undermine and sleight under pretence of magaifying Christ in them glorying therein in that which is their shame their internal proof of the mystery of iniquity with power and signs and with all dâ—ceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish from the faith for in them only it hath efficacie Phil. 3. 17 18. 2 Thess 2. 9 10 11. from such I say we are streightly admonished of the Lord To turn away 2 Tim. 3. 5. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha 1 Cor. 16. 22. If any pretend to acknowledge Christ and yet lift not up praise not magnifie not above all and unto and for all things pertaining to life and godliness the Son of man Jesus Christ as now already come in the flesh and through sufferings entred into glory for us as the only ground and foundation of our faith and matter of our rejoycing and song to others and fountain of our teaching that is that spirit of Antichrist not to be followed it s indeed not only against Christ but his most pernicious enemy being a contrary Anointing from which we are to flye at least as soon as we perceive it in any as Prov. 14. 7. Go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge which I oft after hearing some of their Discourse declared and as I could get liberty thus demonstrated I perceived not to be in them but the lip of a contrary Anointing and yet they are tempting me to follow after them a company and go with them night and day though they know such are my apprehensions concerning them Now whether it be right in the sight of God that I shal obey God or them in thâ—â— let others judge yea I wil in the strength of Gods grace observe the directions of the great Shepherd when any shall say Lo here or lo there is Christ either in this form of Church or State-government or in this order or as these in the secret chambers in some internal operations as found and accomplished in them in such manner as we cannot discern it unless wee lay aside all that knowledge of God in Christ we have received through and according to his word as fleshly â—o go after them appearing the second time without sin unto salvation and accomplishing that rest and hope of glory and perfection now in and upon them which we through the Spirit wait for to be revealed in the Resurrection of the dead when we shall all be gathered together to it which and more to that purpose was Naylors and Farnsworths witness concerning themselves we are I say expresly admonâ—shed then not to go after such and that for this reason in which we are fortified against their juggling That the coming of the Son of man that day of his second appearing in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels should certainly be as the lightning from the one end of the heaven to the other at once accomplished to them altogether and visible to every eye even to those that shall weep and wail because of it Matth. 24. 26 27. Luke 17. 22 23 24. Rev. 1. 7. Therefore if a Prophet or Dreamer of dreams should tell us of a sign or a wonder and that also should come to pass as we know Antichrist shall come with signs and wonders in the latter dayes to move us to turn aside from following the Lord or to inquire after another God or to take us off from our waiting for his Son from heaven whom he hath raised from the dead we will not hearken to them nor go in company with such wicked men as Deut. 13. 1 2 3. and 28. 14. Psal 1. 1 2 3. 2 They require me to eat no food c. Whereas our Saviour bids his Disciples even those great Apostles who were to give forth the last and fullest Revelation of the Gospel for obedience to the faith among all Nations which was in that first publication of it to be confirmed with Miracles by them also even then when he gives them power in his Name to heal the sick c. yet then he bids them twice together eat and drink such things as they give and set before them among whom they went preaching Luke 10. 7 8. And the Apostle Paul tells Timothy They are Doctrines of Devils that command to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received and that with thanksgiving of them that beleeve and know the truth c. 1 Tim. 4. 3. I shall therefore answer them as our Saviour doth the Devil in a like case It is written thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God 3 They require me to lay aside all books c. the holy Scriptures not excepted Whereas the Holy Ghost tells us he hath therefore written to us excellent things that so our trust may be in the Lord and we may have those words as written and left in record for and to us to answer all that are sent to us Prov. 22. 17. 21. and commends to us the example of a better Preacher than any of them in this That he sought out acceptable safe profitable and plain words for the people and in his search found That which was written was upright words of truth Eccles 12. 10 11. and renders it as part of the character of a godly man he exerciseth himself in the Law or doctrine of the Lord both day and night Psal 1. 2. yea the same holy Spirit commands Timothy to give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine to meditate on and give himself wholly to these things and in so doing study to shew himself approved a workman that needs not be ashamed 1 Tim. 4. and 2. 15. But these spirits lay their commands upon us not so much as to look on them in the Records left us in Books neither night nor day A notable peece of policy For if they can but keep us from going to the Law and to the Testimony with their internal light or power they
is ascended into the heavens after the like unto which consideration David is not ascended but dead and buried And after what consideration is that otherwise than in that body in the humane nature which is now received up into glory even therein and so God hath actually fully and gloriously made that same Jesus whom they crucified both Lord and Christ See Act. 2. 22-36 and 5. 30 31. And the Heavens must receive him till the restitution of all things Act. 3. 21. In the heavens being opened Stephen saw the Son of man standing on the right hand of God signifying his readiness and power to help and stand by his suffering Saints even the same that descended into the lower parts of the earth is ascended up far above all heavens Within the reach of our sight or comprehension of our mind as here below without some supernatural demonstration and strenthning to behold when t is affirmed Stephen saw the heavens opened and the Son of man standing c. Eph. 4. 8-10 Heb. 4. 14. If any shall here think to amuse us with such Questions As are we sure what is meant or signified by the word Heaven when used in this case that is what is meant by that heaven or those heavens into which our Forerunner in our nature is entred and in which he is received untill the restitution of all things whether is meant thereby a place on high in which that one personal body resideth or some state of glory dignity or spirituality into which Christ might pass or ascend For Answer to this We say first let it be remembred That it is distinctly proved That it is Christ after the same consideration of him in which he was laid in the Sepulchre I mean in that body in our nature which they slew the same though not in the same quality but raised a spiritual and glorious body that is ascended and not as this foolish question would in the issue of it lead us to conceive Christ passing out of flesh into spirit or out of that body into an imagination as we may truly call it in the bodies and souls of others This being remembred which also will again appear in our Answer we answer thus That by heaven may sometime bee meant some state or condition of happiness or glory as well as a place we shall not oppose but the Question here being only what is meant or signified by Heaven or the Heavens when Jesus Christ his ascending into them and being there received is spoken of to that we answer Most frequently when so spoken of it signifies directly and only speaks expresly of the place into which hee is gone in that body and where he is received untill the restitution of all things and not of the state of dignity or glory which he there possesseth that is usually signified by another phrase joyned with his ascension into Heaven namely his sitting down on the right hand of God on the right hand of power and of the Throne of Majesty in the Heavens observe That word in the Heavens signifies the place in which he is so dignified The word when so used alwayes especially means it and frequently speaks only expresly of the place c. And what that is we thus far farther answer in which farther Answer we shall more fully demonstrate the truth of what is said 1 The Heavens or that place of glory or heavenly places on high where the most glorious being dwelling and presence of the Essence and Majesty of God is who though in râ—spect of his inspections influences and operations he be every where and in his gracious spiritual presence and manifested nighness in and through his Son dwelling in Son even in the hearts and societies of his people yet in respect of the most glorious presencâ— and dwelling of the Essence of his Majesty he dwelleth in the light into which no man no meer man as from Adam can approach whom no man hath seen at any time nor can see 1 Tim. 6. 16. Joh. 1. 18. The Lords Throne is in Heaven Psal 11. 4. In heaven as opposed to the earth where we are so heaven is exprâ—sly said to be the place of his habitation from whence he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth Psal 33. 13 14. God is in heaven and thou on the earth saith the Preacher Eccles 5. 2. therefore let thy words be few in prayers or speaking to God as considering his Greatness and Majesty so infinitly above thee and his perfect discerning of thy thought afar off which is therein signified for from heaven where is the Throne of his Majesty he perfectly beholdeth all the sons of men His eyes behold his eye-lids try the children of men yea the greatness of his glory is signified in its being so far above us and unapproachable by us O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth Thou hast set thy glory above the heavens Whence also our Saviour directs us That in all prayers this be commemorated in our acknowledgement of the Father That he is in heaven likewise examples and instructions are frequent in Scripture to the use of that gesture of lifting up the eyes to heaven in our prayers prayses c. With the Father in the heavens even in that light into which no meer man can approach is that Son of man that is the only begotten Son of God appearing in his most glorious presence in the heavens themselves 1 Joh. 2. 1. Heb. 9. 24. set on the Throne of his Majesty in the heavens not on the earth Heb. 8. 1. 4. with Chap. 7. 26. 2 The heavens as opposed to the earth to that earth where the Disciples were and where while they remained he was parted from them in his being carryed up into heaven and where while they did or we do remain we are personally absent from that person and have not him personally with us as he is in heaven in the time of this our mortality See the Scriptures forecited with that 2 Cor. 5. and Matth. 26. 11. Mark 14. 7. Joh. 12. 8. The highest heavens as opposed to the lower parts of the earth where he was buried Eph. 4. 8-10 The heavens are opposed to the earth where the former high Priests served Heb. 8. 4. 3 The heavens from which at his second appearing he shall descend or come down We look for the Saviour from heaven Phil. 3. 10. Wait for his Son from heaven 1 Thess 1. 10. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven 1 Thess 4. 16. where by heaven cannot be meant his state of dignity and glory but his place only in which he is now received for us and possesseth that glory for in respect of his state of dignity and glory as he is personally glorified in and with it he shall never descend or come lower but keep his station even then when he shall be seen coming in the clouds of heaven yet still sitting on the Right hand of God
within you in the midst of you or among you its clear by what follows That this first part of his Answer speaks of the first appearance of that Kingdom in that person the Messiah the King the Lord and Saviour whose first appearance was not with outward glory and pomp of this world as they looked for but in weakness and abasement and this was he that was now personally among them and approved by God among them by miracles and signs which God wrought by him in the midst of them as they themselves did also know for he was annointed with the holy Ghost and with power by which his word and works were spiritually demonstrated in them or to their hearts Act. 2. 22. 10. 38. and so the word of the Kingdom nigh them in their hearts as Rom. 10 And so while this person was with and amongst them in his personal ministration The Kingdom was also in them in the spiritual discoveryes of it working for acceptance with them for as long as hee was in the world he was the light of the World in his personal ministration and these persons had seen and hated him and his Father Joh. 9. 5. and 15. 24. in this sense The Kingdom of Heaven was so among them as in former ages it had not been among any for the Law and the Prophets were untill John and from that time the Kingdom of Heaven was preached Luk. 16. 16. And yet stil the person and the works of and in that person in and through which the Kingdom was brought nigh them and in the midst of them was distinct from them But thus demonstrated in this first appearance and in the works by him then accomplished among them Now observe what follows And he said unto the Disciples the days will come when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man and shall not see it It seems this was one of the daies of the Son of man which they did see in which the Kingdom of God was among them And that this which they did see was the first of them namely the first day of Christs appearing personally on earth and in the nature of man appears in that he saith Luk. 10. 24. Matth. 13. 17. That many Prophets Kings and righteous men had desired to see those things they did see in this appearance of the Son of Man and had not seen them None of the Fathers before saw his day not the first of them as actually revealed and accomplished in their time and among them as these Disciples and spectators did Though they did see his day by faith and so the things to be done by him in his first and second Appearance yet it was so as afar off in respect of the actual revelation and accomplishment of them and as things to come compare Joh. 8. 56. with Heb. 11. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 10. 11 12. Therefore that day of the Son of Man which now they did see in which the Kingdom of Heaven was brought among them and therein made nigh them in their hearts by spiritual demonstration as before that was the first day of the Son of man not the second as the abuse of it to the fore-mentioned purpose would perswade us Neither did his own Disciples yet desire to see another day of the Son of Man certainly knowing that this was the Messiah and ignorantly hoping that he would presently at this time of his appearing restore the Kingdom to Israel Luk. 24. 21. Act. 1. 6. But our Savior here instructs them and that by way of further answer to the Pharisees question When the Kingdom of God should come That that day of the Son of man in which he should appear in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels in which Gods Kingdom should come to be revealed in the glorious state of it was not yet accomplished amongst or unto any no not to those his own Disciples yea that should be another day of the Son of man distinct from this a second appearing which also was to be waited for by them during the time of this mortality they should desire to see it and should not see it And herewith our Savior also admonisheth them That when any should say to them with respect to this second Day of the Son of Man and the blessed hope and glorious Kingdom then to be revealed See here or see there it is accomplished or fulfilled in this or that secret and mystical way and in or to this person or that though you yet discern it not that they should not go after or follow such and that for this reason For as the lightning that commeth out of the one part under Heaven shineth unto the other part under Heaven so shall the Son of man be in his day Whence also he compares it to the days of Noah and of Lot for the suddenness of it and its universality to all at once even to all the surviving Enemies such as shall weep and wail because of it and not onely the surviving friends but all those that sleep in Jesus that have part in the first Resurrection though the rest of the dead shall not live again so immediately or presently on his appearing nor till some time after yet these the children of the first Resurrection shall together be raised and changed into the likeness of his glorious body To signifie which further unto them our Savior at the latter end of this Chapter in Answer to their Question Where this should be saith Wheresoever the carkass is thither will the Eagles be gathered together That so they may be quiet as those that have no need to be too solicitous or inquisitive to know where or when any further than is plainly revealed because it shall be as the lightning c. as before let them now follow him in the regeneration and they shall be all gathered together in and unto that glorious day of the Son of man when it comes And indeed their onely privilege and benefit by that second day of the Son of man that by his grace appearing through his first day are begotten to faith and hope in him and so moved to wait for him is signified by our Saviours turning his speech in this second part of his Answer to the Pharisees Question from the Pharisees and directing it to his Disciples They onely may look and long for that day with desire and joy His first Personal Appearance was not nor is his ministerial and spiritual comings forth to men to judge but to save the world and that through him the world might be saved But his second Personal Appearance shall be to judge and render to every man according to his work according to the Rule of the Gospel that shall be onely to the salvation of them that through his grace are here begotten to hope in him and look for him the rest shall be ashamed and confounded for ever Those that have rejected his grace
mentioned I wholly waved for these Reasons 1 There is nothing in them requiring Answer but the substance of it is in those last mentioned 2 They are stuffed with self-commendations and raylings and reproaches of others as before and the grace of God that hath appeared by Jesus Christ teacheth us not to walk with them in that way not so to answer a fool according to his folly as therein to become like him in walking in such a way and use of such weapons though so to answer a fool according to his folly as may tend to the making his folly manifest lâ—st he be wise in his own conceit Prov. 26. 4 5. The Apostle durst not make himself of the number of some that commend themselves c. 2 Cor. 10. 12. nor durst Michael the Arch-Angel when comending with the Devil bring against him a rayling accusation but said The Lord rebuke thâ—â— oâ— Satan c. Jude 9. Zacâ— 3. 2. Yea the holy Ghost admonisheth us not to render to any man evil for evil or rayling for railing but contrariwise blessing c 1 Pet. 3. 9. Rom. 12. 17. according to that excellent pattern 1 Pet. 2. 21 22 23. And although Answer might have been given to those papers also and not in their way yet it is hard for us to meddle with such unclean spirits without getting some defilement by them as the being provoked to or learning frowardness or desâ—re of vain glory in meddling with such froward and vain-glorious spirits whence we are admonished not to go with a furious man no not in joyning issue with them in their proud boastings and perverse disputings but to withdraw our selves from them as 1 Tin 6. 3 4 5. lest we learn his ways and get a snare to our soul Prov. 22. 24 25. 3 Another reason of my waving them was The little expectation of profit to such persons in dealing with them Seest thou a man wise in hiâ— own conceit and thence hasty heady perverse self-willed and furious in his words or matters there is more hope of a fool than of him Pro. 26. 12. and 29. 20. 4 The assurance that I have that he that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot Prov. 9. 7. The truth of which I have both before and since proved in having to do with such spirits as these And for these and like Reasons I thought to have waved this also were it not for these following Reasons 1 There is something intimately charged on us in the Inscription namely the denying the alone sufficiency of Gods teaching and many things propounded by way of Query which being rightly answered according to the Scriptures quoted as the ground of the Queries will tend much to the discovery of the ground of their mistakes and to the strengthening the beleever against them 2 Though the Queries as they are propounded may be discerned to be foolish and unlearned such as are to be avoided by beleevers yet such is the pretence of zeal for God and spirituality in the acknowledgement and worship of him in the Querist that the folly and unlearnedness of the Queries and the evil spirit running along in them will not presently be discerned by the weak without some discovery who not discerning the same are more apt to be enâ—angled with them For their sakes therefore I have assayed to propound something after a true relation of the Queries word for word as in the paper that came to my hands by way of Answer or rather discovery of the folly and evil couched in them And also that this may be of use for the recovery of such as are intangled with such spirits if not past hope of recovery as I fear some are as likewise lest they should have occasion any of them by our being wholly silent to glory or be lifted up in the conceit of their own wisdom The Queries of some called Quakers about Cambridge with the Inscription or Dedication and Conclusion of them as they were propounded and sent in writing in the name of Thomas Biddal as follows To Alice Morden and the rest which are not yet given up to Delusion to all who deny the teaching of God to be sufficient to guide to God to all that own it without humane helps or learning or teaching of men â— WHat and where that New Jerusalem is which John saw come down from Heaven wherein there is no night neithâ—r need of light of Sun Moon or Candle for the Lord God and the Lamb is the light thereof and into which in no wise shall enter in any thing that si defiled or worketh abomination or maketh a lye but ihose whose nâ—mes are written in the book of life Rev. 21. 22. 2. What and where that Sion is which Isaiah and Micah spake unto unto which all Nations should flow where the Loâ—d will teach the people of his waies from whence the Law of God and his word shall go forth after which they shall learn war no more but shall say come and let us walk in the light of the Lord Isa 2. Mic. 4. 3. What and where that Covenant is which the Lord hath promised in the latter daies wherein he will write his Law in their heart and put it in their inward parts and they shall no more teach every man his neighbor and every man his brother for all shall know him from the least to the greatest of them Jer. 13. Heb. 8. And whether we may expect to come into the Covenant in these daies 4. Where and what that annointing and unction is by which the Saints know all things and need not that any should teach them but as that annointing teacheth them of all things which is true and is no lye 1 Joh. 2. and whether it be the same in these daies to them that have it 5. What and where that Comforter is which when he is come shall reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgement and shall guide into all truth and shâ—w things to come and shall shew the things of Christ and glorifie him Joh. 16. 6 Whether any of the servants of God may expect and wait to receive his word from his own mouth immediately as all the Messengers of God in all Ages did or whether no other word is now to be heard in Books which God spake to o hers Jer. 23. 7 Whether any man may wait for the fulfilling of that promise in these latter dayes that all thy children shall be taught of the Lord and whether that teaching be sufficient without any humane help or learning to guide in the wayes of God or no Joh. 6. Isa 54. 13. 8 What and where that word is that people should hear behind them saying This is the way walk in it when they turn to the right hand or to the lefâ— And where that Teacher is that shall be removed to more into corners but shall be in the midst of them and
whether we may look for that word in these dayes Isa 30. 9 What that word of faith is by which none needs to say Who shall ascend up to heaven to fetch Christ from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead but that word is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart which the Apostle preached to them that had it in their heart And whether the same word be not now in the hearts of the people though they mind it not Rom. 10. 10 What that voyce of Christ is which his sheep knows and how they come to know it from other voyces and all that hear it will not hear the voyce of strangers and hirelings and theeves and sorcerers but by the same voyce are brought to know Christ and follow him Joh. 10. And whether his sheep may expect and wait for the same voyce now and to know it from all other voyces which are false 11 What that way is in the wilderness which Isaiah spake of Isa 35. 8. which shall be called the way of holiness which the unclean shall not pass over but it shall be for wayfaring men and fools shall not erre therein in which way the Redeemed shall walk and the Ransomed of the Lord shall come to Sion And whether any may expect to find in these dayes such a way as are strangers and fools in the world 12 What that manifestation of the Spirit is which is given to every man to profit with all and whether there be any profit but by it and whether it be not of it self â—n infallible guide in all the way of God according to its manifestation Joh. 4. 23. 13 What and where that worship of God is truly in which God alone looks to be worshipped in And whether any can worship in spirit and in truth but those that are born of the Spirit And whether that he that is born of the Spirit needeth any other guide in the spiritual worship but that Spirit of which he is born according to his measure Joh. 1. 9. And whether such worships hath not been and are now differing from all other worships in the world and therefore hated by them as in all Ages 14 What and where that light is that inlightens every man that comes into the world which being come into the world is the condemnation of all those that are in darkness because of their evil deeds And whether this be not the condemnation of all the world that beleeve not in it but walk in darkness And whether there be any other condemnation but it seeing Christ said If I had not come ye had not had sin Joh. 3. Rom. 8. 15 What the Law of the Spirit of life is which made Paul free from the law of sin and death which had warred against the law of his mind and had formerly held him in captivity to the law of sin that was in his members And whether any in these dayes that are come to that warfare may look for that freedome by the Law of the Spirit of life And thus I have written these few lines the Lord revealing by his Spirit in me the great delusion sorcery and bewitched doctrine that you are under of these bewitching Simon Magus sorcerers which have put you upon a Christ crucified without you notwithstanding you and the rest are in your filthiness and first nature Whereas the Holy Ghost hath declared That they must be pure in heart that must see God Matth. 5. 8. And hath neglected to tell you of a washing of regeneration and new birth by the Holy Ghost in you T it 3 4 5 6. And hath brought another Gospel contrary to what Christ hath already preached and therefore he rendreth such accursed 1 Pet. 1. 12. And the Lord speaking by the mouth of Paul saying My little children of whom I travel again in birth untill Christ be formed in you Gal. 4. 19. And the Lord in mercy look upon you for my bowels yern towards you and pity you to see Prophets and Teachers creep in among you to draw you from your guide 2 Pet. 2. 1. Written from the Spirit of the Lord from one whom the people of this world calls Quaker known by the name of Thomas Biddal The Answer to the fore-said Queries by Tho. Moore ANd first to the Inscription or Dedication of them which runs thus To Alice Morden and the rest which are not yet given up to Delusion To all who deny the teaching of God to be sufficient c. In which words that which is imported in the plainest sense of them is That they look upon this as a testimony sufficient that men are not given up to Delusion viz. That they deny the teaching of God to be sufficient to guide them that own it to God without humane helps or at least that those that do so are not given up This appears their sense if the indicter of this understood himself but that rather I suppose hee did not however to this Inscription and Dedication we shall lay down this for Answer That to deny the absolute and alone sufficiency of the teaching of God without humane helps or mans teaching is a sin of a very high nature and an evidence of being in a great measure given up to delusion Jer. 8. 8 9 and 6. 10 11. and 23. 16 18 22 c. Isa 8. 16-20 1 Tim. 6. 3 4 5. 1 Joh. 2. 19. 20-24-26 27. and Chap. 4 6. That therefore we may know who they are that do so that we may beware of them and of all steps leading to this evill Let us consider First What Gods eaching is Secondly Where and how himself doth preach or hold it forth unto men Thirdly How or wherein men may be said to deny the alone sufficiency thereof First What Gods teaching is as to the matter of it There is in it 1 Something summary and fundamental of all the rest by which primely it may be known and distinguished 2 Some things contained in springing out of and built upon or arising from those things that are main and fundamental in it 1 Those things main and fundamental in Gods teaching are concerning Jesus Christ before promised and witnessed and in his undertaking vertuous now manifested as delivered to death for our offences according to the Scriptures therein bearing our sins in his own body to the Tree not bearing them or leaving them to be born in that sense in our souls or bodies and raised again from the dead for our justification according to the Scriptures And so concerning his own the Fathers love and goodness to man-ward the glory of which is now manifested in the face of Christ even in those works done in and by his first personal Appearance and the acceptance and vertue of them with the Father for us and the end of them to bee fully revealed and accomplished in his second personal and glorious appearance according as declared to us in
8 9. not here injoyed by way of actual possession by any of them But Jesus Christ in that which he hath done and is become for them with the Father as preached in the Gospel to every man being received by faith is even so in them and to them the hope of glory the ground and foundation of the hope of things not yet sensibly injoyed or possessed Col. 1. 27 28. with Rom. 8. 19. 24 25. Heb. 11. 1. yea in a sense the thing hoped for as in respect of his second personal appearance on the earth which shall be in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels Then and thereby do they look for an accomplishment of those glorious promises of the new heaven and new earth and the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven and of all things restored or made new by him Act. 3. 21 22. Rev. 21. 5. Phil. 3. 21. When he shall also bring all that sleep in Jesus with him 1 Thess 4. 14 16 2 Thess 2 1 2 with Chap. 1 6 7 c. â— Tim. 4. 8. Rev. 20. 4 6. 2 It farther appears that it is not yet come down from heaven in or to any persons because in it there is no death pain or mortality but in and amongst the best of beleevers here even while the Spirit is made alive for righteousness sake delivered from the condemnation and bondage of the Law by the body of Christ in the discovery of it even by the Law Doctrine and power of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and so quickned to a new and living hope and so also in desires and affections through the Resurrection of Christ as Rom. 7. 4. and 8. 2 3 4 1 Pet. 1. 3. 1 Joh. 3.3 yet the body is dead because of sin Rom. 8. 10. yea besides these mortalities there is infirmities and passions of the mind through remainders of the old man yet in their members warring though through Jesus Christ they get victory dayly Rom. 7. 23 24. yea in many things they all offend James 3. 2. 1 Joh. 1. 1. 8 10. And so there is with these mortalities yet upon them which are the fruit of sin and as a remembrance of it there is I say with them particular chastisements and corrections for sin of which they are made partakers as there is found in them sins against light and grace committed needing discovery and purgation 1 Cor. 11. 30 31 32 Heb. 12. 4 5-11 Their bodies are yet vile both their particular personal bodies and their societies also they are not yet made glorious without spot or wrinckle But he shall in that day when Jerusalem comes down from heaven so present them compare Phil. 3. 21. with Eph. 5. 26 27. He is therefore now all this day washing them that he may in the issue so present them with his likeness in the morning of the Resurrection as the issues and vertues of his sufferings Ps 17 ult Rev. 14. 1-5 and 7. 12-17 1 Joh. 3. 1-3 2 Qu. What and where that Sion is Isa 2. Mich. 4. c. Answ The former Answer may serve for Answer to this also Sion and Jerusalem being so neer a kin as they are in those Scriptures mentioned and in Heb. 12. 22. For though as in those Scriptures the Law Doctrine or word of the Lord do now come from thence to the Nations and they that with the heart beleeve or receive that word do by faith come unto it and are made of it in such beleeving yea do so come forth of its waters that its truly said Jerusalem that is above is the mother of them all yet it s still Jerusalem above even to them and not come down as is shewed before Gal. 4 26. Yea farther Though in this day we have a first fruits of the Spirit in performance of those promises yet the fulness and harvest of that and the redemption of the body and things pertaining more properly thereto we wholly wait for and are not yet possessors of the Nations are yet learning war whereas when those promises are accomplished They shall learn war no more neither is the enmity removed out of nor bondage of corruption taken off from the creatures as is promised then to be fully and clearly accomplished compare with those Scriptures Isa 11. Rom. 8. 19-25 Act. 3. 20 21. according to the ends and vertues of Christ having made peace by the blood of his Cross Col. 1. 20. Heb. 2. 5 8. 9. 3 Qu. What and where that Covenant is Jer. 31. 33 34. Heb. 8. 10 11 12 c. Ans 1. In respect of the foundation ground and assurance of it It is Jesus Christ himself as raised from the dead and exalted and glorified in our nature in hâ—s own personal body by and with the vertue of his sufferings the most glorious presence of God in the heavens compare Isa 55. 3 4. with Act. 13. 34. Heb. 4 14 and 8. 1 2-10 2 In respect of the matter of it or promises in it They also are all in him yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. given us through sealed in and the way for coming forth made by his bloud yea so given into him and into him inseparably That they may be given only with him in and through the knowledge of himself and so received by faith in the receiving him by faith and so it s a Covenant made and sure in him with all the seed viz those that come to God by him now I say now made with them in the giving him in the knowledge and faith of him in what he hath done and is become and in the ends and vertues thereof for a Covenant to the people and in some first fruits of the Spirit performed also Rom. 8. 32. 2 Pet. 1. 3 4. Isa 42. 6. and 55. 3 4. But 3 In respect of the performance of it in the harvest or fulness of those spiritual blessings we have in Christ and the redemption of the body c. by Christ it is yet to be waited for even all the time of this mortaliâ—y and till he come as before as may be seen in the Scriptures forecited and also in comparing Hab. 2. 2. 4. with Heb. 10. 35 36 37 38. In the beginning of which Chapter he also mentions the same Covenant as made and sure in Christ to all that come to God by him and to be so made with all the Israel of God yet with reference to it again in this latter end of the Chapter with allusion to that of Habbakkuck he signifies yet a time for the exercise of faith and patience in doing and suffering according to the will of God before the promises in their performance or accompâ—â—hment shall be received that vision of God in which they shall be revealed in the accomplishment being the second and glorious appearance of Jâ—â—â—s Christ in our nature which is yet to be waite for compare the 〈◊〉 Habbakkuck saith The Vision shall surely come