ANIMADVERSIONS Upon a late Quibling LIBEL From the Hartford Quakers STILED A Testimony for the Man Christ Jesus Demonstrating That it is not the same true and real Man Christ Jesus that they give Testimony unto but another false and feigned Jesus Or A fresh and fuller draught of the same Antidote against the Poyson presented in the Whores Golden cup. By WILL. HAWORTH Rev. 2.2 Thou hast tryed them that say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them lyars Mat. 7.15 Beware of false Prophets that come unto you in sheeps cloathing 2 Cor. 11.13 14. For such are false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ For no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light Rom. 16.18 And by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Printed in the seventh Month. 1676. Animadversions Upon a late Quibling Libel from the Hartford Quakers THere is a Book come to my hand with this Title viz. A Testimony for the Man Christ Jesus a Title never before as I know prefixed to any of the Quakers Books by whom it appears this was written By that time I had read it over I found that to be true which I suspected viz. That the Wine did not answer the Bush the Matter the Title They have only dealt herein as the Enemy at Sea which sets up the English Flag thereby to deceive and take advantage I looked for some particular name but found none who the proper Father of the Child should be who can tell We are left to guess who the Father is by the double tongue Quibling Language Critical Wit in catching his Adversary in seeming contradictions and inconsistencies They say Pag. 3. In the beginning my Pamphlet consists of matter of charge aggravated with reviling and Answers to Objections of my own framing to render the Quakers infamous Answ If I cannot prove the charge true x I confess I have wronged them in saying that they are no Christians Seducers but if it be true that they deny Jesus of Nazareth having heard it out of the mouth of a Prophet of their own with three witnesses to the same and have read it in their own Books and you shall have further proof of it before we have finished this and indeed there is enough in this late Book that speaks the same thing as will appear anon then I have said too little of them and need not fear the threatnings they produce that Revilers shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven as being no way guilty If they will see their errour and Recant I will take off my Charge and my Reviling as they call it otherwise it is but what the Apostle Paul's example against Seducers and false Teachers doth warrant me in As to the Objections that they say are of my framing I find all of them save one in this their own Book brought in against this Truth as stated by me concerning the Manhood of Christ in Heaven which shall be notified to you in the progress that one which is not there produced by them viz. Flesh and blood cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven not any that ever reasoned with the Quakers about this subject or the resurrection of the same body but hath heard it from them see then the ingenuity of these People in the entrance saying that I have framed Objections of my own to render the Quakers odious But the great and material thing which I hasten to is that I charge the Quakers with denying the same numerical true and real Manhood of Jesus to be now in Heaven a place remote from the Earth I do I confess thus charge them now mark it diligently and bear it in your minds as you read along Pag. 3. l. 12. They utterly deny the matter charged Let us examine what the matter is contained in these words and phrases taken in their true Grammatical sense and construction viz. The same numerical true and real Manhood of Jesus Christ in Heaven a place remote from the Earth 1. That Jesus Christ hath now a true and real Manhood consisting of two Essential distinct parts a Humane Soul and Body 2. That it is the same Numerical Manhood not only the same in kind and nature but the very self same one in number that was born of the Virgin crucified on the Cross laid in the Sepulcher raised again 3. That this self same true Manhood is now in Heaven a place remote from the Earth so circumscribed there that it is not here upon Earth We heartily without any equivocation consent to these three Heads contained in those words The Hartford Quakers in their late Book seem to own the same and would not be accounted guilty of the charge but how shall they be tryed no otherwise then by their confession under their own hand in that Book 1. That Jesus Christ hath now a true and real Manhood These Hartford Quakers deny while in words they own it 1. That cannot be a true and real Manhood that hath not a true and real Humane soul but according to the Hartford Quakers Jesus Christ hath not a Humane soul that soul that is in a thousand distinct several places at one and the same time cannot be a Humane soul for so it is immense and infinite but according to these Quakers the soul of Christ is in innumerable places at once for that say it is in every Saint on Earth Pag. 6. 2. That cannot be a true and real Manhood that is not the object of Sense that can no way be seen by the bodily eye but these Hartford Quakers affirm Pag. 10. 11. That the body of Christ now in Heaven is not the object of sense now what a body must that be that cannot by any means be either seen felt or heard 3. That cannot be a true and real Manhood that can penetrate Wooden doors and Stone walls This is to make it so rare thin subtile and spirituous that the very Essence and nature of a body is destroyed Air and Light that are the most subtile of bodies cannot pierce doors and walls but must enter by some crannyes or pores but the Quakers at Hartford do suppose that the body of Christ was so changed that it came into the Disciples through the doors or walls else why bring they that Scripture against me John 10.19 4. That cannot be a true and real Manhood that hath not a Humane shape figure and from but the Hartford Quakers deny this and dispute against it Pag. 11 12. 2. The second thing that is matter of the charge viz. That they deny the self same Numerical Manhood Thus I prove it If Christs Manhood as they say in the late Book cannot be seen with the bodily eye though God do never so strengthen it if so immense that part of it can be in every Saint so subtile and spirituous that it can penetrate doors and Stone walls of an house it cannot be the same for kind and
Soul of Christ be Immense and Infinite and this is too much for us to swallow for then there must be a new created God in time because every Infinite and Immense is God Now the Soul of Christ's Manhood was created in time who can make that which is crooked straight Error is crookedness absurdity and rottenness when it comes to the tryal In the close of this I would ask them whether in these two Scriptures viz. Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord God it s upon me the Lord hath anointed me and Joh. 3.34 For God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him By the Spirit is to be understood the Soul of Christ the Essential part if not as I believe then have I an easie way of reconciling my self in this matter telling them that when I grant that Christ is present with and in his Saints on Earth by his Spirit that I mean the Holy Ghost who is God and Infinite and can be and is in all the Saints both that are in Heaven and on Earth at once not the Spirit of the Manhood an Essential part that is a finite Creature therefore their notion is ridiculous They cannot pass over the report I made of Will. Bates a Neighbour what he should say viz. that what was taken of the Virgin had now no being They question whether I truly state the matter and censure me sharply to be of a creeping peevish insinuating spirit to seek an occasion against my Neighbour and to notify him in Print Pag. 7. Answ It was so exceeding gross and blunt a speech that having an occasion to write upon this Subject of the Manhood of Christ I could do no less then Print it and surely instead of condemning me they should have censured their Brother Bates for speaking so rashly and plainly as that there is not a starting hole no bit of any equivocation no room left to leap back which is not the Quakers way of expressing themselves Now that it may appear that I had a right call when I went to discourse with Will. Bates and therefore am wrongfully censured by these men to be of a creeping spirit seeking occasion against my Neighbour c. and that I have stated the matter right read the following Certificate Be it known to all whom it may concern that we whose names are subscribed do testify that it was through our motion and desire that William Haworth was present at the discourse we had with William Bates and that we did more then once hear him plainly say that what Christ took of the Virgin had now no being Sept. 19. 1676. Daniel Doughty John Albury Stephen Tothil We evidently see now they are not all guided by one and the same Infallible Light else that Light is not one with it self in that it directs them to contrary Opinions Will. Bates saith that which was taken of the Virgin had now no being These Hartfordians Pag. 7. That the Man Christ did neither perish nor vanish in any thing Essential to him as to his Spirit or Body Who can bring the two Poles of North and South together let them as can reconcile these two sayings But withal let me ask them whether Visibility Materiality Finiteness and having the same shape be not Essential to the Man Christ there is none in their wits can deny it but these men as hath in some measure already appeared and will farther appear in the progress have taken away the Visibility Materiality Finiteness and having the same Humane Figure from the body of the Man Christ they have then herein manifested themselves no less than gross Lyers and Cheaters for there hath something Essential perished as to his Soul and Body according to their Doctrine withall let them remember that I had more proof for my Charge against them then meerly my opinion as they of the Barbican Dispute Pag. 4. when as I have such a plain loud witness as this viz. that which was taken of the Virgin had now no being But here is still more against our Opinion viz. Christ is now a man in Heaven if so how then can we disintangle our selves from that thing charged upon us in the 8th Page that in this we resemble the carnal Opinion of the Anthropomorphites who hold that God is like unto Man in shape and form and that he hath a right and and left hand as Men have which likewise Mugleton holds What would these men be at when shall we find them constant my soul pitieth their instability how are they tossed to and fro did they not all along say in words that Jesus Christ was a Man in Heaven had the Essentials of a Man soul and body Now if he hath a Humane body it must necessarily have a Humane shape why then they Symbolize with that Brute Mugleton as much as Wee and if they be concerned let them answer for themselves only you see by their way of reasoning they believe not a word of what they say viz. That Christ is a Man in Heaven but equivocates in all otherwise why would they produce this We can answer for our selves we are not guilty of having any such gross carnal conceptions of the Deity as to think or say that the Humane shape is the shape of the Deity we abhor such idolatrous thoughts we know what the Scripture saith and believe it Isai 40.25 To whom then will you liken God or what likeness will you compare him to Deut. 4.12 Ye saw no similitude but only heard a voice but we say the Word was made Flesh Joh. 1.14 and in that Flesh ascended into Heaven hath that same Body and Soul there and it is still in union with the Deity the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily in him Col. 2.9 but the form and figure the Body hath there is not the form and figure of the Deity but of the Manhood the Godhead is Infinite and Immense And when we speak of Gods right hand and Christs sitting there we mean a state and place of Honour Power and Glory that Christ upon his Ascension was exalted to Still they dispute against that they seem to own viz That Christ is now a Man in Heaven If his being ascended into Heaven hinders him from being on Earth why not his ascending far above all Heavens from being in Heaven Pag. 9. Here is a second of the Objections as they say of my own framing Answ In my last little Book I opened this Phrase viz. Far above all Heavens Any of the three Senses I gave is safe and good First Far above all Heavens is no more then that in Psal 68.18 from whence this is taken nay the very same with it Thou hast ascended on high 2. By the Heavens may be understood the visible Heavens that may be seen with the bodily eye because of their nearness to us 3. Or Heavenly Powers Angelical Nature and Perfection Now let us draw up their Argument Jesus Christ ascended on high above the lower Heavens
that may be seen and is more excellent and higher then any Angel Ergo he is not in Heaven that cannot be seen with the bodily eye because of its distance from us Are you not convinced mightily with such strong Argumentations In Eph. 1.20 21. He is said to be set far above every name that is named not only in this World but that which is to come Ergo Christ is above the Father this is the same way of Reasoning That Christ as to his Manhood hath been upon Earth and is upon Earth at least as to his Soul since his Ascension they attempt to prove here Pag. 9. from the Scriptures that speaks of his coming to his Disciples since that time John 14.2 If I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you vers 18. I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you Answ The first place speaks of his coming at the day of Judgment when he will instate his Saints in their full Glory and Happiness in body as well as soul this is the secónd Personal appearance of Jesus Christ which is not yet but will be at the times of the restitution of all things as the Scripture speaks The other Scripture speaks of his coming in the power of the Spirit to their hearts to comfort them in the evil days wherein they should be cast then they are nothing at all to their purpose to prove Christ personal Descension upon Earth either as to his Soul or Body since his Ascension into Heaven Another Objection is drawn from John 3.13 No man hath ascended up to Heaven Pag. ibid. but he that came down from Heaven even the Son of Man which is in Heaven Here is a third of the Objections which they say is of my own framing and it 's brought here against Christ being now in Heaven as to his Manhood I have in my last answered it fully to which you may have recourse as to what they beg here I can grant them the whole without any loss to my cause or gain to theirs Christ was spiritually in Heaven with his Saints when on Earth and is spiritually on Earth with them now he is in Heaven The Reader knoweth what we mean by the spiritual presence of Christ with his Saints They say Pag. ibid that of his coming the Apostles had signs and evidences who by him wrought Miracles Acts 4.10 i. e. the Miracles that the Apostles wrought were signs of his Personal coming that he hath been upon Earth since his Ascension as to his Manhood Answ There were Miracles wrought by Moses and Eliah and Elisha and what they did they did by the power of Christ who is God blessed for ever Therefore Christ Jesus did Personally appear upon Earth and came again from Heaven in his Manhood before ever he had a Manhood or ever did ascend into Heaven risum teneatis Amici Miracles wrought by the Apostles were only Signs of the coming of Christ in Power and Spirit Here now comes their exceptions against four of the Properties of the Manhood of Christ as they stated by me what pity is it that they should take so much pains to oppose themselves in their own confession The Manhood of Christ since the Ascension is the Object of Sense is hath been seen with the bodily eye and may be seen Stephen saw him thus in my last To this they Object Pag. 10. but before I name their Arguments I here cry out of open and manifest wrong in that they Quakers have twice or thrice endeavoured to make the Reader believe that I asserted there was no more in Stephen 's seeing the glory of God and the Son of Man in Heaven than what was natural that he had no extraordinary assistance and strengh from God in it Pag. 11. but to place all this sight upon carnal and bodily eyes these are their words whereas they had writ my own words before viz. Stephens sight was strengthened after a wonderful miraculous way so that he pierced to the Heavenly glory with his eye this was more than what was natural no doubt mark that whether this be not wilful forging judge ye But to their Arguments against Stephen's seeing Christ in Heaven with his bodily eye it being strenghthened by the Lord. 1. According to my own confession Christ was passed into the invisible Heavens Ergo he could not be seen Pag. 10. Answ Their Argument is only a Childish quible about the word invisible if I had but in the stead of it said unseen there would not have been any ground for this cavil but I did indeed think I should be taken in that sense and I believe was by all but the Quakers Should I say many of the Stars are invisible will any understand me that they are not capable of being seen by any Teliscope or Prospective glasses or that they are not ordinarily seen because of their great distance and the weakness of our sight Children will play with Rattles Arg. 2. Pag. 11. The ground of Stephen 's seeing the Heavens opened and Jesus on the right band of God was on his being full of the Holy Ghost Answ If meerly being full of the Holy Ghost be the ground Then Moses and all the Prophets-saw the Son of Man standing at the right band of God before he was the Son of Man or ever did ascend thither for they were all filled by the Holy Ghost And then Barnabas and all the Disciples in the second Chapter of the Acts saw the Son of Man in Heaven and then this that is related of Stephen in this History that we took to be a singular remarkable thing is but what is common to all Saints filled with the Spirit besides how can this meerly as such be the ground of Stephens sight of Christ in Heaven when the wicked shall see Christ coming in power and great glory Rev. 1.7 Every eye shall see him it cannot be meant of a spiritual sight for every one hath not a spiritual eye For ought I can learn these men understand nothing more nothing besides some spiritual sight that Stephen had of Jesus Christ on Earth in his own heart else why do they mention the vision that John had as a parallel instance Pag. ibid. John saw the golden Candlesticks and in the midst thereof one like-the-Son of Man Now those Churches that were represented by the seven Candlesticks were then upon Earth stay and hear the conclusion Ergo when Stephen looked up stedfastly into Heaven and saw the glory of God and the Son of Man at the right hand of God the Heavens being opened All this was no more then seeing Christ on Earth the light in his own Heart and Conscience O for a little plain heartedness and honesty The instance is not parallel John's we say and believe were only Spiritual Revelations in extasies and trances Stephen's was an Ocular Vision Let me add this to these poor unbelieving Creatures why should it seem a thing
nature with that which he had before his Resurrection for it appears evidently that was not such a Manhood why then if it be not the same in kind and Nature it cannot be the same in Number 3. The third thing as to the matter of Charge viz. That this same Manhood is now in Heaven a place remote so circumscribed there that it is not here on Earth this they openly deny in so many words Pag. 6. But his conclusion i. e. is denyed by the connexion it appears that therefore Jesus Christ is not here on Earth as he is Man but as to his Manhood only in Heaven a place remote from us and in many other places of the Book you shall find the like They do clearly affirm that Jesus Christ is present on Earth in and with his Saints as to his soul The Papists say in their monstrous opinion of Transubstantiation that the natural Humane body of Christ can be and is in an hundred nay a thousand several places at once So these that the soul of Jesus is in innumerable places at once Thus every whit of the matter of Charge stands good against them and I have brought them in as witnesses against themselves whilst they did pretend to the weak people to vindicate themselves Now do not they that deny these three things mentioned plainly deny Jesus Nazareth to be the Messiah which they say Pag. 4. is the other part of the Charge if Jesus Christ hath not the self same true and real Manhood which he took of the Virgin and which dwelt here on Earth at that place called Nazareth then is not Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah according to the Quakers For his name was called Jesus as he was born of the Virgin Mat. 1.21 And she shall bring forth as Son and thou shalt call his Name Jesus and that adjunct of Nazareth is given because of his habitation in those parts Mat. 2.23 And he came and dwelt in a City called Nazareth that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets He shall be called a Nazarene But these people now it 's plain the mask being pull'd off deny that Manhood that was taken of the Virgin and dwelt at Nazareth in that they do suppose it so changed that it 's turned into an Immense infinite Being a Deity which that Manhood was not Let them but remember that Scripture John 8.24 Except you believe that I am he ye shall die in your sins and if they write again fairly take off these things that I have briefly brought against them Let us now hear throughout the Book what they have to say for themselves that they are not guilty of denying the Manhood of Jesus Christ in Heaven The first thing produced is W. Pens confession at Barbakin Pag. 4. W. P. speaks in the name of the Quakers thus we do believe the Man Christ Jesus to be glorified in Heaven we do believe the holy Manhood to be in Heavenly Glory they add see how far the Quakers are from denying the true and real Manhood of Christ in Heaven Some that are not acquainted with their way of speaking may think this sufficient but others that have been used to them cannot till W. Pen doth describe what he means by the Man Christ Jesus and what by the Manhood whether it is such a Manhood as hath a Humane soul and body as its essential parts For G. Fox in his great Mystery Pag. 286. hath these words the Man may speak Christ in the Male and in the Female W. P. then in the name of all the Quakers may mean such a man is Jesus Christ as is in every Male and Female Preacher that is nothing but the light within Fox again hath another passage Pag. 71. Christ's nature is not bumane which is earthly for that is the first Adam's This man Christ that W. P. confesseth in the name of all the Quakers may be such as hath no Humane nature such a man as never had a nature that was of an Earthly substance such a man as came not of Adam's race and line but we always thought and believed that the Manhood was such which is Christs nature as properly as his Divine nature Again nothing more obvious in our discourses with them than that Heaven is within them I have heard it in discourse with them What doth all this brave sound of words in this Confession at Barbican come to why this is the sum of it when he saith we believe the Man Christ to be glorified in Heaven and the holy Manhood to be in heavenly glory viz. that the Light within being hearkened to and obeyed is lifted up and exalted and glorified in the heart of man I know it to be true that Pen hath written it in the Folio put forth by him and Whitehead viz. that the Light in that body that was taken of the Virgin is the Christ whereas we know and assert that it 's neither the Divine nature alone nor Humane alone but both in union that is the Christ of God I will give one testimony out of Smith's Primer Pag. 8. They that are false Teachers preach Christ without and bid the people believe in him as he is in Heaven above Now lest some Reconciler as W. P. or any other should say that their Brother Smith meant that whoever preached Christ without only were false Teachers not but that the preaching of Christ without will consist with the preaching of Christ within hear his own words again Pag. 9. Child This is a great difference in their Doctrine speaking still of the true and false Teachers for one to preach Christ without and another preacheth him within Fat Yes it doth make a great difference and bath no more fellowship together then the East with the West See how far they are from denying the true and real Manhood of Jesus Christ in Heaven he that will be decieved let him be deceived by this line you may measure all the rest that followeth The next thing to take off the Charge is their own confession in the Book Pag. 5. They write We farther add and confess that the same man Christ that suffered and was put to death in the flesh and was raised from the dead by the mighty Power of God ascended into Heaven Gods dwelling place ascended both as to change of place and state of glory Is not here a very full and plain confession Would not you take the Hareford Quakers more Orthodox than others of them would not one hope that our writing against their Errour doth inlighten them teach them convince them and that they are coming near to some good settlement in the good old Truths and that they will at length become Christians but it is so with some that have accustomed themselves to ly and cheat they are always suspected by them that know them so truly is it with this People they have altogether lost their credit and reputation with many as in this matter in that we
impossible to you that God should so strengthen with his Divine power the bodily eye of a Saint to see into the highest Heaven removing all things out of the way which is denoted by that Phrase The Heavens opened The last thing in this matter Pag. 11. This renders the glory of God and his righthand also obvions and visible to carnal eyes you may see say they what mean and carnal thoughts this man hath of God and the glory of God Answ I would not be guilty of any carnal thoughts of God or his glory but yet I dare not but believe the Scriptures of Truth and what they have declared in these matters although I should not satisfy my Reason in all particulars yet it is my duty to submit to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus saith the Lord. I do believe the Deity it self cannot be seen no Mortal eye can approach that invisibility yet I believe that Peter and John did see Christ in his Transfiguration they saw his face shine as the Sun and his raiment as white as Snow Mat. 17.2 They saw it I believe with their bodily eye and I query whether that was not something of the glory of God whether there was not a Material created light and splendor that God made use of to set forth the Majesty and Glory of his Son to these his Disciples external Senses Exceptions and Objections against the other Property of Christ Manhood I say it hath the same Form and Figure that it had when here upon Earth yet withall say it is a very glorious Body How gloriously is it represented and painted out to us by Daniel and John more bright then a thousand Suns 1. They cavil at this and say how then hath it the same Form and Figure that it had when here upon Earth was it thus bright and glorious more then a thousand Suns when here on Earth subject to sufferings Pag. 12. Answ I willingly grant that the Manhood hath much more glory upon it then it had in its suffering state but it s being invested with more glory did neither change nor annihilate the Form he had the same Humane shape no doubt when transfigured as when he was crucified and the same Humane countenance a man may be now in vile raiment and anon in gorgeous Attire yet remain the same Man and have the same Form and Figure and distinguishing Character in his face the Sun might have a thousand times more light lustre and glory in it yet retain the same dimensions and rotundity 2. This is to intrude they say into unseen things Pag. ibid. Answ While I keep within the bounds of Scripture and right Reason grounded upon it I do not intrude and whether I have not done so I leave it to the judgement of Christians What would these men have the Manhood must either have the same Form and Figure that it had here upon Earth or it must have the Form and Figure of some other Creature i. e. either of an Angel or of which I will not write or there must be a transmutation of it into the Deity which way soever they take they destroy the Manhood of Jesus Christ which is a destroying the whole Christian Religion at one blow 3. Exception Pag. 12. They say that I talk like one ignorant of the Scriptures in asserting that the Manhood hath the same Form and Figure that it had when on Earth in that he was known to his Disciples after his Resurrection and saith that he appeared in divers Forms after his Resurrection Mark 16.12 After that he appeared to two of them in another Form Answ All the Books of the Evangelists do but compleat the History one of them is to give Light to the other and in any difficulty one to open and explain the other some of them being more full than the other This is Mark is the shortest of all now look into the same particular portion of History as it was written by Luke Luk. 24.15 And it came to pass that while they communed together and reasoned Jesus himself drew near and went with them but their eyes were held that they should not know him it was then he himself and like himself with the same Form and Figure Humane otherwise he ceased to be a man but it pleased the Lord who had absolute command over their senses so by his power to hold their sight that they should not presently discern who he was but seemed to them as one in another habit so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth sometimes signify 4. Except But if in the same Form how came it to pass that Mary did not know him but thought it had been the Gardiner John 20.14 15. Answ 1. This Scripture makes directly against them it appears that Jesus had a Humane shape and form after his Resurrection which is a glorified State for such is the form and shape of a Gardiner 2. But that Mary did not know him but supposed it had been the Gardiner no wonder when as she knew not that he was risen she came not to look for a living man but only for the dead body Vers 15. if thou hast born him hence tell me where thou hast laid him 3. I say here eyes were held that she should not know him as in the Scripture of Luke before 5 Twice he appeared in the midst of his Disciples the doors being shut John 20.19 26. was there no change then Pag. ibid. Answ Yes of State and Condition not of form and Humane figure The Papists make use of this Scripture for their Transubstantiation they say his body penetrated the doors the same apprehensions must these Quakers have or else in vain do they quote this Scripture but it s no where said that he went through the doors The preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not in the Text only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the doors were shut when he appeared in the midst of them none of them nor any other man opened the doors for him there was then no question a Miracle wrought by him but not by penetrating the doors how then came he in why how came Peter out of Prison did he come through the Iron gate Acts 12.10 They came to the Iron gate that leadeth unto the City which opened to them of its own accord could not Christ effect the like think you for himself Pag. 12 13. The Opposers give a lash at two other Properties in a very scornful way As for his uncouth and unscriptural talk that the Saints ought to worship the Humane Nature of Christ and this Humane Nature is such as giveth life unto our Souls we need take little notice of such Language Answ My Language as to the first is not unscriptural for there I say he received worship from several when he was here on the Earth in the Flesh and this is so notoriously known that I need not to instance But here I will give you some Scripture Mat. 2.11 The
have so frequently caught them jugling equivocating quibling cogging the Dice that we can no more trust them they have said much here more then ever I read in any of their books we would be glad if they were real but behold with the very same breath they unsay it again Pag. 15. This exaltation was not that he might remain in a place remote mark that and separate from his body which he is the head of giving this reason for it For this were to keep body and head asunder adding that the Son of Man had power to descend at his pleasure to come again bringing Matth. 28. I will be with you always to the end of the World Note here is one of the Objections as they say of my own framing the rest will follow They had pray remember in the beginning utterly denyed the matter charged here they are willing to own a good part of it viz. That Christ is not in Heaven a place remote They confessed just now that the same man Jesus Christ that died was raised and ascended But let us enquire whither did he ascend They answer into Heaven But may be mean a state of glory no a place of glory say they but observe the next question in order Where is this Heaven Is it above or beneath Is it remote and and far off or is it near their answer is It must not be remote it must then be near at hand it must be where the Mystical body is and part of it I am sure is on Earth for the head and body must not be asunder why then when they say the same man ascended into Heaven they mean nothing but that Globe which we call the Earth that Heaven they call Gods dwelling place but they mean the hearts of Men he changed not his state only but place at his ascension but that change of place was such you must know that notwithstanding he was here on Earth as to his Manhood for his soul was in the Saints we may despair at this rate ever by words to understand one another Here is Babel indeed Language confounded But he had all power in Heaven and Earth given him and therefore might descend at his pleasure and he promised to be with his Disciples alway to the end To argue from Christs power to his will was never accounted strong or right reasoning The Papists argued thus against the Martyrs for their Transubstantiation viz. God had power and was able to turn the Bread into his Natural body ergo when as the Word his revealed Will declared it otherwise and called it Bread after it was blessed would it be a good argument Christ hath all power in Heaven and Earth given him therefore he may be crucified over again when as the will of God is revealed in the Scripture Heb. 9.26 that he is but once to be offered in the end of the World so in this case Christ though he hath all power can do nothing contrary to his own Will revealed Now it 's plainly revealed that Christ as to his Manhood is not to descend frequently upon Earth but is to abide in Heaven an appointed time which is not yet finished Acts 3.21 Whom the Heavens must receive till the times of restitution of all things If they would mind this one Scripture it would put an end to all their cavils and guide them in this controversy What was received into Heaven His Manhood only as for his Deity it is Infinite and can in no wise be said that the Heaven received it Now how long is the Heaven to receive this Manhood Till the times of the restitution of all things which times let them dare to say are already come he hath not then as yet descended here on Earth as to his Manhood Notwithstanding he hath fulfilled his promise and hath alway been present with his Disciples in the discharge of their Ministerial gifts and will be to the end of the World by his Spirit The reason of this which they produce why the Manhood must not be in a place remote Because that Head and Body would then be asunder Answ It 's not possible for Christ and the Church his Body to have some union without a corporal touch The Sun is in the Firmament at a great distance yet we have some kind of union with it a man may be many miles distant from his wife yet he hath some kind of union with her we took this union to be Mystical and Spiritual not corporal and carnal as there is one soul throughout the natural body of Man the same in the head and in every member so one Spirit in Jesus Christ the Mystical Head and in every one of his Members the Saints whereby they are united to him 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit Let it be judged now whether the Quakers are not those that know Christ after the flesh when they speak of the Manhood being locally present with and in the Saints otherwise there can be no union they think But Christ being present in Spirit which I grant must needs say they Pag. 6. be an overturning of what I have assorted and a contradicting my self and therefore they call upon me to reconcile it how I can But why so because that the Spirit of Christ is an Essential part of the Manhood the same with his Soul Now if Christ be present by his Spirit in his Saints then must he be in some part of his Manhood oâ— Earth I have read there were some formerly that held the Holy Ghost did inform the Humane bod of Jesus Christ instead of the Soul but this opinion of the Hartford Quakers is much worse for they grant that the Soul or Spirit spoken of is an Essential part of the Man Christ in the very same sense with me and yet saith it is in every Saint investing it with the Office of the Holy Ghost Let us try this notion if the Soul of Christ's Manhood be present on Earth with and in his Saints then it must be one of these two ways Either with or without the Humane body united to it or separated from it if in and with the body united then the Humane body which was taken of the Virgin is likewise with and in every Saint on Earth and so is become an Infinite and Immense Spirit and is ceased from being a Humane body this is so monstrous we dare not believe it Or 2. It is separated from the Humane body in its presence with the Saints then is not Jesus Christ a man in Heaven as they have confessed it is but a dead body in Heaven This we cannot receive He was dead once but is alive now and he is to be alive for evermore Rev. 1.18 If they say that needs not viz. that the Soul should be separated from the Humane Natural body it may be and is in it still in Heaven and extended from it to every Saint upon Earth Then must the
sight but holds still that it 's solely and alone the Personal Righteousness of Jesus Christ the Son of God in his Active and Passive obedience whereby we are justified and accepted in the sight of an Infinitely pure and holy God who charged his Angels with folly Gal. 1.8 and if any man or Angel preach any other Gospel let him be accursed Thus as chast Virgins espoused we will not through Gods grace suffer our selves through the subtilty of the Serpent 2. Cor. 11.3 to have our minds corrupted from this singlenest that is in Christ in this great business of Justification this Article raigned in Luthers heart he said and I desire it should raign in my heart and it is as that great Patron of it against these Pharesaical Merit-mongers was wont to say the Article of the Churches standing or falling and how can he be a Christian that is not hearty in the belief of it though never more than at this day spoke against Christ in this day is a very great stumbling-stone to the Quakers and Socinians as he was to the Jews and Greeks of old it is no wonder the Quakers care not to have Christs Manhood maintained in its sameness truth and reality now carrying on the work of his Mediation in Heaven pleading the vertue of his Attonement when as they will not own the Righteousness which was wrought out in and by that blessed Manhood sixteen hundred Years since for the Justification of sinners They talk much of the works of the Spirit I would put a few Queries to them 1. Whether the works done by the Man Christ when on Earth here and the works he now doth in Heaven be not works done in the Spirit he had the Spirit and hath in without measure were not his works absolutely and compleatly perfect in Holiness he was a Lamb without spot there was no guil found in his mouth he pleased the Father in all things 2. I would ask whether there be any works done by the Spirit upon any of the sons of Men except Jesus Christ but there still remains a body of sin in them and whether there be any works done by us in the highest degree of the Spirit that any can attain to in this world but God can find some fault with them there is some defect and imperfection let them that dare deny that Scripture Eccless 7.20 There is not a just man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not 3. If this be true which now of us are mad against the works of the Spirit we that honour these compleat works of the personal Obedience of Christ and receive them with thankfulness for our Justification according to the command of God in Scripture to believe and withall are glad that God works upon us by his Spirit to renew our evil natures after his own Image though it be but in part and that we are enabled by the same Spirit to shew forth any good works to his glory in our Conversation among men though they fall short of that which the holy Law requires and therefore we dare not plead them with God but daily prays for forgiveness in his Blood and that he would accept us not in this our own Righteousness within us or without us but in his Sons Personal Righteousness having union with him or they now on the other hand that are only and altogether for the works done in the spirit both for Justification as well as Sanctification though none of them can ever evince that these works are in every degree compleat and at the same time disown dispise contemn the compleat works of the Imputed Righteousness of Christ calling it a Doctrine of Devils which of us is mad against the works done in the Spirit Let the Reader judge What an unsavoury lorry do many of them make in the ears of Christians in their books and discourses saying and writing you look to be saved by a Righteousness wrought out sixteen hundred Years since and as far off as Jerusalem we cannot but pity their blindness and enmity to the Cross of Christ the Lord reveal his Sons Righteousness to them and make them ashamed of such kind of Pharisaical sayings as that of Bailies viz. if this be to make our own Righteousness stand speaking of the Righteousness of the Law then will we go about to make them stand if they would but remember that great instance given by Christ and consider it it s enough surely to silence them for ever in this matter Luke 18.9 He spâ—ke this Parable to certain that trusted in themselves as being righteous and despised others vers 10. Two went up into the Temple to pray c. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself God I thank thee I am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this Publican I fast twice in the week I give Tithes of all that I possess Vers 13. And the Publican standing afar of would not lift up so much as his eyes to Heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner Vers 14. I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other What is this instance of a Pharisee to a Quaker that speaks so much of the Spirit and the inward works of the Spirit Answ Did not the Pharisee think that he had the inward work of the Spirit Yet surely for he gives thanks to God that did inable him to be thus religious he acknowledged that all he had was the gift of God and did not in the least attribute it to his freewill might or power that he had made himself to differ that he did thus fast pray was thus just holy and zealous let is be weighed he was as confident as any Quaker or any other could be that his Righteousness was good of the right sort the Righteousness of the Spirit in that he durst plead it before the Lord for his acceptance yet what was the issue he was not accepted it was the humble sinner that was justified that applyed himself to the mercy of God in Christ Jesus but where do you at any time find this people acknowledge Grace Mercy Attonement confessing their sins with shame and humility are these in the way of Justification They will say why doest thou talk so of the Pharisees thinking he had the Spirit and the inward work thereof we know and are sure we have it are regenerated and act from thence in our lives and whilst it is so if there be any such thing as imputed Righteousness as we think there is not it s only an imagination of your own brains we shall have it for according to you they both go together Righteousness within and without I say to them with as great confidence and boldness and much better grounded that in case they go on thus they do manifestly declare that they have not neither ever had the right Spirit of Christ the Comforter for what
doth Christ say the work of the Comforter should be upon his sending of him John 15.26 He shall testify of me and John 16.14 He shall glorify me i. e. in the hearts of men for be shall receive of mine and shew it unto you Now if that Spirit which at present you boast of doth not this work viz. Enlighten your understandings aright in the truth of the Gospel though you may find a power as you often speak acting of you if this Spirit do not testify of the Christ of God begetting high thoughts of his Person Righteousness instructing your souls in his things his Death Resurrection Intercession his Priesthood in Heaven which you never talk of though it should have so much power in you as thereby you should be caught up and carried to Azotus though thereby you could as they say of Simon Magus fly in the Air yet it is not the Spirit of Christ Jesus the Comforter 1 Pet. 2.7 2 Cor. 13.14 2 Cor. 11.4 If Christ be not precious to you you are unbelievers I wish it might be considered there is no communion of the Spirit where the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ it not sweet to us where ever there is another Gospel and Jesus there is another spirit who ever hath not the Son hath not the Father how then can they have the Spirit No man speaking by the Spirit of God called Jesus accursed 1 Cor. 12.3 Be not deceived if this Gospel be hid the heart and life whereof consists in the knowledge of this point of Justification It is the Gospel of Righteousness it manifests the Righteousness without the Law Rom. 3.21 therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from Faith to Faith if this be hid though you may be very confident is is hid to them that are lost 2 Cor. 4.3 the God of this World having blinded their eyes O that you would remember what the Apostle said to the Galatians who thought they had as much of the Spirits Righteousness as the Quakers being corrupted in their judgments in this very matter yet had not cast off their mentioning of Christ but allowing him a place in their Religion Gal. 3.1 Gal. 5.4 who hath bewitched you and in another place ye are fallen from Grace and its a great convincing word Rom. 9.31 Israel which followed after the Law of Righteousness did not attain to the Law of Righteousness yet were as confident as you but I shall be despised for this my love in debating this matter with you and I doubt you will call this as Pag. 15. you do monstrous and distracted Doctrine The instances that I gave against Christopher Tayler to prove that we are not justified by works done in the Spirit are reckoned Pag. 14. viz. Abrahams works Davids works Paul's and Isaiahs works all done in the Spirit but not a word of answer to them no I calmly challenge them all to answer to them Only they ask a Question Is it good Doctrine to say that Paul when a Christian counted his spiritual obedience loss and dung for Christ Answ Yes very good sound blessed and comfortable Doctrine received by Millions of Saints in Heaven and Earth add but that which you ought for of that I speak viz. in the point of Justification in the same way are you to understand that of Isaiah Isa 64.6 all our Righteousnesses are as filthy rags i. e. as to justify us in Gods sight Pag. 15. they repeat the Question but slily addeth this to it viz. and that as a Christain he must suffer the loss of this i. e. his spiritual obedience so as not to have it in his heart O the creeping Serpent to insinuate as if I taught the people such Doctrine Answ Yes he was to have it still in his heart but not to plead it with God for his Justification Phil. 3.9 not having my own Righteousness which is of the Law c. But how can I make that out for which they quarrel me here Pag. 15. That all the Righteousness that all the Saints have within them or without them is but the Righteousness of the Law Answ It is not difficult otherwise the Law of God is not a perfect Rule of Righteousness but that must be grante Ergo it requires all we do and more then any can do not only outward duty but an inward spiritual upright frame of heart yea the Image of God to be compleat and perfect in us then my Argument holds good we are not justified by any Righteousness of ours done in the Spirit for the Scripture is peremptory in it by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his fight Rom. 3.20 They produce two Scriptures here to prove Justification by the works of the Spirit in us First Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8.4 That the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us I have opened both these places in my Book against Crook and Bailie I am of that mind that they both speak as to our Justification of the Righteousness of Christs Person so they are nothing to their purpose if they will in their next plainly and openly say from the first Scripture that the Spirits work in us is the matter of our Justification and that the Law is fulfilled in our own persons for our acceptation from the second Scripture I promise them a fuller answer in the mean while we are of this mind that we are not justified by any works done by us in and by the Spirit yet we freely acknowledge that it is Regeneration makes us meet for the Kingdom but not in a way of Merit that is only by the blood-shedding of Jesus Christ but only disposeth us for Heaven without it none shall see the Lord Regeneration is to be distinguished from Justification as the Cause from the Effect Justification the cause of Regeneration if God did not forgive us our sins for the Merit of Christ he would not renew our nature we confess again that the Deity perfects all good in us and for us but them the Humanity is in union with it and acts with it and they must not be put asunder it was the Humanity that was the Offering and Sacrifice he offered himself by the eternal Spirit Heb. 9.14 The Flesh profiteth nothing i. e. alone it is the Spirit that quickneth John 6.63 yet the Flesh of Christ is the Organ and Instrument in by and with which Christ performs all his Mediatory works of Redemption and these two Natures are but one Person and whatever was done by the Spirit in the hearts of any before Christs manifestation in Flesh it was done in reference to and for the Merit of his Incarnation so then in the last place and then we have not left a hoof of an exception behind when I pray that the Spirit would settle strengthen preserve I believe that the Spirit is given
thus to work because Christ died for us John 16.17 If I go not away the Comforter will not come it is given by vertue of Christs entring with his Blood into Heaven by this time the things I have written the Reader will see consist well together There remains nothing now but some bitter scornful Reflexions let us patiently hear them with my Answers Pag. 15. This man say they can cast the Law of the Spirit behind his back and yet plead he is justified by the Imputation of Christs Personal Righteousness O gross Hypocrisy Answ Could the Quakers at Hartford prove against me the wilful breach of the Law of God that I did indulge my self in or that I had preched or written only for the Imputation of Christs Personal Righteousness for Justification and not for Holiness of Life and Sanctification they might then indeed speak at this rate but if they cannot it is no less than a notorious slander I can say through Grace as the Apostle I know nothing by my self as to any known sin I live in with him will I say again yet am not I hereby justified but be that judgeth me is the Lord 1 Cor. 4.4 I live in the observance of the Moral Law but yet I dare not plead this for acceptance with God knowing I come not up to perfection but my prayer to God shall be that of Davids Psal 143.2 Enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified I will take up that of Job Job 9.15 Whom though I were righteous yet would I not answer but I would make supplication to my Judge Vers 21. Though I were perfect yet would I not know my soul believing with that perfect and upright man of whom God gave this Testimony There was none like him on Earth one that feared God and escewed evil Job 1.8 believing what he said would prove true Job 9.30 31. If I wash my self with snow water and make my hands never so clean yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch and mine own cloaths shall make me to be abhorred and is this a crime must this be censured for gross Hypocrisy was David Job Paul or the Pharisee the Hypocrite The Pharisee justified himself and despised the Cross of Christ and went about to make his own righteousness to stand Job and David confessed their sins and so did Paul Phil. 3.9 Counting all dung for Christ not having his own Righteousness which was of the Law but was very much for Imputation he names it ten times at least in the fourth of the Romans have the Quakers at Hartford attained to such a perfection in Holiness by the Law of the Spirit and is it discernable in their Converse and Trading that they have no need of the Imputation of Christs Righteousness but deride it and make a scoff at it The Lord have mercy on them They jeer me for any Apology to Sir John Hartop Pag. 16. in case that I had not worded things in my Book so congruously as I might that he would bear with me they say this is a Salve for all my distracted and incongruous works Answ Had I been one of these infallible Doctors I need not to have apologized but I pretend not to Infallibility especially in words I am not ashamed to speak in humility of my self and of my own labours and to think what I say not to pretend only as they suggest remembring what the great Apostle said of himself 1 Cor. 2.3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling and that he with others of his fellow Apostles and Labourers in the Ministry did but know in part and prophesie in part Eph. 6.19 20. He was not too proud to desire the Christians prayers for a door of utterance that he might open his mouth and speak the Mystery of the Gospel boldly as he ought to speak But the People of Hartford are to perswade me to be quiet among my neighbours and the Quakers would have them give me no more money for keeping Christ and them at a distance The present Incendiaries need no more they had done their work could they by any means take off the Watch from their duty the King of France had done his work could any perswade the Dutch to be quiet and to give their Souldiers no more pay could the Wolf prevail with the Sheep that the Spepherd might stay at home it would make well for him The false Apostles did all they could to exclude the true Apostles that they themselves might be affected Gal. 4.17 I would if possible live peaceably with all men but is it possible while there is another Jesus and another Gospel set up at Hartford Paul and Luther would have turned the world upside down had they dwelt there it was a great man that said let Heaven and Earth be in confusion rather then one dram of Truth be lost what peace as long as the whoredomes continue but you must give me no Money Simon Magus thought all things in Christs kingdom was carried on by Money therefore he thought to tempt the Apostle with Money Doth not this saying argue the same Spirit its well if their Religion be not propagated that same way we know in a great part it is let me now speak this plain word to you Christians at Hartford the Quakers having administred this occasion to me take heed lest they insnare you by the gain and trade of the world they know they have a hank upon you this way already some of the Town they have won to them by this means others have abated in their zeal for Christ fearing to lose their worldly interest among the Quakers But they say I keep Christ and you at a distance therefore you must give me no Money Answ They acknowledge in many places in their Book that I own Christ to be present by his Spirit in his Saints and do not the People at Hartford witness that I preach this Doctrine among them how then do I keep Christ and you at a distance are not we united to him by the Spirit it is I suppose because I have not yet taught you the Hartford Quakers new notion viz. That the soul of Christs Manhood is in every one of you and in every Saint throughout the world thus they have brought Christ and their Hearers together and deserves Money for their new invention of an Immense Infinite Invisible Inform Spirituous Manhood that can pierce doors and then be sure come into your bodies a Manhood turned all into Soul or an Angel or into Wind Fancy Nothing Last of all They tell me I boast in saying my Book is unanswered by them they say it is not strictly true for an answer hath been written a long time but not published Answ If I say the Sun was not risen at four of the Clock this morning it is not may these men say strictly true in that it was shining at that hour