spirit to seek Christ the Lord who is that Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. and would lead without to seek him whom none of you can find but within Concerning Light and Life ANd this also thou dare not enter on as it stands but that thou may be seen to say somewhat as though thou opposed me Thou makes a lie of thy own saying that I say that the light shining in every man is Christ a thing never written nor intended by me And when thou hast set up this lie thou fals in hand to confute it to make people believe thou was confuting my words when thou art but declaring in print what deceit hath long been hid in thy own bosome and that the lyar and deceiver is one in thee so having laid thee open I have no more to do in that quarrel having denied the lie and its founder what I have writ stands as it was Onely another error I shall reprove thee of that is thou sayes That all false Religions and errors are bottomed upon the law in the Conscience And this is false and contrary to Scripture for the great mystery of faith that discovers all errors and false Religions is held in the Conscience 1 Tim. 3. 9. And the Apostles rejoycing was the testimony of their Conscience and they did not rejoyce in the ground of errors and by the answer of a good Conscience the Saints are saved by the resurrection of Jesus 1 Pet. 3. 21. and they are not saved by the ground of errors And the law that is written in the Conscience is that which God hath written and the law of the new Covenant of life and light which discovers all errors and which leads to know God as is plain Heb. 8. 10 11. And thou that teaches people that the Law which God hath written within man is the ground of errors teachest blasphemy And this law in spirit is that perfect law of liberty that whosoever looks unto and continueth therein he being a doer of the work that man shall be blessed in his deed Jam. 1. 25. And by this spiritual law of life was the Saints made free from the law of sin and death and the righteousness of this law it was that Christ fulfilled in the Saints who walked after the law of the Spirit and not after the letter of the Law Rom. 8. 1 2 3 4. And this Righteousness which the Saints beleived and waited for to be fulfilled in them is that which thou art preaching against and would have all to shut it out and then the devil might dwell safe within and they that did wait for this righteousness of the law fulfilling in them did not deny the bloud of Christ as thou falsly would accuse us who witness the same Righteousness of saith within and not of the letter without for we know and so did they that none can have this righteousness of faith fulfilled in them but who beleives that one offering once for all and by his blood we have access to that faith by which is declared that everlasting Righteousness of God for Justification to which till then we was strangers and could not come but now have an inheritance therein And as we know that none can come to have this Righteousness wrought in them unless they beleive in his bloud and sacrisice once offered so also we know That none by taking of what was done at Jerusalem and say they beleive in it without this work can be saved as the Scripture saith in plain words James 2. 14. to the end of the chapter which Scriptures may serve to shew thy spirit and what nature thy work is of and thy faith that denies Gods righteousness within to be meer imagination and such a faith none of Gods people ever preached or professed Another peice of confusion I shall mind thee on here in this thou confesseth Christ to be the same word as the Spirit of revelation in us and that so he is the light within us And in thy last thou denyed any to look to the glory of the Godhead shinng forth on man but they must look off from every thing in man so by thy own doctrine we must not look to the glory of the God head shining forth on us nor to the Spirit of revelation nor to Christ the light within us these thou hast forbidden and yet thou would make people beleive thou was a Minister for God and Christ A blind way hast thou made for such as will follow thee who must neither look to glory of the Godhead shining on them nor to Christ in them but they that are wise may compare thy doctrine with Christs and his Apostles in these Scriptures Luke 17. 21. 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. Rom. 8. 9 10 11 12 14. where you may see to what the Saints looked and when it was and where their hope and faith was and whether without or within Col. 1. 27. and where their faith and hope was there was their righteousness wherein they walked and to which they became servants and whereby they became free from sin Rom. 4 but Gods righteousness in man the devil likes not but to talk on and let him keep possession that likes him well and his servants for he that serves Gods Righteousness in his heart can be no servant of sin for his servants you are to whom you obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness Rom 6. 16. And as out of the heart of the wicked proceeds that which defiles because of the blindess of their hearts Ephes 4. So he that keeps his heart with all diligence from thence are the issues of life Prov. 4. 23. and he that hath not righteousness in his heart hath none at all but where the word of faith is known in the heart that mans righteousness is not at a distance nor his salvation to seek for with the heart man beleives unto righteousness but is not that a blind doctrine which preaches God and Christ within but that Righteousness that justifies not in them It seems thou imagines that God when he comes to dwell in man leaves his Righteousness behind him or that righteousness that then is in him is not able to justifie him but the Saints that knew justification knew the gift of righteousness for it Rom. 5. And justification by the Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 11. And everlasting Righteousness brought in whereby transgression is finished Dan. 9. 24. but a generation there is who turn judgement into gall and the fruit of righteousness into bemlock Amos 6. 12. Hearken you stout hearted who are far from righteousness I will bring neer my righteousness and it shall not be far off Isai 46. 12 13. And what I have said may answer to the next also Concerning Righteousness ANd in this like the rest thou first makes a lie of thy own to confute but my words thou canst not enter Thou sayes the sum of our faith is that the imputed Righteousness that justifies is the
I ght within a thing by me never spoken or written Secondly thou sayes That nothing is said by me of Christ manifest in flesh or his crucified body or righteousness that way Poor man how hath wickedness over-run thee to add lie to lie Are not these my words That Righteousness that God accepteth is but one which is his own perfectly fulsilled and manifest in the world in Jesus Christ the Light and Savi ur thereof and that none inherits it surther than they receive the Son of righteousness And is this nothing of Christ but it is no new thing to me to see the refuge of lies with that spirit which now opposeth nor for me to be called a Railer because I will not either say they are truths or find out some finer name to call them than lies But to leave them and go on to thy doctrine thou sayes We are justified without works onely through faith which is as false as the Scripture is true for faith the Apostle Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith onely James 2. 24. And Christ faith By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Math. 12. 37. And not the hearers of the Law but the doers are just before God Rom. 2. 13. Now if these Scriptures be true then thine is false but such is thy blindness that because the Scriptures doth exclude the works of the Law for justification therefore thou wilt exclude the works of faith which are wrought in God also A fine easie way to salvation and well pleasing to you that love your lusts but that neither God nor Scripture knows it nor the Saints practise Further thou sayes He that can but beleive this is perfectly purged and there is no more conscience of sin though yet the feeling of sin I say what is thou now intends feeling of sin but make no conscience Is not this plain Ranting to commit sin and feel it and make no conscience of it this indeed is the ready way to murther the Witness to stop the ear at his reproof and to make shipwrack of a tender conscience and so in time to get it seared and so no more conscience of sin do what you will do but imagine all is pardoned past present and to come let the light in the conscience say what it can hope against hope sayest thou The Righteousness of Christ is a covering upon sin c. I say I know who repents and turns to him he doth But doth Christs Righteousness cover sin to come and whilst men are committing it one day thou wilt find that it is not covered but thou that hast seared thy conscience it will appear when thou shalt cease to deal treacherously with the witness that would have dealt truly with thee but how is Christs Righteousness a covering on thy sin when thy sin is in thy heart and thy cover no nearer than above the Stars If ever God look down upon the earth thou wilt be found naked and the day is upon thee look to it thy Ranting faith hath not long to last and thy cover will be but deceit wo to thee that art covered and not with the Spirit Concerning the word IN this like the rest thou enters with a lie saying That we say the light within all men is the word not minding at all to speak truth thou tels of sin being covered but the liar is openly seen and shames not And when thou hast made one lie thou infers another from it If the Light within every man be the Word then all ages have had the Gospel in equality c. Then thou adds another as false as the rest saying That Truth sayes the Light is the remaining sparkles of the Law and represents God onely under a vail When Truth saith the Life is the Light of men and this is that true Light that lighteth every man that comes into the world John 1. And Christ saith I am the Light of the world he that follows me shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life John 8. 12. And the Saints came to the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus by the light within and this was not onely under the vail which was in the face of Jesus 2 Cor. 4. 6. though vailed to thee who denies the light of the Spirit and sayeth truth sayes it when truth denies thee therein nor hast thou one Scripture that saith so And when thou hast shewed thy Spirit by thy works then thou art forced to confess him to be within his in spirit the word of revelation yet would make two words a word of Reconciliation and a word of Revelation and in dividing this word in to two thou confounds thy self First thou sayes these two are not one without the other then thou sayes the one must finish his work before the other could come and such blind muddy stuffe thou art bewing in but what I write in my book stands as it was Yet thou adds two lies more the first is That we beleive not the word of Reconciliation which thou cals thy first word which is false for though we beleive not two words yet we beleive that one word which is the word of Reconciliation and Revelation and there is not another Thy second lie is of the Light in saying it knows Christ in neither Concerning worship IN this thou sayes that I affirm that the Spirit of Life from God wherein is the mind will and love of God the name power and wisdom of Christ wherewith alone God can be acceptably worshipped is in every man A thing that never entred into my heart but surely friend thou matters not what thou sayes thus to add thy wickedness and false accusations because I say none must follow the traditions of others but as every creature is moved by the presence of the living God do I therefore say that the spirit of God is in every man this conclusion is more wickedness than weakness But to thy doctrine Thou sayes The word of faith sayes that the Law without or Spirit in every man that sayes do this and live are the vail c. I say where doth the word of faith say that the Spirit within is a vail or where doth it call the Spirit within the Law without thou must find a new word for this for the true everlasting Word saith not so but faith There is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding Job 32. 8. but doth not say that that Spirit of God is the vail of which Spirit I am speaking whatever thou pervert it to but is all thy spiritual teaching come to this that the Spirit in which God will be worshipped becomes a vail and that to abide in any law or light whatsoever either from within or without and to be exercised therein as to be redeemed or perfected thereby this they say is to worship God as in
him which is his Seat and Kingdom in this world wherein alone he is known onely in the hearts of his people without which none knows him nor are reconciled to God by him and this is not to deny his Person but to exalt him as King in the heart and conscience for ever for he is worthy whose Kindom is righteousness I know what Christ did in his own person and do own and believe it and that righteousness he therein wrought and how therein he became the onely way to the Father the Truth and the Life and the Light of all the world set up for ever to lead to God and that therein he is the first and the last and there is none besides him with the Father an Advocate Mediator and Intercessor given of the Father into the world to that end that all men through him might be believe and be saved this I own and know and much more But that any can be saved by him without faith and obedience to him and walking in him who is the Way Light and Life onely by thinking they believed what he did at Jerusalem that I deny and that faith which is without works is no more than what the Devils hath which will not save them nor any else but in him is the Redemption not in a talk of him and he that is in sin is not in him for he that abides in him sins not nor hath any the benefit of what he is to a believer but as they receive his light that shews them sin and so turn to him by repentance till then what he is in his own person or hath done is so far from saving any that it is their condemnation that he is come a light into the world and they still walk in darkness and not in him And also whatever the Scripture doth declare of him I own and so do all who in the light dwell from which the letter was given forth and therefore be ashamed of thy lies that thou hast cast upon us in this part of thy book also which are not worth answering being most of them answered and denied in my answer to the other part of thy book to which also thou hast added in this such things as never entred into our hearts to do nor speak which thou most falsly accusest us withal as that we say That the Light which enlightens every man accusing of sin is Christ and God the Eternal and Just One and so the Redeemer and Saviour and the all to be known and believed That the returning into the Light again Man is restored and redeemed as at the beginning When we say It s the Light that leads to the bloud of cleansing c. 1 John 1. 6 7. That this Light as condemning of sin is the bloud and death of the cross the resurrection and second coming of the Son of God That the Law and Gospel Faith and Obedience Death Resurrection Redemption Justification and Sanctification are not things distinct but one and the same within us That we deny the Person of Christ as the object of Faith That we deny Faith it self as the evidence of things not seen That we affirm in effect that Christ is divided That we affirm that Paul and every Christian are crucified and made an offering for himself That we say the Light in every man is Christ the Redeemer That the Law from which Christ came to deliver us is called and worshipped by us as the Redeemer and Spirit That the Quakers say that Christ took on him our nature but not our judgment and sin That Christ died at Jerusalem but as an example but not as a Sacrifice That he did not the work by himself at once but onely shewed the way That we reckon Christ to be such a one as was the Priest and Levite that passed by the wounded man That we deny the dead body and flesh of Christ to be the onely way into the inward life That nothing will serve us but to tear out of your faith and knowledge and profession the bloud of atonement redemption and reconciliation by that our sacrifice once for ever That we deny that Christ in the body of his flesh through that obedience to death be crucified our old man purged away sin made reconciliation for iniquity and perfected for ever all that are sanctified Which thing we do not deny to all that are sanctified but to you who are yet in your sins we do else we should lie as you do That we agree with the Papists in this that works or obedience to some Law or Rule is the way to redemption perfection and God That we deny the Jesus that died and therein by bloud and spirit perfected us for ever by himself That we affirm that God requires the same obedience of our selves as he did of Christ and so we conclude we must be justified by the works of the Law slandering us that we teach Christ onely as an Allegory That we make faith void and the bloud of Christ of none effect And divers more deceits out of thy own blind heart hast thou made up into lies and laid upon us as though we said them when they are but thy own blindness of heart and wilful wickedness in all which it is clearly seen that thou dost not mind any thing of God in thee to guide thy tongue or to lead thee to do as thou wouldest be done by And therefore because thou hast rejected the light of Christ and set thy self by thy lies to oppose it therefore art thou given over to blindness of heart and to make lies thy covering and as thou hast chosen them against the light so shalt thou be filled therewith and covered with thick darkness so into thy bowels be they returned and the truth cleared And as for thy whole work it is judged by all who have the knowledge of the life of God and its workings in them and who hath a love to Righteousness such as know his work and who it is as works it will not change that faith that reveals the workings of redemption and freedom from every particular sin in their measures daily and peace thereby from condemnation by the presence of him that works all their works in them such will not change their faith for a fancy of what thou imagines was done for thee thou knows not when where nor doth the effects thereof appear further than a talk with all the world Onely thy doctrine will be acceptable to such as would be saved but the way of God is too strait who likes not to bear the Cross by which living Redemption is now wrought a Redemption in a talk is very pleasing to such that they may live with the world while they live and be separated from them when they die Also such as have got a wound from the Lord in their hearts and consciences for their selfish wicked wayes to such thy salve of justification from sin before they commit it
Is not that like to be a blind salvation which is within and must not be looked at But it seems thou hast followed thy doctrine in thy practise for hadest thou looked to any thing of God in thy heart or to the answer of a good Conscience it would have put a stop to the numberless number of thy lies and confusion in thy book but a large liberty the Devil hath when nothing must be looked too in the heart or conscience either good or bad to beleive in or follow for salvation out of sin and yet thou sayes We must be saved according to the inward man which inward man must onely be for you to talk on but must not be looked at Thou further sayes That to know Christ onely as within is an error Yet doth not shew how a man might know him otherwise than he is revealed within nor is he known as he ought to be since his Ascention any other way but onely as he revealeth himself in Spirit within onely you imagine you know him who never saw him heard him felt him or understood him otherwise than by his Spirit within and what a knowledge that is which is void of all these is easily seen to them where he is revealed though hear-say Teachers with their litteral knowledge was ever blind But seeing thou sayest It is an error to know him onely within What sayest thou of the A postle doctrine who exhorts to know Christ no more after the flesh 2 Cor. 5. 16 Must not their knowledge then be onely after the Spirit which must be no more after the flesh But however he be known thou hast denied him if he be light either within or without who sayes To abide in any light what soever either from within or without and to be exercised therein as to be perfected thereby or redeemed from sin is to worship God in the flesh Concerning Love ANd thy Charge in this is that I say It is the love of God to the world whereby he hath given every man a light to condemn sin in the flesh and take it away through walking after the Spirit and that this love of God in the creature doth not flatter sin in others c. This Charge is not altogether so false as the rest though not wholly true For I do not say That the light in every man is Gods Son though I own it to be the light of the Son that lighteth every man that comes into the world therefore my words are That God so loved the world that he gave his Son into the world a light to condemn sin in the flesh that the righteousness of God might be fulfilled in the creature and my witness for this is Christ and his Apostles John 3 16. to the 22. Rom. 8. 1 2 3 4 and this thou seems to oppose but dare not plainly deny it onely thou hast power over that of the Charge as far as thy own lie reacheth and no further And to that thou sayes was this great and abounding love in sending his Son no more but God giving a light in all men as though I had said so which is but thine own deceit to set up a lie of thy own to fight with But I say Gods great love is more than the light for he hath given his Son who is not onely that light but to all that beleive therein and follow it he leads them out of darkness thereby and gives them the light of life John 8. 12. who doth not onely condemn sin in the flesh but fulfils the righteousness of the Law in them who walk after the Spirit and this is my restimony of the love of God which was Christs testimony and his A postles and so thy lie be upon thy own head and what I have written stands still unshaken onely thou mutters that any body should be told of their sin and would have us tell people their sins are forgiven and that they are justified and saved and that Christ is come down in your flesh and therein hath quenched anger enmity sin and death with all things that may separate from God And this we may tell to such as thee who openly denies Christ in thy flesh yea and in all other row to do any such thing for salvation from sin so how can we say that Christ is come in your flesh and therein through death hath done all this and not lie especially seeing that you do not onely deny him within you in words but also see the anger enmity sin and death unquenched which hath so far separated thee from God that thou denies God Christ and his Righteousness and all that may be called light in thee for salvation should not we be abominable liars like thee if we should say Christ had done all this in thy flesh thou thy self would prove us liars who denies it both in word and practise And when thou hast thus been teaching us to cry peace even whilest sin is in them to confound thy self in this as in the rest thou sayest There is a generation that flatters and spares in sin them whom the Lord condemns this thou sayes is to justifie the wicked To which I say were thou not heart blind and so knows not what thou speaks thou would never set us on crying peace where God cries wo in the Conscience for living in sin least we justifie the wicked and be guilty of that abomination thoutels of Concerning Judgement THy Charge in this is That my words summoned up are that the light in every man condemning sin is the ministration of judgement and condemnation and as it is received is salvation and redemption from all uncleanness c. To which I answer Deceit hath summed them up and hath thrust in it self amongst them as in the rest Have I said That the light in every man is salvation and redemption Let them that reads what I have said judge of thy dealing herein for my words are That true judgement as it is known to men is a gift from the Spirit of God set in the heart of every one that dwels in the light of Christ and this is far from thy sayings who would make people beleive that I say That the light as it is in every man is salvation and redemption for there be many that will not be led to the Redeemer therewith nor to the Spirit of judgment but deny all light within and without as thou doest and to these it is condemnation and not salvation but to all that own the Spirit of judgment which passeth upon that which is contrary to the Life of God such come to be redeemed with judgment and to such as abide therein doth light and salvation spring up to the redeeming the heart from all uncleanness as I have writ in my Book which thou canst not contradict And in thy doctrine thou sayest That as Christ in every age hath come forth more or less so in this age he will come forth in righteousness
and salvation and that he will judge the works of the Law as well as the lusts of the flesh and that the spirit of Christ in his people shall judge both Angels and mens spiritual and fleshly wickness To which I say Some of this is truth and we shall try the rest First What work of the Law is it that God will judge doest thou intend that law by which thou confessed before all that believe are justified from that from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses If thou intend that Law I deny thy doctrine for the works of that Law of the Spirit of life by which we are justified are the works of Christ where with he fulfils the Law in his Saints and so are works of the Spirit and shall never come into judgement and if thou mean not that Law to me it matters not I shall not contend with thee about any other of thy imaginations And whereas thou tels of Christs coming forth in this age in righteousness and salvation and to judge and that it is the Spirit of Christ in his People that must be the Judge both of Angels and men in this his appearance Hast not thou in the rest of thy Book as much as in thee lies done what thou canst to oppose this his appearance who hast all along denied any thing within to be looked unto for righteousness salvation and judgement yea and ere thou get out of the same thing thou art contradicting it again and sayes Law or form or light within are the principles of judgment with most But sayest thou It is a small thing for the spiritual man to be judged by any of these What confusion is this of thine thou bringest forth in opposition to the light Must the Spirit of Christ in his people judge both Angels and men spiritual and fleshly and yet thou speaks scornfully of the light within and thrusts it in with law and form to make it odious It seems thou canst not endure that the Spirit of Christ should be called light in his people it must be darkness there it seems or else not owned by thee Another lie thoutels of John saying That he did not call to the light within every man and sayest no Prophet spake of him by the light c. But it seems thou hast not much read the Prophets or else art wickedly ignorant for all that read them may find them prophesying of a Covenant of light and John saith who saw him this is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Concerning Perfection ANd after thy usual manner thy first work is a lie saying That my principal matter is that perfection is that gift or light in every man Another lie is that I say Imperfection came in by the ministry of Antichrist When the matter of my words are That God and Christ is perfection and doth not say the gift is perfection yet I own that every gift of God is perfect yet God himself the perfection of all I also say that imperfection came in by the Devil and maintained by his Ministers who uses all means to supplant truth where it is and to keep up imperfection in the world And thy lies being taken away the truth stands untouched though many words thou usest yet dare not deny what I have written in the least particular Onely thou asks some questions which thou hast raised out of thy own brain not at all what I say Thy Questions are first Was Christ in the flesh no more than a Preacher or example of perfection 2. Was that fulness of the Godhead in him no more than such a light as God hath set up in every man 3. Or was his bearing of our sins and the wounds for our iniquities no more but to shew how we should bear them in our selves I say Yes He was more than all these three for he in himself alone wrought redemption broke through all difficulties opened the way of life for all Creatures became a Sacrifice acceptable to the Father and triumphed openly over death the grave and hell and much more that may be spoken of him which he did in his own person and not onely so but is now an everlasting offering from generation to generation an everlasting light preached in every Creature whereby they may receive the faith which without it they cannot whereby to see him in themselves appearing from heaven in Spirit as Leader and Teacher Judge and Law-giver and in his light to lead and his life to strengthen all that beleive in the same way wherein he walked in his own person who left an example when he ascended for all to follow which will be saved which none can follow nor be saved but who are led by his light and quickened by his Spirit within them though they talk never so much of him at Jerusalem without them And this is that which the Devil is an enemy to to wit that Christ should be owned in the hearts of any as Leader Teacher King and Law-giver and with his light to enlighten every dark part thereof so that every motion of God is seen and received and every motion of the Devil is seen and resisted even unto blood here is little hope for the Devils Kingdom where this light is received and followed there the soul is redeemed from the deeds of the devils darkness therefore he sets on work all his instruments wherein he hath any interest to cry out against this light within for if this light shine in the heart then his seat must be discovered and the knowledge of God seen in the face of Jesus and as any come to know God in the light they will be led out of his service so you stand up from all Quarters who wear his dark livory crying out against the light of Christ within charging all not to hearken to any voice within nor mind any thing there good nor bad that he may keep that place for his kingdom And to him you are faithful to the uttermost of your power who are all gathered together in this day of battel to fight against the Light of which thou art not the least who cryest out against all light whatsoever either from within or without for any to be exercised in for freedom from sin But are you not blind above all that ever was before you who have so many Scriptures declaring the Lambs war against all sorts of Spirits yet never find them warring against the Spirit of light but with that Spirit of light in them did they make warr against the Prince of darkness and all his dark principles in his children Foolish men how long will it be before you look at your feet and what way you are going and try your selves whose message you carry who are preaching that which none of you have seen for salvation The Saints message was the light both for fellowship and to lead to the bloud of cleansing John 1. 6 7.
But thy message is not any thing which is called light whatsoever either from within or without for redemption and here thou art seen to be he that preaches another Gospel They preached the Gospel of light and thy Gospel is no light whatsoever so thou art accursed and they that follow thee in that faith which denieth all light whatsoever Concerning Obedience IN this thou makes divers things of thine own never spoken nor thought by me thou sayes They are the sum of things spoken by me which indeed are but the foam of thy slanderous spirit As first As to be guided in obedience to the spirit or light within us as Christ was by the Spirit of the Father in him that is the righteousness of Christ that the Father cals for the same obedience of the beleiver as of Christ and that I say we are perfectly justified by Christs obedience when we perform obedience in the same measure he did And divers other untruths hast thou forged thereby to slander the truth as though I held forth two obediences as one of Christs and another of the Creatures And that the Creature must come up as high in his obedience as Christ did in his and such like wicked stuffe thou utters as one having sold thy self thereto bending thy tongue like a bow for lies to shoot at the truth in secret but thy arrows must peirce thy own bowels and the Archer into the wilderness must be driven but the truth shall stand for ever And all that reads what I have written may see that I have denied all sorts of obedience from Scriptures or others wrought by man or in mans will and owns onely that everlasting obedience that is in Christ to which every one must give up themselves as is oftentimes repeated by me That it is no more we that live but Christ that liveth in us and no further than we partake of his obedience in us are we accepted with the Father as Obedient children which might have stopt the mouth of the Liar hadst thou not done it wickedly And when thou hast done thou pretendest to reprove thy lying slanders with the same spirit of slander giving out filthy words of thine own as though I had lifted up my self equal with the Person of Christ to persorm the same obedience for the purging away of sin c. Oh thou full of all subtilty and wickedness where did I ever set up my self equal with Christ or ever set up any obedience of mine distinct from his or ever spoke of self obedience for the purging away of sin canst thou behold this thy wickedness and not be ashamed or didst thou think ever to account for thy words thy heart could not but tremble at this wickedness but the devil having set up an opinion in thee of being justified without faith or repentance for all thy sins past present and to come like the Pope hath given thee a dispensation to wickedness so that there is now no stop to thy tongue whatsoever he moves thee to say for to advance his kingdom of darkness thou art ready at his command Thou sayes Thou art one of the least in thy Fathers house But it seems by thy language thou hast been an apt Scholler and very diligent in his service and thou must look for thy wages when thy work thou hast finished Thou cals them Pagans who design not to know another way to divine glory than Christ did and sayes That way is but the depth of Satan Oh thou blasphemer Is it the depth of Satan to follow Christ in his way and not to design another Sure the other way thou hast designed is lying and deceit for that way I find thee in but the Way Christ Jesus I own and so far as I am led therein by the same power so I walk and it is not I but Christ in me who is the Way and the Life whose way is not without a Mediator as thou would make it to cover thy blasphemy for calling it a depth of Sathan for if that way he walked in was without a Mediator then was there a time when he was not a Mediator Thou asks me If I have not the fulness of the Godhead in my self I say In self it is not but of Christ I receive of the same fulness And many other Questions thou asks which are all in him wherein is my treasure walking in the same way who is the mystery to be beleived and example to be followed which is not two things as thou falsly sayes but one Thou sayes He put an end to the enmity and all evils in himself I say That is true but he hath not put an end to it in thee there it lives and reigns as thy lying and confusion may witness Thou sayes As thou art in the second Adam thou neither knows law reason nor sense I say It seems so by thy practise Thou sayes Nothing brings forth Christ more as a Spirit of wisdom power and holiness within thee unto good works then when thou beholds him as made righteousness and sanctification to thee without works I say stop thy mouth and utter not thy confusion Is Christ made righteousness and sanctification to some without works And is he now become the spirit of holiness within thee unto good works who hath so oft denied any thing within to be minded in heart or conscience Other lies thou tels Of dyings and obedience in us being made the way to justification in Christ and that by my doctrine ne are justified as much by the obedience of Paul as by the man Christ And such like fulthy things which follow thy own brain and not my doctrine neither can any honesty gather any such thing there from but the unclean spirit is vexed that I deny a justification before faith and with out righteousness Concerning good works ANd here thou charges me falsly also As that I should hold out the creature obedience unto the light which reproves of sin and is bringing forth the fruits of it for good works and for redemption which is utterly false for my account is that all should wait in the light of Christ and abide in it until the living word they come to hear and receive in their hearts whereby the dead comes to be raised to life which was dead in trespasses and sins and that spiritual man being quickened the power of the Spirit brings forth in him the work of Gods righteousness which was from everlasting and this is another thing than the Creature working onely from that light that reproves sin so that my words doth exhort such to stand still till they see the salvation of God and the word of his power revealed therein by which he must be created or wrought into the good work that he may walk therein Another thing thou sayes that I say the obedience or righteousness in Christ for justification and good works in us are one thing I say That the works of God and righteousness in
9 10. 1 Thes 4. 3. 1 Tim. 2. 4. These with many other Scriptures will prove what I have said prove thy consequence as thou canst Thou sayes also If the second be so then the Law and free grace is the same So by thy doctrine and consequence if that Comforter Christ speaks on which reproves the world of sin and the light of Christ be free grace then the law and free Grace are the same a strange consequence like the former Is not the light of the world free grace John 8. 12. John 16. 8. and the Spirit of God free grace If that be not then what is seeing Christ and the Spirit is denied Further sayest thou If the light God hath put into all men be the gift of grace the gift of heavenly righteousness by Christ wherein is the end of the law and sin heeded I say what thou intends by thy consequence by sin heeded let the Reader judge if he can but that the light is the gift of grace that I own and wert not thou blind thou would not imagine any light of God given to man which is not the gift of grace it must either be of grace or of works and what work hast thou done to obtain the gift of Christ light Thou sayes If the third be so then there is that in the natural man whereby he is able to know and receive the things of the Spirit I say Thy Charge in this is a lie not my words and thy consequence is of the same vote and so to thee I leave them being thy own work to say and gainesay but that the light of Christ who ever minds it and follow it is able to lead to receive the things of the Spirit that I have proved John 8. 12. and divers other places Another deceit to cast a mist over the light is thou sayes The deep things of God his grace in Christ sparkling in the old time now in one promise now in another and foretold by the Prophets whereof the Righteousness of the Fews Philosophers and Grecks knew nothing this cannot be discovered by the clearest light in the natural man I say Here are two deceits covered in this first as though none of the Jews or Saints did discern this before Christ came at Jerusalem the second as though the clearest light with which Christ enlightneth men within could not lead to the discerning of him which are both contrary to Christs words who saith Abraham saw my day and to the Prophets he was born Isaiah 9. 6. And saith Christ I am the light of the world he that follows me shall have the light of life John 8. 12. And so with the words of truth thy mist is driven away and the truth cleared from thy deceits And then as thou begun thy work with lies so thou ends with two lies more thou casts upon us That we level the mystery of the second Adam and the restoring of all things in him to be no other thing but Law and Reason Secondly That we make the death of Christ of none effect and the whole mystery of grace in him But seeing thou dost falsly slander us herein I shall state the case truly as it is in this Question Whether they that believe Christ died at Jerusalem and witness his bloud in them whereby their hearts are sprinkled and washed from lying deceit and pride and uncleanness by the in-dweiling of Christ in them so kept according to the measure of Christ revealed in Spirit Or they who say that Christ died at Jerusalem but deny him in them to redeem and save them from the power of sin or his bloud in them to sprinkle and wash them daily from dead works Or any light of his whatsoever either within or without to be exercised in to freedom and perfection but say they were washed sanctified and justified before they came into the world but in the world are found liars and false accusers and deceitful teachers this being the true case between thee and us I leave it to the wise to judge who it is that denies Christ Jesus the everlasting Priest which abideth for evermore to every generation and who it is that makes his bloud of none effect as to wash away sin and to restore all things to God and whether the effect of the bloud of Christ be to take away sin or to talk on whereby to plead for sin against the present being and effect thereof to wit to keep out of the Devils works Now who owns the bloud of Christ let the effect manifest to all men And know thou that the bloud of Christ is not words not imaginations of what thou never see before thou was born but a living substance which is to be known with its effect to every particular Saint in every generation and such who say they are saved by the bloud of Christ before they were but now are found in their sins are such as deny the bloud of Christ and to them they make it of none effect who are not washed and they who say they was purged sanctified and justified before they were and now when they are are unclean boasts of that they never saw and trusts in a lie for talking what Christ was by the history is one thing which all have and believe and yet abide in condemnation and without further may perish but to learn Christ in the mystery of faith which is held in a pure Conscience is another and onely such know him aright both what he did at Jerusalem and the end of it who follow him now in spirit and have fellowship in his death and sufferings and so attains to his resurrection in the spirit and life and so follow in his life and righteousness such onely confess him and shall not therein be condemned Much more might be said to lay open thy deceits in thy other part of thy book but my life is not to rifle in such heaps of confusion were it not that I am forced to it for clearing the truth from false Teachers who are wholly ignorant of the mystery of faith which is held in a pure Conscience and so know nought but in the natural comprehensions as brute beasts judging of the great mystery of God and his redemption to stand in visibles and carnal things times and places which things in their carnal wisdom they make use on to fight against the spiritual appearance of Christ in the Creature without which there can be neither life nor redemption No Christ himself onely known after the flesh brings no man to God but Christ revealed in spirit from heaven that everlasting Light and Glory of the Father the eternal Spirit and Comforter that could not come till he went away in the flesh And if his presence was not the full accomplishment of the great promise of the Father and the Son but he must go away in the flesh out of their carnal sight no more to be in the world carnally but in