ELECTION AND REPROBATION Scripturally and Experimentally Witnessed unto c. Wherein the Love of God in Christ is Freely and Clearly held forth to all Mankind Given forth in tender Love for a general Good but more particularly for the Comfort of all who in Sincerity seek after the pure God with Desires to walk in his Holy Undefiled Way Also Divers other weighty things needful to be duely considered and rightly understood witnessed unto as aforesaid By one who travails in Spirit for the gathering of the scattered Nations who are like troubled Waters out of their Sins home unto God by Christ Jesus the good Shepherd William Gibson Look unto me and be ye saved all the Ends of the Earth for I am God and there is none else a mighty God a Saviour c. Isa 45. 22. God's Will is that all men might be saved Christ gave himself a Ransom for all 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to Repentance but after the hardness and Impenitency of thy Heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the Day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgments of God who will render to every man according to his Deeds Rom. 2. 4 5 6. Printed in the Year 1678. An Epistle to the Reader Reader REmember the Command and Example of Christ Jesus and obey and follow the same who said Learn of me I am Meek and Lowly and ye shall find Rest to your Souls if thou takest his counsel and followst his example then thou wilt read in meekness and lowliness of Mind and if thou so read I question not but what I have writ in this following Testimony will meet with an answer in thy Conscience and some benefit may come to thee thereby and if so it come to pass it will be matter of true rejoycing to me for I do take great pleasure in the Well-being of the Sons and Daughters of men every way both in Soul and Body It is certain that the Holy Glorious Lord God of Heaven Earth doth give Life and a Being upon Earth unto all mankind for one and the same purpose even that all should serve him with their Souls and with their Bodies which are his it is equitable in God to require this service therefore saith the holy Apostle This is your reasonable service at this the Law of God directly pointed given by Moses unto the Family of Abraham after through sin man-kind was fallen from God saying Hear O Israel Thou shalt have no other Gods but me thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind this is the first and greatest Commandment and the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Christ Jesus in the days of his Flesh did not only ratifie and confirm this and commend the same to his Disciples and to the Multitude but also opened or expounded the latter yea enlarged the same unto his Disciples saying Love your Enemies do good to those who do despightfully use you and persecute you Christ said to the Jews Think ye I came to destroy the Law I tell ye nay I came not to destroy but to fulfill those who did believe in him and receive him he did endue with power to love God with all their Heart Soul and Mind and their Neighbours as themselves yea to love and pray for their Enemies and it s written as many as receiv'd him to them he gave power to become the Sons of God and those Believers in him who received him into their hearts by Faith were not born of flesh nor of blood nor of the will of man but of God these were born of the Spirit and led by it and they are the Children of God who are led by the Spirit of God as the Apostle saith Christ Jesus through the Grace Favour and tender Mercy of God the Father tasted death for Every man as saith the holy Apostle and Christ saith I am the Light of the World mark that he is not only the Life and Light of his Disciples whom he hath gathered out of the World who are not of the world as he saith and therefore the world doth hate them but he is also the Light of the World which lieth in wickedness and by his light shining in their dark hearts he lets them see their sins and reproves them thereby and calls of them thereby to Repent Christ saith Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light and will not bring their deeds unto it but every one that doth Truth bringeth his deeds unto the Light that they may be made man fest that they are wrought in God who is LIHGT as saith the holy Apostle John and he saith Christ is the propitiation for our sins and not for our sins only but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD mark that he is the common and universal Saviour who died for all lighteth all and is the propitiation or Intercessor provided for all but none can have the benefit of his Death or Life or his Light or of his Mediatorship unto their Eternal Salvation without Faith in him Abraham saw his day and believed in him and was glad and the Fathers under the Law and before the Law believed God and his Promises which are all yea and amen in him the Gentiles who had not the Law in the outward Letter did the things contained in the Law shewing the deeds of the Law written in their hearts as saith the Apostle by vertue of his enlightning enlivening presence they were naturalliz'd or made naturally to do the things contained in the Law and so were made partakers of that nature which is Divine of which nature the true Believers were and are made partakers as the holy Apostle saith here take notice that nature or the nature of man considered as he is in the fall from God man in and by this nature fallen corrupted and degenerated into a plant of a strange Vine unto God in this estate in this nature he cannot do the things contained in the Law of God but contrariwise as the Apostle saith the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him therefore those who without the Law in the outward Letter do the things contained in it these deeds are done by the verture of the heavenly and divine nature or spirit of the Lamb of God who as John Baptist saith cometh to take away the sins of the World Mark the sins of the World So it is certainly true which Christ Jesus saith without me ye can do nothing and this of old was and now is as true in and among the Gentiles as among the Jews there is not Salvation in any other there is no name given under Heaven by which any can be saved but by him whom the Father hath given to be
concerning Christs putting an End to the Work of the Law we do NOT believe that Christ has put an end to the Command of God who said Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and thy Neighbour as thy self Thou shalt do no Murther Thou shalt not Steal nor Covet any thing that is thy Neighbours Thou shalt not bear False Witness nor remove the Antient Land-mark c. But we believe that Christ fulfills these Commands in all them that through Faith and Obedience grow up in him who is the true Vine by leading them to do those before-mentioned things which God Commands so the true Christians cease from the Shadows and in Christ by his Vertue and Power do Love God with all their Hearts and their Neighbour as themselves on which Commands as Christ saith hang all the Law and the Prophets Mat. 22. 40. Concerning Perfection IN page 24. J. B. saith speaking to the People called Quakers You hold that Perfection in degree is attainable in this Life Answ We do own the command of God who said unto Abraham I am God all-sufficient walk thou before me and be thou Perfect We say God was sufficient to enable him to keep his command and we believe he did so And we do believe the Command of Christ who said Be ye therefore perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect And we do believe it is possible to keep this command of Christ by and through the Virtuous spiritual Presence of Christ in and with the believing DILIGENT SOUL And we do believe that the Gifts which were and are given for the PERFECTING of the Saints did and do accomplish that for which they were and are GIVEN The Apostle said We Labour that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus And we do believe that many were perfected in Christ Jesus though some Crucified Christ unto themselves afresh and put him to open shame as the Apostle saith We do believe the holy Apostle who said Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is Born of God Now as to J. B's Charge That we hold forth and own that Perfection in degree is attainable in this Life I Answer The Word Degree concerning Perfection is neither our Word nor did I ever read it in the Scriptures of Truth as used by him concerning Perfection But this word Degree he hath thrust into his Charge against us thinking no doubt thereby to make it the more strong but all his labour is in vain He doth not declare what he meaneth by the word DEGREE but if by Degree he mean a freedom from acting or committing Sin such a Perfection we do believe is attainable in this Life by and through the mighty working of God and Christ in men and women and this is according to the command of God Christ the Doctrine and Experience of the holy Apostles But if by the word Degree J. B. mean a Perfection of Glory in the HIGHEST attainment of Glory that can EVER be enjoyed then we DEEM that such a Perfection is attainable in this Life or while we dwell here upon Earth For WE are of the same Faith the holy Apostle was of who when he was near to depart out of this World said I have fought a good fight I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the Righteous Judge shall give unto me at that day and not to me only but to all those that love his appearance J. B. hath taken upon him to interpret the Apostle John's words who saith Whosoever is Born of God doth not commit Sin he cannot Sin c. J. B. saith The meaning of these Words can be but this Whosoever is Born of God doth not make it his practice to Sin Answ What Confusion Falsness and Nonsence is this to say that he who commits Sin doth not practise Sin this is horrible abuse and wresting the holy Scriptures which God will bring him to Judgment for and if he do not Repent and cease from such Ungodly silly work as this he will bring Destruction upon himself As I do understand this J. B. is one of that sort of men who do in their Confessions tell the Lord God that they do Sin in their most holy Duties Now if their most holy Duties have Sin in them then there is Sin in all those other things which they call Duties and consequently in their Actions which they do not account Holy Duties and so they make it their Practice to Sin and so according to his own Argument Such who make it their Practice to Sin are not born of God But to speak his mind more fully I do apprehend his meaning is that the Children of God do not commit so much Sin as the Children of the Devil do Answ When the Apostle saith He that is Born of God doth not commit Sin he also saith He that commits Sin is of the Devil In the next verse he saith In this is the Children of God manifest and the Children of the Devil c. 1 John 3. 10. J. B. I ask thee dost not thou believe that God is GREATER then the Devil why then must Sin needs be in those who are Born of God as thou wouldst have it Oh that thou saw thy Blasphemy herein it would surely make thee ashamed and bring Sorrow upon thee But if in thy judgment those whom God BEGETS who are BORN of him must commit Sin and live in it all their dayes and Sin in their most Holy Duties I ask what DIFFERENCE dost thou put between God's Children and the Devil's Children whom he begets and who are Born of him for the Devil hath a Generation of whom he is the Father as Christ said see John 8. 44. For we believe that he that is Born of God is REGENERATED that is washed and cleansed through the virtue of the holy Spirit of Christ which is shed abroad abundantly in the Hearts Souls of the true Believers by virtue of this growing up in it as the Branches in the living Vine are they redeemed out of the ACT of Sin and have dominion given them in and by Christ over IT and the Devil who is the Author of it and such can say as the Apostle said Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the World to wit the Wicked BY WHOM we overcome them and such can say as the Apostle said Of my self I can do nothing but I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me and such can say as the Apostle said We are CONQUERORS and more than Conquerors through him that hath loved us and such do know Satan BRUISED under their Feet BY CHRIST the blessed Seed whom God promised should bruise his HEAD and the Apostle told the Believers in Christ That God whom they waited for should suddainly come and
divine Life and Spirit he enlightneth all He is the Propitiation saith the Apostle John not for our Sins only but for the Sins of the whole World Reader this is the COMMON Salvation that Jude speaketh of in the beginning of his Epistle to believe in the Light as aforesaid is true Belief or true Faith which the Apostle Paul speaketh of to Titus saying Titus My own Son after the COMMON Faith Grace Mercy Peace from God the Father c. Titus 1. 4. Of this Faith Jude speaketh in his Epistle this was and is the common Faith For this Faith the true Christians stood or contended against all the false Faiths among the Jews and Heathens and Apostate Christians for this Faith do the true Christians now stand against them all and in this Faith is the Victory over all false Faiths and evil things see 1 John 5. 4. This is the true and living Faith which is attended with Works of Righteousness a Godly Holy Conversation c. according to the Testimony of the Apostle James This is the Faith which worketh by Love which purisieth the Heart the Mystery of which is held in a pure Conscience see 1 Tim. 3. 9. In this Faith is the command of God kept who saith Be ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy In this is the Doctrine of the holy Apostle fulfilled who exhorted saying As he who hath called you is Holy so be ye Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. The Apostle Paul saith by the holy Ghost God hath made of one Blood all Nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the buonds of their Habitation that they should seek the Lord c. because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead It is rendred in the Margin He hath offered faith unto all men see Acts 27. 26 31. Again Paul saith to Timothy Now the end of the Commandment is Charity or Love out of a PURE HEART and of a GOOD Conscience and of Faith UNFEIGNED from which some having swarved have turned aside unto vain Jangling 1 Tim 1. 5 6. Again Paul saith to the Galatians For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but FAITH which worketh by LOVE see Gal. 5. 6. The Apostle Peter by the holy Ghost saith That God put NO difference between the Jews and Gentiles but PURIFIED both their Hearts by Faith see Acts 15. 6. Again Paul said to the believing Thessalonians Your Faith GROWETH exceedingly see 2 Thes 1. 3. Again to the Galatians The FRUIT of the Spirit IS Faith c. see Gal. 5. 22. The Apostle James signified by the holy Ghost unto the twelve Tribes of the Jews the UNIVERSAL LOVE of God saying If any of you lack Wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to ALL MEN LIBERALLY and obraideth NOT and it shall be given him let him ask in Faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a Wave of the Sea driven with the Wind and tossed c. A double-minded man is unstable in all his wayes James 1. 5 6 8. Again the Author to the Hebrews saith Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience c. Heb. 10. 22. Again the same Author saith Now Faith is the Substance of things hoped for the evidence of things NOT seen for by IT the Elders obtained a good report through Faith WE UNDERSTAND that the World was framed by the WORD of God So that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear by Faith Abel offered unto God a more acceptable Sacrifice than Cain c. by Faith Noah being warned of God of things NOT seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark to the saving of his House by the which he condemned the World and became HEIR of Righteousness which is by Faith by Faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which after he should receive for an Inheritance obeyed c. for he looked for a City which hath a Foundation whose Builder and MAKER is God through Faith also Sarah received strength to conceive Seed and was delivered of a Child when she was past Age BECAUSE she judged him faithful who had promised therefore sprang there even of one and him as good as dead so many as the Stars of the Skey in multitude c. These ALL dyed IN the FAITH c. by Faith Abraham when he was TRYED offered up Isaac and he that had received the Promises offered up his only begotten Son of whom it was said In Isaac shall the Seed be called accounting that God was ABLE to raise him up even from the DEAD from whence also he in a Figure received him by Faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come by Faith Jacob when he was dying blessed both the Sons of Joseph by Faith Moses when he was Born was hid c. by Faith Moses when he was come to YEARS refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter CHUSING rather to SUFFER Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the PLEASURES of Sin for a SEASON esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater RICHES than the TREASURES in Aegypt for he had a RESPECT unto the Recompence of REWARD by Faith he forsook Aegypt NOT fearing the Wrath of the King for he endured as SEEING him who is INVISIBLE by Faith Israel passed through the Sea as by dry Land c. by Faith the Walls of Jericho fell down c. by Faith the People of God LIVED unto HIM through ALL Ages in all Afflictions Persecution Tortures and Punishments whatsoever see Heb. 11. read it through Abraham believed in God and it was counted unto him for Righteousness know ye therefore saith the Apostle that they which are of Faith the same are the Children of Abraham Note Reader God fore-determining to justifie the Heathen through Faith preached before the Gospel unto Abraham saying In thee shall all Nations be blessed So that they which be of Faith are blessed with faithful Abraham see Gal. 3. 6 7 8 9. Gen. 12. 3. Again Now to Abraham and his Seed was the Promises made He saith not and to Seeds as of many but as of one and to thy Seed which is Christ see Gal. 3. 16. Which Christ who was of the Seed of David and Abraham according to the Flesh as he is the eternal word he is the true spiritual and divine Light who lighteth every one that cometh into the World according to John 1. 9. 8. 12. 12. 46. as is shewed before The Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father John 15. 26. and 16. 8 9 10 11 13. which doth Convince the World of
Repent and turn to the Lord from these abominable things that so they might not be forever shut out of the Kingdom of God! O that the Inhabitants of England and all Nations would believe in God that made them who is spiritual Light who is a holy pure Spirit who is Omnipresent or present every where who said Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my Foot-stool c. see Isa 66. 1. read the Chapter through 1 King 8. 27. his pure Spirit lighteth every one that cometh into the World O that the great multitudes in England and all Nations who are in Strife and Contention Hatred and Envying Murthering and Killing one another about Religion and about Earthly things WOULD BELIEVE in this Heavenly Spirit that enlightneth them which giveth them to understand in some measure or degree what is Good and also what is Evil O that they would bow down unto it and become subject unto the leadings and teachings of it then would it teach them to love one another NOT to be like Cain who slew his Brother because his own works were evil and his Brothers righteous but it would teach them to do to all men as they would be done unto as God hath commanded yea it would teach them as it did good Joseph who was kind unto his Brethren who was cruel to him who sold him to the Ishmalites yea it would teach them to overcome the evil with the good as Joseph did and as God commandeth But because Multitudes and Nations believe not in this holy pure peaceable loving and long-suffering Spirit therefore it is that they are as the raging Sea that casts up Mire and Dirt and many are as the cruel merciless Beasts of Prey destroying one another yea many oppressing and seeking to destroy Gods tender People who have true love to all and desire the temporal and eternal good of all who Worship him in his holy Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth the faithful followers of it and because that Vengeance is not executed speedily or suddenly for these crying Abominations therefore are the Hearts of the Sons of men fully set in them to do Evil as it was of Old see Eccles 8. 11. and because it is thus that many have given up themselves to Unbelief and hardness of Heart who have closed their Eyes and stopped their Ears against the Convictions and Reproofs of this pure meek merciful and compassionate Spirit of God and Christ whom he hath sent and have given up themselves to work Wickedness with greediness therefore there is great cause to take up a dolefull Lamentation and Mourning and those whom God hath made skilfull in Mourning who greatly desire the Salvation of the Multitudes Tongues Languages and People these have Mourned and do Mourn to see Multitudes running on swiftly toward the Pit of everlasting Destruction suddenly to be sunk into it Thus as of Old many say in their Hearts unto the Almighty God Depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes Thus they hate the knowledge of God they do not chuse his holy fear which is the beginning of the pure peaceable Wisdom which cometh from above as saith the holy Scriptures see Job 21. 14. read the Chapter through see Prov. 1. 4 7 22 29. read the Chapter through Well said the Apostle Peter Our beloved Brother Paul in all his Epistles writes things which are hard to be understood which they who are Vnlearned Vnstable wrest as they do the other Scriptures unto their own DESTRUCTION Peter was an Illiterate man and so an Unlearned man in Natural or Artificial Learning of Tongues and Languages but he was a man of great Learning in the Heavenly Spiritual School of Christ all who come to learn of Christ Paul and Peters heavenly Master they are taught by to understand their Words and to have unity with them and such are of one mind concerning them But they who are not yet come to learn of Christ as he is the Light of the World they are not come to a right understanding of the holy mens Words which are Recorded in the holy Scriptures and this is the cause that they are not of one mind concerning them but in very many contrary minds and in tumultuous Controversies about the meanings of them Paul doth say as is shewed before that God's Will is that ALL men should know the Truth and be SAVED This have I written in the love of God concerning Election and Reprobation for the Comfort and Encouragement of all those who are weary of and heavy laden with their Sins who hunger and thirst after Righteousness that they may come to Christ Jesus who dyed for them and rose again and ascended as it is written of him in the Scriptures of Truth who hath promised that he will give them Rest see Matth. 11. 28 29 30. This is also written as a Warning unto those who are at ease in their Sins flattering themselves speaking Peace unto themselves in their Unchristian Conversations and pleading for a necessity of continuing in the act of Sin unto the end of their dayes upon Earth and yet vainly imagin that they are the Elect and Chosen of God Jesus said I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but he shall have the Light of Life The Pharisees therefore said unto him Thou bearest Record of thy self and thy Record is NOT true But Jesus said unto these Unbelieving Jews If ye believe NOT that I am he ye shall die in your Sins whither I go ye CANNOT come see John 8. 12 24. Note Reader These great professing Pharisees Opposed Christ Jesus and denyed him to be the Light of the World Too like these Pharisees are many Teachers high Professors of Christ in Words in our Age who though they will talk much of Christ as he was born and dyed and rose again according to the Flesh yet can they not endure to hear him preached as he preached himself and as the holy Apostles preached him to wit the Light of the World the true Light which lighteth every one that cometh into the World This is the Stone which all the Builders do reject and set at nought who build up their VAIN Religions Faiths and Worships in the Serpentine Earthly Devilish Wisdom in Murther Cruelty Oppression and Idolatry but when this Stone falls on them in Judgment it will grind them all to Powder see Luke 20. 17. Psal 118. 22. Mat. 21. 24. O Blessed will all they be who come unto and believe in this Living Stone their hard Hearts shall be broken by it and made soft and tender and thereby be made fit to enter into the Kingdom of God into which nothing that is Unclean can enter and their sins that are past though they be many God will freely Pardon Remit and Forgive them in his tender Mercy and forbearance in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself a Ransom for
in his own Spirit and Power feed the Flock of God and Christ Secondly That they did and do take the over-sight of the Flock not by Constraint but willingly God makes them willing by his heavenly power they are NOT made willing by Gold or Silver Corn or Cattel or any earthly thing neither do they AFFECT Titles of Eldership in Pride or Vain Glory but the False Teachers and Elders are made willing to Preach for Gold and Slver Corn and Cattel and Earthly things how such affect Titles Earthly things more then the true Elders WORK is known to God and it is discerned by many in this Morning of his heavenly Day which is dawned in this our Age glory to the Lord God for the same Such who feed with the Fat and cloath with the Wooll and make a PREY upon the People are in Balaams Way and Error who covet the Wages of Unrighteousness yea many in Cains way in Envy Persecuting about these things some even to Death and for these things they strive one against another the strife is who shall have the fattest Benefice The TRUE Elders and Ministers did not nor do not take the oversight of the flock of God for FILTHY LUCRE but of a ready mind which God begetteth in them by his good Spirit FILTHY Lucre is Earthly gain ILL GOTTEN Christ Jesus commanded his Disciples whom he made Elders to watch over his Church saying Freely ye have received freely give Those who esteem themselves Christs Ministers yet take the over-sight of their Flocks and watch over them and teach them for Gold Silver Corn Hay c. this their Gain is ungodly it is Ill gotten because in the getting of it they break Christs Command whose Servants they pretend to be and in so doing they greatly dishonour him Yet still the Ministers of Christ have power to eat such as is set before them freely but not to force or compel by Persecution those who did or do receive Spiritual things from them the Spirit of God makes such willing there is no use for outward Force and Persecution in this concern so then to be sure they had not power by outward Force to compel those who did not believe nor receive their Testimony or to pay them for preaching though the true Apostles and Elders had power to eat c. and where they did sow Spiritual things to reap Carnal yet they laboured with their own hands that they might make the Gospel without charge so far were they from desiring or receiving any outward thing for preaching from Unbelievers that they laboured with their own hands that they might not be chargeable to the Believers No the Ministers and Elders who were and are made by Christ were and are men of nobbler Spirits then to do so The true Elders and Ministers were not nor are not Lords over God's Heritage but were and are good Ensamples and true Servants to the Flock And their Exhortation was and is to walk as they had and have them for Ensamples Glory to the Lord for the same The faithful Elder and Apostle Paul by the holy Ghost exhorted Timothy saying Be thou an Example of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity Neglect not the Gift that is in thee c. take heed unto thy self and unto the Doctrine continue in them for in so doing thou shalt save both thy self and them that hear thee see 1 Tim. 4. 12. to the end Again Chap. 5. 22. Lay Hand suddenly on NO man neither be partaker of other mens Sins KEEP thy self PURE c. They are blessed who follow the blessed Example of the Lord Jesus Christ and his holy Apostles and the Elders made by him who abide in his Doctrine and in the Faith which he is the Author and Finisher of and in the love which reacheth to all People both Friends and Enemies which Love thinketh no Evil neither doth any Wrong or Evil which Love is stronger than Death it is not puffed up it doth not behave it self unseemly This Love is the fulfilling of the holy Law of God as saith the holy Apostle All who keep therein are PLEASANT to the Lord and honoured by him with a truly tendred Heart and lowly mind and with the pure Patience in and through all Tribulation Trials and Affliction which cometh upon them for Christ's sake in which they possess their Souls in peace and quietness being kept by the mighty Power of God through the precious Faith and Love which is shed abroad in them BY and in Christ Jesus He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked see 1 John 2. 6. Concerning Original Sin IN page 10. J. B. takes upon him to say something concerning Original Sin he saith to his Neighbour I understand by you that its contrary to the Doctrine you teach c. Answ The Original or first cause of Sin is the Devil who abode not in the Truth as Christ said The Apostle saith He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose was the Son of God made manifest that he might Destroy the Works of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. Jesus said Whosoever committeth sin is the Servant of sin Joh. 8. 34. J. B. saith to his Neighbour in the aforesaid page You told me you questioned not at all but all those Infants that dyed without actual Sin were received into Heaven having nothing to be laid to their Condemnation Answ J. B's Neighbour hath spoken very Soberly and Charitably and Scripturally and Soundly in this matter though J. B. doth ignorantly Cavil against him for it the Dark Rebellious Apostized Jews were like unto this J. B. they said The Fathers have eaten sowr Grapes and the Childrens Teeth are s t on edge c. These Dark sayings displeased the Lord and he Rebuked them for them by the Mouth of his Servant Ezekiel saying The Soul that sinneth it shall dye the Son shall not bear the Iniquity of the Father neither shall the Father bear the Iniquity of the Son see Ezek. 18. 2 20. read the Chapter through Moreover the Lord said by the Mouth of the Prophet Jeremiah They shall say no more the Fathers have eat a sowr Grape and the Childrens Teeth are set on edge but every one shall dye for his own Iniquity every man that eateth the sowr Grape his Teeth shall be set on edge Jer. 31. 29 30. Thus it plainly appears that little Infants who never acted or committed Sin must not be cast into Hell for their Fathers Sins but dying without actual Sin must inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Jesus called a little Child unto him and set it in the midst of them and said Verily I say unto you except ye be converted and become as little Children ye shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 18. 2 3. Mark 10. 15. Luke 18. 17. Jesus said Suffer little Children and forbid them