Brethren and Love to God and Christs But this way he denied and said Men make Idols of them and worship Stones and Stocks and such as put them on this way of 〈…〉 Priests Mr. Thomas 〈…〉 Dowly attested Mr 〈…〉 Sanctification is no Evidence of Justification Mr. Bland 't was also said Mr. Hunt would attest the same He preaching said How came the Covenant of Works and the Elect under it It was to illustrate the electing Love of God and not to make the Elect happy The Law entred that the Offence might abound The Law was too weak when Man was in his best estate to reign over him to eternal life Mr. Chandler who took it from his mouth in writing That Believers under the Law had their life from their doing and they had no longer life than when they were crying weeping and groaning witnessed by Mr. Robert Page who entring into Conference with Mr. Davis about it objected Isa 53. 5. He was wounded c. and therefore the Prophet believed on Christ To which Mr. D. replied the Prophet did not understand what he said Mr. Robert Page Believers under the Law had no real sight of Christ Mr. Chandler When you are discouraged with Unbelief in Duty if you can but believe that Jesus is there strongly believing for you this raiseth your Faith if you see Christ loves mightily for you this draws forth your love Mr. King who heard him You would mourn you would weep no Christ hath mourned and he hath wept and you have nothing to do but accept his Grace the Righteousness by which thou and I must be justified is Christ's fulfilling Adam's Covenant and Mount Sinai's Covenant and the Covenant of Grace Mr. Carlile For any to look to their Sanctification was a hindrance to their closing with Christ Mr. Worden the Minister Toe fear Sin is the way to increase it Mr. Holledge In Prayer he said Lord we stand before thee without Sin And in his Sermon he objected Some say we are against praying for pardon of Sin To which he answered Altho' we are pardoned yet it is our Duty to pray for Pardon for the Honour of the Father and of the Son Mr. Chandler Lord thou lookest upon thy People even when they are sinning against thee and sayst Thou art all fair my Love there is no spot in thee Again there must be no more Conscience of Sin in Believers Mr. Carlile There are five times of Christ's especial Intercession c. Christ saith I cannot so heartily pray for my People when they sneak from their Profession Mr. Sheppard Mr. Chandler Mr. Holledge Mr. Bland The Offers of Grace must be made only to the Elect Mr. Chandler Christ and Believers are one in Intercession Believers that take comfort in Promises mistake the way but we must flie to Christ Mr. Bland 't was also said Mr. Hunt will attest it too Whatever is supernatural is saving Grace Mr. N. Acock 't was said will attest it Mr. Davis and the Preachers sent from the Church at Rowel set up Meetings in very many Counties to the compass of about fourscore miles viz. at Wellingham Cambridge Bedford Needingworth Northampton Kempson Wellingborough Oundle Kimbolton Kaysoe Kettering Tharp Waterfield Chatresse Aiveth Creton Wormditch Kaysoe-wok Woolaston Olney Lutterworth the Fenns Codgbrook Old Weston Browden Rushden Brigstock Cockingworth Great Oakly Gedington Mr. M Mr. Blouer Mr. Taylor Hussey Billoe Singleton Dowley Shepard King Chandler c. who testified some of one place and some of another But the Name of upright Mr. Clark is not amongst them Several of these Meetings are in or near the Places where dissenting Ministers have their stated Congregations and Churches Kempson within a mile of Bedford Mr. Chandler Mr. Tomlins At Wellingham where Mr. Worden preaches Mr. Worden Mr. Marshall At Cambridge Mr. Taylor Mr. Hussey Needingworth within a mile of St. Ives where Mr. Bilio's is Mr. Billoe Mr. Freeman At Northampton Mr. Blore Frequent Week day meetings at Kettering Mr. M Codgbrook within a mile of Mr. Haycock near Mr. Gibbs Mr. Page Tho' desired to forbear coming to several of these places yet persisted He administers the Lord's Supper in places far distant from each other as at Rowel Thorp-Waterfield mr Terrey At Wormsditch mr Sheppard At Northampton mr Blower He hath taken Members of other Churches without any dismission yea against the Will of the Pastor and Church Mr. Bere from mr Gibbs mr Page Thomas Hobbie from mr Billows mr Billoe mr Moor. One of Caysoe Church goody Page of Creton mr Chandler He hath broken Churches and caused Divisions an Confusions mr Taylor 's Church in Cambridge broken mr Taylor Hussey Worden Gilbert Speckman He hath broken them at Willingham mr Worden mr Marshall He hath declar'd it to be his Opinion that he is happy who is an Instrument in breaking all the Churches mr Worden Furthermore he hath affirmed that for some years all the Churches are gone a whoring from Christ mr Medwell He being told how comfortably the Ministers had lived formerly together he reply'd with heat It was the Gospel he preached made all the disturbance for which he brought Matth. 10. Christ came not to bring Peace on earth but a Sword mr M mr Blouer He said that mr Sheppard was an enemy to Christ and to the Gospel T. Leigh◠That mr Medwell had done more mischief in two years than he could repair all his life Others he call'd dry Sticks witness mr Shepard Scribes Pharisees Legalists Baal-Priests mr Worden mr Jennings He said I care not for all the Elders in London they are most of them Arminians Amiraldists and Baxterians mr Chandler mr Holledge He with the Church at Rothwell send forth many illiterate and ignorant Preachers without advising with neighbouring Ministers one of which said Christ murdered himself Down with Works down with the Law Another Christ went about his work blindfold from that place who so blind as my servant which another of them thus interpreted viz. Christ is blind so as to see no sin in his People Another thus When People have Convictions they will go to the Minister and he will exhort them to read and pray and repent but these are the black marks of Hell These last words spoken by mr Rowlett and witnessed by mr N. Cook of Welford mr Davis pretended to Visions for preaching a Funeral Sermon at Oundle he told the People that on Thursday-night about eleven of clock in a Vision he saw his deceased Sister in Heaven she walking in her uprightness whereas he knew not of her death till late on Friday the day following mr John James of Oundle mr John Nickolls both of mr Sheppard's Church That he anoints the Sick with Oyl is confessed by himself and Friends One passage relating to this purpose was attested by two serious Professors produced by mr Medwell The passage was this There was a Woman who had got Faith in the Anointing as also some of her Relations confident of her recovery thereupon
an Advocate with the Father for us always even when we sin and pleading his Propitiatory Sacrifice unchangably on our behalf 1 John 1. 2. Compared with Heb. 7. 24. Tho' we vary and change in our Frames and in the Exercise of Grace yet it is well for us he never changeth nor the Righteousness of his Son He is God and changeth not therefore c. Mal. 3. 6. There must be no more Conscience of sin in Believers Such is the Nature of their Sacrifice that it ought to be so this Expression also is Scriptural Heb. 10. 2. they that cavil at me herein cavil at the words of the Holy Ghost pray let them undertake to answer him for it You would mourn You would weep Christ hath mourned Christ hath wept and you have nothing to do but accept his Grace the Righteousness by which you and I must be justified is Christ's fulfilling Adam's Covenant and Mount Sinai's Covenant and the Covenant of Grace I do not remember verbatim what hath been expressed so long since malice it self must have a better memory than I to do it but I will plainly relate my Judgment in the matter 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ is according to the Scriptures the End or Consummation of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 14. And he did as it became him to fulfill all Righteousness as their Representative 2ly This offered Righteousness must be most freely accepted as a free Gift Rom. 5. 16. We must bring no Money nor Price in our hands to purchase it Isa 55. 1. 3ly Sinners are prone to mourn and weep by way of satisfaction to Justice but what ever in that nature was Penal and Satisfactory to Justice Christ dath done and suffered Isa 53. 3 4. Heb. 5. 7. When you are discouraged with Unbelief in Duty if you can believe that Jesus is there strongly believing in Heaven for you this raiseth your Faith If you see Christ loveth for you this draweth forth your love First observe this differently Phrased in the Libell so that it seems Mr. King took the same sentence from my mouth divers ways backward and forward even as his fancy pleased to chime it The same observations I have made concerning divers of these Accusations compared with them in the Libell 2. This I affirm that this Report was heard of early by us so that I and others that heard me did recollect what I delivered and we found upon such Recollection that my words were wrested and misconstrued but that I expressed my self to this Effect 1mo That Christ as our Representative fulfilled all Righteousness as is aforementioned That Christ believed and believed as our Representative Dr. Goodwin undeniably proves in his Triumph of Faith 2ly That the Graces of the Spirit he perfectly exercised as man cometh within the Compass of our Imputed Righteousness that all the Righteousness he fulfilld on Earth he carried with him to Heaven when he entred once for all not without Blood where he eternally presenteth them to the Father as the matter of our Justification and they are the Pleas he useth in his Intercession the Faith and Love and other Graces he exercised when on Earth are now in Heaven where he is 3ly Believers may take Comfort by veiwing through Faith not only their Persons but Performances covered in his Righteousness and see all their Guilt done away in his Blood see their Imperfect Obedience cover'd with his perfect Obedience This is the Summ of what was delivered and this I will stand by To fear Sin is the way to increase it The Position I laid down was this That Unbelieving Fears of Sin distrusting the Power of Christ to keep us is an inlett into sin 1 Job 4. 18. He that feareth is not made perfect in Love so divers other places which I need not insist upon now Animadversions on the foregoing Head I Cannot but judge that the Particular Accusations under the foregoing Head do infer a pernicious design against the imputed Righteousness of the Son of God viz. 1. That this Righteousness taketh not in the Active as well as the Passive Obedience of Christ which is a Principle which hath been lately minted in Opposition to the Current of Orthodox Writers to the various Confessions of Faith of the Protestants since the Reformation and to the Word of God which hath been already proved in part Therefore I shall only add this following Argument 1. The Law of God must be either satisfied or defeated in its intents and to defeat the intent of such a Holy Righteous Just Law is Antinomianism with a Witness which puteth a great Affront upon the Law-giver 2ly The Primary intent of God's Law is perfect Obedience and without perfect Obedience the Law of God cannot be satisfied 3ly Unless the Law can be satisfied there is no man living can be justified according to the Tenour of it and unless a sinner is justified he cannot be saved 4ly There is no sinner can plead satisfaction made unto it in his own proper Person therefore he must plead the satisfaction given by his Surety and Representative in his stead who fully satisfied as well the demands of it as the Penalty therefore through Faith we establish the Law Rom. 3. 31. and give it the highest Honour by offering to the Law-giver the perfect and God-like Obedience of his Son thereunto 2dly This last Head seemeth to have a bad intent to eclipse God's Act of Imputation by which this Righteousness is so made over to us for our highest Benefit and Advantages as if we our selves had wrought it out All this resulteth to Believers by virtue of Union to the Person of Christ and accepting the Union of Three Persons in One God and of Two Natures in One Person This Union is most unexpressibly great bating those Two fore-mentioned Unions we may speak as high of it and conceive as high of it as possible By virtue of the First Union God the Second Person is Equal with the Father and so the Third Co-equal with the Two former By virtue of the Second Union the Man Christ Jesus becometh the Redeemer the Mediator the Saviour Head over all Prince of Life Lord of Glory But it is Blasphemy to attribute any of this to any Believer by Virtue of a Third Union it is Blasphemy to say We are Godded with God Christed with Christ or that we become Saviours and Redeemers c. Yet however this 3d. Union conferreth great Titles and Privileges upon Believers according to the Scriptures As nothing can be spoken too high of the Righteousness of Christ so the Holy Scriptures of Truth do speak very magnificently of those that are cloathed with it They are said to be made Kings and Priests to God and the Father Rev. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 6. A Holy Priesthood ver 9. A Chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood an Holy Nation a Peculiar People As to Christ they are called Members of his Body Ephes 5. 30. 1
like the Merchant's Ship fetcheth its Goods from far even from Jesus at the Right-Hand of the Father We are apter to tabernacle within than to go out of Self for a Supply continually which is swimming against Wind and Tide going contrary to Sence and Humane Wisdom it is that that Flesh and Blood knoweth not Lastly Since Marks and Signs shine only in the Light of Faith and Faith shineth not but when it looketh directly to its Object the Grace that is in Christ Jesus then so to Examine our Faith when we cease to Act Faith is as if One should put out a Candle to see whether it burneth or not or to shut close the Doors and Windows to see whether the Room be light This I have preached at Willingham or to this effect though the Witnesses have made a woful Blunder about it Sanctification is no Evidence of Justification Faith and its Effects have a great share in Gospel-Holiness and sure they are Signs of Justification But such Holiness as they plead for is no Holiness and therefore no Evidence of Justification Animadversions on the foregoing Head IT is Remarkable Accusations under this Head tend to support these Two following Principles 1. That Divine Illumination is not of the Essence of Saving-Faith 2. To over-turn the Faith of Assurance or to set up one that 's not known in the Scripture and that can be of no use to Believers But I shall prove that Divine Illumination is of the Essence of Saving-Faith For 1st None can believe on what they know not None can see a need of Christ nor fly unto him but they whose Eyes have been opened by the Spirit to see the Beauty Excellency and Necessity of Christ Jesus Therefore Faith is not a blind Consent to the Will only 2dly As the Spirit does work in this Faith he is called the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of him that is Christ Eph. 1. 17. His Office is to open and enlighten the Eyes of the Understanding ver 18. As also to take the things of Christ and shew unto the Soul Joh. 16. 14. And to make known unto Believers the Mystery of his Will Eph. 1. 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he hath purchased to himself 3dly Faith it self is called a Revelation of Christ in the Soul Gal. 1. 15 16. But when it pleased God to separate me from my mother's womb and called me by his Grace ver 16. To reveal his Son in me is also called the Assurance of Understanding Col. 2. 2. That their hearts may be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ I might add more Reasons but I judge these sufficient But observe I do not make Faith to be only a Divine Natural Illumination or Understanding but also an Act of the Will divinely perswaded accepting of and leaning on Christ As to the Second thing I must confess the new coin'd Faith of Assurance I do not understand to wie That it is when a Christian can find such and such Marks in himself and these in sincerity then he may be assured of his Salvation and this without any mention made of looking to Christ or leaning on him in the very Act of Assurance But I find no Foot steps of such a Faith in the Scripture These are my Arguments against it Arg. 1. The Object of Saving-Faith is Christ once Crucified now at the Father's Right-Hand But this sort of Faith of Assurance sets up a Christ within a Quaker's Christ as the Object of Faith Arg. 2. If it be granted that this Faith of Assurance takes its Grounds and Denomination from as Reflect Act of Faith yet a Reflect Act of Faith is but a Repercussion upon the Conscience of that Light that shines in a direct Act of Faith so that there can be no true Marks and Signs without Faith in that moment exercis'd He that doth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought of God Joh. 3. 21. So then they that bid People try their Faith by looking within and not bidding them at that time look to Christ and that first put them in my Judgment upon an impossible Test Arg. 3. As there can be no real Marks and Signs without Faith exercis'd upon the Object so to put People upon examining the Sincerity of their supposed Marks and Signs is yet to make the Matter ten times more difficult and perplexing to the Soul Gospel-Sincerity I find in Scripture to be this viz. To mix nothing with Christ and his Righteousness in our Justification 〈◊〉 and to have right Principles Means Aims and Ends in carrying of Sanctification 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. comp together Arg. 4. They that would examine their Faith whether it be sincere by Marks and Signs without Faith in the Exercise must have a Second Mark to know the First a Third to prove the Second and a Fourth to prove the Third and so ad infinitum Hence it is that poor Souls are quite be wilder'd to bring the Matter to a determinate issue so that despairing of making their Calling and Election sure they content themselves with lazy faint and languid Hopes which have no good bottom or else what is worst of all they embrace a Cloud instead of this Assurance I shall humbly offer my Judgment of Faith of Assurance as I find it in Scripture 1. I do not deny but that when we sensibly feel our inward Grace shining in the Light of Faith we may from thence together with the Evidence of Faith inferr the Certainty of our Believing as when we sensibly perceive our Love to Christ flowing from our Faith in him we may thence conclude we have the Faith of God's Elect and so of other Graces But perhaps this is but seldom the frame of a Believer's Spirit and yet he ought when he walks in the dark to hold fast his Confidence Therefore there must needs be that that is true Assurance though not so high and so sensible as this And 1st I find in Scripture it is a strong and constant reliance upon the Ability and Faithfulness of Christ as to the Grace promised This you have instanced in Abraham's Faith Rom. 4. 20 21. He stagger'd not at the promises of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God And in ver 21. And was fully perswaded that what he had promised he was also able to perform So also instanced in the Faith of Sarah Heb. 11. 11. Through faith also Sarah her self received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age because she judged him faithful that had promised So therefore in both these Instances you may see that this their Assurance was grounded upon the Ability and Faithfulness of the Promiser It is
might be peace and accommodation between us and so they did I do not think they will deny it As to my preaching at Kempson the plain Truth is this When I set out from Rowel to London I did not design to preach at Kempson but when I came to Bedford I was prevailed upon by great Importunity to preach there and that but few hours before I did so that if I spoke of my not designing it to any before I spake the Truth Neither can they prove that we sollicit away any Bodies Hearers for it is false but if any come of their own accord we have no Rule to send them away If these things were true why did not they prove them at Ketterin when they pretended to prove all their matters But are these indeed Gospel-Ministers to murder the Reputation of a poor Man and a Servant of Christ at this rate And also through him to wound the Interest and Gospel of the Lord Jesus which they say they promote and expose our holy Profession to the scorn and contempt of the ignorant multitude But 't is easily perceived what they are by the Titles they give themselves or their Accomplices for them as in page 18. Little Bee Spark of a Bee Notorious Desperado's And also by their strange hectoring Boasts and sinful Vaunts Was there ever heard such wicked boasting Language fitter for the Mouths and Pens of the Hectors of the day than such as pretend to be Preachers of God's Word and Defenders of his Truth against Errors Do such Boasts as these become the Servants of Christ As that they will sting like a Scorpion that they fall to Club-Law presently and give sore Blows How contrary is this to the qualifications of a Bishop That he must be no striker 2 Tim. 2. 24 25. The Apostle rightly says The Tongue is an unruly evil it is full of deadly poyson James 3. 8. How much worse the Pen when managed by the same Spirit For Littera scripta manet But indeed such a Spirit such Language redundant with such Scum and Froth that tincture the Conversations of a young Generation of Men made Ministers that are started up in these days call for bitter Lamentation I shall close this Section with this true Remark upon them That they and their Cause and Language are much alike What they publish concerning our Visions and Revelations is of the same tincture That pretended at Oundle I shall give an account of hereafter That whose Scene was laid at Rowel is wholly untrue without the least colour for it as will be attested by the Church and Hearers if there were need And alike false are the Reports concerning others as I verily believe having made particular enquiry about such Reports This I evidently see they cannot bear those discoveries of love Christ has made to his Servants and their profession thereof and rejoycing therein As to their upbraiding us with our Ostentations and Boasts I answer We are taught by grace not to glory in our selves but in the Lord and his Righteousness The Stories they bring to confirm it are so ridiculous and false that it is time lost to give them the reading We can assure our Adversaries that tho' they think us trod under foot we are made humbly to hope our Lord will yet appear to our joy when they that oppose our dear Lord Jesus shall be ashamed We do commit our cause to him that judgeth righteously who for the oppression of the poor and the sighing of the needy will arise to set him at safety from him that puffeth at him Psal 12. 5. And since they speak of boasting I would recommend to their consideration those places of Scripture Jude ver 18 16 14 15. Mat. 24. 49 50 51. Our admission of Members has been so publick and so many Members of several Churches with others from divers parts of the Nation have been Eye and Ear-witnesses thereof who have gone away rejoycing in the power of God that they felt that I wonder at their Confidence to invent such nonsensical Falsities and then impose them on the world when there are so many can attest the contrary especially that of the young Child at Rowel is as ridiculous a Romance as ever was committed to Paper I cannot guess what may be the design of the Libellers in relating so much Stuff and Nonsense about our Self-condemnedness unless it be more and more to nauseate the Reader 's Stomach and expose their own Folly and Wickedness Their Narrations are so impertinent as well as false and vain that I shall do no more than shovel the Dirt out of my way The Account they give of our Fits is in such a scurrilous style in so insolent a Meen and Air in that prophane and scoffing manner that it is very detestable To the afflicted pity should be shewn and misery should move compassion But they as unbecoming Men and Christians insult over our Calamities with bitter Sarcasms It is an awful and tremendous dispensation which ought to be revered and not jested with for it is ill Jesting with Edge-tools But these like them of old will run upon the thick Bosses of his Buckler They may feel to their cost hereafter the effects of their bold presumption in making sport with such an awful hand of God Here they out do all their other Lines in Scurrility Prophaness and Obscenity But most horrid of all and which indicates the Writer to be sealed with a judicial hardness is that hideous piece of Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost about the middle of their Account worse could not drop from the vilest Rabshekah's Pen Besides there is thrust in a notorious Lye reflecting on my Reputation to cover their Blasphemy 'T is well known that I seldom either eat or drink any or else very sparingly for a considerable time before I engage in the work of preaching And I hope I can say My Moderation is known to all Men. Over and above all this they have dasht and brewed their Account with egregious Lyes besides divers Falshoods of the like nature in other places Can it possibly be supposed that these Authors can have a dram of grace the least awe of God upon their hearts or fear of God before their Eyes But oh lamentable that they should discover themselves to be Dissenters too It is remarkable that when a People are engaged in a wicked Enterprize the further they enter into it the more they discover the Spirit of Satan in his various workings of iniquity And this is observable as to this Pamphlet that the Spirit that acts the Libellers all along thorough it appears blacker and more cloven footed towards the close In these Enquiries to the Country People it shews the highest quintessence of Falshood Calumniation Malice and murderous Designs Here and elsewhere I am charged with four of the most notorious Crimes viz. Drunkenness Adultery Jesuitism and Conjuration which Crimes do not only touch my Name and Reputation in the highest
the Sword that goeth out of my Lord's Mouth will finish the Work in his own time and then shall be fulfilled many Scriptures on them that go on in their Scorning 3. They say I said They that die doubting and Fearing are Damned And they charge me with Barbarity Ans I never was so barbarous as the Writers would make me but I had and have Bowels for poordoubting dejected Souls as many can Witness neither did I say these words alone but this I said They that live and die Doubting and never believe on the Lord Jesus are Damned s And so saith the Scripture Without are the Fearful and Unbelieving and he that Believeth not shall be Damned 4. They say I said Christ tore himself Ans When I broke the Bread according to Christ's Institution tho they Revile on that account also I did in setting forth the love of Christ in laying down his own Life for us say thus Christ gave himself but presently added That tho there was a Sovereign Act of Christ in laying down his own Life according to that Scripture John 10. 15. 17 18. yet it was the wicked hands of the Jews that Murthered him 5. When we find our Hearts most wicked then to Believe in Christ is Pure Faith Ans I remember not that I said so but if I had I know not what cause any have to be Offended unless it be those that think to make themselves good before they Believe David would trust in God when the Iniquity of his Heels compassed him about And whether should a poor filthy Sinner go but to the Blood of Christ for Cleansing but I find the Accusers would be acting like Naaman the Syrian that thought the Waters of his own Country better than the Waters of Jordan But Paul saith this is a faithful Saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief 1 Tim 1 15. And if Christ Jesus came to save the chiefest of Sinners then certainly when I see my self the chief of Sinners and yet Believe in Christ this must be pure Faith that looketh through all to Christ and I am sure was there more of this Faith there would be more Holiness in Heart and Life 6. That there is no use of the Law This they say I said at Oundle but when I said it or on what account I know not neither do the Accusers tell me But this I do declare as my Judgment of the Law First That it is Holy Just and Good Secondly That those that Believe not are under the Condemnation of it Thirdly That it is a Rule of Life to Believers But yet this I must say it cannot give Life to dead Souls and therefore not of use on that account Gal. 3. 21. Again there cannot be Righteousness attained by it on which account a Sinner may be Justified Gal. 2. 21. For if Righteousness came by the Law then Christ is dead in vain 7. That the 42 of Isaiah 19 ver is meant of Christ That Christ was Blind and Deaf and did not know what he should suffer when he came into the World Ans I did say That that place spake of Christ and I judge still that it doth but I did not say That he was Blind and Deaf and did not know what he should suffer when he came into this World And pray Reader consider that Verse and the 20. 27. with the first Verse Behold my Servant And in this 19 Verse the Lord's Servant Again he is said to be Perfect And again there is difference between the 18 Verse and the 19. The 18 Verse speaketh of the People of Israel that were Deaf and Blind and calleth upon them in the Plural Number saying Hear ye Deaf and look ye Blind But this 19 Verse speaketh in the Singular Number My Servant and he that is Perfect Again it is said Seeing many things but thou observest not opening the Ears but he heareth not Now how can this be meant of wilfully Blind Israel or their Priests for tho it be granted they were Deaf and Blind themselves yet they could not open the Ears of others therefore I take the Words to be meant of Christ that tho he did foresee all his Sufferings that he was to pass through yet he did not so observe them as to hinder him in his carrying on our Redemption tho he did hear the contradiction of Sinners against himself yet he suffered patiently for them according to the 38 Psalm 12 13 14 ver They all seek after my Life c. But I as a deaf Man hear'd not and I was as a dumb Man that opened not his Mouth thus I was as a Man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no Reproofs Compare this with Acts 8. 32. and 1 Pet. 2. 2. 8. That we are Adopted from Eternity Ans I did Preach our being Predestinated unto the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ according to the Good pleasure of his Will And if any will contend against it let them know they contend against that plain Scripture Eph. 1. 5. For my part I am well satisfied that there are a number Chosen in Christ their Head and fore-appointed by the Father to this Relation of Son-ship in Jesus Christ and because they are Sons he sendeth forth the Spirit of his Son crying Abba Father Gal. 4. 6. And pray let it be considered it is one thing for us to be took into favour by the Father in Christ our Head and another thing for us to have this kindness of God manifested and help given to us to receive it Gal. 4. 5. that we might receive the Adoption of Sons 9. That People must not rest on Promises and think to renew their Comfort by them Ans I did not say these words separate from others and if prejudiced People will run away with half Sentences and be offended I cannot help it I have been as wary as I could notwithstanding the Unchristian Reflections that the Accusers cast upon me This I have said That People must not rest on Promises separate from Christ for tho God hath given to us exceeding great and precious Promises yet those Promises are Yea and Amen in Christ 2 Cor. 1. 20. So I have said They must not renew their comfort by the promise separate from Christ and that fullness of Grace in him that the Promise speaks of I do say the Word is as it were the Breasts but the Sincere Milk of the Breast is Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word What this Milk of the Word is you may see Verse 6. wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief Corne-stone Elect Precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded Therefore you must renew your Comforts in Christ by the Promise And whereas they say Head the 25. Doth not this make void the Promise I say no for it bringeth you to the Promise in it's right Place but I will return the 〈◊〉 Doth not their way in Arguing for Comfort by the Promise separate from Christ make Christ of none Effect But if any ask who argueth so I Answer many that I have known which hath been the cause of our thus Preaching there are many that have great Notions of the Word and take their Comfort from their Notions which notwithstanding reject Christ and count it Presumption to Believe and it plainly appeareth by their wicked Carriages and ungodly Reasonings and hard Speeches against the Saints I say it appeareth that they have not Faith neither know what it is to Believe notwithstanding all their Notions Thus the Pharisees they took Comfort from the Promise made to Abraham and they boasted they were his Seed and thought to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures But Christ telleth them That they would not come to him that they might have Life And here I intreat all that are high in their Notions to look to it that their Faith in Christ be according to their Notions concerning him And here also I beseech poor drooping doubting Souls to learn to take hold of Christ in the Promise and rest on him that speaketh yea and renew your Comforts in him learn what that meaneth Matt. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you Rest Lastly They speak of many such Doctrins that I have delivered but when I know what they are I shall Answer them as the Lord shall help me But I hope those that are concerned in writing the Pamphlet will learn more Wisdom in their next and as in this they concealed their Names as being ashamed to be known like Thieves that Disguise themselves when they have a mind to Rob their near Neighbours so in their next they conceal their Wickedness lest that they thought to do to others be done to themselves by the Lord 's leaving them to fall under Reproaches and Shame according to that Word Isa 41. 11. Behold all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded they shall be as nothing and they that strive with thee shall Perish Read the next Verse But I shall leave the Pamphlet with the Writers and Abetters of it and earnestly desire the Reader to Pray for and endeavour to understand the Truth and comply with it tho Men and Devils strive against it and I earnestly desire thee wherein thou thinkest I am out thou wilt Pray for me and take the first opportunity to deal with me according to the rule of Christ Matt. 18. 15. that if I am out I may be informed or if I be not out thy Thoughts may be governed because wrong informed I shall add no more because I would not make our Answers too Bulky but earnestly desire the Prayers of the Godly for me under all my Reproaches for Christ who do and shall Pray for thee and my Enemies FINIS