Excommunication given forth by divers of the principal Baptists about BOW against one that forsook them and their dead wayes wherein the Reader may also take notice of their envy and falshood London the 12th month 1669. CHRIST Ascended above the Clouds c. JOHN NEWMAN's Instance to prove the Scriptures the Word Isa. 28.9 10 11 12 13. The Word of the Lord was to this People Precept upon Precept c. Pag. 6. Answ. Scriptures signifie writings and not the Word neither doth this Instance prove them to be the Word for the Prophets of God who speak as the holy Spirit moved them did both inwardly receive and speak forth Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little from the immediate Spiâ—it and Power of God as immediatly taught by him which is before and above the Scriptures thereof which no where â—ffirm themselves being the writings in an abstract sense to bâ— the Word Also preaching Jesus Christ the Word and the Scriptures aâ—e two things the one being in a living Power and Voice and the other in written Characters Moreover the Lord sendeth out his Word and melteth the Snow the Hoar-frost and Ice Psal. 147.18 Surely this Word is not the Scriptures J.N. There are a People labour to blind this Truth by affirming That Christ is the Word not the Scriptures for they say the Scriptures are the Sayings or Words of God pag. 13. Answ. To affirm Christ to be the Word and not the writings but that in them are the words or sayings of God words of his Covenant c. or that they contain a Declaration of God and Christ is no blinding of Truth but what is â—ffiâ—med in and by the Scriptures themselves and the Word of the Lord came to the Prophets before they spake forth or writ the words see Jer. 1.1 2. The words of Jeremiah to whom the Word of the Lord came J. N's Instance from Mark 4.14 What Word was this that the Devil taketh out of mens hearts None will think it Christ but the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Answ. The Seed sown in the heart by the Son of man hath virtue and life in it in the very being of it for rooting growth and increase of fruit which is more than the writings which no where in Scripture are called the Seed and can he say the Son of man did sow some Scriptures in the High-wayes which the Devil took Also many retain Scripture in the profession of it who notwithstanding are but as the high-way ground unfruitful in whom the Seed of Life doth not take root so that the Devil doth not steal away the Scriptures or Bible from them not properly Christ out of their hearts but he steals away their hearts and minds blinding them from the sense and sight of the vertue life and light of the Seed or Word of Life withiâ— J. N. The Word of God grew and multiplied Acts 19.20 Cannot be understood of Christ a multiplication of Christ p. 17 18. Answ. Can he then think that Bibles grew and multiplied Surely the Word had Life and heavenly Virtue in it that was capable of growth and its multiplying was both in the increase of gifts and adding to the number of them who received it and though Christ be but one yet his Life his living Word and Gifts both grow and increase where he is received J.N. Christ cannot be the Word because Christians may and ought to receive his Word into their hearts Christ is not received into the hearts of men nor in Person dwell in their hearts p. 21. Answ. How grosly Erroniously and Irrationally hath he asserted and reasoned that Christ cannot be the Word because the Word is received into the hearts and how contrary to plain Scripture to say Christ is not received into the hearts see 2 Cor. 13.5 Rom. 8.10 Col. 1.27 Christ in you except you be Reprobates Christ in you the hope of glory c. but that Christ in Person doth not dwell in the hearts who ever affirmed that he doth J. N's Instance from Luke 11.28 Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it None that will makâ— use of Reason can believe that Christ did intend that Christians should keep himself for every Christian is kept 〈◊〉 and Christ 1 Pet. 1.5 p. 15. Answ. Though Christians be kept by God and Christ it s through Faith and Obedience in the Light whereby they continue in both and retain God in their knowledge holding the Head which is Christ and holding fast the faithful Word keeping the Word of his Patience such keep the Truth all which amounts to the same or is equivolent with keeping Christ the Word the Truth the Life wherein is the Patience of God and Faith of the Elect exercised against all Temptations and Tryals which are not overcome by the writings without whicâ— cannot truly be called the Word of his Patience as J. N. doth without distinction when they express words of his Wrath Judgment and Displeasure against sin and wickedness But the word of Faith Life and Patience in the Soul immediately expresseth the Love and Patience of God and Christ unto it to aâ—m it in times of Afflictions and Tryals and this we are to keep For many both profess and keep Scriptures or Bibles who are out of the Patience of Câ—rist And now I Query What Reason is it this Opposer would have us make use of and what is the ground of it in man for he speaks of carnal Reason which cannot reâ—ch God and also a Reason to be made use of Pag. 64. Surely we cannot look on him to be such a Mastâ—r of Reason as infallibly to distinguish how highly soever he thinks of himself whilst he denies and opposeth the Light within as being but a feigned light John Nâ—wman where 's thy Reason and what and wâ—ence is it We must not take thy carnal dark and prejudiced Conception for Reason nor be swayed thereby when thou art ignorant of the very Grounds and Principles of true Reason and so much opposest plain Scripture which hypocritically thou pretendest for thy only Rule J.N. To deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God is to deny the very fountain and well-spring of comforts to the Soul in Affliction which is brought out of the Promises in the Scriptures to the Soul by the Spirit through Faith p. 44. Answ. How grosly Erroneous is it to deem the Scriptures the very Fountain and Well-spring of comforts and to say that the Spirit brings the Comforts from thence to the Soul whereas God is the Fountain which to say of the Writings is all one and as blasphemous as to say they are God as some of the Ranters have said as once one of them affirmed to me at Emnith near Wisbitch That the Bible which I had in my hand was God but he quickly after came to be distracted 2dly The Spirit and Gift of Christ is as a Well of Living Water in true Believers
their own evils though they read those very Scriptures that testifie against them but if they turn to the Light of Christ within it will make them manifest and bring them under a sense of their own guilt therein that they may repent and cease from sin and so receive remission 4thly And now as for this great Point or Article of our present Opposers Faith viz. That the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith the Spirit being absolutely excluded as a Rule by W. K. It is to be noted that since Jer. Ives in a Letter to me saith viz. Though I might own this Question in their sense yet I never owned it in their words c. Whereby the Reader may see That Jer. Ives upon a more deliberate Consideration hath disserted his Brethrens Cause he perceiving as it seems that they cannot maintain the Scriptures to be the only Rule But 1st where he saith He might own it in their sense this is not true For his sense of owning it was That he did not exclude but included the Spirit But his Brother Kiffin's sense was absolutely to exclude the Spirit as a Rule so their senses herein absolutely opposed each other 2dly His saying He never owned it in their words is as false however he now evades or disowns it for many Persons of Credit that were present can testifie as also the Relation of the Discourse taken by an expert Short-writer that he did own the Question whether the Scriptures are the only Rule in these their terms for some time however now he would acquit himself of it and thereby has failed his Brethren and broke the neck of their Cause These few Questions are for W. Kiffin and the rest who own him in his Principle Quest. 1. BY what Rule would you have us believe you when you say the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith and Practice and absolutely exclude the Spirit as a Rule 2. Whether any can truly know and believe the Scriptures without having their understandings divinely enlightned by the Spirit that gave them forth yea or nay 3. Is not the true beginning of Believers in that Spirit In order to Righteousness Life and Salvation 4. Do you own the immediate Teaching of the Spirit or divine Revelation to be attainable in these dayes Or 5. Can any come truly to know the true God or Jesus Christ without immediate Revelation 6. What is the key of true knowledge 7. What was the Rule of Abel Enoch Abraham Moses c. their Faith before the Scriptures were written 8. Do you think the Spirit is to be received in the Scriptures Or that the Letter and the Spirit are inseparable yea or nay 9. What Rule would you make use of for the Conviction of those that either oppose the Divine Authority supposed or Translation of the Scriptures seeing such cannot be Convicted by the Scriptures themselves 10. 〈…〉 Measâ—re and â—â—le whereunto the trâ—e Miniâ—â—ers and belieâ—ing Geâ—â—iles had attained â—hich they were to walk by mentioned 2 Cor. 10 13 15. Phil. 3.16 Gal. 6.16 was that Rule the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament or Bible yea or nay Here follows a few Doctrines asserted by one Wheatly at Lambeth in a Book directed in Manuscript to one Mr. Cox as he calls him this Wheatley seems to be a Brother of these Baptists by his opposing the Light within and pleading for their outward Forms and their Water-Baptism from the Example of Christ's going down into the Water to be Baptized of John Wheatley his Doctrine viz. DO not blame the Devil to exclude the example of the Children of God if he can by any pretence do not blame the Devil to perswade men to trust to the Light within c. pag. 4 5. Answ. However this man seems to be a Friend to the Devil in that he exhorts not to blame him he is grosly mistaken in saying The Devil perswades men to trust to the Light within for the Devil and such his Instruments perswade men against the Light as much as they can for his Kingdom is held up in the dark and his way is darkness it self wherein his Followers walk who will not bring their deeds to the Light lest it should reprove them but the Light of Christ in every man and the sufficiency thereof and the Scriptures of Truth which testifie to it we beat witness unto and against both the Devil and this Opposer and against all such as are in the same spirit of darkâ—â—ss and enmity with him and the Devil who oppose the True Light And he that saith The Devil perswades men to trust to the Light within he hath highly advanced the Devil and conferred as much dignity upon him as the Ranters when they have told us That the Devil is Gods good Servant his faithful Servant c. This is like his blasphemy who setteth the Devil in the place of God's faithful Servants and Ministers whose work it was to perswade men to his Light within but both the Devil and Ranters are enemies to the true Light within W's Doct. There may be a Light amongst men and not within for Jesus Christ said to the Pharisees the Kingdom of God was within them when indeed it was but among them saith he And to prove it he citeth Luke 17.22 Answ. See how he hath proved the Light not within viz. The Kingdom of God was within the Pharisees Christ saith It is within but this Man saith Not within Shall we believe Christ or him But as if he would plainly let us know how he is set to oppose Christ after he hath told us That Jesus Christ said The Kingdom of God was within them In Contradiction to Christ he saith When indeed it was but among them and this to prove the Light not within It is no marvel this man sets himself to oppose Christ's Followers and Servants for asserting his Light within when thus he opposeth Christ himself for saying That the Kingdom of God is within but this man saith it was not within it was but among them Now then here is the case and state of the Controversie Christ and his Followers do bear witness to the Kingdom of God and his Light within But the Devil and his Followers strive and war against the Light and Kingdom of God within as much as they can the Devil he hath blinded their eyes from seeing the Light he hath made fools vassals and slaves of them to do his drudgery to shew their enmity and vomit out their shame and principles of darkness against the Light within Oh! how hath the Devil deceived such wilful Opposers and Unbelievers W's Doct. If God and Christ and Holy Spirit be within them then there is none above them Is not this spiritual pride c. Answ. No it was not spiritual pride in the People of God and Followers of Christ to witness God and Christ to dwell in them neither did this argue at all that God and Christ were not above them for God is
were given forth the Commands are called words that God spake Is not there a manifest difference between the Word that made all things and the words spoken or writ As also between the Ministry of the Word which is the preaching Jesus Christ and the Writings of the Two Testaments which this ignorant man makes no distinction between for was not the Apostle Paul a Minister of the Word though not of the Letter Did not he distinguish between them which this confused Opposer hath not done J. N's Contrad The Scriptures in which is contained the will of God in order to man's Salvation is properly and principally called the Word and not Christ. There are a People labour to blind this truth by affirming that Christ is the Word of God and not the Scriptures for they say The Scriptures are the Sayings or the Words of God Christ cannot be understood to be the Word of God whereas some do affirm Christ to be the VVord of God Such an Assertion would make Christ a Monster rather than a compleat God and Man c. p. 12 13 15 17 17 49. I shall freely grant That Christ is called by this Name the Word of God Christ being the Word of God Christ may be said to be in men He may be called the Word of God because he will be that dreadful Executioner By the Word of God's Eternal Power c. He shall by by the Word of God slay all his enemies in this he may be truly called the Word of God p. 14 46 47. Animad Thou art a blind Opposer who perverts and darkens Truth with thy monstrous prejudice who denies Christ to be the Word of God and blasphemously sayest Such an Assertion would make Christ a Monster c. Yet for all this thou shalt freely grant Christ to be called the VVord yea the VVord of God's Eternal Power doest thou herein make him a Monster And did not the holy Men of God call him the Word And did they blind the Truth or make a Monster of Christ supposest thou Must we reject their Testimonies as improper and monstrous and believe thine as only proper which is so repugnant to the Scriptures which are the Writings that do contain sayings or words of God which to affirm is no blinding of truth And where provest thou these words in the Scriptures That the will of God is contained in them Is not the will of God Infinite and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain God So take thy Contradictions back again viz. That to affirm Christ to be the Word of God is to make him a Monster yet I shall freely grant Christ is called the Word of God the Word of God's Eternal Power J. N's Contrad The Scriptures properly and principally called the VVord The Word of God therein contained Or the Teachings therein contained The Will and Mind of God contained in the Scriptures p. 19 45 49. Animad See the Contradiction and falshood of these for one while to say the Scriptures are the VVord another while they contain the Word and Mind of God these are different and thou mightest as well say that God is contained in the Scriptures as to say the Word and his Mind and Will is and so grosly go to circumscribe and limit him who is Infinite and unlimitable who is the Eternal Word Mark also how J. N. his Doctrine of the Scriptures being principally called the VVord is absolutely confuted by himself in what follows J. N's Contrad How was Heaven and Earth and the VVorld made by the VVord of God and also by the same VVord are kept in store p. 48. The wicked shall be destroyed by this VVord The Rod of his mouth Isa. 11.11 The Spirit of his mouth Rev. 2.12 The sharp Sword with two edges The word of God's Grace in convincing and converting of Souls quick and powerful sharper than a two edged Sword In this sense Christ may be called the VVord Animad But surely the Scriptures are not all this nor ever had this sense given of them that is here given of the Word which made Heaven and Earth and keeps them in store and this did not the Scriptures J. N's Contrad The Scriptures principally called the VVord of God may be corrupted by man This Word may be and is corâ—upted by man c. p. 19 20. Being born again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever p. 57 c. Contradiction again This maketh nothing to prove this word here to be Christ. Animad The Incorruptible Seed or Word by which we are born again is not the Scriptures which have been corrupted by such Perverters and Corrupters of them as thou art who goes to set them in Christ's place and yet Hypocrite like art not willing to keep to the language and terms or Doctrines of them J. N's Contrad The Scripâ—ures are an absolute perfect Rule for all men c. unto the end of the world Faith is bâ—gotten by Preaching the VVord with the work of his blessed Spirit Christ the Way to bring us to Life c. pag. 42 43 50. Animad The Spirit of Truth leads into all Truth therefore this Spirit or Christ within is both the Guide Way and Rule to all that are Spirtiually minded All men have not the Scriptures to the World's end but Christ is given both for a Covenant and Light for Salvation to the ends of the Earth J. N. his Idolatry in exalting the Scriptures into the place of Christ. The Scriptures the enlightening way of the Lord The perfect way of God A Light unto his paths p. 4 5. The Gospel The Seed in the hearts The will of God in order to Salvation pag. 11 17 20. Eternal Life therein viz. in Scriptures pag. 24. The Scripture's an absolute perfect Rule in order to man's Salvation for all men to walk by and none other pag. 24 25 26 27 28 29. The Scriptures may be corrupted by man False Teachers corrupted the Scriptures The Scriptures may and is corrupted by man p. 19 20. The Devil taketh out of mens hearts the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Animad To the first part these are high Names put upon the Scriptures but not so proved thereby For the Enlightening perfect Way and Word of the Lord God the Gospel the Seed the Will of God Eternal Life c. were before the Scriptures were written and did preceed the writing thereof it them who spake or writ them as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and Eternal Life is in Christ not contained in the Scriptures as the unbelieving Jews vainly thought Joh. 5. who set up the Scriptures above Christ the Life And the Scriptures are not the absolute sole Rule for Salvation and none other especially if they be corrupted by the Devil and Wicked men But the Rule of the spiritual mind is spiritual of that Spirit which leads the true Believers into all truth For that which must be owned
put upon the unlimited God like the old Heretical Monks of Egypt called Anthropomorphites contrary to his own confession J. N's Contrad Christ sitteth Advocate with the Father to plead the vertue of his blood that as there are new sins committed we might through Faith have fresh grace in the pardon thereof pag. 73. The Condâ—scention of God and Christ into the hearts of his People to work up his Saints into the same nature with himself c. God and Christ is holy so his Word is holy Heb. 4.12 and through Faith in this Word Christians are wrought up into the nature of it self and into God Gal. 4.19 Little Children in whom I travel in birth till Christ be formed in you and this to bring them forth into a Gospel purity in heart and life Finally Brethren farewel be perfect be of good comfort c. pag. 78 84 87 88. Animad Wherein the Baptists or others do preach up or plead the continuance of sin in all men even Believers c. term of life This is flatly contradicted in J. N's following words viz. That God and Christ works up his Saints into the same pure Nature with himself which is not a sinful Nature however he tells us of new sins committed which he saith Christ pleads for pardon of And that through Faith in the Word Christians are wrought into the Nature of it self and into God in whom is no sin nor imperfection And where Christ is formed in man he doth not say in a personal being remote and men thereby brought forth into Gospel purity in heart and life c. Such do not alwayes commit or renew new sins which renew the old man but are renewed in Grace and in the new-man by the Spirit of Holiness knowing Christ's Intercession answered viz. that they might be kept from evil Joh. 17.15 to the end The sins of such being done away and blotted out by the blood of Christ which in his Light within is experienced in its vertue and power by such as believe and walk in it 1 Joh. 1.7 Now if J. N's Contradictions as implyed should be thus placed viz. Finally Brethren farewell be Perfect be of good Comfort There are new sins committed c. How would this answer the end of the Command Be Perfect c. Or be any comfortâ—ble Doctrine to any that truly desire perfect freedom from sin and not to live any longer therein Here followeth the Contradictions of Tho. Danson W. Kiffin and Jer. Ives upon their Principle which was viz. Contradict THat the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith T.D. The Scriptures without divine illumination are but the foundation of an Historical Faith and not of a saving Faith The divine illumination of the Spirit is the Foundation or Rule of saving Faith Contradict T.D. W. Kiffin The Director and Rule of Faith and Salvation are two distinct things as the way to Bristol and my Director into the way Yet that Christ is both the Director into the way to God and the Way it self they could not deny Irational Inconsistences Contradictions T.D. That the Light which the Gentiles had Rom. 2. was not sufficient for Salvation That their disobedience to the Light they had was the cause of their condemnation Yet That if they lived up to their Light it would not lead them to Acceptance with God Their Contradictions at the latter Discourse Contradictions W. Kiffin The Spirit of God considered as a Rule is absolutely excluded c. Jer. Ives The Scriptures including the Spirit are the only Rule Our saying the Scriptures are the only Rule does not exclude all other Rule or the Spirits illumination any more than to say God only hath Immortallity doth exclude all else from having Immortality Jo. Newman his Contradiction to W.K. This may be granted in the best sense that the Spirit is the Rule It is of more efficacy than the Letter Contrad W. K. and Alderm Hayes Quest. Whether the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith yea or nay affirmed by them Jer. Ives in his Letter I never owned this Question in their words Animad Here it 's manifest how these men have shaked their own Foundation destroyed their own Cause and are confounded in their Babylonish building they having rejected the chief Corner-stone but they who believe in the Power of God which is known in his Light within and trust in his Everlasting Name shall never be confounded THE END The faults of the Press the ingenuous Reader may perceive by the sense of the matter whether they be points letters syllables or words which are not to be imputed to the Author but corrected whereof these are some ERRATA In the Preface pag. 4. l. 25. the parenthesis is misplaced read it thus Light within not prejudice and darkness judge P. 13. in the Margent read Soc. Scho. l. 30. r. Theodotus P. 14. l. 11. for heirs r. haeresie P. 22. l 4. blot out P. 28. l. 12 dele without P. 35. l. 34. r. or Inferred P. 62. l. 25. for it r. iâ— Of the Scriptures * Note Jer. 2.18 Psal. 36.9 Joh. 4.10.14 7.38 39. Of Christ. See Euseb. Soc. Ecc. Ecc. Cro. fol. 572. Christ called by several Names Christs Resurrection owned and Ascention 1 Cor. 10.4 Christs Body real Professors Confusion about the Body Of God's right hand Euseb. Eccl. Chro. fol. 584 588. Of Christ his second coming Heb. 9.28 Matth. 16.27 Luke 9.26 Heb. 6.6 Revel 11.8 Joh. 3.19 20 21. Job 24.13 Rom. 10. Deut. 30.14 Jer. 8.8 9. 1 Joh. 2.19 2 Tim. 2.17 1 Tim. 1.20 Acts 3.22 23. * Gross ignorance is God any where without His real Being * Christ's Spiritual Birth owned Mat. 5.48 2 Cor. 13.11 1 Pet. 1.14 15 16. Lev. 11.44
they were begotten in the New-birth pag. 56. Answ. See how contrary to plain Scriptures he reasons for Christ is called the Seed unto which the Promises are Gal. 3.16 And He is that Word which begets into the New-birth and not the Letter and this Seed is Living and Incorruptible though the Devil steals away the hearts of many from the sense of the the Seed or Word of Life as he hath blinded the minds of Infidels 2 Cor. 4.4 J.N. Ministers are called Angels Rev. 2. yet there is no Man that is an Angel p. 59. Answ. Yes If he be an Embassador Messenger or Minister he is an Angel J.N. Christ cannot dwell in Man for Christ is perfect Man as well as perfect God p. 61. Answ. To say Christ cannot dwell in Man doth not only oppose His Spirituality Deity and OMNIPOTENCY but also is contrary to the Apostles plain Testimonies of Christ's being in the Saints And if He be perfect God he can dwell iâ— His People as He hath promised and suâ—ely His being perfect Man doth not put a limitation upon Him as a let or hinderance to disable Him from being in His People whilst He who was Christ as come in the Flesh was also truly Jesus Christ within in his Spiâ—itual appearance and we do not confine Him under this or that particular Name His Names are divers in Scriptures according to His Manifestations Offices and Works He is called Emmanuel God with us He is called Jesus Christ The Way The Truth The Light The Life The Seed The Son The Everlasting Father The Word The Power of God A Quickning Spirit c. J.N. Christ Jesus after He rose He was still a Body of Flesh Contradiction the God-head took Flesh in the Womb of Mary the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in Flesh c. pag. 52 60 63. Answ. Christ Jesus was more than a body of flesh for he was Spirit as well aâ— flesh He was Lord from Heaven Neither is Man made up simply of a body of Flesh being a complex or composition of parts of Body Soul and Spirit Also there is a manifest inconsistency between these words He was still a body of flesh And He took flesh or was God manifest in flesh J. N's Argument If he rose Jesus Christ then he rose Flesh and Blood and also Man But he arose Jesus Christ. Therefore Flesh and Blood c. And he did ascend with the same body and is still at the right hand of God with a body of flâ—sh c. p. 64 65. Contradiction As we have born the Image of the Earthly-man so we are now to bear the Image of the Heavenly which is Christ Jesus p. 89. Answer Though I grant That Christ arose with the same body that was Crucified and put to Death and that he ascended into Glory even the same Glory which he had with the Father before the World began And that the same that Descended was the same that Ascended far above all Heavens Eph. 4. And as Christ said What and if ye see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before Joh. 6. Yet the Argument is fallaciously and corruptly staâ—ed in the manner of it the Inference of the first Proposition and so the Consequence being inconsequent to it carrying no proof along in it for it still strictly limits or tyes up the Name Jesus Christ to a body of flesh and blood and so covertly denies His being before he took on him that visible body of flesh blood and bones and so opposeth his Divinity as before Whereas He was the Spiritual Rock which all Israel drank of long before And as to His being at the right hand of God I grant according to the Scriptures but cannot believe His body to be a carnal body in Heaven or that He consists of a carnal existence And further these words are not the Scripture language viz. to say That Christ is a body of flesh blood and bones in Heaven and a Personal being at the right hand of God without all Men remote as J. N's terms are But these words Spiritual Body Glorious Boâ—y One Body and One Spirit and that the Saints discerned and eaâ— the Lord's Body were Members of His Body c. And except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood you have no life in you saith Christ These are Scripture terms and language So neither is Chriâ—t nor God's right hand so limitted to a remoatness from them And as we have born the Image of the Earthly-man so we must bear the Image of the Heavenly which is Christ Jesus this is true But the definition that J. N. hath given of Christ Jesus the Heavenly Man is That He is a body of flesh and blood a personal being not in man From whence it follows That this Heavenly Image men must bear or be changed into is a personal Image of flesh blood and bones as if they had not such a body or Image before Whereas the Heavenly man is spiritual and so is His Image And the Apostle distinguisheth between the Natural body and the Spiritual body as he doth between the bodies that are Coelestial and the bodies Terrestrial 1 Cor. 15. And further to take off Objections and Scruples I confess that according to the Flesh Jesus Christ came of the Seed of David and the body that He took upon him or that was prepared for him to do the will of God in upon Earth was a real and not a fantastical body and that according to the flesh He was put to death or died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and rose again the third day and was after seen of the Disciples and of above five hundred Brethren at once and that He was seen of James then of all the Apostles 1 Cor. 15. To which the Apostle Paul adds vers 8. And last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time And how did he appear unto Paul Even by Revelation God revealed his Son in him It was the same Son of God who appeared vaâ—iously both visibly and invisibly after His Resurrection he appeared in various forms and shewed Himself diversly First to Mary Magdalen 2dly to other Women 3dly to the Disciples as they went to Emaus 4thly to James 5thly to Peter 6thly to the Apostles when the Doors were shut 7thly to more than five hundred Brethren as aforesaid after he appeared to Thomas when he said Reach hither thine hands c. Mat. 28. Mark 16. Luke 24. Iohn 20. 1 Cor. 15. Once he said to them Handle Me Luke 24.39 another time to Mary Magdalen when she thought him to be the Gardener Touch Me not Joh. 20.17 And it 's said Luk. 24.30 31. as he sate at meat with them He took bread and blessed and brake it and gave to them and their eyes were open and they knew Him and He vanished out of their sight Now seeing that he appeared so diversly being capable
having the immediate evidence of the Spirit in it from God which the Letter or outward writing hath not for it is directed and given to us traditionally though I intend no invalidating of it hereby but do oppose that spirit and doctrine which sets it out of its place that calleth the Letter the Only Rule for Salvation and so leaveth no room for the Immediate Teachings of God's Spirit or Light as the Rule in these days Which is the old defign and work of Antichrist which thou J. N. and others of thy Brethren are carrying on to keep people in blindness in a dark faith under your trâ—ditional teachings who can give no certain demonstration for the ground of your Faith and yet thou hast granted the Spirit to be more vertuous and greater than the Letter p. 112. Enough to confute thy opinion of the Scriptures being the only Rule for now the Spirit is greater But then again thou tellest us The sufficiency of the Saints Rule and Guidâ— standeth in the Spirit and Scripture both For sayest thou they cannot be separated in their Nature Purity c. p. 110. At if thou wouldest not freely grant the Spirit 's sufficiency without the Scriptures or to those that have them not but seemest to limit or tye up the Spirit to the Scripture as being inseparable in their Nature and Purity as if the Nature of the Writing were â—he Nature of the Spirit and equally Pure with it whereas the Spirit cannot be corrupted and its Râ—le is more infallible than the Scriptures according to thy own Confession and also thou hast confessed That in all Dispensations God never left his People without a word of Direction either written or immediately from his own mouth p. 106 110. So that here it appears some had immediate Directions from God who had not the letter and so may many now for ought thou knowest for God is not limitted though thou wouldest limit his Spirit and the Saints to the letter as if none were Saints and Believers but who had the Scriptures Oh! Ignorance and yet thou hast confessed That the Spirit is of more efficacy and greater than the Letter p. 110 112. How then is the Letter the only Rule And I ask Is that Word the Scriptures or Letter which thou sayest Christians are nursed with the sincere Milk of Does Milk flow from Letter or Spirit And is the nourishment of the new-born Babes 1 Pet. 2.2 the Letter Or are none true Babes but who have the Letter What ignorance narrowness and pinching work art thou found in who hast so tyed up all to and in the Letter as Spirit only Rule sincere Milk Well-spring of Comforts c. And yet grants p. 115. That the Spirit is the Key of Divine Knowledge which overthrows thy work about the Scriptures in thy setting them out of their place As also to the Query p. 117. Whether the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures be a sufficient Rule and Guide To this thou answerest viz. Who is so ignorant as to deny the sufficiency of God's Spirit If thou doest not deny it Why doest thou go about to tye up all men to the Worlds end unto the Scriptures as the only Rule when now thou doest not deny the Spirits sufficiency as Rule and Guide nor darest thou assert the Scriptures sufficient without the Spirit though thou grantest That the Spirit is sufficient apart from the Scriptures which thou callest â—â—e Word pag. 118. Then the Scriptures are not the only Rule the Spirit being the Key of divine Knowledge the sufficient Rule above the Scriptures and greater than they As Also in pag. 116. thou confessest That there are secrets and private discoveries that God makes to the Soul by his blessed Spirit which are not manifest to any but to the heart that doth enjoy it These secrets are to those that fear him c. Where note That these secrets and private discoveries are not manifest to all that have the Scriptures but to those that fear God 2d That they are not made manifest or revealed by the Letter or Scripture outward but by the blessed Spirit inward unto the heart and soul that feareth God or hath Communion with him in his own Light Life and Spirit which is greater and above the Letter Again A further Confutation to thy self appeareth pag. 108. where thou grantest in the best sense That the Spirit is the Rule in its own Administration To which I say This still confutes thy work for that Administration is immediately and inwardly received from the Spirit which in the best sense is the Rule and this Spirit being the greatest all wholesome Doctrines Teachings and Directions are contained and summed up in it and so the Scriptures of Truth are not hereby made void though not the only Rule but fulfilled in them who walk after the Spirit or Rule of the New Creature for if you walk in the Spirit then are you not under the Law and they begun well who begun in the Spirit But whereas thou turnest â—ound again tying up the Spirits Rule to this viz. Doctrine and Teaching delivered in words also written in Scriptum est sayest thou As also that the word Regeneration signifies twice born to wit both after the flesh and from a state of sin whereas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to regenerate is to beget again not after the flesh Here Thy Divinity and Scholarship may both go together for where the Rule of the Spirit thou limittest to the Writing how consists this with the Spirits sufficiency to them that have not the Scripture or to its sufficiency apart or alone But 't is no strange thing for thee and such to be found in such manifest self Contradictions However thou wouldst have us take notice that thou art both a Divine and a Scholar And thy saying That Christ cannot be a Rule for any man in his Personal being p. 94. What makes this for thy purpose May it not be here implyed that he hath a spiritual being and that he can be and is a Rule in it to his People as He is their Way to walk in And where hast thou these words Personal being in thy Rule Is the Essence or Being of the Son of God Personal Was not his Being Divine before his Incarnation or Appearance in Person But thou appearest as ignorant both what Essence or Being is and what Person is which are different Again Thou appearest as grosly mistaking the state of the Controversie where thou sayest viz. What if my Spirit lead me to Mahomets Rule Or if my Spirit perswade me to believe the Popes mouth to be infallible c. Now it is not thy Spirit that may thus egregiously mislead thee that we are pleading for the Rule of but it is the infallible Spirit of Truth which gave forth the Scriptures neither is thy Assertions concerning the Scriptures any valid Plea or Argument to convince either Turks or Papists who are both out of the Truth and the Spirit
own Practises without the immediate guidance of the Spirit And therefore this Woman hath cause for ever to bless the Lord thâ—â— she turned from them if she continue in this Anointing within which is true Thirdly As to that 2 Tim. 2.17 1 Tim. 1.20 These concerned such as did blaspheme and used profane and vain bablings of whom was Alexander and also Hymeneus and Philetus who said That the Resurrection was past already and overthrew the Faith of some But no such thing as vain Bablings Blasphemy or saying That the Resurrection is past already have these Baptists proved against this Person whom they have Excommunicated And therefore it is 1st A great sin in them thus to misaply the Scriptures against such as they were never intended And 2dly A great presumption in them to assume an Authority from the Apostles words 1 Tim. 1.20 to deliver up to Satan when they have no Commission Power or Authority given them of God so to do as the Apostles had c. 3dly What great folly and madness do they shew and bewray in Rejecting Excommunicating or Delivering up to Satan such as have before rejected and denyed them and refused to have any Communion with them as this Hester for some time hath for such as were rejected and cast out of the true Church they were either such as would have continued among them in scandalous Practises as Fornication c. 1 Cor. 5. Or 2dly Such false Brethren as by Blasphemies or Heresies troubled the Church and would have sown Sedition and Strife amongst them for Testimonies in truth against such we own Fourthly As to that of Acts 3.22 23. It 's on the behalf of Christ that great Prophet â—hom every one ought to hear in all things And it 's said Every Soul that will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the People c. Now it is not every Soul that will not hear you Baptists and come under your Water and Ordinances as you impose them that must therefore be deâ—troyed however you pretend to deliver such to Satan but every Soul that will not hear Christ that great Prophet of God in all things that Soul must be cut off And can you say that you have ever heard the Voice of Christ who pretend your selves to be his Church which we both deny you to be As also we deny that you have any Call from Christ to the Ministry Do you judge that none hear his Voice but such as you plunge in Water And that all must be condemned who cannot own you in your imposed Shadows called Ordinances upon pretence of the Scripture being your only Rule when you never yet did either prove or demonstrate that ever you heard the immediate Voice of Christ or had a Call from him for your plunging People under Water which is but a Shadow Much less can we believe that you hear him in all things else which you practise and impose for Christ is the Life and Substance and they who hear him in all things receive Life and the One Spiritual Baptism which yours is not John Newman set against himself HIS Book and corrupt Principles being Answered by John Newman himself His Principles and Contradictions are Collected and set opposite in his own words and the Pages of his Book cited where they are and briefly Noted and Annimadvertized upon particularly as followeth Whereto is added Tho. Danson W. Kiffin and Jer. Ives their Contradictions J. N. his Contradictions THE Scriptures of the two Testaments is properly and principally called the Word of God and that distinct from Christ This is asserted above twenty times over Pages 3 4 5 7 8 9.10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 22 42. Jesus Christ in Scripture is stiled the Word of God a Name that 's given to him his Name is called The Word of God Rev. 19.13 but then again to shufle off this J.N. adds Christ is not alwayes really that which in Scripture he is called comparatively He is called a Door a Vine c. pag. 3 46 47 49. Animadversion Surely the holy Men who spake and writ Scriptures from the Spirit of God knew how to speak properly and truly better than J.N. who in effect reflects on them all as for speaking improperly what bold presumpâ—ion and pride is it in him when they called God or Christ or his Name the Word and said In the beginning was the Word c. Therefore Christ was principally the Word for the Scriptures were not in the beginning nor do they any where call themselves the Word as improperly J. N. doth For Scriptures signifie Writings And is not Christ really the Door in the sense intended to them that enter in by him Howbeit he was really the Word before his Name was held forth in the many Parables J. N's Contrad The Scriptures of the two Testaments in which is contained the Will of God properly and principally the Word c. Or Way of God in which is contained the will of God p. 5. The Prophet saith God's Word is a Lanthorn to his feet and a Light unto his paths Psal. 119.100 105. Animad Christ is the Way the Word and Light and not the Writings they are not Christ And the Word that was a Lanthorn and Light to David was within him before he wrote the words and when much of the Scriptures of the two Testaments were unwritten And said he I have hid thy Word in my heart that I may not sin against thee Psal. 119. J. N's Contrad The Scriptures of the Two Testaments principally called the WORD distinct from Christ. God's perfect Way enlightned David p. 4. and this is called the Word Psal. 18.28 30. Thou wilt light my Candle the Lord will enlighten my darkness Animad God's perfect enlightening Way and Word and the Light and Candle of the Righteous which was Spiritual Living and Powerful was before the Scriptures were written J. N's Contrad The Scriptures principally called the Word The words that God hath spoken by his holy Prophets blessed Son and Apostles p. 3. Animad Is there no distinction between the Word and words In the beginning was the Word but since were the words spoken and Scriptures written Besides the holy Prophets and Apostles who preached the Word from the immediate Power of God were living witnesses of what they spoke and their Ministry was attended with the same Power and the plain Evidence of the Spirit went along with it which was more than barely the writings received by tradition J. N's Contrad The Commands of God in the first Testament or Scriptures of the Prophets the Word p. 7. I shall labour to prove That the Scriptures of the new Testament is also called the Word distinct from Christ. The Teaching and Preaching Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures is called the Ministry of the Word is stiled is called the Word of God Act. 4.25 26 27. 5.45 Animad The Word was in the beginning before the Commands Words or Writings
for the Rule of Faith Life and Salvation must likewise be infallible pure and incorruptible Christ being the Author of the holy Faith and his Light the Rule of the right Understanding Conviction and Perswasion and consequently of the Belief J. N's Contrad The Gospel which was preached unto every Creature under Heaven was the Scriptures of the New Testament The Everlasting Gospel The general ground of Faith and Assurance Now to deny the Scriptures to be the Word is to deny the very Fountain and Well-spring of Comforts to the Soul in Afflictions pag. 12 35 42 44. The Scriptures is corrupted by man Prayer and Supplication to God by his Spirit by Faith in Christ God approveth Christ saith Ye will not come to me that ye may have Life pag. 20 24 44. Animad Both many Creatures and the Gospel were before the Scriptures were written and the Light of the Gospel is more general to ground Faith upon than the Scriptures and it is the Light of the Power or Gospel of God in the hearts And the Gospel is preached in every Creature under Heaven And eternal Life is in Christ the Incorruptible Seed the VVord Spirit Life and Light And God is the very Fountain whose fulness is in Christ and the Well-spring of Comforts to the Soul not the Scriptures This Opposer might as well say the Scriptures are God as the very fountain and well-spring of Comforts And those Unbelievers that thought to have Eternal Life in the Scriptures were like J. N. and his Brethren who will not come to Christ that they might have Life And if we must Pray and Supplicate God by the Spirit then the immediate guidance of the Spirit of God must be to us a Rule therein not the Letter J. N's Contrad The Scriptures are a perfect absolute Rule in order to man's Salvation for all men to walk by and none other For the sons of men to walk by unto the ends of the world pag. 32 33 34 35. A Second Covenant of his VVill he foretold Jer. 31. is still in force for all men to walk by and none other The Second Covenant was confirmed by the Blood of that spotless Lamb c. The Second Covenant of God's Will in order to man's Salvation was confirmed by the Death of his only begotten Son pag. 27 28. Animad If the second Covenant or new Testament may be the perfect Rule for all men to walk by and none other as is confest then must the immediate Teachings of God in his Spirit be followed and obeyed as the perfect Rule for the New Covenant-way is spiritual to wit the Law and Spirit of God in the inward parts and this is above the Writings or Letter outward which many in remote parts of the world have not Many have not the Bible who have a spiritual Light or Law of God within as the Gentiles had Rom. 2. And Paul was not a Minister of the Letter but of the Spirit wherefore thou that sayest the Scriptures are the absolute Rule for Salvation for all men to the worlds end when many of whom have them not therein thou hast shut out the spiritual Rule of the New Covenant and art one of them that tread the blood of Christ under foot by which the second Covenant was confirmed and ratified And why hast thou such hard thoughts of God as to think thaâ— all Nations that have not the Scriptures outwardly are deprived of Salvation for want of them But in plain Contradiction to thy self The second Covenant is a perfect Rule still in force for all men to walk by and no other J. N's Contrad The Scriptures of the New Testament so confirmed are a perfect Rule for all men to walk by and none other p. 29. The New-Testament Letter is to be our Rule pag. 103. In the second Covenant of his VVill in order to man's Salvation there is the Man Christ Jesus at the right hand of God c. In his second Covenant he hath promised himself to be â—he God of his People 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. pag. 29 30. Animad The Scriptures Writings or Letter outward whether of the Old or New Testament And the second Covenant which is spiritual and inward are two distinct things In this second Covenant God is the Teacher of his People himself immediately by his immediate Spirit Power or Unction within which teacheth the spiritual minds of all things which is true and no lye And what Scripture have Baptists for saying that the New-Testament Letter is to be our Rule Let them produce plain Scripture proof for their Assertion herein or else confess their error For Paâ—l expresly testified that God had made them able Ministers of the New-Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit c. 2 Cor. 3. He doth not say they were Ministers of the Letter of the New-Testâ—ment his words will bear no such meaning for he plainly distinguisheth between the New-Testament and the Letter as he doth between Spirit and Letter Many both Priests and Baptists have and preach from that he calleth the Letter of the New-Testament who never knew the Spirit in its living ministration although the Scriptures testifie thereto J. N's Contrad The Scriptures are a perfect Rule in order to Salvation for all men unto the end of the world The very fountain and well-spring of Comforts to the Soul pag. 44. Act. 3.23 It is said A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren saith Moses like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you observe that Him shall you hear c. In the second Covenant Salvation and Eternal Life to those that obey the same in his Son Christ a way to bring us to Life pag. 23 31 39 40 50. Animad See how manifestly this Opposer hath in these passages broke the neck of his own Cause For if the Son of God must be heard in all things and he the way to Life and Salvation be in him as confest then the Scriptures are not the fountain and well-spring of Comforts God is the Fountain not the Scriptures as most ignorantly and blasphemously is assetted of them Also note how J. N. hath totally confuted and destroyed his Cause of the Scriptures being the only Rule in what follows J. N's Contrad Abel Enoch Abraham Isaac Jacob Noah and the rest of the Holy Men before Moses day I grant they had a sufficient Rule before the Scriptures were written They had a more infallible Word to walk by viz. from God's own mouth than is now to us for it 's possible that some Scriptures might be corrupted This may be granted in the bâ—st sense that the Spirit is the Rule The Spirit is of more efficacy than the Letter I shall freely grant that the Spirit is greater than the Letter c. pag. 104 106 108 110 112. Animad Here 's enough granted to make void all the Baptists work for the Scriptures being the only Rule
the only Wise God the only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6.15 where Only is both used in a most eminent sense and excluding all others from that eminence And if in this sense according to Jer. Ives his Instance the Scriptures be taken as the most eminent Rule before and above all other Rule what is this but to set the Scriptures above the Spirit that gave them forth and above all Divine Illuminations although without it the Scriptures cannot be understood which is as much as to set them above God and Christ. And yet Jer. Ives in Contradiction to their own Assertion granted That they did not intend that none have Faith but they that have the Scriptures some may have Faith who have them not c. It follows therefore that that some have the Rule of Faith without the Scriptures See what a deadly blow he hath given to his and their own Cause Jer. Ives God doth not require any thing to be believed as a Point of Faith or to be practised as a Duty for which there is not a Rule laid down in the Scriptures and that there is not any sin committed but what is there mentioned there is no sin that I commit but I may correct it by the Scriptures c. Obs. See how both these passages do egregiously vary from the state of the Question and their general Assertion before Of the Scriptures being the only Rule of Faith For a Rule in the Scriptures and they to be the only Rule are much different And however if it were granted which 't is not That God doth not require any thing to be believed c. or practised as duty for which there is not a Rule laid down which imports a particular Rule or measure specified for every particular point or practice or else not to be believed nor practised then it follows That if there be not a particular Rule in Scripture to prove That the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith nor which so saith of them We are not bound to believe these men's Assertion therein as any Point of Faith for God doth not require us to believe it however they contend for it and would impose it upon our Faith But further 1. If by a Rule laid down it be intended that there is a particular Rule Command or Precept specified exactly to measure every particular duty or thing to be believed or practised by all Christians as there are many express Commands and Precepts expressing the particular duty and forbidding the offence this is not so expressed under a general Command nor yet proved as Jer. Ives endeavoured as when I put the Qâ—estion viz. Whether God doth not or may not by his immediate Power in these dayes raise up and Commissionate Prophets to declare peculiar Messages to particular Places People or Governments yea or nay To this Jer. Ives granted That God might for any thing he knew do so But suppose there may be Prophets now sent with immediate Commission to a particular Place as Rome c. said he The Scripture hath a Rule in it that such Prophets ought to obey their Master and that the Scripture commands to hear Christ in all things and not to quench the Spirit nor despise Prophesie c. Thus far Jer. Ives But while he cannot prove that all those things are particularly prescribed in Scripture which they are to hear and learn of Christ and which are to be prophesied but hath granted the contrary to wit That there may be immediate Commissions and peculiar Messages from God to particular Places c. suppose Rome or London which are not particularly specified in Scripture however Christ is to be heard in all things and his Spirit not to be quenched Therefore it follows that the Scriptures are neither the Rule of those Prophets Faith either for such their Commission or peculiar Messages for they have neither from the Scriptures but immediately from God And therefore if they should go to question their Commission and try such their Messages by the Scriptures and not find them there this would argue unbelief and cause disobedience whereas their particular Commissions and Messages are evidenced to them by the Spirit and Power of God whether it be by Vision or Revelation which is the immediate Object Rule and Foundation of their Faith therein 2dly And in our dayes there hath been such Prophets raised up both to this Nation and City of London witness Humphry Smith's Vision of Fire to London Jo. Rance his Prophecy in Meeter before the Contagion of the great Wo and debacement of London T. Ibbot's Vision of the Fire which he came to proclaim and went through the Streets as a sign thereof and of the great Distraction upon it the day before it broke forth But W.K. his surmise or may be that these might have a hand in it was malitious and wicked as divers present took notice Yea many more have truly foretold of the Judgments and Calamities of this Nation and City and it would be voluminous to repeat what hath been truly foretold by divers of the Servants of the Lord concerning O. C. and those persecuting Professors that persecuted us in his Name and what 's yet to come upon the Persecutors who follow their steps and of the Confusions that his Priests and those persecutors of the Innocent would fall into as also the temporizing of many of them which is manifest both upon many of the Presbyterians Independants and Baptists at this day whose insatiable enmity is still continued against us though they be confounded among themselves and their horns broken that they cannot push as formerly 3dly As the Scriptures are not the Rule of Faith nor is there a particular Rule therein for every individual motion or action so are they not the sole Rule of discovery of sin and evil in men particularly though they witness against all sin Nor are they the immediate or original Obligation upon the Conscience to Righteousness or Duty in the sight of God for it is the Light of Christ within that immediately opens an inward eye that discovers to men their particular sins and guilt and that immediately obligeth to Righteousness and did so oblige man in the beginning before it was so written in letters because of God who both telleth unto man his thoughts and what he ought to do as his duty And whatsoever makes manifest is Light all things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light yea by that Ligâ—t which Christ giveth Eph. 5.13 14. Howbeit every one that doth evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his deeds should be reproved but he that doth truth cometh to the Light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Joh. 3.19 20 21. So that it 's evident the Light is that Rule that tryes and manifests all things and this was before the Scriptures and is where they are not Many over-look and will not see