believers being conformed to the Image of the Son of God that he might be the first-born among many Brethren as in Rom. 8.29 which thou puttest afar off as to be attained but at the Resurrection of their bodies from the graves which thou tells of and then thou blindly sayest Christ will give himself unto it viz. unto his Church and make it like glorious with his own glorified humane nature and then the Church shall resemble her head c. Herein hast thou perverted both that Scripture of Rom. 8.29 30. and that of Eph. 5.25 26.27 for the Apostle does not put that cleansed and glorious state of the Church wherein they were made conformable to the Image of Christ afar off till after death as thou hast done for the Saints were come unto the Church of the first-born and knew Christ born in them as he is the first-born in many Brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and who he justified them also he glorified Rom. 8.30 and Christ gave himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it and present it to himself not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5. Now doth not the Church resemble her head when she is brought into that state of purity for which Christ gave himself which refers to the time past it s not said there that he will give himself as in the future Tense so to cleanse his Church at the Resurrection of the bodies out of the graves as thy words imply who also to prove that the Believers partaking of the Divine Nature in this Life is but in part bringest Rom. 7.25 With my mind I serve the Law of God but with my flesh the Law of sin wherein thou hast implyed that the Apostle was not freed from serving the Law of sin while he was in this Life what a sad life wouldst thou make Paul to live and so like the deceivers and blind guides hast put freedom from sin afar off till after death that the bodies shall be raised out of the graves and when that shall be thou knowest not when as the Apostle passed thorow the warfare and attained to the victory over sin and the Law of the spirit of life in Christ did make him free from the law of sin and death which sometime had ruled in his members and he could say before his decease I have fought the good fight c. though several times he condescended to several states or conditions below his own as he did to the Romans and others and became as weak to the weak and as one under the Law to them that were under the Law c. And thou sayest p. 139. That humane nature by personal conjunction with the Divine Nature being become so spiritual that it may be truly said The last Adam that is the created substance in Christs person is now made into a quickening spirit c To which we say how then is all mankind of the same substance with Christ as thou said before what are they all quickening Spirits or is the Humane Nature of all man-kind a quickening Spirit Canst thou not distinguish betwixt that which is Humane or from the earth and a quickening Spirit What gross absurdity hast thou herein implyed And what a vast difference wouldest thou make betwixt Christ and his Nature now when he is in a glorified states further then in the dayes of his flesh as if he were become a quickening Spirit which is divine but there is a nature in him that is Humane so the Nature of the quickening spirit is of the earth according to thy words as the first Adam was and so thou canst not distiguish betwixt the first Adam and the second though the first Adam and his Humane Nature is of the Earth but the second and his Nature and Image is Divine and Heavenly according to himself who is Lord from Heaven whose state is glorified spiritual and immortal wherein that which was mortal which in time he took upon him is swallowed up of life and immortality and he as Glorified with the Father before the world began made higher then the Angels though they be ministring Spirits And whereas thou J. W. countest it Blasphemous and of Antichrist to think that any part of man Spirit Soul or Body is of the Divine Eternal and uncreated Substance c. To that we say Is not that wherein the Soul hath its immortality of the Eternal Life or Substance else whence had the Soul its Life and Immortality and what is it in it self For shall not the Soul if saved from the power of sin be eternally in the feeling and enjoyment of the Love of God And if not so saved shall it not Eternally be under a sence of his Anger And was not man made in the Image of God and had the Breath of Life from God in him whereby his Soul lived Was not that Image and Life Immortal And whereas thou seemest to admit of a Perfection that Believers may attain unto and yet sayes that the perfection of God and of the Divine Nature of Christ is of a different Nature from the perfection of man c. This is as blind a business as thy former denying the Divine Nature to be in any but Christ for there is no true perfection of Holiness that the believers attain to but what they have in God and Christ according to his Divine Nature in which they pertake of in him who hath exhorted the Saints to be Perfect as their Heavenly Father is Perfect that they might be Holy in all manner of conversation so that thy sinful Doctrines which are for sin the tearm of Life do tend to make the commands and Work of Christ of none effect CHAP. III. Concerning the Resurrection and J. W. his silly reasoning and vain conceits about it ANd as concerning the Resurrection from the dead we do not say that the Resurrection is past with us as J. W. in page 63. doth falsly accuse us for we are in him who is the Resurrection the Life and by whom comes the Resurrection from the dead John 11.25 1 Cor. 15.21 and we are against those that in saying the Resurrection is past have gone about to destroy or do overthrow the Faith of some 2 Tim. 2.18 for through Faith many are in the way to attain to the Resurrection of the just and so according to the Scriptures we do own a Resurrection both of the just and unjust and that some shall come forth to the Resurrection of Life wch they that abide in the Faith until death shall attain to and others to the Resurrection of Condemnation which is their portion who believe not in Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life wherein the Righteous shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever but the wicked shall rise to shame and contempt Dan. 12.2 3. And why does J. W. count it absurd as in pages 54 55. that the
the flesh is it then improper to say the seed which is Christ came in the flesh and was in that person that was born of the Virgin Mary seeing that as he was so manifest in the flesh he was the true Christ without any of J. W. his blind distinctions who after he hath granted that the spirit of holinesse in that person is the Son of God by eternal Generation he saith that the humane nature also of that person is the Son of God by temporal Generation and yet there are not two Christs but one c. Did you ever hear such Doctrines as these which are all one as if he had said that the Spirit of Holinesse and humane nature are both one or that Divine and humane are both one when as they are two distinct things that which is humane is of the earth as the first man was as Humane is of Homo which comes of Humus the ground of which man was made as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. Humanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Terra aut Humus but that which is Divine is from above as Christ is who is Lord from Heaven Now though this Christ in time took part of that which the Children had viz. flesh and bloud Heb. 2.14 yet we never read that Humane nature is Christ nor that the flesh and bloud is Christ by temporal generation for to assert that is all one as to say that Christ who is Lord from Heaven took upon him Christ in time but Christ in the flesh we read of and own neither do we read in the Scripture that the soul of Christ is a humane soul for is not his Soul divine and immortal What is humane and immortal both one Or hath he two Souls in one body or person of such differing kinds And if the humane nature be Christ and all mankind be of the same substance with Christ according to that nature as J. W. saith page 116. Then it followes that the humane or earthly nature of all mankind is Christ and then they that would know Christ and be saved by him they must own their earthly or humane nature to be Christ or the Son of God and look to be saved by it did ever the Apostles preach such a Christ as this they that cannot see J. W. his ignorance of Christ his nature soul and spirit they are in grosse darknesse Now though we deny J. W. his unscripture-like and blind distinction from which it follows that either there must be two Christs in one person or else that humane and divine are both one which no ingenuous person will own and though we deny his vainly imagining a humane or carnal Christ like himself yet still we own the true Christ according to the Scriptures who according to the flesh was of the seed of Abraham and David and according to the Spirit is declared to be the Son of God with power by the Resurrection and that he was the word which was made flesh and dwelt in the Disciples John 1.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his death as concerning the flesh and his Resurrection and Ascension according to the Scriptures of Truth we own and that he is Glorified with the Father in the same glory which he had with the Father before the world began and as in that state his nature body soul and spirit are spiritual divine and immortal at the right hand of power for as he had power to appear in the transfiguration and after his Resurrection to appear in divers forms and amongst the Disciples when the doors were shut John 20. so now he being glorified with the Father in that his transcendent glory he is in a further state then in the dayes of the flesh when his body was subject to hunger cold or other sufferings upon earth and he is not to be supposed to be like unto corruptible man or a Christ of the same substance with sinful polluted men though he be the same Christ still the same to day yesterday and for ever not divided and is the same that descended into the lower parts of the earth who is ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things with his fulnesse who hath said that no man hath ascended up to Heaven but the Son of man which came down from Heaven which is in Heaven John 3.13 Eph. 4.9 10. Psal. 68.18 J. VV. saith p. 27. what do they lesse then say I am Christ which say I speak to the Light in thy Conscience which shall eternally witnesse me what mean they by this word me which they say is eternally to be witnessed is there any thing that is eternally to be witnessed but the eternal God and his Son Jesus Christ Answ. If J W. did not know what we mean that is to be eternally witnessed as appears he did not then he should not have judged us with directing people unto our selves or with saying we are Christ therein he hath judged us falsly for that which is eternally to be witnessed is Christ who speaketh in us Mat. 10.20 2 Cor. 2.17 4 5. 13.3 who may speak in his own name and such as would stop his mouth from speaking where he is manifest are of Antichrist And also J. W. his accusing us with not confessing that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh and with onely saying he is come into our flesh c. These are as false as the rest of his slanders against us and therein hath he contradicted himself for before he accused us for saying that Christ is the seed spirit or Light in that man which was born of Mary what then do not we confesse Christ come in the flesh and must we deny Christ come in our flesh Then seeing that Christ come in the flesh is a general word not onely including that body which he took upon him in the womb of the Virgin but also the flesh of all his people who are members of his body of his flesh and of his bone Eph. 5.13 And the following of the Light within thereby to attain unto Righteousnesse doth not at all render the death of Christ in vain as J. W. imagines for the Saints in walking in the Light knew the bloud of Christ to cleanse them from all sin and purified their souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit 1 Pet. 1.22 1 John 1.7 And this was not any making of the death of Christ in vain but by the Light or Spirit of Christ a witnessing the end fulfilled in them for which Christ suffered that they might live unto him and how should any hear Christ in all things Deut. 18.15 Acts 3.22 as J. W. saith unlesse they follow the Light of Christ within for wch preaching J. W. in his rage hath called us men of Belial p. 30. so what grosse ignorance and confusion is he in And as for Christs saying if the Light that is in thee be darknesse how great is that darknesse Mat. 6.23 This hath relation to that
state where the eye is evil where that is supposed to be the Light which is darknesse upon which their supposition who were in that state Christ spake these words for the Light of Christ is the same that ever it was and in it self is unchangeable though in some it shine in darknesse and the darknesse comprehends it not And as for those that spoke not according to the word of whom it s said it is because there is no Light in them Isa. 8.20 which J. W. also alledges They were such as walked in darknesse unto whom there was no morning as the Hebrew word signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for many speak contrary to the word that are reproved by the Light of Christ in them as J. W. may see his own guilt thereby if he be not past feeling and yet such are come short of the morning for the Light shineth in darknesse among such as are not led by it to the morning nor receive Instruction from it And note further that though this J. W. hath so much set himself against the Light within and does not own it to be in all yet in page 108 he hath confessed That the old ungodly World that were destroyed by the flood of waters would not be turned by the strivings of Gods Spirit but refused that grace that was so affectionately tendred to them c. Wherein to his own confusion he is made to confesse to the Truth for then if the old ungodly world had the Spirit of God so striving with them and the Grace of God so tendred to them what ignorant men are they that deny the extent of the Grace of God or the Light of Christ now to the world and will not own it to be in the ungodly nor that they should look to or follow it in them now What was not the old World as wicked as the World now is or is the Grace of God or his Mercy now lesse then it was to the old World J. W. in pag 110. saith of Christ It is he that hath two distinct natures in one intire person no person else hath the like in him in him onely dwelleth the fulness of the God-head bodily in no man besides him dwelleth the god-head in any measure bodily c. Answ. Yes the Saints were made partakers of the Divine Nature also and such received of the fulnesse of God in Christ grace for grace and God hath promised to dwell and walk in his people John 1.16 1 Cor. 3.16 2 Cor. 6.16 and can that state be attained by any and nothing of the Divine Nature be in them Is God in his People and his Nature divided What grosse confusion is this Baptist in and notwithstanding his denyal of the Divine Nature being in Believers In pag. 111. he saith that all men in respect of their substance of spirit soul and body and Christ in respect of his humane nature as he calls it are one yet in respect of his God-head are not one c. what then hath not the soul of the Righteous any of the Divine Nature in it How then hath it its immortality Is any thing immortal that hath not of the Divine Life or nature in it And are not they that are joyned to God one spirit What blindnesse is this J. VV. in who also after he hath denyed that nature which is in Christ to be in any man else viz. the Divine nature he hath in pages 113. and 146. accounted that the Divine Nature is the spirit of holinesse or that they are one so that in his denying the Divine Nature to be in any except Christ he hath denyed the spirit of holinesse to be in the believers from which it followes that none of the believers are Christs and that Christ hath no flock for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his so all that reads this may see how this Baptist hath gone about to shut Christ his Nature and Light or Spirit out of all people not onely unbelievers but Saints and how his Doctrine tends to keep all people in darknesse from Christ his Divine Nature and Spirit And so this Baptist in telling of two distinct natures in the person of Christ viz. the spirit of holinesse or Divine Nature and the humane nature and calling each of these natures the Son of God though he own them to be two distinct natures as in pages 24. 10. 111. 113. what he hath said herein is all one as if he had said that there are two Christs in one person when as Christ is but one and is the same yesterday to day and for ever glorified with the Faâ—her in the same glory which he had before the world began and this Christ is in the Saints and the same spirit of holinesse which raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in them so that the Divine Nature is not excluded out of them as this Baptist hath often implyed and no where do we read in Scripture that that nature of Christ which hath been free from hunger and cold ever since his Resurrection is a humane or earthly nature according to this mans words who hath shewed himself both ignorant of Christ and his nature as now glorified with the Father which is of an immortal or spiritual being or kind Joseph Wright saith p. 116. That the flesh soul and spirit of all men and the flesh soul and humane Spirit of Christ is of one substance Answ. Oh grosse darknesse and errour to imagine that the flesh and soul and spirit both of all men and Christ are of one substance what then is the soul and spirit made up of flesh If they be of one substance then must the soul dye with the body and then where is its immortality And why is the Spirit a distinct thing from the flesh and a body without the Spirit dead And further how are all mankind of the same substance with Christ when as the substance of Christ never sinned but thou J. W. sayest ye are unclean because ye are propagated in unclean lust what are you of the same substance with Christ or of his nature who is in a glorified state in immortality and eternal glory when you are so propagated and are unclean thou art yet unclean and exceeding sottish or else thou wouldst have been ashamed to utter such confusion and folly as thou hast done as also after thou hast asserted that all mankind are of the same substance with Christ thou hast told us p. 121. That man became like the Devil by sin as thou sayest the Hebrew word may be rendred which is as much as if thou hadst said that that which is like the Devil is of the same substance with Christ shewing thy self wholly ignorant of Christ and of his substance and flesh which is not suffered to see corruption And further in pages 128 131 132 134 58 59. it may be observed how thou puttest afar off the state of the Church or
Seed of God should be sown in one condition and raised in another seeing the Apostles words are plain to that effect for that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die and doth not that Seed suffer in man by corruption before it be raised in incorruption and is it not the Seed of God that is sown in weakness and raised in Power and every Seed shall have its own Body and what is it God gives a Body to as it pleaseth him but the Seed And what Seed is that is raised in incorruption Glory and Power but the Seed of God before which state of the Seed be attained to the Seed is known in suffering in death and in corruption though in it self it be incorruptible for it could not be said it shall be quickened unless after it be sown it dye and in respect of its being sown in weakness and dying as to them in whom it is sown who are not redeemed into the state of the second Adam it s said to be sown a Natural Body as also there is a Natural Seed or Seed of Abraham according to the flesh that this Seed of God takes hold on or takes upon it but in respect of its being raised in Power and Glory it is Spiritual and Immortal as being beyond that state in which it is sown in weakness which states none comes truly to know but as they come into death with the Seed and to be raised up by the Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead which spirit where it dwells doth quicken the mortal bodies and doth bring into the likeness of Christs Glorious Body and as many as are dead with Christ shall live and appear with him in Glory and witness the Body of their lowness made like unto his Glorious Body whose they are and such who come to the Resurrection of the Just and to see the mortal Body which was dead because of sin quickened by the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them shall come to witness that of Hosea 13 14. fulfilled for they shall come to be ransomed from the Power of the Grave and redeemed from death as the Seed comes to live and reign which cannot be holden of death nor kept in the Grave but is the destruction of the Grave and this the Prophet witnessed when he was delivered from the power of the Grave and his soul brought out of the Pit by the sides whereof the Graves were set And why saith J. W. in page 60. as that arising which Christ through the Faith of the Operation of God is not the Resurrection from the dead nor the state of perfection which the Faithful unto death shall obtain c. What do not they that rise with Christ rise from the dead And was not that the Resurrection from the dead that Saint Paul desired to attain to Phil. 3.11 Are not all men in sin dead And do not they that rise with Christ rise out of sin seeing the Saints that had been dead in trespasses and sins when they were quickened and raised in Christ they were come to live in him with whom they shall live who first knew what it was to die with him or to be baptized into his death for the dead in Christ shall rise first and is not that a state of perfection where there is a Resurrection in Christ from sin and the death which came in by it For is it not sin that caused the imperfection And that the Resurrection from the dead is a raising of man from the dead in every part wherein he is dead by reason of sin and to live in every part wherein he lived before he sinned to wit to be alive in Spirit Soul and Body as in page 66. Who denies that For because of sin death hath come over man in every part both over spirit soul and body so that where man is raised out of sin by Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life his Spirit is quickened that it can rejoyce in God and his soul is raised up out of death that it can magnifie him who is the Saviour and if Christ be in you the Body iâ— dead because of sin and the same spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead shall quicken the mortal Body and the Creature it self thereby comes to be delivered into the Glorious liberty of the Sons of God so that the Resurrection of the whole man and of every man in his own order 1 Cor. 15 23 over whom death and the Grave had dominion we own and do not take a part of it for the whole as falsly J. W. accuseth us But whereas J. VV. imagineth that the Redemption of the Body spoken of in Rom. 8. Which the Saints groaned travelled and waited for is not to be enjoyed till the Natural and visible bodies of men shall be raised out of the Graves as in page 65. and 53. and 55. This is like the rest of his vain Imaginations and foolish dreams about the Resurrection and other things for this would suppose that that Redemption of the Body from the bondage of Corruption which Saint Paul and other Saints so many hundred years agoe did travel and wait and hope for in their suffering state is not yet attained which would render their Faith Hope and Travel ineffectual and what then was that bondage of corruption and that suffering under which the body suffered and from which they waited for redemption is it some bondage or suffering that the Saints so long deceased both were in their dayes and are yet in suffering under if they be not yet attained to the redemption of the body which so long since they travelled for as this J. VV. ignorantly seems to imply which his reason is like his saying that God is declared to be the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob because their bodies which are dead shall live again when as he was their God because they lived with him and were in him and were in the bosom of the Father who is not the God of the dead but of the living And as for that of Job 19.25 26 27. Which he mentions where Job knew his Redeemer living and that he should stand upon the Earth and that in his flesh he should see God whom said he I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold c. After this Job knew his hope herein fulfilled when he said to the Lord Chap. 42. I have heard of thee by the Hearing of the Ear but now mine eyes seeth thee Now it is not to be supposed that Job did either see or expect to see God with bodily or carnal eyes for who so imagines they must suppose God to be visible like themselves and not a Spirit nor an immortal invisible being who is to be seen spiritually and not carnally who is in that immortality and Glory with no man as mortal can approach to or behold with that which is mortal and what silly reasoning is it for J W. from that of Rev.
of and as in that he lives he comes to be reckoned among the Faithful and profitable Servants of Christ who become his Friends through faithfulnesse and Christ said unto such I call you no more Servants but Friends and this is further then the unprofitable Servants state And whereas J. W. chargeth such as strangers to justification by Faith in the Blood of Christ who say That so far as the creature is brought out of the filth of this world and to leave sin so far onely is he justified before God c. As also he tells of a poor sinner standing justified before God and of God justifying the creature while it is in its sins in its blood page 14. Answer Herein hath J. W. shewed himself ignorant of justification before God by Faith and of the state of justification for the Creature is not justified as a sinner nor in that state wherein it is in the filth of the World and in its blood but as it is made just in Christ being justified from sin and ungodliness and not in sin and justified from those things from which it could not be justified by the Law of Moses and it is not the hearers of the law that are just before God but the doers that shall be justified So this justification is not without sanctificaon as deceivers do falsly imagine a justification of men when they are in the filth of the world contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said to the Corinthians But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 So that he did not deny following the light or Spirit of God within as in reference to mans justification nor Preach up a justification of men when they are in the filth of the world and in their Blood as J. W. hath done who notwithstanding hath in page 124. owned a justification by performing the condition of the second Covenant through the assistance of Gods Spirit and that so far forth as persons are in Covenant with Christ and are enabled to walk according to his direction so far are they in a blessed estate as in page the 125. and is not that blessed estate and freedom from the guilt power and dominion of sin and assurance of eternal Life and a justified estate supposeth J.W. How hath he confounded him self in these things who hath also granted that they that believe are taught to be holy as he which hath called them is holy and to be holy in all manner of conversation because it is written be ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy 1 Pet. 1 14 15. Lev. 19.2 How then are any justified while they are in the filth of the world in their sins and in their blood Thus all may see what gross absurdity confusion and ignorance this J. W. is in who also saith The humble do see themselves in a lost and undone estate by reason of sin which they and all the world are guilty of finding themselves under the curse of the law c. What falshood and confusion is this when as those that are truly humble are taught of the Lord and freed from the guilt of sin according to this mans own confession and the humble and contrite heart is a Sacrifice to God and not to be reckoned under the guilt of the worlds sin nor under the curse of the Law as this J. W. hath falsely accused the humble who are of contrite Spirits whom God regards Also J. W. hath accused such as followers of the Romish Synagogue and as being Messengers of Satan who Preach up the light within saying that they lead all such as follow them from Christ to themselves setting up themselves c. As also he saith They set up that which is indeed the darkness of this world the traditions of men the Doctrines of the Romish Harlot page 21. Answ. What an absurd and foolish slanderer is this man who distinguisheth not between the Light within men and the men themselves when as they who truly preach the Light of Christ within do not lead them from Christ to themselves but to that which is not of themselves that they may come to deny themselves as he hath taught and this we own which is no setting up of strife nor of the darknesse of this world neither is it any Tradition of men or Doctrine of the Romish Harlot as impudently and falsly J. W. hath charged against such as preach the Light within and so hath manifested himself to be one of them who put Light for darkness and darknesse for Light unto whom Woes belongs Isa. 5 20. and the more he strives against the Light the more he confounds and splits himself against the Rock who having confessed that what we preach is the work of the Law in the hearts Rom. 2.15 and as much as that there is a light in us and all men contrary to the spirit of darknesse and now chargeth us with setting up the darknesse of this world and the Doctrines of the Romish Harlot what grosse darknesse confusion and blasphemies hath he here uttered forth if J. W. his heart were not filled with envy and malice he would not shew himself thus impudent in his folly and confusion CHAP. II. Concerning the nature and state of Christ and the soul of man and the Saints partaking of the divine nature and how J.W. hath confounded himself and shewed his blindnesse about these things JOseph Wright's words viz. Thou art a Deceiver for thou sayest not that the flesh and bones humane soul and spirit of that man which was born of Mary the Virgin is the Christ but thou making no mention of the humane nature that which thou callest the Christ is the seed spirit or light in that man that was born of Mary p. 23 24. c. Answer That which we own to be the Christ is the same that the Apostles and true Believers owned to wit That Jesus Christ our Lord was made of the seed of Abraham and David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the spirit of holinesse by the Resurrection from the dead and the seed which the promise is to is Christ and the last Adam was made a quickning Spirit and the Lord is that Spirit set Româ— 1.3 4. â— Cor. 15.45 Gal. 3.16 2 Cor. 3.17 Was the Apostle Paul a deceiver for speaking these things supposeth J. W which are the same things we speak though he count us Dâ—ceivers and is not this seed or spirit which is Christ in them that believe Yet J. W. hath confessed That it ought not to be denyed that the Spirit of Holinesse in that person which was born of the Virgin Mary is the Son of God by eternal Generation c. Why then hath he judged any to be deceivers for confessing that spirit or seed to be Christ and we confesse Jesus Christ to be come in
20.4 to Query What part of man is it which is capable of being beheaded Is it not the Body Therefore the bodies lived c. When as that of Rev. 20.4 speaketh onely of the Souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and the Word of God so that his reason is as if he had said that because the souls of them that were beheaded lived therefore their Bodies when they were beheaded lived when as the souls and that which was beheaded are spoken of as distinct things viz. the Souls of them that were beheaded so that where the Scripture mentions the souls as including the whole man or men as Gen. 46.27 which J. W. cites this will not prove his absurdity and the like reason for his dream about the bodies hath he in page 70. from Luke 16. of the rich mans being tormented which torment he saith is to be vnderstood to be upon the body of the rich man from his desire that Lazarus might be sent to dip his finger in Water to cool his tongue a part of his Body c. Wherein I.W. sheweth himself both ignorant of Parables and mysteries wherein he hath implyed as if the rich mans body was then in hell when he was so tormented when as Christ saith The rich man dyed and was buried and speaks that of Lazarus the rich man as in the time past then where was that Hell out of which he that was in it could see Lazarus in Abrahams bosom betwixt Abraham and which Hell there was a great gulf fixed And what was it in the rich man then that let him see Abraham and Lazarus a far off Did he see them when he was in Hell with bodily eyes yea or nay And as for I. W. his Comparison page 55. of the Wheat arising out of that very Seed and that very Kernel which was sown even so saith he shall it be in the Resurrection from the Dead the Natural and Visible bodies of those that believe in Christ although they shall not be raised as they are sown yet they shall be raised out of the Grave c. This is contrary to Iob. 7.9 and 1 Cor. 15.37 and this his Comparison doth not paralel his matter intended and asserted unless he can prove that the Bodies of all that are deceased or die are so reserved and their substance remain in the Earth or Sea where they die as the Wheat that is sown which brings forth its own Body which absurdity no rational man will believe though herein he hath contradicted himself for the same grain of Wheat that is sown is not that Body or Ear that grows forth and said the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.37 Thou sowest not that Body that shall be though every Seed shall have its own Body which who knows the mystery of the differing Seeds they come to know the Body of each which are of the Nature of those Seeds they belong to and there is also a Natural Body and a Spiritual Body which are distinct things as there is a first man and a second man which differ and so there are Terrestial Bodies and Bodies Caelestial which are discerned and the state of each distinguished where that Body which is Spiritual which differs from that which was Natural is discerned and seen and this is hid from all blind and empty Professors who are in their Dreams and Imaginations imagining that they shall see God with their Carnal or Visible Eyes and by such imaginations have in the long night of Apostacy blinded the simple and begot them into a blind Faith and Hope which stands not in the Power of God nor the Seed which is Christ which is risen to destroy and to root out the evil Seed which has been sown in the night by the envious one whose work they are in that oppose the good and where proves J. W. by Scripture that man that was made of the dust of the Earth had not in his Body dyed or returned to dust had he not transgressed as in page 61. Must not all things return to their Center For shall not the Bodies of the Just return to dust who are redeemed from Transgression and washed from sin by the Blood of Christ What was that death that Adam dyed in the day he eat of the forbidden fruit seeing that his Body lived hundreds of years after that CHAP. IV. Concerning what we appeal to in men and the Subject of our Exhortations And J. W. his gross Lyes and Slanders against us about these things WHereas J. W. hath accused us of Fearful Blasphemy for speaking to the Light in the Conscience or to the Seed of God in men Which saith he supposeth that that which they call Christ hath done Iniquity else why do they say Repent repent with exhortations to depart from sin c. So that he saith They reprove Christ exhort Christ councel Christ yea they say they speak to that of God in the Conscience which shall eternally witness so that they Teach God reprove God counsel God Oh horrible blasphemy thus far J. W. page 98. c. Answer What abominable falshoods gross mistakes are these against us for as we are manifest in mens consciences in the sight of God so we appeal or speak to his Light in them as our witnesse which beareth Testimony to what we say and do not make that Light the subject of our exhortations or reproofs but the Creature that is to be turned to Christ and his light within neither is the Light ever reproveable or guilty of any evil but that which transgresseth it And this light we appeal to as our witness for the Truth even in the wicked who rebel against it and we are a good favor to God even in them that perish And so his charge against us as not Preaching to the Creature man when we appeal to the Witness of God in men is exceeding false and foolish For cannot men appeal to any thing as a witness for Truth and true Judgement but they must make it the Subject which they reprove or appeal against What gross ignorance is this J.W. is in And is not the Truth where ever it is Preached manifest to that of God in mens Consciences and in our speaking or appealing to the light of Christ in mens Consciences we do not suppose that Christ is saved by our Preaching nor that he is in a fallen condition as impudently this Baptist hath accused us in page 99. And whereas he seems so much to be offended that any Doctrine or Ministry should be directed to the Seed of God in man or that Salvation should be tendred to that he hath manifested himself wholly ignorant of the Seed of God in that state as a Seed For do not the Promises of God belong to the Seed and when the Spirit of Promise moves any true Witnesse to declare them are they not to be directed to the Seed which they belong to should the Prophets mouths have been stopt when
not pleasant to thee for thou art of the Spirit of which Christ speaks who said John came neither eating nor drinking and yet that Spirit said he had a Devil and Christ came eating and drinking and it said he was a wine-bibber and the same Spirit is J. W. and his fellows of who say it s by an evil and familiar Spirit that we speak and its by an evil and familiar Spirit that we are silent 3. Our meetings are according to the mind of God and example of Gods people in fornier ages and they are for the end to wait upon God and worship him and we have the evident Testimony of the Spirit of God in our own Consciences many thousands of us that the Lord God hath been present with us in his heavenly vertue and power and comfort and Soul-refreshments in such our Meetings and that many a time have we found the Lord when we have been met together to wait upon him even to the satisfaction of our immortal souls who hath revealed his goodnesse and his saving health unto us even in our meetings and this the Spirit of God witnesses to us blessed be his name notwithstanding whatsoever J. W. or any such slanderous tongues can oppose in this case and we have large example in the Scriptures that the people of God met together in the same way and manner as we do now in private houses and sometimes in the fields and sat sometimes long in silence as Ezek. 3. The Children of the captivity they sat together and Ezekiel was astonished amongst them seven dayes and at the end of seven dayes and not before the word of the Lord came to him and would not J. W. have lookt upon this silence to have been from an unclean spirit and Job that servant of God sat with his friends seven dayes and seven nights and spake not a word one to another so that from hence it is proved that some of Gods servants did sit in silence for a long time neither do we read that the Churches of Christ had alwayes speaking and preaching amongst them when they met together though often they had and thus we cannot but vindicate such a practice in it self and the scripture is plain for it as in sitting together in silence and in that silence the Lords presence sweetly enjoyed though yet there are very few of our meetings in such silence as that some one or other or more hath not something given of God by way of Exhortation to the People or Prayer to God few meetings I believe wherein the Lord doth not stir up the hearts of some or other to mention his Name so that we would be understood in this we plead not for silence in opposition to all speaking nor can we plead that of necessity some must speak or else God cannot be worshipped though there is no such thing amongst us as brain-study or knowledge before-hand that we shall speak or what we shall say like the Diviners of this age who makes up their matter before-hand and shapes it what and how to say it before they come among the People to whom they must say it like Artists and Tradesmen this kind of way we reject as unprofitable to God-wards yet if any have a particular message ascribed to them of God to a particular People or Person which if any have let them retain what God puts into their hearts and be faithful to speak it but the general way in which God leads us is this 1. We do know it is our duty by the perswasions of the spirit of God in our own Consciences and partly by the examples of Saints declared in scriptures to meet together at a convenient time and place and so oft as the wisdom of God shall order for us which dwells with us 2. Being come together we are turned to the Lord in our minds to feel our peace and joy and comfort and how our conditions are to God-wards in our own particulars And 3. if any amongst us receive any thing from the Lord to speak of what his work is in them and what he has done for them or by way of exhortation to administer comfort to others or by way of reproof to convince or convert others or by way of praises unto God for his mercies received or in Prayer for what is wanted I say if any amongst us find ought of this from the Lord upon them they speak it to others and its well-pleasing to God and comforting one to another but notwithstanding if nothing of this be received from the Lord by any in a meeting to declare to others yet our peace and joy and comfort and Teacher is with us even the grace and Spirit anointing of God that dwells with us by which every one is fed and refreshed in his own heart in the presence of the Lord and this is the manner and end and practice of and in our meetings and that its the practice of familiar Spirits to sit in silence and for the communicating of an unclean Spirit and that none of the people of God ever did thus and that such a practice is not in the example of Scriptures and that we are gone aside after Satan and publishes his Doctrine and communicates his unclean Spirit these are six abominable ungodly lyes uttered by J.W. in about 2 pages of paper and therefore I cannot but exhort thee to Repentance if thou hast not sinned the sin unto damnation that thou may find mercy if it be not too late and thus much about our meetings which are for the worship of God which I could not but vindicate in opposition to thy false assertions about the same and whether J. W. and his fellows be not themselves guided by an unclean Spirit in slandering the Innocent let the God of Heaven and Earth judge and Saints and Angels testifie Concerning Back-sliders and J. W. his stories 4. As for the stories which he tells of of one that did confesse that a Spirit made him roar and of another whom he saith is as a brand pluckt out of the fire that a Spirit made him quake and tremble and another who said that the Spirit spoke with a vocal voice in her and of another who thought himself perfect and the Devil wrought such strange things upon him as in page 170 171. These I look upon to be meerly vain stories seeing he hath neither named the Persons nor the places nor the time in which these things should have been and therefore I conclude them onely vain stories and not worth answering nor spending much time about for what manner of evil hath not been said of us within these ten years the words of Christ have been plainly fulfilled upon us who said they shall say all manner of evil falsly of you for my Names sake and among all manner of evil falsly spoken we reckon these stories of J. W's but as for such as he sayes are as brands pluckt out of the fire I perceive
he means such who sometimes have been amongst us and professed and confessed to our Doctrines and waies and yet afterwards have turned from us we do confesse such there may be even such who may have tasted something of the Power of the Lord and of his goodnesse to their souls and have cryed out and trembled because of their iniquities yea and have been called out from their Kindred as he speaks and yet some such have turned aside again to vanity and then have been ready to make Lyes and frame false reports and to tell them for their own advantage to excuse their own revoltings thinking to defame us as so bad and so evil that with a more credit to themselves they may turn from us and some such like persons hath been J. W's informers if he hath not invented the lyes himself And though there be such revolters and false-hearted Hypocrites in the world yet the way of the Lord and his Truth is alike precious unto us immutable and unchangeable though Back-sliders walks not in the way thereof but seeks to asperse it when they turn aside from it but let such persons be marked some such we do know and they were wicked and prophane before they came among us and coming among us possibly were convinced of their sins and touched with judgement and sorrow for sin but now being turned from us again they are more prophane then ever and the Devil is entred again with the unclean Spirits worse then before and their latter end is worse then their beginning as the Scriptures says of such and some such as these are J. W. his converts and his brands pluckt out of the fire and such to tell stories and he to publish them are suitable correspondents but Truth is over them both and the way of the Lord is pretious and prosperous notwithstanding all the malicious oppositions that is in the hearts of his Enemies whose Judgement is such that they call Truth Errour and Errour Truth and calls that the work of the Devil which is of God and that the work of God which is of the Devil and the saying is true upon them a foolish People that have eyes and see not hearts and understand not And whereas J. W. hath been opposing the Light within and both the Preachers and followers of it thereby proving himself to be neither Preacher of the Light nor follower of it and therefore neither Minister of Christ nor indeed a Christian for whosoever doth not preach the Light and word of God within is no Minister of Christ nor in the example of his Apostles as is manifest at large in this Book and whosoever doth not follow the Light of Christ within and walk by the Spirit of God which is a Light in the heart is not in the new Covenant nor a member of the Church of Christ and such a one J W. is directly concluded to be from his own words who hath opposed such as preach and follow the Light within as if all such were in delusion and he hath denyed that the Light within is sufficient to lead to repentance from sin and pardon of sin and to comfort in God for the soul But he hath found out one that doth all this that shews sin and that judges for sin and that leads to mourn and grieve for sin and takes sin away and blots it out to wit the Devil as he saith if you will believe him pray you do but observe his story page 169. 170. He tells you there a large story but he names neither the Person nor the place nor time where and when it was which we demand of him in his next of one that preached the Light within as he sayes that the Devil did so and so with him and that the Devil set all his sins that ever he had done in all his Life before him as if they had been written in capital Letters then the Devil laid them all to his charge and did judge him for them and that the Devil made him to mourn and grieve and weep and made the tears come from his eyes for his sins this done as J. W. relates then the Devil took all his sins from him and said I have blotted out all thy Transgressions and the Devil let him loose from all his bonds and then the Devil commanded him to tell what God had done for his soul c. Now let any sober man judge that hath ever read the Scriptures ' whether this be a likely story for the Scriptures say that it is God that sets mans sin in order before him and it is God that judges men for sin by his Spirit of Judgement and it is he that causes men to mourn and grieve for sin and it is he that takes away their sins and blots them out by the bloud of Christ and that looseth man from his iniquities and brings them to declare what he hath done for their souls and it s our Faith that it is God through his own Son that works all this and not the Devil and the Scriptures say the same Psal. 50. Isa. 4.4 Dan. 9.24 John 5.27 1 John 1.7 But J. W. his story is contrary for he relates that its the Devil that doth all this and by this you may judge of this story and the Truth of it and also do but observe the temper of J. W. his Spirit and you shall see through his Book he opposeth the Light of Christ and the anointing within as if they were not sufficient for the effecting these things but he hath found you one that can do these things and who think you but the Devil and that can discover sin and condemn for it and lead People to Repentance and take away and blot out Transgression c. He hath brought you a story for the proof of it which we believe he credits to be true else he would not have brought it for the proof of his matter as he hath very pertinently done as he supposes and further as his story goes this Person that the Devil dealt thus by when he would have preached the Light within the Devil caused his mouth to shut that he should not preach it c. From which it follows that the Devil and J. W. are both of one mind for J. W. opposeth the Light within as the Devil does from which we have the more occasion to stand faithfully in preaching the Light within seeing both the Devil and J. W. do oppose it though afterwards his story relates that the Devil made him preach what God had done for his Soul and if this be a likely story let wise men judge Oh the Ignorance and Impudency that is fully manifest in J. W. that hath given his Faith to believe that the Devil convinces men of sin and judges them for it and takes away their sin Thus much in Answer to his story till his next return that we may know by him the Person and the place in whom and where