earnest of the Spirit and was at home in the body and absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 4 5 6 7. to be found in Christ not having his own Righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith that I may know him saith he and the Power of his Resurrection and the Fellowship of his Sufferings being made conformable unto his Death if by any means I may attain unto the Resurrection from the Dead not as though I had already attained either were already Perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus Phil. 3. from the 8th Verse to the end So that that which truly and properly is called the Resurrection from the Dead is the raising of man from the dead in every part wherein he is dead by reason of sin to be alive again and to live in every part wherein he lived before he sinned For before man sinned he was alive in Spirit Soul and Body Gen. 2. 7. and so should for ever have lived and not have tasted death nor have seencorruption or have returned unto Dust in his visible body had he not transgressed the righteous Law of God for the wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. which Law of God Man at first was able to have kept and might and ought to have kept it but he broke it through his wilful disobedience in hearkening to the Counsel of Satan and thereby brought himself and his Posterity to the Penalty therein threatned In the day saith God that Eating thou shalt Eat Dying See Gen. 2. 17. with the Hebbrew in the Margent thou shalt Die. Therefore the Resurrection from the Dead is the Raising of the whole Man from Death in every part wherein he is dead by reason of Transgression to be alive again and to live in every part which was once alive before Transgression This Resurrection is yet to come The renewing of the Spirit of the mind is but the Earnest or Assurance thereof and of Happinesse at that time It is to come and not past as the False Teachers did affirm of whom the Apostle doth give warning to the Saints 2 Tim. 2. 16 17 18. but shun saith he prophane and vain bablings for they will encrease unto more ungodlinesse and their word will eat as doth a canker or gangreen of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus who concerning the Truth have erred saying that the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some From whence we may take notice That these False Teachers did err in mis-applying the Resurrection of Man for they did not deny a Resurrection wholly but taking a part for the whole or puting the Earnest for the Inheritance said It was past already In like manner those against whom we contend they do not say That there is No Resurrection at all yet in effect they say as much for they say It is past with them and they look for no other kind of Resurrection than what they do now enjoy But this their Doctrine being no better than vain bablings all true Believers are to shun and avoid Sect. 12 And yet they that are thus deceived as to imagine that they have attained unto the Resurrection from the dead think to bring something to bear up their building from Revel 20. 6. where the Spirit of God saith Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection on such the Second Death hath no power c. concluding that the Resurrection is past with those that have attained to their supposed Degree of Perfection but alas they are greatly deceived for the First Resurrection here spoken of is not the Quickening of the Spirit only but the raising up and investing the whole bodies souls and spirits of those Holy Ones there mentioned with Life and Immortality And that this is so appears by the 4th and 5th Verses where John saith I saw the souls of them which were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshipped the Beast neither his Image neither had received his Mark upon their Foreheads or in their Hands and they lived and raigned with Christ a Thousand Years but the rest of the Dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished This is the First Resurrection c. Now what part of man is it which is capable of being beheaded Is it not the Body Therefore the Bodies lived though only the Soul is mentioned and it is usual in Scripture to mention a part for the whole as Gen. 46. 27. All the Souls of the house of Jacob which came into Aegypt were threescore and ten but who knows not that their Bodies came also And were it so That by the first Resurrection here mentioned is meant the Renovation of the Spirit of man by rising from sin to newness of Life yet this is so far from concluding against the Resurrection of the Body of man that the Resurrection of the Body of every true Believer may rather be concluded from it as saith the Apostle Paul Rom. 8. 11. But if the Spirit of him saith he that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you and as the Holy Spirit doth bear witnesse with the spirit of every true Believer that he is a Son of God so also that he is an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ of a glorious Inheritance which is to be enjoyed at the Redemption of the Body This Redemption of the body See Rom. 8. 16. 17 23. is that which all Believers wait with patience for and hope to enjoy in their bodies which now are liable to Sufferings for Christs sake and seeing it is in the last times that the Beast and his Image are set up which the Saints refusing to worship or to receive his Mark are by his Followers persecuted to death as a reward of whose Sufferings the First Resurrection shall be given to them and to all other Believers that are asleep in Jesus therefore it will not be accomplished till the Lord himself descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch Angel and with the Trump of God and then the Dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thess 4. 16. and this saith the Spirit is the First Resurrection Revel 2. 5. as is also testified 1 Cor. 15. 21 22 23. For since by Man came Death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead For as in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive but every man in his own order Christ the First Fruits afterward they that are Christs at his coming Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdome to God even the Father when he shall have put down all Rule all Authority
supposed eternal substance in every man as if not a person distinct from all other persons but a spirit or power in all persons were the Christ and as if the death of Christ were not accomplished in his own Body really but in the bodies of all men onely mystioally But this is the Testimony of Truth Christ Jesus the Lord is a distinct Person from all persons beside himself and such a person as there is none like him for He is the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holinesse Rom. 1. 4. and also the Son of David according to the Flesh so that he is truly and properly the Son of God before all Worlds and also in the fulnesse of time being made of a Woman Gal. 4. 4. It was onely that Person that is the Son of Mary the Virgin never man was Son of a Virgin but He it is He onely that was conceived in his Mothers Womb by the Operation of the Holy Spirit not one man in the whole World was ever so conceived besides himself so that He and He onely is perfect God and perfect man in Nature and Substance no man else in the whole Creation is so it is He that hath two distinct Natures in one entire person no Person else hath the like in him and in him onely dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Col. 2. 9. in no man besides him dwelleth the Godhead in any measure bodily Now although all men in respect of their Substance and Christ in respect of one of his Natures or Substances that is to say His Flesh and Blood are of one Substance Heb. 2. 14. yet it doth not at all follow from hence that all men are Christ for they are all distinct persons from him they are many persons He is one Person Mat. 16. 13 14 15 16. Onenesse in nature doth not make onenesse in person a man and his wife are one in Nature yet they are two distinct persons and although all men in respect of their substance of Spirit Soul and Body and Christ in respect of his Humane Nature are one yet in respect of his Godhead they are not one for He onely is the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holinesse and was so from all eternity Rev. 1. 8. Phil. 2. 6. Heb. 9. 14. the spirit of man though it be the most excellent part of man yet it is but a Created Substance the Spirit of Holinesse in Christ is an uncreated Substance a being without beginning and without end So that although Christ was in all things made like unto his Brethren sin excepted yet as he is the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holinesse he is not like his Brethren that have beginning of dayes and end of life but like his Father of the same uncreated Substance and of the same eternity even without beginning and without end and as Christ did in our Nature suffer yet not in ours but in his own Person so he is pleased to account that which is done to his Disciples as done to himself because it is done to one of his Natures though not to his person but to the Persons of his Disciples who are not therefore Christ for the Disciples are not that person that is the Christ neither have they as they are persons those two Natures that Christ hath neither are they that one Person that Christ is neither are they in a mystical sence called Christ but as being in Covenant and in Communion with that one Person which is the Christ who is the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holiness and the Son of David also according to the flesh which no man besides him is from all which the sence of the Scripture Mat. 25. 36. is clear viz. That man having one of the Natures of Christ viz. Flesh and Blood and being in Covenant with him by becoming his Disciples that good or that evil which is done unto them Christ declares it as done unto himself not that it was done to his Person as the Question of the Righteous vers 37. and the Answer of the King vers 40. do evidently manifest whereby the folly of those that wrest this Scripture to prove that Christ Preacheth to the Spirits when they are in Prison or that those Spirits are Christ that the Christ is onely a Power or Spirit in every man and not a distinct Person from all men beside himself or that Christ hath onely one Nature and not two dictinct Natures in one Person or that the Humane Nature which dyed was not Christ according to the Flesh which also was quickened again by Christ according to the Spirit of Holinesse Rom. 1. 4. or that these two Natures Spirit of Holinesse and Flesh Son of God and Son of Man in one Person is not the true Christ distinct from all other Persons of men though they be the Disciples of Christ I say the folly and blasphemy of those that wrest this Scripture to defend those vain conceits or to gain-say those Glorious Truths which are discovered laid open and made manifest for Christ in his affirmations I was an hungred and ye fed me Naked and ye cloathed me Sick and ye visited me in Prison and ye came unto me and the like did not affirm these things to be administred to the eternal Substance but to the whole created man Spirit Soul and Body especially to the sensitive Soul which standeth in need of Food Mat. 6. 25. and to the Body which being naked hath need of cloathing as also the Spirit of man which being in trouble hath need of comfort But it cannot be said that the Power Spirit or eternal Substance in man distinct from the Spirit Soul and Body of man is hungry thirsty a stranger naked sick or in prison neither did Christ affirm these comforts to be administred to his own Person consisting of these Divine and Humane Natures which as the Spirit of Holinesse was ever free from such infirmities so also the Humane Nature of his Person hath been free from hunger cold and nakednesse ever since his Resurrection from the dead so that the true meaning of our Saviour is this viz. That forasmuch as the Humane Nature of Christ is one in substance with the Nature of man-kind and because the Disciples of Christ are in Covenant with Christ their Head and Lord therefore that which is done to them in Feeding Cloathing Harbouring c. the Lord takes it as done unto himself because it is done to one of his Natures though not to his Person and because it is done to the Persons of his Disciples which are in Covenant with him as the 40. verse makes it evident And the King shall answer and say unto them Verily I say unto you inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me Thus this Scripture also is vindicated and those false inferences which false teachers have endeavoured to draw from
the Divine Nature as it is in a different manner from the Union of the Divine and Humane Natures of the Person of Christ so in this life it is but a part 1 Cor. 13. 12. With the mind saith the Apostle I my self serve the Law of God but with my flesh the law of sin Rom. 7. 25. The Renovation the Apostle exhorts to is in the spirit of the mind Ephes 4. 23. The perfection the Apostle declares the Saints now to be come to is to the Spirits of Iust men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. which is but the earnest of that inheritance Believers shall obtain the first fruits of the Spirit Believers though they enjoy this do wait for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of their Bodies See Romans 8. 23 24 25. Sect. 9 For as the Humane Spirit Soul and Body of Christ wherein his Humane Nature Heb. 5. 8 9. doth consist is now perfectly glorified his Body being raised from the Grave and ascended up into Heaven Luke 24. 51. So shall the Spirits Souls and Bodies of all true Believers after the Resurrection of their Bodies from their Graves or change from mortal to immortality be perfectly glorified See 1 Cor. 13. 10. And when they come to this estate and condition then they come to the full enjoyment of the promised Inheritance to which they are of God predestinated that is to say to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the first born among many Brethren Rom. 8. 29. And this is that the Apostle prayes for in behalf of the Church of the Thessalonians And the very God of Peace saith he Sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 23. Then Believers shall have their compleat participation of the Divine Nature when they having overcome and kept the Works of Christ unto the end are by him brought into likenesse of estate and condition with his own now glorified Humane Nature for when the day of Christs appearing shall dawn then shall the Day-star the Glory of his Humane Nature arise in the Hearts of all that love him 2 Pet. 1. 19. For as Jesus Christ is that bright morning-Star Rev. 22. 16. so he promised to give it unto them that hold fast till he come Rev. 2. 28. And then he whose Humane Nature hath received of the Father Rev. 2. 27. Power Glory and Honour John 17. 1 2. John 8. 54. will give unto his Brethren a likenesse of Glory unto that to which his own Humane Nature is now advanced which being once dead is now alive again and lives for evermore and is now fully able to open the doors of death and to set at liberty the Prisoners of Corruption and Mortality as he himself testifieth saying I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the keys of Hell and of Death Rev. 1. 18. Although the second Adam be of the same Substance with the first Yet oh how excellent is the estate and condition of the second Adam now since his Resurrection from the So is the Greek saith the Learned dead The last Adam saith the Apostle was made into a quickening Spirit It is raised a spiritual Body saith he 1 Cor 15. 44 45. And as the first Adam being fallen those that bear his Image bear the Image of the earthly that is Sin Corruption and Mortality so the second Adam being raised those that shall bear his Image shall bear the Image of the Heavenly that is Righteousnesse Incorruptibility and Immortality 1 Cor. 15. 49. 55 56 57. For the first Adam having by sin defaced the Image of God wherein he was created the second Adam repaired it again and by fulfilling the Law under which he was made hath so condemned sin in the flesh that having suffered death for the World of sinners and being also risen again from the dead his own Humane Nature Spirit Soul and Body and also the Spirits Souls and Bodies of all that believe on his Name shall for ever enjoy Life Spirituality and Incorruptibility And when the Church shall come to this estate and condition then shall she resemble her Head Christ Jesus who having first given himself for it to Sanctifie and to cleanse it will then give himself unto it and thereby make it like Glorious with his own Glorified Humane Nature See Ephesians 5. 25 26 27. Rev. 19. 7 8 9. Sect. 10 For thus saith the Truth Christ hath once suffered for sins the Iust for the Vnjust that He might bring us to God who being put to death in or concerning the flesh was quickened again by the Spirit of Holinesse that is to say the Godhead of Christ did quicken the manhead of his Person that so the Manhead in the Person of Christ might by the Power of his Godhead quicken the same Manhead in the persons of others For now even the Manhead of Christ hath though still the same Substance as the first Adam yet the quality and condition of a quickening Spirit for that manhead which being alwayes in Personal Unity with the Godhead and now also raised by it from the dead and exalted to the Glory of the Father hath such Power through the Godhead with which it is in Personal Unity that he can give a likenesse of Glory to the Manhead which is not Personally united to the Godhead for He hath received of the Father such Power over all flesh that He should give eternal Life to as many as are by the Father given unto Him John 17 1 2. For the Father giveth those that believe in Jesus Christ unto Christ that they may receive of his Fulness Ephes 1. 3 4. John 1. 16. Ephes 4. 10 11 12 13. And Christ giveth unto them with Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit the Hope of eternal Life to support them in all their Tribulations which they endure for his Names sake and at the last he will give them eternal Life and the Glorious enjoyment of blessednesse unspeakable Rom. 14. 17 18. Col. 1. 5. 2 Thes 1. 4 5 6. Yea Christ as man in the Substance of Adam in the Created Substance hath taken hold of eternal Life that the Creature man may be assured of enjoying the same by virtue of a title derived from him as he himself testifieth John 6. 27. saying Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting Life which the Son of Man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father Sealed for since by man came death by man came also the Resurrection from the dead saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 21. And God hath given good assurance both of the Resurrection and of the Eternal Life which is promised unto them that believe in that the Man Christ Jesus in the Substance of Adam is risen from the dead and entered into Life and
the truth of all Gods Teachings Exhortations and Ordinances whatsoever to neglect all Duties which God hath commanded in order to their Salvation and to sit in silence and wait in astonishment to be delivered from those fears which thou hast put them into All which is but to delude the senses of poor Creatures by thy sound and noise that so thou mayest bring them into a bewildered condition to be even done withal what thou pleasest that hast so dashed dazled and confounded their apprehensions and senses Sect. 15 When therefore thou hast effected thy purpose thus far being somewhat expert in thy way by the help of an evil Spirit which thou callest thy discerning eye boasting of the great discovery which thou hast made into and through all men discerning by it as by a Candle what is in them and when thou doest thus discover by that spirit by which thou art led and as by a Candle seest where the poor Bird doth sit which by thy sound is astonished confounded and silenced then thou hastest to it with all speed to cast thy Net over it which is to communicate thy unclean spirit unto it which spirit is not the light in every man but the darknesse in thee and thy followers neither is it in those that are silenced confounded by thee till it comes from thee and enters into them at that time which is to them remarkable the time of their visitation as they call it but it is a woful visitation for it doth not come with a still soft voice like the Spirit of God nor in the cool of the day but with earthquakes and rending the Rocks as they call it putting the poor Creature into such a woful condition that it is like one caught in a Net indeed and must now be dealt withal at the mercy of the Fowler which is very cruel for oh what quakings and shakings tremblings and fearings what pulling and dragging is at that time just as though the very heart must be pulled out all the bowels torn in pieces and one limb rent from another of which I have seen the example with mine eyes and when the unclean spirit hath pronounced such woes terrours and judgements and hath held the creature under them as long as he thinks fit which by them is called Hell and is all the Hell they fear then the said Spirit speaketh Peace to them but not by the Blood of Christ shed for their sins in his own body and out of themselves but he telleth them that he hath done away their sins and iniquities as a thick cloud and carried them away into the Land of forgetfulness not that Christ the Scape-Goat as a distinct Person from all other men hath done it and then this spirit requireth that Creature to arise and tell what God hath done for its soul yea sometimes this Spirit speaketh with a vocal voice in the bottom of the Bellies of them that are possessed therewith saying to them as the Lord said to Abraham Gen. 12. 11. for Satan endeavours to imitate God as much as he can Get thee out of thy Fathers house and from thy kindred unto a Land that I will shew thee and I will reward thee double other whiles he commands the Creature to go to such a place to such a man with a message from the Lord for now this Spirit hath the dominion over the poor Creature hurrying it up and down with Motions Revelations and Commands making it do what he liketh for his power is unresistable having gotten such hold that go now they must they cannot stay nor avoid it speak now they must and cannot help it for if they avoid the doing of any thing which he requireth then are they sure to feel he is a Lord indeed by the Terrour Wrath and Judgement which he will bring them into his Commands being given out upon pain of damnation upon the neglect of obedience to them So that he is not obeyed out of a principle of Love but of Fear and Terrour such Terrour too as makes them sometimes to quake and tremble and so unclean are his commands that he requireth some of them men and women to strip off all their clothes and as naked as they were born to stand sometimes upon a Market Crosse in the time of Market and sometimes at the Grave while the dead is burying in their naked bodies and there to tell the People they are for a sign of their destruction though it cannot be reasonably supposed that God did require his Prophet so to divest himself of all garments whatsoever when by some such like sign he required him to declare the destruction of the People but such is the uncleanness and cruelty of this spirit wch possesseth these poor creatures almost choaking them with his fits and conflicts making them roar and foam at the mouth with such a terrible and hideous kind of crying as might very much amaze any one that shall see them as I my self have done therefore I say they do not intend what they declare viz. That men and women should be guided by the Light that is in every one of them before some of these Teachers have by some means or other conversed with them that so instruction and an unclean spirit might be from them communicated unto those upon whom they call to mind the Light within Ah how many poor souls have their feet caught in this snare how many are taken in this evil net and thereby led to destroy all their good beginnings wherein they began to serve the true God running into grosse wickedness and Satanical delusions posting from mountain to hill forgetting their resting place turning from the true Christ and the worship of God and going a whoring after this spirit of errour and their own inventions Sect. 16 But that thy dissimulation may further appear I shall in several particulars make it manifest that thou never intendest that every man should be guided by that Light which they have in them before they meet with thee or thy Doctrine but that they should receive instruction and a spirit from thee to be their director and assister First because that when thou doest affirm that the Apostles of Jesus Christ were sent out to Baptize with the Spirit this thou speakest to oppose those that stand to maintain that they were commanded to Baptize with Water in the Name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins and by Prayer and laying on of hands to seek unto God that he would give his Spirit as he hath promised Luke 11. 9 13. Therefore thou callest Baptism in water carnal Prayer and laying on of hands carnal because not the Administrator of Prayer and laying on of hands but God doth give Christ to shed forth or baptize with the holy Spirit See Acts 5. 32. Acts 2. 33. Mat. 3. 11. Now if I must believe that what thou speakest of the Apostles of Christ those that are thy messengers can perform then consequently they can
confirmed and also to prove if any hereby may be converted and their Souls saved that the Truth which is so much trodden down as would make ones heart bleed to see it might be made honourable Sect. 5 And not knowing whether ever I shall see you face to face therefore I take this course to discharge part of that Trust which is upon me whereby I shew to you and to every of you the sad Principles of that Spirit of Antichrist which now runs about Preaching up the Law or Light within as also to and from it wherein you may see the sad Consequences and Companions of that Doctrine as also the Faith of Gods Elect laid down and proved by the Scriptures in opposition thereunto In which is discovered that all Righteousness rested in which is not wrought by that God-Man Christ Jesus and made ours by Faith is no better than Wickedness presumed in That they which deny the Doctrine of the Son of God and that deny his Person to be a distinct Person from all other Persons do deny the Father also That to them which Believe not in him that is the only Son of God Baptism in Water Prayer and Laying on of Hands Breaking of Bread all other Ordinances of the New-Testament must needs be as Shadows without substances as Shells without kernels as Bodies without souls for they deny the Father Son and Spirit Sect. 6 It will not be your way therefore to discourse this Spirit about the Authority of Ordinances the difference lies not so much between them and us now about who should Preach and what Ordinances are to be observed but what is the Doctrine that is to be Preached and what is that that is to be Preached to which is the Christ that is to be Believed in Now they which do differ in these Fundamentals need not waste time about other Points which otherwise are necessary to be discussed I need not give you a repitition here of all that is in the following Discourse my main design is to warn every one of you seriously to consider the following matter and to beware you hearken not to those pretended Preachers up of the Light whose Doctrine being examined by the Doctrine of the Scriptures is found to be gross Darkness but if you shall not be warned I have as to this done my duty your blood will lie on your own heads Sect. 7 For my part as I do not seek the Patronage of the great and mighty of the World as I fear not their ignomy nor reproach so I desire not their thanks nor commendation I have this to commend to you I wish I had you to commend also that your Practise were answerable to your Principles and then however some do Preach up the Light within I am sure you would be the Light of the World Mat. 5. 14. I have not further here to say to you but to bespeak your hearts to beautifie the Truth which you are made partakers of Consider what I say and the good Lord give you a right understanding in all things remember me in that intrest which you have at the Throne of Grace Farewell Yours to serve you in the Service of our Lord Jesus Christ JOSEPH WRIGHT To all those that through Ignorance are ADVERSARIES to the DOCTRINE of JESUS CHRIST and to the Professors thereof If you have not sinned that Sin unto death Peace be unto you and Peace be to your House through the Grace of Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace Men and Brethren Sect. 1 I Cannot pass any of you without a bitter sigh lamenting your Ignorance who do please your selves in reproaching others not having the knowledge to discern betwixt one sort of Professors and another but judge all alike and if you get but a Scandal by the end it shall not be suddenly laid down by you nay many of you do wait for our haltings and if but one do miscarry you will be sure to say that they are all such accusing all the Separated Congregations which in this Nation have Separated from the Parish Assemblies as Munster Baptists and Followers of John of Leyden whose Heresies notwithstanding we abhor as also they were abhorred by the Servants of the Lord of that time as may be seen in the History of this Iron Age yea if any fals Doctrin or Practise hath risen up many of you have laid it at our doors as when that notorious vile and abominable Practise of the Ranters did arise O how were we whose Souls do abhor all incivility and unchast actions branded with their lacivious wayes and what an Odium hath been cast upon our Meetings and wayes of Administring the holy Ordinances of the most holy and glorious God which we have ever desired and laboured to observe in a comely and decent manner all which scorn and derision cast upon us we well hope by our Conversations in a great part is wiped away and with the help of divine Grace we shall dayly labour to keep a Conscience void of offence both toward God and toward man that the Worship which we perform to him in his Christ may be approvable and to you more acceptable Sect. 2 Now as we have both by Preaching and Printing declared our selves Non Consentors to all the aforesaid Iniquities and Unrighteous acts against God or man in the mean time there hath risen up a most Pernitious Stratagem of Satan whereby to delude the Children of God and men The Doctrine and Practise is generally known it is a Teaching up the Light within all Men c. I need not express my self in any other terms although you have another Name for the conformists to that Notion which I judge doth not so fully include it and therefore I call them that are in Unity with that Principle the Messengers of Antichrist and the Spirit is his and the Doctrine also a clear discription whereof you have in this Book Sect. 3 And although we have both Preached and Printed against this Device of Satan and have born Witness very much against this Delusion yet so simple are some both People and Teachers as to rank us with them as Co-partners and such as are espoused to that Doctrine which Teacheth up the Law or Light within all Men c. But the Lord knows it and so shall you one day if you shall not believe it now That to entertain such a Doctrine would be to commit a Rape not only upon our very Consciences but also upon our meanest Principles and it is no small grief to us to bear the least tittle of their Inventions neither do we either Preach or Practise any thing at all as from them And to take off all your Suspitions and to resolve even those things in which you your selves are in the dark as also to quit our selves in preventing your ruin by that deceit as we in some measure have done by those Opportunities which we have had Even so now I who am very insufficient to
6. 10. that so they may be in his Resurrection also Rom. 6. 5 6 7 8 9. to live unto God that sin reigning not in their mortal bodies in this life they may in their bodies souls spirits reign with Christ in the life which is to come It must needs therefore be concluded that those that deny this blessed Appointment of Jesus Christ do also deny him to be come in the flesh as also all benefit that Believers do and shall obtain by the sufferings of Christ in the body of his flesh through death Col. 1. 22. and that are obtainable through his grace in their conforming themselves to his will in submitting to this his Appointment And forasmuch as the pretended Preachers up of the Light within do usually call the Baptism of Believers in Water though it be administred in the Name of Jesus Christ a carnal thing a shadow without substance empty useless low and such a thing as God is gone out of c. Is it not evident that they think as meanly of him that sent his Servants to Baptize with Water Joh. 1. 33. Mark 16. 15 16. Acts 10. 47 48. as they do of Baptism in Water What esteem have they of the Person of Christ that have none of his Commandement Of what value is the Coming of Christ in the flesh his Death Burial and Resurrection with those that despise his Doctrine and that blessed Appointment of his which not only sets forth the Burial and Resurrection of Christ but also the Vertue and Efficacy thereof upon Believers as is abundantly taught in the Scriptures Therefore saith the Apostle Rom. 6. 4. We are buried with him by Baptism into death that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newnesse of life So likewise Col. 2. 12. Buried with him by Baptism into death wherein also you are risen with him through the Faith of the operation of God who raised him from the dead And the blessed Apostle Peter in his first Epistle Chap. 3. 21 22. speaking of the efficacy of Baptism upon true Believers teacheth us to understand that it consisteth not in the bare putting away of the filth of the flesh as the Jewish Baptisms did Heb. 9. 9 10. but it being administred in the Name of a greater High Priest than he whose descent is from Aaron the effect is greater than the effect of those Legal washings or carnal Ordinances which the Apostle excellently expresseth in these words viz. Not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good Conscience toward God by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead who is gone into Heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject to him And the same Apostle according to the wisdom given unto him of God answered those Jews that being pricked in their hearts Act. 2. 37 38. said unto him and to the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do when he said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ for the Remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit Is the conscience of any man good while it remains defiled with the guilt of sin Tit. 1. 15. And hath the Lord appointed Baptism in Water in his Name Acts 10. 47 48. to signifie unto penitent Believers the Remission of their sins that being planted together in the likenesse of his Death which is unto Sin they might be also in the likenesse of his Resurrection Rom. 6. 5 14. Whence then is that spirit that forbids Water for the Baptism of the repentant Believer in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins He that is of God saith Christ heareth Gods Words Ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God Joh. 8. 47. When the Lord had anointed the eyes of the man that was born blind Joh. 9. 6 7. he said unto him Go wash in the Pool of Siloam which is by interpretation Sent he went his way therefore and washed and came seeing O what riches of grace doth every true Believer receive of Jesus Christ in their becoming obedient to his Word This man had not onely his Eyes opened which never yet had seen but he was made one of the Disciples of Christ one of the adopted Sons of God And what greater envie and malice can Satan and his Instruments express against God and man than to endeavour to hinder men from doing that which God hath commanded that so they may not enjoy that which he hath promised When Sergius Paulus desired to hear the Word of God of Barnabas and Saul Elimas the Sorcerer withstood them seeking to turn away the Deputy from the Faith Unto whom Act. 13. 3. Paul said O full of all subtilty and all mischief thou child of the Devil thou enemy of all Righteousness Wilt thou not cease to pervert the right wayes of the Lord And as this wicked man did endeavour to shut the eyes of the understanding of the Governour that he should not see the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 5 6. So was he justly punished by the hand of the Lord with such blindnesse that he was not able to see the Sun for a mist and darkness fell on him and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand A great punishment But his sin was great he sought to turn away a man from the Faith unto which as the Apostle Peter teacheth God Act. 15. 7 8 9. bore witness among the Gentiles and gave to them the holy Spirit purifying their hearts by Faith And as Paul teacheth He that believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his Faith is counted to him for Righteousness he is one of those blessed men to whom God will not impute sin who being justified by Faith hath peace with God through Jesus Christ access by faith unto Grace and rejoyceth in hope of the glory of God having Redemption through the blood Rom. 1. 1 2 3 4 6. of Christ the Forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his Grace Ephes 1. 7. And this is that new and living Way which Christ hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh Heb. 10. 20. For he himself by walking in that way wherein he requireth every true Believer to follow him hath consecrated it a way of Salvation for wherefore was he Baptized but to consecrate the way of Baptism to all Believers as himself testified when John refused to Baptise him Mat. 3 13 14 15. Saying I have need to be Baptized of thee and comest thou to me suffer it saith he to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all Righteousness Therefore Baptism in Water in the Name of Jesus Christ is unto the Repentant Believer the way of Salvation
are with the Devil and his Angels in chains of darkness reserved unto the Iudgment of the great day 1 Pet. 8. 19. 2 Pet. 2. 4. wherein they shall in spirit soul and body be tormented in the Lake of fire 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Revel 20. 14. So contrariwise are the spirits of all Just men who fight the good fight and finish their course in the Faith of Luke 13. 28. Mark 9. 43. 44. Mar. 16. 26. Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 4. 7. reserved in Paradice unto the Day of the Lord when the Blessed of the Father shall receive the Kingdome and shall in spirit soul and body enjoy eternal Life Lukâ— 23. 43. Matth. 25. 46. and everlasting Blessedness with Christ Jesus who is now glorified in that Body which suffered death rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven John 20. 27. Luke 24. 38 39. to the 53. as all Believers also in due time shall be And whereas it is declared in Scripture that Christ hath led captivity captive that he hath redeemed those that believe from the Curse of the Law that he hath abolished Death and brought life and Immortality to light through the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. All this though it be the sure and steadfast hope of every True Believer Heb. 5. 18 19 20. is made void and of no effect by those that deny the Resurection of the Bodies or flesh of men for as the flesh of Christ wherein he wus put to death 1 Pet. 3. 18. saw no corruption but was quickened again by the Spirit the third day Act. 2. 24 31. So the flesh of those that believe in Christ though it doth see corruption as Davids flesh is said to do Acts 13. 36. shall be raised again incorruptible 1 Cor 15. 52. and therefore God is declared to be the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob Exod. 3. 15. Mat. 22. 31 32. because the Bodies of Abraham Isaac and Jacob which are dead shall live again and shall therefore be raised up from death because God is not the God of the dead but of the living as Christ hath taught But False Teachers in their denying the Resurrection of the Bodies of the dead do deny that God is the God of the Living a most sad consequence and blasphemous Opinion Sect. 15 But as the Apostle teacheth The denial of the Resurrection of the Bodies of the Faitfull from the dead doth not only deny the Resurrection of men that have sinned but also of Christ himself who knew no Sin it makes the Preaching of the Gospel vain and the Faith of them that confess it it renders the Apostles of Christ false witnesses of God because they have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom he raised not up if so be that the dead rise not It concludeth that those that Christ hath set free from sin are still under the guilt thereof that they that are faln asleep in Chrst are perished and that the hope of Believers is only in this life and therefore they of all men are most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19. O fearfull Doctrine What a bitter Root is this which brings forth such Fruit so destructive to the health and comfort of all Believers so contrary to that food wherewith the Spirits of the Faithfull have in old time been nourished and to the Hope wherewith they have in all their Tribulations been supported Oh saith Job in his great extremity when his Brethren Friends Servants his own Wife and Young Children despised him that my words were now written that they were printed in a book that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the Rock for ever For I know saith he that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth and though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my Reins be consumed within me Thus was he supported by the hope of the Resurrection of the dead in the midst of his great Afflictions and Tribulations Job 19. 23 24 25 26 27. The like Experience had Paul for the hope of Israel saith he I am bound with his chain Acts 28. 20. I am judged saith he for the Hope of the Promise made of God unto the Fathers unto which Promise our Twelve Tribes instantly serving God day and night hope to come for which Hopes sake King Agrippa saith he I am accused of the Jews Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead Act. 26. 6 7 8. So likewise when he was brought before FELIX This I confesse unto thee saith he that after that way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets and have Hope toward God which they themselves also allow that there shall he a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Iust and Vnjust and herein do I exercise my self to have a Conscience void of Offence both toward God and toward men O what comfortable and sure hope hath every true Believer by the communion of the Spirit of God that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead how are their spirits quickened and renewed after the Image of him that created them Eph. 2. 5. Col. 3. 10. who will also in due time quicken their mortal Bodies also by his Spirit that dwelleth in them Rom. 8. 11. And inasmuch as God intends to raise the Bodies of his Saints again from the dead therefore precious in his sight is their death Psalm 116. 15. They who while they lived in the Body dyed unto Sin their Bodies after they are dead shall be raised again to Life and shall no more be subject to Death or Sorrow or crying for God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes neither shall there be unto them any more pain Revel 21. 4. Death shall be swallowed up into Victory and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off their faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth for the Lord hath spoke it Isa 25. 8. Then shall be the restoring of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Holy Prophets since the World began Acts 3. 21. Then will he make all things new and unto those which have not loved their lives unto the death for the sake of Jesus Christ with all that have believed on his Name God will be a Father and they shall be his Children and shall inherit all things for these Sayings are true and faithfull saith the Lord Revel 21. 5 7. Thus all may see That the denyal of the Resurrection of the Bodies of the Dead doth make void the Hope of the Israel of God There is also that other pernicious quality in it It emboldeneth the Sinner to God on in
the Lord shone round about them viz. the Shepherds and they were sore afraid And the Angel said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people not to a supposed Seed or uncreated or eternal substance in man but unto man even unto all people for unto you saith he is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and this shall be a sign unto you ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swadling cloaths lying in a Manger not lying within you but lying in a Manger which was not within them and suddainly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest on earth Peace good will towards men Luke 2. 9 10 11 12 13 14. This is indeed the Gospel of glad-tidings a Saviour for sinners for poor sinful man yea and so saith all the Prophets as many as have spoken have likewise declared these things viz. That God did send his Son to die for man to bear our sins and that God raised up his Son Jesus and sent him to blesse the Creature man in turning every one of us from our Iniquities it could not be to turn himself from his Iniquities for he had none He did no sin neither was guile found in his Mouth yet it pleased the Lord to put him to Grief for us and to lay upon him the Iniquities of us all See Acts 3. 26. Isa 53. 6. yea he was wounded for our Transgressions He was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and with his Stripes are we healed So that it is evident That that Doctrine which is not directed to Man but to a supposed Seed or uncreated Substance in man is not the Doctrine of the Gospel which tendereth Salvation to the Creature but a blasphemous Riddle which tends to the nourishing of Evil Thoughts viz. That the Eternal Witness or Substance stands in need of a Teacher and of a Resurrection out of a fallen or imprisoned Condition or to make Man exalt himself into the Place of God by imagining that something within him as a part of his Person is as Eternal as the Spirit of Holiness in Christ or else it tends to make the Creature man consisting of Spirit Soul and Body utterly to despair of Salvation Sect. 4 But now to Answer thy false Inferences which thou endeavourest to draw from these Holy Scriptures to maintain thy Opinion and Practise of Preaching not to man considered as Man but to a supposed Seed or eternal Substance in Man I say and testifie in the Lord That these Scriptures 1 Pet. 3. 19. Matth. 25. 36. teach nothing in the least to justifie such a Practice but that which is here held forth by the Spirit of God in the first Scripture is this viz. That by that Spirit which raised the Flesh of Jesus Christ from the Dead he had Preached by the Ministry of Noah to the Spirits of men which are now in prison not that he preached to the Spirits when they were in Prison nor that these Spirits are of the eternal and uncreated substance but the spirits in prison are the spirits of those men and women which Christ according to the Spirit of Holinesse did by his servant Noah who was assisted therewith preach unto before they were in Prison that is to say In the dayes of Noah when they were disobedient to the long suffering of God while the Ark was a preparing So that you cannot say the Seed of God was that which was preached to except you will say the Seed of God was disobedient or that they were in Prison when they were Preached unto for then they could neither have been obedient nor disobedient for in Prison they are as a reward of their disobedience which they acted when they were at Liberty and are kept in Prison for the said disobedience unto the great Judgement Day So that the Spirits were not in Prison when they were Preached to but disobedient they were at that time when once the long Suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah while the Ark was a Preparing in which few that is eight Souls were saved by Water at that time when once the long-suffering of God waited while the Ark was a Preparing Then did Christ by the same Spirit by which his own Body of Flesh in which he was put to death was raised again from the dead Preach to them that were then Disobedient whose spirits are now in Prison and so shall remain till the great Day of Judgement when they in Spirit Soul and Body shall be punished with everlasting fire as a reward of their disobedience in refusing the Spirit of Holinesse by which God did strive with the old World an hundred and twenty Years Gen. 3. 6. So great was the Patience and long-suffering of God So unwilling was he that any of them should perish but rather that all of them should have repented Rom. 2. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 9. which when they utterly refused to do he brought the flood of Waters upon that ungodly World those that would not be turned by the strivings of Gods Spirit but refused that Grace which was so earnestly and affectionately tendred unto them as unworthy of any further offers of Grace were destroyed by the flood of Waters which overthrew their Carkasses and as the just Wages of their impenitency and unbelief their spirits are now reserved in Prison unto the judgment of the great Day of God Almighty when they with all other wicked men that live and die in impenitency and unbelief in spirit soul and body shall bear the punishment of their disobedience And then also the Angels which kept not their first Estate but left their own Habitation for which cause they are now reserved as in Prison in everlasting Chains under darkness Jude vers 6. shall be cast into the Lake of Fire burning with Brimstone where they and those accursed men and women that have been seduced by him shall be tormented for ever where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Thus it is evident that the spirits in Prison spoken of in the Scripture abovesaid are not to be understood of the Spirit of Holinesse in Christ but indeed of the Unclean and Rebellious spirits of Men and Women who refuse the Grace of God when it is tendred unto them in the day of his forebearance and long-suffering Sect. 5 But thy inference from Mat. 25. 36. to justifie thy Opinion and Practice of Preaching not to man but to a supposed seed in every man which thou callest Christ imprisoned in man is also exceeding false and that which tends to the turning of the minds of men from the Person of Christ by whose Death and Resurrection accomplished in his own Body he hath wrought the Redemption of the Bodies of all others that believe in him to an imaginary spirit â—r
weep and wail because of anguish and pain and that without remedy It is not onely the Devil that shall bear the punishment of sin but unto those men and women that enter not into Covenant with Christ that so they may obtain from him the remission of their sins he will say at the last day Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25. 41. Such indeed is the punishment prepared for the Devil and his Angels and for the Beast and the false Prophet with those workers of iniquity that live and die in their worship and service That they shall be cast into the lake of fire burning with Brimstone where they shall be tormented day and night for ever Rev. 19. 20. Rev. 20. 10. So that as the Angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation are justly reserved unto the judgement of the great day Jude verse 6. So also the Creature man shall either lie under the curse and wrath of God as the just reward of his sin and disobedience to the Gospel in his not believing in the Name of the onely begotten Son of God Christ Jesus that so his sins might be remitted and his Person saved in that great day of Judgement Mark 9. 44. Acts 3. 19 20 21. or else the Creature man shall enjoy from God through Jesus Christ by Faith in his Name the unspeakable blessedness of Peace Adoption Salvation Eternal Life and everlasting Glory with the Father and the Son For as the wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Psal 9. 17. even so shall the Righteous enter into Life eternal and Joy unutterable Mat. 25. 46. Mark 16. 16. Dan. 12. 2 3. This is the Doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that which is the contrary Doctrine is the doctrine of Devils the consequence whereof leadeth men and women unto all manner of wickedness For if no blessednesse shall be to the Spirits Souls and Bodies of them that walk in the Fear Faith and Love of God nor no tribulation nor anguish no indignation nor wrath to the Spirits Souls and Bodiâ—s of them that walk in the vanity of their minds committing iniquity with greediness desiring reproof and casting the Rich and Gracious tender of Gods unspeakable Love in Christ Jesus which he so earnestly tendreth unto them behind their backs then what wickedness may not man run into With how much eagernesse will all such as are so perswaded persist in all impiety How impossible will it be unto them while they retain such a delusion to be turned from sin and converted to God but that Doctrine which strengtheneth the hands of evil doers and weakeneth the hands discourageth the Hearts and maketh the Knees of those that are running in the Paths of everlasting Peace to become feeble neither is nor can be of God but is from Satan the old Serpent and from his Vicegerent Antichrist the Beast and false Prophet who with all his Subjects Worshippers and Admirers even all those men and women that know not God nor obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe because the Testimony of the Grace of God was of them believed in the day of his long suffering and forbearance 2 Thes 1. 8 9 10. Rom. 2. 4. Sect. 12 But it is also evident that those that call themselves Preachers of and to the Light within c. when they exhort to perfection they never intend that the Creature Man with all the helps he can lay hold on either is can or ought to be perfect for when I have asked them about this thing and have said unto one of them What is that thing in it self which thou sayest is perfect Is it thee such a man thy Body of Flesh the Created Substance and Being which is called by such a name c. it hath been answered No I speak not of the Creature or the Body of Flesh its being perfect I mean that measure of Christ as it raises up it self in me it is perfect it is that which doth not sin it is that which is born of God it is that which I witnesse to according to my measure it is perfect Now who sees not plainly that thy Contention about Perfection is vain for who doubts of the Perfection of the uncreated Substance or of the Perfection of the Pâ—rson of Christ his Divine Nature is Perfect the Humane Nature of his Person is Perfect the Person of Christ did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2. 22. And is there not a vast difference between the perfection of the Person of Christ which is perfect by a perfection without ever having done one act of evil or thought one sinful thought or spoken one guileful word and the perfection of the Persons of other men who have sinned in Thought Word and Deed Is it not therefore vain to speak to a man of perfection and not to intend the perfection of man And is it not as vain to make no distinction between the Person of Christ and the persons of other men or between the Communion of the Holy Spirit the third Person in the Trinity with Believers and the Vnion of the Spirit of Holinesse or Divine Nature the second Person in the Trinity with the Body of Christ or his Humane Nature or between the operation of the Holy Spirit upon the World of Sinners in convincing them of Sin Righteousnesse and Judgement John 16. 8. and the Gift of the Holy Spirit unto Believers whereby they are assured of their Adoption led into all Truth assisted in Holy Duties supported in Tribulation and invested with hope of Glorification Rom. 8. 16. John 16. 13. Rom. 8. 26. 1 Cor. 14. 15. Rom. 5. 5. If therefore when thou speakest to man of perfection thou meanest the perfection of the Divine Nature of Christ a Measure of God as thou callest it doth not every Believer acknowledge the perfection of the Divine Nature Who is so prophane as not to conclude that God is perfect And who so Blasphemous but thy self being led by the Spirit of Antichrist as to presume once to think that any part of man Spirit Soul or Body is of the Divine Eternal and uncreated Substance and such must needs be the meaning of those that Preach to man of perfection and intend no other perfection than the perfection of God or of the Person of Christ Sect. 13 But the Scriptures do declare that man consisting of Spirit Soul and Body shall at the coming of Christ in Glory be made perfect and as the Spirit of man by pardon of sin Luke 1. 77. is now made perfect Heb. 12. 23. in part so shall the whole man also eternally enjoy perfection as the Apostle
the Grace of God through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus unto and upon all them that believe whose Faith is imputed to them for Righteousness and whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered Thou art a stranger unto which notwithstanding is the Doctrine of the Apostle Paul Rom. 3. 22. and Rom. 4. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Sect. 9 Sixthly Thou deniest Christ which died c. because all such as follow after thy Doctrine do not deny themselves as he hath taught they should thou makest a shew of Sin-denial but Self-denial thou dost not practise but Self must be denied and Self-Righteoushess which is of the Law yea when men have done all whatsoever they are commanded they are then to say with humble hearts they have done but what was their duty and that they are unprofitable servants I say to deny our selves and self-righteousness accounting it but dung that we may win Christ and be found in Him not having our own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith this is the way to true blessedness as the Apostle teacheth Philip. 3. 8 9. But this laying low Self and onely resting upon Christ by Faith thou canst not away with therefore thou art in Self-exaltation in the highest degree only thou coverest this with a fair pretence by putting pretended Sin-deniall for Self-denial and hereby is many a poor Soul miserably deceived by thee but thus saith the Word of the Lord Rom. 3. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the Law is the knowledge of Sin And Gal. 3. 10 11. For a many as are of the works of the Law are under the Curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continuetb not in All things that are written in the Book of the Law to do them But that no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God it is evident for the Just shall live by Faith Behold saith the Prophet Habâ—k 2. 4. His Soul that is lifted up is not upright in him but the Iust shall live by Faith Sect. 10 To which Justification by Faith in the Blood of Christ thou that placest pretended Sanctification in the stead and place of Justification art a stranger and herein it will appear that although thou seemest to have a Zeal of God yet it is not according to Knowledge for thou sayest so far only as the Creature is brought out of the filth of this World and to leave sin so far only is he justified before God whereas the Scripture saith Rom. 4. 5 6 7. But to him that Worketh not but Believeth on him that justifieth the Vngodly his Faith is counted to him for Righteousness even as David also describeth the Blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth Righteousness without Works saying Blessed are they whose Iniquities are Forgiven and whose Sins are Covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not Impute Sin So that God justifieth the Creature while it is in its Sins in its Blood Ezek. 16. 6. by the pardon thereof upon Repentance and Believing the Gospel which Believing is Imputed to us for Righteousness as it is written Rom. 4. 3. Abraham Believed God and it was counted to him for Righteousness And although Repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20. 21. be requisite in order to every Sinners Justification yet is Justification an Act of God Rom. 8. 33. whereby he freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Iesus Christ doth acquit from guilt of Sin the Repentant Believer not Imputing his Sins to him and accounting his Faith to him for Righteousness See Rom. 3. 23 24 25 26. Yea to Believe as a Sinner while under the guilt of Sin and thereby lyable to the wrath of God Rom. 3. 19. Gal. 3. 10. Ephes 2. 3. that God hath received such absolute Satisfaction by the Sufferings of Jesus Christ in his own Body upon the Cross without the Gate of Jerusalem That he that Repenteth and Believeth the Gospel is wholly acquitted his debt discharged fully and freely through his Blood this is the way to be justified before God So that the main ground and reason why we that Believe should be holy in all manner of Conversation in this present evil World is because we are not our own but are bought with a price even with the precious Blood of Jesus Christ Therefore ought we to Glorifie him in our Bodies and in our Spirits which are his 1 Cor. 6. 20. And so ought we to live to him that dyed for us and rose again c. 2 Cor. 5. 15. That seeing Christ dyed for our sins we ought not to live in them but to die to that which he dyed for and as he was Crucified for our Iniquities So they that are Christs do Crucifie the Flesh with the affections and lusts lest they joyn with his Enemies and provoke his anger against them and as the Apostle Peter teacheth 1 Pet. 1. 14 15. As obedient Children not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your Ignorance but as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Because it is written Be ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy Levit. 19. 2. But Sect. 11 Seventhly In that thou layest aside this God-glorifying Doctrine of Christs free Reconciliation of Sinners to God by his Death out of and without themselves and of Gods Justification of the Ungodly by the Remission of their Sins upon Repentance Faith It appears that with the High-Priests Elders and Scribes of the Law Acts 4. 5 6 10. the Preachers up of the Light within do set at nought that precious and tryed Stone which is the Head of the Corner and the Foundation of all Generations that shall be Saved yea that Rock of Ages upon which the Congregation of the Faithful are built which is not the Rock of these Legallists their Preachings and Printings being Witnesses see Deut. 32. 31. For in as much as the Light within is no other than the work of the Law written in the hearts of the Gentiles Rom. 2. 14 15. It is evident that these Preachers are Preachers of the Law not of the Gospel to which with those Jews and Greeks mentioned 1 Cor. 1. 23. they are such Adversaries that the Preaching of Christ Crucified is to them both a Stumbling Block and Foolishness while unto them which are Called Christ is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God Oh how great and glorious is the Power of God in the work of Redemption by the Sufferings of Jesus Christ Oh the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God which the proud in Spirit know not as the Prophet David teacheth Psal 11 4. The Wicked through the pride of his Countenance will not seek after God
because Christ hath walked therein to make it â—o he was Baptised that knew no sin that the Repenting Sinner might be baptized in his Name for the Remission of Sin and as the Sinner draws nigh to God by Repentance Faith and Baptism so Christ draws nigh to the Sinner by his Grace for as the Sinner comes to be washed in his body with purâ— water so he comes to be sprinkled in hiâ— heart or spirit with the blood of Christ froâ— an evil Conscience Heb. 10. 22. For Chrisâ— came saith John by water and blood noâ— by water only but by water and blood anâ— it is the Spirit that beareth witness becausâ— the Spirit is truth For there are three thaâ— bear Record in Heaven the Father thâ— Word and the holy Spirit and these threâ— are one And there are three that beaâ— Record in Earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood und these three agree in one Iâ— we receive the witness of men the witness of God is greater for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son 1 John 5. 6 7 8. And as the Grace of God is exceeding great in giving to every true Believer assurance of acceptance with him by the witness of his own Spirit Rom. 8. 16. through the precious blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 18. signified in Baptism so it must needs be great Impiety in any man to gain-say that holy Commandment which he hath appointed as a means whereby repenting Believers do draw nigh unto him Heb. 10. 22. and as an evidence of his accepting them for his Children Gal. 3. 26 27. the which further to assure to them that ask him Luke 11. 13. he giveth the Spirit of Adoption whereby they are inabled to cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 6. Sect. 6 But as the Adversaries of Jesus Christ and of his holy Ordinances deal by one so they do also by other of his Commandments which to manifest their dislike and contempt of Christ that gave them forth they contemn and resist like their Predecessors in evil the Jews Acts 7. 51 52 53. who though they received the Law by the disposition of Angels kept it not and though the Gospel be the Power of God unto Salvation unto every one that believeth being that wherein the Righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith Rom. 1. 16 17. yet did they not obey it Rom. 10. 17. Even so these their Followers finding the work of the Law written in their hearts Rom. 2. 15. this they extol and admire but never did any of them walk according to it for as saith the Apostle Rom. 3. 23. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God and although there be no way to take away their sins but that new and living way of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which he hath consecrated for that purpose by which he not only promiseth Peace and Salvation Everlasting but giveth also the earnest and assurance thereof unto them that seek it in the way that he hath appointed in the word of the Gospel yet will not these stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears obey the Gospel but do alwayes resist the holy Spirit like their Fathers for that they may show their utter enmity and contempt of the Gospel and of the precious Promises of Grace declared therein that they may deter Believers from seeking the gift of God the holy Spirit that they may hinder it as much as in them lies not only the Evidence that every Believer may have of his Adoption or Son-ship but also that assistance of the Spirit of God whereby he may be inabled to war a good warfare yea that they may take men off from seeking Righteousness by the Gospel and set up the Law for Justification as if their own strength and the Light within all men were sufficient to render the Power of God whereby Believers are kept through faith unto Salvation of no effect that Principle of the Doctrine of Christ viz. Prayer and Laying of Hands on Baptized Believers for the obtaining the gift of the holy Spirit is by the Preachers up of the Light within c. as other Ordinances of the New Testament reproached and despised but Oh how fierce is their anger how cruel is their wrath against the People of God that contemn and vilifie the practice of that duty of Prayer and laying on of hands which is performed for so holy and spiritual an end as the obtaining the gift of the holy Spirit promised of God to those that repent and are baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins Acts 2. 38. Gal. 3. 14. Luke 11. 13. given of God to those that did obey him Act. 5. 31 32. to witness unto them the forgiveness of their sins to be the earnest of their Inheritance the seal of Salvation until the Redemption of the purchased Possession Ephes 1. 13 14. to be such an assistant unto Believers which they cannot obtain by the works of the Law but by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3. 2. and whereby they may be enabled so to walk that they shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. Yea so exceeding great and precious is the Promise and so powerful is the assistance of the Spirit promised that thereby Believers may be made partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. their infirmities may be helped in Prayer Rom. 8. 26. they may have all things brought to their remembrance be led into all Truth and shewed the things that are to come Joh. 16. 13. Joh. 14. 26. which Promise of the Spirit was obtained by Prayer and Laying on of hands by the Apostles in behalf of the Samaritans Act. 8. 15 16 17. by a certain Disciple in behalf of Saul Act. 9. 10 17. by Paul in behalf of the Ephesians Acts 19. 6. by certain Prophets and Teachers in the Church at Antioch in behalf of Barnabas and Saul to assist them in the work of their Ministry Acts 13. 1 2 3. by the Apostles in behalf of the seven Deacons to fit them for their service Acts 6. 5 6. by the Presbytery or company of Elders in behalf of Timothy 1 Tim. 4. 14. and also by Paul himself 2 Tim. 1. 6. in order to his obtaining the gift of the holy Spirit to assist him both as a Disciple and Minister of Jesus Christ So that all that believe in Jesus Christ may safely conclude that Prayer and laying on of hands is a Principle of his Doctrine which he himself was not far from the practice of upon those he sent out to Preach among all Nations Repentance and Remission of sins when having first said unto them Behold I send the Promise of my Father upon you and having led them out as far as Bethany in order to his parting from them and ascending up into Heaven He lift up his hands and blessed them Luk. 24. 49 50. Yea so ancient and authentick is the practice of
and Power for he must raign till he have put all his Enemies under his feet the last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death as it is written Rev. 20. 12 13. And I saw the Dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their Works And the Sea gave up the Dead which were in it and Death and Hell or the Grave delivered up the Dead which were in them and they were judged every man according to their works So that we see clearly that both the First and Second Resurerction is the raising of whole Man from death or from the grave contrary to the conceipt of such as suppose the renewing of the spirit of the Mind which is but a part of man to be the first Resurrection of man the Dying to Sin and Rising again to Righteousnesse being so far from being the Resurrection of whole Man from the Dead that it is but the Earnest of the Inheritance of the Righteous as for the Wicked they have no part in it though they shall have in the Resurrection for they as Christ hath taught shall come forth of the grave unto the Resurrection of Damnation John 5. 28 29. Neither is it in the dying to sin and rising again to Righteousnesse as it is in the Death of man and his Rising again for Man dyeth and riseth again but when sin dyeth sin ought never to rise again God forbid that any Believer should plead for a resurrection of sin Sect. 13 But as the denial of the Resurrection of the dead or the affirming that it is past already is a Doctrine false in it self so are the Consequences thereof most dreadfull and destructive to all true piety yea of such a fretting and gangreen-like nature that in those that are infected therewith it devours member after member till the whole body of the Faith be overthrown and the Professors thereof divested of the Knowledg of God and reduced to Gentilisme again and not only so for even among the Gentiles were some Principles of Morality but this is not content to stay here but encreaseth to more ungodlinesse till it arrive at that prophane desire Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die a Conception so corrupt that as Scollars do affirm that are acquainted with the Sentences of the Heathen Poets the Verse of Menander might serve to rebuke it which the Apostle Paul sticks not to mention for that purpose saying Be not deceived Evil Communication corrupts Good Manners 1 Cor. 15. 32 33. And were those that vent those loose Principles followers of them in practice as the Ranters their Predecessors were we should soon see these as unclean in their lives as they and such as cannot now so easily discern the deceitfulness of their Doctrine because of the covering which they put upon it were it uncovered and reduced to Practice it would be abhor'd by some that are now seduced by it But if we examine all Doctrines that are brought unto us apart from the Lives of those that bring them as we ought to do For since Satan is transformed into an Angel of light it is no great thing if his Ministers be transformed as the Ministers of Righteousness 2 Cor. 11. 14 15. we shall find that that Doctrine which denies the Resurrection of the bodies of Believers and of all that are dead in Adam from the grave doth make void the hope of Israel the Doctrine of Faith contained in the Scriptures of Truth and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ himself Sect. 14 For thus saith the Truth concerning the Hope of the Israel of God If in this Life only we have Hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. For such are and have been the Tribulations of the Children of God in this Life that if they had not hope of Happiness in a life that is to come after the death and at the Resurrection of the Body they were the most miserable of all men for the Punishment of the first Offence lyeth upon the Godly as well as upon the Sinner Labour and Sorrow both of Man and Woman Sicknesse and Death is the portion of Good and Bad In the sweat of their faces the righteous as well as the wicked do eat their bread untill they return unto the dust from whence if they shall not be raised they are in a worse condition than the wicked for oftentimes the most sincere Believers do tast the deepest of misery in this life whereas the ungodly are in prosperity There are no bands in their death bâ—â—â—heir strength is firm they are not in trouble like other men neither are they plagued like other men therefore Pride compasseth them about as a chain and violence covereth them as a garment their eyes stand out with fatness they have more then heart can wish Psal 73. 3. 4 5 6 7. This is the prosperous estate of the wicked in this life wherein the Godly man is plunged all the day long and chastened every morning Psal 73. 14. Poor Lazarus in this life received evil things when the Rich man received his good things but in the other Life indeed we see a vast difference between them Lazarus is comforted but the Rich man is tormented Luke 16. 25. Which torment is to be understood 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 and therefore we are to understand the fulnesse of happinesse in the one and misery in the other to be after the Resurrection of the body from the dead by the denyall whereof the comfortable hope and strong consolation which every true Believer hath in this life and even in death when they commend their Spirits with Stephen Acts 7. 59. into the hands of Jesus Christ is made void and of no effect For wherefore have Believers the earnest of the Spirit by the Holy Ghost speaking peace to their spirits but that they might also enjoy the full Inheritance Why are they sanctified in their spirits 1 Pet. 1. 2. Heb. 12. 23. But to assure them that the very God of Peace will also sanctifie them wholly and their whole Spirit and Soul and Body shall be preserved blameless unto the coming of Iesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 23. And why is it said that the Faithfull when they dye do fall asleep in Jesus that they dye in the Lord that they rest from their labours and their works do follow them Revel 14. 13. But that it might be understood that they shall rise again from the dead in their bodies as Jesus dyed and rose again in his body and is therein become the first fruits of them that sleep 1 Thes 4. 14 16. And as the spirits of all wicked men that die in unbelief
those that are brought into such an estate and condition by Christ that Christ is formed in them though they be not of the same substance with Christ in respect of his uncreated but onely in respect of his created substance that those objections propounded and such like are fully answered Sect. 8 But if it be objected That believers have also those pretious Promises given them whereby they may be Partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. To this it is answered that although it be so yet the manner of Believers partaking of the Divine Nature is different from that manner of unity of the Divine and Humane Natures in the Person of Christ in several respects First In the Humane Nature of Christ dwells the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Col. 2. 9. But in Believers the Godhead doth not dwell bodily Secondly The Body of Christ who was born of Mary was not Conceived that is formed or fashioned in his Mothers Womb but by and of the Holy Spirit the second Person in the Trinity But the bodies of those that are Believers were not conceived in their Mothers Wombs by any such operation of the Holy Spirit God forbid we should once presume to think so For Thirdly The Virgin Mary conceived the Body of Christ of her Seed or Substance by the operation of the Holy Spirit the second Person in the Trinity without her knowing of man Luke 1. 34. 35. But the Bodies of those men and women that are Believers and Saints by calling were conceived of their Mothers not without their knowing of man and without any such operation of the Holy Spirit Fourthly The Humane Nature of Christs Person never subsisted of it self but alwayes was in Personal Vnity with the Godhead and subsisted by it so that in him the Godhead dwelt bodily but it is not so with others Persons though they are Believers and though their Substance be the same with the Humane Nature of Christ yet it doth not subsist as the Humane Nature of Christs Person doth for all Persons excepting Christ do subsist without the Personal Unity of the Godhead but the Humane Nature of Christs Person did never subsist without the Personal Unity of the Godhead Therefore Fifthly That we may understand how Believers do partake of the Divine Nature it is needful to consider what that Divine Nature is that Believers are said to partake of and after what manner they do partake of it The Divine Nature then of which participation is promised unto believers is their attaining unto an eminent resemblance of that blessed estate and condition wherein the Humane Nature of the Person of Christ now is since his Resurrection from the dead and ascention to his Father as the Apostle Paul teacheth Rom. 8. 29. For saith he Whom God did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the first-born among many Brethren for as Believers have born the Image of the earthly so shall they also bear the Image of the Heavenly 1 Cor. 15. 49. That as the Humane Nature of Christ could not be held of death because it was in Personal Unity with the Divine Nature So those that are in Covenant with Christ shall not be held of the first neither shall they enter into the second death not because they are personally united unto the Divine Nature or Godhead as the Humane Nature of Christs Person is but because they as all mankind are of one substance with the Humane Nature of Christ Therefore all shall be brought out of the Grave and such as are also in Covenant with him whose Humane Nature is personally united unto the Godhead shall not enter into the second death for as the Godhead of Christ did quicken that Humane Nature which is in Personal Unity with it so will the same Godhead see Acts 10. 43. Acts 13. 38. Ephes 2. 5. Rev. 3. 14. c. through that Humane Nature quicken also the same Humane Nature in those that are not in Personal Unity with it for the Humane Nature of Christ is so filled with the Divine Nature that of his fulnesse all those that are in Covenant with him do receive and Grace for Grace John 1. 16. It is wonderful to consider what victory the Humane Nature of Christs Person hath obtained with what dignity he is invested and what gifts he hath to bestow upon all his Brethren now since his ascention to his Father He saith the Apostle hath led Captivity Captive Ephes 4. 8. hath abolished death and hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. He is Crowned with Glory and Honour Heb. 2. 9. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. All Power in Heaven and Earth is given unto Him Mat. 28. 18. even that Jesus which was Crucified is now both Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. He that descended into the lower parts of the Earth is the same also that ascended far above all Heavens that He might fill all things And He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the Unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4. 9 10 11 12 13. The Divine Nature filled the Humane Nature in the Person of Christ that He might pour out of his fulness to the same Humane Nature in the persons of others the Humane Nature of Christs Person did so perticipate of the Divine Nature that his Conception Birth Life Sufferings and Death was Pure and Holy and therefore of infinite worth in the sight of God the Father that so they whose Conception Birth and Life is polluted and unclean and whose death is the wages of their sins might be set free from sin and from death and entituled unto eternal Life for in the flesh of Christ sin was so condemned Rom. 8. 3. that neither unto the guilt of sin dominion of sin nor unto any punishment due for any sin done by him was he lyable it was to set free the persons of others from the Guilt Dominion and Punishment due to them for their sins that he underwent the punishment he that knew no sin being made a curse that so they which have sinned might inherit a blessing Gal. 3. 13. 14. which blessing or rather blessednesse Psalm 1. 1. all those that are in Covenant with Christ and in that Covenant are faithful unto death Rev. 2. 10. do receive of him who through his Divine Power doth give unto them a likeness of estate and condition unto his own now glorified Humane Nature that so they also truly may be said to partake of the Divine Nature See 2 Pet. 1. 2 3 4. Therefore Sixthly and Lastly Believers partaking of
eyes to fix and thus did he sit bound hand and foot and could not move any member of his body being in such a maze in his own spirit that he knew not what to do the beholders also admired that it should be thus with him but his lord and master having taken possession of him will now do his work before he leave him for first of all he set all his sins that ever he had done in all his life before him at which he admired having concluded before that he was perfect but they appeared before him as if they had been written in Capital Letters then the Devil layed them all to his charge and did judge him for them made him to mourn and grieve â—nd made the tears come from his eyes though against his will and consent and when he had condemned and punished him as he saw meet then he took all his sins from before him and said unto him I have blotted out thy transgressions as a thick cloud and so he let him loose from all his bonds so that he had the use of his members again and now the Devil commanded him to tell to all the people what God had done for his soul the which the man was unwilling to do because as he concluded he had been perfect for so long a time therefore now to tell out such things he would not do it plainly seeing that either he had been deluded thither to or else this spirit was a deluding spirit for he had formerly fallen down quaked and trembled and had been judged a matter of ten times a day but notwithstanding the Devil being in possession would be the chief commander and did make him speak although he opposed it with all his might but first he did so run up and down his Belly and Throat that his motion was plainly to be seen of the beholders then did he make his Tongue and Mouth to speak against his Will and Consent and caused him to utter words which by nothing that he could do was he able to resist but he being resolâ—ed to resist it if possible thrust his hand into his mouth to stop his mouth from speaking and so intended to strangle the words which the Devil perceiving by force he pulled his hand away from his mouth and made them both to stretch streight out and so to remain for a matter of two or three hours all which time he made him to speak to the admiration of the Hearers what things were done for his soul by the same spirit all which he himself did not consent unto Yea such was the operation of the wicked one upon others also that several of them that heard fell down in the house quaking and trembling exceedingly and when this spirit had done speaking in this party it left him and though he was before so exceediâ—g full of it yet now he was so empty again as if all this had not been but the wicked one as he had done by him so he did the like by several that day as was manifestly seen in that Meeting and hath been confessed by the party himself who concluded that it was the Devil which made him do those things he then did All which being considered let any indifferent man judge whether I have not just cause to conclude that those that say to others Look to the Light within c. do not intend that by any light which is within them but by that Doctrine and Spirit which is communicated unto them they should be guided directed and assisted Therefore as saith the Prophet How do you say we are Wise and the Law of the Lord is in us Lo the false Pen of the Scribes worketh for falshood the Pen of the Scribes is in vain the Wise men are ashamed they are dismayed and taken Lo they have rejected the word of the Lord and what Wisdom is in them see Jer. 8. 8 9. with the marginal Note CHAP. IV. Of the fine proofs by which the Preachers up of the so called Light within do endeavour to justifie their Way and Practice that they are not more humble in outward and Bodily Humility than some others that are Adversaries to the Truth with themselves and that they have not inward and Spiritual Humility that they are not in Vnity with the Truth in Christ Jesus nor with one another in their own way that they discern not all Secrets nor destroy the false Church-state of the Idolatrous Romish Harlot neither are their sufferings for the Truths-sake nor so great as of some other Adversaries thereunto These their fine Proofs are also supposed and yet proved insufficient to do the service for which they are brought Sect. 1 BUt seeing all Adversaries of the Gospel do endeavour by some Proofs to justifie their opposition thereunto I will therefore examine the Proofs by which thou that Preachest up to and from the so called Light within dost endeavour to justifie thy Way and Practice which are in number five First Thy Humility Secondly Thy Vnity Thirdly Thy destroying the Whore Fourthly Thy discovering all Secrets Fifthly Thy Sufferings In these pretended Proofs thou dost much rejoyce like Goliah in his Armour and in his own strength but in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that now sits at the Right Hand of God in the Glory of the Father I believe I shall be enabled to take from hee thy Armour wherein thou trustest and with thine own Sword to destroy thee and herein I shall deal with thee two wayes First By way of Exception And Secondly By way of Confession In both whereof it will appear that thy confidence is vain that thy strength is that of the Flesh not of the Spirit thou opposest thy self against the Lord of Hosts whose Armies thou hast defied 1 Sam. 17. 45. and the Conclusion will be thine own Destruction and Perdition except thou repent Exception to the first Proof speedily First I do absolutely deny that you whose Teachings are from and to the so called Light within c. are more Humble and free from pride than all others or than some that are Adversaries to the Truth with your selves for let us consider Pride in its two parts First That which is outward in the Bodily Habit. Secondly That which is more secret in the heart and it will appear that you are not more humble but rather more proud than several other opposers of the Gospel for there are some orders of Romish Fryers who are notwithstanding great Adversaries to the Truâ—h that excel thee in seeming Humility and neglecting the Body some of them who have been possessed of hundreds by the year have given it all away retaining not one penny to relieve their wants and spend all their dayes in Pilgrimages bare-foot and bare leg'd with no better cloathing than Hair-cloath or Sack-cloath or diet than what comes to hand by any that will take pitty of them to which hardships they voluntarily expose themselves and will not accept of a
if one should perswade a Woman that defiles her Marriage bed that she shall be condemned for that sin if she repent not which is true but afterwards teacheth her to murther her husband which is to turn her out of one wickedness into another as bad or worse and if thou wilt needs be a destroyer of the Whore more than any other it is by deluding her more than any other for others preach that she might repent and obey the Gospel of that God and Jesus Christ which is the Creator of Heaven and Earth and the Redeemer of mankinde thou callest upon her to repent but withall thou teachest her to reject the Word of God and to observe the Precepts of men to disobey the Gospel of Christ and to obey that which is no Gospel Gal. 1. 6 7. To reject Christ himself which is God and man in one Person and to set up a Power in every man which thou callest the Light as the true Christ Thus thou endeavourest to destroy her by making her two fold more the Child of Hell then she is Let all persons therefore beware of thy evil net that so they may not perish everlastingly by hearkening to thy Counsel Sect. 4 Thy fourth proof is thy discerning all Exception to the fourth Proof secrets but this also I do absolutely deny for there is one secret which thou dost not discern it is the mystery of Christ his taking away the sins of the World in his own Body once offered upon the Cross having slain the enmity thereby See John 1. 29. Eph. 2. 16. And that by that one offering once offered in his own Body on the Cross is the alone Reconciliation of the World the Justification and perfection of them that do believe on his Name Heb. 10. 14. There is another secret also which is beyond thy discerning it is God manifest in the flesh which without controversie as saith the Apostle is the great mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh he saith not in every ones body of flesh he was Justified in the Spirit seen of Angels Preached to the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into Glory This mystery thou art a stranger to and ignorant off while thou spendest thy time in doting about questions and strife of words thou and you whereof cometh envy and strife railings evil surmisings and perverse disputings 1 Tim. 6. 3 4. But Although thou canst discern who thou hast deceived by that spirit of Antichrist with which thou art guided that so thou mayest spread thy net over them and take them in thy snare yet that spirit of which thou boastest so much doth much misguide hee sometimes both in sending thee with messages and in directing thee to censure such as please thee not yea when thou hast called to the Light within to bear witness it hath witnessed against thee So that sometimes thou art deceived with dissemblers which others that have ever disowned thy way have seen and born witness against whose appearance amongst thy followers hath been such that many of them have declared That if ever God was in a man he was in that man notwithstanding of the very same party at the very same time it hath been said by thy opposers That if ever the Devil was in a man he was then in that very man of which I have now all thy party that ever knew him to consent to what was then said from whence it is plain that thou hast not such a discerning as to see into all secrets for in this thou wast deceived So that while thou thinkest thou seest into all others thou thy self art discerned of others thy deceitful dealing is seen by a better light than that which thou seest withall the pride of thy heart as saith the Prophet hath deceived thee thou that dwellest in the Clifts of the Rocks whose habitation is on high that saith in thy heart Who shall bring me down to the ground though thou exalt thy self as the Eagle and though thou set thy Nest among the Stars thence will I bring thee down saith the Lord Obadiah 3. 4. See Mat. 11. 23. Sect. 4 Thy fifth Proof is Thy Sufferings But this also I do absolutely deny to be a Proof Exception to the fifth Proof of the uprighteousness of thy way For first neither have thy Sufferings been so great as theirs who are followers of the Lamb of God Christ Jesus no nor comparable to the Sufferings of some that are adversaries to him as ye also are But it is not Sufferings only that makes a Martyr but the cause for which the Sufferings are therefore either prove that thou acknowledgest the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sufferest for it or else leave off thy boasting in thy Sufferings which are not so great as the Sufferings of other Adversarie of the Gospel for those Romish Priests and Jesuites as great Adversaries of the Truth as they be yet for Sufferings they far exceed the Preachers up of thee so called Light within except you will say that you and they are all guided by one spirit divers of whom have been put to death by the halter and fire but as the Apostle teacheth Though I give my body to be burned and have not Charity it profiteth me nothing 1 Cor. 13. 3. But Secondly thou sufferest many times as an evil doer and as a busie body in other mens matters 1 Pet. 4. 15. Not at all for the sake of Jesus Christ that died at Jerusalem and in Love to him and to his Truth but because thou knowest it advanceth thy Notion People being apt oft times to close with the Opinions of those which are Sufferers without examining the Tenents which they hold Yet Thirdly Notwithstanding thy boasting of Sufferings there is a spirit in thee that waits but for an opportunity to make others feel the weight of its little finger which will be heavier than the Loyns of other Persecuters I know one that hath felt some of thy justles and thrusts that hath been threatned to be thrust out of doors by head and shoulders though he came not into the house without leave of those who call themselves Preachers up of the Light within who poured out against him their Arrows even bitter words Psal 64. 3. Curses Plagues and Judgements having no better Weapons to defend their cause withall and what can be concluded from hence but that seeing you are so free to pronounce Sentence you will be as free to execute Punishment when soever you shall obtain Power to inable you to do it Is it not from the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaketh Mat. 12. 34. Do not fierce words go before blows If we consult with the Apostle we shall find that of them whose mouth is full of Cursing and Bitterness it is â—aid their feet are swift to shed Blood Rom. 3. 14. 15. Thus thy pretended Proofs being answered by way of exception my next work is to deal
that they had both touched and felt him and yet found no vertue come out of him No marvel therefore that the Scriptures seems to be lifeless and a dead Letter to such whose Faith is dead to them it is no wonder that the Scriptures do not enlighen them that go about to destroy them or in Christ himself while they were kiling him they found little excellency And why were some refreshed even by the touching of Christs Garment and others that â—ouched his Body felt no benefit Was it not because the one came to him with a Hand of Faith and Love owning him â—o be the Son of God and the other came with wicked hands to crucifie and slay him because they denyed him to be the Christ And wherefore is it that some find wonderful comfort in the Scriptures and are thereby made wise unto Salvation Is it not because they come with humble and believing Hearts to them But they must needs be a dead Letter to such whose Faith and Affections is quite dead to them Sect. 5 But to make a further manifestation of the Divine Authoriiy of the Scriptures I will lay down these following Considerations to prove the Scriptures to be an infallible Teacher of the Doctrine of Salvation First Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this world â—hat can name a Work of Righteousnesse which as an Act Deed or Duty of Righâ—eousnesse ought to be observed by the Sons of men which the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament do not make mention of fairly discover and fully comprehend Therefore the Scripture is an Infallible Teacher of the Doctrine of Salvation 2. Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this world that can name a work of wickednesse which as an Act or Deed of wickednesse ought not to be done by any of the Sons of men which the Scriptures do not most severely forbid upon pain of the greatest Punishments to be inflicted on them that persist therein Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 3. Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this World that can declare any Promise either of Peace or Happinesse which as a Promise from the True God ought to be embraced by the Sonâ— of men which the Scriptures of the Old and new Testament do not make mention of and very fairly and fully declare Therefore the Scriptures are an infallible Teacher c. 4. Because there is no man nor Spirit or Light within any Man in this world that can declare any Punishment which God wil inflict upon sinners for their disobedience which the Scripture speaketh not of and very fully declares Therefore the Scriptures are an infallible Teacher c. 5. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove any act or deed which the Scripture calls an act of Righteousness to be an act or deed of Wickedness Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 6. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man can prove any act or deed which the Scriptures call an act of Wickedness to be an act or deed of Righteousness Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 7. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove any Promise which is made in Scripture to be false or that it shall not be made good according to the condition thereof to those to whom it is made Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 8. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove that any of the Threatnings expressed in the Scriptures against the workers of iniquity are either unreasonable or false or that they are not according to the minde of God or shall not come to pass Therefore the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are an infallible Teacher c. The Word of God therefore expressed in the Scriptures of Truth concerning his Commandments his Promises his threatings is very far in Authority and clearness beyond any Spirit or Light in any mortal man in the world therefore I conclude they are above all mens books words or Doctrine an infallible Teacher such as are able to make wise unto Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus being given by inspiration of God and are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Search the Scriptures therefore saith the Lord Jesus Christ for they are they which testifie of me Joh. 5. 39. To the Law and to the Testimony saith the Prophet if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them Isai 10. 20. Sect. 6 To the foregoing grounds I will add two other whereby the Light and power of the Doctrine of the Scriptures is further manifested and so conclude The first of which is taken from Ephes 5 13. Whatsoever saith the Apostle doth make manifest is Light now the Scriptures doth make manifest the mystery which was kept secret since the world began which according to the Commandment of the everlasting God is by the Doctrine of the Apostles made known to all Nations for the obedience of faith therefore according to Pauls Doctrine the Scripture is Light for by it is the way of Salvation manifest See Rom. 16. 25 26. Rom 15 4 2 Pet. 3. 1 2. The Apostle Peter also teacheth the same Doctrine for after he had declared what they which were with Christ in the Mount had seen and heard he tells us that we have a more sure word of prophesie or of the Prophets whereunto ye do well saith he that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in our hearts that is as hath been already shewed until the Resurrection of the dead and coming of Christ from heaven with his mighty Angels c. Now we know that a shining Light in a dark place is of great use of such concernment is the Doctrine of the Scriptures as the Prophet Teacheth The Commandment of the Lord is pure saith the Prophet Enlightening the eyes Psal 19. 8 9. Thy word is a Lamp unto my feet saith he and a light unto my paths Oh! of what blessed concernment are the Scriptures of Truth to direct in the way of the Lord unto which sure word of Prophecie or of the Prophets and Apostles of Jesus Christ we shall do well if we take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place remembring this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit They are not therefore of private or particular interpretation as though