Chap. 3. 14 15 16. 1 Joh 4. 1 6. as before more at large in the Discourse about the matter and manner of the Fathers teaching And this Spirit as in his essence he dwells in the person of Christ in whom dwels not only the fulness of God but of the God-head bodily so in these his instructing and reproving influences he is in the Gospel he goes forth to men in and with the testimony of Jesus with whom God gives all things pertaining to life and godliness even through the knowledge of him 6 Qu. Whether any of the Servants of God may expect to receive his Word from his own mouth immediately as all the messengers of God in all Ages did or whether no other Word is now to be heard in Books which God spake to others Ans First All the Messengers of God in former Ages did not receive the Word in a like manner immediately from God not Paul and Timothy Paul neither received it of man neither was he taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ God was pleased to give in or into him an immediate and full revelation of his Son even of the whole Gospel of his Son that he might preach him among the Gentiles Gal. 2. 12. 16. which revelation of the whole Gospel he had from the person of the Son of God immediately or in such manner without the help of men as Instruments that he was therein fitted to be one of those great Apostles to give forth the last and fullest revelation of the Gospel to all Nations for the obedience of faith having both seen the Lord and received the Word immediately from himself as they did though born out of due time thereto 1 Cor. 9. 1. 15. 8 9 c. Not to Timothy for he heard and learned his Doctrin mediately even of the Apostle Paul and so by the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit through his Doctrin and Ministration and so also his gifts and fitness for his service by the laying on of his hands c. 2 Tim. 1. 13. 2. 1 2. 3. 14 15. 1 Tim. 4. 11 14 15 16. So likewise the Thessalonians from whom sounded the Word of God to many others 1 Thess 1. 8. They themselves received it mediately through the Apostles Doctrine and Ministration through such demonstration of the Spirit as accompanied the word which they heard of them See 1 Thess 1. 5 c. and 2. 13 c. Secondly none since may expect in this day to receive it so immediately as Paul did but mediately through their word both the message and fitness to declare it This appears 1 In that they are said to be the Apostles last in respect of such immediate furniture and mission 1 Cor. 4. 9. and 15. 8. whence also they were to give the Revelation of the mystery for obedience to the faith among all Nations as well then to come as then in being And if any man think himself to be a Prophet or spiritual to render himself such he is to acknowledge that the things they the Apostles and Prophets have written are the Commandements of the Lord and not any other word that may come to him or from him Rom. 16. 25 26. 1 Cor. 14. 36 37. 2 Pet. 3. 2 3. 2 It farther appears in that our Saviour prayes for sanctifying to and blessing on the ministration of no other since those immediate messengers But such as shall beleeve on him through their word Joh. 17. 20. Neither is any other word to be heard listned too or received by us is the word of God But that so already spoken by immediate inspiration and commission by the one mouth of his holy Apostles and Prophets and what comes up thereto All spirits are to be tryed by it 1 Joh. 4. 6. 1 Tim. 6. 3. Before we bass from this Query note the inconsistency of their professed Principles and Practices and the secret wickedness discovered in it In the Query they signifie That none ought to hear any other word in Books that God spake to others but only what himself hath immediately received from Gods own mouth and yet they write these Queries to such as they look upon as people deluded drawn from their Guide and so farre from having received Gods immediate teaching or submitting to it or waiting for it that they judge them fit to be given up for Rebellion and not only these and divers such Papers but their printed Books and Papers are very numerous and are generally dispersed by them to all people with earnest pressing them to read them It appears by comparing what they say and do that their meaning is not to take us from reading Books generally for they would have us read more then ever such as they disperse and commend only they desire to take us off from reading such Books as do indeed contain in them matter spoken by God to others as the holy Scriptures and what in any measure truly comes up thereto Surely They are wiser in their Generation than the children of Light for they know should we diligently read and minde the holy Scriptures we should be therein strengthened to discern them and their Books so as to throw them by as needless and unclean Therefore they first and openly cry out against all Books and reading that so they may include or take in the holy Scriptures and whatever is suitable thereto against which is their only design the Evil Spirit in them well knowing that men are very apt to conceive some light esteem of or distaste at the Scriptures and what is consonant to them because that is always reproving them and testifying their Wisdom Works and Lusts to be vain and evil especially when they are encouraged thereto under pretence of Spiritualâ—ty and higher Notions and yet with such secret promise of liberty or exalting something as is suitable to their proper lusts and if they once be moved to slight those Books and so the things heard from the beginning they will of themselves enquire after and not be taken off from those Books and Novelties through which they were first perswaded to such light estimate of the Scriptures under pretence of taking them off from Men and Books c. When once the Ear is turned from hearing the truth or the Heart brought to dis-relish sound Doctrin then it is easily turned aside to Fables and the same Evil Spirit will secretly while he crys out against hearing men and reading Books allow them heaps of Teachers and Books too and direct them not only to hear and read but to worship them in which the truth of those Scriptures excellent to this purpose are verified Col. 2. 18 19. 2 Tim. 4. 1 4. 7 Qu. Whether any may waite for the fulfilling of that Promise Isa 54. 13. Joh 6. and whether that teaching be sufficient c. Ans To the first part of this Query I answer They that know his Name will trust in him and wait for the certain fulfilling
c. they all and not the unclean shall then together enter with him into the joy of their Lord where they shall dwell and walk for ever with the Lord in a high broad way where shall be no straitness nor occasion of stumbling yea the Lord himself shall be to them a place of broad Rivers and streams where shall go no Gally with Oares Isa 33. 20 21. Revel 21. 1 8. 25 27. 22. 1 14 15. Heb. 9. 28. 12 Qu. What that manifestation of the Spirit is which is given to every man to profit withall And whether there be any profit but by it And whether it be not of it self an infallible guide c. Ans To the First Part of this Query That manifestation of the Spirit spoken of 1 Cor. 12. 7. is of that one Spirit that being immeasurably received in the Nature of man in and by that one Person of the Son of God is sent forth in his influences of light and power unto men according to the measure of the gift of Christ and his manifestation is concerning Christ as the works are now finished in him and the Declaration of him come forth in the Gospel and so of the things of him and the Fathers glory in him by which he teacheth all things and leads into all truth as before is shewed Compare this 1 Cor. 12. 7. 11. with Ephes 4. 7 11. Joh. 16. 13 14. some distinct understanding of which testimony of the Spirit concerning Christ for some profitable opening or usefulness of it to others is given to every hearty beleeving receiver of it The other parts of this Query are in his former Queries and sufficiently answered before 13 Qu. What and where that Worship of God in the Spirit is truly c. And whether any can worship in Spirit and in Truth but those that are born of the Spirit And whether he that is born of the Spirit needeth any other guide c. And whether such Worships hath not been and are now differing from all other And therefore hated Ans Here are five Queries in one To the first wee answer That Worship of God in Spirit and Truth mentioned Joh. 4. 23 24. is that worship of him that is in the light and power of and according to the Spirits testimony concerning Jesus as now come forth in the Gospel and so in Christ Jesus who is the Truth And this called worshipping in spirit and in truth as opposed both to the Samaritans worship which was never right but in and according to the wisdom of the flesh and so in a false way and also as opposed to the Jewish worship which sometimes was right while yet it was in and through that killing letter of the Law to which the Ministration of the Spirit the Gospel as now come forth is opposed 2 Cor. 3. and also in and through the Types and Shadows of the Law to which Jesus Christ the Body and truth of them is opposed Col. 2. 17. Joh. 1. 17. This sence of the Spirit and Truth in which God is to be worshipped is confirmed in other Scriptures for the Spirit See Rev. 19. 10. The Angel admonishing John not to worship him but God instructs him thus The testimony of Jesus and not any Messenger that brings it is the spirit of Prophecy in which God is now to be worshipped for the truth See Phil. 3. 3. we are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus the Truth and have no confidence in the flesh c. And so our Saviour interprets the true Worship Joh. 5. 22 23 24. The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that sent him And to let us know who it is that indeed honours the Son and so the Father that sent him it follows hee that heareth my Word which also is the word or testimony of him that sent him concerning him Joh. 7. 16. 14. 23 24. 1 Joh. 5. 9-12 13. And so beleeveth on him that sent me c. like to this is that Joh. 12. 44. 49. and that two-fold Rule for the trial of Spirits before spoken to 1 Joh. 4. 1-6 They then that magnifie or glorifie the Word of the Lord as declared in the Apostles Doctrin as Act. 13. 48. and according to it beleeve and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and so in the Father are the true worshippers To the Second part of the Query we answer That as it is true that no man speaking by the Spirit of God renders Jesus in his Person or works done in his own Body for sinners execrable or undesirable so likewise is it true that no man can truly say confess or acknowledge Jesus as the Christ in his Doctrin or Worship but by the Spirit of the Lord 1 Cor. 12. 3. and whosoever beleeveth that Jesus is the Christ he is therein and thereto bornof God 1 Joh. 5. 1. Joh. 1. 12. 13. the other parts of the Query as much as is needful are answered before 14 Qu. What and where that light is Joh. 1. 9. that being come into the World is the condemnation of all that are in darkness c. And whether it be not the condemnation of all the World that beleeve not in it And whether there be any other condemnation c. Ans In this Query is also a confusion of many Queries and after the first part of it something first taken for granted and then propounded as a Query we shall briefly answer it thus 1 Not John the Baptist but Jesus that was of Nazareth the supposed Son of Joseph that was conceived of the Holy Ghost in the wombe of the Virgin Mary born in Bethlehem of Iudea in the days of Augustus Caesar c. even that word that was then and so made Flesh and came and dwelt amongst men and not any other thing or person who through sufferings is now entred into glory That I say and no other Person or thing is The true light that lightneth every man that cometh into the world Joh. 1. 8 9. 14. 15-18 41. 45. 8. 12. 12. 44 45 46. Acts 4. 10 11 12. 2 The Text saith not This light is the condemnation of all or any that are in darkness but this is the condemnation That light is come into the World and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil Their loving darkness rather than light when the light comes unto them and not the coming of the light to them is the condemning sin and that which makes other sins condemnable as also Ioh. 15. 22. 24. Zach. 5. 1-4 3 This light personally is received by the Father in the Heavens Act 3. 20. but in his influences virtually and Spiritually among men and dwelling in them in whom he dwelleth by faith Ephes 1. 17. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Ephes 3. 17-19 15
by working the same things over again in our persons that were wrought and finished for us in the Person of Christ not by making us bear our sins in our own souls and bodies that with our stripes we might be healed not by giving his Son again to dye in us for our sins and in us to rise from the dead for our Justification to ascend into the Heavens and sit on the right hand of God for besides that those were such works as could not be accomplished in our persons so also they were finished in his not to bee iterated But the knowledge of the truth and goodness of them given in the testimony of Jesus and of these Works as wrought and finished in him and the infinite and abiding vertue of them with the Father for us that so in beleeving in him we might finde the Word or Testimony of him through the Spirit effectually working the Works of God in us Neither Secondly doth he give the revelation of these things now immediately as to the first Apostles nor in such manner as to the Prophets of old but now mediately through their Word and by the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit therein So Timothy and all secondary Ministers then and since received their Word their Knowledge and furniture in the things of Christ In the conclusion of this Discourse I desired that if any would reason about the things they had heard by way of opposition or otherwise it might be without confusion and in such order that the people might understand what was spoken to what opposed or contended for and what was said on both sides And to this purpose I told them I thought it would be convenient to digest the sum of what had been into some few Questions to be discussed viz. what the Essence of Christ is whether something essentially in many Persons or one Person distinct from all other Persons and if one Person granted then concerning his Works whether Christ did bear our sins in his own Personal Body only as the propitiatory Sacrifice or Sin offering or so also in the bodies or souls of others And so whether in the works done in his own Body in his abasement and exaltation there was and so remaineth in him in our Nature with the Father in the Heavens by means thereof the only and abiding vertue for the taking away of sin or is the vertue for that also chiefly or at all originally in some other work or works done in other persons and about his second appearing and the glory then to be revealed whether that be to be waited for by all Beleevers in this corruptible state of the World all the time of their Mortality or made in or to any in this day and concerning the manner of Gods teaching these things and our learning them of him whether it be by having the same things wrought or accomplished over again in us that was in Christs Person as set forth to be the Propitiation or by receiving the testimony of him in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power and if so how that whether mediately through the Apostles word or immediately as they The Quakers being come in sâ—on after the beginning of this Discourse To this James Naylor answered That there were two things that I had uttered in Discourse which he denied which when I had made good or if I could not acknowledged my self a Lyar they would proceed to the Questions the two things were 1 That God was not manifest in the flesh of the Saints 2 That Timothy had not the same testimony that Paul had what answer I then gave may be seen in what follows in my Answer to their Charges and to James's Letter but when I shewed how he falsified my sayings he called me Lyar c. such Language was ordinary from them And so pretending want of satisfaction and doing what he could to â—inder the people from receiving satisfaction as to these things he kept off from the Questions propounded till one of them viz. Rich. Farnsworth began a set speech concerning himself which he continued about an hour at the conclusion of which I was desiâ—ous to minde the people of the evil and contrariety to the Gospel of some of the things spoken by him that they might so mark as to eschew as Rom. 16. 17. but as soon as I began for but by the way calling his Discourse a witness of or concerning himself I had presently himself and two or three more upon me bidding me stop my mouth Hee abhorred self which yet also was but his own witness concerning himself one of them charged me with opposing or blaspheming the words of the eternal God spoken by that man yet at last I got liberty to shew his abuse of some Scriptures as in the following Discourse then it being afternoon about an hour and my self and some others having rid ten miles that morning before the Meeting Mr. Wray dâ—sired us to break off for an hour to refresh our selves and likewise that we might meet at the publick place afterward for more conveniency of roome his House being too straight for the Company he likewise invited James Naylor and his Companions to stay Dinner which whether any of them accepted I know not but divers of them grosly abused him for desiring an hours Respite yet said nothing against meeting at the publick place whether soon after we went and many people but they came not at us but sent us word when we had been there some time that they would â—ot coâ—â— there and at our return from thence that if we would meet them in some place in the Street or in a Yard where they appointed they would farther reason with us which we judged unreasonable and thereforâ— refused yet Mr. Wray invited them to come again to his House either that night or next day but they refused and returned a scornful answer That night they sent me Papers as in the following relation and with the last sent also a Challenge by their Messenger to give them a meeting at a Town a Mile off next day which though an unreasonable Demand considering what freedom they had and might have where we were and with what scorn they had refused it and also that on theâ—r refusal of that Mr. Wray had proffered them that if they would appoint a place at such a distance next day we should mâ—et them and then they refused that also saying They knew not whether the Spirit might lead them that night and it is very probable they hoped we would not have come at their Challenge yet going that way we did call on them next day and then had a more full revelation of the spirit of Antichrist in them from J. N. than the day before who in answer to some such questions as fore-mentioned said That as Christ bore sins in that his own Body that dyed at Jerusalem so hee had born sins in his Body too and so that his first appearing to
further to that if I had not been taken off in the midst by Naylor with a reproach for bringing those Scriptures as parallel and derision at the thing thereby signified that the name â—f Christ and so of God in him through and according to which faith in him is begotten is declared in the Scriptures To this I further add Prov. 22. 19 20. That thy trust may be in the Lord I have made known to thee this day even to thee have I not written to thee excellent things with Psal 19. 7 8. The Law or Doctrine of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple c. with these compare 2 Tim. 3. 15. 16 17. The holy Scriptures which he had known from a child are able to make thee wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for all Doctrine Reproof Instruction in Righteousness c. And if I had also said that they are as left on record for us a perfect and absolute means through which Faith is begotten and nourished I do not therein deny other means God useth for discovery of Chrâ—st or of his goodness that is in and through him or the usefulness of them or Gods teaching by them onely say as that Psal 19. The Law or Doctrine of the Lord as compared with all other means is perfect or absolute But that which I said was as before and was thus expressed and in this saying as follows Though the Scriptures be the absolute and perfect medium or Rule according to which Faith is begotten and regulated yet Jesus Christ himself as declared in them is made the foundation and bottom of it as well as the object of it in whom the Father is beleeved in as Joh. 12 44 46. with chap. 5. 23 24. in him it centers and about him is exercised even him that Jesus of Nazareth c. the same that was reproached by them as a figure and one by whom many men have no benefit These Answers to their charges are as they were the first of them sent to them and the other left for them as before unless in the addition of a quotation or two and of some words of the Scriptures quoted and some little filling up of a phrase then in hast omitted now added in some places to render the Answers given the more understandable to them also that were not at the meeting The things in these Answers briefly spoken to are most of them more fully and largely spoken to in the following Answers to James Naylors Letter especially those about Gods being manifested in the flesh and Pauls injoyment of a visible demonstration of that person in which he was so manifested after his being received up into glory That also about the Scriptures and the difference between Paul and Timothies receit of their Word and so their furniture to their Ministry is spoken to again in the said Answer but more fully in the Answer to the Queries I received from others of them which are after that inserved Likewise what benefits or blessings are prepared for men in Christ even in the just for the unjust for such as are wicked or rebellious that through him they might be brought back to God as Psal 68. 18. with 1 Pet. 3. 18. and how all his benefits with which he daily loads them in his forbearances not presently cuâ—ting them off or executing Judgement on them in their Rebellions but waiting that he may be gracious and in all the streams of his grace in continuing and renewing his mercys adding also sometimes favorable sometimes more sharp chastisements or judgements and in his vouchsafing in and with all the supernatural influences of the light and power of his Spirit and so bringing in all means the testimony of Jesus or of Gods goodness so as through him nigh to them in their hearts enlightning in the discovery of Gods goodness and Christs preciousness for sinners and the necessity of being found in him and washed by him and therein reproving of the vanity of these Idols the evill of their ways c. in such wise and to such end that therein these instructions and reproofs of instruction might be received through such his grace bringing salvation to them though not by any such light or power as they speak of that is an indwelling principle in them I say how all these benefits are salvation as 2 Pet. 3. 9. 15 Isa 30. 18. Ps 68. 19 20. even springing out of the bowels and vertues of that salvation wrought in Christ for them and themselves such salvations as in which Jesus Christ in the name of the Father and as the ends and vertues of his cross is saving men not onely from the poyson and destructiveness of the first Death that is abolished by him but also from those Judgements being poured out in fury to their cutting off that might daily bring forth according to the Rule of the Gospel involving under a second Death yea they have all tendency and aptness in them to lead to farther and special salvation by and through Christ The grace of the truth comes forth to save men and so as they may be saved by it however men by observing lying vanities deprive themselves of their own mercies and so their table their welfare becomes a snare and a trap to them as Joh. 3. 17 18 19. and 12. 47 48. 2 Thess 2. 10. Jona 2. 8. Psal 69. 22. This also I say is further spoken to in the following Answers and particularly in the conclusion of the Answer to the Queerys fore-mentioned in answer to a like reproach of the grace of God in Christ to manward in the conclusion of those Queerys But more fully in that book entituled Mercies for men To that that many false principles or lights teach to deny many sins there is nothing added directly to it in the following Answers though James gave some occasion for it in his letter yet in the answer to that I waved it partly because he corrupted and altered my sayings so as to render them absurd in his renewing of his Charge there with reference to what was written in answer to that Charge at first as may be seen in comparing that Charge in his Letter following with my said former Answer fore-mentioned which is word for word as it was sent to him so â—â—â—â— he therein fightâ— with his own shadow And partly because I would â—â—â— draw out that Answer to a greater length having been large in it to the opening of things more fundamental But it being woved there I shall here adde a word or two to it yet with brevity for like reasons as before 1 In his said letter himself fully signifies That even that spiritual wickednes which teacheth to deny God c. may yet teach and lead to deny some lesser yet grosser evils even so to deny as to leave or forsake such gross
doctrine which we have learned in the word of the truth of the Gospel compare Rom. 16 17. with Col. 1. 5. and 1 Cor. 15. 1 4. and to avoid them for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly their lust will or spirit or the light in them which is darkness what ever it be if it spring not from the person of Christ as declared in the Gospel who is even so the true light they magnifie not Jesus but themselves in the internal or external operations of their own spirits And by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple under pretence and shew of godliness they deny the power and root of godliness are the enemies to the Cross of Christ his personal sufferings and the only vertuousness of them for the taking away our sin and the love and glory of God as appearing in that face of him This they seek to undermine and sleight under pretence of magaifying Christ in them glorying therein in that which is their shame their internal proof of the mystery of iniquity with power and signs and with all dâ—ceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish from the faith for in them only it hath efficacie Phil. 3. 17 18. 2 Thess 2. 9 10 11. from such I say we are streightly admonished of the Lord To turn away 2 Tim. 3. 5. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha 1 Cor. 16. 22. If any pretend to acknowledge Christ and yet lift not up praise not magnifie not above all and unto and for all things pertaining to life and godliness the Son of man Jesus Christ as now already come in the flesh and through sufferings entred into glory for us as the only ground and foundation of our faith and matter of our rejoycing and song to others and fountain of our teaching that is that spirit of Antichrist not to be followed it s indeed not only against Christ but his most pernicious enemy being a contrary Anointing from which we are to flye at least as soon as we perceive it in any as Prov. 14. 7. Go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge which I oft after hearing some of their Discourse declared and as I could get liberty thus demonstrated I perceived not to be in them but the lip of a contrary Anointing and yet they are tempting me to follow after them a company and go with them night and day though they know such are my apprehensions concerning them Now whether it be right in the sight of God that I shal obey God or them in thâ—â— let others judge yea I wil in the strength of Gods grace observe the directions of the great Shepherd when any shall say Lo here or lo there is Christ either in this form of Church or State-government or in this order or as these in the secret chambers in some internal operations as found and accomplished in them in such manner as we cannot discern it unless wee lay aside all that knowledge of God in Christ we have received through and according to his word as fleshly â—o go after them appearing the second time without sin unto salvation and accomplishing that rest and hope of glory and perfection now in and upon them which we through the Spirit wait for to be revealed in the Resurrection of the dead when we shall all be gathered together to it which and more to that purpose was Naylors and Farnsworths witness concerning themselves we are I say expresly admonâ—shed then not to go after such and that for this reason in which we are fortified against their juggling That the coming of the Son of man that day of his second appearing in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels should certainly be as the lightning from the one end of the heaven to the other at once accomplished to them altogether and visible to every eye even to those that shall weep and wail because of it Matth. 24. 26 27. Luke 17. 22 23 24. Rev. 1. 7. Therefore if a Prophet or Dreamer of dreams should tell us of a sign or a wonder and that also should come to pass as we know Antichrist shall come with signs and wonders in the latter dayes to move us to turn aside from following the Lord or to inquire after another God or to take us off from our waiting for his Son from heaven whom he hath raised from the dead we will not hearken to them nor go in company with such wicked men as Deut. 13. 1 2 3. and 28. 14. Psal 1. 1 2 3. 2 They require me to eat no food c. Whereas our Saviour bids his Disciples even those great Apostles who were to give forth the last and fullest Revelation of the Gospel for obedience to the faith among all Nations which was in that first publication of it to be confirmed with Miracles by them also even then when he gives them power in his Name to heal the sick c. yet then he bids them twice together eat and drink such things as they give and set before them among whom they went preaching Luke 10. 7 8. And the Apostle Paul tells Timothy They are Doctrines of Devils that command to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received and that with thanksgiving of them that beleeve and know the truth c. 1 Tim. 4. 3. I shall therefore answer them as our Saviour doth the Devil in a like case It is written thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God 3 They require me to lay aside all books c. the holy Scriptures not excepted Whereas the Holy Ghost tells us he hath therefore written to us excellent things that so our trust may be in the Lord and we may have those words as written and left in record for and to us to answer all that are sent to us Prov. 22. 17. 21. and commends to us the example of a better Preacher than any of them in this That he sought out acceptable safe profitable and plain words for the people and in his search found That which was written was upright words of truth Eccles 12. 10 11. and renders it as part of the character of a godly man he exerciseth himself in the Law or doctrine of the Lord both day and night Psal 1. 2. yea the same holy Spirit commands Timothy to give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine to meditate on and give himself wholly to these things and in so doing study to shew himself approved a workman that needs not be ashamed 1 Tim. 4. and 2. 15. But these spirits lay their commands upon us not so much as to look on them in the Records left us in Books neither night nor day A notable peece of policy For if they can but keep us from going to the Law and to the Testimony with their internal light or power they
in and with which he is certainly present See Act. 2. 16-36 c. And thence the Gospel called The power of God to salvation to every one that beleeveth yea his words which he spake unto those that yet received them not spirit and life Rom. 1. 16 17. Joh. 6. 63. And do not they then move us to listen to and receive another spirit that bring another Doctrine or Testimony and indeed of another Jesus as before and cry down the testimony of Jesus as declared in the Apostles Doctrine as letter and dead letter while in the mean time also they magnifie the words spoken by themselves as the words of the Eternal God and curse others for but calling their words into question while yet also they reproach them for desiring to have their faith in Christ regulated according to the testimony of Jesus so given by the Holy Ghost as aforesaid and the Preachers of that testimony as Preachers of letter and command them to throw it by and wait for some other immediate teaching And wherein you have done all this is clear in your Discourse and in Farnsworths Challenge and in this thy Letter throughout notwithstanding it was plainly told you what the affirms of the Ministry of the Gospel as committed to them in the very place abused by you to this purpose viz. 2 Cor. 3. that Ministry as so committed to them and delivered and left in record by them that as opposed to Moses Ministration or the Law as given by him to which yet he gives more honorable Titles than you can afford the Everlasting Gospel he calls that not a dead but a killing letter now that cannot kill that hath no life in it But this Ministry of the Gospel as committed to them which also was witnessed in the Law and Prophets this as opposed to the Law I say he calls the Ministration of the Spirit yea Spirit the Ministration of Righteousness of life and of glory whence it s called the Glorious Gospel 2 Cor. 4. 4. Now when this is slieghted and rejected as a dead letter and yet some inward light or spirit boasted of and propounded to be listned to and received that must needs be another spirit than that which is in and with that hearing of faith yea a contrary spirit such as is in and with such contrary and strange Doctrines as bring another Jesus a contrary Anointing And so I come farther and particularly to make good the last part of my charge 3 That thou bringest another Gospel than what the Apostles have preached and all true beleevers have from the beginning accepted which indeed is not another Gospel It affirms or brings us no glad tydings It is Gospel but in pretence only not in truth It is indeed another Doctrine or Message such as in which the Message they received of him and declared unto us is endeavoured to be perverted and abolished to which thou pretendest an immediate call and furniture from God in which thou excludest thy self from that prayer for blessing on their Ministration to the worlds end who through the Apostles word or doctrine beleeve on him But if thou wert an Angel immediately coming from heaven we are to hold thâ—e Accursed in this thy work And to make it appear That it is another Doctrine or Message and contrary to what they have preached and such as will not at all stand together with it let this Letter be viewed though thou hast expressed things darkly and subtilly that thou mightst winde out when thou shouldst see cause of fear thou couldst not manage it or that the endeavouring to manage it would spoyl thy design in discovering thee too grosly yet they that will not wilfully shut their eyes may discern in this Letter that thy Doctrine Message or pretended Gospel in the summe or issue and end of it is to preach down that person Jesus of Nazareth of the seed of David after the flesh and those works of our salvation wrought in his person in his Incarnation Death Resurrection and Ascension I say to preach him and those works as done in that one person down as types and shadows or figures of the true Christ which is to bee found in some other thing or works accomplished in many persons even so to preach down him and those works done in him that manifestation of God in the flesh in that one person as for us I say so to preach them down as the Apostles preached down Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices without It contents not thee to preach down the same things the Apostles preached down as figures c. but thou must preach down what they lifted up as the body the truth so to abide for ever thou must preach that down as types and figures too See if this be not clearly signified in thy Letter Where after thou hast charged us with denying Christ come in the flesh because we bore testimony against thy witness of Christ being come again since his Ascension or having appeared the second time in the flesh now glorified and without sin to salvation according to that promise Heb. 9. 28. which was more full in thy Discourse but full enough in thy Letter in which thou callest thy witness of Christs being come again since his Ascension thy confessing of the flesh of Christ yea as is signified in what follows of his flesh in thee for indeed that was thy witness as is also signified in thy Letter That Christ was come or had appeared again in the flesh since his Ascension and so the second time and without sin to salvation and all this accomplished in thee as before I say After thou hast charged us with denying Christ come in the flesh because wee witnessed him to be already come and his second coming to be waited for and did bear witness against this witness of thine forementioned And then also reproached us for not beleeving concerning this any farther than we can read in that which thou callest Letter To this thou addest What a Generation would we have been had we lived in the times of the Apostles who preached down Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices without such things as the Letter said should continue for ever yet they preached them down without and confirmed them within in Spirit which is the ground and bottome of all and in which all must end Dost thou not herein clearly signifie an acknowledgement that the summe or end of thy mission or message in thy confession of the flesh of Christ which we opposed was to preach down that person and those works wrought and finished in that person in his own body as distinct from every one of us and without us in our particular persons which the Apostles said should remain in the essence of the person and abiding vertue of the works in that person with the Father for ever even to preach him and them down as they preached down Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices without c. even as but another or farther
mentioned I wholly waved for these Reasons 1 There is nothing in them requiring Answer but the substance of it is in those last mentioned 2 They are stuffed with self-commendations and raylings and reproaches of others as before and the grace of God that hath appeared by Jesus Christ teacheth us not to walk with them in that way not so to answer a fool according to his folly as therein to become like him in walking in such a way and use of such weapons though so to answer a fool according to his folly as may tend to the making his folly manifest lâ—st he be wise in his own conceit Prov. 26. 4 5. The Apostle durst not make himself of the number of some that commend themselves c. 2 Cor. 10. 12. nor durst Michael the Arch-Angel when comending with the Devil bring against him a rayling accusation but said The Lord rebuke thâ—â— oâ— Satan c. Jude 9. Zacâ— 3. 2. Yea the holy Ghost admonisheth us not to render to any man evil for evil or rayling for railing but contrariwise blessing c 1 Pet. 3. 9. Rom. 12. 17. according to that excellent pattern 1 Pet. 2. 21 22 23. And although Answer might have been given to those papers also and not in their way yet it is hard for us to meddle with such unclean spirits without getting some defilement by them as the being provoked to or learning frowardness or desâ—re of vain glory in meddling with such froward and vain-glorious spirits whence we are admonished not to go with a furious man no not in joyning issue with them in their proud boastings and perverse disputings but to withdraw our selves from them as 1 Tin 6. 3 4 5. lest we learn his ways and get a snare to our soul Prov. 22. 24 25. 3 Another reason of my waving them was The little expectation of profit to such persons in dealing with them Seest thou a man wise in hiâ— own conceit and thence hasty heady perverse self-willed and furious in his words or matters there is more hope of a fool than of him Pro. 26. 12. and 29. 20. 4 The assurance that I have that he that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot Prov. 9. 7. The truth of which I have both before and since proved in having to do with such spirits as these And for these and like Reasons I thought to have waved this also were it not for these following Reasons 1 There is something intimately charged on us in the Inscription namely the denying the alone sufficiency of Gods teaching and many things propounded by way of Query which being rightly answered according to the Scriptures quoted as the ground of the Queries will tend much to the discovery of the ground of their mistakes and to the strengthening the beleever against them 2 Though the Queries as they are propounded may be discerned to be foolish and unlearned such as are to be avoided by beleevers yet such is the pretence of zeal for God and spirituality in the acknowledgement and worship of him in the Querist that the folly and unlearnedness of the Queries and the evil spirit running along in them will not presently be discerned by the weak without some discovery who not discerning the same are more apt to be enâ—angled with them For their sakes therefore I have assayed to propound something after a true relation of the Queries word for word as in the paper that came to my hands by way of Answer or rather discovery of the folly and evil couched in them And also that this may be of use for the recovery of such as are intangled with such spirits if not past hope of recovery as I fear some are as likewise lest they should have occasion any of them by our being wholly silent to glory or be lifted up in the conceit of their own wisdom The Queries of some called Quakers about Cambridge with the Inscription or Dedication and Conclusion of them as they were propounded and sent in writing in the name of Thomas Biddal as follows To Alice Morden and the rest which are not yet given up to Delusion to all who deny the teaching of God to be sufficient to guide to God to all that own it without humane helps or learning or teaching of men â— WHat and where that New Jerusalem is which John saw come down from Heaven wherein there is no night neithâ—r need of light of Sun Moon or Candle for the Lord God and the Lamb is the light thereof and into which in no wise shall enter in any thing that si defiled or worketh abomination or maketh a lye but ihose whose nâ—mes are written in the book of life Rev. 21. 22. 2. What and where that Sion is which Isaiah and Micah spake unto unto which all Nations should flow where the Loâ—d will teach the people of his waies from whence the Law of God and his word shall go forth after which they shall learn war no more but shall say come and let us walk in the light of the Lord Isa 2. Mic. 4. 3. What and where that Covenant is which the Lord hath promised in the latter daies wherein he will write his Law in their heart and put it in their inward parts and they shall no more teach every man his neighbor and every man his brother for all shall know him from the least to the greatest of them Jer. 13. Heb. 8. And whether we may expect to come into the Covenant in these daies 4. Where and what that annointing and unction is by which the Saints know all things and need not that any should teach them but as that annointing teacheth them of all things which is true and is no lye 1 Joh. 2. and whether it be the same in these daies to them that have it 5. What and where that Comforter is which when he is come shall reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgement and shall guide into all truth and shâ—w things to come and shall shew the things of Christ and glorifie him Joh. 16. 6 Whether any of the servants of God may expect and wait to receive his word from his own mouth immediately as all the Messengers of God in all Ages did or whether no other word is now to be heard in Books which God spake to o hers Jer. 23. 7 Whether any man may wait for the fulfilling of that promise in these latter dayes that all thy children shall be taught of the Lord and whether that teaching be sufficient without any humane help or learning to guide in the wayes of God or no Joh. 6. Isa 54. 13. 8 What and where that word is that people should hear behind them saying This is the way walk in it when they turn to the right hand or to the lefâ— And where that Teacher is that shall be removed to more into corners but shall be in the midst of them and
whether we may look for that word in these dayes Isa 30. 9 What that word of faith is by which none needs to say Who shall ascend up to heaven to fetch Christ from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead but that word is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart which the Apostle preached to them that had it in their heart And whether the same word be not now in the hearts of the people though they mind it not Rom. 10. 10 What that voyce of Christ is which his sheep knows and how they come to know it from other voyces and all that hear it will not hear the voyce of strangers and hirelings and theeves and sorcerers but by the same voyce are brought to know Christ and follow him Joh. 10. And whether his sheep may expect and wait for the same voyce now and to know it from all other voyces which are false 11 What that way is in the wilderness which Isaiah spake of Isa 35. 8. which shall be called the way of holiness which the unclean shall not pass over but it shall be for wayfaring men and fools shall not erre therein in which way the Redeemed shall walk and the Ransomed of the Lord shall come to Sion And whether any may expect to find in these dayes such a way as are strangers and fools in the world 12 What that manifestation of the Spirit is which is given to every man to profit with all and whether there be any profit but by it and whether it be not of it self â—n infallible guide in all the way of God according to its manifestation Joh. 4. 23. 13 What and where that worship of God is truly in which God alone looks to be worshipped in And whether any can worship in spirit and in truth but those that are born of the Spirit And whether that he that is born of the Spirit needeth any other guide in the spiritual worship but that Spirit of which he is born according to his measure Joh. 1. 9. And whether such worships hath not been and are now differing from all other worships in the world and therefore hated by them as in all Ages 14 What and where that light is that inlightens every man that comes into the world which being come into the world is the condemnation of all those that are in darkness because of their evil deeds And whether this be not the condemnation of all the world that beleeve not in it but walk in darkness And whether there be any other condemnation but it seeing Christ said If I had not come ye had not had sin Joh. 3. Rom. 8. 15 What the Law of the Spirit of life is which made Paul free from the law of sin and death which had warred against the law of his mind and had formerly held him in captivity to the law of sin that was in his members And whether any in these dayes that are come to that warfare may look for that freedome by the Law of the Spirit of life And thus I have written these few lines the Lord revealing by his Spirit in me the great delusion sorcery and bewitched doctrine that you are under of these bewitching Simon Magus sorcerers which have put you upon a Christ crucified without you notwithstanding you and the rest are in your filthiness and first nature Whereas the Holy Ghost hath declared That they must be pure in heart that must see God Matth. 5. 8. And hath neglected to tell you of a washing of regeneration and new birth by the Holy Ghost in you T it 3 4 5 6. And hath brought another Gospel contrary to what Christ hath already preached and therefore he rendreth such accursed 1 Pet. 1. 12. And the Lord speaking by the mouth of Paul saying My little children of whom I travel again in birth untill Christ be formed in you Gal. 4. 19. And the Lord in mercy look upon you for my bowels yern towards you and pity you to see Prophets and Teachers creep in among you to draw you from your guide 2 Pet. 2. 1. Written from the Spirit of the Lord from one whom the people of this world calls Quaker known by the name of Thomas Biddal The Answer to the fore-said Queries by Tho. Moore ANd first to the Inscription or Dedication of them which runs thus To Alice Morden and the rest which are not yet given up to Delusion To all who deny the teaching of God to be sufficient c. In which words that which is imported in the plainest sense of them is That they look upon this as a testimony sufficient that men are not given up to Delusion viz. That they deny the teaching of God to be sufficient to guide them that own it to God without humane helps or at least that those that do so are not given up This appears their sense if the indicter of this understood himself but that rather I suppose hee did not however to this Inscription and Dedication we shall lay down this for Answer That to deny the absolute and alone sufficiency of the teaching of God without humane helps or mans teaching is a sin of a very high nature and an evidence of being in a great measure given up to delusion Jer. 8. 8 9 and 6. 10 11. and 23. 16 18 22 c. Isa 8. 16-20 1 Tim. 6. 3 4 5. 1 Joh. 2. 19. 20-24-26 27. and Chap. 4 6. That therefore we may know who they are that do so that we may beware of them and of all steps leading to this evill Let us consider First What Gods eaching is Secondly Where and how himself doth preach or hold it forth unto men Thirdly How or wherein men may be said to deny the alone sufficiency thereof First What Gods teaching is as to the matter of it There is in it 1 Something summary and fundamental of all the rest by which primely it may be known and distinguished 2 Some things contained in springing out of and built upon or arising from those things that are main and fundamental in it 1 Those things main and fundamental in Gods teaching are concerning Jesus Christ before promised and witnessed and in his undertaking vertuous now manifested as delivered to death for our offences according to the Scriptures therein bearing our sins in his own body to the Tree not bearing them or leaving them to be born in that sense in our souls or bodies and raised again from the dead for our justification according to the Scriptures And so concerning his own the Fathers love and goodness to man-ward the glory of which is now manifested in the face of Christ even in those works done in and by his first personal Appearance and the acceptance and vertue of them with the Father for us and the end of them to bee fully revealed and accomplished in his second personal and glorious appearance according as declared to us in
in respect of the Declarations but in respect of the declarers also as Isa. 40. There is a clear Prophecy of the Fore-runner and of his work and message vers 3-8 Then in the following verses of the more full coming forth of the glorious Gospel by Jesus Christ and his Apostles So Isa. 44 26. He shall confirm the word of his Servant and perform the councel of his Messengers with apt allusion to which see Heb. 2 â— speaking of the great salvation he saith which began to be preached by the Lord himself who is that servant Isa 42. 1. and was confirmed by them that heard him which were his Messengers or Apostles for obedience to the faith among all Nations Rom. 1. 5. So Isa 8. speaking Prophetically of the first Personal Appearing of the Messiah both in that Chapter and Chap. 7. 14. and how therein he should be born of a Virgin c. And then be also a Stone of stumbling and Rock of offence to both houses of Israel as he was in that his Appearing coming in such a despicable manner as they looked not for With reference to that time he saith the testimony of him should be bound up among his Disciples the Law or Doctrine sealed and confirmed among them and so by them and in their records to us all Nations â—ince as appears in that with reference to that testimony and doctrine so bound up and sealed among them he by and by admonisheth us To the Law and to the Testimonie with every spirit if they speak not according to that Word it is because there is no light in them And it farther appears it is to be applied to his immediate Disciples in his personal ministration and to those that were immediately begotten by him and received their message and furniture immediately from him in that concerning himself and them together he saith Behold I and the children which God hath given me are for signs and wonders in Israel which in like expreâ—â—ions is peculiarly applied to those Apostles that peculiarly and immediately was given him out of the world for children Job 17. 6 8 18. and 21. 5. And so he and they together in their ministration and records left and setforth as it were men appointed to death For they are made a spectacle to the world to Anâ—els to men c. 1 Cor. 49. Likewise other where they are prophesied of as to the Nation or Family of which they should proceed even of the Jews that should bâ—ing the last and fullest revelation of the Gospel unto all Nations That they should be of the Tabernacles of David that should be reared up among the Gentiles Amos 9. 11. with Act. 15. 13. c. That Saviors should come upon mount Sion to judge the mount of Esau Obad. last So saith our Saviour also Salvation is of the Jews the Gospel came intirely and wholly out from them and was by them brought to the Gentiles 1 Tim. 3. 16. nor are we to listen to or wait for any new or farther revelation to be given forth in the time of this mortality or from the Gentiles for the word of the Lord came not nor cometh first or immediately from them but to them only 1 Cor. 14. 36 37. And that these Scriptures of the Prophets written aforetime and commandments of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour are the infallible and things contained in the Scriptures may use this as an argument but themselves destroy the validity of it for they cannot see the streightness and agreement of his words but set them together by the ears and being unlearned and unstable in the great things of his Doctrine do necessarily pervert things hard to be understood and mangle the word of God to their own destruction Isa 28. 12 13. 2 Pet. 3. 16. But the word of God is true from the beginning and demonstrates its excellency of truth rightness and harmony from the original of it the testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophesie and every one of his righteous judgements indureth for eveâ— He that beleeveth shall neither make haste nor be ashamed Psal 119. 160. Isa 28. 16. with 1 Pet. 2. 6 7. 2 All things standing and continuing to this day according to the Ordinances therein set them Psal 119. 89 90 91. 3 Their perfect and acute declaring the end from the beginning as in their several times they have come and do come to pass Isa 46 9 10. with Chap. 41. 22 23. and 43. 12. Joh. 16. 4. with Chap. 14. 25 26. 2. Pet. 1. 12 13. to the end with Chap. 3. 1 2 3. 1 Tim. 4. 1. Matth. 24. 25. We might have demonstrated the truth and validity of these Arguments in divers instances to each of them but it would make this work too tedious I am ready by Gods grace to do it when it shall bee required by any I might also have mentioned many more secondary Arguments of like import which God himself useth for confirming and strengthning the beleever and furnishing him to stop the mouths of gain-sayers with that faithful word but I forbear In these Scriptures of truth God hath written to us excellent things in counsels and knowledge that he might make us know the certainty of the words of truth that our trust may be in the Lord according to them and that we may have them to answer all sent to us with Prov. 22 17-21 In them hath he made known the mystery of his will the whole counsel of God that is to be or may be revealed unto mortal men even in those Scriptures that Timothy had been instructed into and known from his youth 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Eph. 1. 9. Act. 20. 27. Rom. 16 25 26. But then also 3 For bringing this teaching of God contained in these books near unto us in a way suitable to our need and weakness God hath provided another â—xpedient namely By giving gifts to men in the hearty beleef of his testimony and receiving the love of it so as to save them though yet they are of like passions and infirmities with others yet therein furnished them with such gifts as may be for the profit of others to every one of those that are in any measure truly or throughly reconciled to God by Jesus Christ is given grace some gracious gift for the benefit of others the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one of them even some distinct understanding of the Spirits testimony concerning Christ so as they are helped to discern and know what God hath given them in Christ and this for the profit of others that they may each according to his measure be useful one to another and to others through the Spirit in administring some gift for teaching opening or stirring up in the Grace of God Jesus Christ now being ascended on high And having received all immeasurable fulness of gifts in the man and for men that in or through the dispensation of them men might be prepared
for habitations of God He hath given these gifts to men some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers to perfect or furnish the Saints for the work of their Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son God unto a perfect man c. Psal 68. 18. Ephes 4. 7-11 c. 1 Cor. 12. 7. c. And so the Apostle Peter said of that which they spake and others heard that that was of those gifts which Christ had received on the right hand of his Father and did then shed forth Act. 2. 16. 33. Though the gifts be divers yet all given by that one and the self-same Spirit that lifts up and glorifies Christ according to the faithful record 1 Cor. 12. Rom. 12. Yea all those gifts distributed and set in the Church since the first Apostles who also opened the Prophets and were last in respect of that their peculiar Office or work of giving another manner of and fuller revelation of the Gospel than had been given before and that for obedience to the faith among all Nations for his name I say all gifts distributed and given unto beleevers since who through their word beleeve they are for the comparing and opening Scriptures or shewing the things of Jesus Christ to others by and according to them and to what is written and already revealed in them The holy Scriptures especially as now compleated since the dispensation of the fulness of times came forth by the Apostles being able to make wise to salvation though faith which is in Christ Jesus c. And throughly to furnish the beleever to all his service in exercise of those gifts he hath received from God for the profit of others Thirdly We come now to consider how or wherein any may be said to deny the Alone sufficiency of Gods teaching surely that may be seen in the forâ—er considerations 1 That they deny the Alone sufficiency of Gods teaching that either deny the Lord that bought them or acknowledge and confess him not according to the testimony God hath given of him Do not lift him up â—â— magnifie him in his Cross with the ends and vertues thereof as declared in the Apostles Doctrine as the ground and foundation of all Faith and Hope the matter of our song the fountain of all our teaching do not acknowledge that vision of God in Christ to be indeed as now revealed The Vision of all visions and sufficient in the light and power of God in and with it to teach and open all Doctrine and lead into all Truth I say such do therein deny the Alone sufficiency of Gods teaching that being as before the summary matter of his teaching and the way of his teaching all things and leading into all truth 2 They that deny slight or throw by the holy Scriptures either in their authority or clearness certainty agreement truth or sufficiency as not being able to make wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus and throughly to furnish the man of God to all his service c. as before without some additional helps of mens learning or art or without the imaginations of their own spirit or some other spirit than what is in and with them to give the meaning and lead to the use of them they that come not up to those sound words as delivered by them that have spoken to us in the name of the Lord in which the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written They to whom the pen of the Scribe is in vain for opening and interpreting the mind or meaning of the Holy Ghost what wisdom is in them surely they have therein rejected the word of the Lord while they render that as a dead letter and so vain and empty fallible and uncertain without the addition of their gloss or fancy which they have not seen heard or met with in that word of the truth of the Gospel And therefore not by the Spirit Jerem. 8. 8 9. Col. 2. 18. 3 They also that dispise and slight as fleshly and of man the Instruments and Means of Gods appointing the Posts or Pillars of his setting up for these his teachings to be conveyed and brought near unto us in or by and for us to waite upon him in Prov. 8. 34. 9. 3. Zach. 7. 9-12 2 Tim. 4. 1-5 They despise not man but God who hath also given us of his holy Spirit 1 Thes 4. 2. 8. They are sensual what spirituality soever they pretend not having the Spirit Jude 19. 1 Joh. 2. 18 19. Hebr. 10. 24 25. And of this sort I fear they are that had a hand in the forementioned Queries But hoping some of them may not yet be given up to Delusion and however for the benefit of those that desired it and of others I shall yet adde something farther in Answer to the Queries many of them being answered in this already said 1 Query What and where that New Jerusalem is which John saw â—â—â—â— down from heaven c Rev. 21. Answ 1 It appears not yet come down in or unto you for you profess yet to be travelling with pain and grief of heart and bowels yerning for the miseries others are like in your apprehensions to fall into And that Christ might be formed in them But though such pity pain and grief towards objects in misery or in evill wayes leading to it as you pretend be in truth in the hearts of such as indeed love the Lord Jesus Christ and hold fast his name and grace therein in the time of this mortality yet in that New Jerusalem when come down from heaven there shall be no more crying pain nor tears they shall be all wiped away All former miseries and occasions of weeping shall be forgotten Isa 25. 6 7 8 9. Rev. 21. 4. They shall even rejoyce when they see the smoke of their torment rise up for ever whom before they pitied Rev. 19. 2 3-7 with Chap. 14. 2 3 10 11. 2 But for farther Answer It is not yet come down from God out of heaven unto any It is yet as our life is hid with Christ in God when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we appear with him and be like him in glory That it is not yet come down from God out of heaven though beleevers by faith do come unto it in and through the Gospel especially as now come forth Heb. 12. 22. This appears 1 In that it s shewed in the vision then to come when he makes new heavens and new earth and all things new Rev. 21. 1-5 which are things that he will make not hath made Isa 66. 22. And which all beleevers in this corruptible state of the world all the time of their mortality are yet looking and waiting for 2 Pet. 3. 12 13 14. Tit. 2. 12 13. Phil. 3. 21. 1 Thess 1. 10. Isa 25.
The Epistle to the â—ebrews saith He shall come c. But the just shall live and be preserved to that day through faith kept by the power of God through faith uâ—â—â— the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time he is all this day in a spiritual first-fruits writing his Law in their hearts in the demonstration of his Son and his grace in him and that in and through those means forementioned But while they are here that being not fully done nay but in a little first fruits they imperfect in every thing as to attainment not knowing as they are known c. they have therefore need still of all those means instruments and helps for the doing of it or having it done in them in which himself hath appointed in and with the demonstration of his Son to be present for the working it in them more and more unto the perfect day and so of the helps and instrumental teaching of one another but then they shall know as they are known and that all of them from the least to the greatest and therefore shall not need c. Yea then shall their iniquity be so perfectly blotted out as Act. 3. 19 20. as to be no more remembred any more by any remainder of it or its fruits upon them whereas in this day there is a remembrance of it as we have shewed before Then shall he perfectly and totally redeem Israel from all his iniquities that to be waited for Psal 130. Truly this Covenant is violated or broken as Isa 24. 5. by such as tread underfoot the blood of it count it as a common thing as if of no more or other vertue as to any Covenant of remission and peace than like sufferings of other persons Heb. 10. 29. Do wilfully after knowledge of the truth received reject and turn from that Sacrifice â—â— draw back being proudly lifted up above the reading the whole vision â—â— God in the face of Jesus Christ where it s written that it may be 〈◊〉 hat so they may run to the end insolently boasting of it even in 〈…〉 as a thing made and accomplished in them in this day compare Hab. 2. 4. with Heb. 10. 26-38 and 2 Tim. 2. 18. 4 Qu. Where and what that Anointing is 1 Joh. 2. 21-27 And whether it be not the same in these dayes to them that have it Answ It is in and upon him that one person of God and of man Jesus that was of Nazareth it is in him in our nature immeasurably Joh. 1. 14. and 3.34 and for us Him God hath anointed with the oyle of gladness above his fellows Psal 45. 1 2-7 In him it hath pleased the Father all fulness should dwell even the fulness of the God-head bodily Col. 1. 19. and 2. 9. Yea in him are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2. 2. In him is Gods Name Exod. 23. 21. The revelation or manifestation of his glory to the sons of men as well as his Power Authority and Majesty as he is anointed with both Act. 10. 38. Joh. 1. 18. and 8. 12. and 12. 44-46 2 Cor. 4. 5 6. which Name of God as in him is that precious oyntment powred forth by and through him Cant. 1. 3. And so it s explicated in that 1 Joh. 2. 20-27 where its clear That that which is called the Unction vers 20. And the anoynting vers 27. is the same that is called The truth vers 21. intimately The testimony of Jesus in which he is declared to be the Christ the Anointed one the Son of God the Saviour of the world And so the Fathers name declared in him verse 22 23. which is the summary and fundamenâ—al matter of Gods teaching as is fore-shewed expresly it is called vers 24. That which they had heard from the beginning the word of the truth of the Gospel even the word of the beginning of Christ which what it is is explicated 1 Cor. 15. 14. The sum of the Gospel concerning Christ which they had first and alwayes preached as that in the heart-mindfulness or remembrance of which the beleever is saved or preserved from every evill word and work and way The sum of which is concerning the Death and Resurrection of Christ and Gods glory appearing in him the same is here meant by the things heard from the beginning called the anointing as appears in that like as in that of 1 Cor. 15. so here he saith verse 26. that he writes these things to them concerning them that seduce them to direct them how to be preserved from them namely by giving earnest beed to that anointing the things heard from the beginning as likewise Paul to Timothy in a like case Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived but continue thou in the things that thou hast learned and been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them c. 2 Tim. 3. 13 14 15. Surely the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesie Rev. 19. 10. whence Paul directs Timothy as the way in which he might be helped with understanding in all things ever to remember That Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to his Gospel And this anoynting this light of the Lord this glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God is certainly the same for that preaching of it was given by those great Apostles for the obedience of faith unto all Nations Rom. 1. 1-3-5 and 16. 25 26. The dispensation of the fulness of times c. Eph. 1. 10. And of the same vertue and quality that ever it was for teaching all things and leading into all truth it being the arm or power of God to the saving whosoever beleeveth for therein is the righteousness of God revealed c. Rom. 1. 16. 17. So that beleevers still need no man or spirits teaching that teacheth otherwise than as that anointing teacheth them of all things and as that hath taught them even as they have heard from the beginning so they are exhorted in the next verses to abide in him It will never teach another thing or reveal Gods glory in another manner They have also therein need and encouragement diligently to heed and attend more to the same in and through all means vouchsafed 5 Qu. What and where that Comforter is c. Joh. 16. Ans He is the holy Spirit of truth proceeding from the Father and the Son in his light influences and operation Therein thus distinguished from other spirits he takes of the things of Jesus and gloâ—â—fies him he lifts up the Son of Man as already come in the Flesh and now received up into Glory in mans Nature this he commends and lâ—fts up according to the Apostles Doctrin and Gods glory herein as is shewed before for reproving and enlightning the World and for teaching and leading the Beleever into all truth Joh. 16. 8 9 10 13 14. with Chap. 15. 26 27. and