The Christian faith of the people of God, called in scorn, Quakers in Rhode-Island (who are in unity with all faithfull brethren of the same profession in all parts of the world) vindicated from the calumnies of Christian Lodowick, that formerly was of that profession, but is lately fallen there-from. And also from the base forgeries, and wicked slanders of Cotton Mather, called a Minister, at Boston ... : To which is added, some testimonies of our antient Friends to the true Christ of God; collected out of their printed books, for the further convincing of our opposers, that it is (and hath been) our constant and firm belief to expect salvation by the man Christ Jesus that was outwardly crucified without the gates of Jerusalem.

The Christian faith of the people of God, called in scorn, Quakers in Rhode-Island (who are in unity with all faithfull brethren of the same profession in all parts of the world) vindicated from the calumnies of Christian Lodowick, that formerly was of that profession, but is lately fallen there-from. And also from the base forgeries, and wicked slanders of Cotton Mather, called a Minister, at Boston ... : To which is added, some testimonies of our antient Friends to the true Christ of God; collected out of their printed books, for the further convincing of our opposers, that it is (and hath been) our constant and firm belief to expect salvation by the man Christ Jesus that was outwardly crucified without the gates of Jerusalem.

The Christian faith of the people of God, called in scorn, Quakers in Rhode-Island (who are in unity with all faithfull brethren of the same profession in all parts of the world) vindicated from the calumnies of Christian Lodowick, that formerly was of that profession, but is lately fallen there-from. And also from the base forgeries, and wicked slanders of Cotton Mather, called a Minister, at Boston ... : To which is added, some testimonies of our antient Friends to the true Christ of God; collected out of their printed books, for the further convincing of our opposers, that it is (and hath been) our constant and firm belief to expect salvation by the man Christ Jesus that was outwardly crucified without the gates of Jerusalem.

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Title page

Our Sincere Christian Belief is plainly asserted in the following Particulars, viz.

The Christian Faith of the People of God called Quakers, Vindicated from the Calumnies of Christian Lodowick.

Here followeth some Testimonies Collected out of the Writings of our Antient Friends, giving some account of their Faith and Belief.

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THE Christian faith of the People of GOD, called in Scorn, QUAKERS In Rhode Island (who are in Unity with all faithfull Brethren of the same Profession in all parts of the World) VINDICATED From the Calumnies of Christian Lodowick, that formerly was of that Profession, but is lately fallen there-from.

As also from the base Forgeries, and wicked Slanders of Cotton Mather, called a Minister, at Boston, who hath greatly commended the said Christian Lodowick, and approved his false Charges against us, and hath added thereunto many gross, impudent and vile Calumnies against us and our Brethren, in his late Address, so called, to some in New-England, the which in due time may receive a more full answer, to discover his Ignorance, Prejudice and Perversion against our Friends in general, and G. K. in particular, whom he hath most unworthily abused.

To which is added, some Testimonies of our Antient Friends to the true Christ of God; Collected out of their printed Books, for the further Convincing of our Opposers, that it is (and hath been) our constant and firm belief to expect Salvation by the Man Christ Jesus that was outwardly crucified without the Gates of Jerusalem.

Printed and Sold by William Bradford at Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, in the Year 1692.

Our Sincere Christian Belief is plainly asserted in the following Particulars, viz.

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1. Concerning Jesus of Nazareth the true Christ of God, as he is True and Perfect God, and True & Perfect Man.

2. Concerning his Conception, Birth, Life, Death and Sufferings, Resurrection, Ascention, Inter [...]ession, and Coming again and Appearance to Judge the Quick and the Dead at the Day of Judgment in his glorified Body. And the Resurrection of the Dead; at what Time attained.

3. Concerning his being a most acceptible Offering and Sacrifice to God for the sins of the whole World.

4. Concerning the True Faith in Christ, how it respecteth him both as without us in the Fullness, and as within us in the Measure, whole & undivided, being one Lord Jesus Christ.

5. Concerning the Distinction betwixt the devout Gentile and Christian, and how the Christian Dispensation far excelleth that of either Jews or Gentiles, and the Dignity of Christianity above the most Refined and Devout Gentilism.

6. Concerning a twofold inward Ministration of the Light and Spirit of God and Christ, and the state of Servants and Sons.

7. Concerning the gre [...] Benefit of the holy Scriptures, and how they are made Instrumental to our Christian Faith and Knowledge.

8. And lastly, Concerning the Possibility of the Salvation of Honest and Conscientious Gentiles by Jesus Christ.

The Christian Faith of the People of God called Quakers, Vindicated from the Calumnies of Christian Lodowick.

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WHereas Christian Lodowick hath given forth several Paper [...], Challenging all these belonging to Newport Meeting, who speak in the Meetings of the People called Quakers, and that within these few days past he hath renewed his Challenge, accusing the Foundation of their Gospel, Faith, Doctrine and Religion, to be unscriptural, false and naught, shaken and Sandy, and challanging them to appoint one of their Number to disput [...] with him.

These are to give Notice to all sober People and Neighbours, that: these so challenged by him, having taken his Challenge into consideration, and finding many things in it falsly and perversly stated, which they could not own, (so stated by him) to be the Foundation of their Faith, &c. did meet with him at the House of Walter Clark in Newport in Rhode-Island, the 18th of the 4th Month, 1691. in order to have things fairly stated, that if any did dispute with him, they might know before hand, what he was to dispute against, but they could not procure him to allow of this; but after that some of the things, charged by him in his Papers, began to be discoursed of, in order to a fair and right stating of them, he would not hear of it, but went away.

And whereas divers of us challenged by him, declared sincerely before many People there assembled on the said day, their sincere Faith as concerning the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and what the holy Scriptures testifie of him, yet he did continue to accuse them still, a [...] Denying the True Christ, alledging, they had another Sence than the Scripture words did hear, and that his Sence was True, but their Sence was False, appealing to their Consciences whether it was not so: Thus making himself Judge over our secret Thoughts, as having a secret sence in our Thoughts of Scripture words, contrary [Page] to the true sence of them, though we have not given him, o [...] any other, occasion to judge [...]o rashly and uncharitably of us; and our Consciences bear as witness, in the sight of God, that we do sincerely believe and think as we speak, when we say, according to the holy Scripture, That Jesus of Nazareth is the true Christ of God, and the only true Saviour, and there is no other Name given under Heaven, whereby men must be saved; and that this same Jesus was in fullness of Time bora of the Virgin, called Mary, being conceived of th [...] [...] Ghost, who dyed for o [...] sins, and [...] again for our Justification; and by his Death on the Tree of the Cross, was a most acceptable Offering and Sacrifice to God for the sins of the whole World, having ta [...]ed Death for every [...], and given himself a Ransom for all. And we believe, that Christ was God manifest in the Flesh, even in that body of Flesh in which he did suffer Death on the C [...]oss, and that the fullness of the God [...] dwelt Bodily in him, and doth still dwell bodily in him, and that of his Fullness we all receive, and Grace for Grace. And we [...] so believe, according to holy Scripture, that Christs Body that was crucified on the T [...]es of the Cross, was raised again on the third day, and after forty dayes did ascend into Heaven in the light of the Disciples, and who is exalted at the right Hand of God, and ever liveth to make Intercession for us, and that Christ hath his Body in Heaven a most glorious Body, not charged in Being or Substance, but in Condition & Manner of being; and that Christ is true and perfect God, and true and perfect Man, the Son of God, b [...]gotten of God from Everlasting, glorified with the Father before the World began, and also begotten of God in the Womb of the Virgin, called Mary, and born of her in the fullness of time, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, who took not on him the Nature of Angels, but the Seed of Abraham, and which he still hath; and that Christ, as Man, [...] Soul and [...]ody, and his Manhood i [...] most excellently and [...] [...] United with his God end, yet his Manhood is not his Gounead, not is his Body that he had of the Virgin, and now hath in Heaven, his Godhead, but the Temple of it, as Christ ca [...]ed his body the Temple, and is the Garment or Cloathing wherewith the Eternal Word did cloa [...] he himself, who i [...] that New and living Way that he hath consecrated for us, through the Vail, that is to say his [...].

And we believe, That God the Father hath appointed the [Page] Man Christ Jesus to be the Judge of the Quick and the Dead, and that he is to come to Judge all Mankind, and that his Coming so to Judge all Mankind with the great and last Judgment is at the end of the World, the which [...]nd of the World we do believe is not come, either within us or without us, as he doth fa [...]ly charge; for the End of the World, a [...] the Scripture declareth, it is the end of the Ages or Times of this World; for the Times and Ages of this World shall have an End; and God hath appointed a Day wherein he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man Christ Jesus, whom he hath ordained, but of that Day and Hour knoweth no Man, as Christ hath declared, that all might be watchful.

And because, according to Scripture Testimony, we do faithfully believe, that Christ hath also inwardly and spiritually appeared in the Hearts of men, and that all true Christians do believe and own his inward Appearance and Revelation in them, as he is the Word, Light and Life in them, in various Measures and Degrees of divine [...]tion, and that he is the true Light that ligh [...]eth every man that cometh into the World, and that we Testifie that all should turn to his Light in them, that convinceth of sin, and should believe in it, and obey and follow it, and that all who so do, will be led in due time to [...]eve in him in whom the Fullness is, and to receive the benefit of Christs Death and Resurrection in the outward, therefore hath this Accuser joyned with Thomas Hicks, a Baptist Teacher at London, and John Falao, an Independent Teacher, and divers others, to accuse us, as Denying the True Christ, be [...]u [...]e we believe and confess to Christ's inward and Outward Coming and Appearance, as if to believe and co [...] f [...]ss to Christ's Inward Coming and Appearance, were to deny his Outward, or to hold forth two Christs, which i [...] but their great Ignorance and Unbelief, and no [...] of our Principle for the true Christ of God is One, and the true Christians Faith, receiveth and [...] him whole and undivided, and own [...] his inward and outward Coming, who, as he did come without u [...] i [...] a state of Humiliation to [...], and is risen and ascended into Heaven, so he will come [...] without [...] to Judge the Quick and the Dead, and all [...] shall st [...]d before him, the Sh [...]p on his Right Hand, and the Goats on his Left. And there [...] [Page] be a Resurrection of the Body, both of the Just and Unjust, that is not attained already or immediately after Death, but it is to be attained unto in the Time appointed of God, called The Day of Judgment. And seeing our Friends in England have fully answered to all these false Accusations of Thomas Hicks and John, Fal [...], with whom Christian Lodowick hath joyned, we refer to their Answers, for the further Satisfaction of them who de [...]e to have it.

And it is falsly charged upon us b [...] Christian Lodowick in his Papers, That according to our Principle, all Honest and Conscientious Heathens or Gentiles, who have not the Knowledge and Faith of Corist crucified outwardly, and risen again, &c. and Jews and Mahometans are in Christ as well as we, and true Christians, Believers, &c. Nor doth this follow by any just Consequence from our Principles; for though we do affirm, That all Conscientious and Honest Gentiles, such as Cor [...]elius was before the Faith of Christ was preached to him, have some measure of Light, from Christ to enlighten them, and are under some Administration of the Spirit, yet it is but the first Ministration, until the Knowledge and Faith of Christ, as he dyed for our sins, and rose again, &c. be spiritually received; and such who have the true and saving Knowledge and Faith of Christ, as he dyed and rose again without them, spiritually receiving it by the Light and Spirit of Christ in them, and wrought in them by that mighty Power that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, and which conformeth them to Christ, in the like Virtues of Love, Patience, Humility, Resignation, &c. so as to love Enemies, are only Christians, and Sons of God, of the Free Woman, having received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby they cry Abba, Father; but who have not this Faith of Christ crucified and raised again outwardly, spiritually received and wrought in them by the Spirit of Christ, whether they have or have not heard Christ outwardly preached unto them, are at best (however just and conscientious to the just Principle of God in them) not under the Second, and more peculiar Ministration of Gods Spirit, that maketh men worthy to be esteemed Christians, but are only under the first, and such are held under the Custody or Sa [...]eguard of thhe Law, shut up unto the Faith that is afterwards to be revealed, as Paul hath declared, Gal. 3. 23. and the state they are in under this first Ministration, is to them as the City of Refuge was to the Man-slaver [Page] under the Law, and whereof it was a Tipe: And this first Ministration of the Law and Light in them, (that answereth to Moses and the Prophets, and to John, who are faithful and conscientious under it) prepareth them to receive the Knowledge and Faith of Christ crucified and raised again, and fitteth them for the Second Ministration of the Spirit, that bringeth them to witness the Spirit of Adoption, and the Anointing that maketh them true Christians, and conformeth them to Christ in th [...]ke Virtue, so as to love Enemies, and lay down the Life for Enemies, which is more than meer honest conscientious Gentiles, who have not the Faith of Christ cr [...]cified and raised again, can do.

And whereas the said Christian Lodowick doth further accuse us, That what we say we know of the Scriptures, we should have known, if it had never been writ, according to our Principle. This is f [...]l [...]ly charged upon us, as many other things in his Papers; for though we believe and say, that some things declared in Scripture, we should have known, if they had not been writ, as that there is a God, the Creator and Lord of Heaven and Earth, that requireth us and all men, by his Law and Light in us, to live soberly and righteously, and to fear, love and worship him, and divers other general things, of great use and service to men, according to [...] Doctrine; For the Invisible Things of God, [...] [...] Eternal Power and Godhead are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, so that they are without Excuse; for what is to be known o [...] God is manifest within them; yet the peculiar Doctrines and Mysteries of the Christian Faith, as that Christ should be born of a Virgin, dye for our sins, and [...]ise again, and that he is both God and Man, and many other the like peculiar My [...]e [...]es of the Christian Faith, we do acknowledge, and have alwayes acknowledged, that the Doctrine of the holy Scriptures, a [...] outwardly preached to us by holy Men, or as Read by us in he holy Scriptures, or having outwardly heard these things, have [...] Instrumental, by and together with the [...] working of the Spirit of God, to b [...]g [...]t in us the Knowledge and [...] o [...] them, and we [...] to bless God for the benefit of the [...] Scriptures given us, being able to make us who unto Salvation, through Faith in Christ Jesus; but that we prefer the Spirit to the Letter, we are not ashamed to own before all men, and that God and Christ and the [Page] Spirit, whom they testifie of, are above the Scriptures, and greater than they, we do freely acknowledge; for all outward Testimonies, Means, Instruments and Helps, such as the holy Scriptures, and all outward Preaching, and Men, and Boo [...]s, are but Servants to God and Christ, but God and Christ are Lord, and Master, and King over all, to whom be Glory and Honour forever and ever.

And as to the final state of all honest and conscientious Gentiles, who have not had Christ outwardly preached unto them either by the Ministry of Men or the holy Scriptures, it sufficeth us to believe that God is not wanting to them, and it is one God, who is the God both of Christians and Gentiles, and who shall justifie the Circumcision by Faith, and the Uncircumcision through Faith, Rom. 3.30. and it is no greater, nor other difficulty to understand how Honest and Conscientious Gentiles can be saved by Christ Jesus of Nazareth, than how Infants, and Deaf and Dumb Persons, so bo [...]n, can be saved, which our Adversaries generally acknowledge, and therefore they can have no advantage against us in that respect.

Edward Thurstan,

Henry Bull,

Anne Bull,

Thomas Cornwall,

Thomas Roadman,

George Keith,

Ebenezer Slocum.

Joseph Nicholson,

Daniel Gould,

Jacob Mott,

Walter Clark,

Rob Hutchins

John Easton,

Here followeth some Testimonies Collected out of the Writings of our Antient Friends, giving some account of their Faith and Belief.

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The Principles of Truth, by John Crock &c. P:3, to 18.

MAny are the Reports that are abroad concerning this People, not only as to their Practices and Deportments, but also as to Doctrines and Belie [...]. The former time having resolved and worn out, as being the Refuge of Lyes; but tho' the first be gone, yet the latter sticks with many, as not knowing what they hold as to Doctrine, some saying, They deny the Scripture, and the Resurrection of the Body, and all Ordinances, wish the Man Christ, and his Death and Suffering, and Imputation of his Righteousness, and Faith in his Blood, &c. Wherefore for the Satisfaction of all that would willingly be resolved, and know the Truth, I have written this short Account of their Faith and Belief.

1st. We believe, That the God of all Grace has given a measure of Grace, or some Manifestation of his Spirit and Light thereof unto all men, who at some time or other do feel something in their Hearts and Consciences, that doth lust against the Flesh, and the Flesh against it, and [...]hat these two are contrary the one to the other, one lusting after Evil, which is Evil, and the other after good, which is good.

2dly, We believe, by this Gift, Grace and Inspiration of the Almighty, man only can come to know the true God truly, what he is, and how he works in the Hearts and Consciences of People, to regenerate them, and make them hear his Image.

3. We believe, That all the Errors and Mistakes about God, and the things relating to his Kingdom, sprang and arose from mens wandering from this Gift of God, into their own Imaginations.

4. We believe and know, That this Gift and Grace of God appears in and unto all men, that all may be without excuse, accusing for the Evil, and excusing for the good, Rom. 2. 15.

5. We believe, That wheresoever the Power of God is not known within, there the Gospel is hid and unknown.

[Page] 6. Through this Gift, we believe, That Christ Jesus, the Son of God, was manifest in the Flesh in the fullness of Time: and this we know, by the same Spirit by which our Fathers believed he should come, and Abraham saw his Day, by the same we do believe he is come, and do see his Day, as also by the Prophets and Apostles Writings, which Two-sold Cord is not easily broken.

7. We believe also, That this same Jesus hath God highly exalted and given him a Name above every Name, that whosoever believes on him shall not perish, but have Everlasting Life, and that there is not another Name, whereby any can be saved, than this Name of Jesus Christ: Nor is Remission of sins to be preached by any other Name.

8. We believe, That this Jesus dyed for or because of sin, and rose again for the Justification of those that believe in him, and that he thereby spoiled Principalities and Powers, and triumphed over them openly, and led Captivity captive in his own Person—It is not a Belief from the Letter only, that can give a man the saving Knowledge of the Death of Christ, but he must have the same Power, in measure, working in him, to beget Faith in his Heart, that he may believe unto Salvation, as well as confess with his Mouth: And this man whoever he be, Bond or Free, that thus believes the Death of Christ, and its Satisfaction to God, cannot make it void, nor divide it, but will say, Here is a dying man, witnessing the Death of Christ, and nevertheless the same man living with Christ, and concluding, if Christ had not dyed, man must have perished in his Sin; This being the way found out by God to recover him.

9. By this Gift of God in our hearts, we further believe, That Christ Jesus rose again from the dead, and sits at Gods right Hand in glorious Body. And we believe, that [...]r low Estates and humble Bodies shall be made like unto his glorious Body, through the working of his mighty Power, whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself; and that this Mortality shall put on Immortality.—And we believe, that Regeneration, or the believing in the Light of Christ within, doth not make void the Death and Sufferings of Christ without at Jerusalem, no more than believing the Scripture Testimony without, concerning Christ Death, makes void the Work, of Regeneration & Mortification within; but as the Apostle saith in another case, so I say in this, For as the Man is not without [Page]the Woman, neither is the Woman without the Man in the Lord: even so is not the Death and sufferings of Christ without at [...], to be m [...]e void, and of none effect, by any thing within; neither doth the Light within make that of none effect without, but both in the Lord answers his Will: For, though there is, and may be a Knowledge and Belief of what Christ did and suffered without the Gates, in his own Body upon the Tree, and yet sin alive in the Heart, and the Work of Regeneration not known; yet it can't be so where the Light within is believed on, so as to have its perfect Work in the Heart, to regenerate and make all things New, and to be of God; this man can never make void what Christ hath done and suffered without: And yet this New Birth, or Christ formed within, and dwelling the heart by Faith, doth not limit or confine Christ to be only within, and not without also, but both within and without, according to the good pleasure of the Father to reveal & make him known; for he f [...]leth all things, and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him, and yet is he at God's Right Hand, far above all Heavens, in a Glorious Body.

10. And we also believe the Resurrection of the Just and Unjust, the one to Salvation, and the other to Condemnation, according to the Judgment of the Great Day, and then shall every Seed have its own Body; for if the Dead rise not, we are of all men most miserable. But because we da [...]e not be so foolishly inquisitive, as to say, With what Bodies do they arise, therefore do some say, We deny both the Resurrection of the Body of Christ, and of all that are or shall be Dead: But this also is false; for every man shall be raised in his own Order, but Christ the first Fruits, I Cor. 15.23. And we believe they shall be raised with the same Bodies, so f [...]r as Natural and Spiritual, Corruptible and Incorruptible, Terrestrial and Coelestial can be the same.

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Pag. 40. of the same Book, by E. B [...]rrough, And we believe, Even He that was Dead is alive, and lives for evermore; and that he Cometh, and shall Come again to Judge the whole World with Righteousness, and all People with Equity, and shall give to every man according to his Deeds at the Day of Judgment, when all shall arise to Condemnation or Justification, he that hath done good shall receive Life; and he that hath done evil, everlasting Condemnation.

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Testimony for the Man Christ Jesus, pag. 4. cites W. Penn, where [Page] he speaks in the Name and Person of the Quakers, thus, We do believe the Man Christ Jesus to be glorified in Heaven: We do believe that holy Manhood to be glorified in heavenly Glory. See now how far the Quakers are from denying the true and real Manhood of Christ in Heaven, or disowning Jesus of Nazareth to be the Maffiah. A [...] further add and confess, That the Same Man Christ Jesus, that suffered and was put to Death in the Flesh, and raised from the dead by the mighty Power of God, ascended into Heaven, Gods dwelling place, ascended both as to a change of Place and state of Glory: He is highly exalted in Power and Authority, Pag.7. We have always believed & owned the Man Christ Jesus, according to the plain History of him in Holy Scripture, as namely, That he was miraculously conceived by the holy Ghost overshadowing the Virgin Mary, that he lived an innocent & sinless Life, preacht powerfully, wrought Miracles, was crucified and put to Death, as concerning the Flesh, buried and rose again the 3d day, and was seen of his Disciples and many Brethren after he arose; and that the Same Body that was put to Death, was raised by the Power of God, & was a real Body really seen both before and after his Resurrection, and at his ascention also. So we confess the same Man Christ; not only to be still in being, but also glorified, and his Body to be a glorious heavenly and spiritual Body. And as to his being Man, We have one Mediator between God and Man, even the Man Christ Jesus, [...] Tim.2. And God will judge the World in Righteousness by that MAN whom he hath ordained, whom he hath raised from the Dead, Acts 17.31. So that this MAN Christ did neither ☞ Vanish nor Perish in any thing Essential to him, either as to his SPIRIT, SOUL or BODY, but is highly exalted and glorified P.12. But if we shall be changed as to our low Body, and fashioned into a glorious and spiritual state, then is Christ as to his Body changed or translated into a far more glorious State than what it had when on Earth P.13. as for those Objections against the Man Christ his being in Heaven, they are to W. Harworth's own framing, and not the Quakers; for where did they ever thus argue, viz. Ephes.4.10. The Apostle saith he ascended far above all Heavens, ergo, Christ is not in Heaven as to his MANHOOD: Let him shew us that Book or Dispute wherein we have this Argument, it he can. Again, I Cor.15. Flesh [...] Blood cannot enter into the Kingdom o [...] Heaven; Where do the Quakers argue from hence, that therefore Christ [Page] is not there, as to his Manhood: Let him produce Book & page for this, or forever be ashamed.—His Reasons to prove Christ now a Man in Heaven, do not reach nor touch us, the thing not being deny'd, but really believed and confessed unto by us.

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Malice of the Indep. Agent again rebuked, p. 17. The terms Natural and Earthly, as given to the glorious Body of Christ, were and are offensive to us—It must needs be a very glorious heavenly Body; and we believing such a change in the glorious Body of Christ, we do not thereby, (nor ever did) believe that the Body of Christ which suffered was annihilated, & that his Flesh saw Corruption: No such matter: May there not be then a very wonderful change in the Body and yet the Substance not annihilated nor destroy'd; nor does it follow from our not believing nor owning his Characters (of natural & earthly) on Christs glorious Body, that therefore nothing of that Body remains or is in being. P. 19. As if we allowed nothing of the Man Christ, either or Spirit or body, to have a being (after his Resurrection) to ascend; which is a horrid falshood; for though it was changed, and became excellent, refined and glorious, yet it follows not that it was annihilated.—Though Christ be God and Man in a most glorious Union and Power, yet the Manhood is not the Deity, nor the Deity the Manhood, yet inseperable in the heavenly Man, Christ, who is Lord from Heaven.

Pag. 23. Postscript by George Whitehead, in answer to W. H [...]s Q [...]eries. Q. I do but Query, what is become of that Flesh wherein He, (i. e. Christ) was manifested? I [...] that Flesh now in being? if so, where is it? in every place, or circumscribed in Heaven? Answ. That Flesh saw no Corruption, but was raised from the dead: Christ did rise in that Body wherein he suffered, and in the same ascended into the Heavens, where the Patriarch David did not, as to his Body, which is in the Sepulchre, Acts 2.29. And that very Body of Christ which was raised from the dead, how should it but be in being, seeing he dyed not again, according to Rom. 6.9. knowing Christ being raised from the dead, dyeth no more, Death hath no more dominion over him: his dying was only as to the Body, he was put to Death as concerning the Flesh, therefore the Flesh was raised from the dead. And it is so far circumscribed or encompassed in the Heavens as 'tis capable of, and as is proper to it; and tho' it be spiritual and glorious, yet a Body, and therefore not in every place where God is: To be Omnipresent [Page] is only proper of God, and not to Bodies.

Q. How do they but deny the [...] Christ, that say, the Body of Jesus is changed as to Substance, and his Soul is in every [...]? Answ. 1st, They do not deny the Manhood of Christ, that say, his Body is changed, as to the Quality and Glory of it, that it is a spiritual glorious Body, in a higher state than when on Earth under Sufferings: This is no annihilating of the body: 2ly. That his Soul doth powerfully extend to, and is in every Saint, in some [...]ce and degree: This must needs be, if it act together in Union with the Deity, in perfecting all good in us, as our Adversary has confessed, as also that it is virtually in the Saints: Tho' we grant, that it is in more fullness in himself than in as, yet of his fullness have we all received.

Q. They own, they say, the real Birth, Sufferings and Resurrection of Christ, but do they own his Intercession in his Manhood, a [...] an [...]go Pri [...]st in Heaven? Ans. Yes, we do; he is entred into Heaven it self, to appear in the face of God for us.—Note, That we referred him for a more full answer than we have given about Christs Manhood, to a Book entituled, The Way cast Up, by G. Keith.

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The real Quaker a real Protestant, by G Whitehead, p. 105, 106. Priest says, That two of his Neighbour Quakers told him, That Christs Body did vanish at his ascention, and that now he hath no other Flesh or Body but the Flesh or Body of his People. Ans [...] deny it to be the Quakers mind that Christs Body did vanish (so as to become annihilated) at his ascention: 'twas changed, and more glorified, but not vani [...]ht. I am sensible that none in their right understanding or sence, would give him any such mistaken answer or account concerning the Body of Christ, that it so vnnisht as to become annihilated.—Christ has a glorious Body, most near and proper to himself, above and more excellent than all our earthly Bodies, like unto which he will change our low & humble Bodies.—P. 119. Christ hath a true and spiritual glorious Body, whereof the Saints are Members.

Pag. 108. Pr. The Qrs. do believe, that Christ, God Man, did never purchase the Redemption of any sinners by the price of his own Blood. Ans. We believe that Christ as Mediator, hath obtain'd eternal Redemption for us, and that by his own Blood, that we might be sanctified & redeemed from all Iniquity, for which end he gave himself for us.

Pr. The Qrs. believe that deliverance from Condemnation is not by believing in Christ who dyed to save Sinners, but by obeying the Light within. Answ. This is a Forgery again: Christ & his Light within are not [Page] to be divided in matter of Faith or Salvation: We never opposed Christ who dyed for Sinners, or Faith in his Name, by believing or obeying the Light within.

§

Judgment fixt, by G. Whitehead, in answer to Jessory Bullock, viz. You (Quakers) do preach both Salvation and Justification, and also Condemnation by the man Christ the Son of God, as other Professions do, and this Doctrine I would have you to prove, because you preach Salvation by Christ the Light within. It is no where written that we shall either be justified or condemned by that Christ which dyed without the Gates of Jerusalem, but it is written, by Grace are ye saved, and by the Light of the World are ye condemned, &c. Ans. Thou that canst not reconcile (or see the consistency of Salvation by the Man Christ Jesus, And by his Light within, art gone from his Light, into Imaginations. Why hast thou not better observ'd the Gospel preacht by the Angel of the Lord, to the Shepherds concerning Christ Jesus, For unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. The true Christ of God is but one, tho' he hath appeared in divers manners, both in the Flesh and in the Spirit; he is the Light, he is the Way to the Father, he is the Saviour, he is the one Mediator between God and Man, even the Man Christ Jesus, the heavenly glorious Man, the Man that was promised to be for a hiding place, who in the days of his flesh said, I am the Light of the World: This our one Lord Jesus Christ is our Light, Life and Salvation; he is Judge of quick and dead, that Man by whom God will judge the World in Righteousness. See also Tit. 2. 11. where the saving Grace of God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all Iniquity, &c. are testified of; & therefore Salvation by that Christ, through his Grace, are not inconsistent, pag. 326.

§

Flesh & Blood of Christ, by I Pennington, (Preface) I have often heard them (the Quakers) own Christ both inwardly & outwardly; yea, I heard one of the Antients of them thus testifie in a publick Meeting many years since, That if Christ had not come in the Flesh in the [...] of time, to bear our sins in his own Body on the Tree, and to offer himself up a Sacrifice for Mankind, all mankind had utterly perished. p. 16. Glorious was that appearance and manifestation of his Son in [...] flesh, precious his Subjection & his Obedience to the Father: His giving himself up to death for sinners was of great esteem in his Eye: It was a spotless Sacrifice, of great value, and effectual for the Remission of sins, and I do humbly acknowledge unto the Lord the Remission of any sins thereby.

[Page]

Rob. Barel [...]y's Apology, p. 94, [...]5. [...]6.

We do not intend to equal on solve to that holy Man, the [...] in whom [...] the fullness of the Godhead [...] [...] no to [...] o [...] the [...] of his present existence; so tho' we [...] not immediately, but [...] her she Head, and [...] [...]mbers; now as the Soul [...] [...] wells otherwise, and in a [...] more immediate manner in the H [...]d and Heart than in the hands [...] so God dwelleth otherwise in the Man Jesus, that [...]. We also freely reject the Here [...]e of A [...]po [...]onarius, who d [...]y him to have any Soul, but said, the Body was only acted by [...] God [...]ad. As also the Error of Eutyones, who made the Manhood to be [...] w [...]owed [...] Godhead; wherefore as we believe he was a true and real man, so we also believe, that he continues so to be glorified in the Heavens, in Soul and Body, by whom God shall judge the World in the Great and General Day of Judgment. We believe all those things to have [...]een certainly transacted, which are recorded in the holy Scriptures, concerning the Birth, Life, Miracles, Sufferings, Resurrection & Ascention of Christ, and we also believe, that it is the Duty of every one to behave it, to whom it pleases God to reveal i [...]; yea, we believe it were [...] [...] not to believe, when so declared. And we be [...] [...] the Remission of sins, which any partake of, is only in and by virtue of that most satisfactory Sacrifice, and no otherwise.

§

His Vindication of Apology, p. 89. I do believe that the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was crucified at Jerusalem, was again rais [...] by the Power of God, in which glorified Body the Lord Jesus [...] dwelleth. Pag. 189. We are falsly charged with denying the outward appearance of Christ, the real existence of Heaven and Hell as a place without as, the Last and General Judgment, the Resurrection of the Body; for we really believe these things.

Much [...] might have been cited out of the Writings of our Antient Friends, but this may suffice at this time to convince our Opposers, that it hath been, and is, the firm Belief of the People call'd Quakers, to expect Salvation by the Man Christ Jesus, who was born [...] the Virgin Mary, was crucified for our sins, and rose again for our Justification, ascended into Heaven, and ever liveth to make inter [...] for us.

Faithfully collected, and Recommended to p [...]rusal, by

Will. Bradford.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

The Christian faith of the people of God, called in scorn, Quakers in Rhode-Island (who are in unity with all faithfull brethren of the same profession in all parts of the world) vindicated from the calumnies of Christian Lodowick, that formerly was of that profession, but is lately fallen there-from. And also from the base forgeries, and wicked slanders of Cotton Mather, called a Minister, at Boston ... : To which is added, some testimonies of our antient Friends to the true Christ of God; collected out of their printed books, for the further convincing of our opposers, that it is (and hath been) our constant and firm belief to expect salvation by the man Christ Jesus that was outwardly crucified without the gates of Jerusalem.

Keith, George, 1639?-1716.

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI :

Date

2006-06.

ID [DLPS]

N00476

ID [TCP]

N00476

ID [STC]

Evans 600

ID [STC]

Wing K151

ID [NOTIS]

APW4031

ID [IMAGE-SET]

600

ID [EVANS-CITATION]

99009990

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 600.

Notes

(Evans-TCP ; no. N00476)

Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 600)

Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 600)

Source

— The Christian faith of the people of God, called in scorn, Quakers in Rhode-Island (who are in unity with all faithfull brethren of the same profession in all parts of the world) vindicated from the calumnies of Christian Lodowick, that formerly was of that profession, but is lately fallen there-from. And also from the base forgeries, and wicked slanders of Cotton Mather, called a Minister, at Boston ... : To which is added, some testimonies of our antient Friends to the true Christ of God; collected out of their printed books, for the further convincing of our opposers, that it is (and hath been) our constant and firm belief to expect salvation by the man Christ Jesus that was outwardly crucified without the gates of Jerusalem., Keith, George, 1639?-1716., Thurston, Edward..

Extent

16 p.

Printed and sold by William Bradford at Philadelphia in Pennsylvania,,. [Philadelphia] :: in the year 1692.. (Attributed to George Keith by Evans. Signed on p. 8 by Edward Thurston and twelve others, including Keith.)

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