![[cited by Burrough (1)]](../../pix/cited.gif)
Now a few words I may write in Answer to the Queries in
the end of thy Book, which thou
directst thus, 'Some Questions to the Quakers, or a few
Queries to those possessed with a Spirit of delusion in this
Generation.'
Question 1. If thou saiest that
every man hath a measure of the Spirit of Christ within him; why say
the Scriptures, That some are sensual, having not the Spirit, and
Christ saith, The World cannot receive it? John 14.
Answ. Some men are
sensual, and have not the Spirit, because they receive it not,&
some cannot receive it, because they believe not in him from whence it
comes, yet is the measure of
the Spirit given unto every man to profit withal, as the Scripture
saith. And it is given to within him, to reprove him of sin,
but few doth receive it; ![[editor's note]](../../pix/pencil.gif)
and when thou canst learn to distinguish between a
thing being given, and a receiving of such a thing, then thou mayst be
answered in thy self. It is one thing in God to give the Spirit, and
another thing in the Creature to receive it: He gives it to many
that receive it not, to follow it and to be guided by it: thus far I answer, and let them that are
led with a spirit of Delusion answer thee further.
Qu. 2. What is the Church of God redeemed by, from under the Law; is it by something that is done within them, or by something done without them? If it be redeemed by something that worketh in them, then why did the man Christ Jesus hang upon the Cross in Mount Calvery, without the Gates of Jerusalem, for the sins of his People, and why do the Scriptures say, That through this man is preached unto us the forgiveness of sins? &c.
Answ. The Church of
God is redeemed by Christ Jesus, which is revealed within all that
believe; and Christ Jesus
wrought in them mightily, and it was he that wrought in them to will and to do;
this is plain according to Scripture. And the man Christ Jesus was hanged upon the Cross on
Mount Calvery, because they wickedly judged him to be a
Blasphemer, and through their envy persecuted him to death, because he
bore witness against them; and as in their account he died, and hanged
upon the Cross for an Evil-doer, and this is one ground (at least) why he hanged upon
the Cross; and the Scriptures say, That through this man is preached
the forgiveness of sins, because there is no other that can forgive sin, nor
the blood of any other thing that can take away sin; but the Blood of
God, as it is written. And thus far I answer: If
thou wilt have more, seek it from them who are led with a spirit of
Delusion.
Qu. 3. What Scripture have you to prove that Christ is, or was crucified within you, risen within you, ascended within you?
Answ. There is no
Scriptures that mention any one of our particular names; and thy Query
is raised from thy mis-understanding of us, so I judge; but Christ is
within us, that we dare not deny; and he is the Lamb that was slain in the streets of
the great City, which is spiritually called Sodom and
Ægypt, (mind spiritually) and he is now risen, and
ascended, this we know through Faith in his Name: And I leave thee to
receive a fuller Answer from them that are led with a spirit of
Delusion (if they will give it thee.)
Qu. 4. Is that very man that was crucified on Mount Calvery, between two Thieves, whose Name is Jesus, the Son of Mary, is he the very Christ of God, ye or nay?
Answ. Yea, he is the
very Christ of God, which was before the World was, by whom the World
was made, who was made manifest from Mary's
womb, and was persecuted to death by the Scribes and Pharisees, in whose steps thou treadst, in asking subtil Queries to insnare the Innocent, as
they did; read thy Example, and thy self to be an Enemy to the Christ
of God.
Qu. 5. Is that very Man, with that very Body, within you, yea or nay?
Answ. The very Christ of God is within us, we
dare not deny him; and we are Members of his Body, and of his Flesh, and
of his Bone, as the Ephesians were: They that are led by a
spirit of Delusion shall answer the rest of this thy Query, if they
will.
Qu. 6. Was that very Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary, a real man of Flesh and Bones, after his Resurrection from the dead, out of Joseph's Sepulchre, ye or nay? for the Scripture saith he was, and if so, then did that Man go away from his Disciples, and not into them in his Body, as the Scriptures declare? or did he with that Body of Flesh go into his Disciples, as some fond Dreamers think?
Answ. What the Scriptures speak of Christ
we own to be truth, and own him to be what the Scriptures speak of
him, and all mens imaginations of him we deny, and their false
interpretations of the Scriptures concerning him; and let the fond
Dreamers who are in their thoughts be reproved; for we dare own
nothing to be truth but what the Spirit of the Lord bears witness of
according to the Scripture, thus far I answer in behalf of the
Quakers; let them who are led with the spirit of Delusion
answer the rest which concerns themselves.
Qu. 7. Hath that
Christ that was with God the Father before the World was, no other
Body but his Church, if you say no, as is your wonted course? Then
again I aske you, What was that in which he did bear the sins of his
Children; if you say it was his own Body on the Tree, then I ask you;
whether that Body in which he did bear our sins, was, or is the Church
of God, yea, or nay? Again if you say he hath no Body but his Church,
then I ask, what that was that was taken down from the Cross, &c.?
Answ. In this thou
hast not only queried, but Slandered; therefore first thy Slander I do remove, It is our wonted course to say, that Christ hath no
other Body but his Church; thou art herein as in other things, a
false Accuser, but we say the
Church is Christ's Body: And it is sufficient for Salvation to know Christ Jesus
to be head in us, and over us, and our selves to be Members of his
Body, and what thou
intendst by making so many
foldings in one Query; it may be judged is to insnare, and in that thou answerest thy self for us in
something, that thou mayst have a further ground to lay a deeper
snare; we do deny thee, and thy spirit, and see thee to be only
feeding in thy imaginations upon the report of things without the
Life, and thy religion stands in disputes, and controversies, and
querying, and many words; but our Religion stands in the exercise of a
pure Conscience towards God and towards man, whether we speak or be
silent.
Thus I have answered thy
Queries, or so much of them as concerns us; and as I have said, if thou wilt be further answered,
go seek an Answer from them who are led with a spirit of Delusion, and
let them answer their part, or else be thou unsatisfied; for I shall not answer
them to satisfie thee, nor I may not feed thy Serpents wisdom, nor
subtilty, which cannot receive of the things of God, nor understand a reason of the Hope of Christ in us, if we declare
to thee: For all throughout thy Book I do
observe it is that which thou strikest against, even against Christ
within, which is our Hope of Glory: And it is that Mystery which long
hath been hid from Ages and Generations, but now is made manifest and
declared. And though the wise of the World cannot receive it, but
speak evil against it, yet is it dear unto us; and so much more
precious, because despised by such as thee, and thy Generation. And
such things are a testimony to us, and against you; and go thou with
them that are led with a spirit of Delusion, for you are one in
Nature, and the Children of God, who are redeemed, cannot but deny you
together.
And now unto thee J. Bunyan, a few Queries I propound for thee to Answer.
Query 1. Whether is any
man justified by Christ Jesus in the sight of God, but he that follows
Christ? and is it not a work to follow him, yea, or nay? and what is the sight of
God?
Qu. 2. Whether will
that Faith justifie a man which hath no works, seeing the Apostle
saith, Faith without works is dead? and what is that
which works Faith, and where is it, within or without?
Qu. 3. Whether any man
is justified, but he who is born of God, and whether doth he
that is born of God commit sin; and is that within the Creature, or without him, which
works the new Birth?
Qu. 4. If Christ hath
lightened all men as he is God (as thou confessest) then whether hath
he not lighted all men as he is the Son of God; and is not the Light of
God sufficient in it self to lead unto God, all that follow it, yea, or nay?
Qu. 5. Whether it is
not the same Light in him that hates it, as it is in him that loves
it, John 3. if there be a difference in the Light, shew it
wherein it lies, whether in its nature, or otherwise?
Qu. 6. Whether it is possible that any can
be saved without Christ manifest within; if no, then whether it is not the Doctrine of
Salvation which is only necessary, to preach Christ within; and is it not the
whole Mystery of Salvation, God manifest in the flesh?
Qu. 7. Whether it is
not possible that many may profess as much of Christ without, as thou
hast said of him; and yet be damned; and if this be the
faith to profess him born, dead, risen, and ascended without, then
is there any Unbeliever in England, seeing all in the outward
sound believe, and professe as much as thou hast said, yea or nay?
Quer. 8. Whether hath
that man faith in Christ, who is not changed in the Nature? and is not
the Lyar and Slanderer an Unbeliever, and of the cursed Nature, yea or
nay?
Quer. 9. Whether doth
any man receive Christ, who receives him not into him? if not, show
how Christ can be received? and whether many profess him not, which
never received him?
Quer. 10. Whether to preach for Hire, for Gifts and
Rewards, and to Divine for Money, and to make Merchandise of People,
for so much a year for preaching to them, is not true Marks and Signs
of a false Prophet, or can any give truer Signs of the false Prophets,
then Isaiah, and Micah gave yea or nay?
Quer. 11. Whether must not the Devil be chained
before Christ reign? and what is that which chains him? and whether art thou
come to one of the dayes of the Thousand years, yea or nay?
Quer. 12. Whether dost
thou know any Christ, or preach or profess any Christ, who hath not
lightned every man that comes into the World with the true Light of
Life, or of Condemnation? and is he not a Deceiver that exhorts People
for Salvation to any other thing then the Light of Christ, yea or nay?
And how hath Christ enlightened every man in the World, if not within
him?
These Queries, with some more in my Answer, I put forth to thee, that
Truth may be cleared from all Slanders of envious tongues, and shall leave my work
and thine to be weighed in the Ballance of Righteousness, to be
considered of by every honest heart to whom they do come, and God
shall be the chief Judge betwixt us in his day.
ANd now seeing we have taken in hand to
discover and lay open the deceits of Deceivers, that all men may come
to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved, and led out of the snare
of the crafty Fowlers; these things further we
shall add, which are contrary to the Doctrine of the true Gospel.
First, John
Burton said in a Discourse with some Friends, That Christ had
two Bodies, and one of the bodies was out of the sight of the
Saints.
Secondly, John
Bunyan said, Christ's second coming is not his coming in
Spirit, for his coming in Spirit is no comming.
Thirdly,
John Bunyon said upon a Discourse, Of the Word of God being in
the heart, in the presence of divers People, That there was nothing
in him, nor in any man to be taken notice of.
Fourthly, One of their Brethren said, That Christ
and the Word of Life were two things.
Fifthly, Some others of the same Members, in the
Market at Bedford said, That they scorned that Light which we
(meaning the Quakers) speak of, which is the Light that convinceth
of sin, which Light they confessed to be in every man, in the same
discourse which was with some of them called Quakers.
Much need not be said as to the laying open these particulars, for by the words themselves the wickedness and ignorance of the broachers of them are fully seen, to every one who is spiritual, and to them I leave this to be judged; onely this I shall further say, They have not spoken onely that which can not be proved by Scriptures, but some of the particulars are also contrary to the Scriptures, and damnable Doctrines of Devils, as might be largly laid open, in the third and fifth particulars. But I delight not in raking in such unsavory Stuff, but do trample over it, and return it to the Authors. Having summed up their Wickedness into a Sum, I leave it for to be weighed by themselves and others; and if any question the truth of the particulars charged against them, sufficient Testimony may be given by such who were ear Witnesses.