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ture phrafe which does approach the doctrine of fatiffaction, (much lefs the name) confidering to what degree it is ftretched; not that we do deny, but really confefs, that Jefus Chrift, in life, doctrine, and death, fulfilled his Father's will, and offered up a most satisfactory facrifice, but not to pay God, or help him, (as otherwife being unable) to fave men; and for a juftification by an imputative righteoufnefs, whilft not real, it is merely an imagination, not a reality, and therefore rejected; otherwife confeffed and known to be juftifying before God, because "there is no abid"ing in Chrift's love without keeping his command"ments. I therefore caution thee in love, of whatfoever tribe, or family of religion thou mayest be, not longer to deceive thyfelf, by the over-fond embraces of human apprehenfions, for divine myfteries; but rather be informed that God hath beftowed "a "measure of his grace on thee and me, to shew us "what is good, that we may obey and do it ;" which if thou diligently wilt obferve, thou fhalt be led out of all unrighteoufnefs, and in thy obedience fhalt thou "receive power to become a fon of God;" in which happy eftate God only can be known by men, and they know themselves to be justified before him, whom experimentally to know, by Jefus Chrift, is life eternal.

A poftcript of animadverfions, upon T. V.'s contradictions, delivered in his fermon from 1 John v. 4. at the evening lecture in Spital-yard: "For what"foever is born of God, overcometh the world."

This is as well a contradiction to his text and doctrine, as to common fenfe; for befides that they neither of them fay, He that is born of God, cannot 'perfectly overcome the world,' but much the con

trary,

trary, I fain would understand his intention by an incomplete victory: if he means not fuch a one as is obtained by the flaughter of every individual, but that which only does fubdue the force, and lead captive their enemies, yet will the victory prove complete; for if they be fo far overcome as to be difarmed of farther power to mifchieve, the difpute is properly determined but whatfoever is incomplete, is but overcoming, or in the way to victory, and victory is the completing of what was before imperfect.

If fin must have a place in them, how can they be born of God, and have a place in Christ, or caft off the old man, and know a change altogether new?

What ftrange divinity is this! that God's people fhould be conquerors, and yet captives; overcome the world, and yet be overcome thereby.

'Sin may tyrannize over 'believers.

< But not have dominion; it is in captivity; it is in chains.'

Who is fo abfolutely injurious, and incontroulable, as a tyrant? and notwithstanding that he should have no dominion, but be in captivity, and in chains, at beft are Bedlam-diftinctions, and confequently unworthy of any man's mouth that has a fhare of commonfenfe.

You must kill, or be killed; either you must ' overcome the world, or the world you.

'Incompletely; he overcomes, when he breaks

their force, leads them captive, and puts them

If ye fight, ye fhall into chains; but they are

' overcome.

'not at all flain, they fome' times take him captive.

To kill, or be killed, admits no middle way to efcape; yet that both fin and God's children should lead one another captive; and that he which fights fhall overcome, and yet be in danger of being led captive, because completely a conqueror, to me feems very ftrange doctrine.

However, he goes on to tell them, Whofoever is born of God, overcometh the lufts of the world, and he that oyercometh the lufts of the world, over< comes the devils of hell; God's children have to do with a conquered enemy.' Yet he would all this while be understood in an incomplete fenfe; and to excite all to fight for this incomplete victory, he recommended to their confideration, the excellent rewards of conquerors, that is, "to him that overcom"eth, will I give to eat of the tree of life, the hid"den manna. I will give him a white ftone, a new <name, power over nations, white raiment: yea, I "will make him a pillar in the temple of my God;

he fhall go no more out, and I will grant him to "fit with me in my throne." Admirable privileges, I acknowledge! but are they promised to incomplete conquerors? I judge not.

Reader, by this thou mayeft be able to give a probable conjecture of the reft; and as I have begun with him and his co-difputants, with them I will end; who, notwithstanding all their boafts and calumnies. against us, have fo evaded those many opportunities we have offered them by letters, verbal meffages, and personal visits, that had they any zeal for their principles, love for their reputation, or confcience in their promises,

promifes, they would have been induced to a more direct and candid treaty.

But as it hath occafioned the publication of this little treatise, fo I am credibly informed, through the too bufy and malicious inquifition of fome concerning it, (which have amounted to no lefs than pofitive reports) it is currently difcourfed, how that a certain Quaker hath lately efpoufed the controverfy against R. F. and therein has perverted the Chriftian religion to that degree, as plainly to deny Chrift's coming in the flesh; with much more than was fit to be faid, or is fit to be answered.

But, reader, I fhall ask no other judge to clear me from that moft uncharitable accufation; fince first, I am altogether unacquainted with R. F. nor ever did defign directly fuch a thing, being unwilling to feek more adverfaries than what more nearly feek the overthrow of truth, although I doubt not but this plain and fimple treatise may prove fome confutation of his fentiments.

And lastly, as concerning Chrift; although the flander is not new, yet neverthelefs falfe: for I declare on the behalf of that defpifed people, vulgarly called Quakers, the grace, of which we teftify, hath never taught us to acknowledge another God than he that is the "Father of all things, who fills heaven and earth:" neither to confefs another Lord Jefus Chrift, than he that appeared fo many hundred years ago, "made of "a virgin, like unto us in all things, fin excepted;" or any another doctrine than was by him declared and practifed; therefore let every mouth be ftopped from ever opening more, in blafphemy against God's innocent heritage, who in principle, life and death, bear an unanimous teftimony for the only true God, true Chrift, and heavenly doctrine, which in their vindication is openly attested by