The Christian-Quaker and his divine testimony vindicated by Scripture, reason, and authorities against the injurious attempts that have been lately made by several adversaries, with manifest design to rendor him odiously inconsistent with Christianity and civil society : in II parts. / The first more general by William Penn ; the second more particular by George Whitehead.

V. How the Light in Man is a Gift, and H. G's distinction between the Meritorious and instrumental Cause of Salvation examined.

H. G. ARt thou not able to distinguish between the Giver and the Gift, between the Fountain and the Stream, p. 7.

Answ. Yes, I do distinguish between the Giver and the Gift, between the Fountain and the Stream, between the Fulness and the receiving thereof Grace for Grace; bu•…•… while the Distinction between God and the Gift of his Spi∣rit, or between Christ and his Light within, seems to be no more then between the Fountain and the Stream; how grosly erroneous is it to conclude, either that the Spirit cannot be Saviour, or that the Light of Christ is not saving? For that's all one as to say, that either the Stream is not the same Water with the Fountain, or that the Stream cannot wash because not the Fountain or Fulness; who in his right Wits will believe this?

H. G. But again it appears thou distinguishest not between the meritorious Cause of man's Salvation, and the Instrumental, the killing of the Sacrifice, and the sprinkling of the Blood, &c. p. 7. 8.

Answ. Where doth the Scripture make this Distinction, or say, that the killing of the Sacrifice (which he must mean of Christ) is the meritorious Cause of man's Salva∣tion? Such like blind distinctions are fit to darken Know∣ledge and blind Peoples Minds; and how gross and un∣christian is it to place such a Merit or Worth upon that

murtherous Act of killing the Sacrifice if he mean) Christ as his Discourse implies? For though Christ Jesus (by that inherent Holiness, and original Righteousness, and Grace of God in him) offered and gave himself up to suffer, and tasted Death for every Man; yet the crucifying and killing him, according to the Flesh, was an Act of Murthe∣rers and Persecutors, who by wicked Hand put him to death; so that the Dignity and Worth was in Christ and on his Part through all his Sufferings, and not in the Act of killing him by wicked Hands, nor on their Parts; how∣beit the Sufferings and Death of Christ were of great va∣lue with the Father, and his Power did appear through all to the bruising the Serpents Head.

And if it be the Work of the Spirit to sanctifie and re∣new us; is not this a saving Work? And doth not this bring us to receive the Attonement, and to enjoy Peace? Who follow and obey this Spirit for a Reconciliation (through the Death of Christ) and being saved by his Life; and so the Work of Christ in saving and redec∣ming man from Iniquity, and in making Attonement Peace and Union between God and Man (however these be directly pointed at, made way for by the Suffering and Death of Christ) yet they were inwardly revealed, ef∣fected and fulfilled by the Spirit or Life of Christ, where the Word of Reconciliation is received in the Heart.

For Christ's Appearance and Suffering in the Flesh did really and directly point at those spiritual Ends (which are for man's Eternal Advantage) to be fulfilled by his Appea∣rance in Spirit.