The way of life and perfection livingly demonstrated in some serious animadversions or remarks and answers upon the book entituled The middle way of perfection, with indifferency between the orthodox and the Quaker, herein considered, and the naked truth as it is in Christ Jesus, opened in real love to the souls of men / by George Whitehead.

Sect. XVII.

And now whereas he pretends to discover several Inconvenien∣cies that follow our Doctrine, and bids let us see, whether they do not require more heed, page 30.

Let us then see and heed, what Inconveniencies he supposeth do follow our Doctrine.

Object. First then, where they say, our Doctrine doth lead Men into Security, Remisness of Life, Neglect of their Duty, a sinful Course; how must their Doctrine hurle Men into Despair, and lead them by that to the casting off the whole Care of God, and their own Souls together? pag. 30.

An. No such Inconvenience doth follow our Doctrine, as ei∣ther the hurling Men into Despair, or leading them to the casting off the Care of God and their Souls; for there is no Cause to De∣spair of what's possible or attainable [through divine Assistance] as is confest, to live without Sin, or to keep the Commandments of God, and so to enter into Heaven, is possible or attainable, through the Assistance of Grace; Men may despair upon Impossibilities, or the Aprehensions thereof, but they have no Cause on the contrary: We both testifie unto true Faith and Hope in God through Christ, and his Name and Power, to enable the Soul to resist and over∣come Temptations; as also we preach up God's Love, and Care over his Children, for their Safety and Preservation out of Sin and Evil; and that even he who is the God of Peace, according to his Care over his People, doth (in his own due Time) tread Sa∣tan under their Feet, by his great Power, which they believe in and partake of.

Object. If it will not serve a Man for his Acceptance with God, that he is sincere in his Desires and Endeavours of walking before him, unless he attain to Perfection, or to a Life that ••s wholely without sin in this World; then must the Heart of the most holy, and morti∣fied Man upon Earth be quite broken, and discouraged for ever: There is Mercy with thee that thou mayst be feared, saith David, page 30.

An. Sincere Desires and Endeavours of walking with the Lord God, are acceptable to him, they being begotten by his own Spi∣rit,

but it is a Mistake, that they fall short of attaining to Per∣fection, or to a Life without Sin [in this World] who follow such Desires and Endeavours.

As also it is a gross Mistake, That the most holy and mortified Man upon Earth, did either fall short of such Perfection in this Wordl••, or that he must have his Heart quite broke, or discouraged forever on this account, page 30. Besides Thousands do experi∣ence the contrary, that our Doctrine of sinless Perfection, hath no such Tendence nor Effect, as this of Despair unjustly surmised to be the Consequence thereof: Besides, I suppose it is as hard a Matter for this Man to prove, what Sin or Sins the most holy and mortified of God's Servants and People lived in all their Life time, as to evince when, where, or how they came to be perfectly clean∣sed, or throughly purged after their decease: For our Parts, we do not believe the Pope's Doctrine of a Purgatory after Death.

If God were not Good and Mercifull to consider Man's Frailty, to pardon his shortness and Imper∣fections, and bear with him, we should not fear him. that is, worship or serve him; for it were to no pur∣pose to go about it, seeing we could never please him.

An. Herein he saith true, but then God's Goodness and Mer∣cy in thus condescending, and pardoning any such shortness or Im∣perfections (which when confessed and repented of, or where the sincere Desires and Endeavours are alive) tends to engage the Creature the more to fear, serve and worship him; and to bring Man nearer and nearer to God, with whom there is Mercy, that he may be feared; and the Fear of the Lord doth keep the Heart clean.

Object. Alas! that these Folks did but know what they do, when they bring in such Doctrine, who themselves must tremble to be judged by it. O ye foolish Galatians! who hath bewitched you, that you should depart from that Comfort and Peace, which some of you, I believe sometime had in believing and trusting in Christ al∣together for your Pardon, and Reconciliation with God; that you should be brought now to the Wo••ks of the Law, page 30.

An. The Man runs altogether upon his own reiterated Mistake

in the State of our Doctrine and Case; we know what we do, and that we are none of those foolish Galatians in what we hold; we draw none from the Spirit, to be made perfect in the Flesh, but do both direct Men to their Beginning in the Spirit, and to persevere therein, to walk in the Spirit, obey the Spirit unto Mor∣tification and Sanctification, &c. For if ye walk in the Spirit, then are ye not under the Law; And we through the Spirit have waited for the Hope of Righteousness by Faith; and through the Spirit do still believe, trusting in Christ for all the Good, the Suffici∣ency, the Strength, the Joy, the Soul's Comfort and Peace, that we daily receive; for without (or separate from) him, we can do nothing, yet all things through Christ that strengthens us

Object. page 30. Is there any indeed of you think that you are a∣ble, and do continue in all things that are written in the Book of the Law, or in all things that are written in the Tables of your Hearts, to do them? And are you ignorant, that upon that account and that alone, that none do, or are able to do so, the Apostle tells you, as many as are of the Works of the Law, are under the Curse.

An. A mistake still, the Apostle no where tells us, that none (which as well concludes Christians as others) do or are able to con¦tinue in all things, that are written in the Tables of their Hearts to do them (as for all things written in the Book of the Law outward, they are not required of us) Surely the Apostle's Testimony was, that they could do all Things through Christ that strengthens them; and it was neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision that availed a∣ny Thing, but the keeping of the Commandments; to conclude, that none are able to continue in the Law of Christ written in their Hearts, is contrary to his Doctrine; for abiding in his Love, and his saying, If ye love me keep my sayings or Commandments; and in this is the Love of God manifest, that we keep his Command∣ments; and his Commandments are not grievous, but joyous unto us.

Object. page 31. Alas Sirs! what mean you when we are under the Ministration of the New Testament, which brings the Spirit and Liberty (where the Spirit is there is Liberty) and Righ∣teousness (for by the Law of Faith the Christian hath a Righteous∣ness to plea••, and to be justified by) and so Life; you should be rea∣dy to return into a Jewish or Natural Bondage, to seck for it, from

that only, which can bring Death, and is the Ministration of Sin and Condemnation.

An. His Sigh [Alas Sirs!] for us, and Consequence upon us, are both groundless and the Consequence of his own Mistake still, as that we are ready to return into a Jewish or Natural Bondage o seek Life from that only which can bring Death, &c. this hath no Truth in it; we neither seek Life from the Letter which killeth, nor from any Ministration without the Spirit; nor are we Ministers of the Letter (nor do we sow to the Flesh) but Mi∣nisters of the Gospel of the Spirit, and of the New Testament, knowing that 'tis the Spirit that giveth Life: And if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Flesh [or the Fruits there∣of, which are corrupt] then shall ye live.

Notes

• A supposed Objection yet not inconsi∣stant with our Principle.
• Contrary to 1 John 4. 17, 18.