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. III.

Object. But the Failings of such are recorded, that were said to be Perfect. pag. 8.

An••mad. So also are their Deliverances, as David's, Job's and others. Again, if the End of Christ's Manifestation was to redeem us from all Iniquity, to destroy the Works of the Devil, to restore us out of Sin, present us unto God holy and without Blame, en∣tire wanting nothing, perfect and compleat in all the Will of God; and hath purchased for his Church and People such a State,* 1.1 as to be without Sin; why should any go about to frustrate his End therein, or invalidate his Purchase? And why should any contend or arg••e for the contra∣ry End? And what more can we desire of Perfection, then is here granted? But it is added, that this State which is compleating al∣wayes, must not be expected to be compleated until the other Life pag. 9.

Animad. We must look upon this to be a Diversion from Scrip∣ture; Ye are Compleat in Christ, as well as not answering the End for which Christ gave himself, that is, to wash and purifie his Church, and to present her a Glorious Church, without Spot or Wrinckle or any such Thing, although in this Life she arrives not to that Fulness of Glory that shall be hereafter, yet to such a Spotless Estate as to render her both Beautiful and Glorious (else how could he say to his Spouse, Thou art Fair, thou art my Vndefiled, there is no Spot in thee) in which Christ presents his Church unto his Father, as being the Effect of her being washed by Water through the Word, which surely must be in this Life.

Object. But while she is both a Gracious Church (that is) while she is in this Life she shall not be without her Wrinckles nor her Trou∣bles. pag. 9.

Animad. Such Kind of Reconciling and Suppositions, toge∣ther with this deferring or putting off perfect Freedom only unto the State of the Life to come, I say, such Work as this hath giv••n many loose Professors and others too much a Liberty, both to con∣found

the State of Grace with that Universal State of Sin, and so that of the Gospel with that weak Estate under the Law, as also to oppose Christ's Work in this Life, and to put off Freedom from Sin unto that which is to come; and in this Faith many take a Liberty all their Lives to the Hazard of their own Salvation, which if the sad Consequence of such Doctrine were seriously considered, and prudently foreseen, we should all preach up Righteousness, and cry down Sin, and excite Men to lay hold of Christ, and believe in him for perfect Redemption, and not ar∣gue for the Continuance of Sin all our Dayes, knowing how apt Men are to lay Hold of that which most suits their corrupt Minds, which are in the Evil Works; we should not dispute for Sin, or a Deficiency in Duty, whatever Infirmity we perceive in our selves, but in all sincerity wait upon God, and exercise all Dili∣gence through his Grace, Light and Presence for Evil to be sup∣prest, and the Seed of Enmity to be extirpated, both out of our selves and others; that Righteousness might be exalted, and run down as a mighty stream to wash away the Dirt and Corruption, which greatly abounds among many, who think to salve them∣selves, and to quiet their justly disturbed Consciences, with a Feigned Application of Christ's Righteousness and Merits, how∣ever they neither allow him, nor his holy Nature to have a Place in their Hearts, whose unsound Doctrine, as well as their unchri∣stian Lives, hath levened many into Hypocrisie as well as kept them in ignorance from the very Life and Nature of Christianity, which consists in the inward Enjoyment of the Real Righteousness and Nature of the Son of God, as inwardly revealed, spiritually begotten, born and brought forth in the Soul through the Spirit of Holiness.

What the Author saith concerning Perfectio Viae or Patriae Vi∣atorum or Comprehensorum, a Perfection belonging to the State whiles we are in the Way as Travelers, or a Perfection belonging to the State, when we shall get home or to our Country, pag. 6.

Adnimad. It is granted that there is a twofold Perfection be∣longing to the Saints, as namely to the State, as Travailers in this Life, and to the State of that to come, and that which is to come doth ex••eed the Estate that now is, as to the Fulness of Glory, yet granting a Perfection in the Way or Journey, in Order to that

furrher Degree at the Journeys End; this then is a Perfection in the Way, not out of it, and what is the Way that conduces to a further Glory? but the Way of Righteousness, Thou wilt guide me by thy Counsel, and afterward receive me to Glory. With me to live is Christ, and to dye is Gain. The exceeding Weight of Glo∣ry which is prepared for the Righteous hereafter none can attain to, but they that faithfully follow Christ, while in the Earthly Ta∣bernacle; the Perfection of Grace here, which conduceth to the Perfection of Glory hereafter, admits not of the Continuance of Sin in Saints in this Life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Concess. pag. 8, 9.