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I Had expresly cited C. Atkinsons words, viz. I deny that God did ever, or will ever reveal himself by any of those things thou callest the means of grace, which were spo∣ken of before in his book, as, reading, hearing, prayer, &c. contrary to 2 Tim. 3. 15. Rom. 10. 17. Luke 11. 13. &c. R. F. in answer * 1.1 saith I would raise a slander, &c. as if they
should deny the way and means that God useth to reveal him∣self to his people by. How makes he it to appear? why, Christ is the light, and the way to the Father, and that they own; and he reveals his secrets by his Spirit.
Rep. In all this confession, here is no acknowledgement* 1.2 of reading, hearing, prayer, &c. That Christ is the light, and light-giver, hath never been denyed by me; and that, with his Spirit he is the author and worker of all grace, who but graceless men will gain-say? We do, with the Scripture, attribute higher things to God, and Christ, and the Spirit, then to be the means of grace; but R. F. will not ascribe so much to the Scriptures, read, heard, sung, prayed upon (i. e. according to the rules, and patterns of prayer there set down) to be so much as outward means of grace; we can have no such outward ingenuity from him: But what saith he? The Scriptures are not Christ, nor the Spirit.
Rep. What if they be not, they are Christs word, and the word of the Spirit, as hath been shewed; and what the Scripture saith, Christ saith, and the holy Ghost also the same; He therefore that rejects the Scripture, and its seve∣ral exercises from being the means of grace, rejecteth Christ and his Spirit also. But the Spirit he saith, teacheth us how to pray, and profit. Gal. 4. 6. 1 Cor. 12. 7. &c. and this doth not contradict the Scriptures.
Rep. No, for the Spirit of grace, and the outward means agree very well, yet this is not a yielding them to be the means [by which] Christ and the Spirit revealeth their se∣crets, and convey grace. It is one thing for the Spirit to teach how to pray, and read, another thing for the Spirit to work by reading, praying &c we grant the former, but he grants not the latter (as he ought) that I can finde. Yes, may some say, what think you of that which followeth? we know that faith is given by the ministery of Christ in the Spirit.
Rep. But speak plainly, is it given by reading and hear∣ing the Scriptures opened and preached? as, 2 Tim. 3. 15. Rom. 10. 17. hold it forth; And we know that God giveth us his holy Spirit.
Rep. But doth he give it in a way of preaching and
prayer? as Act. 10. 44. and Luke 11. 13. bear testimony. As soon as Paul is converted, is he not at Prayer, and had he not the fillings of the Spirit given him in that way, as by Ananias putting his hands upon him? Act. 9. 11. 17. And the wisdom, saith R. F. which is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easie to be entreated; and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, of them that make peace, James 3. 17, 18. for which we praise God.
Rep. 1. But doth he give this wisdom by asking? as saith James. 1. 6. If any lack wisdom, let him ask it of God; is not prayer a means of wisdom?
2. I wish we could finde the wisdom James describeth in R. F. As yet I discern not any seeds of it sown in his books, one or other.
3. Let him beware of taking Gods name in vain, by praising him legibly, in print, for that which he hath not printed in his heart, nor holdeth forth visibly in practise. Why, but he addeth, we own reading, hearing, prayer, and the teachings of God according to his promises.
Rep. I wish he doth well understand the promises of* 1.3 God. Gods promises are made of a blessing upon such means, as reading, hearing and prayer, as well as of gracious abilities to read, hear and pray with, Isaiah 55. 3. He that heareth, and inclines his ear, shall live, 1 Tim. 4. 13. 16. If Timothy attend to reading, meditation, preaching to others watching himself, In doing this he shall save himself, and those that hear him. To prayer is promised salvation, Rom. 10. 13. Christs presence, Matth. 18. 20. Returns and answers, Matth. 7. 7. To preaching Christs presence, as∣sistance, and blessing, Matth. 28. 20. To the Saints condi∣tions (which C. Atkinson rejected with the ordinances) all blessed success, Rom. 8. 28. They shall look unto him, and run to him, and their faces shall not be ashamed. Psal. 34. 5. why so? Ver 6. This poor man cryed and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles; and therefore we may from others experiences, together with our own, have hope, Rom 5. 4. And Hope, in and by a promise, an expe∣rimental promise and a promised experience, maketh not ashamed. If therefore R. F. doth own these means, and
the teachings of God according to Gods promises, he must own them otherwise then C. Atkinson, even, as means by which God hath revealed himself, and will communicate his grace; and then I will not accuse him, as I have not slan∣dered C. A. when I speak the truth, I harm them not. The more nakedly their Errors are detected, by the Truth, the more good it may do them, and I wish it with my heart.
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Christ and the Spirit give light and grace by out∣ward means.
Means of grace have a promise of blessing an∣nexed.