CHAPTER II.

Remarks upon the Extracts made by the Compilers, from the works of STEPHEN CRISP.

On the 25th page of the pamphlet, we find a quotation of two lines, said to be taken from Stephen Crisp's works, new edition, page 125. It stands thus, "The light, wherewith all are enlightened, is the life of Jesus; John i. 4. which he hath given a ransom for man." On page 33, we find what is intended to be the same quotation, extended to about four lines; in the beginning of which, the compilers have made a slight variation, so that it reads-"This light wherewith we are enlightened, is the life of Jesus, which he hath given a ransom for man. And that was not natural, as some foolishly imagine; for if it were natural, it could not be a ransom for man out of sin."-p. 125.

Thus in two quotations the compilers give the same sentence differently; in one it is The light wherewith all are enlightened-in the other, This light wherewith we are enlightened; but what is more singular, neither of them are correct: since Stephen Crisp has it, This light wherewith thou art enlightened, &c.

Besides this alteration in two instances, the extract is made with great unfairness, as it begins after a semicolon, omitting the copulative conjunction "and" which connects both the words and the sense with what precedes; and the second quotation on page 33, of their pamphlet, closes at a semicolon, just where Stephen Crisp is proceeding to explain his views more fully. We shall quote the passages more at length, that the reader may have an opportunity of understanding the subject upon which the author is treating; and also of noticing the manner in which the compilers have mutilated his sentences. The parts which they have extracted are enclosed in brackets, designated with a hand.

"And therefore consider this, that every good and perfect gift cometh from above, from the Father of Lights and Spirits, who would not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn and live. And therefore hath he out of his infinite love, and tender mercies to the sons of men, prepared a way to draw nigh unto them, even while they are in their sins, which he doth not but through Jesus Christ, the mediator of the new covenant, whom he hath freely given to be a light unto the dark world; and that he should enlighten every one that cometh into the world, John i. 9. of which number thou art one, whoever thou art, and art enlightened by Christ, though thou be yet darkness thyself as the Ephesians once were; yet the light shineth in thy darkness, or else there would not be two contrary natures and seeds found

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working in thee, as there are; and this light wherewith "thou art enlightened, is the life of Jesus, John i, 4. which he hath given, a ransom for man. And that was not natural, as some foolishly imagine; for if it were natural, it could not be a ransom for man out of sin;] for the sin to be natural, and that which reproves it natural, is contrary to the apostle, who said, they two that warred in the creature were contrary, and called the one flesh, or natural, and the other spirit or spiritual; and Christ Jesus called that which should reprove the world of sin, the Spirit of Truth, and Antichrist and his ministers call it, a natural insufficient light, &c. But know this, thou that art enquiring, that that in thee which doth make manifest things to thee that are reproveable, that is the light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightened thee withal, as the apostle of Christ said in his epistle to the Ephesians, v. 13, 14."

It will be seen by the first part of our quotation, that Stephen Crisp has made a full acknowledgment of his belief in that means of salvation, which God hath been pleased to ordain through his son Jesus Christ; for he asserts that he hath "out of his infinite love and tender mercies to the sons of men, prepared a way to draw nigh unto them, even while they are yet in their sins, which he doth not, but through Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, whom he hath freely given, to be a light unto the dark world." Here is sufficient testimony in the very same paragraph from which the compilers have quoted, to show that the author was far from denying or doubting the great truths of the Christian religion.

The garbled extracts inserted in the pamphlet, appear to be presented to the public with the intention of conveying the idea that the author believed in no outward sacrifice for sin. It must be obvious, however, upon the slightest consideration of the text, that Stephen Crisp was treating of quite another thing, than the propitiatory offering of Jesus Christ. He uses the word ransom, to signify that measure of the Holy Spirit, which is given to every man, to redeem him out from under the dominion of his own sinful propensities. Hence it is, that he speaks of the ransom reproving for sin,-from which it is most apparent, he was not then alluding to the great sacrifice, but the inward work.

George Keith, who had apostatized from the doctrine and discipline of the early Quakers, and become a bitter opponent, and a traducer of their principles, published a book entitled "A Serious Call to the Quakers, &c." in which he adduces this same passage which our compilers have quoted from Stephen Crisp, to prove that the author held those very principles, which they would now have us to infer from their extracts. To George Keith's Serious Call, an answer was returned by several Friends, entitled, "A Serious Examination, &c." from which we take the following: After noticing a variation which George Keith has made in quoting it, they say, 1st. "In him, in Christ the Word, was life, and the life was the light of men," John i. 4. In George Keith's quoting this among monstrous doctrines or vile errors, he has condemned the Divine doctrine of John the Evangelist. 2ndly. That this Life or Light of

Jesus Christ, is not natural, but spiritual and divine, is no vile error, but true doctrine. 3d. Which he hath given a ransom for man; is true in that sense, as given to guide, and actually to redeem man out of darkness, sin, and all iniquity, for so Christ doth lead and deliver all true believers. 4th. Man's redemption and salvation hath respect, both to Christ's suffering and giving himself a ransom for all men, by his ONE OFFERING WITHOUT MEN, and also his work in men, in redeeming them from all iniquity, which is not effected without their believing in his Light."-p. 20. Edit. 1707.

The following quotations will serve to show the scriptural soundness of Stephen Crisp's faith. In the postscript to his essay, entitled "An Alarm Sounded in the borders of Spiritual Egypt;" after stating that it is the appearance of Christ Jesus that has brought professing Christians off from their sins, which they could not do themselves; that it is the grace of God that leads to perfection; that it is Christ, who is the unfailing preserver and helper of all those that trust in him, and that he only, is able to keep them from falling, and to present them faultless before the throne of his glory, with exceeding joy. He adds

"So here you may see that the bringing to the state of perfection, and the keeping from falling from it again, is both the work of Christ; and yet this is not a perfect salvation; for this does not put away the former sins." But thirdly, "Whoever comes to perfect salvation, he comes to know Christ to be an offering for sin, and to obtain reconciliation with God, and forgiveness of his former sins: for all the holy conversation and perfection of Life, can be counted no more but his duty; and therefore he cannot obtain remission of one of his former sins; but those that confess their sins and forsake them, such come to forgiveness by Jesus Christ, and come to know his blood cleansing them from all their former sins; and so they come to perfect salvation by grace, not by works, but by faith, that works in the love of God unto obedience; without which, faith is but dead, and makes no man saved; but those that have this true faith and hope in them, they purify themselves as he is pure, 1 John iii. 3. And he that has not this hope, does not purify himself, neither does he believe that he can do it; and by this we know the true believers from the false, and by this sinners are made manifest, that cannot stand in the congregation of the righteous. Psal. i. 5.

"So now let all the pleaders for sin, stop their mouths forever, and let the devil stand for himself and plead his own cause; and henceforth do not despise and revile the innocent, (that are travailing and striving after perfection, with a faith to obtain it) that they think to be saved by their own works; for we hope for no other salvation, but that which is in and by Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who is the first born of every creature, that brings many sons and daughters unto glory, but not by leaving them in their sins; but his name is Jesus, and he saves people from their sins."-p. 229.

This extract will evince that the author, though a firm believer in the necessity of the new birth unto righteousness, was equally

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firm and clear, in his belief of the virtue and efficacy of that precious sacrifice, which Christ Jesus made of himself for sin.

On page 70 of the compilers' pamphlet, they have given us an extract from Stephen Crisp's "Description of the Church of Scotland," wherein he is opposing the notion of three distinct and separate persons in one Godhead. The quotation proves nothing more than his denial of this doctrine, and although the compilers have italicised the words "the Christ," as if to insinuate his denial of the divinity of Jesus Christ, yet no such inference can justly be drawn from them. The following extracts from his Sermons will sufficiently show that the author was far from denying either his divinity, manhood, or atonement.

"The same Almighty power, that said in the creation, let there be light, and it was so, he hath shined into our hearts, and the way by which he hath done so, is through the Mediator, through Jesus Christ the Redeemer, in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells" -1692, Vol. i. page 91, edition 1822.

"When there is no hope of atonement and reconciliation with God, by all those offerings under the law, he tells you of one offering of the Son of God himself, through the Eternal Spirit, by which he became a propitiation: for thus will it do, if I believe that Christ offered a holy offering to the Father for my sins, I believe he offered his body; and that through the Eternal Spirit, that he might be a propitiation for sin, and take away sin, and have power over sin and death, and conquer death and darkness. The apostle carries the matter further-You must come to the inward work of this outward offering, this eternal offering, that was in due time offered to God. You must come to know the operations of it, by the sprink. ling of the heart from an evil conscience: so that there was to be an applicatory faith, for the offering of that. The way to a Saviour was not made by man, any more than the way of salvation by Christ, was found out by man: any more than the application of the benefits is effected by man"-page 123, Vol. i. 1692.

"This is no new doctrine. We see the new and living way; it was an old way to old Christians, and a new way to the new; and so, a thousand years hence, if the world last so long, men will see that they cannot do any thing pleasing to God, but as they are gathered into Christ. They will see that their own righteousness, works and doings, will avail them nothing at all. This is all laid at the feet of Jesus, whom God hath exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to be Lord and King"-page 129, Vol. i. 1692.

Speaking of the works wrought by Satan, he says-" Why doth not God destroy those works, when he is Almighty and able to do it? Very true, God is so, but he hath offered to mankind, through the Son of his love, a way and means, whereby man may come to be purged and cleansed from the evil that the devil hath wrought in him, and may come to be reconciled to God. God hath not chosen the way of coercion and force, and to work altogether by irresistible power, that man shall go to heaven, whether he will or not. There was no force used for his going to hell and darkness, but it was the choice of his will; the devil could not have forced him,

and led him away out of covenant with God; he could not compel him to break the holy command of God; but the devil tempted him and he yielded to the temptation, and now man is driven out of the presence of God; yet God hath found out a way for the sons and daughters of men to turn again to him. What! by force and coercion, and irresistible power? No; but the scriptures saith, He hath offered faith and salvation to all men: He hath freely given the Son of his love, out of his own bosom, who, making himself an offering for sin, hath presented a way and means for man's returning again to God. How doth God present Christ to us? He presents him to the view of every one's mind, to the understanding of every soul; he offers and presents him for salvation to the ends of the earth. There is a damnation come in by man's being subject to Satan ; but salvation comes in, by his being subject to Christ; as damnation came in by his being defiled, so salvation came in by his being cleansed. As the devil is the defiler, so Christ is the cleanser, and man is the object upon which both do work; and they that have been defiled and corrupted, as we all have, by the unclean spirit, can any of us give a reason why we should not be cleansed by the Holy Spirit?

"We have lost our right to heaven by sin and transgression in the first Adam; and can any give a reason, why we should not be restored and redeemed by Jesus Christ, the second Adam? No reason can be given for our redemption, but that God is free in his love, and Christ in his offering: he hath offered himself a sacrifice for sin every priest hath something to offer, this man, the Man Christ Jesus, offered himself, through the Eternal Spirit, a sacrifice for sin; and now the sacrifice is offered, and a door is opened, and a new and living way consecrated through the vail, that is to say his flesh"-pages 143, 144, 145. 1692.

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in times past, unto the fathers, by the prophets; hath in these last days, spoken to us by his Son. But where is his Son ? you will say. He is in heaven. But though He is the High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity yet he dwells with meek, humble, and contrite hearts, that tremble at his word. If I be one of the number of those that tremble at God's word, I have that promise that he will come home to me, and dwell with me. It is well for thee, if the overruling power of God, hath prevailed upon thee, that thou canst be willing to be at God's disposal, and say, Lord, what wouldst thou have me me to do?"-Page 160. 1692.

“To the Lord I leave you, to his favour and protection I commit you. Remember that there is no salvation but by Jesus Christ; and none to be had by Christ, till you come to believe in him. To him that searcheth the heart and trieth the reins, that pardoneth iniquity, transgression, and sin, for the sake of Christ Jesus the Mediator, to Him I do commit you, not doubting that he who hath begun a good work in you, will at last complete and finish it, to his own praise and your salvation."-Page 362, 363. 1691.

"The institution of the Christian Religion was for this purpose, that holiness and righteousness might be brought forth in the earth;