should conceive, and bring forth without the touching of man.' I say, the angel of God said to Mary, he was conceived by the holy ghost,' and so called the son of God. And Mahomet saith in his Alcoran, page 30. chap. xxxiii. That John did affirm Christ to be the Messiah, and to be the word of God.'

Now if the Turks do believe this which Mahomet saith in his Alcoran, then you must believe what Christ saith of himself, and the angel of God, and what the apostle saith of him. John saith of him, In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and God was the word; and all things were made by the word, and without him was not any thing made that was made. And in the word was life, and the life was the light of men, and that was the true light which enlightens every man that comes into the world.' Now here is the divine light which is the life in Christ, the word, by which all things were made, which enlightens every man that comes into the world, to their salvation, if they believe in the light, and to their condemnation if they hate the light. And John saith, This word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us, and his apostles beheld his glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and of his fulness they did receive grace for grace; and saith, The law came by Moses, but grace and truth by Jesus Christ.'

Now whereas the emperor of the Turks saith, 'that he is commander and guardian of the christians' crucified God.' Now in this he is mistaken; for the eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, everlasting God, whose divinity extends throughout the whole earth, who is God in heaven above, and in the earth beneath, to whom all nations are but as the drop of a bucket; this is the true christian's God, whom they serve and worship in his spirit and truth, which the Jews did not crucify, nor could they crucify. And it is blasphemy for the Jews, or any to say, that they did crucify the true christians' eternal invisible God; and great ignorance for any to say, that the true christians' God was crucified, or that the eternal, incomprehensible, immortal God, the creator of all, who is the God of the spirits of all flesh, and the breath of all mankind is in his power; so that poor mortals, or externals, should say, think, or imagine that the eternal, invisible, everlasting, immortal, incomprehensible God was, or can be crucified, which they cannot comprehend, which is the true christians' God.

But Christ, which was made of the seed of David, according to the flesh, who took not upon him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham, he suffered for us in the flesh. And so as Christ also hath once suffered for sins in the flesh, he the just for the unjust, that Christ might bring us to God. So God was not crucified, but Christ being put to death, or crucified in the flesh, but quickened again in the spirit

and rose again, and sits at the right hand of God. This Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus, testifieth, and the true christians now believe it; and though Christ was crucified through weakness, that is, through the flesh, yet he is alive, and liveth by the power of God. 2 Cor. xiii.

So it is clear that the eternal, and invisible, incomprehensible God, was not, nor cannot be crucified; but Christ, the son of God, suffered according to the flesh, not in his godhead. So Christ died for our sins, according to the scripture of the old and new testament. For as in Adam all died, so even in Christ shall all be made alive, and that Christ by the grace of God should taste death for every man.' So it was not the invisible, eternal, incomprehensible God that was crucified and died, and did taste death for every man, but Christ according to the flesh, who was manifest to take away our sin, and in him there was no sin. So Christ was manifest to destroy the works of the devil, and Christ through his death, destroys death that sin brought, and the devil the power of death. And about the ninth hour,' (when Jesus Christ hanged upon the cross,) he cried with a loud voice, saying, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.' So it is clear, the eternal God did not die, nor was crucified, but Christ was put to death in the flesh; this testifies Matthew, one of Christ's apostles. So he was the one of fering, who made an end of all the offerings among the Jews, through the offering up of the body of Jesus once for all. So the man Christ Jesus offered up himself one sacrifice for sins; so by that one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified; so he is the propitiation, offering, and sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, yea, Jesus Christ which was of the seed of David; and so, according to the scripture, Christ died for our sins, and he was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the scriptures; and after he was risen from the dead he was seen of the apostles; and again he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, that were believers in him; and this was after he was dead, buried, and risen. But none of the princes of the world knew him; for had they known Christ, they would not have crucified him. But we know now, that Christ being raised from the dead, dies no more, and death hath no more dominion over Christ, in that he died unto sin, and for the sins of the whole world; but now he being raised from the dead, he is set at the right hand of God. And therefore, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did by him, this Jesus, the son of Mary, the Jews with their wicked hands did take, crucify, and slay. But it was God who loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden of it; and though the Jews did crucify Jesus and slew him, and hanged him on a tree, yet God hath raised him up the third day, and God hath exalted him at his right hand, to be a prince and a saviour, VOL. VI.

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to give repentance, &c. and forgiveness of sins. So Christ's apostles were witnesses, how God raised him from the dead. So you may see here, it was not God that was crucified and died, for he raised Christ from the dead on the third day, and showed him openly to his apostles; and they did eat and drink with Jesus Christ after that God had raised him up from the dead. And he commanded his apostles to preach to the people, and testify, that it was he that was ordained of God to be judge of the quick and dead, and to him gave all the prophets (and apostles) of God witness, that through the name of Jesus, whosoever believed in him should receive remission of sins, neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved, but by Jesus of Nazareth, whom the Jews crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead. For God said to David, That of the fruit of his loins, (according to the flesh,) God would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. And David, he seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption.' So, though the Jews crucified him, and a soldier thrust a spear into his side; and though he was crucified and hanged on a tree, and slain, dead, and buried, him did God raise up the third day, and he appeared to his apostles and disciples, and did eat and drink with them after he was risen; who were the faithful witnesses, that God raised him up from the dead, who is ascended up into heaven at the right hand of God, who being the brightness of God's glory, and the express image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, whom the heavens must receive until the time of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began; and he that descended, is the same also that ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things, who led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men, &c. And we have redemption through Christ's blood, even forgiveness of our sins, who hath delivered us from the devil, (the power of darkness,) who is the seed of the woman, which bruiseth the old serpent's head, which deceived Adam and Eve; which God promised to Adam, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head;' in which seed, viz. Christ, all nations are blest, who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature; for by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him, and he was before all things, and by him all things consist.' And Christ saith in his prayer to his Father, This is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' And

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Jesus desired of God his Father, saying, That those whom God had given him, might be with him where he was, that they might behold his glory which God hath given him;' for he loved him before the foundation of the world; therefore, saith Christ, Now, O Father, glorify thou me, with thy own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.' And Christ said to his disciples after he was risen from the dead, All power in heaven and in earth is given unto me;' and he bid his disciples, go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, &c. And then after the Lord Jesus Christ had spoken to his disciples, he was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And now, we who are the believers in Christ Jesus, and true christians, we do live unto him; and if we die, we die unto the Lord, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For this end Christ both died, revived, and rose, that he might be the Lord both of the dead and of the living.' And he is judge both of quick and dead, who is the only one mediator between God and man, even the man Christ Jesus, who makes intercession to God for his people, and is able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him; who ever lives to make intercession for them, who is sat down at the right hand of God in heaven; who is the prince of the kings of the earth, who said to John, I am the first and the last, I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore.'

And therefore Sultan Mahomet, emperor of the Turks, who saith, I will pursue your crucified God: wherein he is mistaken, it was not the eternal incomprehensible God, but Christ that was crucified, and died for his, and all men's sins, if the emperor of the Turks will believe it; if not he will die in his sins. And if he thinks to pursue Christ that was crucified, he is like unto the Jews that did crucify him. But Christ is risen from the dead, and is alive, and dies no more, death hath no more dominion over him, nor hath Mahomet neither; and so is alive. again, and lives for evermore, and is sat down in heaven at the right hand of God, out of the Jews' and Turks' reach to pursue, so is far above their vain imagination and reach. And he that hath all power in heaven and earth given to him, who is the prince of the kings of the earth, and King of kings, and Lord of lords, and rules all nations with a rod of iron, he is able to dash them to pieces, like a potter's vessel, and to abate the pride of haughty men, and to save and deliver his people out of the hands of the destroyers; for he gives unto his believers and followers eternal life. And Christ who laid down his life for his sheep, said to the Jews, He had power to lay down his life, and he had power to take it up again: this commandment I have received of my Father,' saith he; so it was not God his Father that died. And Jesus said, his sheep heard his voice, and followed him;' and saith he, I

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give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand;' and saith Christ, My Father that gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.'

Here the emperor of the Turks may see, that neither he nor the Jews, nor any man upon the earth, is able to pluck Christ's sheep out of his hands, Jesus Christ saith so, who hath all power in heaven and earth given to him, and is the prince of the kings of the earth, and King of kings, and Lord of lords. And your own Alcoran saith, that Jesus will be a witness in the day of judgment against them that obey not his law, and do not believe in him;' and here the emperor may see, that Christ is able to defend his sheep and save them; and none is able to pluck them out of his hands; who said, 'All power in heaven and earth is given unto me;' who is sat down in heaven at the right hand of God, and is revealed by his spirit in his people, who know his heavenly voice, distinct from the voice of the devil and all his angels, and all the natural men's voices upon the earth; Christ Jesus' heavenly voice is known, distinct from them all, who is above them all. And God and Christ may suffer or permit thee to destroy hypocrites, &c. but Jesus Christ saith, thou, nor any man is able to pluck his sheep out of his hands, yea, out of his hand that was crucified, and is risen, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God; thou hast no power to pluck his sheep out of his hand, and therefore thou art not able, nor any man. And therefore take heed of striving against him that is too mighty for thee.

And Sultan Mahomet, emperor of the Turks, thou sayst, thou dost not fear the wrath of their crucified God, to wit, the Christians. As is said before, God cannot be crucified, but Christ Jesus was crucified according to the flesh, who is risen and ascended, and sits at the right hand of God. But hear, O Turk! what his apostle saith of him, When the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, when he shall be glorified in his saints, and be admired by all them that believe; who shall consume the wicked with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy them with the brightness of his coming.' Hallelujah. And therefore let every one that names the name of Jesus, depart from iniquity, for he hath borne the iniquities of us all, and makes an end of sin, and redeems us from iniquity, and finishes transgression; who through his death destroys death that sin brought, and the devil the power of death; and so here is no other name amongst men, given under the whole heaven, whereby we must