Womb, sometimes as a Spirit of Burning, convincing of sin, at other times as a spirit of Judgment or a Light shining in a dark place; shewing him what was right, with the path wherein he should walk: that he hath had the faithfulness to follow this Christ, and not as many of his Fel-· low-mortals, resisted the Light, is now the Joy of his Heart. Thus however things are ascribed to different causes, and different terms made use of, yet the same. matter is intended; and all come to this point at Last; that the true Christ, is a compound of righteous qualities, and holy dispositions in Men. Hence it is that human Virtue is Idolized, and complimented with the Name of Christian, upon this principle even Heathen Philosophers are supposed to have had Christ in them especially such amongst them who were famous for their piety, though Heathen. Yea according to this, it is enough to have appearances to whine, and cant, talk much of the work of the Spirit upon the Heart,* of human Goodness, Moral

*I would not be understood as speaking slightly of the Spirit of Truth, or of his operations in the Heart of Man, according to the scripture account

Virtue, and exclaim against Sin and Sinners: I say, if men have but those appearances, they are according to the principle of the false Christ, to be deemed

thereof: which is there undeniably made to consist in receiving of the Things which are his, (viz. Christ's) and in shewing them unto us; that Jesus Christ alone might be glorified: and this the Spirit is constantly engaged in, until we answer fully in Heart, and Mind, unto the Character of the true circumcision; who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the Flesh. But in the spirit of Error, reverses this Character: pretends to shew mankind other excellencies than what are found in Jesus, such as reformations, changes, pious motions and desires in themselves and this it doth, until their worship of God dwindle into Form, their rejoicing be in the work of their own Hands, and all their confidence be in things of the Flesh.

Antichrist, or the false Spirit, seeks not the Glory of Jesus; but speaks of himself, of its own operations of Joys, Sorrows, Hatred to the Evil, and Languishment after Goodness; by him wrought on the Heart and teaches his anointed ones to conclude thence, that they are favourites of Heaven: to look on themselves as greatly distinguished amongst Mankind, by what they call inherent holiness: Yea, and to be Jealous of the Doctrine of Christ, because it holds forth to man, the Testimony of Salvation; bound up, and sealed, where Jesus is Alpha and Omega. This Spirit, insinuates that the Doctrine which treats of the person of Christ, of His Life, Sufferings, Death, and Resurrection; of our being justified and sanctified in Him; is a very Dangerous, if not a Diabolical Doctrine: and chiefy because if it does not immediately oppose, it teaches to slight, and disregard the work of the Spirit upon the Heart: will not suffer men to look unto

devout, and pious Christians; though they speak in the most irreverent terms of the person of Jesus, and scandalize the Doctrine of Salvation alone by his Blood ridicule his mysteries as whimsies; and with the old Pharisees, accuse him as the ringleader of the Wicked, and the cause of the profaneness which is in the world. And so zealous are mankind become for this Holiness, or Christ as it is promiscuously called, that such who are considered, as Gospel Ministers, will not now Grant any thing farther concerning Jesus

:

that quarter for comfort: will not admit of it as an evidence for Heaven nor suffer them from thence to exalt themselves above their Fellows but will always be proposing Jesus as a salve for every sore, and a perfect redress of all grievances. Thus Antichrist accuses the Spirit of Truth, (because he glorifies Christ) of Heresy; in denying the work of the Spirit upon the Heart and supported by Tradition, and its Cloud of witnesses, it storms so violently, prates and insinuates so successfully, that it hath almost Jostled Christianity out of the World: and, hath introduced instead thereof, gross enthusiasm, Self-righteousness, Bigotry, and Superstition amongst the more zealously religious part of Mankind, and amongst such who are less concerned, Deism; with all the pride of moral virtues. This is that Spirit which I set my face against, and of which I speak, wherever I have through my Book ranked this phrase, the work of the Spirit upon the Heart, amongst the cant terms of Judaism blended with Heathenism.

of Nazareth, than what they think tends to promote this holiness, or inward Christ: Thus is this made the Grand Criterion whereby to Judge of all Truth: it being now common to enquire upon any proposition concerning Jesus Christ, doth it tend to promote inward holiness, and true Heart-work? if it does, receive it; if it does not, reject it; let it be what it will. From hence it is evident, that this Holiness within them, hath infinitely the Preference before the Person of Christ, since He shall not be allowed to plead his own Cause, where there is the least Suspicion of his Doctrine clashing with their Conceptions of inward Holiness, or Christ in them: Like the Martyr Stephen's Antagonists, they will then put their Fingers in their Ears, and run down his Testimony with noise and Tumult. But, if the least Sparkle of this inward Holiness, or Christ be seen, or in short, if there be nothing of this nature seen, provided there is a good will towards it, a hearty zeal and stickling for it, let it be (as before hinted) under whatsoever name it may, whether Morality, Virtue, Piety, Holiness, the Work of

Q

the Spirit upon the Heart, or Christ within; I say, towards all such in whom any Thing of this Nature can be seen, or if they are but contentious for it; they have the most enlarged Bowels and extensive Charity. Towards all such, they are exceedingly prodigal of their Favours; insomuch, that whether they desire it or not; yea, whether they will accept it or not, they will Christian them; Yea, if a Jew, a Mahometan, a Deist, or an Atheist, be according to the Phrase, a good Man, a holy Liver, he must be supposed to have an interest in Christ, notwithstanding he do not believe in him, but rather reviles him; and whoever questions it, will be deemed a very uncharitable and censorious Bigot. On the other Hand, if a Man hath a Sinner Character, makes no pretensions to inward Holiness, is not contentious, or noisy about it; though he may believe in Christ, venerate him, have all his hope and dependance for Salvation upon his Death and Blood: I say, a Man of this Character stands no Chance: it would be reckoned credulous, yea, the greatest abuse of Charity, to christian such a Man, or to conclude him interested