A77832:135
A vindication of the book called, Some Gospel-truths opened; according to the Scriptures, and…
A vindication of the book called, Some Gospel-truths opened; according to the Scriptures, and the opposition made against it by Edward Borough, a professed Quaker, (but proved an enemy to the truth) examined and confuted by the word of God. And also, the things that were then laid down, and declared to the world by me, are a second-time born witness to, according to truth: with the answer of Edward Borough to the queries then laid down in my book reproved. And also, a plain answer to his queries, given in simplicity of soul; and is now also presented to the world, or who else may read, or hear them; to the end (if God will) that truth may be discovered thereby. / by John Bunyan ...A vindication of the book called, Some Gospel-truths opened; according to the Scriptures, and the opposition made against it by Edward Borrough, a professed Quaker, (but proved an enemie to the truth) examined and confuted by the word of God. And also, the things that were then laid down, and declared to the world by me, are a second-time born witness to, according to truth: with the answer of Edward Burrough to the quæries then laid down in my book reproved. And also, a plain answer to his quæries, given in simplicitie of soul; and is now also presented to the world, or who else may read, or hear them; to the end (if God will) that truth may be discovered thereby. / by John Bunyan ...
London: printed by Matthias Cowley, 1657
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And now passing by many things that I might justly examine, and also many unseemly expressions, I come to the next thing, and that is; where you say, you wrest not the Scripture in Joh. 1.9. But it is evident, that you do most horribly wrest it, in that you, though you seem to take it in the plain words, yet would hold, that that light is the Spirit of Christ, notwithstanding there is no such thing mentioned in that Scripture. For mark, as I have sometimes said, and now also will say, that that light wherewith Christ, as he is God, hath lightened every one with, is not the Spirit of Christ, as is clear, in that some are sensual having not the Spirit, which they must needs have, if it were given to every one that comes into the World, and therefore, in that you say, I say you lay down that scripture false, I say again, that you say many things which I do know to be blasphemy, as I shall prove clearly anon, as also I have already. And therefore, to take thee off from this, I shall say, that Christ as he is a mediator, a man between God and man, so he doth not lighten every man that comes into the World, though as he is God he doth. And that is manifest, where he often (as he was man) saith, These things are spoken to them that are without in parables; that seeing, they might not see; and hearing, they might not understand, Luk, 8.10. And again, where Judas (not Iscariot) said; Lord, how is it, that thou wilt manifest thy self to us, and not unto the world? He saith, If a man love me, he will keep my sayings, and my Father will love him, and we (I as Mediator, and my Father as reconciled in me) will manifest our selves unto him, Joh. 14.21.23. And again, No man knoweth the Father but the Son: That is, no man knoweth him as a Father, but the Son; and he to whom the Son will reveal him, Mat. 11.27. But above all, take that Scripture where the Son saith, I thank thee O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to Babes, ver. 25. Here the Son and the Father are speaking one to another; the Father he hides the glorious things of the Gospel from the world, Mat 11.25, 26, 27. and the Son he rejoices in so doing. At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in Spirit, and said, I thank thee O Father, &c.
And now passing by many things that I might justly examine, and also many unseemly expressions, I come to the next thing, and that is; where you say, you wrest not the Scrripture in