A77832:163
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.
Then thou art offended, because, I said, the Devil doth deceive poor souls by bidding them listen within, and see if there be not that which doth convince of sin. Friend, All men have not the Spirit, though they have that conscience that doth convince of sin John, 8.9. Now seeing all men have not the spirit, is it not a great deceit of the Devil to persuade poor souls, that because they are convinced for sin by their own consciences, therefore they have the Spirit of Christ. Surely it is from the devil. First, because he would make thee believe, that Conscience which is but a creature, is the Spirit of Christ, by whom the world was made. Again, because the Soul being persuaded that it hath the spirit (when it hath it not,) as all men naturally are without it, Eph. 3.13. If it kept off from s•eking and begging for it, being already persuaded (falsely) that it hath it.
Then thou art offended, because, I said, the Devill doth deceive poor souls by bidding them listen within, and see if there be not that which doth convince of sin. Friend, All men have not the Spirit, though they have that conscience that doth convince of sin John, 8.9. Now seeing all men have not the spirit, is it not a great deceit of the Devill to perswade poor soules, that because they are convinced for sin by their owne consciences, therefore they have the Spirit of Christ. Surely it is from the devill. First, because he would make thee believe, that Conscience which is but a creature, is the Spirit of Christ, by whome the world was made. Again, because the Soule being perswaded that it hath the spirit (when it hath it not,) as all men naturally are without it, Eph. 3.13. If it kept off from s•eking and begging for it, being allready perswaded (falsely) that it hath it.