A77832:242
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.
My 7. Query was; Hath that Christ, that was with God the Father before the world was, no other body but his Church? If you say, No; as it is your wonted ⟨p. 39⟩course: Then again I ask you, What was that in which he did bear the sins of his children? If you say, in his own body on the tree. Then I ask, Whether that body n which he did bear our sins, was, or is the Church of God, yea, or no? Again, if you say he hath no other body but his Church; then I ask, What that was, that was taken down from the Cross? But here thou puttest a stop to the rest of my words, with an &c.
My 7. Quaerie was; Hath that Christ, that was with God the Father before the world was, no other body but his Church? If you say, No; as it is your wonted ⟨p. 39⟩course: Then again I ask you, What was that in which he did bear the sins of his children? If you say, in his own body on the tree. Then I ask, Whether that body n which he did bear our sins, was, or is the Church of God, yea, or no? Again, if you say he hath no other body but his Church; then I ask, What that was, that was taken down from the Cross? But here thou puttest a stop to the rest of my words, with an &c.
Thy answer is, In this thou hast not only queried, but slandered; therefore thy slander (sayest thou) I do remove. It is our wonted course, sayest thou, to say, that Christ hath no other body but his Church. Thou art here a false accuser. But we say, the Church is Christ's body; and it is sufficient for salvation to know Christ Jesus to be head in us, and over us, and our selves to be members of his body, which thou sayest, is his Church. And what thou intendest by making so many foldings in one query, sayest thou it may be judged it is to ensnare; and in that thou answerest, thou answerest thy self for us in some things, that thou mightest have a further ground to lay a deeper snare; we do deny thee and thy spy it, and see thee to be only feeding in thy imaginations upon the report of things, without the life: And thy Religion stands in Disputes and Controversies, and Queries, and many words. But our Religion stands in the exercise of a pure conscience towards God, and toward man; whether we speak, or be silent: These are thy words.