A77832:91
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.
Now this Conscience, this Nature it self, because it can control, and chide them for sin, who give ear unto it, therefore must it be Idolized, and made a God of. O wonderful! that men should make a God and a Christ of their Consciences, because they can convince of sin. But thou goest ramping on, and sayest, there is nothing but the light of Christ that will convince of sin, and thou biddest me, mind that. Now doest thou mean the Spirit of Christ? doest thou say that that which thou callest the light of Christ, is the Spirit of Christ? If so, then there is conscience which is not the Spirit of Christ, but a poor dunghill creature in comparison of the Spirit of Christ; yet will convince of sin, as is clear, from that 8. of John. where the woman is mentioned, who was taken in adultery by the Pharisees, or others, who when they had brought her to Christ, and began to accuse her, Christ said, He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her. And what then? When they heard that, they were convicted by their own consciences. Mark, he doth not say, by the light of Christ in their consciences, as some would have it be; No, but by their own consciences they were convinced, and went out one by one. And were they all served so? Yea, from the eldest, even to the last; for they all had consciences, though not the Spirit of Christ. So that friend, here is something beside the Spirit of Christ that can and doth convince of sin, even a man's own conscience, the law of nature; nay nature it self, which no man will say is as good as the Spirit of Christ, except they are guided by a deluding spirit. Again, thou sayest, He that convinceth of sins against the Law, leads up to the fulfilling of the Law. Friend, thy conscience convinceth of sins against the Law, follow thy conscience, it may lead thee under the curse of the Law, through its weakness; but it can never deliver thee from the curse of the Law by its power. For if righteousness come by the obedience to the Law, or by thy conscience either, then Christ is dead in vain, Gal. 2.21.
Now this Conscience, this Nature it selfe, because it can controule, and chide them for sin, who give ear unto it, therefore must it be Idolized, and made a God of. O wonderfull! that men should make a God and a Christ of their Consciences, because they can convince of sin. But thou goest ramping on, and saiest, there is nothing but the light of Christ that will convince of sin, and thou biddest me, minde that. Now doest thou mean the Spirit of Christ? doest thou say that that which thou callest the light of Christ, is the Spirit of Christ? If so, then there is conscience which is not the Spirit of Christ, but a poore dunghill creature in comparison of the Spirit of Christ; yet will convince of sin, as is cleare, from that 8. of John. where the woman is mentioned, who was taken in adultery by the Pharises, or others, who when they had brought her to Christ, and began to accuse her, Christ said, He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her. And what then? When they heard that, they were convicted by their own consciences. Mark, hee doth not say, by the light of Christ in their consciences, as some would have it be; No, but by their own consciences they were convinced, and went out one by one. And were they all served so? Yea, from the eldest, even to the last; for they all had consciences, though not the Spirit of Christ. So that friend, here is something beside the Spirit of Christ that can and doth convince of sin, even a man's own conscience, the law of nature; nay nature it self, which no man will say is as good as the Spirit of Christ, except they are guided by a deluding spirit. Again, thou saiest, He that convinceh of sins against the Law, leads up to the fulfilling of the Law. Friend, thy conscience convinceth of sins against the Law, follow thy conscience, it may lead thee under the curse of the Law, through its weaknesse; but it can never deliver thee from the curse of the Law by its power. For if righteousnesse come by the obedience to the Law, or by thy conscience either, then Christ is dead in vain,