be said strictly to merit, as a debt due to the creature: but on the other hand, that right faith, and good works, which arise out of it, or will follow it, may and do obtain the blessed immortality (which it pleaseth Almighty God to give and privilege the sons of men with, who perform that necessary condition) is a gospel and necessary truth. And this the Quakers ground upon, and therefore boldly affirm to the world. So that men are not justified, because they are sanctified, but for his sake that sanctifies them,. and works all their good works in them and for them, and presents them blameless ;* to wit,, Christ Jesus, who is made unto them as he was to the saints of old, wisdom, righteousness, sanc-. tification and redemption; that he that glorieth: might glory in the Lord.t * Isa. xxvi. 12. +1 Cor. i. 30, 31. bring us to God." 1 Peter iii. 18. And his sufferings were exceeding great both in his soul and body, but they were finite. For he laid down his life, and took it up again. See John x. 17. "Having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be holdon of it. Acts ii. 24. And therefore not infinite, as [some] misunderstanding the Scriptures, erroneously assert. We do believe that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried, that "he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John ii. 2. That it is through his blood, that we have redemption, even the forgiveness of sins. Col. i. 14. We do believe, that as he "was delivered for our offences,' so he was raised again for our justification," Rom. iv. 25, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Heb.vii.25. We do also believe, that he was and is both God and Man, in wonderful union God uncreated, see John i. 1,2,3, Col. i, 17, Heb. i. 8, 10, 12, "The true God." 1 John v. 20. "The great God." Tit. ii. 13. "The Lord of Glory." James ii. 1. "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." Rev. xix. 16.- "The same yesterday, today, and for ever." Heb. xiii. 8. And man *conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary, see Luke i. 31, 35, who suffered for our salvation; "hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling savour." Eph. v. 2. And "by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained," or found, as the [Greek] word signifies, "eternal redemption for us." Heb. ix. 12. It was (see I Tim.ii.5) the Man Christ Jesus, the one Mediator between God and Men, that was conceived, born, suffered, died, and gave * Creed, commonly called the Apostles'.. away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed, and make you a new heart, and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore turn yourselves and live ye." Ezek. xviii. 30, 31, 32. And therefore God, who "sent not his Son into the world, to condemn the world, but that the world through him, might be saved,” John iii. 17. "commandeth all men every where to repent." Acts xvii. 30. For the sending of his Son, wherein 66 was manifested the love of God towards us," 1 John iv. 9, was not only to "be the propitiation for our sins," v. 10; but also "to bless us," in turning away every one of us "from our iniquities." Acts iii. 26. And therefore Christ testified of himself, saying, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," Mat. ix. 13. "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost," Luke xix. 10; such as are sick, and need a physician. Luke v. 31. Pursu ant whereunto saith Peter, "him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince, and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins; and we are his witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Acts v. 31, 32. For, "to him give all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever be lieveth in him shall receive remission of sins." Acts x.43. And this without "such a rigid payment or satisfaction," as the suffering of "infinite wrath and vengeance. Christ was made " Sin," or a sacrifice for sin for us. 2 Cor. v. 21. And "bore our sins in his own body on the tree." 1 Pet. ii. 24. Yet he did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." v.22, and therefore "suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. 1 Peter iii. 18. And his suffer- 66 so he 'was raised again for our justification," Rom. iv. 25, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Heb.vii.25. We do also believe, that he was and is both God and Man, in wonderful union God uncreated, see John i. 1,2,3, Col. i, 17, Heb. * Creed, commonly called the Apostles'.. himself a ransom for all; for through the eternal Spirit, he "offered himself without spot to God.” Heb. ix. 14. Though by wicked hands he was "crucified and slain." Acts ii. 23. And in the offering of himself, he was a true and real sacrifice and propitiation for sin, acceptable and satisfactory to God. But h was not a sinner, or reputed by God as such; for the apostle saith expressly, that he knew no sin, 2 Cor. v. 21, was "without sin." Heb. iv. 15, was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners." Heb. vii. 26. But it was wicked men, that condemned him, the just and holy one, as a sinner, and numbered him with the transgressors. Isa. liii. 12: -As it was the main design of Christ's life, doctrine and miracles, to call men to repentance, faith and obedience; so it was also the great end of his Sufferings and Death, to accomplish the same glorious design. For he "gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father," Gal. i. 4. He loved the Church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy, and without blemish," Eph. v. 25, 26, 27. He 6.6 gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Tit. ii. 14. This was a principal end of his giving of himself for us, or offering himself a sacrifice of propitiation for the sins of mankind. For "He died for all, that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again, 2 Cor. v. |