“As this seed, says Barclay, is received in the heart and suffered to bring forth its natural and proper effect, Christ comes to be formed and raised, called in scripture the new man, Christ within us, the hope of glory.  Yet herein they (the Quakers) do not equal themselves with the holy man, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily, neither destroy his present existence.  For though they affirm Christ dwells in them, yet not immediately, but mediately, as he is in that seed which is in them.”

Of the same opinion was the learned Cudworth.  “We all, says he, receive of his fulness grace for grace, as all the stars in heaven are said to light their candles at the sun’s flame.  For though his body be withdrawn from us, yet by the lively and virtual contact of his spirit, he is always kindling, cheering, quickening, warming, and enlivening hearts.  Nay, this divine life begun and kindled in any heart, wheresoever it be, is something of God in flesh, and in a sober and qualified sense, divinity incarnate; and all particular Christians, that are really possessed of it, are so many mystical Christs.”

Again—­“Never was any tender infant so dear to those bowels that begat it, as an infant newborn Christ, formed in the heart of any true believer, to God the Father of it.”

This account relative to the new birth the Quakers conceive to be strictly deducible from the Holy Scriptures.  It is true, they conceive, as far as the new birth relates to God and to the seed, and to the spirit, from the following passages:  [63] “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him.” [64] “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God.” [65] “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.”  It is considered to be true again, as far as the new birth relates to the creature born and to the name which it may bear, from these different expressions:  [66] “Of whom I travail in birth again, till Christ be formed in you.” [68] “Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” [69] “But ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father.” [70] “But as many as received him, that is, the spirit or word, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.” [71] “For as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”  And as parents and children resemble one another, so believers are made [72] “conformable to the image of his son,” “who is the image of the invisible God.”

[Footnote 63:  1 John 3. 9.]

[Footnote 64:  1 Peter 1. 23.]

[Footnote 65:  James 1. 18.]

[Footnote 66:  Gal. 4. 19.]

[Footnote 67:  Gal. 2.20.]

[Footnote 68:  Rom. 8.15.]

[Footnote 69:  John 1. 12.]

[Footnote 70:  Rom. 3. 14.]

[Footnote 71:  Rom. 8. 29.]

[Footnote 72:  Coloss. 1. 15.]