covet That the Principles inclining hereunto are sins they are called sin dwelling in us To act no further then the Light that is in every man doth dictate is all one as to say I will not repent of the first motions of my heart to sin nor of any sinful principles in me I will not fly to Christs blood for pardon for them 3. This Light doth not dictate that Baptism by water is Gods will But God in Scripture commands Go Baptize In what sense Philip who could not be without the mind of Christ herein may assure our Consciences Acts 8 36 37. Look here is water But to go no further then the Light that is in every man doth dictate is as much as to say doest thou Lord command go Baptize I will not baptize nor be baptized 4. The Light that every man hath doth not dictate that we ought to celebrate the Lords Supper that is to meet to take bread signifying the body of Christ by institution and give thanks and break it and give and take and eat in remembrance of Christ to take Wine and having blessed give it signifying Christs blood by institution and take and drink to shew forth the Lords death But the Scriptures manifest this in all particulars clearly to be the mind and will of Christ and to the sanctified 1 Cor. 1.2 God in the Scripture commands 1 Cor. 11.24 25. Take eat do this To practice no further then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate is to say to a commanding God I will not take I will not eat And this in these four particulars is Rebellion Therefore that Person who having the Scriptures will practice no more then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate cannot be saved Have the commands of Christs no Authority over mens Consciences Or do his commands cease to be his commands for being written Doth not Christ say the word that I have spoken shall Judge you Jo. 12.48 And is not he resolved to take vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel 2 Thes 1.7.8 Truly these words Repent Believe Baptize Do this Yea and now by reduction Remember the Sabbath are though written not only the words of Christ but they are Gospel also Woe Woe to those Persons at the day of Judgement that are then found to have lived and dyed in Rebellion against Christs commands by these words These words shall Judge them and for disobeying the Gospel Christ will take vengeance on them To conclude blame was laid on Israel that of a long time they had not kept the Passeover as it was written 2 Chron. 30.5 But in Nehemiahs time the People of God finding it written that they should keep the feast of Tabernacles on this motive obeyed Neh. 8.14 And t is said v. 17. There was great gladness They were assured they pleased God in so doing And the mother of our Lord was careful after the daies of her Purification to offer a sacrifice as it was written Knowing it was written she knew she was bound and heartily obeyed These instances are in things the Light in all men doth not dictate as it doth not dictate Justification by Christs Righteousness Repentance and Faith in Christs blood for pardon of sinful motions of the heart and sinful Principles the observation of the Christian Sabbath Baptism and the Supper The former things instanced the Scriptures declare abolished These the Scriptures no where reveal they are abolished The God of all grace then open your understanding to see your duty and obey fully and not by halves that following God fully with Caleb and Joshua you may be accepted of the Lord. Your Truly well-wisher in Christ Jesus St. Scandrett Thus it appears the words I delivered in the Dispute taken in a right sense are no way in themselves derogatory to the Truth of God I am willing to hear defective because I did not fully explain my words in the dispute But I cannot but complain of disingenuity and falseness when I see p 4. They have given out that I should say This Light within might through the blessing of God with a good improvement save them that have not the Scriptures By what I have written it is clearly otherwise Quest I desire to answer one Query more to give full satisfaction touching inward Light 'T is this Is not the immediate teaching of the Spirit the highest and safest Rule to heaven Is it not safer to walk by the immediate teachings of the Spirit in our hearts than by the teaching of the Spirit in the Scripture and to entertain the spirits teachings in the Scripture no further then they agree with these than to entertain these no further than they agree with the Spirits teachings in the Scripture This Query is weighty And indeed the whole Controversie stated anew I must be large in the solution of it First Therefore I shall open the Terms then lay down my Answers 1. Let us remember nothing is a Rule to heaven but it Reveals Law and Gospel our whole Duty 2. Let us understand the ways of the Spirits teaching 1. He teacheth us Physically by enlightning our minds Thus Gods Spirit so assures our hearts that Jesus is Christ that there is no need in the least we should enquire of men the truth of it 1 John 2.27 The Anointing which ye have received abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you John was confident Seducers should never be able to perswade them that Jesus was not the Christ Hence also Paul could curse an Angel that should preach any other Gospel than what he had delivered This Teaching is no Rule at all but an help to see the Rule 2. He teaches us Morally or Objectively propounding or setting before us Gods Mind or Will to embrace and walk by 1 John 14.26 The Comforter shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you These Teachings which take in the things taught are a Rule for we must walk according to them And of this way of the Spirits Teaching must we understand the Question 3. Let us be informed what is the immediate teaching of the Spirit There is a Mediate which is done by Means by the Scriptures as in the last mentioned The Spirit brings these to remembrance and thus we hear a word behind us saying this is the way walk in it when we turn to the right hand or to the left Isa 30.21 By the Ministry Thus the Spirit of Christ in the Prophets 1 Pet. 1.11 Testified to the Church beforehand the sufferings of Christ And by other means even by the works of Creation and the Light in every man propounding the Creation to be considered he helps us to conclude a God thence that he is to be worshipped c. I say Gods Spirit by these teacheth us for in him we live move and have our being without his help the world could not come into consideration without his
thy God is a jealous God He speaks with reference to instituted worship as the Supper is Contemn this expect the Lords burning wrath never look for his gracious presence it will not be vouchsafed Might a Jew have said I have had a beginning in the spirit I must wait for a spiritual appearance of the Messiah I will not turn back to this shadow of the Passeover What saith God Num. 9.10.13 He shall be cut off from his people See the severity of God in point of instituted worth Deut. 4.2 Thou shalt not diminish Such are more likely to pull down a curse upon their heads than obtain the spiritual sence of Christ Arg 2. What is appointed to continue till Christs coming at the end of the world is still binding But so is the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.26 As oft as yee at this bread and drink this cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come 1. Ob Life of Christ within p. 40. we do not read of another coming in the flesh yet to be expected Divin of Christ p. 49. Christ the induring divine substance ends all types and his comings and appearance in the flesh The Disciples were witnesses of his coming after the Resurrection of his spiritual coming and Christ promised some of them should not taste of death till they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom Matt. 16.28 But there is no coming in the flesh to be expected Ans 1. That Christ is to come in the flesh that is to say our humane nature glorified at the end of the world take these Scriptures Heb. 9 28. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall be appear the second time without sin unto salvation Christ hath once appeared already in our nature and he is to appear a second time which bearing relation to the former must needs be also in our nature 1 Cor. 1.7 Ye come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ He was come to them spiritually already this therefore speaks of his coming in the end of the world to Judgment 1 Thes 4.17 The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a Shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the air so shall we ever be with the Lord. G. W. Did the Apostle live to a personal coming Ans The Apostle speaks in the person of believers some of them will be then alive This cannot be understood of a spiritual coming in this life 1. He was so come to the Apostles already 2. Doth the Lord come spiritually with a shout c. doth the dead in Christ then rise first Are those to whom Christ comes spiritually caught up with the dead raised into the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air 2 Thes 1.7 8. The Lord shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. Is all this done at Christs spiritual coming to a Soul Rev. 1.7 Behold hâ— cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him Doth every eye see him when he comes spiritually to a particular Soul Acts 1.11 Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven this sane Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven He went up in his humane Nature therefore so shall he come down Mat. 24.30 31. Then shall the Tribes of the Earth mourn and they shall see the Son of man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory and he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather together his Elect. Mat. 26.24 Hereafter shall you see the Son of man suting on the Right hand of Power and comin the Clouds of Heaven So Mark 14.62 1 Cor. 15.21 22. Phil. 3.20 Jude 4. Acts 2.20 If he never read these Scriptures now he may and see that Christ's first coming in the flesh ends not his second as he speaks Answ 2. Whatever Coming that 16th of Matth. speaks of it shall not hinder his last visible coming in the Clouds at the end of the world The Scripture must needs be fulfilled The Sense may be this that Christ ascending to take possession of his Kingdome they shall by Faith see him exercise that his Kingly power by his Word and Spirit Obj. Div. p. 49. He hath tarried above sixteen hundred years Answ 2. Pet. 2.3 4. There shall come in the last days Scoffers walking after their own Lusts and saying where is the promise of his coming For since the Fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were at the beginning of the Creation Ver. 9 10. The Lord is not slack But the Day of the Lord shall come as a Thief in the night Matth. 24.48 But and if that evil Servant shall say in his heart my Lord delayeth his coming c. Ver. 50 51. The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him and shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with Hypocrites Obj. 2. If they should say as some of these words Ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come are either to be understood of Christs coming after his Resurrection or of his coming in his Kingdom which his Disciples saw before their death or of his spiritual coming but by no means of his last coming Answ 1. Why by no means of his last coming what convincing Argument is there for it 2. It cannot be understood of either of those mentioned and therefore it must of his last 1. Not of his coming after his Resurrection for if it were to cease then the Apostle would not after that have enjoyned it upon the Corinthians 2. Not of his coming in his Kingdom which the Apostles saw for the same reason Because this coming was eminently seen when Acts 2 The Disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost and spake with other Tongues Christ shedding this forth upon them and Peter so preached that about three thousand Souls were added to the Church 3. Not of his spiritual Coming 1. This would imply That Christ appointed this Ordinance for the Vnconverted to whom he hath not thus spiritually come whereas these men will neither yield that converted or unconverted should partake 2. The Apostles were already converted unto whom Christ did administer it and so were the Corinthians that did partake of it and unto whom the Apostle by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost enjoyned it They came behind in no Gift They were enriched in all knowledge therefore they knew the spiritual presence of Christ
pretend to be well grown in Grace that will not look on himself as imperfect These holy men knew God saw something in them which ought not to be there and if our hearts condemn us God is greater Therefore cried holy David Psal 143.2 Enter not into judgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified And God himself testifies Gen. 8.21 The imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth But p. 21. God called Job perfect Answ And Job afterwards denied himself to be perfect Therefore God speaking true he was perfect that is upright sincere well grown in Grace Job speaking true he was not perfect that is not free from all sin Self-justification p. 22. we do not own Answ Yet you must own speaking true Either Job denying himself to be perfect spake truth or falshood if truth Job was not perfect if falshood he was perfect But he did attain Perfection afterwards Job 23.10 11. I shall come forth as Gold my foot hath held his steps Answ Though to that time he had been upright and stedfast with God and was confident should so persevere yet was he not free from sin for after this Chap. 40.4 I am vile saith he And that enlightned person that observes the workings of his own heart must and cannot but say so too But p. 21. Victory over vain Thoughts is attainable Answ Thoughts prevailed against and cast out return again and their being in us is Sin Acts 8 20. Thou bast thought that the gift of God might be purebased with Money Since then he attempts only to prove Victory not Freedom from evil thoughts he speaks not to the point deserves no Answer Yet to that Scripture Prov. 12.5 The thoughts of the Righteous are right I answer that deliberate thoughts the determinations purposes of a righteous man which carry the bent of his heart with them are for the main right in opposition to the Counsels of the wicked Will he say there is no man righteous that hath any evil thought in him Arg. 2. To dive a little deeper We should not have one evil principle in us inclining us to offend God This is called Sin Rom. 6.12 Let not sin reign Rom. 7.17 Sin dwelling in me ch 7.8 Sin taking occasion by the Law wrought in me all manner of Concupiscence It is called the Body of Sin c. 6.6 The Law of Sin c. 7.23 25. I asked Was such a state attained in this life as to be wholly free from all evil principles He stuck not to say it was attainable To prove the contrary I urged John 15.2 Every Branch in me that beareth fruit he purgeth it If the Father purgeth there must be something to be purged out He acknowledged it This must be an evil principle inclining to offend God He denied it not But his Answer then was agreeable to p. 22. After a while all evil Principles are purged out and then the Father ceaseth from purging But to this effect was the Reply this man whom you suppose to have all evil principles purged out of him either is in Christ bearing fruit or not It was answered He is If he be in Christ bearing fruit then said I the Father purgeth him for every Branch in him that beareth fruit the Father purgeth If the Father purgeth him he hath evil principles to be purged out whatever you suppose to the contrary G. W. must not contradict our Saviour and say I know a Branch in thee bearing fruit that the Father doth not purge He ceaseth to answer and falls to oppose p. 22. He washeth us from our sins in his blood It is answered already being the second Objection out of Divin of Christ He opposeth further Because it is the Fathers purging sin must needs be perfectly purged out Answ Then every fruitful Christian is instantly freed from all sin Indeed he shall in Gods time But hence it follows not but that the Father purgeth and purgeth as long as this Life lasts to perfect the work It was asked whether the branch be not of the nature of the Vine Answ We are partakers of the Divine Nature and from Christ receive Grace for Grace What then Will he dare to say that assoon as a person is a partaker of renewing Grace and the Spirit of God that he is incontinently free from all sin or doth it follow he shall before death Let him prove the Consequence or shew us the man that is freed The Spirit of God who knows all men tells us there is none free Prov. 20 29. Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Arg. 3. Where there is not perfect knowledge there cannot be perfect practice For a mans acceptable practice cannot exceed his knowledge Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin But there is no man hath perfect knowledge Psal 19.12 Who knows his Errors cleanse me from secret faults There is no man that doth not offend more than he takes notice of And this Ignorance remaineth during life as hath been proved from 1 Cor. 13.9 11. Now we know in part Arg 4. If all persons whatsoever do sin whilst on Earth then there is none in this life perfectly free from sin But on earth all persons whatsoever do sin 1 Kings 8.46 There is no man that sinneth not Gen. 8.21 The imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth His Imagination or Phantasie should be alwayes profitably employed either propounding to the apprehension and judgment spiritual Objects or carnal in a spiritual manner to preserve the Soul always in a holy frame but from our Youth nay our Childhood the word will bear it it is otherwise And this is not spoken of the old wicked world they were gone but of Noah and his Family Eccles 7.20 There is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not I ask whether the supposed perfect man be upon earth If on earth he sinneth Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all Where is the man then that is perfectly free from all sin It hath been objected to me James speaks not of himself or any in a gracious state v. 9. Therewith curse we men James was no Curser he speaks of the unregenerate only Answ It is not said therewith we all curse men for then James had necessarily included himself But though the matter spoken of doth necessarily exclude James in v. 13. yet the manner of speaking doth necessarily include him in v. 2. It is not In many things we offend but in many things we offend all So it is most evident and clear that there is no person no not one in this life perfectly free from sin And since we may have redemption even the forgiveness of our sin through faith in Christs Blood and the acceptation of our persons also why should we be backward to entertain this Doctrine Touching Baptism with water whether it be an Ordinance of Christ binding us OBserve the Question between us and them