the simple and David acknowledges it to be both a Lamp and a light Psal 119. Besides whatsoever makes manifest is light but the Scripture doth make manifest what Christ is and what he hath done and suffered and for whom and for what ends So also they make manifest what sin is and the wages thereof what holinesse and true Worship of God is and how God will be served by all that shall be saved therefore the Scriptures are a true light If the Spirit of Christ doth give forth light to men then the Scriptures are a light to enlighten men because holy men writ them as they were moved and inspired by the holy Ghost and all Scripture were given by Inspiration of God and therefore deny the light of Scriptures and deny the light of the Spirit for what the Scripture saith the Spirit saith they being the Revelations and Inspirations of the Spirit And what may we think of these seducers that under pretence of a light within and a perfect Law of God in the heart and the Revelations of Christ in them condemn me for making the Revelations and Inspirations of God in Scripture a perfect Rule of faith and obedience but we are sure the Law of God which Scriptures teach is perfect holy just and good and a sure word and the Inspirations of God contained in Scriptures are true as God himself but as for that Law and Spirit that cannot stand unlesse the Scriptures fall it is easie to discern from whence it is But say they this light is not received from the Scripture but from Christ c. Answ The light of Scripture is the light of Christ as also the Scripture Ministry by which alone Christ became a light to the Gentiles and in that Christ hath appointed a Ministry of men and given them gifts and Authority to preach the Gospell unto the Gentiles and by his blessing hath made them successefull to turn them from darknesse to light as in the Apostles age especially Thus and no otherwise is he sent to be a light unto the Gentiles for how can any believe in him of whom they never heard as hath been spoke to already and what ever is wrought by his Authority in the use of means is all one with being wrought by Christ himself to any that are sober And hence those distinctions of mine are grounded of Christ more strictly and immediately and of Christ more comprehensive and in a mediate sense as he hath made the promise of his presence and blessing to those Ministers of the Gospell that teach and administer in the Church all things whatsoever Christ hath commanded to be done Matth. 28.19 He that walks in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks will be with the Scripture Ministry to the end of the World untill the whole be gathered and united to their head and made compleat in him They say this light of Christ cannot be blotted out as thou sayst That which I said was a supposition thus Suppose that all the light of Christ as Redeemer which you from time to time have received from the use of Scriptures Ministry Education Discourse were blotted out of your minds and heads tell me what you could know of Christ as he is designed of God to redeeme lost man and how the work of Redemption is wrought more then the rude heathen that never heard of his name All that they Answer to this is That the light cannot be blotted out as thou saist But what light is that which cannot be blotted out Say they The light of Christ that leads out of darknesse to the knowledge of God to eternall life though they have not the use of Scriptures this light is not received into the mind and head from the Scripture neither cannot be blotted out but it comes from Christ the light of the Gentiles such as thou callest Heathens who many of them shew the work of the Law in their hearts and shall be excused when thou and all that oppose the light of Christ shall be condemned Christians look about you for the Devil was never so bold as now and I think there is more of the Devil in so few lines then ever were writ by man before consider them well I assure you it 's all their own Was ever such an abominable thing asserted amongst Christians The light of Christ that leads out of darknesse to the knowledge of God to eternall life is not received in the mind from the Scripture but from Christ the light of the Gentiles As if the Scriptures were opposed to the light of Christ or of no use to reveal Christ as Redeemer to the salvation of lost man Christians you see now their Answer what it is to the Question namely That the light of Christ without the use of Scripture leads out of darknesse to the knowledge of God to eternall life c. even to the Gentiles that never heard of Christ nor believe in him to salvation But if this be true to what end did Christ come into the world and lay down his life to be a ransome for many and why did he shed his blood for many for remission of sins Christs death and resurrection is all in vain for all the world from the beginning have had this kind of light shewing the work of the law in their hearts and do by nature the things contained in the Law 1. But let them prove that this work of the Law is the light of Christ that Simeon prophesied of and the Prophets and that the Apostles witnessed fulfilled by their preaching and writings 2. And let them prove that the work of the Law in their hearts leads out of darknesse to eternall life The Scriptures say the contrary By the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified nor is there any law that can give life 3. And let them prove that the work of the Law in the hearts of unbelieving Gentiles is a spirituall blesseing of the new Covenant Heb. 8. which the Apostle applyed to the believing Church so did the Prophets of old time Jer. 31. If they cannot prove these three things let shame stop their lying mouths Jesus Christ as he was promised to be a light of the Gentiles Isai 42.6 7. is to be understood of a peculiar spirituall light Christ was given for such a light to the Gentiles as should open the blind eyes and bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in darknesse in the Regions and shadow of death out of the Prison house to guide their feet in the way of peace Luk. 1. Which accordingly was fulfilled in the Apostles age but how not by Christ immediately but by Christs Authority who appointed men and furnished them with gifts and abilities to preach the Gospell unto them and opened their hearts to receive it and become Christians in profession and truth And in that they were converted and enlightened by means himself appointed is all one by being converted and enlightened
flesh and a curse too to save sinners is Do they think that he was a meer light without a visible being and do they think that he saves not by suffering but by lightning and with such a light that all have too when we know the greatest part of the world have no other light but the rationall understanding faculties of their own souls which is able to understand something of God by the things which he hath made and directs to do the things contained in the Law and said to be a Law to themselves c. But is this little spark of reason subject to error and vanity Christ in them the Redeemer which when put in competition with Christ indeed and the Christian profession of him is called darknesse and a state of alienation from his life through the ignorance that is in them as hath been proved Truely I fear that they believe no other Christ then the rational soul of every man accounting that the pure nature they talk of and the eternall word uncreate the same with God and that every one is Christ in flesh And although I know they will lie as I have made it manifest yet they will very hardly in plain terms deny this which I suspect they hold And we should have heard of many Christs amongst us before now but for that Act against blasphemy which they cannot get beyond But I proceed The Lord Jesus saith of John that he was a burning and a shining light which the Jewes rejoyced in for a season Joh. 5.35 which is to be understood of his ministry as sent of God to be the Prophet of the most highest to prepare his wayes and to give knowledge of salvation to his people c. and to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide their feet in the way of peace Luk. 1.76 77 79. So also Christ saith of his Disciples and followers that they are the light of the world and commands them so to improve it that others may be enlightened by them that they may glorifie God Matth. 5.14 15 16. And yet all this light is to be understood of an outward dispensation by words or works to the world So again Christ is called the light of the world Joh. 8.12 and he saith I am come a light into the world that whosoever believes in me should not abide in darknesse Joh. 12.46 Adde to this Joh. 3.19 His actual coming into the world in person to exercise his ministry and the dispensation of his mighty works is to be understood of such a light that never was in the world before which was visible and convincing to men as rationall and sensible creatures and therefore those that did not receive him and own his person in order to salvation had no cloak for their sin but were left without all excuse he doing as never any did this visible light was the condemnation of those that refused it And hence it is that Christ speaking of his death to the people said unto them Yet a little while is the light with you walk while you have the light lest darknesse come upon you while ye have the light believe in the light that is in his person and name which is called light for it was the same that Christ said should be lifted up signifying what death he should die and so the people understood it as appears Joh. 12.34 35 36. c. And in the same sense it was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah 9.1 2. The Land of Zebulun and Naphtali by the way of the sea beyond Jordan Galilee of the Gentiles The people which sate in darknesse saw a great light and to them which sate in the Region and shadow of death light is sprung up Then to this compare Matth. 4.12 to the 17. there you may see how the Evangelist applies that prophesie to the very person and preaching of Christ When Jesus heard that John was cast in prison he knew his work was ended he lest Nazareth and came and dwelt at Capernaum which is upon the sea coasts in the border of Zebulun and Naphtali that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet Isaias repeating the same words and then observes That from that very time Jesus began to preach and to say Repent for the Kingdome of heaven is at hand and this Jesus thus preaching is the fulfilling of that prophesie By these quotations it is evident as the light of the Sun that his personall ministry and mighty works his Authority commands upon the earth in fitting and sending others to preach externally is called the light of the world which all that refused and rejected was their condemnation And that those that believed and received should not abide in darknesse intimating that all those that received not this visible ministry acted by his own person and Authority were in and under darknesse and condemnation and we know what he began was carryed on by his Authority and commission in the Apostolicall Churches and hath made his promise to be with his Church in giving them Pastors and Teachers and his presence to the end Compare Matth. 28.18 19. with Ephes 4.12 13. Now then I say if the visible ministry of Christ in the dayes of Christ and his Apostles upon earth were the light of the world then it is still though not in the same persons yet in their Authority and writings transmitted and derived from them the Churches of the believing Gentiles being built upon the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ the chief corner-stone all the building from the beginning to the end is compleated by his Authority and powerfull working in the use of those means himself hath appointed and revealed once you see it was so it remains so still unless these bold pretenders to an immediate light of Christ to all men in the world can clearly prove by the Authority of Scripture the time and age when this light of the world was repealed if they cannot I hope their lying mouthes will be stopped and that they will cease deceiving themselves and others Again if Christ was the light of the world by coming into the world in person in the dayes of his flesh as he was the Son of man and that great Prophet Moses spake of to our fathers as saith Peter Act. 3.21 A Prophet shall the Lord raise up unto you of your brethren him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you And it shall come to passe that every soul that will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed and by this Prophet he understands Jesus the Son of God whom God raised and sent him to blesse the Jewes first in turning them from their iniquities vers 26. I say if Christ was thus the light of the world as I have cleared and which our greatest Adversaries will be forced to confesse if there be any light in them then it will follow 1. That John 1.9 is to be
more vile fith it is for God and the salvation of poor souls entangled under this dark temptation presented under the specious pretences of the Ministers of Christ What civility or Christianity can I or any expect from those that have denyed the holy Scriptures as to that end they were intended and reproached the ordinances and Institutions of the Lord Jesus that Scriptures teach under the notions of heathenish worship and traditions of men outward observations inconsistent with the kingdome of God which reproaches reflect upon the Author and Inspirer of Scripture appointments which is the spirit of God and to be reproached by those that are the reproachers of God and his worship while I am defending him to my power will be my Crown and honour when confusion and shame shall stop the mouthes of his malicious enemies FINIS ERRATA These few amongst other Errataes are to be amended by the Reader PAg. 6. l. 5. for our r. your p 7. l. 31. for lord r. word p. 10. l. 35. for yet r. that p. 15. l. 14. for god r. Good p. 20. l. 12. put the stop after within p. 32. l. 33. for are r. am lb. l. 38. for when r. where p. 33. in the margin for Jam. r. Jer. p. 45. for Act. 9. r. 4. Books written by the Author and are to be sold by Thomas Williams at the Bible in Little-Britain London and William Tompson at Harborough in Leicester-shire THE Bar to free Admission to the Lords Supper removed Or a Vindication of Mr. Humphreys Free Admission to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 8. To receive the Lords Supper the Actual Right and Duty of all Church-Members of years not Excommunicate Made good against Mr. Collins his Exceptions against The Bar Removed large 8. FINIS A Postscript BReaking off abruptly for fear of swelling too big I was forced to omit some special things that I should have been glad to have spoken unto amongst others that the next Questions would have led me unto I have thought good to give a further hint as touching that which I conceive is a main principle of these mens deceiving themselves and others They seem first to debase man as man and say he is altogether a dark dead polluted thing the childe of wrath and his best actings as man are but as a menstruous cloth But then they advance the same man in general by affirming that every man is lighted by the Spirit of Christ that convinceth of sin And this they would have to be free Grace and that promised Spirit which should convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgement and whosoever mindes and believes it shall by this grace and spirit come out of darknesse to eternal life But to discover so great a mistake we must know That it is true that all men in the world have some light by nature more or less that convinceth of sin for it is said that the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the Law and are a Law unto themselves their thoughts accusing or excusing one another Rom. 2.14 Mark the Apostle doth not say that the Gentiles by the Spirit of Christ and free grace inlightning them do the things contained in the Law but they do those things of the Law by nature and they are a law to themselves The Spirit of God is not a Law to themselves because that is distinct from man and gives Lawes to man as he did the written Law to his people but this is another distinct thing they are a Law to themselves Man since the fall hath not lost his reason but that Divine rectitude and perfection thereof that made him conformable to the will of God unto life there is a spark of reason and immortality in the soul of man still which rationall soul though it be depraved of what it was and now is subject to error and vanity that not any can be saved by following that light only yet it is such a light as it is called the Candle of the Lord Prov. 20.27 and directs men to do the things contained in the Law And this is witnessed by most people and nations upon the earth That reason which they have by nature directs them to make lawes to preserve humane societies and the Common-weal of the whole and hence punish Theft Murther Whoredome Drunkennesse Perjury c. and incourage to morall Vertues which things are contained in the Law of God and yet they know nothing of Jesus Christ nor of any other things which accompany salvation Besides as men are under greater advantages of light in respect of the outward means as the Scripture Ministery Education Examples so also in respect of the more common workings of the Spirit inlightning and convincing some man by nature knowes more and doth more the things contained in the Law and Gospell too The very principle of Reason and Conscience urgeth every one to do the Good and to shun the Evill What man of ingenuity can withstand the strength of reason but yeelds his assent though not able to bring up himself to the practise of what himself allowes with sincerity till renewed by the Spirit of Grace The spirit of man knowes the things in man and hath that inspection and reflection in man from the understanding faculty that it knoweth its own motions intentions and actions whether good or evil according to its light and accordingly Conscience Gods Deputy greater then a thousand witnesses either condemns or excuseth And I judge that all men have this in some measure untill through custome in sin and withstanding this light and Gods just Judgement concurring they be given up to a seared conscience past feeling as is said of some But now for these people to run up and down to teach men that this which is but the light of Reason improved by the help of ordinary means and workings is the Spirit of Christ and the free Grace of God that brings salvation is such a pernicious Diabolical dream that never came into the head of any till now I think That mans soul is a created substance given of God from whom are all things is true but that this spirit of man which is called the candle of the Lord is Gods Spirit that was promised to convince the world of unbelief and of the necessity of righteousnesse by Christ victory over sin Satan and hell as that of John intends and leads out of darknesse into eternal life is a most blasphemous error What though they will not say that the soul of man is the Spirit of Christ promised to convince of sin under that notion and expression yet upon the matter they say the same when out of desperate mistake they make that to be the immediate light and power of the Spirit of Christ which in deed and truth is but the rational soul of man in all by nature or acquired in the use of ordinary means and workings And thus you see while they are debasing man below what he is by nature they are advancing him above what he is at the same time by nature they endow him with the Spirit of God and the gifts of free Grace to lead all men out of darknesse to eternall life hence they Deifie that which is the gift of nature and make all men their own Saviours hence they make the differencing act between good and bad the saved and damned to be mans self under dark impotent nature corrupted hence they slight the Death of Christ and say as one to me that sinners have no benefit by that Bloud of Christ that was shed at Jerusalem for that was the bloud of man and it is the Bloud of God that man hath benefit by not that God is capable of shedding bloud but this is a figurative speech setting forth the Spirit of God that convinceth the world of sin It being asked To what end did Jesus Christ come into the world and so to suffer his Answer was To put an end to the Cereremonies and that was all that he would yeeld although he is a man of considerable abilities so strong is the delusion Hence they comprehend all men under the grace of the New Testament and make no difference between the visible professing Church and the Pagan world all may be saved alike if they will Hence they cast off all outward means Ordinances formes of Religious Worship and bid hearken to the spirit within c. as if all things God in his Word hath appointed were alwaies superfluous and in vain They throw away Gods Election special redemption the Saints perseverance They will have men to have the Spirit of Christ and the free Grace of the Covenant and yet be none of his Just contrary to plain Scriptures Rom 8. But I must not enlarge let them tell us how they will escape these Rocks Let them tell us what difference they make between the convictions of the Spirit in the unregenerate Pagan or Christian and those that are regenerate and how the Spirit is in the Infidel and how in the true believer and where any that are accounted for light in the Lord are under darknesse too and where are any in an Infidel state called light in the Lord. Prove all things and the Lord direct to that right understanding of truth best pleasing to himself and our good Farewell