their own evils though they read those very Scriptures that testifie against them but if they turn to the Light of Christ within it will make them manifest and bring them under a sense of their own guilt therein that they may repent and cease from sin and so receive remission 4thly And now as for this great Point or Article of our present Opposers Faith viz. That the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith the Spirit being absolutely excluded as a Rule by W. K. It is to be noted that since Jer. Ives in a Letter to me saith viz. Though I might own this Question in their sense yet I never owned it in their words c. Whereby the Reader may see That Jer. Ives upon a more deliberate Consideration hath disserted his Brethrens Cause he perceiving as it seems that they cannot maintain the Scriptures to be the only Rule But 1st where he saith He might own it in their sense this is not true For his sense of owning it was That he did not exclude but included the Spirit But his Brother Kiffin's sense was absolutely to exclude the Spirit as a Rule so their senses herein absolutely opposed each other 2dly His saying He never owned it in their words is as false however he now evades or disowns it for many Persons of Credit that were present can testifie as also the Relation of the Discourse taken by an expert Short-writer that he did own the Question whether the Scriptures are the only Rule in these their terms for some time however now he would acquit himself of it and thereby has failed his Brethren and broke the neck of their Cause These few Questions are for W. Kiffin and the rest who own him in his Principle Quest. 1. BY what Rule would you have us believe you when you say the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith and Practice and absolutely exclude the Spirit as a Rule 2. Whether any can truly know and believe the Scriptures without having their understandings divinely enlightned by the Spirit that gave them forth yea or nay 3. Is not the true beginning of Believers in that Spirit In order to Righteousness Life and Salvation 4. Do you own the immediate Teaching of the Spirit or divine Revelation to be attainable in these dayes Or 5. Can any come truly to know the true God or Jesus Christ without immediate Revelation 6. What is the key of true knowledge 7. What was the Rule of Abel Enoch Abraham Moses c. their Faith before the Scriptures were written 8. Do you think the Spirit is to be received in the Scriptures Or that the Letter and the Spirit are inseparable yea or nay 9. What Rule would you make use of for the Conviction of those that either oppose the Divine Authority supposed or Translation of the Scriptures seeing such cannot be Convicted by the Scriptures themselves 10. 〈…〉 Measâ—re and â—â—le whereunto the trâ—e Miniâ—â—ers and belieâ—ing Geâ—â—iles had attained â—hich they were to walk by mentioned 2 Cor. 10 13 15. Phil. 3.16 Gal. 6.16 was that Rule the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament or Bible yea or nay Here follows a few Doctrines asserted by one Wheatly at Lambeth in a Book directed in Manuscript to one Mr. Cox as he calls him this Wheatley seems to be a Brother of these Baptists by his opposing the Light within and pleading for their outward Forms and their Water-Baptism from the Example of Christ's going down into the Water to be Baptized of John Wheatley his Doctrine viz. DO not blame the Devil to exclude the example of the Children of God if he can by any pretence do not blame the Devil to perswade men to trust to the Light within c. pag. 4 5. Answ. However this man seems to be a Friend to the Devil in that he exhorts not to blame him he is grosly mistaken in saying The Devil perswades men to trust to the Light within for the Devil and such his Instruments perswade men against the Light as much as they can for his Kingdom is held up in the dark and his way is darkness it self wherein his Followers walk who will not bring their deeds to the Light lest it should reprove them but the Light of Christ in every man and the sufficiency thereof and the Scriptures of Truth which testifie to it we beat witness unto and against both the Devil and this Opposer and against all such as are in the same spirit of darkâ—â—ss and enmity with him and the Devil who oppose the True Light And he that saith The Devil perswades men to trust to the Light within he hath highly advanced the Devil and conferred as much dignity upon him as the Ranters when they have told us That the Devil is Gods good Servant his faithful Servant c. This is like his blasphemy who setteth the Devil in the place of God's faithful Servants and Ministers whose work it was to perswade men to his Light within but both the Devil and Ranters are enemies to the true Light within W's Doct. There may be a Light amongst men and not within for Jesus Christ said to the Pharisees the Kingdom of God was within them when indeed it was but among them saith he And to prove it he citeth Luke 17.22 Answ. See how he hath proved the Light not within viz. The Kingdom of God was within the Pharisees Christ saith It is within but this Man saith Not within Shall we believe Christ or him But as if he would plainly let us know how he is set to oppose Christ after he hath told us That Jesus Christ said The Kingdom of God was within them In Contradiction to Christ he saith When indeed it was but among them and this to prove the Light not within It is no marvel this man sets himself to oppose Christ's Followers and Servants for asserting his Light within when thus he opposeth Christ himself for saying That the Kingdom of God is within but this man saith it was not within it was but among them Now then here is the case and state of the Controversie Christ and his Followers do bear witness to the Kingdom of God and his Light within But the Devil and his Followers strive and war against the Light and Kingdom of God within as much as they can the Devil he hath blinded their eyes from seeing the Light he hath made fools vassals and slaves of them to do his drudgery to shew their enmity and vomit out their shame and principles of darkness against the Light within Oh! how hath the Devil deceived such wilful Opposers and Unbelievers W's Doct. If God and Christ and Holy Spirit be within them then there is none above them Is not this spiritual pride c. Answ. No it was not spiritual pride in the People of God and Followers of Christ to witness God and Christ to dwell in them neither did this argue at all that God and Christ were not above them for God is
too strong and mighty for you Now unto the King Eternal Immortal Invisible the only wise God be Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen 1 Tim. 1.17 The Baptist and Presbyter c. conjunct against us to their own Disjunction and Confusion OR A Relation of some Heads of Two Discourses in London the first whereof was the 28 th of the 10 th Month 69. at which Thomas Danson formerly Priest of Sandwich in Kent and William Kiffin Baptist with the Assistance of Ald. Hayes joyned against us THe Question disputed on both times was Whether the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith yea or nay VVhich was affirmed by them but denyed by us Now let the impartial Readers note how confused and contradictory they were in the management of their Affirmation As first when we had excepted against their Affirmation the particle Only being exclusive of any higher Rule yea even of the Spirit of Truth it self and importing the Scriptures as the chief or sole singular and alone Rule of Faith excluding all other Now when any of these our Opposers did at any time include the Spirit or the divine illumination thereof in the understanding when they had asserted the Scriptures to be the only Rule this Contradistion they divers times appeared in And T. D. when he could not stand by the Assertion in the terms proposed instead of the word Scriptures he would have it The Doctrines contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the only Rule of Faith which he also could not prove according to his general Assertion therein and his disserting the terms of the Question to wit of the Scriptures being the only Rule he rendred no sufficient Reason for it for the Doctrines as contained therein have still relation to the Scriptures which are of divers kinds as those of the Law for the Circumcision and other Shadows and those of the New Testament forbidding them But yet though one while the Scriptures and another while the Doctrines contained in them were asserted to be the only Rule of Faith in Contradiction to this he would assent to the guidance of the Spirit of God and would include the Holy Ghost in the comfort of the Scriptures and confess at length That the Scriptures without divine illumination are but the foundation of an historical Faith and not a saving Faith and that a man may believe the historical part and not be saved and that the divine illumination of the Spirit is the Foundation and Rule of saving Faith Observ. Mark Here is a Foundation or Rule of the Spirit assented to above the Scriptures If the divine illumination of the Spirit be the Rule of the Understanding the Rule for Conviction and consequently the Rule of Faith then the Scriptures are not the only Rule And T. D. granted That the Scriptures are not the Rule of Conviction for those that denied their divine Authority it being but a begging the Question to argue from Scripture for the Conviction of such c. Therefore it follows that the inlightning of the holy Spirit which is able to convict Gain-sayeâ—s is a Rule above the Scriptures which therefore are not the only Rule But W. Kiffin to prove their first Assertion so much confuted by T. D. himself told us That the Director and Rule to Faith and Salvation were two distinct things as the Way to Bristol and my Director into the Way and that the Scriptures are the only Rule and Way in which we are to walk and the Spirit of God is the Guide and Director c. Answ. To thâ—s he was Answered That Christ is both the Leader and Director into the way of God and the Way also and that we are to walk in the Spirit and therefore his asserting that the Director is not the Way in this Instance against the Spirit being the Rule is all one as to say Christ cannot be the Way because he is the Guide which is contrary to his own Testimony And while W.K. did state the Way and Rule as the same or equivolent he mâ—nifestly ran to his own confutation Christ Jesus and his Light being the Author of Faith and only Way to Salvation As to the Question If the Scriptcres come where men question them or their Relation of those Miracles or Works of God's Power c. which T.D. argued as ground or matter of Conviction c. How shall such be Convicted by that Relation which they question without the Living Evidence of the Spirit T. D. replied Would you question whether there were such a man as King Henry the Eight c. Answ. This is not an Answer to the only Rule of Faith and proves no farther than a traditional Faith and by this it appears what is the nature of these mens Faith and how weak for they did not know that there was a King Henry the Eight by divine illumination and sure the Spirit and Power that gave forth the Scriptures hath an influence upon the understandings and opens the Holy Scriptures where it is submitted to within His Instance of King Henry the Eight was a very mean and pitiful one in this case to answer the Ground and Rule of true and living Faith which is the Gift of God and whereof Christ is the Author Farther Mark what corrupt Doctrines and Extravagancies the said T.D. runs into against the universal extent of the Spirit of God and sufficiency of his Light having granted or supposed many places in the World where there is neither Bible nor Minister to Preach he proceeded as followeth T. D. I say that God ordinarily doth not by his Spirit immediately reveal the Doctrines contained in the Scriptures meaning without them His Spirit doth not go into the farthest parts of India where the Scriptures are not the Spirit of God doth not go into the remotest parts of the World We suppose there are some placâ—s where there is neither Bible nor Minister I do not understand any ground that the Spirit in those places doth immediately reveal those things c. p. 9. Answ. 1. See if this be not a limitation put upon the Spirit of God and a denial of its alone sufficiency to teach or reveal all Truth without the Scriptures And how this man supposes that there are remote places where the Spirit doth not come which is contrary to plain Scripture Whither shall a man go from the Spirit or flee from the presence of God see Psal. 139.7 8 9 10. for his Presence fills Heaven and Earth 2dly Supposing that in some places they have neither the Scriptures nor their outward Preaching it were a sad sentence to conclude them all in a state of Damnation for want thereof and to conclude that therefore God doth not afford them of his Spirit or Light to be an inward Rule of their Faith without the Scriptures What cruelty doth this charge upon God against his Creatures And what a narrow limitation doth this put upon his Spirit to allow him his
path but only where the Scriptures are Or Presbyterian or Independant Teachers or such-like go What a pitiful narrow Spirit and Principle is this among them And had not those Gentiles spoken of Rom. 2. those things contained in the Law written in their hearts when they had not the Law or Scriptures outwardly And were they not either accused or excused before God by his Law written in their hearts T.D. They not walking up to the Light they had was the cause of their Codemnation and they were left without excuse T. D's Contradiction But it was not sufficient to lead them to Life or Salvation it was a Natural Light c. Answ. Then from this it follows That all was a case whether they walked up to the Light they had or not they were like to be Condemned do what they could a sad Doctrine charging God with no less than Cruelty and Injustice then for what Reason was the Light given to them and what was God's End therein if it was insufficient â—ow should they be left without excuse And for what end were they brought into the world if a capacity of Salvation was not afforded them As to his calling it a natural Light what rule hath he in Scripture for so calling it For the Law in their hearts was spiritual and it 's said When they do by Nature it is not said By a Natural Light and what Nature was it by which they obeyed the Law of God in the heart Surely it was not a Nature repugnant to the Law And when I demanded of these men to produce us that Scripture that saith The Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith and it shall end the Controversie Ald. H. Answ. I will in the last of the Revelations If any man shall add to this Rule c. Obs. Here he was mistaken for it is not said this Rule but these things c. the words of the Book c. see Revelations 22.18 19. T. D's Arg. That which the Scriptures direct to as the Rule of Faith that is to be the only Rule But the Scriptures direct to themselves Ergo. Answ. The first part I own that which the Scriptures direct to is the Rule and that is the Light within the Spirit or Unction from the Holy One 1 Joh. 2. that gave them forth therefore I deny that the Scriptures direct to themselves as the only Rule T. D. That the Scripture directs to its self as the only Rule and no other I prove from Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures c. Rep. Christ did not say the Scriptures were the only Rule but rather reproved these unbelievers whom these men resemble in these words viz. In them to wit the Scriptures ye think to have Eternal Life and ye will not come to Me that ye might have Life vers 40. T. D. The more sure word of Prophesie 2 Pet. 1.19 was the Scriptures c. Rep. Here he hath confounded and perverted the Scriptures as if the word of Prophesie and the Writings and Prophesies were all one and as if it were to be read You have more sure Scriptures of the Prophets whereas they were not more sure than the Scriptures of the Apostles and the word of the Prophesie or Holy Ghost that moved in the Prophets to speak or write Scripture was before the Prophesies of it or the Scriptures were written the Word came to the Prophets before they Prophesied it was in their hearts and the same Word now appears in many as a Light shining in a dark place whereunto ye shall do well to take heed until the day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 Obs. So this Light within was in all Ages and still is the most absolute perfect and universal Rule to all the Righteous who believed in the Light and were the Children of the Day where God hath appointed the Great Light of Himself to Rule His People in Faith and Practise At the Second Discourse which was the 20th of the 11th Month 1669. Will. Kiffin and his Brother Jeremiah Ives with some others appeared against us Some of their Contradictions follow W.K. THe Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith from 2 Tim. 3.15 16. the Spirit considered as a Rule is absolutely excluded but as a Director as my Way and my Guide are distinct c. as before Obs. First This Scripture cited by him proveth not his Assertion to wit That the Scriptures are the only Rule Secondly His so absolute excluding the Spirits Rule is contrary to this Scripture which saith All Scripture given by inspiration of God c. the particle is being added Here the Inspiration of God is owned to give Scripture as also it 's the Man of God that knows the use thereof who doth not exclude Divine Inspiration or the Holy Spirit from being his Guide Rule and Way for he walks in the Spirit So that if Rule and Way be one and the same as here they are rendered that which is the only Way to Life and Salvation must needs be the only Rule and surely neither Christ nor his Light or holy Spirit within must be excluded from being this Way in which we are to walk And now mark how Jer. Ives coming into the Meeting after his Brother W. K. had thus absolutely excluded the Spirit did positively contradict him Jer. Ives Our saying the Scriptures are the only Rule doth not exclude the Spirit or the Spirit 's Illumination the Scripâ—ures including the Spirit are the only Rule c. that is our meaning Obs. See how manifestly they have contradicted one another here the one wholly excluding the Spirit as a Rule and the other including it But this Jer. Ives was not aware of his Brothers having excluded the Spirit before he came in upon which we urging them to confess their Error and Contradiction Jer. Ives endeavoured to salve up the business as well as he could saying We are reconciled And in order thereto he proceeded thus viz. J. I. Our saying the Scriptures are the only Rule does not exâ—â—â—â—e every thing else or the Spirits Illumination from being a Rule any more than to say God Only hath Immortality doth exclude all else from having Immortality c. Obs. Still he could not hide himself from contradicting his Brother W.K. and the terms of their own Question For if the Spirit 's Illumination be included as in Rule then to say the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith is not true and wholly to exclude the Spirit as a Rule is erroneous And to instance in this case That God only hath Immortality which is dwelling in the Light 1 Tim. 6.16 Was this a fit comparison for their Assertion of the Scriptures being the only Rule For hath not God Immortality above and before all others And hath he not it only dwelling in the Light And have any it out of him or out of his Light But hath he it not only as more eminently and above all others As he is
Excommunication given forth by divers of the principal Baptists about BOW against one that forsook them and their dead wayes wherein the Reader may also take notice of their envy and falshood London the 12th month 1669. CHRIST Ascended above the Clouds c. JOHN NEWMAN's Instance to prove the Scriptures the Word Isa. 28.9 10 11 12 13. The Word of the Lord was to this People Precept upon Precept c. Pag. 6. Answ. Scriptures signifie writings and not the Word neither doth this Instance prove them to be the Word for the Prophets of God who speak as the holy Spirit moved them did both inwardly receive and speak forth Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little from the immediate Spiâ—it and Power of God as immediatly taught by him which is before and above the Scriptures thereof which no where â—ffirm themselves being the writings in an abstract sense to bâ— the Word Also preaching Jesus Christ the Word and the Scriptures aâ—e two things the one being in a living Power and Voice and the other in written Characters Moreover the Lord sendeth out his Word and melteth the Snow the Hoar-frost and Ice Psal. 147.18 Surely this Word is not the Scriptures J.N. There are a People labour to blind this Truth by affirming That Christ is the Word not the Scriptures for they say the Scriptures are the Sayings or Words of God pag. 13. Answ. To affirm Christ to be the Word and not the writings but that in them are the words or sayings of God words of his Covenant c. or that they contain a Declaration of God and Christ is no blinding of Truth but what is â—ffiâ—med in and by the Scriptures themselves and the Word of the Lord came to the Prophets before they spake forth or writ the words see Jer. 1.1 2. The words of Jeremiah to whom the Word of the Lord came J. N's Instance from Mark 4.14 What Word was this that the Devil taketh out of mens hearts None will think it Christ but the Scriptures of the New Testament pag. 17. Answ. The Seed sown in the heart by the Son of man hath virtue and life in it in the very being of it for rooting growth and increase of fruit which is more than the writings which no where in Scripture are called the Seed and can he say the Son of man did sow some Scriptures in the High-wayes which the Devil took Also many retain Scripture in the profession of it who notwithstanding are but as the high-way ground unfruitful in whom the Seed of Life doth not take root so that the Devil doth not steal away the Scriptures or Bible from them not properly Christ out of their hearts but he steals away their hearts and minds blinding them from the sense and sight of the vertue life and light of the Seed or Word of Life withiâ— J. N. The Word of God grew and multiplied Acts 19.20 Cannot be understood of Christ a multiplication of Christ p. 17 18. Answ. Can he then think that Bibles grew and multiplied Surely the Word had Life and heavenly Virtue in it that was capable of growth and its multiplying was both in the increase of gifts and adding to the number of them who received it and though Christ be but one yet his Life his living Word and Gifts both grow and increase where he is received J.N. Christ cannot be the Word because Christians may and ought to receive his Word into their hearts Christ is not received into the hearts of men nor in Person dwell in their hearts p. 21. Answ. How grosly Erroniously and Irrationally hath he asserted and reasoned that Christ cannot be the Word because the Word is received into the hearts and how contrary to plain Scripture to say Christ is not received into the hearts see 2 Cor. 13.5 Rom. 8.10 Col. 1.27 Christ in you except you be Reprobates Christ in you the hope of glory c. but that Christ in Person doth not dwell in the hearts who ever affirmed that he doth J. N's Instance from Luke 11.28 Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it None that will makâ— use of Reason can believe that Christ did intend that Christians should keep himself for every Christian is kept 〈◊〉 and Christ 1 Pet. 1.5 p. 15. Answ. Though Christians be kept by God and Christ it s through Faith and Obedience in the Light whereby they continue in both and retain God in their knowledge holding the Head which is Christ and holding fast the faithful Word keeping the Word of his Patience such keep the Truth all which amounts to the same or is equivolent with keeping Christ the Word the Truth the Life wherein is the Patience of God and Faith of the Elect exercised against all Temptations and Tryals which are not overcome by the writings without whicâ— cannot truly be called the Word of his Patience as J. N. doth without distinction when they express words of his Wrath Judgment and Displeasure against sin and wickedness But the word of Faith Life and Patience in the Soul immediately expresseth the Love and Patience of God and Christ unto it to aâ—m it in times of Afflictions and Tryals and this we are to keep For many both profess and keep Scriptures or Bibles who are out of the Patience of Câ—rist And now I Query What Reason is it this Opposer would have us make use of and what is the ground of it in man for he speaks of carnal Reason which cannot reâ—ch God and also a Reason to be made use of Pag. 64. Surely we cannot look on him to be such a Mastâ—r of Reason as infallibly to distinguish how highly soever he thinks of himself whilst he denies and opposeth the Light within as being but a feigned light John Nâ—wman where 's thy Reason and what and wâ—ence is it We must not take thy carnal dark and prejudiced Conception for Reason nor be swayed thereby when thou art ignorant of the very Grounds and Principles of true Reason and so much opposest plain Scripture which hypocritically thou pretendest for thy only Rule J.N. To deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God is to deny the very fountain and well-spring of comforts to the Soul in Affliction which is brought out of the Promises in the Scriptures to the Soul by the Spirit through Faith p. 44. Answ. How grosly Erroneous is it to deem the Scriptures the very Fountain and Well-spring of comforts and to say that the Spirit brings the Comforts from thence to the Soul whereas God is the Fountain which to say of the Writings is all one and as blasphemous as to say they are God as some of the Ranters have said as once one of them affirmed to me at Emnith near Wisbitch That the Bible which I had in my hand was God but he quickly after came to be distracted 2dly The Spirit and Gift of Christ is as a Well of Living Water in true Believers
the only Wise God the only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6.15 where Only is both used in a most eminent sense and excluding all others from that eminence And if in this sense according to Jer. Ives his Instance the Scriptures be taken as the most eminent Rule before and above all other Rule what is this but to set the Scriptures above the Spirit that gave them forth and above all Divine Illuminations although without it the Scriptures cannot be understood which is as much as to set them above God and Christ. And yet Jer. Ives in Contradiction to their own Assertion granted That they did not intend that none have Faith but they that have the Scriptures some may have Faith who have them not c. It follows therefore that that some have the Rule of Faith without the Scriptures See what a deadly blow he hath given to his and their own Cause Jer. Ives God doth not require any thing to be believed as a Point of Faith or to be practised as a Duty for which there is not a Rule laid down in the Scriptures and that there is not any sin committed but what is there mentioned there is no sin that I commit but I may correct it by the Scriptures c. Obs. See how both these passages do egregiously vary from the state of the Question and their general Assertion before Of the Scriptures being the only Rule of Faith For a Rule in the Scriptures and they to be the only Rule are much different And however if it were granted which 't is not That God doth not require any thing to be believed c. or practised as duty for which there is not a Rule laid down which imports a particular Rule or measure specified for every particular point or practice or else not to be believed nor practised then it follows That if there be not a particular Rule in Scripture to prove That the Scriptures are the only Rule of Faith nor which so saith of them We are not bound to believe these men's Assertion therein as any Point of Faith for God doth not require us to believe it however they contend for it and would impose it upon our Faith But further 1. If by a Rule laid down it be intended that there is a particular Rule Command or Precept specified exactly to measure every particular duty or thing to be believed or practised by all Christians as there are many express Commands and Precepts expressing the particular duty and forbidding the offence this is not so expressed under a general Command nor yet proved as Jer. Ives endeavoured as when I put the Qâ—estion viz. Whether God doth not or may not by his immediate Power in these dayes raise up and Commissionate Prophets to declare peculiar Messages to particular Places People or Governments yea or nay To this Jer. Ives granted That God might for any thing he knew do so But suppose there may be Prophets now sent with immediate Commission to a particular Place as Rome c. said he The Scripture hath a Rule in it that such Prophets ought to obey their Master and that the Scripture commands to hear Christ in all things and not to quench the Spirit nor despise Prophesie c. Thus far Jer. Ives But while he cannot prove that all those things are particularly prescribed in Scripture which they are to hear and learn of Christ and which are to be prophesied but hath granted the contrary to wit That there may be immediate Commissions and peculiar Messages from God to particular Places c. suppose Rome or London which are not particularly specified in Scripture however Christ is to be heard in all things and his Spirit not to be quenched Therefore it follows that the Scriptures are neither the Rule of those Prophets Faith either for such their Commission or peculiar Messages for they have neither from the Scriptures but immediately from God And therefore if they should go to question their Commission and try such their Messages by the Scriptures and not find them there this would argue unbelief and cause disobedience whereas their particular Commissions and Messages are evidenced to them by the Spirit and Power of God whether it be by Vision or Revelation which is the immediate Object Rule and Foundation of their Faith therein 2dly And in our dayes there hath been such Prophets raised up both to this Nation and City of London witness Humphry Smith's Vision of Fire to London Jo. Rance his Prophecy in Meeter before the Contagion of the great Wo and debacement of London T. Ibbot's Vision of the Fire which he came to proclaim and went through the Streets as a sign thereof and of the great Distraction upon it the day before it broke forth But W.K. his surmise or may be that these might have a hand in it was malitious and wicked as divers present took notice Yea many more have truly foretold of the Judgments and Calamities of this Nation and City and it would be voluminous to repeat what hath been truly foretold by divers of the Servants of the Lord concerning O. C. and those persecuting Professors that persecuted us in his Name and what 's yet to come upon the Persecutors who follow their steps and of the Confusions that his Priests and those persecutors of the Innocent would fall into as also the temporizing of many of them which is manifest both upon many of the Presbyterians Independants and Baptists at this day whose insatiable enmity is still continued against us though they be confounded among themselves and their horns broken that they cannot push as formerly 3dly As the Scriptures are not the Rule of Faith nor is there a particular Rule therein for every individual motion or action so are they not the sole Rule of discovery of sin and evil in men particularly though they witness against all sin Nor are they the immediate or original Obligation upon the Conscience to Righteousness or Duty in the sight of God for it is the Light of Christ within that immediately opens an inward eye that discovers to men their particular sins and guilt and that immediately obligeth to Righteousness and did so oblige man in the beginning before it was so written in letters because of God who both telleth unto man his thoughts and what he ought to do as his duty And whatsoever makes manifest is Light all things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light yea by that Ligâ—t which Christ giveth Eph. 5.13 14. Howbeit every one that doth evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his deeds should be reproved but he that doth truth cometh to the Light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Joh. 3.19 20 21. So that it 's evident the Light is that Rule that tryes and manifests all things and this was before the Scriptures and is where they are not Many over-look and will not see