supernatural Revelation direct any to take one step towards Salvation I shall first examine whether this Light can be proved a full Rule then confirm what 's here laid down G. W. affirmed The Light in every man to be a full Rule And thus undertook to prove it Arg. 1. If it he a spiritual Light as wrought by the Spirit of God then 't is a full Rule But I had acknowledged it thus a spiritual Light Answ I do still acknowledge that if its Denomination be taken from its Efficient 't is to be called spiritual for 't is the Spirit creates Reason in us But 't is improper to take a Denomination thence Rather it should be taken from its End and Use and then because it reveals only Moral Duties it would be properly termed Moral But as to his Argument I bid him prove his Consequence he bogles and could make no work of it Then I bid the people mind what pure Argument he brought As though one should say If the stars were created by the Spirit of God they are a full light able to make it Day The Scriptures are as the Sun a full Light to guide us to Heaven The Light in every man but as a Star no full Light to travel by Arg. 2. If it convinceth of Sin Righteousness and Judgment then 't is a full Rule But so it doth Answ It convinceth not of Justifying Righteousness viz. The active and passive Obedience of Christ for it reveals not Christ at all Rep. It doth reveal Christ Proof 1. Rom. 2.14 If the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the Law then it reveals Christ Answ They may do things contained in the Law and never know Christ 'T is not the Law but the Gospel that reveals Christ Proof 2. If the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all men and teacheth to look for the appearance of our Saviour then it revealeth Christ This Grace appears by the Gospel where it comes and the Gospel teacheth to look for our Saviours appearance Prove that the Light in every man reveals this Grace or teacheth to look for the appearance of Christ He adds Proof 3. p. 29. The Light was given to believe in before they were Believers Therefore it reveals Christ to Unbelievers Answ The Light which we are to believe in is Jesus Christ himself and not that Principle of Knowledge that is in every man And before we believe in Christ even that we may believe in him he is revealed to us by the Gospel not by the Light that is in every man Proof 4. Ibid. The Light shined in mens hearts before they did believe to give them the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ Therefore it reveals Christ to all even Unbelievers Answ Read the place 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ A. 1. Mark 'T is not said the Light but God hath shined 2. The true sense is God by the Gospel propounding the Object and by his Spirit enlightning the Eye gives and encreaseth the saving knowledge of Christ in his chosen and thus first they become Believers and afterward more and more are strengthened in their Faith And doth this prove that the Light in every man reveals Christ to all to those that have not the Gospel or that without the Gospel it reveals Christ to any hath shined into our hearts Had not they the Gospel Arg. 3. If the Light in every man be an increasing Light p. 28. doth gradually lead men out of Darkness and Sin as men take heed unto it though it reveals not all things at once then 't is a full Rule But 't is an increasing Light for 't is said To every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Christ gives such a measure now a greater afterwards And p. 29. The path of the Just is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Answ This Argument though not so well managed in the Dispute of any had the greatest shew of reason in it But when it was Answered that the Light in every man never grew up to make of it self and without the Scriptures any discovery of Christ all was dasht presently And there needs no more to be said now For though the use of Reason grows in a Child and now it reveals Stealing unlawful then Lying c. and these first dimly then more clearly yet never attaining of it self to reveal Christ it must needs leave men in that dark state in which Damnation is unavoidable The Gospel must deliver from this dark state The Light in every man cannot do it If it were possible this Light could lead out of all Sin whatever unable to reveal Christ it must needs still leave men in a state of Damnation The Grace that indifferent measures is given to Believers enjoying the Gospel as also the path of the Just who embrace Christ as revealed to them in the Gospel these put men into the state of Salvation indeed but they are one thing the Light in every man another Obj. It might be thus objected If we obey what this Light can reveal according to the measure of it God will accept us For in every Nation he that worketh Righteousnes is accepted of him And what is not revealed doth not bind p. 33. The Church of Corinth was not to make the Epistle of the Church of Rome their Rule Answ 1. Promulgation indeed is necessary to the Obligation of a Law till therefore the Church of Corinth had knowledge of the Epistle to the Romans they were not bound to make it their Rule But after knowledge they were bound Therefore if we should obey this Light only which in its highest measure cannot reveal Christ we should not work Righteousness that we might be accepted For God having given us Scriptures requires more of us than this Light reveals And neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love Obj. p. 32. The Saints of old were according to their several attainments to walk by the same Rule and God would reveal to them Ph. 3.16 Therefore this Light is a full Rule Answ 1. The Saints what 's that to every man 2. They were to walk according to their several attainments what they had got out of the Scriptures By the same Rule the Will of God laid down in the Scriptures so far as they understood it What 's this to those that have not the Scriptures What is it to the Light that is in every man 3. God would reveal more to the Saints But where is any promise that God will reveal Christ to every Heathen that walks according to his Light though he never enjoyes the Scriptures or the Gospel Much less where hath God ever promised that he will
of Christ and all his Benefits is made unto Gal. 3 22. That the Promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe This is the Condition of the Promise of purchased Salvation Mark 16.16 He that believeth shall be saved How can any be supposed to obtain Interest in Christ and Salvation purchased by him that hath not the Qualifications to which Christ is promised that comes not up to the Condition of the Promise Again whom God hath decreed to save on them he doth infallibly bestow Faith and the Knowledge of Christ Acts 13.48 As many as were ordained to eternal life believed All that are to be saved shall know Christ Isa 54.13 All thy Children shall be taught of God That it is to know Christ See John 6.45 They shall be all taught of God every one therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me Further This work he hath committed unto Christ to bestow the knowledge of himself on all that are to be saved John 17.2 3. Thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him And this is Life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Those that are given to Christ are all to be saved Eternal Life is to be given to them all and since this is eternal Life to know Christ it follows that the knowledge of Christ is to be given to them every one And this follows too to whomsoever the knowledge of Christ is never given to them eternal life is never given The Minor I prove That the Light in every man reveals not Christ Had not God said Gen. 3.15 I will put enmity between thee and the Woman ond between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy Head How could Adam with all the Light that was left him after the Fall ever have understood that it was the Gracious Design of God to save lost man by a Saviour the Seed of the Woman 1 Cor. 2.11 What man knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God Hence it is that the whole Doctrine of Jesus Christ in Scripture is called a Mystery 1 Tim. 3.16 And without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentils believed on in the World received up to Glory Christ's Love to his Church is a Mystery Eph. 5.31 32. For this cause shall a man leave his Father and his Mother and shall be joyned unto his Wife and they two shall be one flesh This is a great Mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church Every Truth that bears any relation to Christ is a Mystery precious but secret hid in God that which the Light every man hath that comes into the world could never find out were it not for Supernatural Revelation Yea the very Angels of God who greatly excel us in knowledge the Church being supernaturally taught of God have from it received Light to understand this Mystery Eph. 3.9 10. To make all men see what is the Fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God The Light of every man cannot possibly give the knowledge of Christ Only Christ himself can do this Luke 10.22 No man knoweth who is the Son but the Father and who the Father is but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Where therefore the Gospel comes not for Christ reveals himself by the Gospel for all the Light men brought with them into the World they have been there utterly destitute of all knowledge of Christ Isa 55.5 Thou shalt call a Nation that thou knowest not and Nations that know not thee shall run unto thee Yea Christ hath not been so much as named amongst them Rom. 15.20 I have strived to preach the Gospel not where Christ was named Obj. G. W. in a Book stiled The Light and Life of Christ within would prove That this Light can reveal Christ p. 46. because it can reveal God And Christ is God If it be told him that Christ is not our Saviour considered meerly as God but as God-man that hath suffered for us he objects John 8.58 Before Abraham was I am John 17.5 Glorifie thou me with the Glory I had with thee before the world was He was before he took our Nature and was he not a Saviour then A. Let it be considered how Christ is our Saviour He is our Saviour by purchasing Forgiveness and Salvation for us by his Blood and he is our Saviour by applying that purchase to us This purchase is the Ground-work of our Salvation Had there been no purchase there had been no application of the things purchased Before Abraham was Christ was our Saviour as God who was to become man and shed his Blood for us to purchase our Pardon and Salvation and so he applied to us what he was to purchase Now he is our Saviour as God-man that hath already purchased our pardon and Salvation by shedding his Blood for us To prove that he is our Saviour considered meerly as God is to prove that he saves us though he never did nor ever was to take our Nature upon him and shed his Blood for us Truly had he never been desigued to this he had not been our Saviour any more than he is the Saviour of the Fallen Angels whose Nature he was not to take on him Those therefore who before Abraham was knew not Christ as he was to be the Seed of the Woman knew him not as the Saviour And so now those that know not Christ as God in our Nature who by his death hath purchased forgiveness and salvation for us know him not as our Saviour Obj. He objects further John 6.41 I am the Bread which came down from Heaven Eph. 4.10 He that descended is the same that ascended Ans Doth this prove that Christ is not our Saviour as God-man purchasing forgiveness for us suffering in our stead but as God only This rather confirms the contrary For this was his main end in coming down from Heaven that he might take our nature on him and by dying purchase forgiveness for us that having finished this work he might ascend again This proves him our Saviour as God-man Obj. p. 70. His Divine Nature hath given us all things that pertain to Life and Godliness 2 Pet. 1.3 To which may be added Isa 45.15 O God of Israel the Saviour These Scriptures prove him a Saviour as God A. As his Man-hood concurs with his God head in applying his purchase to us Rom. 5.10 We shall be saved by his Life Chap. 4.24
Gods will and purpose In the day thou eatest thou shalt die the death If it be his will and purpose to punish sin in us he doth it Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he Then no fallen man is justified but is sin is punished and so justice his satisfied for that his sin 4. We may demonstrate it from Gods not sparing his own Son Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all What made Gods justice lay on so did Christ ever by sin provoke to this will God punish where there is no sin This is an Ocular demonstration The Faith of a Believer that is justified can here see Justice punishing his transgression and that he is not justified without full satisfaction to Justice God hath punished then the sins of all that are justified in Jesus Christ And the Holy Ghost tells us Heb. 2.10 This became God It became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many Sons unto Glory to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through sufferings Did it not become God to act according to his Judgement according to his Truth according to his Justice having executed his justice on some of his offending Creatures fallen Angels not to let the sins of his other offending Creatures fallen Men and Women to go unpunished The point is clear That for which God justifies us who have been Transgressors must be that which satisfies his Justice for our Transgressions The next Proposition hath two parts 1. Nothing done or suffered by us can suffice to satisfie Gods Justice Every known sin is a wilful rejection of infinite Goodness a free choice of infinite Displeasure a bold contempt of Infinite Majesty presumptuous Rebellion against infinite Soveraignty and a disdainful making him a Liar who is infinitely a Lover of Truth It therefore carries insinite demerit with it and nothing short of infinite punishment or sufferings of infinite wrath can possibly suffice to satisfie for it But what proportion to Infinity can any thing we do or suffer bear Why do men lie in Hell to all eternity but because they are not able to bear a Curse proportionable to the Infinity of Gods perfections against whom they have offended Faith and the Works that follow can this without the imputation of Christs Sufferings satisfie Gods Majesty for our sin It is Blasphemy against God it is most damnable Idolatry to suppose it It is to debase God and make him our Equal this is Blasphemy It is to exalt our selves and make our selves Gods Equal this is Idolatry in the highest degree For there is none but Gods equal and this is God himself in our Nature that is capable to satisfie God for sin Zach. 13.17 Awake O Sword against my Shepherd against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of Hosts If we crawling worms can satisfie Gods Justice any way for our sins then Christ received the Stroak of Gods Jvstice in vain 2. Christs Sufferings suffice to satisfie Gods Justice To compremise this Argument If when we lay under the Sentence of Death Christ became Surety for us had our sins imputed to him died for us God accepted his person his Sacrifice and for his sake turns away his wrath from us forgives us frees us from Condemnation is reconciled to us saves us then Christs Sufferings do suffice abundantly to satisfie Gods Justice for our sins But the Antecedent is true therefore the Consequent also 1. We lay under the sentence of Death Eph. 2.3 We were by nature the Children of wrath even as others 2. Christ became our Surety Heb. 7.22 By so much was Jesus made the surety of a better Testament 3. He died for us 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture 4. God accepted of his Sacrifice Eph. 5.2 He gave himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Savour 5. God accepted of his Person Heb. 8.1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum We have such an High Priest who is set on the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens 6. For his sake doth God turn away his wrath from us 1 John 2.2 He is the propitiation for our sins He saves us from the wrath to come 7. For his sake doth God forgive us Col. 1.14 In whom we have Redemption through his Blood the forgiveness of our sins 8. For his sake doth God free us from Condemnation Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus 9. For his sake is God reconciled to us Rom. 5.10 If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son 1. Pet 3 18. Christ also hath once suffered for us the just for the unjust to bring us to God 10. For his sake he saves us Rom. 5.9 Much more then being now justified by his blood shall we be saved from wrath through him What can we desire more to manifest that Gods Justice is fully satisfied for our sins by the sufferings of Christ Christs Sufferings then are the hope set before us and God hath spoken with an Oath That by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie we might have strong Consolation who are fled for refuge from the Stroke of Gods Justice hither Christs sufferings fled to by Faith are they for which God will justifie us For in regard they have fully satisfied Justice for our sins we may be confident they will secure us from Condemnation it being against Justice it self to punish those sins a second time that have been punished to the full already Against this Doctrine of Satisfaction G. W. Div. of Christ objecteth many things I shall briefly run them over and reduce them to five Conclusions Obj. 1. Satisfaction is not needful Cannot God command his wrath p. 62. Cannot he satisfie and please himself Man can pardon without satisfaction this were to render God more cruel than man 62. Such Blasphemy is this man not afraid to utter The Lord convince and humble him But I answer Canst thou Reader see fallen Angels tormented in hell to all eternity because Gods Justice is no way satisfied for their sins and yet say what need is there for any satisfaction When God judgeth it meet all sin should be punished when in his Threats he hath declared his Will and Purpose for it bound himself by his Truth and Faithfulness canst thou yet say what need have I of any Saviour to satisfie Justice for my sins When God spared not his Son wilt thou say what need these Stroaks of Justice Yet if this Doctrine be true God is cruel in this mans eyes Possibly he will say too If God doth damn the Impenitent if he damnes the fallen angels he is cruel for he can command wrath Can a King forgive all violation of his Laws without punishing any and reign It would not be his perfection to do this
it by Faith as kindleth love to God and Christ above their lives and engageth their hearts in all obedience It is true such have many faylings but far from open petulant derision and contempt of God their unavoidable infirmities are their burthen in these they can read their own deserts even to have them as dung cast back into their faces and to be rejected for them but their sin is their misery they loath themselves and cease not to make their spotless Saviour who bled for them their refuge and thus in him they have peace comfort safety Salvation The Lord convince and humble slanderers and establish his own people in his Truth Concerning Election and Reprobation I Should not have medled with this deep mysterious point but that by his additional depravation of Gods truth he hath engaged me thereunto I shall therefore God assisting briefly lay down manifest and vindicate the truth so far as I see it opposed And here this Proposition That God did most freely unchangeably and from all eternity choose some particular persons to partake of saving grace and salvation by Jesus Christ for the praise of the glory of his grace From whence it will necessarily follow that he hath reprobated or passed by others I must manifest this by parts 1. Gods Act which essentially takes in the object thereof he hath chosen some particular persons 2 Thes 2.13 God hath chosen you Jo. 15.19 I have chosen you Eph. 14. He hath choseu us This being directly denyed I shall adde Arguments Arg. 1. Particular persons in time receive mercy are converted made to persevere are saved therefore did God decree this before hand For God worketh according to the Counsel of his own will Eph. 1.11 Arg. 2. God hath made absolute promises of the first saving grace Ezek. 36.25 26. I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean A new heart will I give you Chap. 11.19 20. I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit within you I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh that they may walk in my Statutes Jer. 31.33 This is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel in those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their inward parts Isa 54.13 All thy Children shall be taught of the Lord. These promises are but a declaration of his purpose or Decree and they are not made concerning all but particular persons whom God hath in his eye to save otherwise every one would be made clean would have a new heart a heart of flesh Gods Law written in his heart would be taught of God and so come to Christ but experience shews the contrary Arg. 3. Persons by name are particular persons but God hath chosen persons by name Rev. 13.8 All that dwel on the earth shall worship the beast whose names are not written in the slain Lambs book of Life from the foundation of the world So may the words be read Arg. 4. All that are chosen do infallibly believe in time and partake of Christs Righteousness Act. 13.48 As many as were ordained to eternal life believed Rom. 11.7 The Elect have obtained it Therefore some particular persons were Elected for if all were Elected all would infallibly believe and so partake of Christs Righteousness Arg. 5. Jacob was a particular Person and loved before he had done any good according to Gods purpose of Election Rom. 9.11 Arg. 6. God knows his Elect from others and this not only after but also before they are called 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of God stands sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth them that are his Jo. 13.18 I know whom I have chosen Jo. 10.14 I am that good shepheard and know my sheep ver 16. Other sheep I have which are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voyce Therefore are they particular Persons These and not others that the Lord hath chosen Jo. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me Arg. 7. This appears from the very Nature of Election for where all are taken or all are left there can be no Election 2. The end and intendment of this Act. This with respect to Man is that he might partake of saving grace Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us that we should be holy That we might also partake of Salvation by Jesus Christ. 2 Thes 2.13 God hath chosen you to Salvation 1 Thes 5.9 God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord with respect to God that the glory of his grace might be praised as we have it exprest Eph. 1.6 verse 11 12. Predestinated that we should be to the praise of his glory 3. The Properties of his Act. 1. Most freely did God Elect those that are Elected Rom. 9.11 The Children not being yet born neither having done good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth it was said the elder should serve the younger as it is written Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated Though these last words were spoken when Esaus posterity was the border of wickedness Mal. 1. Yet whatever G. W. saith p. 45. were they spoken to signifie the free choice that God long before bad made of Jacob and his seed which free choice was manifested in those words of Love concerning Jacob the elder shall serve the younger for they were spoken before the Children had done good or evil nothing had Jacob done to move God thus to preserve him before his brother And further the Apostle tells us this was done that the purpose of Gods Election might stand or take place So that God did but Act then as he had decreed of old to do And further yet the Apostle tells us this Election is not of works but of him that calleth No mans good works foreseen are the things that move God to choose but it is the meer good pleasure of God who effectually calls and prevails on whom he will This is further manifest from Ver. 16. It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy The Truth is we have naturally no will to that which is spiritually good how should we when we cannot know the things of God when holiness and faith in Christ are foolishness to us so Ver 18. He hath mercy on whom he will The Apostle goes on Ver 21. Hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same Lump to make one Vessel to honour another to dishonour The Lump is Men and Women to be created the making of Vessels is Gods creating mankind with a decree of permitting their fall the making of this Vessel to honour that to dishonour is Gods creating such a person with a Resolution to recover him out of his fallen state by saving grace this resolution is