Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	jesus_n	light_n	shine_v	5,880	5	9.7269	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86667	The rebukes of a reviler fallen upon his own head, in an answer to a book put forth by one Iohn Stelham, called a minister at Terlin in Essex. Wherein is shewed unto all spiritual men, that he himself is justly proved to be a contradictor of the scriptures, while he falsly accuses others thereof, that are clear, and the saying is fulfilled upon him, he is fallen into the pit, which he digged for others, for even that way which he calls heresie, do we worship the God of our fathers. By R.H.	Hubberthorn, Richard, 1628-1662.; Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.	1657 (1657)	Wing H3229; Thomason E919_7; ESTC R207520	62,017	83

it and whether Wine that is put into a Bottle be made Wine by the bottle or whether is it not Wine without the bottle and Water put into a vessel be not Water without the vessel or whether the vessel make it to be Water John Stelham saith Every verse of Scripture is a little vessel of light and that light without Scripture is no light so these things have I laid open that every one may see how the Lord hath turned wise men backward and made their wisdom foolishness and that they may see how those stumble and fall and are snared and taken whose light is turned into darkness and how great that darkness is and now are the Scriptures not denied but fulfilled for now is the light and truth come into the world by which they are found to be blind which said they saw and in which they see that were blind and now the depths are seen which are covered with darkness and Babylon is seen the Mother of Harlots which bring forth in confusion and bind up in ignorance other confusions and lyes I shall also mention given forth by I. S. in his Book As page 68. he saith That God was and is the Word according to Joh. 1. 1. and in page 69. he saith The Father is not the Word nor never so called which is contradiction and in page 70. saith Christ is more in the Scriptures than in his Saints which is false for greater was that which the words came from than the words which did but declare of the fulness from whence they came as all that know Christ will bear witness unto and against all such that say Christ is more in the words than in them which speak the words Again in page 73. he saith Christ the Author of Salvation to them that obey him speaking in the Scripture saveth by the Scripture which is false and contrary to the testimony of the Scriptures and the witness of them which witnessed his Salvation who said By his life are we saved and by Grace through faith which was the gift of God and not by the letter and their witness was true for God his Works against all such who are of a lying heart and spirit of errour who would make the letter to be the light yea more even that which makes light to be light and so greater for that which makes a thing is greater than the thing that is made and would have the letter to be the Word when as the letter saith God is the Word and would make the Scriptures to be that by which people are saved as in page 73 saying Christ saveth by the Scriptures but the Scriptures speak no such thing of themselves for they say that there is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved but by the name of Jesus neither is there such a word written in the Bible that say men is saved by Scriptures nor that the light of the Godhead is natural as I. S. saith that he may set up a light of Scriptures as he calleth it And he speaks in page 82. of having our minds darkned with the light of Scriptures mark doth that light which he hath in all his Book been exalting above the Godhead light and above that light which Christ hath enlightened every man withal darken mens minds what is it then that must enlighten them here is his testimony of the light brought up to the full that all who can receive it may believe it for he saith to us if our minds were not darkned with the light of the Scriptures the two texts in Rom. 10. 18. and Col. 1. 23. might resolve us how the Gospel is preached to every Creature and not to the principle of light in the Conscience how can the Scripture resolve us of the light if it darken our minds but by these things this is made manifest that darkness hath blinded his eyes that he neither knows the light nor the Scriptures which was given forth from it Again another of his contradictions concerning the light in page 23 24. compared with page 75. is this saying the light that shined in Pauls heart and the light that shineth in the Scripture is the same light and God who shineth in the heart by Gospellight according to the Apostles words 2 Cor. 4. 4. contrary unto which in his 75 page saith That the Gospel light about matters of Salvatio● of which the Apostle speaks never entered never shined into mens hearts Answ To this let all take notice and consider whether of these two Contraries they are to believe the one saying God shineth in their hearts by Gospel light and the other saith It never entred nor shined into mens hearts But if the Scriptures or the Apostle is to be believed he saith for 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 but we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us ●Cor. 4. 6 7. here was the light of the Gospel shining in their hearts in matters of Salvation giving them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and they were the vessels in which the light did shine and from which they spoke the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery and so that which they spoke of the light and of the Gospel is yet a mystery unto such whose eye is blinded with the God of this world and the wayes of unrighteousness knowing neither the light nor the Gospel of Salvation but filling up their line of confusion as hath been already manifest and may further be made manifest Again John Stelham in his 6. head of Scripture Contradiction speaks concerning the Law and goes about to distinguish between the two Covenants which the Scriptures speaks of but knows not what he speaketh nor of what he affirmeth but contrary to the Scriptures speaking of a Moral and of a Ceremonial Law which the Scriptures speaks of no such words nor no such distinctions as of a Moral Law to be the Covenant of Works and that the Ceremonial Law is not a Covenant of Works but of Grace And whereas he tells of a Covenant of Nature which is one with the Covenant of Works and so here is several Covenants which I. S. hath made and several Names here given to the Covenants which God never gave nor they which spoke of the Covenants never gave such names to the Law in the words of Scripture as Moral Legal Natural Ceremonial so that is all without and contrary to the Scripture language And whereas he goeth about to prove Adam to be under a Moral Law which he calls a Law of Works but hath no Scripture to prove it from but from his suppositions as thus If it was not of Grace it was a Covenant of Works and again If

clear are the more ready to bear his Lyes with Patience and doth not pray for fire to devour him though he be our enemy and the Lords but rather wishes his returning from his ungodliness than a destruction upon him in his ungodliness and whereas the substance of his matter invented in his mind and brought forth into view is a going about to prove that in twenty two particulars mentioned by him we do contradict the Scriptures but his ground is false from whence his whole work proceeds for not in any particular of what is mentioned do we contradict the Scriptures though his whole work be founded upon this thing of our contradiction to Scripture and while we be approved in the sight of the Lord we reckon his s●●nders to be rather a testimony to us that we are of God than a discouraging of us in the wayes of God and we do not allow that I. S. be our Interpreter and the Expositor upon our words for then no question but he will judge out of his prejudicial mind false Judgement and pervert the innocent words into contradiction of Scripture and of our selves but to the single mind and witness of God in every man we appeal for judgment and doth in the sight of God commend our selves to every mans Conscience and begs not belief of any but knows all that be in the light of the Son of God witnesseth to us and feels our Doctrine to be the Doctrine of Godliness reaching to the witness of God in every one whereby we are a good savour to God in all and though I. S. judge our doctrine to be Scripture contradictions yet his judgement is but out of his old lying heart which can bring forth no better than it self even false judgement and lying words which out of it hath plentifully abounded in his false Rebukes therefore let the Reader first search into the ground from whence his work and judgement doth spring and try if an old Lying heart and sinful wretch as he confesses he is can bring forth good fruit no we matter not what his judgement of us be when as we know the heart is corrupt from whence it doth spring not in the light of the spirit of God do we in any one particular insisted upon by him Contradict the Scriptures though by his dark minde so he wickedly judgeth of us even as the Pharisees his forefathers did judge of Christ to be a Blasphemer and a Contradictor of Moses and the Prophets who did fulfil them and put them to an end and not destroy them nor contradict them not in the sight of his Father though to their corrupt judgement and Christ tells them that they erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God who had old lying hearts were sinful wretches even such as John Stelham hath confessed himself to be and therefore his words and judgment and theirs is like to be all of one nature judging truth to be error and the way of God to be Heresie and Blasphemy this the Pharisees did of old and even thus doth John Stelham and his Companions do at this day but why should any be troubled hereat seeing herein Christs words are fulfilled upon us who said they shall speak all manner of evil falsly against you for my names sake and so hath this man done with his light scornful spirit and fulfilled Christs words who because he hath not known the Father nor the Son hath spoken evil falsly against them that follow Christ and this were sufficient answer to his whole Book yet let us see what follows and let the Reader try with all moderation that he may be edified and may know the true spirit from the false and the doctrine of the Gospel from lying visions and may cleave to the truth and escape the error and let none believe hastily things uttered without knowledge out of I. S. deceitful heart FOrasmuch as many of the Servants of the Lord have been moved of the Lord to set forth in order several Declarations of those things which the light of the glorious Gospel shining in their hearts hath given them the knowledge of and for this end are they published that others also may know the certainty and truth of those things which are believed known and enjoyed amongst us not that they can be known by reading the letter in which they are delared but through their diligence and obedience to the light wherewith Christ hath enlightened them though not for it which is the same light which shined in our hearts and gave us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ by which light of the glorious Gospel who are faithful in it to the Lord their understandings come to be opened that they stumble not at those things which are testified in the truth neither at that which is declared in other Scriptures but it being that in this our day it hath pleased the f●ther to bring forth in life and power that mercy and truth which the Scripture speaks of by which iniquity is purged out and as it is become a savour of life unto life in those that receive and believe in it so it is also become a savour of death unto that death which rema●ns in both Priests and People in this age who hates the light who can scarce hear it named or that people should be turned unto it as the Apostle did turn them from darkness to the light and from the power of Satan unto God that they might receive the remission of their sins and be partakers of the inheritance amongst them that are sanctified but when they hear that Preached or Printed which they may do and out of which they cannot receive the remission of their sins then envie riseth up in them and a perverse mind and ungodly Speeches and false Accusations saying that we speak of a natural light and of a natural conscience when as we speak of the true light which hath enlightened every one that cometh into the world and in which Christs doctrine stood which said to the people and to the Pharisees again and again I am the light of the world as Joh. 8. 12 Joh. 12. 46. but now because the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us and we declare it freely as we have received it therefore is flouds of ungodliness risen up against us but it is impossible that the seed which the Lord is manifesting his light and power to bring forth should be kept alwayes under the power of death which seed is now terrible in the Lords power and will yet be more terrible as his power encreaseth which is now going forth as an Army with banners for the torment of the wicked is already begun because the righteousness of God is now spreading over the Nations and neither the rulers of the darkness of this world nor all the Printings and Preachings of those who be out of the life of

which ungodly sinners have spoken against him as Jude beareth witness and he also saw and Prophesied of Israel according to the flesh that they should do wickedly and slay him who was the light of the world And much more which is not written in the Bible And that which was manifest unto Paul which he wrote to the Corinthians in an Epostle not to company with fornicators that whole Epistle is not in the Bible 1 Cor. 5. 9. And likewise that which was revealed unto Paul in the dispensation of the grace of God given unto him how that by revelation God made known unto him the mystery which he wrote unto the Ephesians in a few words whereby they when they read they might understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it was then revealed unto his holy Angels and Prophets by the Spirit which Epistle in which that mystery was written is not in the Bible Ephes. 3. 3. And the Epistle which Paul wrote to the Laod●ceans which he charged the Colossians to read amongst them and that theirs should be read in the Church of the Laodeceans wherin his thanks and prayers to God was for their stedfastness in the truth wherein he made manifest the unprofitable talkers who went about to draw them from the truth of the Gospel and from their diligence in good works of eternal life as many vain and unprofitable talkers are in the world now doing the same work And whereas I. S. saith That the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians was read as the Word of the Lord in the Church of the Laodeceans Why doth he not as well ●ear witness that Pauls Epistle to the Laodeceans was read as the word of the Lord amongst the Colossians Col. 4. 16 And if he read in his Church the Epistle to the Colossians as the Word of the Lord why doth not he read to his people that which was written to the Laodeceans they both being given forth from one Spirit So let him consider of those things above mentioned and try whether his words will stand unreprovable 67 page saying God might have revealed more than is in the Scripture but he pleased not so to do In that page mentioning Samuel Moses and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles saying All that they have spoken is written both according to what was Written before and for substance the same Answ. What I have spoken and shall here speak may sufficiently make manifest that his words proceed from the old lying heart in which dwells no truth for I have shewed out of the Prophets and out of the Apostles many things which was both revealed and declared which is not in the Bible written And likewise I shall shew farther of the things concerning Christ testified by John and we know that his Testimony is true saying And there are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world it se●f could not contain the Books which should be written John 21. 25. So that all is not written which was revealed wrote and spoken which if much more were written which was made manifest by it with that which is written could they not know the Lord their minds being from the light of Christ which doth reveal and make manifest that which may be known of God in them And many who have the Letter and are Ministers of it are sensual having not the spirit nor the word of God nor the testimony of Jesus and their Ministry is but as Chaff to the Wheat and the Lord is against them For what is the chaff to the wheat saith the Lord Jer. 23. Is not my word like a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces Now many have the letter and know not the word of the Lord as a fire neither is the rock broken with the letter and such use their tongue for it is their own and the power of the Lord is not come over it such cause the People to err and doth not profit them being not sent nor commanded of the Lord for who are sent and commanded of the Lord the Lord useth their tongues to speak his words which he puts into their mouths and such words doth profit the people and not cause them to err being spoken according to the law which is light And the testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophesie and such do witness the Scriptures that as they cannot be broken so they cannot be denied by the Spirit which gave them fo●th to be a Declaration of those things which was reveale● known and believed But they are not that which they are a declaration of the letter testifies of the eternal life but it is not it neither gives it It testifies of the Light of the glorious Gospel shining in the heart which gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God but it is not that light which gives that knowledge It testifies of the Way but Christ is the Way and of the Word but God is the Word and of Redemption but Christ is the Redemption and not the letter though it testifies of Justification and Sanctification but they are wrought by the Word in the grace and power of Christ and so every one who will own the Scriptures as they were given forth to be owned must first own that of God in them which is manifest to work in the Creature that which they testifie of that Christ the power of God they may witness working all their works in them and for them according to the Scriptures But contrary to the Scriptures I. S. from the root of Errour saith That the written letter is the spiritual Arm and Sword of the Spirit and that the very power of the written Letter puts Satan to flight● And in the same Page saith That the Devil hath Scripture in his mouth Answ. Let the People take notice and read the Scriptures and see if there be any such thing that the sword of the Spirit was ever in the Divels Mouth for the spiritual Armour which is said to be the Word of God But the Word of God w●ich is the sword of the Spirit is that by which he is to be destroyed and is in the mystery hid from him and all that follow his lusts But though the Devil which did not abide in the truth and his Ministers who are out of the truth may take the letter in their mouths as they have done and say its written so but the word of the Lord s not in their mouths which is the sword of the Spirit and such will use the letter in their mouths which cannot cease from sin whose eyes are full of Adultery beguiling unstable Souls their heart being exercised with covetous practises cursed children which have forsaken the right way and are in the Errour of Balaam loving the wages of

●n honest man I will believe but not I. S. assertion out of his own heart In his 2d Head of Self-contradiction Concerning hearing the Word this is not contradiction to say they who are of God hear his Word and yet to deny the hearing of such as I. S who is not a Minister of the Word but a professor of the Letter for proud men and covetous men and false Acculers such as I. S. is are we exhorted to turn away from by Paul and this is not a denying our selves to be of God as I. S. would charge us withall because we deny to hear hirelings for we hear Gods Word and his Voice and therefore do we deny to hear Deceivers and this is no self-contradiction nor saying nor unsaying let I. S. judge what he will the Saints shall be my witness and though we say that the Saints teacher cannot be removed into a corner as saith the Scripture and that the Saints will find their teach as they lye in their beds both these are true and not self-contradiction let a sober Reader judge whether he can find contradict on in those words but fain would I. S. have his lyes believed for truth that he might have praise of men for his works hath gained no praise of God and he saith R. F. hath proved not lyes yet against him if it were so let the Reader search whether there be none proved against him now but let him not say like a Pharisee I am no lyar but rather let him repent of his lyes and wickednesse His 3d Head concerning the Light within Wherein much ado he makes as to prove the light of Christ spoken of Jo 1. 9 to be a natural light and he saith the light given to all men even that light spoken of Jo. 1. 9. is a dim light and is cold and insufficient to Salvation and unable to make true discovery of the true Saviour and such like contemptible undervaluing words of the pure light of Christ by whom the world was made who lighteth every man in the World and by this it is known more evidently what Spirit I. S. is of but there is none of us who have received the knowledge of God by the very light of Christ which shines in our hearts can believe him and this is no contradiction to say that every man is lightened by Christ with the true light and yet to say some men are living in a natural condition both these are true for some hates the light of Christ and their deeds are evil and such are in a natural condition but this doth not prove that Christ hath not given them light though they be in a natural condition I leave it to spiritual men to judge though they say it seems strange that some should live a natural condition and yet have the light of Christ given them saith he as if every man brought a Saviour with him into the world This last is his false conception but he is mans Saviour by whose power every man is brought into the World and if I. S. did but understand as we do that some love the light and some hates it such as hates it denyes Christ he that loves it receives Christ who knows this strangeth not I. S. wondring shews his Ignorance who would secretly charge us to be bewitched with a Notion of accounting nature grace which we do not and it is his own condition he that conceives Lyes believes them and tells them is the rather bewitched And further he saith the light in every man is a poor base beggarly scrap to the Gospel treasure these words are uttered in his hastiness and without either fear or knowledge for he that lighteth every man with the true light of life or of condemnation is not base beggarly scraps as I. S. saith it is for it brings to the knowledge of the Gospel treasure and pearle and not other light and thus whilst he thinks to prove us self-contradictors proves himself a villifier and a blasphemer of Christ Jesus the Saviour of the World who lighteth every man that cometh into the World Again he would make this contradiction because we say every man in his first state is as a Beast and yet saying every man is lightened but this is not contradiction no more than the former is and then he speaks of natural conscience and secretly charges a● if we should say it is potent and victorious at last but this is is a secret slander of his for we say Christ only is victorious and through him are we made Conquerors and not by natural conscience and he speaks of Gospel conviction to be above the conviction of natural conscience but I would know of him where the Gospel conviction works if not in m●ns consciences and so in his next let him divide if he can and shew the difference of such convictions Further he would say that this is contradiction to say that every man in his first birth may see himself to be natural and yet to say that the light which discovers natural corruptions is not natural but spiritual both these are true for the light shines in darkness which shews the darkness and is not darkness but light and he that can understand that Scripture Iohn 1 5. shall see the truth of both these to b● no self-contradiction Further he saith the Scriptures are a rule above the Saints light and ●nto it and not so their light above the Scripture this is confusion and he knows not whereof he affi●ms for the Spirit of God is the Saints rule and that is greater than the Scriptures and the rule of the Spirit of God is above the Scripture but such as I. S. who talks of Scriptures to be a rule and yet acts these things which the Scriptures declare against are but found in deeper hypocrisie for he that is ruled by the Spirit of God walks up in the fulfilling of Scriptures And further I. S. confessed and saith this he knows that he is more brutish then a man and hath not the knowledge of the holy and this is truly confessed his own works manifest his condition to be true and he confesses he never obeyed natural light as he ought and as he might and this is truly confessed for if he had obeyed that light which he calls natural he would not thus have stumbled at him who hath lightened every man And further he charges a deceit when men will put off that for redemption light which is but old creation light let him charge them that are guilty but yet we say that the same is Redeemed by whom the world was created and this is without any deceit and he that lighteneth every man with the light that is but one he is the Saviour of all that receive him in the light and he is the condemner of all that hate his light and this is no self-contradiction but the very truth as it is in Jesus Further I. S. would make it appear if he could

of what they falsely accuse us in words for such who walks in the steps of the false Prophets as he and they doth that preach for hire and takes Gi●ts and Rewards for preaching are contrary to all the true Ministers of Christ and the Scripture and the Spirit that gave it forth condemns them and much as to this we have publickly spoken and written and so here I need say the lesse though much might be said to manifest I. S. folly and vanity though they that plant a vineyard may justly eat the fruit thereof yet what is this to purpose he is a thief that eats of the fruit of that which he hath not planted but is hired thither for so much per Sermon or per annu● and plants nothing for the Lord and he that preaches the Gospel may live of it but this shames I. S. and this Generation of Teachers who many of them might begg bread at peoples doors had they not a Law by violence to compell maintenance from them which thing is a very shame to all righteousness which is practised by most of the Priests of England at this day grievous to be related what unjust proceedings are acted upon the poor people by unjust judgements against them for to maintain Ministers so called what is the thing that I. S. pleads for Tithes or a hundred or two hundred pound a year he is a Lyar to say that we contradict the Scripture because we cannot uphold this but must bear witness against it so whilst he falsely charges us with contradicting the Scripture in the very same thing he and his Generation are found in this practise contrary to all the Ministers of Christ that ever was sent by him and in the very practice of the Deceivers Antichrists and false Prophets in making merchandize of people through covetousness in preaching for hire and in seeking for their gain from their quarter and this is the very truth let I. S. and all his fellows read their own contradiction to the example of all the Ministers of Christ in their cursed practise of maintenance which is the greatest oppression this day in England and this is their grief against us because God hath opened our mouths to declare against them and to shew their folly and wickednesse unto all people and when the Law of the Land ceases to maintain them which will come sooner then they expect then may they begg their bread or perish for want and that is all the fruit that their vineyard of wild Brambles will bring forth to them and if every particular of his words should be searched much rottenness might be let forth but in plainness I have spoken as to the truth of things in pleading for truth and in denying his deceits and the oppression of hirelings which I cannot call Ministers maintenance His 18th Head concerning immediate Calling In this we do not contradict the Scipture I. S. is a Lyar herein also but we say such as are called of God are called by his Spirit and lead with it and fulfills the will and work of God in the Spirit and such as are called by the Spirit of God are appoved by all the Saints of God who with the same Spirit bears witness to such as are called by it and speaks by it the Ministry of God is not of Man nor by Man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ which is not learned by natural arts but received in the Holy Ghost and this the Scripture bears witness to but the Call to the Ministry by naturall learning at Oxford and Cambridge this I deny and trample upon and all your arts and knowledge and humate study and languages is not able to make a Minister of Christ this I do affirm though they approve one another yet are they not approved of God without his Spirit and they that have his Spirit denyes naturall learning as to be made a Minister of Christ hereby and E. B. his words are owned transcribed by I. S. cited page 16. in the warning c. and all that he saith doth not prove that any of the Ministers of Christ were called by the Church or approved unto that work of the Ministry by them who were not called by the Spirit and guided with it he saith the sending of God is two-fold and for this he hath no Scripture to prove it and so holds forth that which the Scripture will not evidence And further he saith he pretends to no such Call of an Apostle if he have not the same Call by the same Spirit as the Apostles had he is no Minister of Christ and in measure he hath confessed to be without the same Call as the Apostles was called with and will not pretend such a Call Again He falsly Charges R. F. with Crucifying the Ministers of Christ which is a Lye and of the Devil though none of us may spare to call Hirelings greedy dumb Doggs and devourers and lazy sheperds and in this we do not contradict the Scriptures nor work offence towards God nor our neighbour And he concludes Who of us we or they shall have the worst of it in Conclusion the day shall declare unto that day we are willing to come by which we and all the blind Priests of England shall be manifest and we know Liars such as I. S. shall not have the better who is to us made manifest already to be out of the way and out of the power and life of God His 19th Head concerning immediate Teaching In this we do not contradict the Scripture as I. S. falsly charges us withal but doth say that we are taught of God and needs no man to reach us but as the anointing of God which abides in us and the promise of God is fulfilled upon us Jer. 31. we are all taught of God from the least of us to the greatest with whom the Covenant of God is established and this is the cause wherefore we let forth our selves to the world who are yet in the unconverted state that they also ma● come to the knowledge of the wayes and teachings of God in the Spirit and may come into the Covenant of peace where none need to say know the Lord but all these are taught of him yea and immediately too by his Spirit and this we do witness and the Lord doth witness with us though the unbelieving heart of I. S. and his fellows cannot believe it but doth gainsay it as being contrary to the Scripture when as themselves doth contradict the Scripture in denying it so proving themselves guilty of what they do accuse us of falsly but this is that their folly may appear to all men as it doth to us and I. S hath belyed the Scriptures Dan. 9. 1. 1 Tim 4. 14. in saying it is contrary to those Scriptures to say the teaching of God is immediate let the Reader try and I. S. saith he is yet to learn the promise of the immediate teachings of God to be