Thine Enemies shall be found Lyars unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their High Placet Yet to make it appear more plain that this Light within which indeed is our Principle is the Truth and the Mighty Power of God for Salvation to all that believe in it and obey it will be further manifested by its Nature and Effects The NATURE of this Light It is a Living Immortal Unchangeable Undefiled Righteous and Perfect Principle of pure Holiness which never fell comply'd with or consented to any Evil But hath ever opposed and stood cross to the whole corrupt Nature Will and Affections of faln man For I know that all Adam's Posterity are by Nature faln under Guilt Pollution Condemnation and Darkness So that the Light I speak of is nothing of Man's Nature but of the pure Divine Nature even that Seed promised Gen. 3.15 yea the Son of God which is sent into the World that whosoever believe on him should not perish but have Eternal Life The EFFECTS of this Light When Christ was upon Earth John saw and bare record That he was the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World Yet the Lord said A greater Testimony have I then that of John for the Works that I do in my Father's Name they testifie of me So say we of him now he is spiritually the Light in man however sleighted rejected and undervalued by men yet is he chosen of God and pretious the alone Saviour of the World and the Works he accomplishes daily in the Souls and Consciences of men testifie the same wherefore if his Works be not such as none else can do believe him not Effect I. Hereby the Sinner is convinced judged reproved and condemned plainly and experimentally for all the Sins that ever he committeth of what Kind or Nature soever they be Come said the Woman of Samaria and I will shew ye a Man that hath told me all things that ever I did John 4.29 is not this the Christ Effect 2. The Fear of the Lord which is the Beginning of Wisdom is never truly placed in the Heart till this Principle be witnessed and owned for while a Man looks at God and Christ at a great Distance circumscribed in some Place beyond the Stars the Sinner rageth is confident but when the Mind Understanding is perswaded that the Pure Holy Righteous Omnipotent and Omnipresent Lord God is not only nigh him but within him also he is then brought into awful Apprehension of the most High forced to cry out with Job I have heard of thee before by the Hearing of the Ear but now mine Eyes have seen him by this Means the Mind is melted into much Tenderness and Brokenness and with the Prophet complaineth Wo is me for I am undone Now consider this all ye that despise the Light within Joh. 9.30 This is a Marvelous Thing said the Young Man that ye know not whence he is and yet he hath opened my Eyes since the World began was it not heard that any Man opened the Eyes of one that was born Blind Effect 3. Waiting humbly in this pure Dread Fear of the Lord Man's Insufficiency to answer the Requirings of the Holy Commandment is discerned but perfect Power and Strength in Christ the Light is discovered for indeed in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge and standing up to the Manifestation of this Light the Judgment of the Lord is felt as a Refiner's Fire which throughly purifies and as Fullers Soap that leaves no Spot then the Soul knows that flaming Sword which kept faln Man out of Paradise but now discerns the new Birth which bears the Image of the Heavenly Nature the strong Man armed which before held Possession bound casting out and all his Goods spoiled by the Powerful Entrance of Christ into his Temple Effect 4. Waiting and abiding in this Light for Counsel and Teaching the whole Man being emptyed of his own Will and Wisdom standing singly and purely in the Will of the Lord ready to be disposed ordered and guided universally by the Light the Soul now thrives in the Fear and Love of God bringeth forth the peaceable Fruits of Righteousness and liveth in that Faith which purifies the Heart and getteth Victory over the World Sin and Death These Things with many other which might be mentioned do make it manifest that whoever deny despise and reproach the Light within deny God the Father of Lights despise Jesus Christ the Light Saviour of the World and reproach the Holy Spirit which maketh manifest and reproveth the Sins of Men Wherefore all ye Professors that look out for another Saviour remember the Answer of our Lord Jesus unto John Baptist upon the like Account Art thou he Luke 7.21 or shall we look for another Go saith Christ and tell him that sent you what you have heard and seen the Blind receive their Sight the Deaf hear c. Even the same in a spiritual Sense may be as really affirmed of the Light within hereby have the Eyes Ears and Mouthes of the Blind Deaf and Dumb been opened the Lame Lepers and the Dead cured cleansed and quickned and the Poor whom none of the Proud Covetous Clergy so called regardeth they by Vertue hereof have the Everlasting Gospel preached unto them and forever blessed are they who are not offended in the Light but love it believe in it and obey it in all things Object 1. But we are afraid of being deceived this is a new and strange Doctrine did ever Christ or his Apostles bid Men believe and obey the Light within Answ 1. Art thou not already deceived Consider therefore well thy Condition if thou art delivered out of the deceived State in which the greatest Part of the World yet remains art thou yet in a sinful transgressed Estate For the Woman being deceived was in the Transgression 1 Tim. 2.14 Answ 2. We that believe and abide in the Light know that we are not deceived neither seek we to deceive any neither fear we any deceiving us though indeed while we walked in the Imaginations of our own deceitful Hearts and warmed our selves by the Sparks of our own kindling that then as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his Subtilty so our Minds were corrupted from the Simplicity that is in Jesus in which State we see many yet to stand whom the Lord will undeceive in his own Time But Evil Men and Seducers will wax worse deceiving and being deceived Answ 3. Never fear Deceit in such who turn you to the Light whereby ye may discern betwixt Good and Bad Truth and Falshood plainly I would much fear that he had a Design to cheat me who leads into the Dark and denyes the Benefit of the Light Answ 4. Search with Freedom and examine throughly this Doctrine condemn it not unheard speak not Evil of any Thing unknown for so mayst thou soon condemn the Innocent and make thy self guilty Answ 5.
I had no Benefit of any Outward Help Teaching or Counsel but he who before had been my Reprover was then my only Teacher who sealed Instruction upon my Soul whose Voice I heard which did shake and shake the Heavens and the Earth also and caused me to cry out Lord What wouldest thou have me to do And being brought to the Foot of God could truly say Speak now Lord for thy Servant heareth And abiding in this broken and shattered State I clearly felt the Judgment of the Lord powerfully at work in my Soul as an Ax at the Root of the Tree and as a Refiner's Fire till the Life and Power of Sin was slain subdued and mortified perfectly in my Will and Affections then was the Lord Jesus revealed in me whom I had pierced the New Birth Discerned which is created after God in true Holiness and the Immortal Pure Precious Seed of the Eternal God which ever before had been pressed down trodden under and held in Bondage arose yea the Tender Plant of his own Right Hand sprung up in me panting and vehemently breathing after and never since could be satisfied but with his Living Presence Behold these things worketh the Lord oftentimes with men looking upon men And if any say I have sinned and perverted that which is Right and it profitted me not he will deliver his Soul from going into the Pit and his Life shall see the Light And this is the Sum of the Confession which I was not ashamed to witness in your publick Assemblies both at Nottingham and other places in the year 1668. Objection But it is probable some of you will object saying After this Change was wrought thou didst Joyn to our Assemblies Owned us Prayed with us Preached amongst us and seemed to enjoy Refreshings and Satisfaction in our Assemblies wherefore then art thou now departed from us and gone to the Quakers Answer 1. Notwithstanding that great and notable Work begun in my Soul and in some measure effected by the Mighty Power of the Lord yet was there after some time a certain Deadness Coldness and Darkness drawn over me again occasioned through Weakness Unwatchfulness and Formality whereby that good Condition was lost nevertheless I found and felt tender Breathings moving in me thirsting and seeking for renewed Testimonies of the Love of God then in the Simplicity and Uprightness of my Heart not knowing a more likely way to obtain Satisfaction I joyned to your Society and can truly affirm though I now see it was no better then seeking the Living among the Dead that the Lord was pleased in the Condescensions of his Love many times to stoop down and reach forth from the openings of his Bosom Refreshings and Nourishment to that tender Babe of his own begetting yea while I frequented your Assemblies Answ 2. And as I continued Faithful and Obedient to that measure of Light and Knowledge which was revealed in me it is well known to all or the most of you what Censures Opposition and Contradiction both I and the plain Scripture-Truths which I declared in your Assemblies suffered from many of your Brethren charging me That I was leading into Quakerism long before I understood either by word or Writing what the Quakers held Answ 3. But however these Censures occasioned a free and impartial Search into the Quakers Principle Doctrine and Practice for verily before I was as much afraid of the Quakers as ye can be But standing single in the Will and Counsel of the Lord desirous to prove all things and hold fast that which is good abandoning all Consultations with Flesh was resolved to cease from Man and to cleave unto the Truth as the Lord should reveal and discover the same to me waiting in this Unbyassed Unprejudiced and Dis-engaged Frame examining carefully the Principle Foundation Doctrine and Practice of this Despised Holy People great Clearness and Satisfaction arose in my Soul for as Face answered Face in a Glass so were the Truths delivered by them owned and embraced by the Witness of God in my own Conscience and the same Spirit Light Life and Power which is manifest in them I came to feel in a measure in my own Particular And yet for all this before I came to any visible Closure with them I sate down and counted the Cost and am made willing freely to endure the Cross and undergo the World's Reproach and Shame knowing that whoever will be Christ's Disciple must deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow him And truly Friends the Day of the Lord's Power is come and felt whereby I am made willing to forsake Fathers and Mothers Brethren and Sisters Parsonages and all kind of Ecclesiastical Promotions Friends Honours Pleasures Profits Houses Lands Goods yea and Life is self to follow the Lamb and fall in with his Interest as it is only witnessed and embraced by and amongst the Children of Light by the World called Quakers Answ 4. But if it were possible I desire to make clear to your Satisfaction that there was sufficient Ground for me and so there is for you who have any Tenderness and Breathings in your Souls after the Lord to separate your selves from the Tents of those Ungodly Men your Teachers who are no better then Filthy Dreamers Blind Guides and Belly Gods who belch out nothing but Blasphemies Lyes Slanders False Accusations and Evil Speeches against God and Christ his Wayes Truth and People and this I see and declare against them in the Light For verily there is and I witness it an Honest Gracious Tender Principle in many of you called Independents which kindles in you perfect Hatred against Sin and unsatisfied real Breathings and Pantings after the Sensible Living Presence of the Lord But your Leaders cause you to Err and ye are scattered upon the dark and barren Mountains And this I testifie in the Name of the Living God That it will be so with you while ye follow these Wandring Stars Clouds without Rain Seducing Spirits your Pastors and Teachers who are Ravening Wolves and Ministers of Antichrist whom ye ought not to receive into your Houses nor bid them God speed For 1. They are altogether Ignorant of the True God and all the Knowledge that these men pretend to have of the Deity is attained by Reading and Hear-say for they will confidently affirm That Vision and Immediate Revelation is ceased Judge ye therefore what Knowledge these men have of God when the Scriptures say No man knows the Father but they to whom the Son reveals him 2. They Reproach and despise Jesus Christ the only Son of God of whom the Scriptures witness and testifie to be the True Light which enlightens every man that comes into the World But they are not afraid to say The Light in every man is but a Natural Light and at the best not able to save those who believe in it and obey it And to discover themselves more plainly to be the Ministers of Antichrist they are
is Unchangeable Incorruptible and Eternal without Beginning of Dayes or End of Time and so are not the Scriptures Answ 2. Nevertheless we prefer the Holy Scriptures as they were given forth by the Holy Spirit of God and believe them to be a true Declaration of God and of his Word Answ 3. Yet do we prefer Christ Jesus the Light above the Scriptures for in all Things he must have the Preheminence therefore saith John the Baptist I prefer him before me for he is before me though in Appearance John was seemingly before Christ Before Abraham was I am said he Wherefore know that we build not upon the Holy Prophets and Blessed Apostles their Words Works Writings and Experiences but we are built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the Foundation and the chief Corner-Stone so that we have not received our Light Life Peace Comfort Faith Hope and Assurance from the Writings of the Saints but from him that was their Light Life Hope Root and Foundation and have our Teaching from that Light whereby Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob and Joseph walked with and pleased God long before any Scriptural Rules were manifested Answ 4. Neither are the Scriptures the only Rule to judge of Doctrines for we know the Scriptures are hard to be understood and therefore Men in their carnal Wisdom are putting their several Meanings upon one and the same Scripture wherefore we say the Spirit of God is the only Judge of Doctrines because he alone that gave forth knows the Meanings of Scriptures 1 Cor. 2.10 For the Spirit searcheth all Things yea the Deep Things of God Answ 5. Nor yet do I believe that the Scriptures were the only Means which Christ made Use of to overcome and repel the Tempter in the Wilderness for we observe Satan pleaded Scripture as well as Christ till he took indeed the Sword of the Spirit which is his Divine Power and commanded him saying Get thee behind me Satan then the Devil left him but not before he was thus expelled Object 3. But this Doctrine of the Light within is opposed by all the able learned Divines so call'd in the Nation yea the most eminent Preachers amongst the Presbyters Independents and Baptists do condemn it for Erroneous and Divelish Delusion Answ 1. It 's true this Doctrine hath been and is a Stone of Stumbling a Rock of Offence unto all Sorts Forms of Professors in the World especially the Priests Preachers are most inveterately incensed against it because the Craft by which they have gotten great Gain is hereby especially impared nevertheless the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against it the Truth is strong and will prevail yea it doth and will flourish in Despight of all the Scorns Injuries Opposition and Villany of the World Answ 2. The Scriptures are plain that God hath hid these Things from the Wise and Prudent in the World and hath revealed them unto Babes Behold therefore ye Despisers and wonder for this is the Work which God hath wrought in your Day which ye will not believe though it be declared unto you Answ 3. And as for those Preachers among the Presbyters c. who oppose this Doctrine this I affirm and testifie against them though they come in Sheeps Cloathing that is have gotten a more refined Way of Profession then others and cover themselves with the Words of the Prophets and Apostles yet inwardly are they Ravening Wolves they are inwardly Ravened from the Light and Life of those Saints whose Words they have taken up yea it is an easie Thing to prove against the best of them that they live in Sin and plead for it Answ 4. Whoever deny reproach and oppose this Doctrine are none of Christ's Ministers as will appear from a due Examination of their Call Doctrine and Practice Who sent them God or Man What do they preach the Word of God or the Words of Men Is their Life and Conversation Humble Meek Self-denying and Heavenly Or is it not Proud Fierce Self-seeking and Worldly Now our Lord Jesus hath left upon Record one Infallible Rule whereby we may know which are true Gospel-Ministers and which are not and as it is granted that Christ was a true Gospel-Minister so it is expected that all Gospel-Ministers be like him in their Measure for saith Christ to his Father As thou sent me into the World so have I sent them into the World Joh. 17. And when he sent forth his Disciples to them he saith As the Father sent me even so send I you Hereby then it will easily be discerned that these Preachers who so bitterly Rage and Rail against the Light within are never an one of them Christ's Ministers but Idol-Shepherds Lyars and False Prophets Qualification 1. Christ was the Son of God and known to be so before he undertook or exercised in the Ministry for the Lord foreseing what after came to pass by Peoples running into several Opinions and Doctrines of men gave this Charge and Testimony from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear him In like manner every true Believer is a Son of God generated of the immortal Seed born anew by the Operation of the Spirit made a real Partaker of the Divine Nature liveth in and hath Union with God through Faith in Christ for to as many as receive him he giveth Power to become the Sons of God Qualif 2. He was immeasurably anointed with the Spirit and was known to be so for saith John He that sent me to baptize the same said unto me On whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining the same is he So may true Gospel-Ministers be known for they are as really anointed with the Holy Spirit of God as Christ was though not so equally yea every believing Soul is indued with this Spirit these are the Anointed ones of the Lord and whoever want this Spirit they are none of his And as Christ commanded his Disciples to abide at Jerusalem till they had received this Vnction so whoever undertake to preach before they have receiv'd this Power from the Lord they Run and he sent them not Qualif 2. He endured and conquered the Assaults and Temptations of Satan in the Wilderness by virtue of his Sonship and Unction before he was ever known to preach the Gospel in like manner all the true Children of God are taken into Fellowship with Christ in his Tryals Temptations and Sufferings but especially such as have been call'd unto more eminent publick Work have met with greatest Conflicts Wraftlings and Temptations that they might be kept humble before the Lord and also be fitly disposed to speak a Word in due season for the Relief of such as are brought under the same Trouble Qualif 4. In the Power Virtue and Strength of his Son-ship Unction and Conquest he went out and preached the Gospel that is proclaimed Glad Tidings of the Grace and
set at nought refused and Despised by all Babel's Builders as a Poor Inconsiderable Matter But though these Phrases oppose the Appearance of Christ in Spirit the Light despise him as the Day of small Things yet is it the only precious Stone the tryed Stone the Corner-stone that sure Foundation and Rock of Ages that whosoever believe and build hereon the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them Wherefore seeing that Light is come into the World and that the Light Christ Jesus is sufficient to redeem save all that believe in and obey him and that Man's Condemnation proceeds only from Disobedience and Unbelief in rejecting the Light It is therefore the earnest Travail of my Soul That you my dear and truly beloved Friends and Relations may turn in to the Light in your own Consciences retire thither and wait in the Silence of your own Wills and Wisdom for the clear Manifestations thereof then shall you know him whom all the VVorld talks of and need no more that any say Know the Lord for he will reveal himself in you Wherefore as ye love your own Souls love and cherrish that in you which hath shewn you the Evil of Sin the Vanity of this Fading World and hath been at Work many a time in your Hearts and wrought you into Tenderness panting after Satisfaction from the Living Presence of God Oh! Love believe only in him hearken only to him wait continually upon Him obey follow and live in his Counsels fall under his Reproofs with Meekness endure his Judgment with Patience kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish in the Way chearfully resign up your Wills Affections Souls Bodies Pleasures Profits Honours Estates Liberty and Life it self to be universally ordered and disposed by him whose Name is Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace This is the Way to True Honour and Durable Riches Oh therefore be perswaded to stand single in the Teachings Guidance and Counsels of the Lord Jesus Despise him not be not ashamed to own him and his poor Despised Followers Now that your Hearts may be carryed above the Snares that attend your Conditions and be wholely devoted to the Lord and become Fellow Citizens with the Saints in Light is the earnest Breathing and Prayer of him who is Your Faithful Friend James Jackson Postscript Reader HAving mentioned some things before in general of the Just Cause of my leaving the Independent People I think it not unseasonable to give this particular Account of an Offence receiv'd from the Uneven Walking of John James Pastor of the Independents in Nottinghamshire which I signified to him before my Forsaking that Way a Copy whereof followeth which to this Day stands over his Head for he never returned me an Answer to my Letter but stirred up and incensed my Relations and others against me telling them how greatly I had Injured Abused and Slandered him But Wisdom is justified of her Children John James THe Lord knows and thou art not wholely Ignorant That some years lately past my Soul was plunged into a most Dreadful State yea and I certainly know that unless the most precious Sons of Sion be kept by the Mighty Power of God and in themselves carefully observe the first Declinings of their Hearts from the Lord they will be ensnared through the Deceitfulness of Sin and become weak as other Men And consider as thou art in great Danger to be ruin'd through the Indulgence and Flatteries of thy Brethren some of them styling thee The Head of the Church next and immediately under Christ and lest thou shouldst receive Harm for want of Faithfulness in Friends watching over thee in Love I have in Love to thy Soul and Discharge of my Duty presented to thy serious Consideration some of the things I hear of thee and partly believe them Whereas heretofore thou usedst to preach against National Churches Antichrist's Clergy their Covetousness Pride Forcâ—d Maintenance c. and reprovedst thy Brethren for hearing those Parish Priests with whom now thou art joyned in Combination to augment thy Ecclesiastical Promotions which before was more Considerable then many Parsonages in the County and so thou art leading back again licking up thy old Vomit and of late hast begun in several Places to Sprinkle Infants That many of thy Poor Brethren at whose Houses formerly thou kept'st Meetings have now been neglected for above Six Years but hast been ever careful to visit thy kind Benefactors at Marnham Skegby c. and very punctual to keep thy Day with the Presbyterians at Nottingham and Chesterfield where thou knewest thy Pay would be sweet and certain It was thee only that after that great Assembly was gathered at Gamston by the Labours of some private Men who confined the Work there to a Pack of Clergy-Men viz. Thy Self Rosse Bosworth and Clark And by the same Spirit and Prelatical Preheminence suspended old Allen a more Righteous Man then thy self from Exercising in thy Dioces It was the Letter writ with thy own Hand that obstructed the intended Marriage betwixt John Atkinson and Mary Smith for although seemingly thou pretendedst Kindness to the said John who indeed at the same time was in Fellowship with thee yet having Respect to a more peculiar Interest secretly writ to Northampton and frustratedst the Hopes of the poor Man which he never Recovered but Languished and Dyed And when a Letter was written to be sent to London to the Professors there on the behalf of Robert Johnson a Member of thy Church to procure his Relief he being there and Unknown was exceedingly Distressed for want of Bread thou didst refuse to subscribe the Letter and he was Famished and Dyed before that Money got to him which was collected at Nottingham By which it doth appear that thou hast lost that Honest Conscientious Tenderness which once thou didst seem to have and that the Spirit of God is not thy Guide and Helper for it hath been seriously observed by thy most Judicious Hearers that thou dost not bear in thine Assemblies a Faithful Testimony against the Formality Earthliness Pride Bitterness and Sinful Compliances of thine Auditors but daubest with Vntempered Morter and preachest smooth things Flourishes Latin and Greek Sentences and Eloquent Phrases to set off and beautifie thy Wares Remember whence thou art fallen and Repent else know for certain thou hast done thy Work and the Lord will make no more Vse of thee If Salt hath lost his Savour it is henceforth good for nothing I am thine Offended Friend James Jackson THE END