Is that one of our Brethren Or is that like unto Moses The Lord Jesus was made like unto us in all things sin only excepted Man had sinned and therefore Jesus Christ in Man's Nature came forth to at one and make peace and to satisfie the Justice of his Father The Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and through his Scripes we are healed Isa 53. You ask me What I am the better with others for approaching into the Water who hath required these things at our hands for the things that are seen are carnal c. And then you say That those who have the Spirit of Christ do not bend to carnal Washing but come to the answer of a good Conscience and to the heavenly Manna Answ Could you not ask What the Primitive Saints were the better None of Christ's Ordinances are in vain and much spiritual benefit many can experience thereby And we know and are assured that the Lord hath required it at our hands And may you not call outward Preaching and outward Hearing carnal things as well as so to call Baptism and the Supper of our Lord And why my Sister should say That they that have the Spirit of Christ do not bend to such Ordinances I know not sith the Saints who had the Spirit in former times did bend to them And that you should call them by such reproachful Names is a grief to me Your slighting and despising the Precepts and Gospel-Institutions of Jesus Christ may one day prove your Soul-wound and burden What I mentioned concerning Cornelius his bending and submitting unto Water-Baptism notwithstanding his high attainment of the Spirit you have not in the least weak nor laid down any thing that is like aâ— Answer And now as concerning the remaining part of your Letter Some things are but Tautologies repeating the same thing You tell me That Christ is come and positively say and testifie That you look not for another which hath already been refuted and your ignorance with the rest of those of your perswasion made manifest But to draw towards a Conclusion I do in the bowels of Jesus Christ intreat you to examine and prove these Lines by the writings of the holy Men of God Who spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit and ponder so the paths of your feet that all your wayes may be established and see if you have not refused and forsaken the good way of the Lord opposing that Doctrine which is according to Godliness take heed lest you are irrecoverably carried away with a new and strange Doctrine by the slight of men and crastiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive I as touching my self do know on whom I have believed And do not think I shall lay down my head in sorrow as you are pleased to signifie if I procced in the way I am in for though I am outwardly decaying and the time of my departure is at hand yet am I through the Grace of God in some good measure assured That when the earthly house of this Tabernacle is dissolved I have a building of God a house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1 2. I may say with holy Job Behold my witness is in Heaven and my record is on high Job 16. 19. I do know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes behold and not for another though my reins be consumed in me Job 19. 25 26 27. And that God who fed me all my life long unto this day and hath refreshed my Soul with the dews from above and given me a place in his house will take continual care of me and cause my Soul to bring forth fruit in old Age and be my God and my guide eveu until death And whatsoever you may suppose of the Way and Doctrine in which my Soul is through the Grace of God established and remains unmoveable Yet unto all my faithful Brethren I have this to say and testifie with the Apostle That this is the true Grace of God in which you stand and there is no other Gospel nor Doctrine of Christ to be received nor no other burden laid upon you by Christ but what you have already hold fast until he comes Be you faithful unto death and you shall receive the crown of life And all I have further to say to you my dear Sister is only in tender love to exhort you to Repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and give glory to him before your feet stumble upon the dark Mountains and while you look for Light he turn it into the shadow of Death and make it gross darkness God waits long before he utterly gives up a People or a particular Soul to believe lies to be snared and fall so as never to rise any more If you refuse to hear me I can but mourn and weep in secret for you and however I may be judged and censured by any I shall in what I have done have peace This being all at present I shall leave it to the blessing of God and remain Your Affectionate Brother H. G. POSTSCRIPT Christian Reader THE perilousness of these last dayes are very great and the danger of them appears every day more and more those evil times which our Lord Jesus did foretel should come in which false Christ's and false Prophets should arise and deceive many we are brought forth in The Devil knows his time is short and therefore is in great rage Rev. 12. laying about him as I may say with both hands those Souls which he can't destroy by fleshly and carnal filthiness and cursed debauchery which never abounded more in the World than it doth now he labours to ruine and spoyl eternally by erroneous Opinions blasphemous and damnable Heresies And this let me add further That the sins against the first Table are as heinous and as abominable in the sight of God if not more than those against the Second which may appear by that speedy swist and severe execution of wrath and divine vengeance upon those under the former dispensation who were upon that account disobedient and transgressors Levit. 10. 1 2. Numb 15. 36. Numb 16. 32 35 40. 1 Sam. 6. 19. 2 Sam. 6. 6 7. And of all Heresies none are more dangerous and pernicious than those which tend to the razing and destroying the foundation of Religion and Godliness and therefore it is said by the Prophet If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do Psal 11. 3. Now the foundation upon which the true Christian doth alone and wholly build is the Lord Jesus Christ JEHOVAH hath laid in Zion for a foundation a stone a tryed stone a precious corner-stone Isa 28. 16. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor.
LIGHT From the SUN of Righteousness Discovering and Expelling Darkness OR The Doctrine and some of the corrupt Principles of the People called Quakers briefly and plainly laid open and refuted Containing a Reply to an Answer of a Letter written formerly by the Author to his own Natural Sister dwelling in the Island of Barbadoes Published for common benefit but more especially for the good of poor weak wavering Christians to help and recover them out of the snare of Satan By H. G. Luke 22. 32. When thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren 2 Pet. 1. 19. We have a more sure word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed c. Isa 8. 20. To the Law to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no sight in them Printed in the Year 1672. Light from the SUN of Righteousness discovering and expelling Darkness My Dear Sister YOurs I have received dated the 22 of the 9th Month 1671 which contains an Answer to a Letter of mine bearing date the 21 of the 8th Month 1670 which was written in tender love and affection to your precious Soul in which I was moved to forwarn and caution you concerning the evil and Soul-undoing Principles of the People called Quakers to whose pernicious Doctrine I had some doubts and jealousies you were ready too much to hearken and incline unto And by this Answer of yours I perceive you are now exceedingly drove away by the stream of their Delusions and have sucked in the Venom of their poysonous Doctrine which is no small grief and trouble to my Spirit to think that you a near Relation of mine and one which sometime since I had such good hopes of should by the subtile Wiles of Satan be in your Old Age so grievously beguiled it wounds my Soul to think you should be so rooted and grounded in their Principles none being more repugnant to the Fundamentals of Religion and the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ I am afraid that these Lines may come too late yet not knowing whether the Lord hath yea or no utterly given you up to blindness of mind to believe lyes that so you should be damned for not receiving the truth in the love of it that you might be saved 2 Thess 2. 10 11 12. I have sent you these Lines as a further discharge of my Conscience and that I may be pure from your Blood in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ and that it might not only be of profit through the blessing of God to you but also to others whom God in mercy may please to recover out of the snare of the Devil in the Island of Barbadoes or elsewhere to whom they may come I have been at the Charge of Printing them And these may certifie you in the first place that I have diligently examined and seriously weighed the chief Heads or most material things contained in your Letter and by comparing them with the holy and blessed Scriptures of Truth and weighing them in that most Sacred Ballance of the Sanctuary I find them as light as vanity being nothing else save the aiery Notions of a poor deceived People by whom your Soul is deluded and most sadly and grievously captivated which by the assistance of God I shall indeavour to make appear before I have done And that I might distinctly Answer your Lines and refute you and others also that are of your judgment I shall begin with the beginning of your Letter which is as followeth Brother G. I Did receive a Letter from thee dated the 21 of the 8th Month 1670. with kind expressions of Love to me both to my Soul and Body as thou hast there express'd which in love to thy Soul I now am willing to Answer for a little strength is administred to me into the Everlasting Kingdom since first I have received the Truth First As to thy Love I do receive as from my Natural Brother and I hope I have not forgot natural affection But as for thy Counsel to my Soul I do faithfully believe that I have chosen the good part which shall never be taken from me I bless and praise the Lord I know a Teacher near me that shall never be hid in a Corner Thou sayest though distance of place and Age drawing on upon us both yet that we may meet together in the Resurrection of the Just As for the Resurrection of the Just I am risen again with Christ yea the Just one is risen in me Glory to his Name for ever Oh! what manner of love is this c Thou sayest There was a time that thou hadst hopes that I should become a Convert of Christ Truly Brother to be a Convert of Christ the way thou approvest of would do me no good at all for there is nothing of the Cross of Christ in it and I see it vanity for there are just men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked Eccles 8. 14. therefore the Wise mans Counsel is be not over righteous 7. 16. I do not say the keeping the Commands of Christ is vanity but to strain the Commandments of Christ to a form of Worship which is not according to the Spirit to Bread Wine and Water which was to be held in practice but till Christ came and Christ is come the second time of which coming no mention is made of Bread Wine nor Water Answ Before I shall repeat more of thy Letter I shall make some Reply to this first part I shall pass by several expressions which serve for little else than to demonstrate the corruption of your judgment And in the first place I shall call into question your confidence about your choosing the better part Sister How dare you conclude you have chosen the good part with Mary whilst you refuse to hear the teaching of the true Saviour Mary gave ear to what her Lord and Master declared and taught she sate at his feet and heard his word it was not only the Teacher or Light within she gave ear to but also to the Doctrine and Counsel of the Man Christ Jesus without whose Disciple and Scholar you must come to be and follow his Counsel and Doctrine as it is contained in the holy Scripture and till which time never flatter your self so as to conclude you have chose the good part Secondly as touching your knowledge of the Teacher that is near you or the Light within which the Quakers say is in every Man and Woman that comes into the World You are mistaken and have not a right knowledge of that Teacher and this I shall evidently make appear for this alas is your grand mistake you speak of this Light more than is true or doth agree with that Doctrine that is according to Godliness You exalt it above the holy Scriptures nay you and others of your judgment make a God and a Christ of it You bid me in one place of your Letter own this
Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8. 20. But why dare you say That the practice of Bread Wine and Water was to be held no longer than till Christ came By his coming you intend his coming in Spirit That this is false and contrary to holy Scripture I shall evidently make appear And first I shall begin with the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper which you call Bread and Wine and that the practice of this continues and remains in full force and virtue to the end of the World or until the Second coming or Appearance of Christ in Person and that he is not so come the second time I shall also prove to thee before I have done That the practice of breaking Bread and drinking Wine in remembrance of Christ's Death remains after the coming of Christ in Spirit I prove by these Arguments following First Because the Apostle Paul did receive this from our Saviour as a glorious Appointment and Institution of the Lord Jesus a considerable time after the coming of Christ in Spirit The Promise of the Comforter or Christ's coming in Spirit was performed and fulfilled to the Sainrs some days after his Ascention as may be seen in the second of the Acts and it was some time after this before Paul was converted unto Christ For Paul after the coming of the Spirit according to the Promise of the Father and our Lord Jesus remained in darkness and was a Persecutor of the Saints and yet see I beseech ye what he affirms to the Church of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11. 23. For I received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took Bread and when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me and after the same manner also he took the Cup c. Now if Paul received this after that coming of Christ which you speak of as an Institution and Divine Appointment of the Lord Jesus as it appears plainly he did then that which you affirm is utterly false and to be rejected But Secondly The Apostle did not only receive this from Christ after the coming of Christ in Spirit but also did deliver it as Christ's Appointment to the Saints That which I received of the Lord saith he I also delivered unto yon Thirdly I argue further That this Ordinance doth remain in force and the practice of it to be held up after the coming of Christ in Spirit because the Primitive Saints did abide in the practice of it after the pouring forth of the Spirit according to Christ's Promise as appears Acts 2. 42. They continued in the Apostles Doctrine in breaking of Bread and Prayer compare this with Acts 20. 7 11. also 1 Cor. 11. 20. to the end Fourthly Consider The end of this Ordinance doth remain notwithstanding the pourings forth of the Spirit and therefore the Ordinance must needs remain which is to confirm our Faith in the true Saviour and to keep up our Love to him who gave his Body to be broken and his Blood to be shed for our sakes This is to be done to shew forth his Death until he come And these things considered which hath been said 't is plain it cannot intend his Spiritual Coming or the giving forth the holy Spirit the Comforter according to his promise And that he is not come the Second time without sin to Salvation as you seem to affirm doth appear First Because his coming that day shall be visible Every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. Secondly Because his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives Zech. 14. 4. and he shall come in the same manner as he went up to Heaven Acts. 1. 11. Thirdly Because the Saints which had the highest attainments of the Spirit or to whom Christ was Spiritually come as gloriously as ever he came to any of the Saints did notwithstanding that still expect look and wait for his coming from Heaven See 1 Cor. 1. vers 4 5 6 7. I thank my God alwayes on your behalf for the Grace of God which is given to you by Jesus Christ tht in every thing ye are inriched by him in all utterance and all knowledge even as the Testimony of Christ was confirmed in you mark that So that ye come behind in no gift waiting for his Son from Heaven If Christ was not spiritually come to these who was he come to and yet they waited for his coming The Saints at Thessalonica are said to turn from Idols to serve the true God and to wait for his Son from Heaven 1 Thess 1. 9 10. and unto those that look for him saith the Apostle He shall appear the Second time without sin unto Salvation Heb. 9. 28. The beloved Apostle who injoyed so much of the Spiritual Presence of Christ yet desired and looked for his coming Which clearly shews that his Second coming is another manner of coming than that which you speak of for when he comes he comes with all his Saints and holy Angels with him and when he comes the Graves shall be opened and the Dead shall be raised yea the dead Bodies of Men and Women 1 Thess 4. 16. You say that you are risen from the dead already and Christ is come the Second time but be assured of this you will find another Resurrection Coming and Judgment ere long than this I could wish it were so indeed that thou hadst part in the true work of Regeneration that so in that day thou mightest have part in the first Resurrection for the dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thess 4. which cannot intend any other save the dead bodies of the Saints who are fallen asleep or gone to the dust But because I have somewhat to say in the Vindication of Baptism which you call Water I shall proceed to that for as you and other Quakers deny the continuance of the Lord's Supper so also you affirm that the practise of Water-Baptism was to continue but till Christ came in Spirit Now how false this is may appear First from the Commission Matth. 28. 19 20. where Christ gave forth this blessed Ordinance All Power is given to me in Heaven and Earth Go therefore teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded yon and lo I am with you alwayes to the end of the world Now that the Baptism here spoken of is that of Water is evident because the Disciples are commanded or injoyned to be the Administraters or Dispensers of it To baptize with the holy Spirit is the alone Work Prerogative and Office of Jesus Christ and it never was in the power of any Apostle or Disciple of Christ to do it though the Spirit was
I have it is from above and I dare not be wise above what is written But why dost thou deny the flesh or body of Christ Oh! that ever my Sister should yield so far to Satan and Delusion as to affirm That that Body of flesh and bone that was born of the Virgin and nailed to the Cross is no where said to be the Christ but that the Christ was in him in that body of flesh that was crucified It is evident that you deny the Man Christ Jesus or he to be the Christ that was hanged on the tree or put to death between two Thieves For if the Light or Power in that Person be the only Christ of God distinct and apart from the body that was crucified on the Cross then it followeth plainly and may appear to any that your chief Doctrine leads you to deny that ever the Christ of God and true Saviour died for the Light Power or Godhead whereof you speak could not be so crucified and nailed to the Cross And if that Man to wit Jesus of Nazareth was upon no other account called the Christ but meerly and alone because the true Christ was in him Why may not any other man in whose flesh or body Christ is manifested and doth dwell be called the Christ as well as he who was born of the blessed Virgin Alas poor Soul thou didst never learn this Doctrine of Christ nor from the holy Scriptures Thou seemest to be one of G. Whitehead's Scholars and H. W. The latter doth affirm That Christ was never seen with any outward or bodily eye Bear with me if I am large in my Answer to you concerning this thing for my Soul is wounded in the thoughts of what you here write to see you plainly deny the true Saviour it would rejoyce my heart if God should have so much mercy for you as to recover your feet out of this evil snare I bless God for the Grace which hath been given unto me in Christ through the Gospel which hath not only enlightned my Soul into the saving knowledge of a crucified Jesus and glorious Light of the New Covenant but hath also discovered with much clearness unto me the great darkness of these men who cry up Light and Power within And I shall endeavour to make appear the Nature of this Wile of Satan and Cheat of Antichrist by God's assistance You do imagine that I am over-wise or wise in my own conceit because I affirm That Jesus Christ is a Man consisting of flesh and bone and that he ascended with the same body he had after he rose again from the dead Whether this be according to the Scriptures or the Doctrine of yours let it now be proved That inward Principle of Light and Power that was in that Person which was crucified or the Light which is in every man that cometh into the World is the true Christ Saviour and Mediatour you and other Quakers do affirm which I utterly deny yet nevertheless I would have none to suppose in the least that I do deny the glorious Deity or Godhead of our Lord Jesus Christ For though the inward Power or Godhead I assert is not the Christ considered distinct and apart from the Manhood or Humane Nature yet do I according to the holy Scripture from my heart believe that Jesus Christ is truly God Eternal God being from everlasting with the Father and the express image of his Person Heb. 1. Of the Son he saith Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever Heb. 1. 8. The Word was in the beginning with God and was God And though he is verily God yet also is he truly Man The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us and this Emanuel or God with us God in the Nature of Man is the Christ he was in the form of a Servant a man approved of God Acts 2. 22. A man of sorrows Isa 53. 3. and yet thought it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2. 6. being Davids Root and Davids Off-spring And this is that Glorious Mystery of God manifest in Flesh not God manifest in the flesh of every man and woman but God manifest in the flesh of our Mediatour in that particular body of Christ prepared for him by the Father or God-man in a wonderful mysterious union God and Man in an admirable manner united together in one Person that so he might thereby reconcile God and Man the offended Creator and the offending Creature and remove the Enmity upon the account of transgression And since I perceive your darkness so great upon this account that you conclude the Godhead Divine Nature of the glorious Light and Power that was in him viz. Jesus of Nazareth that was born of the Virgin distinct from his body or Humane Nature is the Christ To refute you pray observe what the Angel speaks unto the Virgin Thou shalt Conceive and bear a Son and shalt call his Name JESUS He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest Mary conceived the true Christ in her Womb and laid him in Swadling Clothes Luke 2. 6 7. Moreover the Angel testified unto the Shepherds That that very Child which Mary brought forth was the Christ Unto you is born this day observe it in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Also our Saviours words to the Woman of Samaria one would think might convince you concerning this matter She was ignorant of the true Christ I know the Messiah shall come saith she and when he comes he will tell us all things Joh. 4. 25. Jesus saith unto her I that speak unto thee am He. He did not say the Light which is within me is he viz. the Christ and true Messiah but I that speak unto thee The Apostle Peter's Testimony agrees with this Thou art Christ the Son of the living God He that was the very Son of God was also the Son of Man He took not on him saith the Author to the Hebrews the nature of Angels but he took on him the Seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. Moreover after our Lord Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to his Disciples they being in a maze supposing they had seen a Spirit he said unto them Behold my hands and my feet it is I my self handle me and see a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have and when he had so said he shewed them his hands and his feet If this Person who shewed his Disciples his hands and feet was not the true Christ or if he really were not a man consisting of a Body of flesh and bone what will you make of his Expressions But again Doth not the words of John Baptist very clearly refute you The people asked whether he was the Christ or no He Answered them He was not But he told them That he which sent him to baptize with Water the same said unto me Vpon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descend and
Word near in their hearts of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a true Preacher to turn them to the Light within and how shall they Preach except they are sent to turn people from darkness to Light and surely Brother that Prophet which Moses said God would raise up whom we should hear in all things he preaches in our hearts and we hear his voice and follow him Answ These are the words of your Letter and I shall Answer you but first of all I cannot but take notice what a sad judging and censorious Spirit you are of I thought Sister you durst not have spoken after this manner do you think that none of the Baptists did ever hear Christ's voice and follow him surely you may conclude that some of them did for the Primitive Saints were baptized in Water and so might as well be called Baptist's as any now and yet they I do suppose you think did hear Christ's voice and follow him but do you judge that none of the Baptists now do depart from iniquity doubtless you may have ground to conclude That some of them are as holy Men and Women as any are amongst you though they do not look to be justified by their own inherent holiness We do not believe 't is possible to attain to such a degree of perfection as to be as pure from sin as our Lord Jesus Christ was we see there is need to pray as our Lord hath taught Forgive us our trespasses and that we have need of Christ's Intercession for us it wounds and grieves us because we are attended with such a body of sin and death we find a continual need of a supply of Grace we find when we would do good evil is present with us if you have no evil thoughts nor no need to pray Forgive us our sins nor of Christ's Intercession that you have all strength and no weakness all light and no darkness that you are perfect not only in part but also in the highest degree and know as you are known having no defect in your understandings if these things be so you do excel any of the Baptists but I fear there are evil thoughts weaknesses defects in the best of you and if so you must go to the perfect righteousness of another viz. the Lord Jesus Christ of necessity or else you are undone for ever notwithstanding all your holiness which you above others make your boast of You speak of calling on the Name of the Lord. I know not what such should call upon the Name of the Lord for that are so perfect as some Quakers say they are if they have need of any thing if they are not taken up into the fruition of God they are short of that glorious estate of perfection of which they speak But again you say How shall they call upon him on whom they have not believed and how shall they believe on him Christ the Word near in their hearts whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a true Teacher to turn them to the Light within Sister you make strange reading of the Scripture there are no such sayings in all the Book of God I observe one thing and that is this you conclude that the very work of a true Preacher is to exhort people to turn to the Light within I shall in the first place make this appear to the contrary and do affirm That none of the true Gospel-Preachers did ever teach such a Doctrine as this is which you speak of and which the Quakers preach namely bid the People turn to the Light within I have carefully examined the Scriptures upon this account and I find David charging and counselling his Son Solomon to walk in the wayes of God and to keep his Statutes and Commandments as they were written in the Law of Moses 1 Kings 2. 3. and in Psal 119. 9. 't is written Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way the Answer and direction is by taking heed thereto according to thy Word 'T is not said by turning to the Light within Now are you clean saith Christ through the Word which I have spoken to you Christ directs his Spouse to go forth by the footsteps of the Flock not to look to the Light within Cant. 1. 8. but to go forth and tread in the same steps that the Saints and faithful Children of God walked in in former times The Prophet Jeremiah also doth not Preach the Doctrine which Quakers do turn to the Light within but bids them Stand in the Wayes and ask for the old Paths which is the good Way and walk therein Jer. 6. 16. and they shall find rest for their Souls Moreover Isaiah that Evangelical Prophet and glorious Preacher of God's mind and counsel to the Children of Men when he came to understand that the People would seek to Deceivers and lying Spirits though they might cry up Light and Power never so much to be in them he straitway sends us To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word 't is because there is no light in them Isa 8. 20. he doth not direct to the Light within but to the Law and Testimony Also the Prophet Malachi commands and counsels the People to remember the Law of Moses commanded him in Horeb Mal. 4. 4. But again when all the People flocked to John Baptist who was a great and glorious Preacher yea chosen and sent of God if ever any were and when they cryed out What shall we do he did not command them to turn to the Light within but contrariwise pointed to Christ without him whom the Spirit descended and did rest upon You say How shall they believe without a true Preacher to turn them to the Light within Now Sister you may see that none of those true Preachers did preach any such Doctrine But to go on let us see whether Christ or his Apostles which he chose and sent forth as the great Ministers and Embassadours of the Gospel did ever give such counsel unto men or publish such a Doctrine to the world viz. Turn to the Light within Pray observe the Answer to the young man that came running to him asking him What he must do to inherit eternal life Christ sent him presently to the Scripture to see what he read there and bad him Sell that which he had and give it to the poor and follow him and he should have treasure in Heaven and not one word of turning to the Light within Also the Lord Jesus Christ doth not bid the Jews look within but search the Scriptures Joh. 5. 39. But to proceed Let us see what counsel the Apostle Peter gave to those Jews that were pricked in their hearts Acts 2. 37. who cryed out What shall we do he doth not exhort them to mind the Light which was in their Consciences and turn to that and believe in that but said he Repent and be baptized
Church and to cleanse and wash the Church was Jesus Christ Object But here it may be some will object and say That this same name or appellation hath been given unto men as we read concerning Moses Exod. 7. 1. And the Lord said unto Moses See I have made thee a God unto Pharaoh c. And so the Scriptures elsewhere speak of the Rulers as Gods I said ye are Gods but ye shall die like Men. Answ 1. I do grant the name God hath been given to men upon the account of what those Scriptures speak yet was that name or title never given to any man on earth as it is given unto Jesus Christ for he is not only called God but also the Mighty God See Isa 9. 6. For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty GOD the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace And as he is here called the Mighty God so the Apostle John calls him the True God 1 Job 5. 20. And we know saith he that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ This is the true God and eternal life And as he is called by this Apostle the true God so Jude calls him the only Wise God Jude 25. Yea and the Apostle Paul calls him Rom. 9. 5. God blessed for ever see and observe his expressions Whose are the Fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Chrict came who is GOD blessed for ever Amen Now where is any man save Jesus of Nazareth only called the Mighty God the True God the only Wise God and God blessed for ever And how dares any man these Scriptures being considered deny the glorious Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ But 2. He that made the World must needs be Eternal God for none could do that but God alone 'T is ridiculous and most absurd to think the Creature could make it self before it self was God upon the account of his infinite Power and Wisdom in creating the the World expostulateth and reasoneth with his People glorying if I may so say in the greatness of his Power and Majesty and unwordable Essence proving that way his dreadful Godhead Isa 40. and all the Gods of the Nations to be but Idols And now that Jesus Christ made and created the World see the first of John vers 1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God vers 3. All things were made by him c. Now compare this with the 14th verse And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth Reade the next verse and you may see that this was he that John bear witness of to be the true Christ But again reade Col. 2. 16. For by him saith Paul were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible If you would know who this is you may see if you please to mind vers 14. 't is he who hath purchased remission of sins for us through his blood and 18 verse 'T is he who is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first born from the dead c. compare this with Heb. 2. 10. And thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the works of thy hands That he speaks of the Son 't is evident see the whole Chapter the main drift of the Author is to set forth the glorious Deity and Godhead of Jesus Christ But I must hasten to the next Argument and that is this 3. He that upholdeth all things that are made must needs be God but that Jesus Christ doth uphold and preserve all the whole Creation see Heb. 1 3. Who being the brightness of his Glory and the express image of his Person and upholding observe all things by the word of his Power when he had by him self purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on High This agrees with Col. 1. 17. And he is before all things and by him all things consist 4. He that knoweth all things before it cometh to pass must be God such knowledge is too wonderful for us Psal 139. In several places of Scripture you may see how the Almighty doth prove his glorious Being and Godhead by his Omnisciency Job 38. 1 2 4 5 19 20 33 39. Psal 4. 10. Job 36. 4 5 6 c. And that our Lord Jesus Christ knoweth all things see John 21. 17. they are the words of Simon Peter And he said unto him Lord THOU KNOWEST all things thou Knowest that I love thee Moreover 't is said Joh. 2. 24 25. That Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he Knew all men And needed not that any should Testifie of Man for he knew what was in man And in another place it is said That Jesus Knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray him Joh. 6. 64. What more clearly tends to prove his blessed Deity than his Omnisciency 5. I shall yet add another Argument further to evince this glorious truth which doth hang or depend upon the precedent Reason viz. He that searcheth the heart must of necessity be acknowledged and owned to be the Almighty and Etenal God for who knoweth the heart save that infinite Majesty that formed the Spirit of Man that is in him The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked saith the Prophet Jer. 17. 9. who can know it I the LORD search the heart and try the reins vers 10. As if the Lord should say There is none save my self knoweth or can know it And now that the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins doth search the heart and the reins he himself doth assert it Rev. 2. 23. I will kill her Children with death speaking of the woman Jezebel and all the Churches shall know that I am HE which searcheth the reins and the heart and I will give unto every one of you according as his works shall be c. 6. He that is the first and the last must needs be the Everlasting God for from this very ground and consideration the Lord doth argue or reason with his People to shew and make appear there is no other God besides himself Isa 44. 6. I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God compared with Chap. 48. 12. Hearken unto me O Jacob and Israel my called I am he I am the first and I am the last c. And that the famous said of the Lord Jesus Christ reade Rev. 2. 8. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending which is and