their whole bodies be full of darkness it follows that there no true Light at all in them the Light that is is real darkness It therefore is added If the Light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness Luke 11.35 Take heed that the Light which is in thee be not darkness If there were no danger that a mans Light should be darkness what room were there for this warning It is therefore uudeniable that there is a Light in man which is but darkness And I ask what Light is that Not Christ himself in the Saints not his holy Spirit that dwelleth in them not the Light of the Gospel taken in by Faith not the special illumination of the Holy Ghost Tell us then what Light can it be but the Light we brought with us into the world the Light that is in every man He that hath no more but this Light is all Darkness Therefore it is said Eph. 5 8. Ye were sometimes Darkness All darkness Ye had then not one Drachm of Light in you the Light you had was but Darkness Q. But how can this be If it be Light 't is Light how can it be and not be the same thing Ans It can of it self without Scripture teach Moral Duties that God is to be worshipped Parents obeyed c. as hath been hinted often and in this respect 't is Light But it cannot reveal Christ of it self When he is revealed by the Striptures and preaching of the Gospel it cannot discern him nor any other spiritual Mystery of the Gospel for they are spiritually discerned the Natural man with all his Light cannot reach to this And in these two respects 't is meer darkness no more able to guide a man to Salvation than darkness it self Obj. We may not put Light for Darkness Ans When Christ evidently hints the Light within may be darkness must he be thus reproved You may not put Light for Darkness That which in respect of Morals is Light he calls Light and the same being in respect of Spirituals real Darkness he properly calls it so He doth not therefore put Light for Darkness And G. W. himself acknowledgeth Div. of Christ in Answer to Mr. Dawson p. 42. That the Natural man bath not power to discern spiritual things Is not his Light darkness then What he adds yet he hath a power to receive them is very odd For how do men receive spiritual things into their Souls but first by discerning them then approving and embracing them His Reason is miserable for after Conversion he doth saith he receive them He might as well have said the Unconverted hath power to receive spiritual things for after Conversion he doth discern them 'T is as if he should have said When Sampson was an Infant he had power to carry the Gates of a City up the Hill for when he was a man he did it In Conversion we receive a new Light and a new Heart which is a new power to receive spiritual things This Light that is wrought in us by the Spirit of God when put upon it to direct us how to obtain Pardon and Justification bids us seek it by the works of the Law never pointing to Christ therefore at least being forced to speak through our fault where it should be silent as being unable to direct herein it both can and doth misguide It will be yielded in terms I think that there is no Pardon or Justification without Faith in Christ And it hath been proved that this light of it self cannot speak one Syllable of Christ therefore it cannot tell us how to obtain Pardon and Justification If then we will force it to speak in this point it must needs speak Falshood if any thing See it thus directing Rom. 2.13 14. The doers of the Law shall be justified for when the Gintiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law to themselves The Apostle lays down the way of Justification by the Law of works The Doers of the Law shall be justified He proves it for the Light of Nature puts the Gentiles upon doing of the works of the Law that they may be justified having no knowledge of the Law of Grace which direct to Christ by Faith for Justification they walk by the Law of works which is no way to Heaven for a fallen Creature The like we may see in several of the Israelites Rom. 9.32 They sought for Righteousness not by Faith but by the works of the Law And that the Light within them did put them upon this we may see chap. 10.2 I bear them Record that they have a zeal of God This they did then in a zeal for God designing his Glory and to do his will But never doth a man any thing in zeal to Gods glory but when his Reason his Judgment his Conscience his best Understanding the best Light he hath puts him on And that this is not the way to obtain Justification is evident chap. 9.32 The works of the Law are called a stumbling Stone It is a truth indeed that the Doers of the Law shall be justified but no man can possibly be a Doer He that hath once in thought word or deed in all his life broken the Law is not a Doer of the Law but a Transgressor therefore this is no way for our Justification because in our hearts are motions of darkness and errour because Satan hath access to insinuate evil into us because the Light we brought into the world doth not reveal all necessary Truths because we have not an infallible Spirit to discern these few Truths it doth reveal from Errours suggested in our hearts and because 't is possible for this very light it self to suggest errour we are not sure upon good grounds that all Counsels out of our hearts are from God as werare sure all Counsels out of the Scriptures are from God No can we so safely walk after Counsels out of our own hearts for the Counsels of the light within come out of our own hearts as we can safely walk after Counsels out of the Scripture These are infallible to us the other not Before I end I must answer what he brings to prove this Light an infallible Rule Arg. 1. p. 17. l. ult Christ bids us believe in the Light He would not have us believe in that that might deceive us Answ John 12.36 Whilst ye have the Light believe in the Light The words intimate they were like to lose the Light according to the Threat Matth. 21.43 The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you The true sense here is Whilst ye have the Gospel believe in me the Light of the world 'T is not Believe in the Light you brought with you into the World Nor was this to be taken from them Not believing in Christ they were to cary this to Hell with them to torment them for their Sin Arg. 2. The
contrary to Scripture for what is contrary to Truth is Errour Yea we may safely reject as to Faith and Conversation what is beside the Scripture for what is more than our full Rule is more than what is needful is vain Mark 7.7 In vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrine the Traditions of men Col. 2.18 Beware lest any spoil you through Philosophy or vain deceit after the traditions of men after the Rudiments of the world and not after Christ Therefore the Scriptures are a safe trying Rule Can so much be said for the Light in every man that we may safely try by this in all cases 1. Can that which is scanty discovering but a small part of Gods Will suffice to try in all Cases 2. Can that which Christ calls Darkness that which is fallible it self keep us from being deceived 3. Can that readily give us satisfaction in all doubtful cases which it self is oft to seek Looking within all that we can see when we are in doubt of a thing is a Dictate Inclination or Consideration for it and another against it Now we are to see and need another Rule to try which of these comes from our Light which from our Darkness Whereas every direction of Scripture is sure and needs not be tried Having our Rule to seek we are like to have our satisfaction to seek also 4. If this be a trying Rule then a man may do whatsoever is right in his own eyes Then publishing Heresie to infect others is no sin nor to be punished by God or man as long as the person doth it according to his Light within No nor Drunkenness nor Whoredom nor Theft nor Self-Murder by fasting supposing the Light within puts any upon it And it hath been proved the Light within may approve of sin as it did of Persecution in Saul 5. If this be the trying Rule then it follows contradictory Opinions may possibly be on both sides true G. W. saith his Light tells him that the Light in every man is a sufficient and safe Rule to guide to heaven I am assured in my very Conscience and from the Scripture it is not He saith Baptism with water and the Lords Supper are no Ordinances of Christ now binding the Church I am assured from all the Light within me and from the Scriptures that they are If what he speaks be according to his Light indeed as what I speak is according to mine then it follows we do both hold Truth whilst we contradict one another for whatsoever agrees with the trying Rule is Truth Obj. p. 18. He that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Ans If he had proved that the Scripture speaks here of the Light in every man he had done something vers 19. This is the condemnation saith Christ that Light is come into the world and men love Darkness Christ speaks of a more full Gospel-light which was then come into the world and not before whereas the Light in every man was in the world ever since men were in the world And we know what Christ calls darkness The sense then is this Gospel-light shines now more than before and at this day in the Holy Scriptures but men follow the dictates of their dark Understandin their Light within even their own apprehensions rejecting Gospel-light This is the Condemnation 5. I assert the Scriptures are a Binding Rule and that in those things which the light in every man doth not of it self teach Arg. 1. The Scriptures did bind in Moses time and after to Christs and in the Apostles time even speaking of things which this Light without extraordinary Revelation cannot discover And if so still To deny that the Scripture did in these things then bind is to say it had been no sin for the Jews before Christ death To reject the whole Ceremonial Law or for the Corinthians to reject the Apostles directions touching the Lords Supper Arg. 2. If the Scripture doth not bind us in such things it will follow we are not bound to believe that the Father Son and Holy Ghost are all three one and the same God or that there shall be a Resurrection of the body that we are not bound to keep the first day of the week a Sabbath to the Lord nor to seek for Regeneration nor to repent of our Fall in Adam nor mourn for our corruption of Nature or for any first motions to sin that we are not to be Baptized or Receive the Lords Supper no nor believe in Christ at all for justification nor to embrace the Gospel consequently that the contrary is no sin for this Light of it self without supernatural Revelation teacheth us none of these things Arg. 3. Gods commands cannot want Authority must therefore needs bind us even in those things this light cannot teach But the Scriptures contein such commands Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy This is his command that we believe in his Son do this in remembrance of me Go teach all Nations Baptizing them This argument was urged in the second dispute not answered there nor since in their book Arg. 4. If we are to be saved in obeying Christ fully that is in things this light speaks nothing of as well as in other things to be damned not obeying Christ in those things this light doth not of it self require then in these things the Scriptures do certainly bind us But the former is true Ezek. 18.21 If the wicked will turn and keep all my statutes he shall surely live not only do what the Light in every man teacheth but all my Statutes Heb. 5.9 Christ is the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him and we know he hath commanded us in those things this light cannot of it self teach Jo. 12.48 He that receiveth not my word is not Do this Go baptize his word The word that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last day Ro. 2.16 God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel The Gospel contains commands and mysteries this Light of it self cannot find out Luke 16.29 They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them The Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets taught things above the reach of this Light if men therefore will escape that place of torments they must obey the Scripture in such things as well as other 2. Thes 1.7 8. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ The Gospel still prescribes things above what this light can of it self reaveal or reach The Lord God awaken these men How fearful is it to reject the Scriptures as not binding in those things this Light cannot teach us Obj. But we must not do any thing because we see it written in the Scripture but must obey the spirit of God moving
necessary to salvation when they are by the Gospel or Scripture objectively revealed unto him 't is but a wild fancy to imagine that this Light can without the Gospel and Scripture find out and objectively reveal these spiritual Truths But when they are objectively revealed he cannot know them He who when he is plainly shewn is not apprehensive of the Mystery of a Trade would never take it of his own head Arg. 2. If this Light can objectively reveal all Truths necessary to salvation then there was no need that God should inspire holy men to write the Scripture Men might have done well enough without them are little or nothing advantaged by them The Heathen for a Rule are in as good a condition as we The Scripture reveals all Truth necessary to salvation and their Light can do this But God was not about a needless work when he inspired the Penmen of the Scripture Rom. 3.1 2. What advantage hath the Jew Much every way chiefly because that unto them were committed the Oracles of God The Heathen without the Covenants of promise are without hope Eph. 2.12 Therefore this Light doth not objectively reveal all Truths necessary to Salvation Now let us see what Arguments G. W. hath to prove that every man is enlightned with a saving Light Arg. 1. p. 28. Nehem. 9.20 26. Thou gavest them also thy good Spirit to instruct them nevertheless they rebelled Therefore all are savingly enlightned To this our Opposer gave no Answer Ans No wonder when it was never urged in my hearing The Israelites had a saving external light viz. the Spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures and in the Prophets What 's this to prove that those who have not the Scriptures have soch a Light Again The Spirit was given to instruct them but not by any effectual Illumination otherwise they had not been rebellious Their Rebellion proves they had no internal saving Light Arg. 2. p. 26. The Spirit or Light of God is greater or more universal than the Scripture and contains that which the Scripture contains and more Answ Those bare Assertions without Proof deserve to be rejected without Answer And here he confounds Light and Spirit The Light is Universal in respect of the Subject they have it that have not the Scripture not in respect of the Object it reveals not all the mind of God as doth the Scripture The Query is not what the Spirit of God can reveal he can no doubt reveal all and add to the Scripture if he please But whether he actually doth reveal all saving Truths to all Men without the Scripture This should be proved Arg. 3. p. 10. Will you deny immediate Revelation that the people might pin their faith on your sleeve Ans This man knows we direct people to the Revelation of the spirit in the Scripture therefore his own light here condemns him If I could find out any better arguments of his I would produce them But take them such as they are Arg. 4. p. 17. Christ is given to be a Light to the Gentiles and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth Answ And so Christ is externally by the Scriptures and Gospel preached and internally by his spirit effectually enlightning both wayes a saving Light to all the Gentiles that are saved Here 's nothing to prove that every man is effectually enlightned or externally taught all necessary truths by Christ immediatly and without the Scriptures Arg 5. p. 31. Whatsoever may be known of God is not manifest within Answ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That which is commonly known his external power and God head Not his grace favour and mercy in Christ without which all other knowledge is in sufficient Arg. 6. It might be argued If Heathens have not the knowledge of truths necessary to salvation how are they left without excuse Answ Because God is not bound to reveal Christ to every man and what Truths are revealed every man sins against them And they are condemned not for not believing in Christ but for those sins Rom. 2.12 They that have sinned without Law shall perish without Law And if their acting coutrary to their shallow Light shall render them inexcusable How great will his condemnation be that casts off the saving Light of Scripture and will walk only after such dim Light as is in Heathens This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the world and men love darkness more than Light They cannot say we never heard that Christ shed his blood for remission of sins if we had we would have believed But this argument might be farther improved thus If their living contrary to their Light renders them without excuse then if they had lived up to their Light they had been saved Answ 1. This is but a frivolous supposition for none ever did none ever could live up to their Light that is from the beginning of their knowledge to the end of their dayes perfectly do every thing they know to be their duty Rom. 3.9 2. But suppose they had this had been no coming up to the condition of the Coyenant of works for this Light is not able perfectly to discover it Psal 119.96 I have seen an end of all perfection but thy the commandment is exceeding broad If by the help of Scripture and that measure of the spirit that was given to David he was not able to see the utmost bounds of Gods Law much less can this dim Light of it self reveal them 3. Nay suppose this Light had been able to discern perfectly the whole condition of the Covenant of works and once more suppose they had been able from the beginning of Life to the end to fulfill this also yet being fallen creatures being by nature the Children of wrath if God had not some way or other revealed Christ to them they had most certainly perished for the Covenant of works is no way of salvation for fallen man Gal. 3.21 If ever he be saved it must be by the Covenant of Grace that holds forth Christ The sum is this This Light revealing Duty their disobedience did render them unexcusable not revealing Christ their obedience could not have excused them for is not he a fighter against God that saith they were unjustly by nature the Children of wrath Admire we Gods grace for a revelation of Christ If we sincerely live our Light that is the precious Scripture though our unavoidable failings are many our God in Christ will save us Arg. 7. p. 19. Why should God give to man this Light surely Gods good will and end is to convince them of sin that they may see and hate it and by degrees be drawn out of it and so find mercy and peace and satisfaction with the Lord in forsaking sin and embracing Righteousness Answ 1. Suppose we should perfectly be drawn from sin to holiness without faith in Christs blood for remission never should we find mercy and true peace with God but standing charged with past guilt should every
moment be liable to the everlasting wrath of God 2. Gods good end in giving this Light is to reveal moral duties and sins against nature that avoiding these sins and practising these duties we might be delivered from temporal judgements as Nineveh was and might enjoy the Lords common savours 3. Gods gracious end in giving us the Scriptures is that seeing and embracing Christ Righteousness and Gods Mercy in him our souls might sincerely be reconciled to his Will and so living to God we might be sure of mercy favour and salvation Arg. 8. They usually bring that Scripture Luke 17.21 Behold the Kingdom of God is with you Answ Gods Kingdom is to be considered either as to the Common or as to the special Administration of it 1. As to the Common and this is whereby God doth restrain convince make offers of Christ and Grace and sometimes give a taste of the heavenly gift by the preaching of the word and the common operation of the spirit carrying the word into the Consciences of men for the word of God is quick and powerful piercing to the dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit God had so set up his Kingdom in them as he had not in the Heathen They are therefore called the Children of the Kingdom Mat. 8.12 Of the Kingdom only in this common Administration of it for they were to be cast out and the Kingdom of God was to be taken from them 2. As to the special Administration of it and this is whereby God awakens souls unites them to Christ by a lively Faith makes them willing subjects and stablishing them in their obedience preserves them to glory by his word and by his spirit powerfully applying it to their hearts inlightning renewing quickning comforting and dayly assisting them God had not thus set up his Kingdom in the Pharisees for his Kingdom as to this Administration of it is not in word but in power 1 Cor. 4.20 Is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 Is never to cease while the world last Dan. 7.27 Whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom Hence then cannot be concluded either that there is a Light effectually saving in Pharisees or the unconverted or that there is a Light objectively saving in every man for though the Pharisees had in them such a light which if they had embraced sincerely they had been in the way to salvation yet this was forc'd into them by Christs Preaching his Miracles and the common operation of the Spirit They did not bring it into the World with them Quest It was asked me in the first dispute I shall speak according to my best remembrance I know I must give account If an heathen obey his Light may he be saved And then not having so fully seen into this point I was shy and answered I was not to Judge them that are without Quest I was afterwards asked If a man improves his Light within him may not he be saved I answered he may and added if he improves that is studieth Scripture and looketh up to God for a blessing he may That night reflecting upon his passage I was very much disturbed in my spirit because I did not more fully speak to this point laying down the manner how upon improvement he might be saved and expressing the Truth on the contrary side What might unskilful people conclude from this Assertion Next day my wife destitute and near her Travail begging with Tears that I would seek her out an habitation I could not in the least regard her I could easily embrace any self-abasement to prevent the dammage of any soul through mistake To effect this as much as might be I drew up and dispatcht a Letter to G. W. with a Paper containing the same things to Thaxted where the dispute was to be openly read among them The Letter follows A LETTER sent to G. W. Beloved Friend TOuching one Query in the Disputation whether if a man improve the Light within him may he not be saved My Answer was that if he improve it that is make use of it in studying the Scripture and look up to God for a blessing he may be saved I judge it needful to acquaint you with my meaning how he may be saved 'T is this God may I do not say certainly will much less that be is bound I disown Pelagianisme so bless him as to give him to see embrace and endeavour to practice his whole mind revealed in the Scripture that is to speak with reference to you to sanctifie the Christian Sabbath seek justification by the Righteousness of Christ imputed repent if his sinful nature and sinful motions of his heart submit to the Ordinances of Baptism and the Lords Supper and in other things universally incline his heart to please him thus may the Lord through grace save him I was defective in the Disputation that I did not manifest this so weighty a matter Yea and that I did not manifest the Truth on the other side which is this For a Person to whom Scriptures are given to practice no more then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate rejecting the Scripture as not obliging in those things that this Light doth not discover is to fling away his own salvation Arg. 1. That Person that erres in the Doctrine of Justification by Christs Righteousness only and so sets up something else instead of this Righteousness for justification cannot possibly be saved Gal. 5.4 But this Light that is in every man doth not dictate that justification is by Christs Righteousness only Arg. 2. That Person that in many things lives and dies in allowed Rebellion against the mind and will of God revealed cannot be saved But having Scriptures to practice no more then what the Light in every man doth dictate is to live and dye in allowed rebellion against the mind and will of God revealed in many things 1. This Light doth not dictate that the Christian Sabbath is to be kept but God in Scripture commands Remember the Sabbath that is one day in seven which the Lord shall chuse in Gospel times it is not the seventh from the creation Let no man judge you for the Sabbath day and if it must be one of the other six which doth the Lord more clearly in Scripture point at then the first day To keep it holy do no manner of work To practice no more than what the Light that is in every man doth dictate is as good as to say I will not remember the Sabbath I will work on that day 2. This Light doth not dictate that Lusts or first motions of sinful principles much less the principles themselves are sins and so to be repented of and that we are to fly to Christ blood for pardon Rom. 7.7 But the Scripture sends us to Christ for pardon for all sin calls to repent of all sin manifesteth that the first motion to sins are sins thou shalt not