of faith we preach Rom. 10. I told you that was a contradiction and a confused senselesse thing which you say stands as a witnesse against me and bid me prove my accusation Answ 1. I queryed you whether any of you did know and believe what is written in the Scriptures without the outward declaration unto which you answere not at all 2. I query what you mean by the word of faith in the mouth and in the heart which the Apostle preached Rom. 10.6 7 8. whether it be the same with the Doctrine of faith declared in the Scriptures writ to the Churches or different from it As I concluded before in my replie so I shall make it good still notwithstanding all that you have writ that the word of faith which the Apostles preached and writ to the severall Churches is the same with that which you call the outward declaration What are the writings of the Prophets and Apostles but the word of faith I told you that this of the Apostle doth allude to that in Deuteronom 30. and there we find the same of the word as it was written in the law as heer of the word of faith preached The Doctrine of faith was so familiarly preached and beat into mens heads hearts and mouthes that ignorance could not excuse any and the Apostle explains what this word of faith is verse 9. thus That if thou shalt confesse with the mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved You may see it's clear enough what the Apostle understands by word in the mouth and in the heart if you be not too perverse and in the 10 verse there is a reason urged to make all your cavils fall For with the heart man believes unto righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation and proves it by the Scripture Whosoever beleeveth on him shall not be ashamed Isa 28.16 What can be concluded hence but what the writings of the Scriptures contain and declare and yet you say not any can know the Scriptures by the outward declaration but by the word of faith which word of faith in your quotation is discovered by the Scriptures what it is so that you say and unsay not by the outward declaration but by it a meer contradiction which you will never free your selves of But why cannot any know Scripture by its own writing Can you know what is contained in the holy Scriptures without the outward declaration if not then you must know it by the outward declaration or not at all How do you know what is in your books but by the outward declaration But instead of answering to clear your selves you are froward and very impertinent and obscure and desperately confused as followeth in their next wherein they should shew us the difference between the declaration of Scripture and the word of faith preached And first they witnesse the Scriptures by the same light and Spirit that gave them forth Rom. 10. and in Christ Jesus the Lord of faith which the Apostles preached and declared of they believe Rom. 10.6 7. as the Apostles did who knew the Letter which kil'd and the word of faith which is quick and powerfull which word say they is God that made all things and the letter testifies of him whose name is called the word of God Revel 19.11 12. Joh. 1.1 Heb. 4.12 And then they say they have come off clear of what I have accused them of in their answer Answ Here is nothing but pride and coniusion in these lines unlesse we can credit every thing they have the boldnesse to say as infallible How are the Scriptures beholding to them for their witnesse who have the same light and Spirit which gave them forth the Lord of Hosts gave them forth all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God 1. Tim. 3. and they have the same light and the same spirit equall with God if one may believe what they say of themselves But what think you are not the Scriptures as inspired and given of God a perfect rule of faith and obedience unlesse you witnesse them to be so and what letter was that which the Apostles knew killed you take it for granted that it is the whole declaration of holy Scriptures but it is because you have no light nor Spirit of God in you The word of faith Rom. 10.6 7. is quick and powerfull c. which word is God that made all things Most senselesse Is the profession of Christ in the mouth and believing in him with the heart God that made all things is every gift and work of God in man God that made all things this is like their other notion Christ lighteth all and therefore that light is Christ as if every work and operation of Christ is Christ just like those that make God to be every thing that from him lives and moves c. So again Christ is the word his name shall be called the word of God and they have Christ the word of God within them and what need of that which is written they have it in the life and fountain and they will come under no other writings nor rule although never so much commanded by God in the expressions of the holy Spirit in the Scriptures Touching Heb. 4.12 in the second verse he shewes us what word he meant where he saith That the Gospel was preached to them as unto us but the word that they heard profited not them because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it What word was this which was heard but the outward declaration in voice or writing or both And this word is quick and powerfull c. and the savour of life to some and of death to others according to the pleasure of him with whom we have to doe he blessing or blasting his own word and ordinance to the different ends intended by himself and for his glory whether in the diligent use thereof men be saved or in the contempt and neglect of the word men be damned The 2 Cor. 3.6 where it is said the Letter killeth is to be understood of the ministrie of Moses in comparison of the Gospell ministry administred by the Apostles that of Moses not so spirituall glorious effectuall as the new Testament was and yet it had its glory too but no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth vers 10. The Ceremonials their Gospel were but shadowes of good things to come the substance was Christ who was but darkly seen by the people but the Precepts and Threats of the Law were cleer which brought them under guilt and the remedie obscure and the fruit but little in comparison of the Apostles Ministry c. And hence the letter killed as administred by Moses but grace and truth comes by Jesus Christ It 's true the ministrie of the Apostles without the powerfull operation of the Spirit concurring was not
THE Quakers Apostasie FROM The perfect Rule of the Scriptures DISCOVERED In a double Reply to a twofold Answer of theirs in the Vindication of several Queries propounded by the Author WHEREIN Their Deceits Blasphemies and Reproches against Scripture Authority and Ordinances of institute Religious Worship are spoken unto Their main Principles examined and denyed The truth defended and cleared against their Railing Slandering Censorious Pens and Tongues By JOHN TIMSON of Great Bowden in Leicestershire 1 TIM 4.1 2. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hyprocrifie having their consciences seared with an hot iron LONDON Printed by E. C. for Tho. Williams at the Bible in Little Britain and Will Tomson at Harborough in Leicestershire 1656. The Preface to the Reader THE occasion of these few sheets was this The deep sense and apprehension of my spirit towards these seduced people in generall and some of my dear friends in speciall that are drawn aside and entangled in these dark Diabolicall snares hath moved my bowels to pitch upon this as a fit expedient to reduce them from that sad temptation and way of wandering themselves are so insensible of These Queries I first delivered to my friends and I desired that they would get them answered by the ablest they could of that perswasion At last I received an answer from William Duesbury then prisoner at Northampton which Answer was so obscure deceitfull and confused that I was constrained in my Reply to urge him earnestly to Answer directly to the Question with severall Queries to understand his sense which accordingly himself and Thomas Stubs and John Whitehead have answered more directly and subscribed their hands I have in this given you the substance of theirs as faithfully as I was able to understand their sense and have not in the least wittingly mistaken them And however they are apt to accuse me of slandering them in things that are too grosse in plainnesse of words to publish to the world they judging their novices and all others besides themselves uncapable to receive some of their principles as yet and therefore they study how to darken their sense by subtill glozing equivocating expressions and shuffles yet their damnable heresies are apparent to the intelligent and impartiall sober Christian And I shall desire of them to deal no otherwise by me then I have dealt with them what I have charged them withall is upon such rationall grounds that I am sure themselves are convinced in the secrets of their hearts that I lie not and for them to reproach me with that they cannot in conscience with any colour of reason make good will most reflect upon their own heads and be a shame to themselves and cause by saying and unsaying to evade what is justly charged upon them Truth is invincible and ought to be published it seeks no corners nor minds any shiftings but is entire of it self and will stand when all the imaginations and inventions of the dark mind of man shall be scattered and brought to nothing They frequently judge men by the light which gave forth the Scriptures even while they are opposing the Authority of Scriptures as they are the only rule of knowing the true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent and how to believe in hun and live in all Christian obedience unto him If they judge of men and error by the same light that gave forth the Scriptures why do they censure me for but pleading the Authority of Scriptures to be a perfect Rule of faith and obedience Is the light of the Spirit of God contrary to the light of his own Inspirations Are the Inspirations of God upon Divine record to be rejected as uselesse and fallible because they crosse the instigiations of ignorant man who is all his life long subject to error Are they so drunk with delusion and impudence that they will rather charge the Scriptures with deceit then question their own deceitfull hearts Can they be more sure that the Instigations in their own hearts are from God rather then the Inspirations of God in the Scriptures We may be sure that the Scriptures are of God and writ for our learning Rom. 1.5 But neither we nor themselves can be sure that their Revelations pretended to are of God and given for our learning comfort and hope unlesse they were confirmed by the same unquestionable Authority that the Scriptures are And for them to plead an infallible rule within and yet to be urging a Rule without from the Scripture is most absurd if the Spirit be the Rule as they affirme why do they not stick to that rule hath the Rule of the Spirit need of the testimony of the letter to prove it by What proof can be given to prove that which is the highest proof and rule it self How many things do they pretend Scripture for while at the same time they will deny and question the most things that the Scriptures plainly teach Let them tell us what they believe and practise from the teaching and obligation of Scriptures if they stand obliged to nothing that the Scriptures teach why do they quote it and speak in the language thereof As if they were for it when they are not which is rank hypocrisie and done of purpose to deceive If they judge themselves obliged to some things which the Scriptures teach because God hath taught them therein why do they not then believe and do all that the Lord teacheth in them upon the same reason and account But if any men in the world are without the true light of God those men are that speak not according to the Law and Divine Testimony of Scriptures Isa 8.20 If any speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them their light is involved in darknesse their wisdome in folly so saith the Prophet Jeremiah chap. 10. Ye have rejected the word of the Lord and what wisdome is there in you Were not this verified upon these men would they boast that they are as perfect as Christ that dyed at Jerusalem and say that he that trusts in Christ that dyed at Jerusalem for salvation shall be deceived and reproach his Institutions and holy Ordinances with the odium of mens Traditions outward observations inconsistent with Gods Kingdome and compare them to NebuchadneZZar's great Idol would they set up a light and power in blind impotent nature corrupted sufficient to lead out of darknesse to eternall life without the use and knowledge of Scriptures would they forme a Christ in their minds that is in all men without person natures offices would they confound God and man into one denying God to be distinct from his Saints would they renounce all their former teachings and practices received from the Lord by the means of his word and ordinances and wholly follow the imaginations of a strong deluded heart c.
I beseech you dear friends consider are not such things as these evident expresses of dark deluded minds that have forsaken the right way and are entangled as you see Let me entreat your patience and diligence seriously to read these few sheets without prejudice and contempt the Lord knowes what diligence and tendernesse of bowels I have had to prepare this for you and some others to prevent and reduce from these dangerous snares which I am more sensible of and affected with then any temptation common to man that ever I heard of before It 's carryed on with such mysterious wiles that poor souls are surprized and taken in the net with great content and the more they are surprized the better pleased and readier to embrace whatever is suggested and rarely do any return from this Apostasie that were knowing practising Christians before But I have enlarged my self and opened my heart to my friends of Farndon in this Tract and I hope it will not be an offence unto them if it be it was hoped and intended otherwise I am confident your own hearts will witnesse unto most I have wrote although it be against that way which for the present you groundlesly adore As for those persons that have answered me who have charged me with bringing forth many lies and slanders and have made a noyse thereof as if I were some carnall lying wretch that matter not what I write those that are sober and of judgement may easily conceive by my Questions and Replies what lies I have brought forth and what lies those are they charge me with even such that the holy Scriptures witnesse to be the will and truth of God and as for any personall lye why have they not made the discovery Themselves cannot but be sensible that they have accused me of slanders in things that themselves have published which I did not know of untill afterwards by their own Books But let me desire you in your returns to answer to the main strength that is against you soberly and with as great a strength of reason and of Scripture Authority as you can for nothing else is like to take with him you oppose and be ashamed to asperse and reproach me to the world with meer impudence for want of just matter which trade is too common with you and those of your way to those of best quality and esteem amongst Christians But look into your own Papers and in cold blood consider how frequent you are in reviling and censuring of those that you have nothing to accuse them of justly from any Scripture ground but because they oppose you for being adversaries unto the truth As for your queries at last the most of them have been answered by a Reverend Minister of the Gospel Mr. Baxtor who is sufficiently reviled and reproached for his pains But the day is coming that will declare every mans work of what sort it is And I judge it necessary first to be resolved what the Rule is that we are to answer from to yours seeing you have denyed the Scriptures for being a perfect Rule of faith and obedience for my part I judge those not worthy to be answered at all nor in the least to be regarded that have denyed the Rule of Scriptures and were it not for the sake of those that are ignorant of their deceits and apt to be taken with the cunning sleight of seducing men and in hope of convincing my friends that I might be an Instrument to informe the one and reduce the other I had never engaged with these unperswadeable perverse men so wholly turned from the truth as he that runs may read and clearly see John Timson A VINDICATION OF Some Questions propounded to the QVAKERS The first Question WHether the holy Scriptures be the true declaration of the will and mind of God which doth oblige all that professe them necessarily to know believe and observe them as the only rule of faith and obedience The Quakers Answer The Scriptures are a true declaration of the things beleeved among the Saints and a true Testimonie of Jesus but not any doth them know by the outward declaration but by the word of Faith in the mouth and in the heart which word of Faith we preach Rom. 10. My Reply The Answer seems to be in the affirmative by saying the Scriptures are a true declaration of the things beleeved among the Saints But first the Question is who you mean by Saints whether your selves that are against all outward administrations and formes of worship in the Church as the Scriptures teach or those Saints of God that are willing to subject themselves to observe and do whatever is revealed to be done from the written word which hath been the profession and practice of all sound Christians both in and since the Apostolicall Churches unlesse some few upstart Hereticks or Apostates or profane have done otherwise Prove that ever any had the title of Saints Beleivers Christians c. that came not under Water Baptisme the Lords Supper the Churches watch and rule Censures c. which you deny and therefore it stands you upon to prove your selves Saints distinct from Apostates In your answer to this all you say is this That this charge is but a lying Slander and bid me prove it or else let thy mouth be stopped To this I answer What proof would you have Is it not your own profane language both in your Papers and conference It is no newes to heare most of your way to dispute against Water Baptisme the Lords Supper a setled fixed Ministry over particular Churches Tel us what Quakers administer Water Baptism the Lords Supper and constantly watch over a particular Flock or else for shame own the charge and confesse your sin in telling the world that these are my lying slanders when I know and your own consciences do witnesse it that what I have accused you of is the plain truth Nay William Duesbury saith in a lying Paper called A true Prophesie of the mighty day of the Lord already risen in the North of England c. in which paper he makes it his work to reproach and slander the Ordinances of Gospell worship under the notion of outward observations which Christs Kingdome cometh not in Luk. 17. And thus he accounts of all the Ordinances and institutions prescribed by Christ himself in the Apostolicall Churches and accounts all the strict observing of outward formes of Worship is but imitating the Saints practices in this Babylonish and heathenish wisdome all this outward forme is the outward Court which is without the Temple pag. 1 2. meaning they are without the Church and therefore calls them Babylonish and Heathenish as in his 4 pag. is more clear where he profanely compares the holy Ordinances and institutions of the Lord to that great Image set up by Nebuchadnezzar 's proud nature spoken of by Daniel Dan. 3.3 That Image was but a type and figure of this which now shines
gloriously in forms and observations And then speaking to the Anabaptists and Independents he tells them they have set up a finer Image in the Gospell ordinances as you call them pag. 10. Pag. 10. And what other ordinances do these or we set up but what was practised in the Apostolical Churches Thus you may see how this Impostor doth reproach the holy things of God And further in his second page he in the height of his insolent rashnesse and madnesse saith thus The word of the Lord came unto me saying I will gather my people out of all forms and observations and out of all kindreds Tongues and Nations and I will poure out my Spirit upon them And this he writes in a different Character as if it were all scripture By this you may see it proved what I have accused them with in denying the ordinances and administrations of the Gospell Church is true And yet this impudent lyar tells me it is a lying slander They would render me a lyar for telling them the truth but it seems they can rather and with more ease deny the accusation then prove themselves Saints and stand to it thus when they are pincht they will say and unsay or any thing to evade But while you deny the Ordinances before mentioned I say you are none of Gods Saints but are Apostates backsliders that have departed from the living God in transgressing the lawes changed his ordinances and broken the everlasting Covenant Isa 24.5 But I shall come to the next you accuse me of belying you with and that is suspecting you to be under the crime of denying the holy Scriptures to be a perfect rule of faith and life you say ye deny the crime and witnesse them in their place with the Spirit that gave them forth which is a perfect rule of faith and life as Joh. 16.13 Anâ—w You deny the crime but own the thing by asserting the Spirit to be a perfect rule of faith and life for if the Spirit immediately be a perfect rule to us now of faith and life of what use is the Scriptures of I pray you tell Thus you own the charge but deny the crime because you judge it no crime to deny the Scriptures to be a perfect rule of faith and life and hence you insolently inferre that I am judged by the same Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures who would set the Scriptures in the Spirits place by calling them the rule of faith and life Thus all men may run and read that you are so farre from judging it a crime to deny the Scriptures for a perfect rule of knowing God believing in him and living unto him that by the Spirit you act from you judge me for calling them the rule of faith and obedience And yet you witnesse the Scriptures in their place that is you witnesse that there is such writings but not to any such ends and purpose as to be a rule to know God and live unto him as the question intends The Spirit you make the only rule of faith and life Joh. 16.13 Which I answer unto 1. That promise is made directly to the twelve as is evident if you peruse the 13 14 15. chapt where we have the like promise chap. 14.26 The Comforter which is the Holy Ghost shall come and teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have spoken unto you and accordingly they have declared unto us what they have heard and seen Luk. 7.1 Christ tells them chap. 16.12 13. I have many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now howbeit when the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth c. Hence it 's clear these promises are made in speciall to his Apostles which doth assure us of the infallibility of what they preached and writ the Church being built upon the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ the chief corner Stone Eph. 2.20 that hath inspired both to agree in one and the same Doctrine of faith and obedience and he is the same for ever even to the end of the World Now let me ask you are you Apostles have you seen Jesus Christ are you sent for a foundation for the Church to be built upon that go about to overthrow and pluck up the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles recorded in Scriptures Let men and Angels judge 2. If all truth were revealed to the Apostles by the Spirit of truth and the Apostles faithfull in declaring this truth by writing or teaching as cannot be denyed then it will follow that those writings or teachings of the Apostles were the only rule which writings through Gods grace we enjoy and therefore the rule of divine truth It 's true we have need of Gods blessings of Grace to apply the rule to us and our hearts and lives to the rule And so many as walk according to this rule peace be upon them Gal. 6.26 Nay Christ prayed not only for his Apostles but for them also that should believe on him through their word Joh. 17.20 3. We say the holy Scriptures are the inspirations of the Spirit of God in their own sense as expressed and have such sure evidence thereof that without any scruple we so believe the truth and directions discoveries thereof that we are content to stand or fall to their Verdict not caring for mans judging and tell us in what truth of God the Scriptures are imperfect in you proud Worms that so vilifie and diminish from them But they go on and tell me that Abel Enoch and Noah had faith before Scripture was and the holy men of God believed therefore they spake Answ 1. Abel Enoch Noah were not without the word of faith from the Lord the Lord spake to these out of heaven by voyce Heb. 1.1 At sundry times and in â—â—vers manners the Lord hath spoken unto his servants the Prephets But in this last age he hath spoken to us by his Son Theâ—â—fore never look for no other manner of speaking 〈◊〉 what hath been before there was any thing committed 〈◊〉 to writing the Lord did more visibly reveale his will by voice or vision Angels c. but since he hath committed his whole will and mind unto writing by the Prophets and Apostles those former manners are ceased 2. This is our argument because some had faith before Scripture was by an immediate speaking by voyce c. Therefore now although we have the mind of God discovered in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles we must look for the same discoveries still by voyce or vision inspiration as if all that were written by inspiration of God were nothing to us and nothing of force to any but to the present ages they were writ in such madnesse you run into Whereas in your Answere you say That not any doth know the Scriptures by the outward declaration but by the word of faith in the mouth and in the heart which word
mans self and to be urged upon others as the authority of the Scripture The Quakers Answer The Revelations of Jesus Christ are according to Scripture which bind up the testimonie and seal the law in the hearts among my disciples And what Revelations and Dictates in the heart are contrary to the law and testimonie are to be disowned and rejected according to Isai 8.20 My Reply The Answer is both cloudie and deceitfull yet seems to be in the Negative when they say what Dictates and Revelations is in the Conscience and heart of man contrary to the Law and Testimony is not to be regarded but disowned But then the Question is what they mean by Law and Testimonie whether the old and new Testaments or Law and Testimonie in the heart If of the first their Answer is true but if of the last their Answer is false and unsound and it will follow that the Revelations and Dictates of the heart not to be found in Scriptures are as binding to my own and other mens Consciences as the Scriptures contrary to their own quotation Isai 8.20 c. The truth is they will have the inward Dictates of the heart binding to Conscience and the rule when they have denyed the holy Scriptures to be a rule of faith and obedience as we have seen in their Answer to the first Question they will take no notice of Scripture Authority as if they were altogether out of Date Whereas every true Christian doth believe that God hath ordained the holy Scriptures alone to be the object of faith and ground of all our obedience and serving of God and to do any Religious service to God out of any other Principle is but will-worship and to follow the imaginations of our own hearts serving the Devil and not God Their Answer saith My accusation is false and the cloud and deceit is in my self who cannot endure sound Doctrine but call it unsound and question whether the Law and Testimonie in the heart which is the Law of the new Covenant Jer. 31.33 be the Rule to judge error by and here with the light of Christ the spirituall man who judgeth all things thy blindnesse and deceit is seen and judged and we witnesse the Scriptures to be writ for our learning and a testimony against thee and all such lyars who have got them to talk on and would set them above the Revelations of the Spirit and light of Christ which we witness is absolutely binding and the sole judge of error for to him is all Judgement given Joh. 5.22 And in his power thou art bound and thy error judged Answ Reader thou mayst see what impudent foreheads they have by saying my accusation is false when themselves have discovered to purpose the deceit of their Answer which saith The Revelations of Christ are according to the Scriptures and what Dictates are in the heart of man contrary to the Law and Testimony is not to be regarded but disowned according to Isai 8.20 In which Text we are to go to the Law and the Testimony and if any speak not according to that word it is 〈◊〉 cause there is no light in them which word is to be understood of Moses and the Prophets without all controversie So that take their answer as expressed and a plain minded Christian cannot but judge it sober and true but you may see they speak one thing and mean another thing for in their last answer to mine they tell us what they mean by Law and Testimony namely the Dictates Revelations and Law and Testimony in the heart And is not that a deceitfull answer to make a shew of one thing and intend another for if their answer had been to their intent it should have been this The Revelations of Christ within are of greater force then the Scriptures and what Dictates or Revelations in the heart of man are contrary to the Law and Testimonie in the heart are to be disowned and they should have left out their quotation had they not been purposely minded to deceive and yet they tell us often that as they write so they mean and speak the truth in plainnesse most horrible hypocrisie and deceit which nothing but impudent lying and a knavish head dare go about to excuse much lesse impute falsehood upon the innocent for discovering it Did you ever read of Law and Testimonie in the heart and did you ever read that the Law and Testimonie in the heart is the Law of the new Covenant and did you ever read that the Law in the heart is the Law of the new Covenant where is the new Covenant called a Law and the only rule to judge error by We know the whole Book of God written by Moses and the Prophets is called the Book of the Covenant Exod. 24.7 And that which you call the Law of the New Covenant is the blessing promised in the new Covenant put into performance where and to whom God is pleased in the use of the word and ordinances of the Covenant to regenerate renew quicken and change the hearts of any to yeeld willing and heartie obedience to the holy Lawes of God commanded in his word Do these strangers to the nature of the new Covenant think that all have the Law of God writ in their hearts by vertue of he new Covenant Who can deny this writing of Gods Law and giving his Spirit c. Jer. 31.33 Heb. 8. to be a saving blessing of the Covenant farre different to Rom. 2.14 which is a Law in the heart common to all upon another account If that which they plead be writ in all then all have true saving Grace and shall be saved for that Covenant is everlasting and unchangeable and then if all have not that Law of the new Covenant to what end is that quoted but to deceive making the most to believe a lye where their damnable Tenents take and so upon the matter they destroy all Christian Lawes and obedience and presse men that are Christians to turne Heathens in minding the Law of Nature only And should I speak my heart touching the nature of the new Covenant I should expresse my self thus That the Covenant of Grace that brings salvation to faln man is founded upon and confirmed by the death of Christ in which Covenant the promises of a new heart and of giving Gods Spirit and writing his Lawes are the main all other promises precepts threats and ordinances in the whole Book of God have their tendencie in order to the Lords putting into execution of those spirituall blessings promised and this Covenant is to be restrained to the visible professing Church and their seed as a speciall blessing beyond all the rest of the world that are left to wander in their own wayes And in the Church this Covenant is not to all universally and absolute but indefinitely and conditional so that not any can be excluded from it in particular nor all included in it conjunctively taken for in
the visible Church of Christ that are under the Doctrine and ordinances of the grace of the Covenant many are called but few are chosen And these Impostors and Perverters of the new Covenant that teach that all have the Lawes of the new Covenant writ in their hearts may as truly say that all have the promises thereof writ in their hearts then which nothing is more absurd therefore I conclude that as the promises of the Covenant are upon Divine record that we may have hope for our selves and children so likewise is the rule that we are to conforme unto in order to the receiving of the spirituall blessings promised In the next place to excuse their rash insolent censures they assume to themselves To be the spiritual man that judgeth all things and thereupon by their light they say that my blindnesse and deceit is seen and judged who accuseth them of waving the Scripture-authority as if they were out of date Answ And let the World judge what use they make of the Authority of holy Scriptures that have in plain terms denyed them to be the perfect rule of faith and obedience as you have seen before and not many lines off again where they judge me they say The Spirit and light of Christ in them which they witnesse is absolutely binding and the sole judge of error for to him is all judgement given Joh. 5.22 Thus you see they set up another Rule to be sole judge of error and yet they judge me for accusing them falsely But this is but the same in other words which they have urged and I have answered already in the first Question There they say the Spirit is the rule here the light of Christ in them the sole judge of error for they make the light within the law in the heart the Spirit and Christ the exercise of the conscience to be all one and they quote Scriptures meerly to delude the simple and to colour over their real delusions and deceits for if the Spirit and the immediate Revelations of Christ in the heart be the only rule and sole judge of error to what end do they prove it by Scriptures for that which is the sole Judge of error is infallible of it self and needs not any demonstration but faith to believe it that it is so and their going to the Scriptures to prove the Spirit to be the rule in that very thing they make the Scriptures the absolute rule and therein contradict all they say If Christ in them be the sole judge of truth and error why do they make such a noyse of Scripture expressions can they not speak in the Authority of that Christ within them unlesse they fill up their Revelations with those borrowed expressions of the Scriptures which they call a dead Letter that killeth Certainly in the secret of their Consciences they are convinced that the holy Scriptures are the sole Judge of error they being given by the Inspiration of God and the word that we shall be judged by at the last day Joh. 12.48 although they reject it from being the Judge of error now because it crosses their idle proud fancies and itching humors to set up something of their own brain in their Apostate condition and therefore like condition like rule rather then they will repent and return to the right Rule they will set up a Rule of their own making that shall please them better but what will they do in the end thereof Because they had not executed my judgements but despised my statutes and polluted my Sabbaths c. wherefore I gave them statutes also that were not good and judgements whereby they should not live and the Lord polluted them in their own Gifts c. Ezek. 20.24 25. The Lord give them hearts to consider the judgement of God upon such that despise the judgements statutes and Sabbaths the Lord hath commanded in his word Was this judgement of the Lord inflicted for the despising the judgements and Statutes and Sabbaths that were written in their own hearts think you no but for the despising and breaking the statutes lawes and ordinances commanded to be writ and taught the people by Moses and the Prophets as innumerable Texts do evince But while they quote Scripture although they deny it for a rule let us not be beaten with our own weapon and therefore give me leave to examine their quotations to prove the spirituall man and the light of Christ within to be the sole judge of error distinct from the Scriptures The 1 Cor. 2.14 15. them that are spirituall are put in opposition to the naturall man the one knows approves and judges of spiritual things the other receives not the things of the Spirit nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned the spirituall man hath his senses exercised to discerne and judge of things that differ but it is no where said he doth this without the rule of the word that gives that discovery The spirituall man as well as all others may not judge his brother nor another mans servant for we must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ our Lord and Master and all judgement is committed to the Son that men may honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5. as they quote hence they inferre that Christ is the sole judge of error Indeed Christ as he is the Son of man God and Man in one person who hath ascended farre above all heavens sitting at the right hand of God from thence shall he come in the clouds of Heaven with his mighty Angels in flames of fire to render vengeance on the disobedient to the Gospell Because God hath appointed him a day in which he shall judge the World in righteousnesse even by that man whom he hath ordained whereof God hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Act. 17.31 We believe that Jesus Christ shall come in his day with that very same body that suffered death upon the Crosse and was raised from the dead the third day and he shall judge the whole world of mankind that ever were even all those that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth the righteous to the resurrection of everlasting life and the wicked to the resurrection of condemnation Joh. 5.28 29. And let these seduced people take notice of Joh 12.28 29 He that receiveth not my words saith Christ hath one that judgeth him the word that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last day And this word of Christ they reject from being the rule of faith and obedience but whether they will or no they must stand to the judgement of this word of Christ which he hath spoken at the last day William Dusbury tells us that the mighty day of the Lord is appeared in the North of England and is arising towards the South and shall overspread this Nation and all Nations of the world What
by the eternall word which was from the beginning not by themselves Answ 1. That word was manifested in the flesh and dwelt amongst men justified in the Spirit and received into glory farre above the Heavens I demand how they know his mind touching my particular state in this censure pronounced whether they have it by voice from heaven or by vision or by the ministrie of Angels or dream or fancie or how 2. If the eternall word that was made flesh revealed it to them as he is in them for that 's the fancie then the word made flesh is in them bodily and not at the right hand of God where he lives for ever to make intercession for those he dyed for and obey him 3. If these censures be from the eternall word what is the reason they are so contrary to the written word which is the inspiration of God and the revelation of Christ and that which the Spirit saith to the Churches which every one that hath an eare to heare let him hear What have I pleaded but the Spirits rule as contained in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles Christ the chief Corner stone on which the true Church is built in all ages and for this these great Prophets judge me to be none of Abraham's seed and say I am rased out of his faith but what was his faith as to salvation more then what the Scriptures reveale and the weakest true Beleever hath In that I say the Scriptures are the object of faith c. is to be understood of what is contained in them and taught by them How do you or any know that there is but one God and what he is and how he will be worshipped and served but by the Scriptures How do you or any know that there is a Christ what he is and how he came into the World to save sinners and how he saves them and who he saves but by the Scriptures How do you or any know that there is a Covenant of grace and promises of eternall life and what commands but by the Scriptures Hence the Scriptures are the only rule of knowing God and Jesus Christ beleeving in him and living unto him They say Christ is the object of faith but that this is known and for what ends and uses and what is faith and how to live by it the Scriptures only make the discovery and they are writ for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope all those that are without the Scriptures are without all comfort and hope and God in the World And now whether they that oppose and deny the Scriptures to be a perfect Rule of faith and obedience or I that defend them to be the only rule deserve to be judged let every one that would be reckoned for a true Christian judge And as touching the faith of Abraham and who are his seed themselves are not much skil'd in who talk of the Law of the new Covenant writ in every mans heart as if every man were of the seed of Abraham and in the new Covenant made with him except my self and some others that out of zeale to the truth and doing service for the Church oppose them Both Abraham and all the faithfull upon Divine Record were obedient to the Commands of God and gave glory to God in believing his promises which you are farre from that reject his commands and promises in the Prophets and Apostles which not any of the children of Abraham in a spirituall sense ever did Them that are of faith are children unto Abraham and blessed with him but as for those that have departed from the true Doctrine of faith and obedience the Apostles writ to the Churches for their Rule as it is manifest from your own tongues and pens your selves have and chuse your own wayes following the imaginations of your own deceiving hearts that your selves are not of Abraham's seed much lesse of his faith while you cast off that Christian obedience to the lawes of Christ revealed in his word so did not our father Abraham And let me tell you in plainnesse your Worship and all your service is meerly vain so long as you like the Pharises teach for Doctrine the precepts of men namely such precepts that are the Dictates of your own idle brains And by an excessive fondnesse to the commands of your own fancies or the Devils suggestions you wickedly make voyd the holy just and equal commands of God What think you is not God the same as he ever was Hath he not given his statutes lawes and ordinances to Israel and to all that are of the same Church And is not this a great blessing among his people God hath not done this for the Heathen no they have not known his wayes Hath not God strictly forbidden either to adde to or diminish from his lawes upon the penalty of a curse Did not God say to Joshua thou shalt diligently observe and do all that is commanded not turning to the right hand or to the left Doth not Christ charge his Disciples to teach the baptized to observe and do all things whatever he hath commanded Matth. 28. And doth not Paul commend the Church of Corinth for being obedient in all things and for keeping the ordinances that he delivered unto them 1 Cor. 11.2 The Lawes and Ordinances of Jesus Christ were in force in the Apostolical Churches when were they repealed by what Authority and by whom Is not Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever You talk of the light of Conscience much can this light be blotted out of the Book of your Conscience it will not be long before conscience be fully opened to accuse and condemn you for reproaching the commands and ordinances of the Lord Jesus You talk of a Christ within you while you are disobedient and rebellious to Jesus Christ without you that gave his life a ransome for many Do you think a Christ within of your own making is able to secure you from the wrath of the Lamb when he shall come with his mighty Angels in flames of fire to render vengeance upon the disobedient to the Gospell You say you are perfect and in heaven and in the mean time strengthen your selves with lies and open your mouths with blasphemies and contempt of the holy things of Christ as hath been shewed but what will you do in the end thereof you tell me now out of your wonted boldnesse to belie the truth which the Scriptures teach that I am in the Will-worship in acting obedience from another Principle namely the Scriptures and so walk after the imaginations of my own heart which leads thee to worship the Devill in bringing forth those many lies in thy Paper begotten by the father of lies But I tell you the time is coming when your mouths that are opened in blasphemies shall be stopped and that word that I have urged against you shall judge you in that day
But their pride will be their ruine And the Lord will rebuke the madnesse of these Prophets and they are in the same way of perishing as in the gainsaying of Corab But dear friends I hope that there is that fear of God in your hearts that will preserve you from running out into these desperate heresies as to deny the holy Scriptures to be the Rule and ground of faith and obedience For you know deny the Authority of Scriptures the only boundary of truth and the only Touch-stone that every spirit and opinion is to be tryed by then all shall be left to follow the imaginations of their own idle heads and act as their deceitfull hearts shall suggest then they that can get the greatest confidence conceitednesse and strongest fancies and the impudentest tongues to vent their own inventions will be the only men for the true Religion and then who can tell what is truth and who are guided by the spirit of God and who by the Devill The very denying the Authority of the Scriptures bringeth all into confusion and heathenisme inevitably Cast off that which God hath ordained to direct us then the Devil will put in to mislead into all error and how shall any be able to know his workings and temptations from the pure workings of God for our good when the authority of the Scriptures are laid aside Nay who can be certain of any things in himself or in others that they please God when I or they cannot be certain they are ordained of God to that end if you lay aside the Authority of Scriptures And how just is it for God to punish the hearts of men with all spirituall delusions blindness and error and to let Satan loose upon mens souls when they cast off that which God hath given to direct and instruct in all righteousnesse and to every good work as 1 Tim. 3. You know how it is said that he that provideth not for his own hath denyed the faith as to that particular duty which the Doctrine of faith teacheth and is worse then an Infidell What would the Apostle have said of these that deny the whole Doctrine and Rule of Faith and yet have been once Christians sure they are worse than Infidells and it had been better they had never known the way of righteousnesse then after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandements of the Lord delivered unto them by word or writing 2 Pet. 2.20 see chap. 3.1.2 wherein the Apostle endevoured to stirre up their pure minds by way of remembrance that they might be mindsul of the words that were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the Commandements of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour which comprehends the whole Scriptures of old and new Testament on which the Church is built the Scriptures are and in them do contain the Oracles of God which is a great advantage and preferment to those they are committed unto beyond all others Rom. 2.1 2. To them is the Covenant and the promises and the service of God chap. 9. And whatever were writ before time was writ for our learning that the Church of God through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15. Whereas on the other hand those that are denyed the Scriptures are Aliens from the Common wealth of Israel and strangers to the Covenant of Promise and without hope and God in the world Ephes 2.12 as is clear of the like Infidel state that the Ephesians were in before their conversion to Christianity I tell you to deny the Scriptures is the desperatest error that any mortals can possibly plunge themselves into having once professed them such I am sure forsake their own mercies and judge themselves unworthy of eternall life by despising the Gospel of Christ contained in the Scriptures they slight the everlasting Covenant of Grace and all the promises writ in the Book of God there being not a promise made to any in the world but what is in the Scripture nor can any expect that God will give that which he doth not promise to any Let them tell me what promises are writ in the heart that deny the Scripture to be the only rule of faith and obedience if they be without the promise then they are without hope and God in the world as the poor Indians are if not worse by denying that which they have the means to know nay have known and been convinced and rejoyced in the spiritual blessings promised but now wilfully deny them and reject them as not to be believed that are written for the great comfort of the Lords people I tell you friends these miserable Worms uncovenant themselves and unchrist themselves as if they cared not for grace and mercie in their standing before God In denying the Scripture they deny all that grace and mercy that is writ there for the comfort and hope of poor penitent finners If the Scriptures shall be denyed their Authority by them then it will follow that they have removed the Lords antient bounds and the only Judge of all error What is heresie but the broaching of errors and vain opinions and practices contrary to the holy Lawes and Institutions of God recorded in Scriptures in taking away the rule they are involved in all heresie whatever for God will not be any otherwayes known trusted in worshiped and obeyed then himself hath taught and prescribed us in his word When men dare think of God after their own fancies and believe in him after their vain minds and worship God as seems good in their own eyes as all do that deny the Scripture to be a perfect Rule no wonder that they make God like themselves and themselves like God and that they preach another Gospell and set up another Christ and fancie another Heaven and another day of judgement and another Law and Rule to try all things by If men cease to be Christians and forsake the rules of Christianity while they continue to be men and have any sparks of immortality in them they will be doing in one way or other in order to eternity But will you receive these seducers into your houses and bid them God speed that deny the only Rule of righteousnesse and not be partakers with them Judge ye And can a greater proof and demonstration be given against any that they are Impostors and deceivers false teachers then this that in plain terms will deny the Authority of the holy Scriptures to be the only Rule of faith and obedience as those do which you receive and adhere unto which is a confirmation to me of the truth and Divine approbation of the publike ministry that you have forsaken when I observe what teachers you follow even those that deny the Authority of Scriptures And should our Teachers deny the Authority of holy Scriptures to be the Rule of faith and obedience and set up their own fancies to be the Rule as they do which you adhere
of Righteousnesse and true godlinesse are inclined in charity to hope well of you that there is some good at the bottome and life at the root that will spring forth again and make you instrumentall by your sad experiences to warn others The Third Question propounded WHether any thing besides the holy Scriptures is constituted of the blessed God to reveal Jesus Christ as Redeemer and Saviour to the Spirits of sinfull miserable lost man to bring up men to happinesse On whether lost man without the knowledge of Christ as the Scriptures reveal him may attain unto salvation yea or no. The Quakers Answer None can come to Christ but whom the Father drawes by his unlimited power nor know the Father but he whom the Son reveals him and he that thinks to attain the way to eternall life by reading the Letter of Scripture and regards not the light which comes from Christ that witnesseth for God in the secret of the heart and Conscience deceivs himself for the mystery of eternall life is sealed up in the sealed Book which none shall know by the outward Testimonie of Scripture but by the Inspiration of the Spirit of Christ who is the way the truth and the life to all that in his light wait his power them to guide in faithfull obedience to the Righteous and perfect Law of God written in the heart for the exercise of the Conscience which keeps them void of offence towards God and men according to Testimonie of Scripture Act. 24.16.23.1 My Reply Their Answer to my third Question falls upon other Questions but gives no direct Answer at all for the question doth not exclude the power and grace of the Father and the Son from mans attaining unto salvation but is of another thing namely whether faln lost man without the knowledge and use of the Scriptures may in an ordinary way know Christ as Mediator and be saved by him or thus whether God hath and doth exercise his power and Spirit in bringing corrupt man to the knowledge of Christ as Redeemer and believe in him to eternall life without the use and knowledge of the Scriptures ordinarily The Question is not of extraordinary cases and of Gods unlimited power who can do more then he hath any where revealed he will doe but it is of his ordinary course and power that is limited by his word of truth to do what he will in order to the blessednesse of those that wait upon him in those wayes and in the use of such means himself hath appointed in his holy word all other stamps and forms pretending to the knowledge of God and religious worshipping of him or of being saved by Christ are but the superstitious births of deluded fancies that tend to the deceiving and ruin of a mans self and others Their Answer to this is but dark and to little purpose only they say That their Answer doth stand as a witnesse against me and declares the way to the Father and the Son according to Scriptures Matth. 11.27 Joh. 6.44 Which they say my dark mind is a stranger unto who am querying of Gods constituting ordinary means of salvation and of his ordinary way of working to reveal Christ as Redeemer which say they are unlearned Questions and to be condemned with the light which reproves the world of sin and leads to the Son who is the Redeemer and way to the Father Joh. 14.6 Which way is but one and condemnation you must own unlesse thou canst shew us a Scripture that speaks of ordinary and extraordinary way of Gods exercising his power and Spirit or of a limited power of God which words proceed from thy dark Imaginations and not grounded upon Scripture are concluded to be the births of the deluded fancie you speak of Answ By all this we may judge the sum of their Answer amounts to this That my Question is unlearned and to be condemned with the light which reproves the world of sin and leads to the Son immediately without the help of those means God hath appointed to that end and therefore as before the Scriptures and Ordinances therein commanded are not of necessity but this pretended light and Spirit and unlimited power of God is to be attended upon only not regarding any ordinary means whatever though such as God himself hath appointed and doth only reveal in his word as if all those ordinary and usuall helps that God himself commands in his word for men to use to come to the knowledge of Christ and how to be saved by him were superfluous or opposite to the knowing of him c. although the Scriptures were written and all Instructions therein contained for our learning that we might have comfort and hope all others that have not the use and benefit of Scriptures have no hope and without God in the world as hath been spoken to already and yet this they say is an unlearned Question but surely they say so because they know not how to give a direct Answer to it in plainnesse but it wil lay them open to the weakest judgements to be against Christ as Redeemer as the Scriptures teach him which few would hearken unto should they speak plainly But let all men judge of what Spirit these men are of that condemns the Questions as propounded by the light which condemns the world of sin But let them first discover what sin is in these Questions before they rashly condemn them Secondly let them tell us what light is that which reproves for sin if not the mind of Christ and the voice of the Spirit revealed in the Scriptures Thirdly let them prove that the light which they condemn the Questions with is the true light of Christ or else who will regard them How dare those proud Worms condemne the things they know not how to answer but by denying the holy Scriptures and what they teach But what light is that that leads to the Son who is the Redeemer while you disown the light of Scriptures to be the Rule to make out this high discovery Did you ever know or hear of any since Scriptures were that have attained to know Christ as Redeemer and to believe in him to salvation that never heard of Christ by Scriptures or Scripture ministry Doth not the Apostle determine absolutely as to this case and question by severall interrogations Rom. 10. How shall they call on him of whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not so much as heard of and how can they hear without a preacher and how can they preach except they be sent c. And doth he not conclude from these interrogations that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God he urging that necessity of hearing the word of God in order to faith without which it cannot be And therefore it was that he queries the Galatians thus Received ye the Spirit by the Law or by faith preached not by the Law but by
the preaching of the Doctrine of faith Neither is there salvation in any other but in that Saviour and Redeemer which the Apostles preached Act. 9.12 for there is no other name under heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved but the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom the Jewes crucified and God raised from the dead ver 11. and this name and person Christ Jesus designed of God to be a Saviour cannot any know of or believe in him but by the help of Scriptures or the ministrie thereof and he that believes not in this name Christ Jesus the Son of the living God shall be damned Mark 16.16 And doth not our Saviour affirme that salvation is of the Jewes as they were the Church of God peculiar from all other people under heaven because unto them was committed the Oracles of God and is not the christian Church grafted into them and peculiar from all others Infidels and misbelievers and have the same and more spirituall priviledges and blessings of the Covenant while all others are left to wander in their own wayes were not the Apostles Doctrine which they preached the only means of enlightning the dark world and let them shew us where and to whom they preached the light in men to be the Gospell and Christ within them that the Gentiles should be saved by No they preached Christ crucified a dying bleeding Christ for remission of sins It pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching Christ as they did to save them that believe as they were fitted and sent of God so they were directed in doing his work faithfully and were accompanyed with an answerable successe witnesse the many Churches that they gathered and converted to the christian faith turning them from darknesse to the true light and from the power of Satan unto God striving to preach Christ where he never had been named before Rom. 15.20 And what Christ did they preach is easie to determine may the Scriptures judge Either let these sinners against their own souls preach the same Christ to sinners for the same ends and purposes as the Scriptures witnesse of the Apostles or else let their lying mouths be stopped and persist no further in deceiving themselves and seducing others Reader thou canst not but judge the Question rational and religious if the Scriptures may judge and to be answered in the negative and yet these men who out of their thick darknesse having denyed the Scriptures to be the Rule of faith and obedience are forced to forge out of their dark imaginations another Rule of revealing Christ to lost man besides the Scriptures which Rule is in every man sometimes under the notion off light within law of the heart heer they bring in an unlimited power of God distinct from the use of those Ordinances and wayes which God hath appointed to make usefull in those Divine discoveries of Christ the only Mediator between God and sinfull man and without which Christ as Mediator and Redeemer is not known nor believed in unto salvation at all They carp and cavill at my expressions because the Question is to Gods ordinary and usual dealings with the souls of men and have waved the extraordinary and unusuall operations of the hidden unlimited power of God doing what he will to Infants distracted deaf in the Church in shewing them mercie but they reject all ordinary means of Scripture and ordinances therein appointed and onely set up an immediate unlimited power of God though if the word of an Apostle be of credit before them the Gospell of Christ is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 So necessary is the ministry of the Gospell to salvation that it 's called the power of God to that end and yet I have all along yeelded that to the means must be added a Divine hand in working effectually upon the souls of men or else nothing can be wrought unto salvation and as for the expressions themselves it is not much materiall that they be found in Scripture so long as the thing and sense is there as hath and much more might be added in proof thereof were it needfull The word ordinary food is in Ezekiel Ezek. 16.27 there the Lord threatned to deny it which were their dayly bread but I say the thing it self is grounded upon Scriptures Israel drank of water in the Brooks and Springs and Wells that they digged which was ordinary and yet Gods gift they also drank of water that God gave them out of a Rock in the Wildernesse where no water was before and thâ—t was extraordinary Israel took of their Dough for bread which they had prepared in Aegypt and that was ordinary but when their food was spent the Lord gave them bread from heaven and that was extraordinary for a time till they could be put into a capacity of ordinary food again I might instance in twenty things more but I forbear But see the peversenesse of these men because God at some times hath revealed himself immediately by his Spirit without means therefore they conclude he doth so still although we have his word to reveal his mind and will unto us in all things necessary to be known and done Their quotations are perverted and wrested as they do all other Scriptures to their own destruction and to what end do they quote Scriptures in proof of any thing they assert while they deny the Scriptures to be the Rule of faith and obedience In my reply I urged Joh. 5.39 against the latter part of their Answer in which I told them that Christ commands the Jewes to search the Scriptures for in them you think to have eternall life and they are they which testifie of me But these Quakers say contrary He that thinks to attain the way to eternall life by reading the Scriptures and regards not the light that comes from Christ deceives himself To this I said it seems the holy Scriptures are opposed to the light which comes from Christ and I judge that the Scriptures are a light that comes from Christ and the only way and means appointed by God both to know and believe in Christ to eternall life where and to whom the Lord is pleased to give his blessing Their Answer To say that we speak contrary to Christ is false but he that reads the Scriptures and regards not the light which gave them forth to learn wrests them to his own destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 and so deceivs himself and such are they that put them in place of the light and think them the only way and means appointed by God to eternal life Answ Did not Christ approve of the Jewes opinion in thinking that in the Scriptures they should have eternal life for where is there any promise of eternal life or discovery of the way and means to attain it but in the Scriptures and from that good opinion the Jewes had of the truth of Scriptures Christ refers them to the Scriptures as bearing testimony that he
was the true Christ Of a five-fold witnesse and testimony that Christ urged on his own behalf in this chapter this of the testimony of Scripture is one and not the least to prevail upon the credence of that unbeleeving people What they mean by not regarding the light which gave them forth to learn is beyond my understanding to find out What light is that which gave the Scriptures is it not the Spirit of God all Scripture being given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.16 Surely he that regards the Inspirations of God regards the Author of those inspirations for to say a man is obedient to the Scriptures and by search is willing to know Gods will to do it more and yet regards not God that gave it forth is a contradiction in it self but these men assume that in them only is the light which gave the Scripture and hence they judge in that we regard not what they say and write we regard not the light c. and our cleaving to the rule of Scriptures which are the Inspirations of God and not regarding them seems to be the deceit and to wrest the Scriptures to our own destruction as if the Scriptures were writ for mens destruction and deceit and not for their learning comfort and hope but that place in 2 Pet. 3.16 is spoken of unlearned and unstable men that wrest not only some hard places but also the other Scriptures to their own destruction and therefore bids the Church beware lest being drawn away by the error of the wicked they fall from their own stedfastnesse Oh the giddinesse and unstability of these mens Spirits that have runned from Sect to Sect till they have run through all and then think to center in a way of their own choosing in which they do not practise any one duty of religious Worship to God private or publike as the holy Scriptures teach and to make Conscience thereof from Scripture Authority And yet others and not themselves they charge with wresting the Scriptures as in their next clause Such are they that put them in the place of the light and think them the only way and means appointed by God to eternall life Answ You may see who they judge to be most guilty of wresting the Scriptures to their own destruction namely those that think them the only way and means appointed by God both to know and believe in Christ the Redeemer to eternal life and to live unto God according to this Rule this is but the same with their denying the Scriptures to be a perfect Rule of faith and obedience censuring those that make them the Rule of faith and obedience as if by so doing men deceive themselves and wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction Oh profane impiety and sinfull blindnesse themselves are involved in for not receiving the truth in the love of it c. But I see I shall be too large and tire the Reader if I examine all things of theirs which is needlesse because we have the same again and again in other words which is answered already as to the substance of them But they tell me Thou goest on in thy blind zeale seeking to maintain the Scriptures to be the only means to reveal Christ as Redeemer and the only way in which God puts forth his Divine power to give light and life to men To this they Answer But who art thou that wilt limit God to a way and means of manifesting his power and Spirit who hath promised to powre it upon all flesh and that Sons and Daughters shall prophesie and see visions Joel 2.28 And we witnesse his promise fulfilled and fulfilling and know that he will have mercie on whom he will have mercy Answ 1. 'T is true God will have mercy on whom he will but the Question is whether God exercises his saving mercies of the Covenant to any in bringing them to salvation by Christ without the knowledge and use of the Scriptures for how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how can they be saved that do not at all believe in Christ as hath been spoke to already Rom. 10. And if our Gospel be hid or withheld it is to them that perish 2. The blessing of the Scriptures given to a people is a peculiar mercy to any people and never was common unto all God hath given his Lawes and Statutes unto Israel as for the heathen they have not known his ways To them was committed the Oracles of God the Covenant and the promises and the service of God and the Adoption c. but all others are without Christ strangers to the Covenant of promise and without hope and God in the world Ephes 2. And whomsoever God shewes mercy unto as to the end to save them he shews mercy unto in giving them the means he saves by and as is the end so is the means appointed by the Lords peculiar mercy restrained to the Christian Churches distinct from all others and to affirme the same is not our limiting of God but it 's the pleasure and wisdome of God to limit his power by the word of his eternall truth and to argue from his unlimited power against his word of truth Covenant and promise is to be wise above what is written if not contrary which trusted unto is high presumption As for that of Joel 2.28 The Apostle witnessed that promise fulfilled when those extraordinary gifts of the Spirit were given to the Apostles Act. 2.16 17. So likewise upon the Gentiles when Peter preached the word unto Cornelius and his friends were the same gifts of the holy Ghost and they spake with Tongues as did the Apostles at the beginning chap. 10.45 46. chap. 11.15 16 17. compared So that it 's clear that of Joel was fulfilled in the Apostles dayes and by them applyed to that very manner of giving forth of the Spirit which not any in our times can witnesse or evince by the same gifts of miracles and Tongues and yet these conceited Quakers witnesse the same promise fulfilling in them still although they have nothing of the same things spoken of Act. 2.4.16 When they have the gift of Tongues working miracles we shall more easily incline to believe they are endowed with immediate Revelations themselves so much boast of If they have not the gift of Tongues and of miracles the Apostles and some others had which accompanyed the gift of Revelations what reason have we to believe them in what they pretend while they are utterly destitute of the other I do not go about to limit Gods power but that in his wisdome and good pleasure he may give the same gifts again to men but yet I am not bound to believe God hath and doth give the same gifts to these men that so boast they being not approved of God in having gifts of Tongues and miracles as they had that applyed that of the Prophet Joel to themselves I grant that all necessary gifts
Lawes of God are nigh unto God and great above all other Nations by way of priviledge And to what end were the Lawes of God given unto them and us but that we should know them and do them for our good chap. 10.12 13. See chap. 11.18 19. The use of the outward is a means of the inward where God gives the blessing And for those that have not the benefit of the outward writings of the Prophets and Apostles or have them and yet regard them not as it is written is too palpable a sign that they are strangers from the Law of God in the heart as it is a blessing of the new Covenant We know the written Law was given to the people by the hands of a Mediator and not against the promise but subservient to the receiving of the benefits and blessings thereof And therefore let them shew us what other Covenant that is to which pertains the perfect Law in the heart distinct from the outward writing and how the outward declaration is under one Covenant and the Lawes of God in the heart under another they being both the same as is confessed but whether they understand all the same in the heart as is in force in the holy Scriptures I suspect for they wave the answer of that whereas the whole of what the Scripture plainly teacheth is in the hearts of the Lords people to believe love and do with an equall respect as the Scripture is plain in By evangelicall discoveries they carp at and judge as unlearned and to be condemned which I do much admire knowing that themselves are no strangers to the phrase and sense nor unacquainted with those Scriptures that give such discoveries of the person natures offices of a redeeming Christ that never any have attained unto and discovered either by word or writing which never had nor heard of the help of the Gospel as contained in the Scriptures And for them to condemne me for putting the Question unlesse I can prove by Scripture those things of Christ argues their denyall of them which to do seems to me no lesse then to deny the true Christ anointed of God and fitted to performe the work of mans redemption in his own body once offered by the eternall Spirit that he might bring sinners to God Had he not a body given him which was sacrificed unto death was buryed rose again and ascended into Heaven as Scriptures witnesse And was he not a person Pilate's wife acknowledged him a just person Matth. 27.24 And Paul forgave in the person of Christ 2 Cor. 2.10 and to his humane nature is united his Divine which the Saints are said to partake of in its speciall and peculiar workings upon their hearts the word made flesh in that he took not the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham born of a Virgin c. truely God and truely man in one person and his offices of Prophet Priest and King as evident according to Scripture that not any but Infidels and malicious Apostates will deny But I hasten And I doubt not but that all that have the Law writ in their hearts by vertue of the new Covenant shall be saved that being the same with a new heart regenerate and quickned by the grace of God and not any other although they have the use of Scriptures much lesse those that are denyed the ordinary use and benefit thereof as they reveal Christ the Redeemer to the world without knowing and believing in shall perish But Christians I pray you mark what a Christ these men fancy to themselves as Redeemer that have condemned me with the light that gave forth the Scripture for querying whether the light that is in all in the world gives the discovery of the person natures and offices of Christ unlesse the Scriptures doe prove them why do not they know that the Scriptures do give this Gospell discovery if they will own it as I am sure they cannot be ignorant of it Why do they put me to the proof condemning the Query as unlearned because I ask whether those that have not the use of Scripture have a sufficient Gospel light to give this discovery If they deny it as I believe they do then judge what a Christ they frame in their imaginations that is without person natures and offices whether he be that very same Christ that was equal with God and took upon him the forme of a Servant made in the likenesse of men and being found in the fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Crosse Phil. 2.7 8. That suffered in the flesh the just for the unjust to bring us unto God 1 Pet. 3.18 I tell you did not these deceivers fear the Authority of man that hath put forth an Act against Blasphemy more then the Authority of God in Scriptures they would speak out in plain terms and deny the person natures and offices of Christ and so deny Christ himself who is not at all a Mediator and Redeemer on the behalf of lost man but by his person natures and offices c. And therefore it is wel that fear of man will stop the mouth of blasphemy But mark they cannot condemn the Question as unlearned by the Authority and light of Scripture which are undoubtedly the Inspirations of God but their insolence carries them higher then the light of Scripture Inspirations namely to a light in themselves by which they condemn the mysteries of Christ in the work of Redemption which the Scriptures so plainly teach But what light is this that condems the query They answer the light that gave forth the Scriptures Reply God is light and the Scriptures are the Inspirations of God doth it follow that the light in man is that God that gave the Scriptures when can you prove that the light in man gave forth the Scriptures if you cannot prove it by what Authority do you assert it The Fourth Question propounded WHether that light of Conscience which is more or lesse in all since the fall be the Remainder or Reliques left in man of the first Adam in reference to the Covenant of works or whether common to all from the Redemption of the second Adam as flowing from the Covenant of Grace or how else I desire your clear Answer The Quakers Answer Man in his fallen estate hath not any light remains in him to guide him to do any thing pleasing to God as he stands in the state of corrupt nature for all his righteousnesse is as filthy rags The light that convinceth men of the evill of their hearts and discovers the filthinesse of their own Righteousnesse is the light that comes from Christ the true light that lighteneth every one that cometh into the world Joh. 1.9 And this light is not common to men by nature it is the great gift of God his grace that hath appeared unto all men c. Tit. 2.11 My Reply The Answer to my
upholding all things by his power for his Elects sake that they may be gathered to himself But the Text doth not say that he enlighteneth every one in the world with a spiritual light sufficient to eternall life and happinesse if they will but mind it There is something in the word lighteth which had respect to the present time noting some benefit given to the world which never was before according to Joh. 3.19 And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then light As the present mercy and benefit of Christs coming into the world in his person and immediate ministry confirmed by his works of miracles were a greater light to direct them and lead them out of darknesse to God so their condemnation was thereby aggravated in their refusall loving darknesse before the directions of this true light Besides lighteth is rather an outward light a borrowed expression taken from a Torch or Candle which have their use in an outward sense And we know John bare witnesse of Christ in his person and office unto which he was designed of the Father in making him the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world and he bare witnesse to this very end that through his Testimony all men might believe in him Had the Apostle meant as they would have it he would have put in more words I think and not left it so obscurely to that end they would build on for whether this Text proves any such thing as Christs inward enlightening and quickening by his Spirit in the souls of men unto life is to me a great Question though a clear truth from other Texts for this light is said to shine in darknesse but the darknesse comprehended it not he came unto his own but they received him not The Jewes were counted his own as being the only people of God in profession and Covenant and yet they are accounted darknesse in regard of their incredulity in not receiving him for where Christ enlightneth and quickneth spiritually any soul with his grace all principles of rejectings and resistings of Christ and his word are removed and darknesse expelled as light comes into any soul darknesse goes out it being nothing else but the absence of light and therefore I think the Text is to be understood of the light of his person made flesh his ministry and miracles and all other means which by his Authority are appointed to bring men to true faith in him to salvation as many as believed in him he gave power to become the sons of God and not any other And we know how the Apostles understood the enlightening of the Gentiles were by their Ministry in Gods granting them repentance unto life and turning them from the darknesse of paganisme to the light of Christianity thereby as Scriptures teach as hath been proved The main objection of theirs against this sense is this Christs person ministry miracles were not known to every man therefore every man could not be lighted so Answ By World may be understood that part of the world where Christ was and is made known by vertue of his word Christ was in the world and the world was made by him and yet he was not in all parts of the world and so he was in the world and the world knew him not cannot be understood of the whole world for some did know him who he was and for what end he came into the world So it is said that Christ baptizeth and all men come to him here all must be understood of many in those parts And so the Apostle saith John was sent of God to bear witnesse of the light that all men through him might believe this must necessarily be understood with limitation for all men did not know nor so much as hear of John for he bare this witnesse only in Judea Again they say That John bare record of his life and light from which those works proceeded and not of his person and we know say they that his record is true which proves thee a lyar who saith he bare record of his person manifest in the flesh and the lie rests upon thee untill thou prove it Answ By this you may conceive that they deny the person of Christ and so consequently Christ himself as he is a Saviour for spirituall life and light were not capable of death shedding of blood undergoing the curse and treading the Wine-presse of his fathers wrath a sacrifice for sin for the redemption pardon and salvation of sinners Did not John bear record of his person when he said to the people as Christ came towards them Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world Joh. 1.29.36 And John baptized him with water and according to an immediate word and sign given of the Lord he saw and bare record that this Christ was the Son of God vers 33 34. And this is he of whom I said After me cometh a man which is preferred before me vers 30. And did John give record that he was a man whom he baptized with water and talked with and pointed at and yet bare no record of his person could he be a man and not a person the Son of God and not a person when he is said to be the expresse Character of his Fathers person Heb. 1.3 Thus you see in respect of his Divinity and Humanity he is called a Person Adde that which I have said before and then judge who is the lyar The Jewes themselves how malicious soever could not deny his person but they denyed that this just person Christ Jesus was the true Messiah promised in the Prophets and therefore they with bitternesse opposed him as a deceiver a false Christ c. But Christ told them If you believe not that I am he you shal die in your sins What He is this and not a person But enough hath been spoke to this to discover their folly and madnesse unto all that are sober His life and light and person is inseparable but he is not any otherwayes a light and comfort and Saviour to lost sinners but by his incarnation taking mans nature bearing our sins satisfying offended justice by the sacrifice of himself and hath obtained an eternall redemption for us thereby And he that doth not believe in him thus as the Scriptures hold him forth a Redeemer by suffering in his own person in the behalf and stead of lost sinners for their eternall redemption believes nothing at all of Christ unto eternall life whatever other notions or fancies are pretended What these mens fancies are of Christ what he is and how he redeems and saves sinners who can certainly tell They own not his person his natures his offices of Prophet Priest and King as the Scriptures reveal of him in the performance of that great work of mans redemption What do these people understand what Jesus Christ that came into the world made
understood with limitation and is not universall to every man that ever was in the world because Christ was not in all ages and places of the world in his person and ministry and powerfull workings visibly This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then light this is from the same pen and must be understood of the same light that he calls that true light chap. 1.9 By which words of John 3.19 is evident is to be understood of Christ himself in person as he was the Son of man and the Son of God see vers 14.16 17. This very discourse to the 22. verse is a relation of what Christ himself spake occasioned by that Question of Nicodemus ver 4. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish c. God sent not his Son into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saved and he that believes not in him is condemned already And then followes verse 19 Which light is himself then come into the world as the former verses read shew And hence you may see that this advantage the people of the Jewes had of Christs corporall presence amongst them preaching the Kingdome of God unto them was such a light as never was in the world before and their not believing in this light was their condemnation and for any now not to believe in the very same person the only Son of God the true light of the world both by his immediate person manifest in the flesh and by his Authority and Spirit flowing from the same Christ immediately revealed in his word cannot be saved and to have the light of Scriptures to discover Christ that true light what he is and what he hath done for sinners to bring them to God and believes not in him accordingly is the condemnation of all such And these Quakers I have often observed though in all their writings they quote this Text John 3.19 they seldome repeat the whole words but usually render the Text thus This is the condemnation of the world the light Insomuch that some that have adhered to them too much have thought that there had been just such a Text indeed but there is not It seems themselves are sensible of the light which is said to come into the world was another thing then what they intend because they leave them out as they are placed by the penman and so put the words together as may make some colour of an immediate inward light which is in all as if the light that is in all men in the world is constituted of God only to be the condemnation of the whole world in the Text when it speaks not of any light save of Christs person and ministry then really come and manifest in that part of the world the Jewes lived in A light for eminency superadded to all that were before him as the Sun excelling the leaft Starres and to love darknesse rather then this Sun of righteousnesse the light of the world is the condemnation but yet to be limited to that part of the world where the light of Christ shines through the benefit and use of the Prophets and Apostles discoveries only How shall they escape that neglect so great salvation which at first began to be preached unto them Heb. 2. Though it be true that there is tribulation and wo to every one that doth evill both to Jew and Gentile and Christian yet as many as sin without Law shall perish without Law and as many as have finned under the written Law shall be judged by the Law and so those that refuse the light of the Gospel that discovers the only remedy this is their condemnation and a sorer judgement much more heavier then of Sodom and Gomorrah or of those that sinned and were punished under Moses and the Prophets And that these depravers and contemners of the mysteries of Christs Kingdome dispensed by Gospel Ordinances in order to the enlightning quickning and saving of sinners shall assuredly feel if the free peculiar grace of God through the blood of Christ prevent it not in giving them repentance and remission of sins who have meerly out of their dark minds through the malice of that old Serpent fomented such blasphemies against the glorious Kingdome and person of Jesus Christ as Satan hath not had the boldnesse to suggest to the worst of men in former times that have been Christians as very many of their own papers published abroad doe witness and which some both of learning and fidelity have taken the pains to give the world notice of And the whole of this in hand will witnesse them Impostors and Apostates that have departed from the Christian Doctrine of faith and obedience both for matter and manner by denying the right Rule and the true object as the Rule reveals Christ Jesus the Redeemer of lost man and the way and means appointed by Christ to convey the blessings of speciall grace into the souls of men unto eternal life they have denyed and reproached as heathenish observations mens Traditions c. And besides their questioning the person natures offices of Christ and so his Mediatorship in performing the work of our Redemption by that one sacrifice of himself upon the Crosse making peace without which person natures offices is not any thing yet done to the salvation of mankind our faith is in vain our worship in vain and we must all die in our sins and yet they tell us of a Christ and a true light of the world and of the blessings of the new Covenant namely the Law of the new Covenant in the heart the free grace of God that hath appeared unto all men c. and by all this they understand no more then the light in mans soul which every one in the world hath more or lesse that is in the dark dead polluted state of corrupt nature and this light they say is the true light and of the pure nature of God that being loved and heeded leads out of darknesse to the knowledge of God to eternall life though they have not the use of Scriptures and this is the eternall Word the everlasting Gospell the Light which gave forth the Scriptures and the Judge of the world and the Kingdome of heaven within and the Law of the new Covenant Christ within and I know not what and that this Christ this light this Gospel this Scripture within this perfect law of the heart may be the better heeded amongst people they render the Scriptures a dead letter the ordinances of worship but outward observations which the kingdome of God is not in and the Ministers they render more odious then a few words will expresse though the office and function more honorable then any other calling amongst men and then urge them to cease from all their own works of hearing praying reading c. and
more vile fith it is for God and the salvation of poor souls entangled under this dark temptation presented under the specious pretences of the Ministers of Christ What civility or Christianity can I or any expect from those that have denyed the holy Scriptures as to that end they were intended and reproached the ordinances and Institutions of the Lord Jesus that Scriptures teach under the notions of heathenish worship and traditions of men outward observations inconsistent with the kingdome of God which reproaches reflect upon the Author and Inspirer of Scripture appointments which is the spirit of God and to be reproached by those that are the reproachers of God and his worship while I am defending him to my power will be my Crown and honour when confusion and shame shall stop the mouthes of his malicious enemies FINIS ERRATA These few amongst other Errataes are to be amended by the Reader PAg. 6. l. 5. for our r. your p 7. l. 31. for lord r. word p. 10. l. 35. for yet r. that p. 15. l. 14. for god r. Good p. 20. l. 12. put the stop after within p. 32. l. 33. for are r. am lb. l. 38. for when r. where p. 33. in the margin for Jam. r. Jer. p. 45. for Act. 9. r. 4. Books written by the Author and are to be sold by Thomas Williams at the Bible in Little-Britain London and William Tompson at Harborough in Leicester-shire THE Bar to free Admission to the Lords Supper removed Or a Vindication of Mr. Humphreys Free Admission to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 8. To receive the Lords Supper the Actual Right and Duty of all Church-Members of years not Excommunicate Made good against Mr. Collins his Exceptions against The Bar Removed large 8. FINIS A Postscript BReaking off abruptly for fear of swelling too big I was forced to omit some special things that I should have been glad to have spoken unto amongst others that the next Questions would have led me unto I have thought good to give a further hint as touching that which I conceive is a main principle of these mens deceiving themselves and others They seem first to debase man as man and say he is altogether a dark dead polluted thing the childe of wrath and his best actings as man are but as a menstruous cloth But then they advance the same man in general by affirming that every man is lighted by the Spirit of Christ that convinceth of sin And this they would have to be free Grace and that promised Spirit which should convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgement and whosoever mindes and believes it shall by this grace and spirit come out of darknesse to eternal life But to discover so great a mistake we must know That it is true that all men in the world have some light by nature more or less that convinceth of sin for it is said that the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the Law and are a Law unto themselves their thoughts accusing or excusing one another Rom. 2.14 Mark the Apostle doth not say that the Gentiles by the Spirit of Christ and free grace inlightning them do the things contained in the Law but they do those things of the Law by nature and they are a law to themselves The Spirit of God is not a Law to themselves because that is distinct from man and gives Lawes to man as he did the written Law to his people but this is another distinct thing they are a Law to themselves Man since the fall hath not lost his reason but that Divine rectitude and perfection thereof that made him conformable to the will of God unto life there is a spark of reason and immortality in the soul of man still which rationall soul though it be depraved of what it was and now is subject to error and vanity that not any can be saved by following that light only yet it is such a light as it is called the Candle of the Lord Prov. 20.27 and directs men to do the things contained in the Law And this is witnessed by most people and nations upon the earth That reason which they have by nature directs them to make lawes to preserve humane societies and the Common-weal of the whole and hence punish Theft Murther Whoredome Drunkennesse Perjury c. and incourage to morall Vertues which things are contained in the Law of God and yet they know nothing of Jesus Christ nor of any other things which accompany salvation Besides as men are under greater advantages of light in respect of the outward means as the Scripture Ministery Education Examples so also in respect of the more common workings of the Spirit inlightning and convincing some man by nature knowes more and doth more the things contained in the Law and Gospell too The very principle of Reason and Conscience urgeth every one to do the Good and to shun the Evill What man of ingenuity can withstand the strength of reason but yeelds his assent though not able to bring up himself to the practise of what himself allowes with sincerity till renewed by the Spirit of Grace The spirit of man knowes the things in man and hath that inspection and reflection in man from the understanding faculty that it knoweth its own motions intentions and actions whether good or evil according to its light and accordingly Conscience Gods Deputy greater then a thousand witnesses either condemns or excuseth And I judge that all men have this in some measure untill through custome in sin and withstanding this light and Gods just Judgement concurring they be given up to a seared conscience past feeling as is said of some But now for these people to run up and down to teach men that this which is but the light of Reason improved by the help of ordinary means and workings is the Spirit of Christ and the free Grace of God that brings salvation is such a pernicious Diabolical dream that never came into the head of any till now I think That mans soul is a created substance given of God from whom are all things is true but that this spirit of man which is called the candle of the Lord is Gods Spirit that was promised to convince the world of unbelief and of the necessity of righteousnesse by Christ victory over sin Satan and hell as that of John intends and leads out of darknesse into eternal life is a most blasphemous error What though they will not say that the soul of man is the Spirit of Christ promised to convince of sin under that notion and expression yet upon the matter they say the same when out of desperate mistake they make that to be the immediate light and power of the Spirit of Christ which in deed and truth is but the rational soul of man in all by nature or acquired in the use of ordinary means and workings And thus you see while they are debasing man below what he is by nature they are advancing him above what he is at the same time by nature they endow him with the Spirit of God and the gifts of free Grace to lead all men out of darknesse to eternall life hence they Deifie that which is the gift of nature and make all men their own Saviours hence they make the differencing act between good and bad the saved and damned to be mans self under dark impotent nature corrupted hence they slight the Death of Christ and say as one to me that sinners have no benefit by that Bloud of Christ that was shed at Jerusalem for that was the bloud of man and it is the Bloud of God that man hath benefit by not that God is capable of shedding bloud but this is a figurative speech setting forth the Spirit of God that convinceth the world of sin It being asked To what end did Jesus Christ come into the world and so to suffer his Answer was To put an end to the Cereremonies and that was all that he would yeeld although he is a man of considerable abilities so strong is the delusion Hence they comprehend all men under the grace of the New Testament and make no difference between the visible professing Church and the Pagan world all may be saved alike if they will Hence they cast off all outward means Ordinances formes of Religious Worship and bid hearken to the spirit within c. as if all things God in his Word hath appointed were alwaies superfluous and in vain They throw away Gods Election special redemption the Saints perseverance They will have men to have the Spirit of Christ and the free Grace of the Covenant and yet be none of his Just contrary to plain Scriptures Rom 8. But I must not enlarge let them tell us how they will escape these Rocks Let them tell us what difference they make between the convictions of the Spirit in the unregenerate Pagan or Christian and those that are regenerate and how the Spirit is in the Infidel and how in the true believer and where any that are accounted for light in the Lord are under darknesse too and where are any in an Infidel state called light in the Lord. Prove all things and the Lord direct to that right understanding of truth best pleasing to himself and our good Farewell