confirmed and also to prove if any hereby may be converted and their Souls saved that the Truth which is so much trodden down as would make ones heart bleed to see it might be made honourable Sect. 5 And not knowing whether ever I shall see you face to face therefore I take this course to discharge part of that Trust which is upon me whereby I shew to you and to every of you the sad Principles of that Spirit of Antichrist which now runs about Preaching up the Law or Light within as also to and from it wherein you may see the sad Consequences and Companions of that Doctrine as also the Faith of Gods Elect laid down and proved by the Scriptures in opposition thereunto In which is discovered that all Righteousness rested in which is not wrought by that God-Man Christ Jesus and made ours by Faith is no better than Wickedness presumed in That they which deny the Doctrine of the Son of God and that deny his Person to be a distinct Person from all other Persons do deny the Father also That to them which Believe not in him that is the only Son of God Baptism in Water Prayer and Laying on of Hands Breaking of Bread all other Ordinances of the New-Testament must needs be as Shadows without substances as Shells without kernels as Bodies without souls for they deny the Father Son and Spirit Sect. 6 It will not be your way therefore to discourse this Spirit about the Authority of Ordinances the difference lies not so much between them and us now about who should Preach and what Ordinances are to be observed but what is the Doctrine that is to be Preached and what is that that is to be Preached to which is the Christ that is to be Believed in Now they which do differ in these Fundamentals need not waste time about other Points which otherwise are necessary to be discussed I need not give you a repitition here of all that is in the following Discourse my main design is to warn every one of you seriously to consider the following matter and to beware you hearken not to those pretended Preachers up of the Light whose Doctrine being examined by the Doctrine of the Scriptures is found to be gross Darkness but if you shall not be warned I have as to this done my duty your blood will lie on your own heads Sect. 7 For my part as I do not seek the Patronage of the great and mighty of the World as I fear not their ignomy nor reproach so I desire not their thanks nor commendation I have this to commend to you I wish I had you to commend also that your Practise were answerable to your Principles and then however some do Preach up the Light within I am sure you would be the Light of the World Mat. 5. 14. I have not further here to say to you but to bespeak your hearts to beautifie the Truth which you are made partakers of Consider what I say and the good Lord give you a right understanding in all things remember me in that intrest which you have at the Throne of Grace Farewell Yours to serve you in the Service of our Lord Jesus Christ JOSEPH WRIGHT To all those that through Ignorance are ADVERSARIES to the DOCTRINE of JESUS CHRIST and to the Professors thereof If you have not sinned that Sin unto death Peace be unto you and Peace be to your House through the Grace of Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace Men and Brethren Sect. 1 I Cannot pass any of you without a bitter sigh lamenting your Ignorance who do please your selves in reproaching others not having the knowledge to discern betwixt one sort of Professors and another but judge all alike and if you get but a Scandal by the end it shall not be suddenly laid down by you nay many of you do wait for our haltings and if but one do miscarry you will be sure to say that they are all such accusing all the Separated Congregations which in this Nation have Separated from the Parish Assemblies as Munster Baptists and Followers of John of Leyden whose Heresies notwithstanding we abhor as also they were abhorred by the Servants of the Lord of that time as may be seen in the History of this Iron Age yea if any fals Doctrin or Practise hath risen up many of you have laid it at our doors as when that notorious vile and abominable Practise of the Ranters did arise O how were we whose Souls do abhor all incivility and unchast actions branded with their lacivious wayes and what an Odium hath been cast upon our Meetings and wayes of Administring the holy Ordinances of the most holy and glorious God which we have ever desired and laboured to observe in a comely and decent manner all which scorn and derision cast upon us we well hope by our Conversations in a great part is wiped away and with the help of divine Grace we shall dayly labour to keep a Conscience void of offence both toward God and toward man that the Worship which we perform to him in his Christ may be approvable and to you more acceptable Sect. 2 Now as we have both by Preaching and Printing declared our selves Non Consentors to all the aforesaid Iniquities and Unrighteous acts against God or man in the mean time there hath risen up a most Pernitious Stratagem of Satan whereby to delude the Children of God and men The Doctrine and Practise is generally known it is a Teaching up the Light within all Men c. I need not express my self in any other terms although you have another Name for the conformists to that Notion which I judge doth not so fully include it and therefore I call them that are in Unity with that Principle the Messengers of Antichrist and the Spirit is his and the Doctrine also a clear discription whereof you have in this Book Sect. 3 And although we have both Preached and Printed against this Device of Satan and have born Witness very much against this Delusion yet so simple are some both People and Teachers as to rank us with them as Co-partners and such as are espoused to that Doctrine which Teacheth up the Law or Light within all Men c. But the Lord knows it and so shall you one day if you shall not believe it now That to entertain such a Doctrine would be to commit a Rape not only upon our very Consciences but also upon our meanest Principles and it is no small grief to us to bear the least tittle of their Inventions neither do we either Preach or Practise any thing at all as from them And to take off all your Suspitions and to resolve even those things in which you your selves are in the dark as also to quit our selves in preventing your ruin by that deceit as we in some measure have done by those Opportunities which we have had Even so now I who am very insufficient to
not that the flesh and bones humane Soul and Spirit of that man which was born of Mary the Virgin in Personal unity with the Divine Nature the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holiness is the Christ but thou making no mention of the humane Nature that which thou callest the Christ is the Seed Spirit or Light in that man which was born of Mary which Seed according to its measure is also in all men and is Christ as well as it according to thy Doctrine Now though it ought not to be denyed that the Spirit of Holiness in that Person which was born of Mary is the Son of God by eternal Generation yet it ought to be acknowledged that the humane Nature also of that Person which was born of Mary is the Son of God by temporal Generation and yet there are not two Christs but one for as much as the Spirit of Holiness and the humane Nature is one in Personallity and the Apostle Paul teacheth to this effect 1. Tim. 2. 5. For there is saith he one God and one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus who is indeed both God and man in one Person and so is no other Person in the whole world beside him see Gal. 3. 20. Mat. 16. 13 16 17. So that if the Spirit of Holiness only in that man which was born of Mary is the Son of God and the Christ which dyed then it follows that the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holiness dyed which is contrary to the Scripture 1 Pet. 3. 18. which teacheth that Christ was put to Death in the Flesh but quickened by the Spirit which at his death he yielded up Mat. 27. 50. with the Spirit of his humane Nature which he commended into the hands of his Father Luke 23. 46. And if this be the Opinion of all that Preach up the Light within c. viz. That the Spirit of Holiness in that man which was born of Mary is only the Christ and not the flesh and bones humane soul and spirit then they must hold either that Christ dyed not or that the God-head dyed which is Blasphemy against the eternal Being of the Father Son and Spirit which though three in Person and Office yet are one Divine and Eternal Essence and independant Being see 1 John 5. 8. Sect. 3 But thus saith the Spirit of Truth 1 John 2. 22 23. Who is a lyer but he that denieth that Iesus is the Christ he is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son for no man knoweth the Father save the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11. 27. Therefore according to the Apostles Doctrine Acts 2. 36. Let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Iesus which they crucified at Jerusalem by the Sentence of Pontius Pilate the Governour both Lord and Christ And as the blessed Apostle John teacheth 1 John 4. 1 2 3. Let us not believe every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world hereby know ye the Spirit of God every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every Spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that Spirit of Antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come and even now already it is in the World Now as it is manifest that to confess Jesus Christ come in the flesh is rightly to confess his Person and Office and rightly to confess his Doctrine So it is apparent that many profess so to do and yet come far short thereof There is a vast difference between the Servants of Christ and the Subjects of Antichrist When the Jews sent Priests and Levites to John to ask him who art thou he confessed and denied not but confessed I am not the Christ John 1. 19 20. But on the contrary Christ himself testifieth concerning the Deceivers of the last times Mat. 24. 5. saying Many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many What do they less that being demanded Who is the Christ direct not the Inquirer to the true Christ as John did with Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World John 1. 29. but contrariwise unto themselves under pretence of a Light within all men to hear their Doctrine of Falshood and receive their spirit of Delusion what do they less than say I am Christ which say I speak to the Light in thy Conscience which shall eternally witness Me Me what mean they by this word Me which they say is eternally to be witnessed Is there any thing that is eternally to be witnessed or acknowledged but the Eternal God and his Everlasting Son Jesus Christ who is according to his Eternal Spirit without beginning and without end As for themselves are they any other than mortal sinful Creatures that not only transgress Gods righteous Law but also despise the glorious Gospel of his dear Son Jesus Christ whose Promises they imbrace not whose Commandments they keep not whose Threatnings they fear not and whose blessed Person they acknowledge not Do they confess the Person of Christ Do they confess him to be come in the Flesh that only say he is come into their Flesh a base Nothingless John saith in his Gospel Chap. 1. 30. This is he of whom I said after me cometh a man which is preferred before me But how do these Blasphemers prefer Christ before themselves that distinguish not his Person from their own and apply that which belongs to his Person unto theirs that reject his Doctrine of Salvation and set up their own Delusion of Destruction that contemning the threefold Office of Christ King Priest and Prophet in direct opposition to it exalt and set up an inherent Righteousness of the Law which they endeavour to maintain that all men may attain unto by following the Light within them which is no other than the Works of the Law as hath been shewed from Rom. 2. 15. And the Apostle teacheth Gal. 2. 21. That if Righteousness come by the Law then Christ is dead in vain So that according to the Apostles Doctrine Christs Priestly Office whereby he was a Sacrifice for the Sins of the World is made void by those that set up a Righteousness of the Law And if we consider of what nature a Law-Righteousness is which according to the Apostles Discription Gal. 3. 12. is not of Faith but the man that doth them shall live in them Christ in all his Offices yea and in his humane nature also which is his Coming in the Flesh is made void and of none effect for if Righteousness be attainable by the Law or by following the Light within which is the work thereof then as the Death of Christ is in vain so is also his Coming in the Flesh his taking hold of the Seed
seeking the blessing from God by lifting up and laying on of hands for hands are not to be laid on except they be first lifted up and therefore the Prayer of Faith is a main part of this Ministration That Jacob when he blessed the Children of Joseph He laid his hands upon them Gen. 47. 14 16. Moses by the Command of the Lord laid his hands upon Joshua in order to his being filled with the Spirit and thereby fitted for his Charge of going in and out before the Congregation of Israel Numb 27. 22 23. Deut. 34. 9. And the Lord Christ himself when he blessed those little ones which were brought unto him He put or laid his hands upon them Mark 10. 13 14 15. Matth. 19. 13 14 15. Now what man or men can say that this is a dead practice which the Lord of Life and Glory and his holy Prophets and Apostles practised without blasphemy against Jesus Christ yea against God the Father Can any man revile that practice of Prayer and laying on of hands which as hath been shewed was used according to the direction of Christ and for no other end than for the obtaining the Spirit of Promise which is the â—arnest of the Inheritance of all Believers Ephes 1. 13 14. and not thereby deny his Word How can they say they love him that keep not his sayings He saith Christ that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings John 14. 24. Is not the Spirit the Seal of Righteousness by Faith After ye believed saith the Apostle Ephes 1. 13. ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise This only would I learn of you saith the Apostle to the Galatians Gal. 3. 2 3. being tempted to turn from the Righteousness which is by Faith to that which is of the Law Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh What other reason can truely be given why the Preachers up of the Light within all men do revile that principle of Christs Doctrine but this viz. Because the Righteousness which they teach is contrary to that which the holy Spirit seals therefore they reproach that practice whereby Believers obtain the holy Spirit as a seal of their Righteousnesse which is by Faith as the strength whereby they stand stedfast in their heavenly Calling and as the earnest and assurance of their everlasting Inheritance Wherefore cry they out Turn to the Light within Turn to the Light within but because their delight is in the works of the Law not in the hearing of Faith Oh how pleasant is a fleshly Righteousness Rom. 2. 15. Gal. 3 5. unto men unregenerate which because it is wrought by the strength of the Creature which although now since the Fall is only the strength of corrupt flesh yet is it cryed up by fleshly and carnal men that know not what it is to be born of Water and of the holy Spirit as the onely Righteousnesse though it will leave them under the Curse of the Law and never give them the blessing of Abraham the Promise of the Spirit which is not to be obtained by the works of the Law but by Faith in Jesus Christ through his grace Gal. 3. 10. 14. Rom. 4. 4 15 16. Rom. 11. 6. and in the way that he hath appointed in his Word wherein this Service of the Prayer of Faith with the laying on of hands is taught as a part of that way which is the way of life in which the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is found which maketh free from the Curse of the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. 1 2. Gal. 3. 10. and although it be despised and contemned with other Ordinances of the New Testament by such as whilst they boast of Light do walk in Darknesse yet as a reward of whose disobedience the mist of darkness is reserved for ever 2 Pet. 2. 17. Sect. 7 But like measure ye mete also to that holy Appointment of Jesus Christ viz. the Lords Supper which he celebrated with his Disciples at his departure from them the same night in which he was betrayed and sanctified as a standing Ordinance unto his Church to evidence the breaking of his Body the pouring out of his Bloud with the benefit thereof unto all true Believers yea to set forth his Death and bodily absence until his coming again in his own Body wherein he suffered upon the Crosse for this Ordinance is by the pretended Preachers up of the Light within all men very much reviled and the practice thereof as it is used in the Churches of Christ not only villified but opposed which whether it be not done to make way for that Popish Idol of the Masse because in dispute about this Question the Bread which is eaten in the Lords Supper was denied to be Bread made of Corn or the Wine that is drunk to be the fruit of the Vine by a Preacher up of the so called Light within And how near this Denyal comes to the Harlots doctrine of Transubstantiation the Children of God through his grace will well perceive Sure I am the denial of the Ordinances of Christ manifesteth contempt both of the Person and Power of Christ and whosoever denyeth this Ordinance in particular doth thereby deny that which is set forth by it which is not only his Death 1 Cor. 11. 26. but even his coming in the flesh For therefore a Body was prepared him that his Body might be offered once for all Heb. 10. 5 10. He took part of flesh and blood that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them that through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 14 15. The Death of Christ being of such precious concernment unto his Church the Lord hath in his wisdom appointed this holy Feast which is called His Supper to set forth in his bodily absence his Death until his Coming again in his own body that so the Church might have him in remembrance by whom they receive so great a benefit 1 Cor. 11. 24 25 26. as the Remission Act. 1. 11. of sin of which the Cup is the New Testament in his Blood as the Bread is that which doth shew forth his Body broken and given for them an Offering not like the Legal Offerings nor like the Popish Masse daily offered which yet never take away sin But being once offered doth so take away the sins of them that walking in Faith Hope and Charity look and wait for his appearing that he shall appear the second time without sin unto their salvation Heb. 9. 26 28. It must needs therefore be a mischievious design which is carried on by those that contemn the Ordinances of Jesus Christ which are of so blessed concernment to those that believe in him It is no lesse than the denying of him
the Lord shone round about them viz. the Shepherds and they were sore afraid And the Angel said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people not to a supposed Seed or uncreated or eternal substance in man but unto man even unto all people for unto you saith he is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and this shall be a sign unto you ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swadling cloaths lying in a Manger not lying within you but lying in a Manger which was not within them and suddainly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest on earth Peace good will towards men Luke 2. 9 10 11 12 13 14. This is indeed the Gospel of glad-tidings a Saviour for sinners for poor sinful man yea and so saith all the Prophets as many as have spoken have likewise declared these things viz. That God did send his Son to die for man to bear our sins and that God raised up his Son Jesus and sent him to blesse the Creature man in turning every one of us from our Iniquities it could not be to turn himself from his Iniquities for he had none He did no sin neither was guile found in his Mouth yet it pleased the Lord to put him to Grief for us and to lay upon him the Iniquities of us all See Acts 3. 26. Isa 53. 6. yea he was wounded for our Transgressions He was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and with his Stripes are we healed So that it is evident That that Doctrine which is not directed to Man but to a supposed Seed or uncreated Substance in man is not the Doctrine of the Gospel which tendereth Salvation to the Creature but a blasphemous Riddle which tends to the nourishing of Evil Thoughts viz. That the Eternal Witness or Substance stands in need of a Teacher and of a Resurrection out of a fallen or imprisoned Condition or to make Man exalt himself into the Place of God by imagining that something within him as a part of his Person is as Eternal as the Spirit of Holiness in Christ or else it tends to make the Creature man consisting of Spirit Soul and Body utterly to despair of Salvation Sect. 4 But now to Answer thy false Inferences which thou endeavourest to draw from these Holy Scriptures to maintain thy Opinion and Practise of Preaching not to man considered as Man but to a supposed Seed or eternal Substance in Man I say and testifie in the Lord That these Scriptures 1 Pet. 3. 19. Matth. 25. 36. teach nothing in the least to justifie such a Practice but that which is here held forth by the Spirit of God in the first Scripture is this viz. That by that Spirit which raised the Flesh of Jesus Christ from the Dead he had Preached by the Ministry of Noah to the Spirits of men which are now in prison not that he preached to the Spirits when they were in Prison nor that these Spirits are of the eternal and uncreated substance but the spirits in prison are the spirits of those men and women which Christ according to the Spirit of Holinesse did by his servant Noah who was assisted therewith preach unto before they were in Prison that is to say In the dayes of Noah when they were disobedient to the long suffering of God while the Ark was a preparing So that you cannot say the Seed of God was that which was preached to except you will say the Seed of God was disobedient or that they were in Prison when they were Preached unto for then they could neither have been obedient nor disobedient for in Prison they are as a reward of their disobedience which they acted when they were at Liberty and are kept in Prison for the said disobedience unto the great Judgement Day So that the Spirits were not in Prison when they were Preached to but disobedient they were at that time when once the long Suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah while the Ark was a Preparing in which few that is eight Souls were saved by Water at that time when once the long-suffering of God waited while the Ark was a Preparing Then did Christ by the same Spirit by which his own Body of Flesh in which he was put to death was raised again from the dead Preach to them that were then Disobedient whose spirits are now in Prison and so shall remain till the great Day of Judgement when they in Spirit Soul and Body shall be punished with everlasting fire as a reward of their disobedience in refusing the Spirit of Holinesse by which God did strive with the old World an hundred and twenty Years Gen. 3. 6. So great was the Patience and long-suffering of God So unwilling was he that any of them should perish but rather that all of them should have repented Rom. 2. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 9. which when they utterly refused to do he brought the flood of Waters upon that ungodly World those that would not be turned by the strivings of Gods Spirit but refused that Grace which was so earnestly and affectionately tendred unto them as unworthy of any further offers of Grace were destroyed by the flood of Waters which overthrew their Carkasses and as the just Wages of their impenitency and unbelief their spirits are now reserved in Prison unto the judgment of the great Day of God Almighty when they with all other wicked men that live and die in impenitency and unbelief in spirit soul and body shall bear the punishment of their disobedience And then also the Angels which kept not their first Estate but left their own Habitation for which cause they are now reserved as in Prison in everlasting Chains under darkness Jude vers 6. shall be cast into the Lake of Fire burning with Brimstone where they and those accursed men and women that have been seduced by him shall be tormented for ever where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Thus it is evident that the spirits in Prison spoken of in the Scripture abovesaid are not to be understood of the Spirit of Holinesse in Christ but indeed of the Unclean and Rebellious spirits of Men and Women who refuse the Grace of God when it is tendred unto them in the day of his forebearance and long-suffering Sect. 5 But thy inference from Mat. 25. 36. to justifie thy Opinion and Practice of Preaching not to man but to a supposed seed in every man which thou callest Christ imprisoned in man is also exceeding false and that which tends to the turning of the minds of men from the Person of Christ by whose Death and Resurrection accomplished in his own Body he hath wrought the Redemption of the Bodies of all others that believe in him to an imaginary spirit â—r
it refelled Sect. 6 But those that are perswaded that some part of their persons either Soul or Spirit is Christ the Light of the World the eternal and uncreated substance being lifted up with high conceit of themselves supposing that the Godhead dwells in them bodily and being unwilling to be divested of that imaginary deity and to be accounted meer Creatures it is likely that they will object whatsoever may be objected against that Doctrine which declares Jesus Christ to be a distinct Person from all other persons having such a manner of unity with God the Father that no person hath in the whole world beside himself and it 's more then probable that they will alledge these and such like sentences of Scripture viz. Christ in you the Hope of Glory Col. 1. 27. My little Children of whom I travel in birth again till Christ be formed in you Gal. 4. 19. That was the true Light which lighteth every man which cometh into the World and the Light shineth in darknesse c. John 1. 5. And the inference which they will make from these and such like Scriptures questionlesse will be to this purpose viz. That the eternal and uncreated substance or witness â—â— in every man that cometh into the World in the same manner as it is in him that was born of the Virgin and is so manifested in those that call themselves Preachers and followers of the Light within c. But in answer to their Allegations and Objections of this kind the Scripture teacheth that all mankind are of the same substance with Christ according to one of his Natures but not according to the other according to the Created but not according to the Uncreated substance Forasmuch saith the Apostle As the children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself likewise took part of the same Heb. 2. 14. The Flesh Soul and Spirit of all men and the Flesh Soul and Humane Spirit of Christ is of one Substance there is indeed a Personal and an Accidental difference but not a Substantial the Persons of men are many but the Person of Christ is one the condition wherein the World of men and women are is unclean by reason of sin but the condition wherein the Humane Nature of Christs Person is is Pure Holy by reason of his Righteousnesse he took part of the same Substance of Adam but no part of his Pollution we are unclean because we are Propogated in unclean Lust the just reward of sinful desire Gen. 3. 16. Psal 51. 5. but he is Pure and Holy because he was conceived of the Holy Spirit we are unclean because we have sinned in transgressing the Law of God but he is Pure and Holy because he hath kept it the Humane Nature of Christ was made in the same condition that Adam was before he sinned but we are become in the same condition that Adam was after he had sinned and as the Substance of Adams Flesh Soul and Spirit was the same after he had sinned as before but not the condition so the Substance of Christs Flesh Soul and Humane Spirit not of the Spirit of Holinesse is the same with Adams now since Adam sinned but the condition the same with Adams before he sinned for though the eternal word took hold of the Seed of Abraham or took into Personal Unity the Substance of Adam after Adam had sinned yet the Estate or Condition wherein that substance was made was as Pure and Holy as Just and Righteous as Adam was before he sinned for as Adam before he transgressed was a Son of God by Creation Luke 3. 38. So the Humane Nature of Christ is the Son of God by Creation God made or built the Body of Christ of the Seed of the Woman as he did the Body of Adam of the dust of the ground see Gen. 2. 7. Gal. 4. 4. Heb. 10. 5. Christs being the Son of David doth respect the substance of which his Body was made not the formation of that substance for in that respect he is also the Son of God Luke 1. 35. It is indeed a Glorious Personality that the Humane Nature of Christ hath because it doth not subsist of it self but in the Godhead but the substance of it is the same with all mankind who subsists not as he doth viz. by Personal Unity with the Godhead and as Adam before he had transgressed had Soveraignty over the Creatures and the Paradise of God for his Habitation wherein was the Tree of Life whereof he might have eaten before he transgressed and so have lived for ever in the enjoyment of God and of that image or likenesse of God wherein he was made had he kept that Law and eaten of that Tree of Life which was given him for that purpose see Gen. 3. 22. Rev. 22. 2 3. So the Humane Nature of Christs Person by keeping that Law which Adam transgressed hath right to all that Adam lost for he being made under the Law which he also fulfilled Gal. 4. 4. Mat. 5. 17 18. in him the Image of God is seen expresly Heb. 1. 3. and all things are put in subjection under his feet Heb. 2. 7 8. see Psal 8. And as the first Adam being tempted by his yeilding to the temptation was soon overcome of the Devil and led Captive at his will So Christ the second Adam by resisting the Devil when he was tempted by him forty dayes in the Wildernesse overcame Satan and put him to flight see Mat. 4. vers 1. to 12. And therefore as the demerit of the first Adams transgression was so great that all that are derived from him by Natural Generation are defiled by it so the demerit of the second Adams obedience is so great that all that ever come to be derived from him by Spiritual Regeneration are sanctified by it So that as it was a blessed estate and condition that the Person of the first Adam and all that were in him lost by sin so it is a blessed estate and condition that the Humane Nature of Christ the second Adam hath gained by his obedience for the same Nature in the Persons of all those that ever come to be in Covenant with him or to be regenerate or born again of Water and of the Holy Spirit and so to be grafted into him by Faith John 3. 5. 6. Romans 11. 19. 20. Sect. 7 For whosoever shall seriously consider and according to the Scriptures of truth determine of the state and condition wherein the first Adam was made and wherein he continued until he transgressed the Law of God shall find that it was a very happy and blessed estate and condition for he was made in the Image of God in Righteousnesse and true holinesse was he created see Eccles 7. 29. Gen. 1. 26. Ephes 4. 24. with dominion over the Creatures the Fish of the Sea the Foul of the Air and over everly living thing that moveth upon the earth was he invested Gen. 1. 28 29.
teacheth When that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away for now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face Now saith he I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known 1 Cor. 13. 10 12. for then at the coming of Christ Jesus the Lord shall the Spirits souls and Bodies of all Believers be preserved blameless 1 Thes 5. 23. and being sanctified by Christ Ephes 5. 26. shall be found without fault before the Throne of God Rev. 14. 5. For when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord then shall their sins be blotted out Acts 3. 16. both sin and punishment for sin shall then be taken away that so they may be made perfect in Glory and Happiness everlasting 1 Cor. 15. 54 55 56 57. And forasmuch as the Perfection of God and of the Divine Nature of Christ is a perfection of a different Nature from the perfection of man God being perfect in his Nature Christ having never acted sin man being imperfect in his Nature by reason of sin which he hath committed if thou that callest thy self a Preacher of the Light within c. when thou exhortest to perfection intendest man in thy exhortation then thou that exhortest another shouldst teach thy self to be obedient to that which the Scriptures teach man to observe in order to his obtaining perfection that is to say to turn from thy dead works thy Legal Righteousnesse acknowledging thy self a sinner say with the Publican with a contrite Spirit God be merciful to me a sinner believe the Gospel of the remission of sins and being cut to the heart with grief for sin committed Repent and be Baptized in Water in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of thy sins See Acts 2. 38. Acts 10. 47. Mat. 3. 6. and so walking as Christ reacheth in the Scriptures thou mayest attain unto the perfection that he hath promised but if when thou exhortest to perfection thou intendest God or the Divine Nature of Christ in thy exhortation or the Person of Christ then thou blasphemest against God and against Christ supposing him to stand in need of an exhortation to perfection whose Nature is Pure and Perfect or that the Person of Christ hath sometimes been imperfect whose Divine Nature is perfect being of the same Substance with his Fathers and whose Humane Nature is perfect being conceived in the Womb of the Virgin by the operation of the Holy Spirit in which Nature he kept the Law of God and fulfilled every jot and tittle of it he suffered death for our sins and rose again for the Justification of all them that believe in him and such perfection was and is in him that by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified wherefore the Holy Spirit also is a Witnesse to us saying I will put my Laws in their Hearts and in their Minds will I write them and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more Thus he whose Divine Nature is perfect and whose Humane Nature also hath perfectly kept the Law of God and fulfilled all Righteousness will give unto those whose Nature is imperfect and who have transgressed the Law of God upon their Repentance and Conversion such a perfection through his Grace as whereby their sins shall not be remembred and whereby their Persons shall be glorified for ever and ever Sect. 14 But thou that seemest to be so exceeding earnest in teaching up the Light within warning all men and women to follow after it yet never intendest that they whom thou teachest should be guided by the Light which they have in them before thou beginnest to teach them but that from thee which art without them they should receive that instruction which thou callest the Light within them And to discover thee in this thing as plainly as possible I can I will make use of a Comparison unto which thou art as like in thy actings as to any thing I can find to compare thee withal for thou in thy endeavours to gain poor Souls to thy wayes and to become followers of thy steps art like unto certain Birders which we have in our Land that do go about in the dark night with a Bell Candle and Net to catch Birds of the Air who in this work of theirs do first of all sound their Bell which being of a considerable bigness and sound it doth so amaze and astonish the poor Birds that they wholly lose their senses at that time and cannot tell how to make use either of Feet or Wing to avoid the danger that is beforâ— them the Birder then with his Candle discovering where the amazed Birds do sit he casts his Net over them and having taken them leads them captive by force whither he will and doth with them according to his pleasure Even so thou by thy Preachings and Printings dost make a great sound and noise to deceive the Hearts and to amaze the Spirits of the simple for thou speakest of great things yet art but like a sounding Brass and tinkling Symbal thou callest upon all to wait in silence to stand still to cease from all outward and Scripture-Teaching and from Scripture Ordinances as from Baptism Laying on of Hands and breaking of Bread c. from Preaching Praying and Hearing the Word calling them Carnal Lifeless and empty Ordinances c. not onely perswading men and women to leave all outward Means and Ordinances of the New Testament written in the Scriptures by which they would have the use of their feet having them shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace but also teaching them that to believe in a Christ out of themselves is Carnal and Life-less also and that their Saviour is within them upon whom they must wait in silence even thus thou teachest them that follow thee wholly against believing in the true Christ who died in his own Body that by that one Sacrifice of himself out of every other man he might reconcile the world of Man-kind to himself without themselves or any Righteousnesse done by them the believing whereof is the poor Creatures Wing whereby to flee unto Christ and to rest upon him for Justification by Faith through his Grace and so to escape out of the hands of such cruel Birders from wrath to come So that all thy great sound and noise of Preaching and Printing in which thou cryest out so bitterly and vehemently against all those means which are appointed of God unto Salvation labouring with all thy might to bring men and women out of conceit with them telling them they are deceived in them and exhorting them to Mind the Light which is within them and that will lead them out of all sin and iniquity and eternally save them Even all this thou dost that thou mayest drive on thy design to put poor Creatures into amazement astonishment to make them to doubt of
Baptize with a spirit and give a spirit to them which do receive their counsel or else they are not lawful Preachers by thy own confession so that thou intendest to Communicate a Teacher from without whatsoever thou declarest of the sufficiency of the Light within For Secondly Thou intendest not that men and women should be guided by the Light which is within them before they receive instruction and a spirit from thee which art without them because thy Teachers do declare to men and women that if they will but wait in silence be still and quiet cease from outward and Scripture-teaching Forms and carnal Ordinances that they shall receive vertue life and strength from them though they never see their faces any more by which it appears plainly that thou intendest to give a spirit to such as adhere to thy Doctrine for otherwise these thy promises of Vertue Life and Strength to be received from thee are vain and thou not faithful that makest them But Thirdly Thou never intendest that men and women should be guided by the Light which is within them before they receive instruction from thee and that thou givest them a spirit because that when thou takest hold of the hand of men and women or layest thy hands on their foreheads or on their shoulders great trouble comes upon their spirits within them yea when thou hast taken hold of the wâ—ists of the hands of some while they have been opposing thee they have been taken with such a trembling that they could not speak nor hold still nor get away from thee by which it is apparent that thy intent is to communicate a spirit Fourthly Thy intent is not that men and women should be guided by the Light which is within them before they receive instruction and a spirit from thee c. because as soon as ever thou apprehendest that any man or woman is inclinable to thy Principles thou art constantly visiting them until thou hast brought them over to thy ways once in thirteen days at the least thou wilt be praying with them after thy fashion untill they be brought out of that laborynth into which thou hast brought them and such a stir there is about this work and so vainly have some of you been affected with it that ye have sent to the Bel-man of a City to cry it up and down that all that would be free to come might come and see this imaginary Resurrection or rather Communication of your unclean spirit by which thou dost plainly declare that the Light in every man will not do the business but a spirit must be communicated for what else is it that thou so earnestly endeavourest to raise up What else is it that thou takest so much delight in when thou feelest it as hath been said by some of you Arise within man About what else are thy groanes spent what else doest thou visit with what else doest thou as thou sayest suffer but with that spirit which thou hast given which till he hath taken full possession of the Creature that so he may become as much the Child of perdition as thy self thou art in a troubled condition Fifthly That thou doest not intend that by the Light which is in every one before they receive instruction from thee they should be guided appears by thy running up and down to spread thy Doctrine and by thy Printing such a multitude of Books all which is done to teach and instruct men in thy way and to direct them how to walk according to thy desire thou cryest down Preaching and yet usest it thou cryest down the Letter and Scriptures of Truth and yet makest use of Letter and writest many Books thereby to disperse thy false Doctrine and even like the Pharisees ye reject the Commandment of God that ye may keep your own Traditions Mark 7. 9. ye lay aside Gods Word and set up your own word Gods holy Scriptures ye reject your own unholy writings ye exalt under pretence of setting up the Light which ye say is within every man ye set up the darkness which is within your selves and from you communicated to such as you can perswade to hear your words or read your Books thus thy pretentions and intentions are like Samsons Foxes Judg. 15. 4 5. not united by the heads yet so tyed together by the Tayls as between them they carry fire to burn up standing corn shocks of corn Vineyards and Olives thou callest thy Doctrine fire and sayest thou art baptized with the spirit and fire I do believe thou art baptized with a spirit and fire indeed which may seem to burn up weeds but it is sent against the good Corn the best Graces Faith Hope and Charity is burnt up in such as receive thy Doctrine by the fire of that unclean spirit with which thou art baptized Sixthly Thou doest not intend that the Light which is within every man should onely be his director because that Light which is in every man doth not lead thee and thy followers to do those things ye do for if it be a Light which is within every man by which onely thou art carryed on in thy way why then doth it not speak the same things in every one as it doth in thee why doth it not make every one quake and tremble as well as thee if every one have it why is it silent in so many why doth it not throw every one down upon the ground swell their bellies roar in them and speak with a vocal voice as well as in thee and thy followers If you say it is because the Light is in prison in those in whom it is not so active as it is in thee It is answered that by that reason it should be the more active if it be sensible of its bondage and if unsensible how then can it be sufficient to perform those things which thou ascribest to it What is it dead or senceless doth it not feel that hard and sore oppression under which it lies or is it asleep and must be awaked if so it is much unlike to make a man a new Creature to lead him out of all sin and iniquity and eternally to save him For how should that deliver a man out of Prison that is so unsensible of its own bondage That must needs be in a small capacity to help another that is not sensible of its own wants neither canst thou say it doth in all and every one what it doth in thee for I my self and many others can and do testifie the contrary if thou say it is by reason of our long sinning it is answered that you in whom the Light as you call it is so prevalent have been long sinners and are so still and if you are guided by no other thing than that Light which is in every man why doth it not do in all the same that it doth in you why doth it not make all little Children to quake and tremble in their mothers
they did concern one time or the men only which spake them But they are of a general interpretation and do concern as they are Prophesies and declare the Doctrine of Salvation all times and People as saith the Prophet This shall be written for the generation to come and the People which shall be created shall praise the Lord Ps 102. 18. Bow down thine ear saith Solomon and hear the words of the Wise they shall be fitted in thy lips that thy trust may be in the Lord have not I written to thee excellent things that I might make thee to know the certainty of the words of Truth that thou mightest answer the words of Truth to them that send unto thee See Pro. 22. 17 18 19 20 21 22. Therefore did Peter write both his Epistles viz. to stir up the pure minds of the believers by way of remembrance that those that had obtained pure minds might be mindful of the words spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the Commandments of the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour Knowing this first saith he that there shall come in the last dayes scoffers viz. such as will taunt and scoffe at the Scriptures at the Doctrine written therein and at such as believe and practice it Which scoffers do walk after their own lusts and not after the words of the holy Prophets and the Commandment of the Apostles of Christ Oh! how much is this fulfilled in these dayes by which we know it is the last times 2 Pet. 3. 1 2 3. Let Believers therefore take heed and beware of false Teachers let them believe and imbrace the Doctrine of the Scriptures of Truth Dan. 10. 21. which teach us that we should believe that Jesus is Christ the Son of God and that believing we might have Life through his Name 1 John 20. 31. Let them therefore give themselves to the reading or hearing the Doctrine of the Scriptures and as every man hath received the gift whether of Prophesie Ministring Teaching or Exhortation Rom. 12. 6 7 8. So ought they to minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Graces of God 1 Pet. 4. 10. Sect. 7 The last ground which I shall insist upon is the powerful opperation of the Doctrine of the Scriptures upon the hearts of such as believe which experience the good things of God can witness viz. that upon reading hearing and meditating in the Scriptures of Truth God hath sweetly refreshed their spirits with riches of Grace spiritual Comforts and Heavenly consolations and made the Scriptures of Truth a word of Power by which he hath powerfully wrought both to convince convert them to turn them from darkness to light from the Kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Acts 26. 18. Yea it is an evident Argument that they which are strangers to what I here say let their Profession be what it will Truth was never yet espoused to their Souls never did any man of God say that the Scripture is a dead Letter a Carnal thing to feed the Carnal mind Oh the Darkness that is in some that boast of Light who can call the holy Scriptures a dead Letter a Carnal thing to feed the Carnal mind and yet themselves do fill the Nation with Books and Writings what may one think of this but that they do either condemn the thing which themselves allow or else they have found out a way to make their Letters and Books to become Spiritual and to cause all other even the Sacred Scriptures to become Carnal which though written or Printed as theirs yet not from the same inspiration for the Doctrine of the Scriptures was written by the Inspiration of God But how can there Doctrine be from the same inspiration which is against the Doctrine of the Scriptures How much therefore is it to be lamented that the Scriptures of Truth should be so villified and reproached and that any should be so deluded as wholly to neglect the reading of them and let them lie in the corners of their houses without all regard of them alas it was not so with Professors in the Marian dayes when one Book of it was at five pounds value and for the least Epistle a man would give a load of hay and carry it up to London into the Bargain but now we having plenty men dare abuse it and tread it under their feet and because it doth not cry out with a vocal voice and reprove in and by it self alone therefore they conclude it is worth nothing and yet can highly esteem of their own Books although they can do as little But now consider take the best grain that can be procured lay it in a dry place where it cannot grow and will it become fruitful not at all But sown in the field and it will bring forth abundantly Even so lay thy Bible in a corner of thy house without regard of the Doctrine therein contained and it will be no waies profitable to thee but lay up the Doctrine thereof in thy heart where it should be and it will become a fruitful Word to thee for it is not likely that the Doctrine of the Scriptures should do thee any good or that thou shouldest feel any vertue in it while thou endeavourest to shut it out of thy heart but let the sayings of the Scriptures when and where they reprove for sin and exhort to amendment of life let the Judgements therein written against the workers of Iniquity and the Promises of Grace which God hath there recorded for the comfort of them that by Faith lay hold on Jesus Christ come close to thy heart and pray that God may make those Promises thine and yield up thy self to the holy directions therein contained and then thou wilt find that there is vertue in the Scriptures Oh! there is a Divine flame in them if they be but taken to the heart that will warm and quicken the dead and benummed affections Did not the Words of Christ make his Disciples hearts to burn within them while he talked with them and while he opened to them the Scriptures I Luke 24. 32. Oh! therefore give diligence to obey what is written in the Scriptures of Truth for if you that are contrary minded shall not consider and leave your Inventions and the Traditions of men which you have imbraced your sin lyeth at your own doors and your blood upon your own heads for what a sad thing is it that men should quote Scriptures like Satan to justifie their Doctrine of deceit which they deliver and yet notwithstanding esteem the Scriptures of no value That men should wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. Cry down the Word of God and set up the Word of man and Satan yea they can reprove some for reading the Scriptures and yet if one have been at their Meetings and while they are teaching up the so called Light within be reading one of their Books giving little or no heed to what is spoken yet he is not reproved By which it is evident that they know that the design which they drive on is not in the Scriptures of Truth but in their own Books and therefore it is of like acceptance with them to read their Books as to hear their Preaching Let all believers therefore pray that they may be delivered from them which Preach up the so called Light within who deny the Doctrine of the Scriptures of Truth expressed in the Bible to be the Word of God and set up their own sayings for a rule of direction which yet hath no Testimony from God or from his Word Sacra Scriptura est liber vitae origo aeterna Cujus incorporalis Essentia Cujus cognitio vita Cujus Scriptura indelebilis Cujus inspectus desiderabilis Cujus Doctrina facilis Cujus Scientia dulcis Cujus profunditas inscrutabilis Cujus verba innumerabilia vnum tantum Verbum omnia Hug. de art Noe. Thus Englished The Sacred Scripture is the Book of Life Whose Original is Eternal Whose Essence is incorporeal Whose Knowledge is Life Whose writings is indeliable Whose inspect is desireable Whose Doctrine is easie Whose knowledge is sweet Whose depth is unsearchable Whose words are innumerable and onely one Word All. THE END ERRATA IN the Epistle to all the Churches Page 3. line 17. read truth is In the Epistle to the Reader p. 3. l. 5. r. the so called Light l. 21. r. which in all men as the only means of Salvation In the Epistle to all those that teach up the Light within p. 2. l. 27. r. so called Light within p. 4. l. 14. r. so called Light within p 5. l. 18. f. lies r. lyar Of the Book p. 1. l. 6. r. the so called Light l. 21. r. the so called Law or Light p. 2. l. 11. r. makest p. 3. l. 11. r. preacheth p. 6. l. 13. f. Loyaâ— r. Legal l. 19. f. so that it r so it l. last r. as p. 27. l. 25. f. abase r. alass p. 28. l. 12. f. works r. work p. 29. l. 10. f. lives r. life p. 42. l. 11. dele it l 20. r. and to render p. 47. l. 28. d. yet p. 50. l. 23. f. so r. to p. 57. l. 1. f. I shall shew r. I shew l. 3. f. at r. in p. 70. l. 3. f. plunged r. plagued p. 75. l. 11. r. have alwaies margent r. Acts 24. 16. p. 7â— l. 7. f. spoke r. spoken l. 23. f. god r goe p. 88 l. 2. r. Angels p â—1 l. 15. f it s r his l. 17. after world r. of the ungodly so by his word shall the world p. 141. l 12. f. god r. goe p. 144. l. 2 f. desiring r. despising p. 167. l. 23. f. he r. she p. 168. l. 1. f. he r she l. 3 f. him r. her l. 4 f. him r. her l. 5. f. he r. she f. him r. â—er l. 8. f. him r. her f. his r. her l. 10. f. he r. she l. 22 f. his r. â—er p. 173. in the Contents l. 1. f. fine r. five l. 16 f. fine r. five p. 174. l. 15. f. he r. thee p. 185. l. 8 9. f. alleth r. calleth p. 205. l. 21. f. that Bible r. the Bible
any one writing against what I charge thee with that is filled with revilings that doth give railing language and put things off with lies c. I shall only receive a sober Antagonist or else expect your renouncing your Errors repenting believing and obeying the Gospel Joseph Wright A TESTIMONY For the Son of Man and against the Son of Perdition CHAP. I. Wherein it is laid to the charge of those that Preach up the Light within all men That they do deny Jesus Christ which is proved by their making no mention of his death for the sins of the world by their not gathering Men and Women into fellowship with him by Faith by their setting up Works for Justification and by their neglect of Self-denial against which is testified the Faith of Gods Elect concerning the Person of Christ his Death and Resurrection and Reconciliation thereby with Faith therein for Righteousness Sanctification and Self-denial Sect. 1 1. THE first thing that I lay to thy chargeâ— whosoever thou art that Preachest up the Light within all men requiring all People to mind the Light which is within them is this That thou doest deny that Christ which dyed at Jerusalem out of every person of man but his own in so doing denyest Jesus Christ come in the flesh and thy spirit is the spirit of Antichrist notwithstanding all thy pretended zeal c. which I prove against thee as followeth Sect. 2 First Because in all thy Preaching Teaching and Declaring thou never makes mention of Christs dying for the sins of the World nor that he tasted death for every man thou art altogether silent in this Doctrine of Christs dying for man in the body of his flesh and out of all other men to Redeem man unto God and to save him from his sins which ought to be taught and preached first of all to sinners and unbelievers to beget Faith in them and Repentance unto life 1 Cor. 15. 3. and 4. But thou dost altogether press every Man and Woman to look to the Light within them telling them that that will shew them all sin and iniquity and will lead them out of it and eternally save them if they be guided by it Sect. 3 Secondly Because as is thy word of mouth even so is thy writings for amongst them all and in them all theâ—e is not one line which teacheth that Christ did die for the sins of the world and freely laid down his life as a ransome for sinners or offered himself a Sacrifice to God upon that Cross on which he was crucified at Jerusalem in his own body and out of every man else thereby to reconcile both Jew and Gentile unto God by his own blood shed in his own body Ephes 2. 13 16. Col. 1. 20 21. which is such a truth of such concernment that whoso preaches it not doth not preach the Gospel of Christ nor lay the foundation which is the true and pretious Corner-stone yea the foundation of all Generations that shall be saved For no other foundation can any man lay than that which is laid even Jesus Christ and him crucified the just dying for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the Spirit 1 Pet. 3. 18. who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the Tree that we being dead to sin should live unto Righteousness by whose stripes onely we can be healed 1 Pet. 2. 24. Sect. 4 Thirdly Because thou dost not gather men and women into communion with Christ by Faith teaching them to believe in Jesus Christ him crucified out of them and in his own body for their sins and iniquities by which Faith every true Believer being justified hath Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom as the Apostle teacheth Rom. 5. 1 2. We have access by Faith into this Grace wherein we stand and rejoice in Hope of the glory of God see Rom. 4. 16. Rom. 11. 6. 2 Cor. 1. 24. But on the contrary thou gatherest by Works never questioning whether thy Proselytes believe in Christ that dyed at Jerusalem by whose Death and Resurrection Believers do receive Reconciliation and Justification I say by Works thou gatherest and not by Faith warning all people to look to the Light within them and they which own this thy Doctrine and walk and work according to it thou ownest and none but such nor takest to be such as are either taught or gathered by thee the which thou receivest although as touching the Faith in Christ Jesus they are as ignoranr as Heathens and are absolute Infidels which I have proved many a time by Discourse with thy followers Therefore in that thou gatherest by Works and not by Faith making them Heirs which are onely Workers and not Believers thou makest Faith void and the Promise to them which do believe of none effect Rom. 4. 14. by which it is evident that thou gatherest not in the Name of Christ nor with Christ and therefore art no true and right Gatherer but a scatterer abroad thou art not with Christ but against him and art led by the spirit of Antichrist Sect. 5 But in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ which died at Jerusalem I affirm against thee that there is no Salvation in any other but in Jesus Christ and him crucified for the sins of the world and that by the merit of his Death and by the power of his Resurrection done and acted out of every other man and in his own Person is Justification and Salvation to be obtained through Faith Rom. 5. 10. For there was a necessity that Christ should suffer and rise again the third day for the Justification of all them that believe in him Luke 24. from ver 22. to 48. And they which do not know this know nothing at all as even Caiaphas the high Priest doth declare as it is written John 11. 49. c. And one of them named Caiaphas being high Priest that same year said unto them Ye know nothing at all nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should dye for tho People and that the whole Nation perish not and this he spake not of himself buâ— being high Priest that year he Prophesieâ— that Iesus stould dye for that Nation anâ— not for that Nation onely but also that hâ— should gather together in one the Children of God that were scattered abroad Behold how ignorant they are that know not thaâ— Jesus Christ ought to suffer death for the People which else had all perished and had all remained scattered had not he gathered together in one the Children of God that were scattered abroad as verse 50 51 52. The loyal high Priest did Prophesie much better than these pretended Preachers up of the Light within c. Sect. 6 But as no sin could be done away without shedding of blood and death really and visibly Heb. 9. 15 22. and 10. 10. So that it is no
the Grace of God through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus unto and upon all them that believe whose Faith is imputed to them for Righteousness and whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered Thou art a stranger unto which notwithstanding is the Doctrine of the Apostle Paul Rom. 3. 22. and Rom. 4. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Sect. 9 Sixthly Thou deniest Christ which died c. because all such as follow after thy Doctrine do not deny themselves as he hath taught they should thou makest a shew of Sin-denial but Self-denial thou dost not practise but Self must be denied and Self-Righteoushess which is of the Law yea when men have done all whatsoever they are commanded they are then to say with humble hearts they have done but what was their duty and that they are unprofitable servants I say to deny our selves and self-righteousness accounting it but dung that we may win Christ and be found in Him not having our own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith this is the way to true blessedness as the Apostle teacheth Philip. 3. 8 9. But this laying low Self and onely resting upon Christ by Faith thou canst not away with therefore thou art in Self-exaltation in the highest degree only thou coverest this with a fair pretence by putting pretended Sin-deniall for Self-denial and hereby is many a poor Soul miserably deceived by thee but thus saith the Word of the Lord Rom. 3. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the Law is the knowledge of Sin And Gal. 3. 10 11. For a many as are of the works of the Law are under the Curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continuetb not in All things that are written in the Book of the Law to do them But that no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God it is evident for the Just shall live by Faith Behold saith the Prophet Habâ—k 2. 4. His Soul that is lifted up is not upright in him but the Iust shall live by Faith Sect. 10 To which Justification by Faith in the Blood of Christ thou that placest pretended Sanctification in the stead and place of Justification art a stranger and herein it will appear that although thou seemest to have a Zeal of God yet it is not according to Knowledge for thou sayest so far only as the Creature is brought out of the filth of this World and to leave sin so far only is he justified before God whereas the Scripture saith Rom. 4. 5 6 7. But to him that Worketh not but Believeth on him that justifieth the Vngodly his Faith is counted to him for Righteousness even as David also describeth the Blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth Righteousness without Works saying Blessed are they whose Iniquities are Forgiven and whose Sins are Covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not Impute Sin So that God justifieth the Creature while it is in its Sins in its Blood Ezek. 16. 6. by the pardon thereof upon Repentance and Believing the Gospel which Believing is Imputed to us for Righteousness as it is written Rom. 4. 3. Abraham Believed God and it was counted to him for Righteousness And although Repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20. 21. be requisite in order to every Sinners Justification yet is Justification an Act of God Rom. 8. 33. whereby he freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Iesus Christ doth acquit from guilt of Sin the Repentant Believer not Imputing his Sins to him and accounting his Faith to him for Righteousness See Rom. 3. 23 24 25 26. Yea to Believe as a Sinner while under the guilt of Sin and thereby lyable to the wrath of God Rom. 3. 19. Gal. 3. 10. Ephes 2. 3. that God hath received such absolute Satisfaction by the Sufferings of Jesus Christ in his own Body upon the Cross without the Gate of Jerusalem That he that Repenteth and Believeth the Gospel is wholly acquitted his debt discharged fully and freely through his Blood this is the way to be justified before God So that the main ground and reason why we that Believe should be holy in all manner of Conversation in this present evil World is because we are not our own but are bought with a price even with the precious Blood of Jesus Christ Therefore ought we to Glorifie him in our Bodies and in our Spirits which are his 1 Cor. 6. 20. And so ought we to live to him that dyed for us and rose again c. 2 Cor. 5. 15. That seeing Christ dyed for our sins we ought not to live in them but to die to that which he dyed for and as he was Crucified for our Iniquities So they that are Christs do Crucifie the Flesh with the affections and lusts lest they joyn with his Enemies and provoke his anger against them and as the Apostle Peter teacheth 1 Pet. 1. 14 15. As obedient Children not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your Ignorance but as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Because it is written Be ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy Levit. 19. 2. But Sect. 11 Seventhly In that thou layest aside this God-glorifying Doctrine of Christs free Reconciliation of Sinners to God by his Death out of and without themselves and of Gods Justification of the Ungodly by the Remission of their Sins upon Repentance Faith It appears that with the High-Priests Elders and Scribes of the Law Acts 4. 5 6 10. the Preachers up of the Light within do set at nought that precious and tryed Stone which is the Head of the Corner and the Foundation of all Generations that shall be Saved yea that Rock of Ages upon which the Congregation of the Faithful are built which is not the Rock of these Legallists their Preachings and Printings being Witnesses see Deut. 32. 31. For in as much as the Light within is no other than the work of the Law written in the hearts of the Gentiles Rom. 2. 14 15. It is evident that these Preachers are Preachers of the Law not of the Gospel to which with those Jews and Greeks mentioned 1 Cor. 1. 23. they are such Adversaries that the Preaching of Christ Crucified is to them both a Stumbling Block and Foolishness while unto them which are Called Christ is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God Oh how great and glorious is the Power of God in the work of Redemption by the Sufferings of Jesus Christ Oh the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God which the proud in Spirit know not as the Prophet David teacheth Psal 11 4. The Wicked through the pride of his Countenance will not seek after God
of Wheat which is raised and brought forth doth not arise out of other Grain but doth absolutely and truly arise out of that very Seed and by the Power of God groweth out of that very Kernel which was sown even so shall it be in the Resurrection from the Dead the Natural and Visible Bodies of those that believe in Christ although they shall not be raised as they are sown viz. vile corruptible natural weak and dishonourable yet nevertheless they shall be raised and though God will give a Body as it pleaseth him clothed with incorruptibility yet he will give to every Seed his own body 1 Cor. 15. 38. and they shall be raised again without all deformity and clothed upon with their house which is from Heaven yea their vile Bodies shall be made like the glorious Body of Christ even a Spiritual Body which Spiritual Body shall arise out of that Natural Body which doth die and is laid in the Ground even as Grain doth arise out of that very Grain which was sown being the same in substance when raised as when sown only raised in a glorious condition sown in a weak and dishonourable And as the Grain doth all arise and leaves not one jot of it self in the ground even so there shall not be left one jot of whatsoever goes to the making up this Body compleat and every way a perfect man but it shall be raised wholly and fully as it is written 1 Cor. 15. 35 36 37 38 42 43 44. Sect. 10 And that all Believers may be fully assured that their vile Bodies shall be changed and fashioned like the glorious Body of Christ according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. 20 21. The Apostle doth unfold this Mystery 1 Cor. 15. 51 52 53 54 55. Behold saith he I shall shew you a Mystery We shall not all Sleep but we shall all be Changed in a moment at the twinkling of an eye at the last Trump for the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead viz. in Christ 1 Thes 4. 16 17. such as lye in the visible Earth shall be raised incorruptible and we viz. the faithful that are alive and remain in this corrupt mortal estate unto that time shall then be changed for this corruptible must put on incorruption and this Mortal must put on Immortality so when this Corruptible shall have put on Incorruption and this Mortal shall have put on Immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory O Death Where is thy Sting O Grave Where is thy Victory The Sting of Death is Sin and the Strength of Sin is the Law but thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Thus is the Resurrection and Change of all Believers from Death to Life from Corruptible to Incorruption from Mortal to Immortality by the blessed Apostle both Vindicated and Unfolded that every faithful Man and Woman may know that although the Wages of sin is Death yet the Gift of God is eternal Life through Iesus Christ Rom. 6. 28. which God will give unto them all at one and the same time even at the coming of Christ that according to the Word of Truth 1 Thess 4. 15. These that remain unto the coming of the Lord may not prevent them which are asleep in him but although the Lords Labourers are called to work in his Vinyard at the several Hours of the Day of his Grace yet they all shall have their reward together at the Evening Matth. 20. 8. For God hath provided so well for the Faithful of this last Age that though many in former Ages have obtained a good Report through Faith yet shall not they without these be made perfect Heb 11. 39 40. Sect. 11 And although the Preachers up 〈◊〉 the Light within all men do boast of Perfection which they imagine that some of them do attain unto in this life yet it is evident by the Scriptures of Truth that the Perfection in Glory which is promised to the Faithful and the Perfection in Holiness unto which they are exhorted is not attained unto but only in part until the bodies of those that beleeve in Christ the second Adam are raised from the Grave and changed from the corruption whereinto they are fallen by the offence of the first Adam Rom 5. 15 For although in this Life those that believe in Christ are through the Rich Mercy of God even when they were dead in Sins quickened together with Christ Ephes 2. 5. and so renewed in the Spirit of their Mind Ephes 4. 23. that with the Minde they serve the Law of God Rom. 7. 24. Yet alas this Perfection is but in part Paul himself who had attained to so great a Portion of Grace that by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus he was made free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. 2. and though together with this Freedom from Guilt and liablenesse to Punishment for Sin he was so set free from the Dominion of Sin being not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. that he did delight in the Law of God after the Inward Man yet notwithstanding he found another Law in his Members which warring against the Law of his Mind brought him into Captivity to the Law of Sin in his Members Rom. 7. 22 23. So that though he had hope of Deliverance from this his Enemy the Flesh which lusteth against the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. and for his comfort had obtained the Gift of God The Holy Spirit as a help to him to war a good warfare and as the Earnest of his Inheritance Ephes 1. 13 14. which is to be enjoyed at the Redemption or Deliverance of the purchased Possession yet for the present such was his Condition that as himself testifieth Rom. 7. 23. So then saith he With the Mind I my self serve the Law of God but with my Flesh the Law of Sin So that although this Renovation of the Spirit of the Mind by the Assistance of the Holy Spirit whereby a Believer knows himself to be a Son of God by Adoption and is inabled to cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 16. be the earnest of the Inheritance a Rising with Christ through the Faith of the Operation of God who raised him from the Dead to the obtaining Forgivenesse of all Trespasses Col. 2. 12 13. yet this is not the Resurrection from the Dead nor the State of Perfection which the Faithfull unto death shall obtain as the same Apostle testifies 2 Tim. 4. 7. I have fought a good fight saith he I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousnesse which the Lord the Righteous Judg shall give me at that Day and not to me only but unto all them also that loves his appearing For the obtaining whereof his great Desire was while he enjoyed but the
little blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal 2. 10 11 12. O that all men would now consider and be wise in the Day wherein the Grace of God is tendered unto them in the Gospel of Jesus Christ that they may know what to do when God riseth up and what to answer when he visiteth Job 31. 14. and take heed all ye that make Profession of Jesus Christ Watch and pray alwayes that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man Luke 21. 36. for then shall be that coming of Christ that end of the World and that eternal judgement both of the living and of the dead which never yet hath been accomplished notwithstanding the vain confidence of those that call themselves Preachers of and to the Light within c. That suppose that these things are past with them whose Doctrine having been shewed to be disagreeable to the Doctrine of the Scriptures concerning the Person of Christ and the Father Son and Spirit and the Light and the Ordinances of Christ and the Resurrection of the dead the coming of Christ and the end of the world It is time now to conclude this Chapter CHAP. III. That the so called Preachers of and to the Light within c. Preach not to the Creature man but to a supposed Seed or uncreated substance in Man which they call Christ and the eternal witness That the Creature man is the Subject to whom Salvation is to be tendred being in a lost condition by sin and for whose deliverance Christ dyed That the Spirits in Prison are the Spirits of those men and women which were disobedient in the dayes of Noah That Christ is a distinct person from all other persons of his Divine and Humane Natures That those comforts which are admininistred to the Disciples of Christ he accepts it as done to himself how believers are said to partake of the Divine Nature of Christ and that not a power onely in man but the whole man Spirit Soul and Body shall enjoy eternal happinesse as the Humane Nature of Christ now doth That the Creature man together with the Devils are the subjects of the Wrath of God And that the perfection spoken of in the Scriptures is that which the Creature man shall enjoy Of the deceits of those that call upon all men to look into the Light within while they Communicate their Doctrine and unclean spirit to them of their resemblance to birds in their Bel-candle and net the reason why they cry down Gospel Ordinances and how they Communicate that unclean spirito why they deny Baptism in Water and plead for Spirit Baptism why they require waiting in silence of their touching or taking by the hand and the effect thereof of their visits and of their so much preaching and Printing that the Light within doth not effect those things which they ascribe to it but the said things are effected by an unclean Spirit of their silent Meetings that several of their followers have confessed themselves possessed with the Devil and of the sad pranks he played in one that thought himself perfect Sect. 1 THat those that call themselves Preachers of and to the Light within all men Preach not to the Creature man but a supposed seed or uncreated substance in man is clearly discovered by their writings wherein they have these words viz. A Salutation to the Seed of God and by these and such like expressions viz. I speak to the Light in your Conscience which shall eternally witnesse c. Now if the Light in the Conscience shall eternally witnesse then that Light must needs be understood to be eternal for nothing can be an eternal witness but an eternal thing but God onely is eternal that is without beginning and without end man is a Creature that hath a beginning though he shall have no end but shall for ever be in tribulation or in rest as a reward of disobedience or as the effect of the Grace of God and his Gift thereby to him that believeth and obeyeth the Gospel Therefore no part of man is God or of the uncreated or eternal substance and they in preaching to an eternal thing preaches not to man that had a beginning and hath lost his first Righteousness but which I fear to speak even to God for when I have at their publick Meetings thus questioned the speaker What is it which thou speakest and Preachest too the Teacher hath cryed out in great hast calling all the persons that heard him speak to witnesse for him that he spake to the Light in their Conscience to the Seed of God c. Whereupon I have asked him What is that Light in the Conscience What is that Seed of God in its self I have then been answered that it is Christ as if Christ were not a person distinct from all other persons but onely a certain Spirit or Power in all persons and that his Death and Resurrection is accomplished onely in a Mystical not in a proper sence and having a great affection to vindicate this Mystical Allegation and to turn the minds of their Hearers from the plain Truth of the Gospel they Alledge a Scripture or two and infer from them that which never was intended by the Spirit of God in them from that Scripture 1 Pet. 3. 18 19. Where the Apostle saith Christ hath once suffered for sins c. being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit by which he went and Preached to the Spirits in Prison they do infer that the spirits here spoken of is Christ that is imprisoned in man kept under and held down in the Creature and Christ as they say being quickened in them they go and Preach to the Spirits which is Christ imprisoned in others which they endeavour to help raise up set at liberty and for further proof of this imagination they alledge Mat. 25. 36. Where Christ saith I was sick and in Prison and ye visited me c. Sect. 2 But in this their Doctrine and Practice of Preaching to the Seed of God to the uncreated or eternal witnes or substance which they call Christ imprisoned and not to the creature man it is evident that it is fearful blasphemy for it supposeth that that which they call Christ hath done iniquity else why do they say repent repent with many exhortations to depart from sin when they speak to that within which in their sence is Christ so that they Reprove Christ Exhort Christ Counsel Christ yea they say they speak to that of God in the Conscience which shall eternally witnesse c. so that they teach God Reprove God Counsel God Oh horrible Blasphemy who will not fear to utter it how contrary is this to the Doctrine of the Blessed Apostle Paul Romans 11. 34. WHO saith he hath instructed the Lord or WHO hath BEEN HIS COUNSELLOR Or who hath given to him and
supposed eternal substance in every man as if not a person distinct from all other persons but a spirit or power in all persons were the Christ and as if the death of Christ were not accomplished in his own Body really but in the bodies of all men onely mystioally But this is the Testimony of Truth Christ Jesus the Lord is a distinct Person from all persons beside himself and such a person as there is none like him for He is the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holinesse Rom. 1. 4. and also the Son of David according to the Flesh so that he is truly and properly the Son of God before all Worlds and also in the fulnesse of time being made of a Woman Gal. 4. 4. It was onely that Person that is the Son of Mary the Virgin never man was Son of a Virgin but He it is He onely that was conceived in his Mothers Womb by the Operation of the Holy Spirit not one man in the whole World was ever so conceived besides himself so that He and He onely is perfect God and perfect man in Nature and Substance no man else in the whole Creation is so it is He that hath two distinct Natures in one entire person no Person else hath the like in him and in him onely dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Col. 2. 9. in no man besides him dwelleth the Godhead in any measure bodily Now although all men in respect of their Substance and Christ in respect of one of his Natures or Substances that is to say His Flesh and Blood are of one Substance Heb. 2. 14. yet it doth not at all follow from hence that all men are Christ for they are all distinct persons from him they are many persons He is one Person Mat. 16. 13 14 15 16. Onenesse in nature doth not make onenesse in person a man and his wife are one in Nature yet they are two distinct persons and although all men in respect of their substance of Spirit Soul and Body and Christ in respect of his Humane Nature are one yet in respect of his Godhead they are not one for He onely is the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holinesse and was so from all eternity Rev. 1. 8. Phil. 2. 6. Heb. 9. 14. the spirit of man though it be the most excellent part of man yet it is but a Created Substance the Spirit of Holinesse in Christ is an uncreated Substance a being without beginning and without end So that although Christ was in all things made like unto his Brethren sin excepted yet as he is the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holinesse he is not like his Brethren that have beginning of dayes and end of life but like his Father of the same uncreated Substance and of the same eternity even without beginning and without end and as Christ did in our Nature suffer yet not in ours but in his own Person so he is pleased to account that which is done to his Disciples as done to himself because it is done to one of his Natures though not to his person but to the Persons of his Disciples who are not therefore Christ for the Disciples are not that person that is the Christ neither have they as they are persons those two Natures that Christ hath neither are they that one Person that Christ is neither are they in a mystical sence called Christ but as being in Covenant and in Communion with that one Person which is the Christ who is the Son of God according to the Spirit of Holiness and the Son of David also according to the flesh which no man besides him is from all which the sence of the Scripture Mat. 25. 36. is clear viz. That man having one of the Natures of Christ viz. Flesh and Blood and being in Covenant with him by becoming his Disciples that good or that evil which is done unto them Christ declares it as done unto himself not that it was done to his Person as the Question of the Righteous vers 37. and the Answer of the King vers 40. do evidently manifest whereby the folly of those that wrest this Scripture to prove that Christ Preacheth to the Spirits when they are in Prison or that those Spirits are Christ that the Christ is onely a Power or Spirit in every man and not a distinct Person from all men beside himself or that Christ hath onely one Nature and not two dictinct Natures in one Person or that the Humane Nature which dyed was not Christ according to the Flesh which also was quickened again by Christ according to the Spirit of Holinesse Rom. 1. 4. or that these two Natures Spirit of Holinesse and Flesh Son of God and Son of Man in one Person is not the true Christ distinct from all other Persons of men though they be the Disciples of Christ I say the folly and blasphemy of those that wrest this Scripture to defend those vain conceits or to gain-say those Glorious Truths which are discovered laid open and made manifest for Christ in his affirmations I was an hungred and ye fed me Naked and ye cloathed me Sick and ye visited me in Prison and ye came unto me and the like did not affirm these things to be administred to the eternal Substance but to the whole created man Spirit Soul and Body especially to the sensitive Soul which standeth in need of Food Mat. 6. 25. and to the Body which being naked hath need of cloathing as also the Spirit of man which being in trouble hath need of comfort But it cannot be said that the Power Spirit or eternal Substance in man distinct from the Spirit Soul and Body of man is hungry thirsty a stranger naked sick or in prison neither did Christ affirm these comforts to be administred to his own Person consisting of these Divine and Humane Natures which as the Spirit of Holinesse was ever free from such infirmities so also the Humane Nature of his Person hath been free from hunger cold and nakednesse ever since his Resurrection from the dead so that the true meaning of our Saviour is this viz. That forasmuch as the Humane Nature of Christ is one in substance with the Nature of man-kind and because the Disciples of Christ are in Covenant with Christ their Head and Lord therefore that which is done to them in Feeding Cloathing Harbouring c. the Lord takes it as done unto himself because it is done to one of his Natures though not to his Person and because it is done to the Persons of his Disciples which are in Covenant with him as the 40. verse makes it evident And the King shall answer and say unto them Verily I say unto you inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me Thus this Scripture also is vindicated and those false inferences which false teachers have endeavoured to draw from
the Divine Nature as it is in a different manner from the Union of the Divine and Humane Natures of the Person of Christ so in this life it is but a part 1 Cor. 13. 12. With the mind saith the Apostle I my self serve the Law of God but with my flesh the law of sin Rom. 7. 25. The Renovation the Apostle exhorts to is in the spirit of the mind Ephes 4. 23. The perfection the Apostle declares the Saints now to be come to is to the Spirits of Iust men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. which is but the earnest of that inheritance Believers shall obtain the first fruits of the Spirit Believers though they enjoy this do wait for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of their Bodies See Romans 8. 23 24 25. Sect. 9 For as the Humane Spirit Soul and Body of Christ wherein his Humane Nature Heb. 5. 8 9. doth consist is now perfectly glorified his Body being raised from the Grave and ascended up into Heaven Luke 24. 51. So shall the Spirits Souls and Bodies of all true Believers after the Resurrection of their Bodies from their Graves or change from mortal to immortality be perfectly glorified See 1 Cor. 13. 10. And when they come to this estate and condition then they come to the full enjoyment of the promised Inheritance to which they are of God predestinated that is to say to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the first born among many Brethren Rom. 8. 29. And this is that the Apostle prayes for in behalf of the Church of the Thessalonians And the very God of Peace saith he Sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 23. Then Believers shall have their compleat participation of the Divine Nature when they having overcome and kept the Works of Christ unto the end are by him brought into likenesse of estate and condition with his own now glorified Humane Nature for when the day of Christs appearing shall dawn then shall the Day-star the Glory of his Humane Nature arise in the Hearts of all that love him 2 Pet. 1. 19. For as Jesus Christ is that bright morning-Star Rev. 22. 16. so he promised to give it unto them that hold fast till he come Rev. 2. 28. And then he whose Humane Nature hath received of the Father Rev. 2. 27. Power Glory and Honour John 17. 1 2. John 8. 54. will give unto his Brethren a likenesse of Glory unto that to which his own Humane Nature is now advanced which being once dead is now alive again and lives for evermore and is now fully able to open the doors of death and to set at liberty the Prisoners of Corruption and Mortality as he himself testifieth saying I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the keys of Hell and of Death Rev. 1. 18. Although the second Adam be of the same Substance with the first Yet oh how excellent is the estate and condition of the second Adam now since his Resurrection from the So is the Greek saith the Learned dead The last Adam saith the Apostle was made into a quickening Spirit It is raised a spiritual Body saith he 1 Cor 15. 44 45. And as the first Adam being fallen those that bear his Image bear the Image of the earthly that is Sin Corruption and Mortality so the second Adam being raised those that shall bear his Image shall bear the Image of the Heavenly that is Righteousnesse Incorruptibility and Immortality 1 Cor. 15. 49. 55 56 57. For the first Adam having by sin defaced the Image of God wherein he was created the second Adam repaired it again and by fulfilling the Law under which he was made hath so condemned sin in the flesh that having suffered death for the World of sinners and being also risen again from the dead his own Humane Nature Spirit Soul and Body and also the Spirits Souls and Bodies of all that believe on his Name shall for ever enjoy Life Spirituality and Incorruptibility And when the Church shall come to this estate and condition then shall she resemble her Head Christ Jesus who having first given himself for it to Sanctifie and to cleanse it will then give himself unto it and thereby make it like Glorious with his own Glorified Humane Nature See Ephesians 5. 25 26 27. Rev. 19. 7 8 9. Sect. 10 For thus saith the Truth Christ hath once suffered for sins the Iust for the Vnjust that He might bring us to God who being put to death in or concerning the flesh was quickened again by the Spirit of Holinesse that is to say the Godhead of Christ did quicken the manhead of his Person that so the Manhead in the Person of Christ might by the Power of his Godhead quicken the same Manhead in the persons of others For now even the Manhead of Christ hath though still the same Substance as the first Adam yet the quality and condition of a quickening Spirit for that manhead which being alwayes in Personal Unity with the Godhead and now also raised by it from the dead and exalted to the Glory of the Father hath such Power through the Godhead with which it is in Personal Unity that he can give a likenesse of Glory to the Manhead which is not Personally united to the Godhead for He hath received of the Father such Power over all flesh that He should give eternal Life to as many as are by the Father given unto Him John 17 1 2. For the Father giveth those that believe in Jesus Christ unto Christ that they may receive of his Fulness Ephes 1. 3 4. John 1. 16. Ephes 4. 10 11 12 13. And Christ giveth unto them with Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit the Hope of eternal Life to support them in all their Tribulations which they endure for his Names sake and at the last he will give them eternal Life and the Glorious enjoyment of blessednesse unspeakable Rom. 14. 17 18. Col. 1. 5. 2 Thes 1. 4 5 6. Yea Christ as man in the Substance of Adam in the Created Substance hath taken hold of eternal Life that the Creature man may be assured of enjoying the same by virtue of a title derived from him as he himself testifieth John 6. 27. saying Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting Life which the Son of Man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father Sealed for since by man came death by man came also the Resurrection from the dead saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 21. And God hath given good assurance both of the Resurrection and of the Eternal Life which is promised unto them that believe in that the Man Christ Jesus in the Substance of Adam is risen from the dead and entered into Life and
threatned to the contemners thereof for ever and ever as those that imbrace the precious promises obey the holy Commandments and fear the dreadful Threatnings declared in the Scriptures shall enjoy in spirit soul and body the blessednes of Life Eternal and although now the proud contemners of God and of his Word that dare tread the Bible under their feet in scorn of the Doctrine expressed therein are called Happy and those workers of wickedness are set up in the minds of many yet the time will come when God will make up his Jewels and spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him and then will there be a discerning between the Righteous and the Wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not See Mal. 3. 13 14 15 16 17 18. Sect. 3 But as no other Person is the Son of God in the sence wherein Jesus Christ is he being the onely begotten Son of God both from all Eternity according to his Divine Nature and also in the fulness of time according to his Humane Nature So no other Doctrine whatsoever is the Word of God so as the Doctrine of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament is the Word of God for God wrote the words of the Covenant and gave the Record of his Son whose Doctrine and Miracles are written that ye might believe that Jesus is Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have Life through his Name John 20. 30. Which Doctrine of the Scriptures our Saviour Jesus Christ who as God and man in one Person is called the Word of God declared to be the Word of God when he reproved the Scribes and Pharisees for their making void the Commandment of God that they might keep their own Traditions making saith he the Word of God of no effect c. In which sentence it is very evident that our Saviour Jesus Christ called the Commandment of God expressed in the Scriptures The Word of God See Mark 7. And to this agrees the words of the Apostle 2 Cor. 2. 17. For we are not as many which corrupt or deal deceitfully with the Word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ That Word of God which they did not corrupt was the Doctrine which they delivered from God to the People concerning Jesus Christ and Salvation by him which they delivered both by word of mouth and by writing And as it is observed that the Hebrew word which is translated Commandments doth signifie Words as Exod. 34. 28. He wrote upon the Tables the Words of the Covenant the ten Words or Commandments which withall other Commandments of the old Covenant is called the Word or Doctrine of God So also the Words of Christ written in the Scriptures of the new Covenant is truely called the Word or Doctrine of God though Moses and other Prophets spake and wrote it yet the Word or Doctrine is the Word or Doctrine of God for these holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit 2 Pet. 1. 21. So although Peter Paul and the rest of those holy Pen-men of the Scriptures of the new Covenant did speak write the Doctrine therein contained yet the Doctrine is the Word or Commandment of God as the Apostle teacheth 2 Cor. 3. 5. Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of our selves as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God who also hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament or Covenant the Doctrine whereof they delivered not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the holy Spirit teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual 1 Cor. 2. 13. Sect. 4 Therefore God will punish all such severely that add to or take from the Scriptures Prov. 30. 6. Revel 22. 18 19. For whosoever doth speak a word against the Scriptures speaketh against him whose Will is therein expressed yea whosoever speaketh disdainfully and reproachfully of the Seriptures speaketh so against God himself for was it ever known that the Word Law or Commandment of a King was contemned and evil spoken of but the KIng who gave that Law Word or Commandment was also thereby dishonoured and his Name or Power dispised Is a Kings Honour bound up in his Laws and is not the Honour of the great God concerned in his Laws will earthly Kings punish the contemners of their Commands as far as their Power dorh extend and will not the King Eternal whose Power is universal But as the Adversaries of Jesus Christ dealt with him in the Dayes of his Humiliation even so do his Enemies deal by his Word in these dayes and surely those that in the Personal absence of Christ do vent their rage against the Scriptures would shew the same indignation against Christ himself were he personally present if it were in their power so to do those that tread the Scriptures under their feet would trample upon the Person of Christ were he in their way opposing their designs as the Scriptures are and like as the Scribes and Pharisees did conclude that Jesus Christ was not the Son of God because they could so abuse him and found no vertue in him so do these Adversaries of Christ the Preachers up of the so called Light within conclude against the Scriptures their being the Word of God because they can abuse them and finde no vertue in them And as Christ did then suffer his Person to be abused by wicked hands Acts 2. 23. So he now suffers his Word to be despised which notwithstanding he will one day Vindicate to the utter Confusion of the Enemies thereof he gave his Back to the smiters and his Cheekes to them that plucked off the hair and hid not his Face from shame and spitting he was mocked crowned with Thorns Scourged nailed to the Crosse Crucified and slain and what Power or vertue did his Persecuters feel in him while they did any of these things to him did they not in effect say in these mens words This a Christ a Saviour this the Word of God this quick and powerful he cannot save himself how then should he save others If thou be the Christ come down from the Crosse said they and we will believe thee To like purpose these blasphemers of God and of his Truth when they have cast the Scriptures on the ground have said Rise up if thou be the Word of God Oh the wonderful patience and forbearance of God! Oh the wretchednesse and perversnesse of man God sent his Son to save men men Crucified him he sent his Word to instruct men men despise it and tread it under their feet they can now call the Scriptures lifeless and say they have no vertue in them what might not they have said that nailed Christ to the Cross It is recorded that a woman did but touch the hem of his Garments and virtue came out of him but they that Crucified him might have said
that they had both touched and felt him and yet found no vertue come out of him No marvel therefore that the Scriptures seems to be lifeless and a dead Letter to such whose Faith is dead to them it is no wonder that the Scriptures do not enlighen them that go about to destroy them or in Christ himself while they were kiling him they found little excellency And why were some refreshed even by the touching of Christs Garment and others that â—ouched his Body felt no benefit Was it not because the one came to him with a Hand of Faith and Love owning him â—o be the Son of God and the other came with wicked hands to crucifie and slay him because they denyed him to be the Christ And wherefore is it that some find wonderful comfort in the Scriptures and are thereby made wise unto Salvation Is it not because they come with humble and believing Hearts to them But they must needs be a dead Letter to such whose Faith and Affections is quite dead to them Sect. 5 But to make a further manifestation of the Divine Authoriiy of the Scriptures I will lay down these following Considerations to prove the Scriptures to be an infallible Teacher of the Doctrine of Salvation First Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this world â—hat can name a Work of Righteousnesse which as an Act Deed or Duty of Righâ—eousnesse ought to be observed by the Sons of men which the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament do not make mention of fairly discover and fully comprehend Therefore the Scripture is an Infallible Teacher of the Doctrine of Salvation 2. Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this world that can name a work of wickednesse which as an Act or Deed of wickednesse ought not to be done by any of the Sons of men which the Scriptures do not most severely forbid upon pain of the greatest Punishments to be inflicted on them that persist therein Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 3. Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this World that can declare any Promise either of Peace or Happinesse which as a Promise from the True God ought to be embraced by the Sonâ— of men which the Scriptures of the Old and new Testament do not make mention of and very fairly and fully declare Therefore the Scriptures are an infallible Teacher c. 4. Because there is no man nor Spirit or Light within any Man in this world that can declare any Punishment which God wil inflict upon sinners for their disobedience which the Scripture speaketh not of and very fully declares Therefore the Scriptures are an infallible Teacher c. 5. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove any act or deed which the Scripture calls an act of Righteousness to be an act or deed of Wickedness Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 6. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man can prove any act or deed which the Scriptures call an act of Wickedness to be an act or deed of Righteousness Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 7. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove any Promise which is made in Scripture to be false or that it shall not be made good according to the condition thereof to those to whom it is made Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 8. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove that any of the Threatnings expressed in the Scriptures against the workers of iniquity are either unreasonable or false or that they are not according to the minde of God or shall not come to pass Therefore the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are an infallible Teacher c. The Word of God therefore expressed in the Scriptures of Truth concerning his Commandments his Promises his threatings is very far in Authority and clearness beyond any Spirit or Light in any mortal man in the world therefore I conclude they are above all mens books words or Doctrine an infallible Teacher such as are able to make wise unto Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus being given by inspiration of God and are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Search the Scriptures therefore saith the Lord Jesus Christ for they are they which testifie of me Joh. 5. 39. To the Law and to the Testimony saith the Prophet if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them Isai 10. 20. Sect. 6 To the foregoing grounds I will add two other whereby the Light and power of the Doctrine of the Scriptures is further manifested and so conclude The first of which is taken from Ephes 5 13. Whatsoever saith the Apostle doth make manifest is Light now the Scriptures doth make manifest the mystery which was kept secret since the world began which according to the Commandment of the everlasting God is by the Doctrine of the Apostles made known to all Nations for the obedience of faith therefore according to Pauls Doctrine the Scripture is Light for by it is the way of Salvation manifest See Rom. 16. 25 26. Rom 15 4 2 Pet. 3. 1 2. The Apostle Peter also teacheth the same Doctrine for after he had declared what they which were with Christ in the Mount had seen and heard he tells us that we have a more sure word of prophesie or of the Prophets whereunto ye do well saith he that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in our hearts that is as hath been already shewed until the Resurrection of the dead and coming of Christ from heaven with his mighty Angels c. Now we know that a shining Light in a dark place is of great use of such concernment is the Doctrine of the Scriptures as the Prophet Teacheth The Commandment of the Lord is pure saith the Prophet Enlightening the eyes Psal 19. 8 9. Thy word is a Lamp unto my feet saith he and a light unto my paths Oh! of what blessed concernment are the Scriptures of Truth to direct in the way of the Lord unto which sure word of Prophecie or of the Prophets and Apostles of Jesus Christ we shall do well if we take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place remembring this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit They are not therefore of private or particular interpretation as though
the truth of all Gods Teachings Exhortations and Ordinances whatsoever to neglect all Duties which God hath commanded in order to their Salvation and to sit in silence and wait in astonishment to be delivered from those fears which thou hast put them into All which is but to delude the senses of poor Creatures by thy sound and noise that so thou mayest bring them into a bewildered condition to be even done withal what thou pleasest that hast so dashed dazled and confounded their apprehensions and senses Sect. 15 When therefore thou hast effected thy purpose thus far being somewhat expert in thy way by the help of an evil Spirit which thou callest thy discerning eye boasting of the great discovery which thou hast made into and through all men discerning by it as by a Candle what is in them and when thou doest thus discover by that spirit by which thou art led and as by a Candle seest where the poor Bird doth sit which by thy sound is astonished confounded and silenced then thou hastest to it with all speed to cast thy Net over it which is to communicate thy unclean spirit unto it which spirit is not the light in every man but the darknesse in thee and thy followers neither is it in those that are silenced confounded by thee till it comes from thee and enters into them at that time which is to them remarkable the time of their visitation as they call it but it is a woful visitation for it doth not come with a still soft voice like the Spirit of God nor in the cool of the day but with earthquakes and rending the Rocks as they call it putting the poor Creature into such a woful condition that it is like one caught in a Net indeed and must now be dealt withal at the mercy of the Fowler which is very cruel for oh what quakings and shakings tremblings and fearings what pulling and dragging is at that time just as though the very heart must be pulled out all the bowels torn in pieces and one limb rent from another of which I have seen the example with mine eyes and when the unclean spirit hath pronounced such woes terrours and judgements and hath held the creature under them as long as he thinks fit which by them is called Hell and is all the Hell they fear then the said Spirit speaketh Peace to them but not by the Blood of Christ shed for their sins in his own body and out of themselves but he telleth them that he hath done away their sins and iniquities as a thick cloud and carried them away into the Land of forgetfulness not that Christ the Scape-Goat as a distinct Person from all other men hath done it and then this spirit requireth that Creature to arise and tell what God hath done for its soul yea sometimes this Spirit speaketh with a vocal voice in the bottom of the Bellies of them that are possessed therewith saying to them as the Lord said to Abraham Gen. 12. 11. for Satan endeavours to imitate God as much as he can Get thee out of thy Fathers house and from thy kindred unto a Land that I will shew thee and I will reward thee double other whiles he commands the Creature to go to such a place to such a man with a message from the Lord for now this Spirit hath the dominion over the poor Creature hurrying it up and down with Motions Revelations and Commands making it do what he liketh for his power is unresistable having gotten such hold that go now they must they cannot stay nor avoid it speak now they must and cannot help it for if they avoid the doing of any thing which he requireth then are they sure to feel he is a Lord indeed by the Terrour Wrath and Judgement which he will bring them into his Commands being given out upon pain of damnation upon the neglect of obedience to them So that he is not obeyed out of a principle of Love but of Fear and Terrour such Terrour too as makes them sometimes to quake and tremble and so unclean are his commands that he requireth some of them men and women to strip off all their clothes and as naked as they were born to stand sometimes upon a Market Crosse in the time of Market and sometimes at the Grave while the dead is burying in their naked bodies and there to tell the People they are for a sign of their destruction though it cannot be reasonably supposed that God did require his Prophet so to divest himself of all garments whatsoever when by some such like sign he required him to declare the destruction of the People but such is the uncleanness and cruelty of this spirit wch possesseth these poor creatures almost choaking them with his fits and conflicts making them roar and foam at the mouth with such a terrible and hideous kind of crying as might very much amaze any one that shall see them as I my self have done therefore I say they do not intend what they declare viz. That men and women should be guided by the Light that is in every one of them before some of these Teachers have by some means or other conversed with them that so instruction and an unclean spirit might be from them communicated unto those upon whom they call to mind the Light within Ah how many poor souls have their feet caught in this snare how many are taken in this evil net and thereby led to destroy all their good beginnings wherein they began to serve the true God running into grosse wickedness and Satanical delusions posting from mountain to hill forgetting their resting place turning from the true Christ and the worship of God and going a whoring after this spirit of errour and their own inventions Sect. 16 But that thy dissimulation may further appear I shall in several particulars make it manifest that thou never intendest that every man should be guided by that Light which they have in them before they meet with thee or thy Doctrine but that they should receive instruction and a spirit from thee to be their director and assister First because that when thou doest affirm that the Apostles of Jesus Christ were sent out to Baptize with the Spirit this thou speakest to oppose those that stand to maintain that they were commanded to Baptize with Water in the Name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins and by Prayer and laying on of hands to seek unto God that he would give his Spirit as he hath promised Luke 11. 9 13. Therefore thou callest Baptism in water carnal Prayer and laying on of hands carnal because not the Administrator of Prayer and laying on of hands but God doth give Christ to shed forth or baptize with the holy Spirit See Acts 5. 32. Acts 2. 33. Mat. 3. 11. Now if I must believe that what thou speakest of the Apostles of Christ those that are thy messengers can perform then consequently they can