because Christ hath walked therein to make it â—o he was Baptised that knew no sin that the Repenting Sinner might be baptized in his Name for the Remission of Sin and as the Sinner draws nigh to God by Repentance Faith and Baptism so Christ draws nigh to the Sinner by his Grace for as the Sinner comes to be washed in his body with purâ— water so he comes to be sprinkled in hiâ— heart or spirit with the blood of Christ froâ— an evil Conscience Heb. 10. 22. For Chrisâ— came saith John by water and blood noâ— by water only but by water and blood anâ— it is the Spirit that beareth witness becausâ— the Spirit is truth For there are three thaâ— bear Record in Heaven the Father thâ— Word and the holy Spirit and these threâ— are one And there are three that beaâ— Record in Earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood und these three agree in one Iâ— we receive the witness of men the witness of God is greater for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son 1 John 5. 6 7 8. And as the Grace of God is exceeding great in giving to every true Believer assurance of acceptance with him by the witness of his own Spirit Rom. 8. 16. through the precious blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 18. signified in Baptism so it must needs be great Impiety in any man to gain-say that holy Commandment which he hath appointed as a means whereby repenting Believers do draw nigh unto him Heb. 10. 22. and as an evidence of his accepting them for his Children Gal. 3. 26 27. the which further to assure to them that ask him Luke 11. 13. he giveth the Spirit of Adoption whereby they are inabled to cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 6. Sect. 6 But as the Adversaries of Jesus Christ and of his holy Ordinances deal by one so they do also by other of his Commandments which to manifest their dislike and contempt of Christ that gave them forth they contemn and resist like their Predecessors in evil the Jews Acts 7. 51 52 53. who though they received the Law by the disposition of Angels kept it not and though the Gospel be the Power of God unto Salvation unto every one that believeth being that wherein the Righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith Rom. 1. 16 17. yet did they not obey it Rom. 10. 17. Even so these their Followers finding the work of the Law written in their hearts Rom. 2. 15. this they extol and admire but never did any of them walk according to it for as saith the Apostle Rom. 3. 23. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God and although there be no way to take away their sins but that new and living way of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which he hath consecrated for that purpose by which he not only promiseth Peace and Salvation Everlasting but giveth also the earnest and assurance thereof unto them that seek it in the way that he hath appointed in the word of the Gospel yet will not these stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears obey the Gospel but do alwayes resist the holy Spirit like their Fathers for that they may show their utter enmity and contempt of the Gospel and of the precious Promises of Grace declared therein that they may deter Believers from seeking the gift of God the holy Spirit that they may hinder it as much as in them lies not only the Evidence that every Believer may have of his Adoption or Son-ship but also that assistance of the Spirit of God whereby he may be inabled to war a good warfare yea that they may take men off from seeking Righteousness by the Gospel and set up the Law for Justification as if their own strength and the Light within all men were sufficient to render the Power of God whereby Believers are kept through faith unto Salvation of no effect that Principle of the Doctrine of Christ viz. Prayer and Laying of Hands on Baptized Believers for the obtaining the gift of the holy Spirit is by the Preachers up of the Light within c. as other Ordinances of the New Testament reproached and despised but Oh how fierce is their anger how cruel is their wrath against the People of God that contemn and vilifie the practice of that duty of Prayer and laying on of hands which is performed for so holy and spiritual an end as the obtaining the gift of the holy Spirit promised of God to those that repent and are baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins Acts 2. 38. Gal. 3. 14. Luke 11. 13. given of God to those that did obey him Act. 5. 31 32. to witness unto them the forgiveness of their sins to be the earnest of their Inheritance the seal of Salvation until the Redemption of the purchased Possession Ephes 1. 13 14. to be such an assistant unto Believers which they cannot obtain by the works of the Law but by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3. 2. and whereby they may be enabled so to walk that they shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. Yea so exceeding great and precious is the Promise and so powerful is the assistance of the Spirit promised that thereby Believers may be made partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. their infirmities may be helped in Prayer Rom. 8. 26. they may have all things brought to their remembrance be led into all Truth and shewed the things that are to come Joh. 16. 13. Joh. 14. 26. which Promise of the Spirit was obtained by Prayer and Laying on of hands by the Apostles in behalf of the Samaritans Act. 8. 15 16 17. by a certain Disciple in behalf of Saul Act. 9. 10 17. by Paul in behalf of the Ephesians Acts 19. 6. by certain Prophets and Teachers in the Church at Antioch in behalf of Barnabas and Saul to assist them in the work of their Ministry Acts 13. 1 2 3. by the Apostles in behalf of the seven Deacons to fit them for their service Acts 6. 5 6. by the Presbytery or company of Elders in behalf of Timothy 1 Tim. 4. 14. and also by Paul himself 2 Tim. 1. 6. in order to his obtaining the gift of the holy Spirit to assist him both as a Disciple and Minister of Jesus Christ So that all that believe in Jesus Christ may safely conclude that Prayer and laying on of hands is a Principle of his Doctrine which he himself was not far from the practice of upon those he sent out to Preach among all Nations Repentance and Remission of sins when having first said unto them Behold I send the Promise of my Father upon you and having led them out as far as Bethany in order to his parting from them and ascending up into Heaven He lift up his hands and blessed them Luk. 24. 49 50. Yea so ancient and authentick is the practice of
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 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
God is not in all his thoughts but as saith the same Prophet Psal 69. 32. The humble shall see this and be glad and your heart shall live that seek God Sect. 12 The humble do see themselves in a lost and undone Estate by reason of Sin which they and all the world are guilty of by the Sentence of the righteous Law of God they are so broken in their spirits finding themselves under the Curse of the Law Gal. 3. 10 That as Christ teacheth concerning the penetant Publican Luke 18. 10. thinking themselves not worthy to lift up their eyes to Heaven do smite their breasts saying God be merciful to us Sinners while the proud Pharisee rejoycing in himself and in his own Righteousness of the Law like those that now Preach up the Light within exalteth himself saying God I thank thee I am not as other men are Extortioners Unjust Adulterers or even as this Publican Oh with what affection doth the Repentant Believer receive Jesus Christ Oh how precious is the Blood of Sprinkling to him Heb. 12. 24. Which the proud Legalist Pharisee Papist and pretended Preacher up of the Light within do trample under their feet Sect. 13 Even as Water is to a thirsty Land Psal 143. 6. or to the panting Hart Psal 42. 1. which being at the point of death except it be refreshed by the Water Brooks doth expire So is it with the poor Believer who finding himself beset on every side with the guilt and burthen of his Sins which he not able to bear flees from but is still pursued with the guilt thereof until he meets with Christ who sets him free from the guilt and takes away the burthen of his Sins giveth him assurance of peace with God through the Satisfaction which he hath made to his Justice by the Sacrifice of himself for all his sins that are past and requiring this late lost Creature now to follow him he bringeth him to his Fathers house makes him a Son of God by Adoption and giveth him the holy Spirit whereby he may both know that God is his Father and be inabled to serve him in newness of spirit promiseth him that his Grace shall be sufficient for him to relieve him in all his Temptations in this world and that by his Mediation with God he will so secure him from the Calumnious Accusations of Satan that he shâ—â—l not be able to lay any thing to his Charge in the Court of Heaven and now requiring him to be faithful to the death assureth him that he will give him the Crown of life Oh what glorious Grace is this Oâ— hâ—w is he that was Sentenced to death and pursued with the Executioners thereof meeting with Jesus Christ and being by him not only delivered from the power of his Puâ—suers but also intituled to Everlasting Life refreshed and comforted who is able to express the consolation of the water of Life John 4. 10. which Jesus Christ gives to refresh the fainting Spirits of those he meets with that while they flee from sin are pursued with the Law Sin and Death and are never able by all the strength they have to deliver themselves from the power of those their Enemies until Jesus Christ interpose with the might of his power relieve them by his grace delivering the poor broken in spirit that are pursued with the guilt power and wages of Sin from the Law Sin and Death speaking peace to them in the pardon of their sins sprinkling his Blood upon their spirits to cleanse them from the guilt thereof and giving them the holy Spirit John 7. 37 38 39. to strengthen them against the Reigning power of Sin and thereby intituling them to life Everlasting and to the deliverance from the wages of Sin which is Everlasting Death Sect. 14 Oh how contrary is the Doctrine of the Gospel to the Doctrine of those that Preach up the Light within all men as that which though it be but the work of the Law Rom. 2. 15. is sufficient in the opinion of these followers of the Romish Synagogue to lead out of all Sin and eternally to save and therefore contrary to the practice of the Apostles who direct unto Christ all the weary and heavy laden with sin with Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World John 1. 29. These Messengers of Satan lead all such as follow them from Christ to themselves setting up themselves under pretence of the Light within and rejecting that which is indeed the Light viz. the Word of the Prophets of Christ and of his Apostles 2 Pet. 1. 19. which is written in the Scriptures of Truth Dan. 10. 21. they set up that which is indeed the Darkness of this world the Traditions of men the Doctrines of the Romish Harlot and other Adversaries to the Doctrine of the Gospel which they deliver by word of mouth and disperse in their written Books and Pamphlets CHAP. II. Wherein is shewed That the Doctrine of these that call themselves Preachers of and to the Light within all men is not according to the Doctrine of Jesus Christ expressed in the Scriptures of Truth neither concerning the Person of Christ nor the Father Son and Spirit nor the Light nor the Ordinances of Christ nor the Resurrection of the Dead nor the Coming of Christ nor the End of the World Also the Doctrine which is according to Godliness as it relates to these Particulars is here manifested Sect. 1 THe second thing which I lay to thy Charge which teachest that People should be guided by the Light which is within all men is That thy Doctrine is not according to the Doctrine of the Scriptures neither concerning the Conception of Jesus Christ nor the Divine Being of the Father Son and Spirit nor the Light nor the Ordinances of Christ nor the Resurrection of the Dead nor the Coming of Christ nor the End of the World and therefore thou art led by the Spirit of Antichrist Sect. 2 First Because thou dost not confess that by vertue of the Holy Spirit his coming upon and the Power of the Highest his overshadowing that visible woman called Mary that that man Christ Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and made of the Woman without her knowing of man and that he is the only begotten Son of God both according to the Spirit of Holiness Rom. 1. 3 4. and also as he is a man of flesh and bones and that there is none nor can be any that is the Son of God in that sense that that God-man Christ Jesus was and is the Son of God from and to all Eternity according to the Spirit of Holiness and also in the fulness of time according to the flesh Gal. 4. 4. I say because thou dost not own this Person which I here speak of to be the only begotten Son of God and no other but he in all the world beside Therefore thou art deceived and art a Deceiver for thou sayest
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
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
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
are with the Devil and his Angels in chains of darkness reserved unto the Iudgment of the great day 1 Pet. 8. 19. 2 Pet. 2. 4. wherein they shall in spirit soul and body be tormented in the Lake of fire 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Revel 20. 14. So contrariwise are the spirits of all Just men who fight the good fight and finish their course in the Faith of Luke 13. 28. Mark 9. 43. 44. Mar. 16. 26. Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 4. 7. reserved in Paradice unto the Day of the Lord when the Blessed of the Father shall receive the Kingdome and shall in spirit soul and body enjoy eternal Life Lukâ— 23. 43. Matth. 25. 46. and everlasting Blessedness with Christ Jesus who is now glorified in that Body which suffered death rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven John 20. 27. Luke 24. 38 39. to the 53. as all Believers also in due time shall be And whereas it is declared in Scripture that Christ hath led captivity captive that he hath redeemed those that believe from the Curse of the Law that he hath abolished Death and brought life and Immortality to light through the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. All this though it be the sure and steadfast hope of every True Believer Heb. 5. 18 19 20. is made void and of no effect by those that deny the Resurection of the Bodies or flesh of men for as the flesh of Christ wherein he wus put to death 1 Pet. 3. 18. saw no corruption but was quickened again by the Spirit the third day Act. 2. 24 31. So the flesh of those that believe in Christ though it doth see corruption as Davids flesh is said to do Acts 13. 36. shall be raised again incorruptible 1 Cor 15. 52. and therefore God is declared to be the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob Exod. 3. 15. Mat. 22. 31 32. because the Bodies of Abraham Isaac and Jacob which are dead shall live again and shall therefore be raised up from death because God is not the God of the dead but of the living as Christ hath taught But False Teachers in their denying the Resurrection of the Bodies of the dead do deny that God is the God of the Living a most sad consequence and blasphemous Opinion Sect. 15 But as the Apostle teacheth The denial of the Resurrection of the Bodies of the Faitfull from the dead doth not only deny the Resurrection of men that have sinned but also of Christ himself who knew no Sin it makes the Preaching of the Gospel vain and the Faith of them that confess it it renders the Apostles of Christ false witnesses of God because they have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom he raised not up if so be that the dead rise not It concludeth that those that Christ hath set free from sin are still under the guilt thereof that they that are faln asleep in Chrst are perished and that the hope of Believers is only in this life and therefore they of all men are most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19. O fearfull Doctrine What a bitter Root is this which brings forth such Fruit so destructive to the health and comfort of all Believers so contrary to that food wherewith the Spirits of the Faithfull have in old time been nourished and to the Hope wherewith they have in all their Tribulations been supported Oh saith Job in his great extremity when his Brethren Friends Servants his own Wife and Young Children despised him that my words were now written that they were printed in a book that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the Rock for ever For I know saith he that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth and though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my Reins be consumed within me Thus was he supported by the hope of the Resurrection of the dead in the midst of his great Afflictions and Tribulations Job 19. 23 24 25 26 27. The like Experience had Paul for the hope of Israel saith he I am bound with his chain Acts 28. 20. I am judged saith he for the Hope of the Promise made of God unto the Fathers unto which Promise our Twelve Tribes instantly serving God day and night hope to come for which Hopes sake King Agrippa saith he I am accused of the Jews Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead Act. 26. 6 7 8. So likewise when he was brought before FELIX This I confesse unto thee saith he that after that way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets and have Hope toward God which they themselves also allow that there shall he a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Iust and Vnjust and herein do I exercise my self to have a Conscience void of Offence both toward God and toward men O what comfortable and sure hope hath every true Believer by the communion of the Spirit of God that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead how are their spirits quickened and renewed after the Image of him that created them Eph. 2. 5. Col. 3. 10. who will also in due time quicken their mortal Bodies also by his Spirit that dwelleth in them Rom. 8. 11. And inasmuch as God intends to raise the Bodies of his Saints again from the dead therefore precious in his sight is their death Psalm 116. 15. They who while they lived in the Body dyed unto Sin their Bodies after they are dead shall be raised again to Life and shall no more be subject to Death or Sorrow or crying for God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes neither shall there be unto them any more pain Revel 21. 4. Death shall be swallowed up into Victory and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off their faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth for the Lord hath spoke it Isa 25. 8. Then shall be the restoring of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Holy Prophets since the World began Acts 3. 21. Then will he make all things new and unto those which have not loved their lives unto the death for the sake of Jesus Christ with all that have believed on his Name God will be a Father and they shall be his Children and shall inherit all things for these Sayings are true and faithfull saith the Lord Revel 21. 5 7. Thus all may see That the denyal of the Resurrection of the Bodies of the Dead doth make void the Hope of the Israel of God There is also that other pernicious quality in it It emboldeneth the Sinner to God on in
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
Horns do hate the Whore make her desolate and naked eat her flesh and burn her with fire yet do they agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled Rev. 17. 16 17. Thou therefore that wouldest have the name of destroying the Whore art so far from obeying the Truth that thou hast the nature of the Beast the great Antichrist whose followers and admirers are the world whose worship is not performed to the living God that made the Heavens and the Earth but to the Dragon from whom the said Beast hath his Power his Seat and his great Anthority thy blasphemies are great already thou beginnest to have a stout Look thy followers do admire thee saying in effect Who is able to make War with thee thou blasphemest against God his Name his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven Revel 13. 6. A God above and a God out of thee thou sayest is Carnal his Name by which his People through Faith therein have Salvation is blasphemed in thy denying the appointments of Christ in the New Testament those Worshippers of God who worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth are by thee despised and contemned the followers of Jesus Christ that love him though now they see him not and believing in him do rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 7 8. yet are they the object of thy scorn and derision Thy pretended opposition therefore to the Whore will not prove thee other than a Limb at least of that Beast which the World in worshipping doth worship Devils and Idols of Gold and Silver and Brass and Stone and Wood which neither can see nor hear nor walk See Revel 13. 4 12. Revel 9. 20. Thus this proof also is made void and of no effect Sect. 9 But fourthly Suppose that thou didst discern all secrets and didst see into all A Concession and Answer to the fourth proof and through all men as thou sayest yet art thou not therefore in the Truth for those that have the use of Divinations that have the familiarity of evil spirits do sometimes discover very secret and hidden things yet the Devil is the father of such Revelations And art thou therefore Justified because thou sometimes doest very strange things and revealest very great secrets No not all except the power by which thou doest them were the Power of God and not of Satan and except the end for which thou doest them were the Glory of God and not of Satan It is not therefore thy going into a house the doors being shut and out again none knowing how as one of the Preachers up of thee so called Light within hath done nor thy appearing in the field to one walking alone and then vanishing away again that will justifie thee to be in the Truth except this were done by the Power and for the Glory of God neither is it the declaring to a man all that he had done that day before he came into thy company and much of that he had done at other times also as one of the Preachers up of thee so called Light within did to one that came to visit him in prison that can prove this Deceiver to be a servant of the Lord for the servants of the Lord are not alwayes to be found by such tokens for it is written of one that had the knowledge of all secrets who yet was so far from being a servant of the Lord that he was appointed for destruction at that very time when he had so great knowledge of whom it is said Be hold thou art wiser then Daniel there is no secret that they can hide from thee and yet because his heart was lifted up by reason of his wisdom and riches therefore the Lord pronounceth destruction upon him and though he said I sit in the Seat of God yet God said Thou art a man and not God though thou set thy heart as the heart of God And wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee I am God but thou shalt be a man and no God in the hand of him that slayeth thee See Ezek. 28. 2. 9. How far short the Preachers up of the so called Light within come of this pride of heart let their sayings witness for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Mat. 12. 34. For they say they must judge all men they see into and through all men they have the Godhead in them even as Christ hath and the like But though thou set thy heart as the heart of God yet will he destroy thee and bring thee down to the Pit And wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee I am God but thou shalt be a man and no God in the hand of him that slayeth thee Thus it is apparent that they which suppose they know all secrets and because of their wisedom do lift up their hearts in pride contemning God and his Truth will at last be so far infatuated that they shall not know how to save themselves from destruction and perpetual wo and misery Therefore it is a very false conclusion to conclude that because thou knowest others secrets therefore thy way is the way of Truth for it is evident that the discerning of secrets is so far from being a proof that the discerners thereof are servants of God and obeyers of his Truth that there by they are sometimes proved to be slaves of Satan and followers of his delusions But Sect. 10 Fifthly Suppose that thou art in Sufferings more then any other yet notwithstanding thou art not therefore in the Truth A Concession and Answer to the fifth Proof For as hath been said it is not the Sufferings but the Cause that makes a Martyr What if a man do give his body to be burned it profiteth nothing except it be done with charity 1 Cor. 13. 3. But when in love to God and to his Truth a man suffereth for the Truth this is available but this is not thy case Let none of you saith the Apostle suffer as a Murtherer or as a Thief or as an evil-doer or as a busie body in other mens matters yet if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God on this behalf 1 Pet. 4. 15 16. But never did any of the Preachers up of the so called Light within suffer as a Christian never did they suffer for Christ whose Person and Doctrine they deny And were it so that Sufferings did alwayes demonstrate the Sufferer to be in the Truth it would not onely justifie evil doers but also Truth it self which is alwayes one and the same would thereby become mutable and variable But what need I spend time to confute so vain a Notion as this for in very deed they that do suffer but a reproachful word for the Truths sake that Suffering is more acceptable with God than the suffering of death for errour therefore to conclude