swearing which was fully forbidden in the law of God before but he positively excludes all manner of swearing in the dayes of the Gospel and likewise the Apostle saith James 5. 12. Above all things my brethren swear not neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay least you fall into condemnation which two testimonies are sufficient to confirme the truth unto all true Christian men that it is in no wise lawfull for them to swear in any case Many more testimonies might be instanced out of the Ecclesiastical histories of the ancient Christians some of whome holding it in no wise lawfull for Christian men to swear suffered death for the profession of Christ a Acts Monuments Vol. 2. fol. 55. Policarpus who as 't is said was John's Disciple b Euseb lib. 6. cap. 4. pag. 98. Basilides a Christian Martyr and the Waldenses whose names are so famous among the reformed Churches and are said immediately to succeed the Apostles being the most ancient and true Protestants professed it to be no way lawfull for a Christian man to swear and the c Acts Monnuments Vol. 1. fol. 527. Plow-man in his prayer and Chrisostome who was Bishop of Constantinople blameth them greatly that brought forth a book to swear upon charging Clarks that in no wise they constrain any body to swear whether they think a man swear true or false saying d Acts Monuments Vol. 2 70. it is a sin to swear well And these forementioned testimonies with many others which might be instanced out of Ecclesiastical histories were given against swearing and though the Apostle saith Heb. 6. 16. That an oath for confirmation amongst men is to them an end of strife yet this doth in no wise justifie or prove swearing lawfull amongst Christians for he speaks that by way of allusion as being the strongest bond in the old time in which the promise was made whereby men could bind themselves to set forth unto believers the certainty of Gods promise being confirmed by such a strong bond as an oath was among men in the old time when the promise was made to Abraham and his seed after him and as for the Apostles saying an oath among men is to them an end of strife I say that did rather allude or relate to what was at any time done for the ending of strife amongst those Hebrews who had not received the Gospel then that any such thing was done or practised amongst those believers to whom he writ his Epistle For if he had instanced any such practice amongst them he should not have said an oath amongst men but an oath amongst you c. Which he did not 13. Query Whether it be not the great duty and concernment of every Christian to plead for and vindicate all such Gospel truths as he hath formerly received and yet believeth and 1. whether a Christian may not earnestly contend for the truth once delivered Jude 3. 2. whether it be not the duty of all Christians with readinss to render an account of his faith to him that asketh him 1 Pet. 3. 15. And 3. whether it be not your concernment to return some satisfactory answer to the Author of these Queries Answ It is a duty of concernment to every child of God both to plead for and vindicate the truth the knowledge of which he hath received of our Lord Jesus Christ by the utmost force of those spiritual weapons or arguments wherewith he is furnished thereunto by the word and counsel of the Lord against all those that may gain say it in doctrine practice or conversation following the example of the Apostles and messengers of the great King The weapons of whose warfar were not carnal neither was their war against the flesh and bloud of men in error but the weapons wherewith they warred were spiritual and mighty through God to the destroying of that spirit of wickedness which leads into error and also to the recovering many out of error who have been captivated in error And they that are furnished with the spiritual wisdome word and power of the Lord God by which many are turned to righteousness they shall shine as the brightness of heaven and as the starrs for ever and ever Lastly it 's the duty of the children of God who in measure experience redemption and sanctification by Christ Jesus to give a reason according to their ability with meekness and fear of that precious hope and faith through which they have or may overcome in the day of tryal and hour of temptation which cometh upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the Earth and that excellent hope and faith in which the Saints are preserved in this day and hour of tryal and through which they shall be purified and made more white that their innocency may shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdome of their Father and which keeps from fainting to the end is of more worth then gold that perisheth and is not to be valued with all created excellencies or compared with any glory of this fading world therefore I may say of the faith and hope of which Christians ought to give a reason as Job did of wisdome man knows not the price thereof neither is it found in the land of the living Having in the love and fear of the Lord returned an answer to I. B. his Queries and therein given some reason and account of our faith and judgement in the things queried it s desired that I. B. may answer these following Queries in the same love that we may know a reason of his faith and judgement concerning the things queried Query 1. WHether Christ by that one act of his death and suffering hath so done away or blotted out the sins of the children of men that the divine justice of his father is so answerd or satisfied thereby that he looks upon men to be in his Son notwithstanding they are yet sinners and accepts them as perfectly righteous in his sight only in and through what Iesus hath done for them by his death upon the Crosse Query 2. Whether God who is the righteous Judge of all the world doth so impute his righteousnesse as to justifie any man upon the earth thereby in the self same capacity as his righteous law in Christ condemns him Query 3. Whether any man upon earth is absolutely acqvitted and freed from sin by virtue of what Christ hath done and suffered without whiles as yet the witnesse of Gods Spirit in his own heart and conscience condemns him Query 4. Whether there is any such thing as that any mans sins are done away past present and to come whiles as yet he doth not cease to commit sin Query 5. And if the eternal God doth impute the righteousnesse of his Son so as to justifie any while they do not yet cease to commit sin why doth he not so unto all seeing
A Short DISCOVERY Of certain TRUTHS of GOD According as they are revealed through the manifestation of the eternal light of the Son of Righteousnesse Which are A Reply against two things in an Epistle And An Answer to ceâ—tain Queries contained in a Book Intituled Christian Queries to Quaking Christians Subscribed by one J. B. Also Queries propounded to be answered by the Authour of the same Book or any other By JOHN STORY But sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts and be ready alwaies to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and fear 1 Pet. 3. 15. Printed in the year 1664. A Pamphlet or little book being come to my hands intituled Christian Queries to Quaking Christians c. By one who subscribes himself I. B. with an Epistle to the Reader from one who subscribes himself I. A. And I having duly weighed and seriously considered both the Epistle and the Queries I return this following Reply against two things in the Epistle with an Answer to the Queries First to the Epistle in the Frontispiece of which I. A. saith Go little book improve thy Scripture skill Advance the truth and throw down all self-will Reply IT is not in the power of that little book or any other writing how holy or good soever they may be in themselves either to advance the truth or beat down the self-will haughty pride of man farther then they are accompanied with the living word Spirit and power of the Lord God therefore may I say much more it is not in the power of that little Book either to throw down self-will in any in whom it is not yet subdued or to exalt the truth in general because its only queries gathered by the Authour from the Letter of the Scriptures without and no message of heavenly prophesy doctrine or exhortation received by the Authour from the Lord through the divine inspiration of his light and Spirit within whose light Spirit and power operating in the hearts of men is that only means which becomes effectual to accomplish the things before mentioned viz. the laying low the pride of all flesh and the exaltation of the name and tâ—uth of God in the world Therefore may I say it 's a very vain and idolatrous exhortation which I. A. hath given to I. B. his little book And I. A. further saith Let light without be guide to light within Reply If by this exhortation I. A. means that light without should guide the true light which shines in the hearts of Saints which I cannot but gather from the forementioned words then I must needs say 't is a very absurd and foolish exhortation and being spoken upon a divine account it is very full of idolatry and evil and greatly contrary to the Gospel and exhortation of Gods Embassadours to the Saints upon earth which was that they should abide in the light or anointing that was in them 1 John 2. 27. And the Apostle preferreth the light that God hath caused to shine into their hearts so far beyond any perishing thing or light without that he exalts it as that excellent means by which he the Saints received the knowledge unto everlasting life 2 Cor. 4. 6. Where he saith God who commanded light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Many more testimonies proving the same truth might be instanced And though the holy Scriptures without and the Saints practises are as lights in the world yet far be it from all true Christian men so to idolize them as to set them in esteem above the light which is sufficient to guide or to esteem them equal with the light and Spirit of Christ within from which the Scriptures were given forth which are but branches of that holy â—oot and as it were fruits of that heavenly tree viz. the appearance of God in the hearts of his people If I. A. had bid people mind the doctrines and exhortations of the holy Scripture which testifies of and exhorts to Christ the true and never erring light in the hearts of his followers he had done better But what I have already in love said I shall leave to his more serious and better consideration 1. Query How and by what means may salvation be attained whether by adhering to light within us or by faith in Christ without us 1 if the later be not the best way why is it that the Scriptures do so often bid us to believe in Jesus Christ and that by so doing we may be saved 3 Joh. 15 16. Acts 16. 30 31. 2 or if the former be the better way if so I would then ask farther Answ Salvation is to be obtained through believing and walking in the obedience unto Christ Jesus who is that only true and saving light which lighteth every man that comes into the world Iohn 1. 9. And all mankind who cometh out of that night of darknesse which hath overshadowed the whole world and from under the cloud of errour that hath covered all the inhabitants of the earth must both believe receive and walk in the light of the Lamb Rev. 21. 24. which is the best and most excellent way though we must confesse as Jesus the true light of the world is God blessed forever our vessels are not able to contain him because his presence is infinite and fills heaven and earth and as he is thus infinite in himself we must confesse that he is as real without us as within us yet the true knowledge and faith which we with all the Saints have in Christ unto our salvation is not of him at a distance without us but even in him as he is near at hand by his light and spirit revealed within us according to what the Apostle saith Rom. 1. 19. That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them And Col. 1. 27. the Apostle saith To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery amongst the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory Therefore I say the hope which we with all true Christâ—ans have whereby we may attain heaven where all felicity and happinesse is enjoyed for ever is not by any knowledge of Christ at a distance without us but as he is inwardly revealed by his light and Spirit in our hearts and they who thus know him have and do experience the virtue of his precious bloud which was shed for many to wash away their sin and to purge them from all their transgressions And this is that knowledge which a man may have and not dye for the soul that hath it lives to God in this world and shall reign with Christ to all eternity in the world to come And because this is the best and most excellent way for Christians both to believe
in and receive Christ unto their everlasting salvation therefore it is that the holy Scriptures testifie of Christ being revealed unto the Saints in this way but neither the Scriptures which thou hast instanced nor any other exhorts Christians to believe in Christ as he is at a distance without them but the contrary Rom. 10. 6 7 8. 2. Query Whether the light within us be a sufficient guide to direct us unto true happinesse and what this light is whether in every man or how to be attained 1. if this light be sufficient to salvation of what use are the Scriptures And why are we at all exhorted unto faith which implyeth something at a distance and not yet enioyed Heb. 11. 1. 3. Answ The light of Jesus within us is a sufficient guide to direct and lead us which all them that walk in it out of darknesse and misery to the inheritance of glory and joy with the sanctified in Christs spiritual Kâ—ngdome according as our Saviour who is this light testifieth of himself John 8. 12. where he saith I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darknesse but have the light of life and Zechariah prophesying of him whose light is sufficient to guide men out of errour and darknesse saith Luke 1. 78 79. through the tender mercy of our God the day spring from on high hath visited us to give light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace By these two testimonies may this truth be confirmed viz. that the light of Jesus which shines within us is sufficient both to direct and lead us to true happinesse Secondly this true light in which we walk give testimony to the world and say it is that unto which all mankind must be turned that come to receive remission of sins Act. 26. 18. is no other but even Jesus the everlasting son of God as the Scriptures testifieth John 1. 9. and John 8. 12. Rev. 21 24. Thirdly This true light lighteth every man as it is before already proved John 1. 9. And he that desires to attain the knowledge of Jesus the true light let him not say in his heart who shall ascend or descend Rom. 10. and 6. 7. for Christ the light is near whose beams in a small measure shines in the darknesse of his heart according to John 1. 4. 5. and may be known by its operation of manifesting the secret evils there which are reproved and through it he comes to have a descerning between the inward thoughts and desires which would incline his heart towards God and those which would or doth cause his heart to decline from God therefore he that would attain to the knowledge of Christ whose light gives him in some measure the knowledge of himself as is before said must in love and obedience to Christ whose light convinceth him of sin confesse and forsake his sin in which obedience man comes to receive that heavenly power of God which begets him again out of sin and death and makes him partaker of the divine nature and life of Christ the light in which he comes to see light to have the excellent knowledge of that everlasting son through which in some measure he saw the filthinesse of sin and the motions of it in his heart while as yet he had not the knowledge of the light neither could it comprehend Fourthly Because this light is sufficient of great use are the Scriptures which testifieth of and directeth to this light and exhorteth Christians to the growing in faith and belief in Jesus who is the true light and Saviour of the world and able to save to the utmost Heb. 7. 25. Heb. 5. 9. 3. Query Whether is this light the conscience of every man or 3. is it Christ in every man if so why then are not all men saved for if he that hath not this light be out of Christ as you say then all that have this light must of necessity be in Christ and consequently saved 2 Cor. 13. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Answ This light is not the conscience of every man neither is it the conscience of any man but is that heavenly light by which God lightens the consciences of the sons of men to distinguish between good and evil as I have already said And all they that believe in and obey the motions of Gods Spirit by the light of his Son he will lead them out of all darknesse and errour and guide them in the way everlasting and he will give them richly to possesse the evidence of his light and Spirit upon their consciences that they are his children Herein they come to partake of that peace which never shall have an end Secondly though we do not say that every man knows or hath received Christ within yet we say the beams of his light lighteth all men in which his grace that bringeth salvation hath appeared to them 1 Tit. 2. 11. And hereby his good Spirit is tendered to instruct them notwithstanding they rebell against him Neh. 9. 20 26. And this is the cause that all men are not saved viz. their not believing in but rejecting the light of his salvation and rebelling against his Spirit which should instruct them in the way thereof through which Spirit all men that continue in sin shall be left without excuse whose destruction is of themselves 4. Query Whether that way which you teach and the doctrines you maintain and propagate be consonant to and may be defended by the word of God contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament whether it be not necessary to haue some rule of trial by which we may try the spirits whether they be of God or no 1 John 4. 1 2 3. And 2. whether the Scriptures be not sufficient thereunto or is there any better way to be propounded for such a tryal and 3. if there be any better way why are we directed by the Prophet Esaiah to the Law and to the testimony and if any man speak otherwise it is because there is no light in him as Esai 8. 20. and 4. why were the Bereans commended for searching the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Act. 17. 11. Lastly if the Scriptures are not to be the rule for all Doctrines why is it that the Apostle doth so severely and that over and over again pronounce a curse against all such as should preach any other Gospel then what he had already preached which is onely to be found in the Scriptures as Gal. 1. 7 8 9. Answ The doctrines which we maintain and propagate are consonant to and may be defended by the forceable arguments of truth and holy records thereof contained in the Old and New Testament First It is necessary to have a rule of tryal to try the spirits whether they be of God as I. B. hath already instanced 1 Iohn 4. 1 2 3. And he that in
some measure hath it not is not yet settled or grounded upon Gods foundation but is unstable and may be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine ready to be beguiled by every false motion and device of the enemy of the soul inwardly and to be led afide with the cunning craftinesse of evil men outwardly even like a ship without an anchor left to the mercy of the wind and the seas ready to suffer shipwrack every moment therefore how wholesome was the counsel of our Saviour to his Disciples to have salt in themselves Luke 9. 50. and he tells them that they are the salt of the earth Mat. 5. 15. he that wants this salt which seasons gives to savour and discern between what is of God and what is not of God is or may easily be deceived or misled by that spirit of errour through which men becomes vessels of wrath fitted for destruction Secondly The Scriptures are not the most sufficient rule of tryal not in any dispraise unto them be it spoken because it is possible that men by that Spirit which is not of God may not only speak according to but use the very same words as the Apostles and Ministers of Christ did and do unto this day so that whiles they speak not contrary words or doctrines that Spirit at many times cannot by the rule of Scriptures be detected though it 's true many Spirits there are which may be proved not to be of God by the Scriptures for their speaking and acting contrary thereunto but the forementioned Spirit which is Satan transformed into an angel of light or into a person who hath sometimes prophesied â—n the name of Christ and declared the joyfull tydings of the everlasting day cannot be discerned but by the immortal light oâ— Spirit from which the Scriptures were given forth and though many have and may be zealous for the letter of the Scriptures yet thereby they do not discern Satan in this deceivable appearance in which he steals the words of the true prophets and in declaration of words and doctrine may seem to speak like an angel or messenger of God even speaking the same words with a false spirit as hath sometimes been spoken through the same person by the true Spirit but the inward knowledge of this is a great mystery which is hid from all worldly and sinfull men but is opened by the Lord unto that spiritual man which judgeth all things yea Angels who are made able to put a true difference between the angels of God that in truth serve him and those who in outward appearance seem to be his angels and yet serve him not therefore spiritual and heavenly men have a more sure rule to try spirits by then the Scriptures which is the unction that they have received from the Holy One 1 John 2. 20. that gives them to discern of spirits and the matters that belong thereunto that differs in nature and quality though not in profession nor outward appearance and this is that infallible rule of tryal which may and not with any derogation from the authority which belongs to the holy Scriptures truly be said to be better then the Scriptures insomuch as it is the same life and Spirit of Christ manifest in the hearts of Saints from which the Scriptures were given forth and therefore must in all things have the preheminence For this holy unction in the hearts of true Christians is that spiritual law in Christ Jesus through which they have the testimony as their father Abraham had of Christs glorious day in the sight of which their hearts are made exceeding glad and if any man want light to discern and try what spirits are of God and what spirits are not of God let him look into the spiritual law of Christ which is a light that shines within through which the heavenly testimony is received as it is written If any man want light let him look upon the law and the testimony and see if they speak not according to this meaning as the old translation renders it Isa 8. Thirdly though the Scriptures be not the most infallible sure rule to try all doctrines by as is before shewed yet I say cursed be that man that preacheth another Gospel then that which the Scriptures testifies of which is the power of God unto salvation as it is preached by the same divine authority and power as it was in the dayes of the Apostles but that either the power or all the words of the Gospel 〈…〉 be found extant in the Scriptures I do deny for as it is 〈…〉 the Evangelist John 31. and the last There are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world it self could not contain the books that should be written Amen And doubtlesse many heavenly and saving doctrines were preached by the Apostles as they ran to and fro upon earth in that Gospel-day in which knowledge was encreased which we have not extant at this day therefore all the wholesome doctrines and exhortations that they preached are not only to be sound in the Scriptures 4. Query Whether all men do or may attain perfection in this life and whether any that come short of this perfection may be saved or 1. Whether those texts of Scripture that exhorts us to be perfect may not imply certain degrees of perfection rather then perfection it self as to the heighth of it And 2. whether there be not a perfection of sincerity as well as of degrees And 3. whether believers may not be perfect by imputation of his righteousness who knowing no sin yet was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. Answ All men do not attain perfection in this life because many there are that do reject the means ordained by our heavenly Father through which otherwise they might receive freedome from sin and obtain perfect dominion over it to reign in victory with the Lamb for evermore All that die in the faith of Christ shall be saved though they be even babes in Christ and far short of that attainment in life wisedom dominion and strength as to the fulnesse of it as it is manifest in the perfect man who is come even to the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Eph. 4. 13. In whom all rule and authority and power contrary to God is put down and he crowned with perfect dominion over all his spiritual enemies reigning as a King in the triumphant victory over sin death and the grave in the image of the heavenly which he bears in which the perfect life of the new man is known that walks with God in this world and that shall live and reign with him perpetually in the world to come for spirituall men in this triumphant state have received the end for which the blessed ministry of the Gospel was given which was for the
all his ways are equal and there is no respect of persons with him Query 6. What and where is that law by which comes the knowledge of sin without which the Apostle said he was alive but when it came sin revived and he died Query 7. Was it only the letter of the ten Commandments without him which he had and was zealous for while he was yet alive in sin or the light and Spirit of Gods law inwardly manifested in his heart Query 8. And if so whether it was not the very same law in nature and quality as made him free from the law of sin and death Query 9. And what and where is that law which the Apostle saith hath dominion over a man so long as he liveth through which he is bound as a woman by the law of her husband is it the law of God or the law of sin Qeery 10. If it be the law of sin how and by what means may those persons which are bound by it come to know the heavenly virtue of the body of Christ through which they may die to it and know the chain broken Query 11. Whether the example of all that the Apostles and Saints practised in the primitive times be absolute binding at this day to Christians Query 12. Whether many outward things which rather pertained to the typical or shadowy part of the Law that is vanished away then to the glorious Gospel was not practised by Christian believers under the ministration of the Gospel in the Apostles dayes Query 13. And if so what was the absolute reason thereof was it because the Apostles were commanded thereunto by God or because of the weaknesse of the people that he suffered his ministers to bear with them for a time that could not while young in the truth and their eyes much outward easily be brought off of many outward things pertaining to the Law Query 14. What was the Apostles end or Gods end by them in not only permitting or suffering those persons that received their Gospel testimony to practise many ordinances and shadows pertaining to the law but that also they did sometime practise them themselves was it because the Lord had a purpose to establish them as his ordinances to be practised by all ages or were they allowed to practise them in the peoples weaknesse for a time that thereby they might gain the more out of them into that everlast lasting truth which is the substance of types and shadows where people come to see beyond all outward things Query 15. And if they that were partakers of the everlasting substance did make use and continue in the practise of any outward things which were but outwardly shadows of what they inwardly enjoyed was it because they had need so to do or because of the weaknesse of others Query 16. Whether John's Baptism with water was not of and belonging to the ministration of the Law under which the carnal washings and outward ordinances were inforce Query 17. And if so why was water Baptism practised by the Apostles under the Gospel was it done by absolute command from God as necessary unto salvation or to answer the weaknesse of those believing Christians who after they believed desired it and being weak could not well he satisfied without it Query 18. And if it was done by absolute command from God as necessary to salvation how is it that the Apostle Paul who was made instrumental to convert so many thousands had not a command to baptize with water as well as to preach the Gospel Query 19. And if to answer the desire of Christians in weaknesse was not the reason of the Apostles baptizing with water but that they had an absolute commission to do it from God then I desire that in answer to this Query the Scripture or Scriptures if there be any may be shewed in which water is expressed to be that means with whith they were to baptize Christians into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost I. S. THE END