compared with those of the Light Sect. 3. The Light and Grace flow from the same Principle proved by their agreeing Properties Sect. 4. An Objection Answer'd Sect. 5. Difference in Manifestation or Operation especially in Gospel-Times but not in Principle Illustrated Obj. BUt some may say we could willingly allow to the Spirit and Grace of God which seemed to be the peculiar Blessing of the New and Second Covenant and the Fruit of the coming of Christ all that which you ascribe to the Light within but except it appeared to us that this Light were the same in Nature with the Spirit and Grace of God we cannot easily bring our selves to believe what you say in favour of the Light within Answ This Objection at first look seems to carry weight with it But upon a just and serious Review it will appear to have more Words than Matter Show than Substance Yet because it gives occasion to solve scruples that may be flung in the way of the Simple I shall attend it throughout I say then if it appear that the Property 's ascribed to the Light within are the same with those that are given to the Holy Spirit and Grace of God and that those several Terms or Epithytes are only to express the divers Manifestations or Operations of one and the same Principle then it will not it cannot be denied but this Light within is Divine and Efficacious as we have Asserted it Now that it is of the same Nature with the Spirit and Grace of God and tends to the same End which is to bring People to God let the Properties of the Light be compar'd with those of the Spirit and Grace of God I say they are the same in that First The Light proceeds from the one Word and one Life of that one Word which was with God and was God Secondly It is Vniversal it lighteth every Man Thirdly It giveth the Knowledge of God and Fellowship with him Rom. 1. 19. John 3. 21. 1 John 1. 5 6. Fourthly It manifesteth and reproveth Evil John 3. 20. Eph. 5. 13. Fifthly It is made the Rule and Guide of Christian Walking Psalm 43. 3. John 8. 12. Eph. 5. 13 15. Sixthly It is the Path for Gods People to go in Psalm 119. 105. Prov. 4. 18. Isa 2. 5. 1 John 1. 7. Rev. 24. 23. and the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the Light of the Lamb. Lastly It is the Armour of the Children of God against Satan Psalm 27. 1. The Lord is my Light whom shall I fear Rom. 13. 12. Let us put on the Armour of Light § 2. Now let all this be compar'd with the Properties of the Holy Spirit and their Agreement will be very manifest First It proceedeth from God because it is the Spirit of God Rom. 6. 11. Secondly It is Vniversal It strove with the Old World Gen. 6. 3. Then to be sure with the new One Every one hath a measure of it given to profit withal 1 Cor. 12. 7. Thirdly It revealeth God Job 32. 8. 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. Fourthly It reproveth Sin John 16. 8. Fifthly It is a Rule and Guide for the Childten of God to walk by Rom. 8. 14. Sixthly It is also the Path they are to walk in Rom. 8. 1. Gal. 5. 15. Walk in the Spirit Lastly This is not all it is likewise the Spiritual Weapon of a true Christian Eph. 6. 17. Take the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God After this I hope none will deny that this Light and this Spirit must be of one and the same Nature that work one and the same Effect and tend evidently to one and the same Holy End § 3. And what is said of the Light and Spirit may also very well be said of the Light and Grace of God in that First The Grace floweth from Christ the Word that took Flesh as well as the Light for as in him was Life and that Life the Light of Men so he was full of Grace and Truth and of his fulness have all we received and Grace for Grace Secondly It is Vniversal both from this Text and what the Apostle to Titus teacheth For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men. Thirdly It manifesteth Evil for if it teaches to deny Ungodliness and worldly Lusts it must needs detect them and so says the Text. Fourthly It revealeth Godliness and consequently it must manifest God Fifthly It is an Instructor and Guide for says the Apostle It teaches to deny Vngodliness and worldly Lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World and herein is a Rule of Life Tit. 2. 11 12. Sixthly It is to all that receive it all that they can need or desire 2 Cor. 12. 9. My Grace is sufficient for thee An high Testimony from Heaven to the Power of this Teaching and Saving Grace under the strongest Temptations § 4. Obj. But there is little mention made of the Spirit and none of the Grace before Christs coming and therefore the Spirit as spoken of in the Writings of the New Testament and especially the Grace must be another and a nobler thing than the Light within Ans By no means another Thing but another Name from another Manifestation or Operation of the same Principle It is called Light from the Distinction and Discerning it gives Let there be Light and there was Light said God in the beginning of the Old World so there is first Light in the beginning of the New Creation of God in Man It is called Spirit because it giveth Life Sense Motion and Vigour And it is as often mentioned in the Writings of the Old as New Testament which every Reader may see if he will but please to look into his Scripture Concordance Thus Gods Spirit strove with the Old World Gen. 6. 3. and with Israel in the VVilderness Neh. 9. 30. and David ask'd in the Agony of his Soul Whither shall I go from thy Spirit Psalm 139. 7. and the Prophets often felt it It is stiled Grace not from its being another Principle but because it was a fuller Dispensation of the Virtue and Power of the Same Divine Principle And that being purely God's Favour and Mercy and not Mans Merit is aptly and deservedly called the Grace Favour or Goodwill of God to undeserving Man The Wind does not always blow fresh nor Heaven send down its Rain freely nor the Sun shine forth clearly shall we therefore say it is not of the same kind of Wind Rain or Light when it Blows Rains or Shines but a little as when it Blows Rains or Shines much It is certainly the same in Nature and Kind and so is this blessed Principle under all its several Dispensations Manifestations and Operations for the Benefit of Mans Soul ever since th◠World began § 5. But this is most freely humbly and thankfully acknowledged by us that the Dispensation of the Gospel was the clearest
Grace being received and obeyed by us he overcomes him in us That is he detects the Enemy by his Light in the Conscience and enables the Creature to resist him and all his Fiery Darts and finally so to Fight the Good Fight of Faith as to overcome him and lay hold on Eternal Life § 4. And this is the Dispensation of Grace which we declare has appeared to all more or less teaching those that will receive it to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present World looking for which none else can justly do the blessed Hope and glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ c. Tit. 2. 11 12 13. And as from the Teachings and Experience and Motion of this Grace we minister to others so the very drift of our Ministry is to turn Peoples Minds to this Grace in themselves that they may all up and be doing even the good and acceptable Will of God and work out their Salvation with fear and trembling and make their High and Heavenly Calling and Election sure which none else can do whatever be their Profession Church and Character For such as Men sow they must reap and his Servants we are whom we obey Regeneration we must know or we cannot be Children of God and Heirs of Eternal Glory And to be Born again an other Spirit and Principle must prevail leaven season and govern us then either the Spirit of the World or our own depraved Spirits and this can be no other Spirit than that which dwelt in Christ for unless that dwell in us we can be none of his Rom. 8. 9. And this Spirit begins in Conviction and ends in Conversion and Perseverance And the one follows the other Conversion being the Consequence of Convictions obey'd and Perseverance a natural Fruit of Conversion and being Born of God for such Sin not because the Seed of God abides in them John 3. 7 8. but through Faithfulness continue to the end and obtain the Promise even Everlasting Life § 5. But let my Reader take this along with him that we do acknowledge that Christ through his Holy Doing and Suffering for being a Son he learned Obedience has obtained Mercy of God his Father for Mankind and that his Obedience has an Influence to our Salvation in all the Parts and Branches of it since thereby he became a Conqueror and led Captivity Captive and obtained Gifts for Men with divers Great and Precious Promises that thereby we might be partakers of the Divine Nature having first escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lust I say we do Believe and Confess that the Active and Passive Obedience of Christ Jesus affects our Salvation throughout as well from the Power and Pollution of Sin as from the Guilt He being a Conqueror as well as a Sacrifice and both through Suffering Yet they that reject his Divine Gift so obtained and which he has given to them by which to see their Sin and the sinfulness of it and to repent and turn away from it and do so no more and to wait upon God for daily strength to resist the Fiery Darts of the Enemy and to be Comforted through the Obedience of Faith in and to this Divine Grace of the Son of God such do not please God believe truly in God nor are they in a state of true Christianity and Salvation Woman said Christ to the Samaritan at the Well hadst thou known the Gift of God and who it is that speaketh to thee c. People know not Christ and God whom to know is Life Eternal John 17. because they are Ignorant of the Gift of God viz. a measure of the Spirit of God that is given to every one to profit with 1 Cor. 12. 7. which reveals Christ and God to the Soul Flesh and Blood cannot do it Oxford and Cambridge cannot do it Tongues and Philosophy cannot do it for they that by Wisdom knew not God had these things for their Wisdom They were strong deep and accurate in them but alas they were clouded puft up and set farther off from the Inward and Saving Knowledge of God because they sought for it in them and thought to find God there But the Key of David is an other thing which shuts and no Man opens and opens and no Man shuts and this Key have all they that receive the Gift of God into their Hearts and it opens to them the Knowledge of God and themselves and gives them a quite other Sight Taste and Judgment of things than their Educational or Traditional Knowledge afforded them This is the beginning of the New Creation of God and thus it is we come to be New Creatures And we are bold to declare there is no other way besides this by which People can come into Christ or to be true Christians or receive the Advantage that comes by the Death and Sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ Wherefore we say and upon good Authority even that of our own Experience as well as that of the Scriptures of Truth Christ will prove no Saving Sacrifice for them that refuse him for their Example They that reject the Gift do deny the Giver instead of themselves daily for the Givers sake O that People were wise that they would consider their latter End and the things that make for the Peace thereof Why should they perish in a vain hope of Life while Death Reigns Of living with God who live not to him nor walk with him Awake thou that sleepest in thy Sin or at best in thy Self-righteousness Awake I say and Christ shall give thee Life For he is the Lord from Heaven the quickening Spirit that quickens us by his Spirit if we do not resist it and quench it by our Disobedience but receive love and obey it in all the Holy Leadings and Teachings of it Rom. 8. 14 15. To which Holy Spirit I commend my Reader that he may the better see where he is and also come to the true Belief and Advantage of the Doings and Sufferings of our Dear and Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who saves from the Power and Pollution as well as Guilt of Sin all those that hear his knocks and open the Door of their Hearts to him that he may come in and work a real and through Reformation in and for them And so the Benefit Virtue and Efficacy of his Doings and Sufferings without us will come to be livingly applied and felt and Fellowship with Christ in his Death and Sufferings known according to the Doctrine of the Apostle which those that live in that which made him suffer know not tho' they profess to be saved by his Death and Sufferings Much more might be said as to this matter but I must be brief § 6. To conclude this Chapter we wonder not that we should be mistaken mis-construed and mis-represented in what we believe and do to Salvation since our Betters have
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the Divine Nature and Vniversality of the Light of Christ within are confirmed together CHAP. III. Sect. 1. How this Scripture is wrested Sect. 2. That 't is a Natural Light Sect. 3. That it Lighteth not all Sect. 4. That 't is only the Doctrine and Life of Christ when in Flesh all answer'd and its Divinity and Universality proved § 1. BUt though there be no Passage or Proposition to be found in Holy Scripture in which Mankind is more Interested or that is more clearly laid down by the Holy Ghost than this I have produced yet hardly hath any place been more industriously wrested from its true and plain Sence Especially since this People have laid any Stress upon it in Defence of their Testimony of the Light within Some will have it to be but a Natural Light or a Part of Man's Nature though it be the very Life of the Word by which the World was made and wrapt within those Verses which only concern his Eternal Power and Godhead But because I would be understood and treat of things with all plainness I will open the Terms of the Objection as well as I can and then give my Answer to it § 2. If by Natural be meant a Created thing as Man is or any thing that is requisite to the Composition of Man I deny it The Text is expresly against it and says the Light with which Man is lighted is the Life of the World which was with God and was God But if by Natural is only intended that the Light comes along with us into the World or that we have it as sure as we are Born or have Nature and is the Light of our Nature of our Minds and Understandings and is not the result of any Revelation from without as by Angels or Men then we mean and intend the same thing For it is Natural to Man to have a Supernatural Light and for the Creature to be lighted by an uncreated Light as is the Life of the Creating Word And did People but consider the Constitution of Man it would conduce much to preserve or deliver them from any Dilemma upon this account For Man can no more be a light to his Mind then he is to his Body He has the Capacity of seeing Objects when he has the help of Light but cannot be a Light to himself by which to See them Wherefore as the Sun in the Firmament is the Light of the Body and gives us discerning in our Temporal Affairs so the Life of the Word is the glorious Light and Sun of the Soul Our Intellectual Luminary that informs our Mind and give us true Judgment and Distinction about those things that more immediately concern our Better Inward and Eternal Man § 3. But others will have this Text read thus Not that the Word enlightens all Mankind but that all who are Enlightned are Enlightned by him thereby not only narrowing and abusing the Text but rendring God Partial and so severe to his Creatures as to leave the greatest part of the World in Darkness without the means or opportunity of Salvation though we are assured from the Scripture That all have Light that Christ is the Light of the World and that he dyed for all yea the Vngodly and that God desires not the Death of any but rather that all should repent and come to the Knowledge of Truth and be saved and that the Grace of God has appeared to all Men c. § 4. There is a Third Sort that will needs have it understood not of any Illumination by a Divine Light or Spirit in Man but by the Doctrine Christ Preached and the Life and Example he Lived and led in the World and which yet neither reach'd the thousandth Part of Mankind nor can consist with what the Apostle John intends in the beginning of his History which wholly relates to what Christ was before he took Flesh or at least what he is to the Soul by his immediate Inshinings and Influences 'T is most true Christ was in a Sence the Light of the World in that very Appearance and shined forth by his heavenly Doctrine many admirable Miracles and his Self-denying Life and Death But still that hinders not but that he was and is That Spiritual Light which shineth more or less in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men. For as he was a Light in his Life and Conversation he was only a Light in a more excellent Sence then he spoke of to his Disciples when he said Ye are the Lights of the World But Christ the Word enlightned them and enlightens us and enlightens all Men that come into the World which he could not be said to do if we only regard his Personal and Outward Appearance For in that Sence it is long since he was that Light but in this he is continually so In that respect he is Remote but in this Sence he is Present and Immediate else we should render the Text That was the True Light which did lighten instead of which Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World And that the Evangelist might be so understood as we speak he refers to this as an Evidence of His being the Messiah and not John for whom many People had much Reverence for verse 8. he saith of John He was not That Light but was sent to bear Witness of That Light Now comes his Proof and our Testimony That was the True Light which lighteth Every Man that cometh into the World which was not John nor any else but the Word that was with God and was God The Evangelist did not describe him by his Fasting Forty Days Preaching so many Sermons Working so many Miracles and Living so Holy a Life and after all so patiently Suffering Death which yet Christ did thereby to prove him the Light of the World but says the Evangelist That was the True Light the Word in Flesh the Messiah and not John or any else which lighteth Every Man that cometh into the World So that Christ is manifested and distinguished by giving Light And indeed so are all his Followers from other People by receiving and obeying it There are many other Scriptures of both Testaments that refer to the Light within either expresly or implicitely which for Brevity's sake I shall wave reciting but the Reader will find some Directions in the Margent which will guide him to them CHAP. IV. Sect. 1. The Virtue of the Light within It gives discerning Sect. 2. It manifests God Sect. 3. It give Life to the Soul Sect. 4. It is the Apostolical Message Sect. 5. Objection Answered about two Lights Sect. 6. About Natural and Spiritual Light Not two Darknesses within therefore not two Lights within Sect. 7. The Apostle John answers the Objection fully The Light the same 1 John 2. 8 9. § 1. THe Third thing is the Virtue and Efficacy of this Light for the end for which God hath given it viz. To
great Agent and Means of Man's Conversion and Eternal Felicity any more than Infancy Youth and Manhood make three Men instead of three growths or periods of Time of one and the same Man But passing that the many Modes or Ways of Gods appearing to Men arise as hath been said from the divers States of Men in all which it seems to have been his main design to prevent Idolatry and Vice by directing their Minds to the true Object of Worship and pressing Virtue and Holiness So that though mediately he spoke to the Patriarchs mostly by Angels in the fashion of Men and by them to their Families over and above the Illumination in themselves so the Prophets for the most Part by the Revelation of the Holy Ghost in them and by them to the Jews And since the Gospel Dispensation by his Son both Externally by his coming in the Flesh and Internally by his spiritual Appearance in the Soul as he is the great Light of the World Yet all its flowings mediately through others has still been from the same Principle co-operating with the Manifestation of it immediately in Man 's own Particular § 2. This is of great weight for our Information and Incouragement that God's Work in reference to Man is all of a Piece and in it self lies in a narrow Compass and that his Eye has ever been upon the same thing in all his Dispensations viz. to make Men truly Good by planting his Holy Awe and Fear in their Hearts Though he has condescended for the hardness and darkness of Men's Hearts to approach and spell out his Holy Mind to them by low and carnal ways as they may appear to our more Enlightned Understandings Suffering Truth to put on divers sorts of Garments the better to reach to the low State of Men to engage them from false Gods and ill Lives seeing them sunk so much below their nobler Part and what he made them that like brute Beasts they knew not their own Strength and Excellency § 3. And if we do but well consider the Reason of the Prevalency of Idolatry upon the Earlier and Darker Times of the World of which the Scripture is very particular we shall find that it ariseth from this that it is more Sensual and therefore calculated to please the Sences of Men being more Outward or Visible or more in their own Power to perform then one more spiritual in its Object For as their gods were the Workmanship of Mens Hands they could not prefer them that being the Argument which did most of all gaul their Worshippers and what of all things for that reason they were most willing to forget But their Incidency to Idolatry and the Advantages it had upon the true Religion with them plainly came from this that it was more outward and sensual They could see the Object of their Devotion and had it in their Power to Address it when they would It was more fashionable too as well as better accommodated to their Dark and too Brutal State And therefore it was that God by many Afflictions and greater Deliverances brought forth a People to endear himself to them that they might remember the Hand that saved them and Worship him and him only in order to root up Idolatry and plant the Knowledge and fear of him in their Minds for an Example to other Nations VVhoever reads Deuteronomy which is a summary of the other four Books of Moses will find the frequent and earnest Care and concern of that good Man for Israel about this very Point and how often that People slipt and laps'd notwithstanding God's Love Care and Patience over them into the Idolatrous Customs of the Nations about them Divers other Scriptures inform us also especially those of the Prophets Isaiah 44. and 45. Psalms 37. and 115. and Jer. 10. where the Holy Ghost Confutes and Rebukes the People and mocks their Idols with a sort of Holy Disdain § 4. Now that which is farthest from Idolatry and the best Antidote against it is the Principle we have laid down and the more Peoples Minds are turned and brought to it and that they resolve their Faith VVorship and Obedience into the Holy Illuminations and Power of it the nearer they grow to the end of their Creation and consequently to their Creator They are more spiritually qualified and become better fitted to VVorship God as he is VVho as we are told by our Lord Jesus Christ Is a Spirit and will be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth and that they are such sort of Worshippers which God seeketh to worship him in this Gospel Day The hour cometh saith he and now is That is some now do so but more shall A plain Assertion in present and a Promise and Prophesie of the encrease of such VVorshippers in future VVhich shows a Change intended from a Ceremonial VVorship and State of the Church of God to a Spiritual One. Thus the Text But the time cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall Worship the Father in the Spirit and in the Truth VVhich is as much as to say when the VVorship of God shall be more Inward than Outward and so more suitable to the Nature of God and the nobler Part of Man his Inside or his inward and better Man For so those blessed VVords import in Spirit and in Truth In the Spirit that is through the Power of the Spirit In the Truth that is in Realities not in Shadows Ceremonies or Formalities but in Sincerity with and in Life being divinely prepared and animated which brings Man not only to offer up Right VVorship but also into Intimate Communion and Fellowship with God who is a Spirit § 5. And if it be duly weighed it will appear that God in all his Manifestations of himself hath still come nearer and nearer to the Insides of Men that he might reach to their Understandings and open their Hearts and give them a plainer and nearer Acquaintance with himself in Spirit And then it is that Man must seek and find the Knowledge of God for his Eternal Happiness Indeed all things that are made show forth the Power and Wisdom of God and his Goodness too to Mankind and therefore many Men urge the Creation to silence Atheistical Objections But though all those things show a God yet Man does it above all the Rest He is the precious Stone of the Ring and the most glorious Jewel of the Globe to whose reasonable Use Service and Satisfaction the whole seems to be made and dedicated But God's Delight by whom Man was made we are told by the Holy Ghost is in the habitable Parts of the Earth with the Sons of Men Prov. 8. 31. And with those that are contrite in Spirit Isa 66. 1. And why is Man his Delight but because Man only of all his Works was his Likeness This is the intimate Relation of Man to God Somewhat nearer than ordinary for of all other Beings Man only