Understand fully what we hold before thou contend against us lest if thou want this Patience and Wisdom thou oppose not so much our Judgment as thy own Conceit better it is to hear a Man's Mind with Meekness then hastily to guess at it Answ 6. Be not wedded to thy own Opinion nor Wise in thy own Conceit so as to build upon thy own or other Mens Judgments and rest satisfied therein because it is strengthned by Multitude Custom and Antiquity for undoubtedly many have erred grosly in those Things they have thought themselves Infallible better it is to cleave to the clear and naked Truths of God alone then to follow the Doctrines of the most learned and eminent Professors in the World when they hold not the Truth as it is in Jesus Answ 7. Reproach not this Doctrine saying It is New and Strange or that thou never heardst it so before for this discovers thy Ignorance rather then my Error and that which at present seems to thee to be a New Error being rightly examin'd by the Scripture will prove an Old Truth If therefore thou wilt needs reject whatsoever favours of Novelty how shall the Truths we yet know not be brought in and the Ignorance which yet remains be purg'd out Answ 8. This is the same Doctrine which was preach'd by our blessed Saviour and his holy Prophets Apostles since the World began and which was believ'd and obey'd by all the faithful Saints and Servants of God since the Creation the same which the Lord gave in Charge to the Israelites by the Mouth of Moses saying Behold I send my Angel before thee to keep thee in the Way Exod. 23.20 and to bring thee into the Place which I have prepared Beware of him and obey his Voice provoak him not for he will not pardon your Transgressions for my Name is in him but if thou shalt indeed obey his Voice and do all that I speak then will I be an Enemy to thy Enemies and an Adversary to thy Adversaries Numb 15.30 But the Soul that doth ought presumtuously reproacheth the Lord and shall be cut off from his People because he despised the Word of the Lord. Now what is this Word of the Lord It is not the Scriptures for there were no Bibles many Years after that time Deut. 30.11 to 14. Psal 119.9.105 but the LIGT WITHIN It is not hidden from thee neither is it far off but the Word is very nigh unto thee even in thy Heart in thy Mouth that thou shouldst hear it and do it Wherefore David affifirmeth that if a Young man take heed to this Word he shall cleanse his Wayes thereby and calls it a Lamp to his Feet and a Light to his Paths This is also testified by the Prophet Isaiah Thou shalt hear a Word behind thee Isa 30.21 saying This is the Way walk in it in which Path the wayfaring Men though Fools cannot err And our blessed Saviour doth confirm this Doctrine Mat. 6.35 Lu. 17.21 Acts 3.22 vs 23 26. saying Seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness which Kingdom he told the Scribes and Pharisees was within them Thus Peter preacht Christ the Light For Moses truly said unto the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you him shall you hear in all things and it shall come to pass that every Soul that heareth not that Prophet shall be cut off c. Wherefore unto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning every one of you from his Iniquities Acts 26.18 and thus Pauâ— was sent To turn men from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God Now is not this Darkness within and the Light within And is it not an inward Turning Acts 17.27 To seek the Lord if happily they might fâ—el after him and find him though he be not far from every one of us And doth not James turn men to the Light within writing to Sinners Jam. 1.21 Such as were in Filthiness and superfluity of Naughtiness Doth not he bid them receive with Meekness the ingrafted Word which was able to save their Souls which Peter calleth the sure Word of Prophecy 2 Pet. 1.19 unto which ye do well to give heed as vnto a Light that shineth in a dark Place But most take the Word for the Scriptures but we know no Word but Christ Jesus the Light and his Name only is call'd the Word of God Therefore say not in thy Heart who shall bring and reveal Christ unto us for the Word is nigh thee even in thy Heart and in thy Mouth Now this Word is Christ the true Light in every man Joh. 12.36 wherefore saith our Lord Jesus While ye have the Light believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light As Abel being guided by this Light through Faith was enabled to offer up a more acceptable Sacrifice then Cain In Obedience to this Enoch walked with and pleased God By this Noah being warned moved with Fear prepared an Ark for the saving of his House By this was Abraham called to leave his own Country and his Father's House and in Obedience to this he departed not knowing whether he went Joseph being guided by this withstood the Temptations of his Mrs though enforced with Importunity Pleasure Profit Secresie Hereby Moses chose rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God then to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Season esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater Riches then the Treasures of Egypt and endured as seeing him that is Invisible And what shall I say more for the Time would fail to tell of Gideon Barak Sampson Jepthah David Samuel and of the Prophets who by Faith and Obedience to the Light subdued Kingdoms wrought Righteousness obtained Promises stopped the Mouths of Lyons quenched the Violence of Fire Some were tortured not accepting Deliverance Others had Tryal of cruel Mockings Scourgings Bonds and Imprisonment and Death And is still the same at this Day for the Light within is the true Shepherd's Voice which all the Lambs of Christ hear obey and follow to the Hazard of all that is dear to them Object 2. But thou denyest the Scriptures to be the Word of God which is the Only Rule to judge of Doctrines and a sure Weapon to resist Satan and confute his Ministers for it is very observable that Christ made Vse of no other Means to overcome the Tempter but Only the Scriptures which are the Sword of the Spirit and the Word of God Answ 1 Plainly I deny the Scriptures are either the Sword of the Spirit or the Word of God That the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit I own and witness that it is sharper then a Two-edg'd Sword like a Hammer and a Fire the Ax at the Root of every corrupt Tree and so are not the Scriptures yea the Word of the Lord
is Unchangeable Incorruptible and Eternal without Beginning of Dayes or End of Time and so are not the Scriptures Answ 2. Nevertheless we prefer the Holy Scriptures as they were given forth by the Holy Spirit of God and believe them to be a true Declaration of God and of his Word Answ 3. Yet do we prefer Christ Jesus the Light above the Scriptures for in all Things he must have the Preheminence therefore saith John the Baptist I prefer him before me for he is before me though in Appearance John was seemingly before Christ Before Abraham was I am said he Wherefore know that we build not upon the Holy Prophets and Blessed Apostles their Words Works Writings and Experiences but we are built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the Foundation and the chief Corner-Stone so that we have not received our Light Life Peace Comfort Faith Hope and Assurance from the Writings of the Saints but from him that was their Light Life Hope Root and Foundation and have our Teaching from that Light whereby Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob and Joseph walked with and pleased God long before any Scriptural Rules were manifested Answ 4. Neither are the Scriptures the only Rule to judge of Doctrines for we know the Scriptures are hard to be understood and therefore Men in their carnal Wisdom are putting their several Meanings upon one and the same Scripture wherefore we say the Spirit of God is the only Judge of Doctrines because he alone that gave forth knows the Meanings of Scriptures 1 Cor. 2.10 For the Spirit searcheth all Things yea the Deep Things of God Answ 5. Nor yet do I believe that the Scriptures were the only Means which Christ made Use of to overcome and repel the Tempter in the Wilderness for we observe Satan pleaded Scripture as well as Christ till he took indeed the Sword of the Spirit which is his Divine Power and commanded him saying Get thee behind me Satan then the Devil left him but not before he was thus expelled Object 3. But this Doctrine of the Light within is opposed by all the able learned Divines so call'd in the Nation yea the most eminent Preachers amongst the Presbyters Independents and Baptists do condemn it for Erroneous and Divelish Delusion Answ 1. It 's true this Doctrine hath been and is a Stone of Stumbling a Rock of Offence unto all Sorts Forms of Professors in the World especially the Priests Preachers are most inveterately incensed against it because the Craft by which they have gotten great Gain is hereby especially impared nevertheless the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against it the Truth is strong and will prevail yea it doth and will flourish in Despight of all the Scorns Injuries Opposition and Villany of the World Answ 2. The Scriptures are plain that God hath hid these Things from the Wise and Prudent in the World and hath revealed them unto Babes Behold therefore ye Despisers and wonder for this is the Work which God hath wrought in your Day which ye will not believe though it be declared unto you Answ 3. And as for those Preachers among the Presbyters c. who oppose this Doctrine this I affirm and testifie against them though they come in Sheeps Cloathing that is have gotten a more refined Way of Profession then others and cover themselves with the Words of the Prophets and Apostles yet inwardly are they Ravening Wolves they are inwardly Ravened from the Light and Life of those Saints whose Words they have taken up yea it is an easie Thing to prove against the best of them that they live in Sin and plead for it Answ 4. Whoever deny reproach and oppose this Doctrine are none of Christ's Ministers as will appear from a due Examination of their Call Doctrine and Practice Who sent them God or Man What do they preach the Word of God or the Words of Men Is their Life and Conversation Humble Meek Self-denying and Heavenly Or is it not Proud Fierce Self-seeking and Worldly Now our Lord Jesus hath left upon Record one Infallible Rule whereby we may know which are true Gospel-Ministers and which are not and as it is granted that Christ was a true Gospel-Minister so it is expected that all Gospel-Ministers be like him in their Measure for saith Christ to his Father As thou sent me into the World so have I sent them into the World Joh. 17. And when he sent forth his Disciples to them he saith As the Father sent me even so send I you Hereby then it will easily be discerned that these Preachers who so bitterly Rage and Rail against the Light within are never an one of them Christ's Ministers but Idol-Shepherds Lyars and False Prophets Qualification 1. Christ was the Son of God and known to be so before he undertook or exercised in the Ministry for the Lord foreseing what after came to pass by Peoples running into several Opinions and Doctrines of men gave this Charge and Testimony from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear him In like manner every true Believer is a Son of God generated of the immortal Seed born anew by the Operation of the Spirit made a real Partaker of the Divine Nature liveth in and hath Union with God through Faith in Christ for to as many as receive him he giveth Power to become the Sons of God Qualif 2. He was immeasurably anointed with the Spirit and was known to be so for saith John He that sent me to baptize the same said unto me On whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining the same is he So may true Gospel-Ministers be known for they are as really anointed with the Holy Spirit of God as Christ was though not so equally yea every believing Soul is indued with this Spirit these are the Anointed ones of the Lord and whoever want this Spirit they are none of his And as Christ commanded his Disciples to abide at Jerusalem till they had received this Vnction so whoever undertake to preach before they have receiv'd this Power from the Lord they Run and he sent them not Qualif 2. He endured and conquered the Assaults and Temptations of Satan in the Wilderness by virtue of his Sonship and Unction before he was ever known to preach the Gospel in like manner all the true Children of God are taken into Fellowship with Christ in his Tryals Temptations and Sufferings but especially such as have been call'd unto more eminent publick Work have met with greatest Conflicts Wraftlings and Temptations that they might be kept humble before the Lord and also be fitly disposed to speak a Word in due season for the Relief of such as are brought under the same Trouble Qualif 4. In the Power Virtue and Strength of his Son-ship Unction and Conquest he went out and preached the Gospel that is proclaimed Glad Tidings of the Grace and
not ashamed to deny that Christ is come in the Flesh indeed both they and their Grandmother the Church of Rome are willing to confess that Christ was come but the Scripture is plain That every Soul that confesseth not that Christ is come in the Flesh the same is Antichrist 3. They fear not daily to Blaspheme the Holy Spirit of God but call it A Spirit of Delusion and A Spirit of Error and most presumptuously say of them that are sanctified guided taught and anointed by the Holy Ghost That they are led by the Spirit of the Devil 4. They trample under Foot the Blood of the Covenant counting it a Weak and Unholy Thing while they impudently affirm That the best of God's Saints yea if he had no purer Saints then they are cannot be free from sin whilst they breath upon Earth when the Scriptures witness that the Blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin 5. They preach another Gospel Now the Scripture is plain That if any man or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto us then what we have already received let him be accursed Gal. 1.9 Now how can ye believe that they are Ministers of the Gospel when they know not what the true Gospel is For saith Paul I certifie unto you Brethren that the Gospel which I preach is not after man for I neither received it neither was I taught it of man but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ But your Teachers deny any such Revelation in these dayes wherefore it is hereby evident that they are Thieves crept in some other wayes and bring another Gospel then that whereof Paul was a Minister as he witnessed to the Collossians Chap. 1.23 saying Be not moved from the Hope of the Gospel which ye have heard and which was preached IN EVERY CREATURE under Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In universa creatura whereof I Paul am a Minister And this is the Word of Faith which we preach even Christ the Word who is in thy Heart and in thy Mouth saith Paul Rom. 10. which all have heard and the Sound thereof is gone through the whole World But these men labour to pervert the Gospel and turn men from it saying That the Light of Christ in every man's Conscience is not the Substance of the Gospel nor the Power of God to Salvation 6. They have indeed a Form of Godliness but want the Power and well for them if that was the worst But they magnifie and cry up a Form and utterly reject despise and deny the Power which is the immortal Seed Christ Jesus the Light within and from such we are commanded to turn away Their Prayers and Sermons are made contrived studied and composed in their own Time Wills and Wisdom but are Strangers to the Life Power and Spirit of Prayer and deny that Christ speaks in any which is evident that he doth not speak in them They cry up and plead earnestly for Water-Baptism which Christ never Administred Instituted or Commanded to be Administred and yet they call it Christ's Ordinance Some saying Without this no Salvation and the rest say With such as wilfully neglect this have no Communion But if they had ever undergone and felt the Powerful Lively Purifying and throughly cleansing Efficacy of the Spirit 's Baptism they would know it sufficient without the Help of their Dead Cold Idolized Water-Works They are greatly affected with that Bread and Wine which after breathing upon by the Pastor is not Common but Be-sainted and so comes to be called the Lord's Supper It is evident hereby that they never did eat of that Flesh which is Bread indeed nor drink of that Blood which is Drink indeed Now it is certain that all Pictures Images Shadows Resemblances Figures and Representations which any people live in and plead for do clearly argue That they are destitute of the Power Life and Substance yea whoâ—ely ignorant of his Living Presence in whom is hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge And as they believe in one at a great Distance from them out of their View and Knowledge so is it very convenient they think to necessitate these Carnal Ordinances to reduce their unmindful and forgetful Thoughts into more serious Remembrance till he come And yet these men will condemn the Papists though they be far short of their Devotion in this very Thing And so are they seen in the Light to be Wolves in Sheep's Cloathing ravened from the Life and Power of those Saints whom they are imitating upon the Stage of their Formal Profession Wherefore my dear Frieds Come out from amongst them and be ye separate lest ye be drunk with the Wine of their Fornication For verily the Lord is risen to plead his own Cause and be a swift Witness against these Sorcerers who are sporting themselves in the day time And as those Souldiers regarded not a Crucified Jesus so near them but their Minds were taken up in parting casting Lots for his Raiment so these men are so exercised in the Out-sides of Religion Ordinances so called and Worship that they are not at all concerned with the In-side which is the Life and Power of Godliness even Christ within the Hope of Glory Answ 5. And Lastly As I have plainly declared the Reasons of my departing from your Assemblies so shall I witness faithfully to the Truth as it is known and practised by the Holy People of God called Quakers with whom I now walk and of whom I declare and testifie First That they are built and rooted in upon the Right Foundation even Christ Jesus the Lord who is their Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption in whom alone they are justified by Faith and saved That Root from whence they receive Life Nourishment Power and Growth is the only Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles the Rock of Ages the Stone which your Builders and theiâ— Brethren the Priests ever rejected disallowed and set at nought which is Christ in us the Hope of Glory Whereupon it is evident that we differ in the Root from all the People in the World though of several Forms and Perswasions For plainly the Papists Prelates Presbyters Baptists and Independents though they all differ in their Forms Appearances and Circumstantial Opinions yet do they all agree and meet in one and the same Faith Foundation and Root The Words Writings Declarations and Testimonies of the Saints recorded in Scripture are the Foundation and Ground of all the Professing People in the World and all of them being Strangers to that one Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures are run into several Sects and Opinions as they do carnally understand and conceive they have Rule and Teaching in the Bible But however they will own no other Light Law Gospel Rule Revelation and Word of God but their Bibles But now this peculiar People whom the Lord hath gathered from amongst all the Babylonish Confusions and Divisions under Heaven are built upon the Foundation
THE Strong Man Armed CAST OUT And his GOODS SPOILED Or the Poor Man sitting at Jesus's Feet clothed and in his Right Mind Being a True Convert's Testimony of the Power of the Lord in turning the Soul from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God Wherein is clearly manifested that there is Light in every Man and Woman which discovers their Conditions bears a faithful Testimony against Sin is the Reprover of all Unbelief and Unrighteousness both in Heart and Life and is the Mighty Power of God for Salvation to all that believe in it and obey it And herein it is evidently proved That they are none of the Ministers of Christ that Oppose this Doctrine with one infallible Character of the Real Gospel-Ministers and most of the weighty Objections answered Formerly given forth in Writing unto my Relations and Acquaintance the Professors called Independents in Notingham-shire declaring the just Cause of my leaving their Assemblies Together with a tender Invitation to all the Honest-hearted to come out of their dead Forms and walk in the Light of the Lord. By James Jackson formerly a Parish Priest and a Teacher amongst the Independents and now through the exceeding Riches of God's Love am made willing to take up the Daily Cross and walk with the despised Followers of the Lamb in Scorn called Quakers This is a Marvelous Thing O ye Priests and Professors that ye know not whence he is and yet he hath opened mine Eyes Was it ever known that ever any man opened the Eyes of one that was born blind Printed in the Year 1674. TO My Loving Friends Kindred AND ACQUAINTANCE The Tender Sober and Conscientious Professors amongst the People call'd Independents in the County of NOTTINGHAM THe Scriptures declare of a Man which had an Vnclean Spirit who had his dwelling among the Tombs and no man could bind him no not with Chains because he had been often bound with Chains and Fetters and the Chains had been plucked asunder by him and the Fetters broken in pieces And being driven of the Devil into the Wilderness he was so unruly and fierce tearing his Cloaths and cutting his Flesh that no man could tame him But after the Lord Jesus had healed this poor Creature and effected such an extraordinary Change as caused Astonishment and Admiration in the Beholders for it is said That when they who had known him before now saw such a palpable Alteration he that was called Legion Sitting and Cloathed and in his Right Mind they were afraid and Jesus said unto him Go home to thy Friends and tell them how Great Things the Lord hath done for thee and hath had Compassion on thee And truly Friends this day in my Particular is this Scripture fulfilled in your Eyes my Vngodly Dissolute Debauched and Extravagant Course of Life hath been known to most of you when I sinned after strong Convictions serious Admonitions and Reproofs Vows Promises and Resolutions against known Scripture-Rules Inward Light and Religious Education breaking and violating all these Bonds and Obligations which as so many Chains and Fetters one would think might be sufficient to tame and restrain the unruly Lusts of Youth whereby the Souls of some of the tenderest and chiefest of you have been grieved exceedingly wounded and exercised endeavouring and earnestly travelling with Prayers and Tears for my Recovery Wherefore seeing the Lord hath passed by me when I was in my Blood and pittied me and said unto me Live For it was the Lord only who saw my Way and healed me and restored Comforts to me and my Mourners by the effectual Calling of his Grace REVEALING HIS SON IN ME and hath spared me as a Living Monument of his Patience Endless Mercy and Compassion I therefore in the powerful Constrainings of this Love am unwilling to eat my Morsel alone or to hide my Talent in the Earth but with Sampson having tasted some Sweetness and Strength from the Lord do commend my Experiences unto you my Friends and Relations declaring unto you how great Things the Lord hath done for me and had Compassion on me in turning me from Darkness into his Marvellous Light and from the power of Satan into the Kingdom of his dear Son To whom be Glory Praise and Obedience for evermore James Jackson THE Strong Man Armed CAST OUT And His Goods Spoiled c. IN the time of my greatest Pollution and Iniquity while I fulfilled the Lusts of the Flesh with Greediness for many years before that Change and Reformation was discerned in me at which ye rejoyced even in the worst of my time I testifie in the Presence of the Lord that then I met with real and immediate Reproofs Rebukes and Convictions from something that did often Awaken Judge and Condemn me in my own Conscience but knew not what it was nor whence it came and because Iniquity was risen in me to an exceeding masterless height these Rebukes which I know were from a contrary Principle to Sin prevailed not although at some times they were as Powerful and Terrible as the Hand-Writing upon the Wall before Belshazzer whereby my Countenance hath been changed my Thoughts troubled so that the Joynts of my Loins were losed and my Knees smote one against another then thought I to redress this Sorrow by going into Merry and Pleasant Company essaying to divert that inward Perplexity by outward Jollaty as Drinking Gameing Musick c. but those Diversions were unable to still and quiet these Tempestuous Surging Waves and were no more effectual to heal the Wound of my Sin-smitten Conscience then if a man should endeavour to quench Fire by pouring Oyl thereon for I found by woful Experience that these unwarrantable Courses encreased the Flame and added yet more Weight to the first Burden Then have I many times solemnly vowed promised and resolved To break off and cease from all Ungodly Practices and in keeping and observing these Covenants I have found some Ease and Quietness for a time but as soon as new Sins were committed then arose fresh Occasions of Sorrow Trouble and Terror and after this manner I continued many years until the Lord was pleased of his infinite Wisdom and Faithfulness to hedge up my Way with Remarkable and Extraordinary Providences blasting all Purposes and Designs and caused Afflictions Losses and Disappointments to come upon my outward Estate Horror and Perplexity upon my Soul a most Violent and Raging Feaver upon my Body and at the same time above an Hundred Miles from all Relations Friends and Kindred at which time being in a most Wretched Deplorable and Succourless Condition sinn'd my self almost out of all the Comforts of this Life and any Hope of Interest in a better being under this great Distress and cast out to the loathing of my own Person and had all my Sins set in order before me whereupon I was forced seriously to consider my Wayes and found no place to escape the Wrath of the Highly-provoked God at which time
Good-will of God to the Poor and preached Peace to the Broken-hearted testifying the Love of God to Mankind in sending his Son to them to open their Blind Eyes and recover them out of the Snare of the Devil exhorting Men to believe in the Light lest Eternal Darkness come upon them And all that was done in his Ministry was not from any outward Encouragement or Reward but moved only hereunto from the Tenderness of his Pitty and Compassion to poor Sinners So it is at this Day all that are born of the Spirit are true Ministers of the same Gospel and publish it freely in the Constrainings of the Love of God which layes a Necessity upon them to minister freely without Expectation of Gifts and Rewards But do they deserve the Name of Gospel-Ministers who preach another Doctrine then what Christ or his Apostles ever did confidently affirming That the Doctrine of the Light within or to say the Light in every Man's Conscience is the Light of Christ this is Blasphemy but tell Men that Light which doth convince them of Sin is not the Light of Christ but Natural Conscience and therefore not able to sanctifie and save such as believe in it and obey it and yet they say There be some whom they call Saints and Believers in whom there is true Saving Light but as for the greatest Part of the VVorld they are altogether destitute hereof and yet though they make a seeming Distinction between Saints and Sinners yet they themselves confess they are Sinners yea and believe that they must be so while they breath upon Earth And thus are People held in Ignorance Unbelief and Confusion their blind Guides having caused them to err from the Truth for verely this hath been and is the Doctrine of these eminent Men. Qualif 5. That Gospel which Jesus Christ had preached and witnessed to in his holy Life he confirmed and seal'd by his Death in his Blood Now this Last is that which crowned and compleated his Ministry and the same Spirit is in all the Faithful at this day whereby Christ's Ministers are enabled to declare the Truth in the Life and Power of the Eternal Word without the Help and Assistance of acquired Parts Arts and Studies for to such saith Christ It is not you that speak but the Spirit which speaketh in you and thus declaring what they have seen tasted and handled of the Word of Life they are not ashamed of their Work nor afraid of Men neither will they conceal their Meetings in Time of greatest Danger nor slip out at Back-Doors to avoid Sufferings but are in a continual Readiness and Preparedness to forsake all that is dear to them rather then to turn their Backs upon the Work of God or in the least to prove Unfaithful by Denying or Betraying the Truths of Christ Wherefore now consider these things all ye Admirers of Men and give place to the Witness of God in your own Consciences and see if one of your Gifted Brethren Pastors and Teachers be thus qualified Object 4. But the Scriptures are very plain that Vnbelievers and Reprobates are without Christ as in Ephes 2.12 and 2 Cor. 13 5. wherefore though we do believe that Christ is in every Believer yet we cannot understand that the Light in every Man is the Light of Christ. Answ 1. Indeed one of these Scriptures at first Appearance seems to contradict all that hath been said before it will be therefore necessary to speak to them severally That in Ephes 2.12 plainly affirms That before Conversion they were without God and without Christ in the World And truly I can witness this Scripture fulfilled in my own Particular for I know the Time when I was without Christ and without God in the World when I lived in Sinful Pleasures and Delights fulfilling the Lusts of the Flesh with Greediness I lived then as if there was no God in the World yea without any awful Respect to the Eye of God and Christ And yet I can as truly affirm that at that Time the Light of Christ was in me testifying against my Iniquity And this may seem a Mystery that a Measure of his Light should be within a Man when that Man is without Christ yet I have experienced the Truth hereof and therefore testifie that its one Thing for the Light of Christ to be in a Man and another Thing for a Man to be in the Light of Christ and thus it is the Light of Christ may be in a Man and yet that Man out of the Light of Christ whereupon I affirm and declare that the Light of Christ is in every Man but no Man is in Christ till he be a new Creature And as to that other Scripture 2 Cor. 13.5 Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates This Place doth not at all oppose what before hath been written if it be seriously considered but doth greatly confirm the Truth of this Doctrine If therefore by Reprobates be intended such as have sinned out the Day of Grace and done Despight to the Strivings of the Spirit of God as the old World did yea and as those eminent Professors whom Stephen reproveth saying Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in Heart and Ears ye do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye Acts 7.51 And as Jerusalem which remained Impenitent in the Day of Visitation till the Things of her Peace were hid from her Eyes Luke 19.42 And as those Guests which had been often invited and yet refused to come making light of those many renew'd and reiterated Tenders of Grace entreating the Messengers spightfully and slew them wherefore the King was wroth and protested against them that none of those Murtherers should taste of his Supper Mat. 22. Or like that Fig-Tree which the Master of the Vineyard when he had come three Years expecting Fruit and found none required the Dresser to cut it down and cast it into the Fire Luke 13.7 And like those who had tasted of the Heavenly Gift and of the Good Word of God and of the Powers of the World to come but after to fall away and crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh put him to open Shame these bringing forth Thorns Bryars are rejected and are nigh unto Cursing whose End is to be burned Heb. 6.7 8. And such as the Lord complaineth of by the Prophet Jeremiah saying They are all grievous Revolters walking with Slanders they are Brass and Iron they are all Corrupters the Bellows are burnt the Lead is consumed of the Fire the Founder melteth in Vain for the Wicked are not pluckâ—d away Reprobate Silver shall Men call them because the Lord hath rejected them Jer. 6.29 And the Spirit speaketh expresly that some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking Lyes in Hypocrisie having their Conscience seared with an Hot Iron and so are past feling 1 Tim 4.2 Now