the text and judge me for pleading the holy perfect just Lawes and Institutions of God and Christ that Scriptures teach the only Rule of the Saints obedience as if these were to vanish as making nothing perfect as is very probable that 's their sense Therefore no great matter that I come under their censure when the holy Lawes of God revealed in the holy Scriptures cannot escape their slanders Thus you may see of what Spirit they are of both by their forwardnesse to censure and falshood in their Answer But then in the next paragraph they have another Answer to the same thing where they yeeld 1. That the perfect Law in the heart is the same with that in Scripture but under another Covenant 2. They say this perfect Law of God in the heart is in all that are in the new Covenant 3. Then they say That this Law is perpetually one and the same in all that have it and it admits of no addition alteration nor repeal 4. Where Regeneration is witnessed and the heart quickned by the grace of God his Law is writ in that heart These four things were occasioned upon some queries put to them which for want of my Copy I cannot directly transcribe amongst which Queries one was Whether this perfect Law in the heart gives any Evangelicall discoveries of the person natures offices of Christ which they say is an unlearned Question condemned by the light which gave forth the Scriptures c. Reader mark here they make the Law in the heart the Rule which is perpetuall without repeal as before which directeth them in answering and yet this Law is but a blessing of the new Covenant Another while they say the Spirit is the sole judge and only Rule as you have heard Another while the light of Christ that enlighteneth every one that comes into the world another while the eternall word that was from the beginning which made all things and in their close of all they say written from the Spirit of truth who is the same in all the children of light Thus you see they make the Law written in the heart and the Spirit of truth and the eternal word all one the Law which is promised and given by that one God that made all things is the same that made all things Again one while they plead the work of the Law writ in the hearts of all in the world another while restrain it only to those that are in the new Covenant and regenerate quickned by the grace of God one while man by nature hath no light remaining in him at all but is darknesse another while all in the world are enlightened by Christ They plead a perfect Law within and the same with the Lawes of God in Scriptures and yet condemn me for pleading the Lawes and Ordinances of God in Scripture for a Rule That of the Scripture made nothing perfect say they and yet confesse it the same with that in the heart Surely either these are learned Paradoxes or else absurd contradictions they may do well to clear themselves better and speak plain and directly to the things in hand 1. The Question is still where we read of a perfect Law of God in the heart and where it is made the Rule and ground of the Saints obedience 2. And the Question is whether the Law in the heart be under another Covenant distinct from the perfect law of God as declared in the Scripture 3. And still the Question is what we are to understand by the Law of God in the heart which is the same with Scriptures whether the ten Commandements writ in Tables of Stone only or all those positive precepts of Gospel worship and obedience conjoyned with them also 4. And still the Question is whether the Law in the heart without the use of Scriptures make any evangelicall discoveries of the person natures and offices of Christ as he is Redeemer of lost man 5. And whether all shall be saved that have the Law of God writ in their hearts by vertue of the new Covenant or any be saved that live to years of discretion that know not Christ as the Scriptures testifie of him in order to his coming in the world to save sinners Although these queries have been put to them they will not answer plainly and directly but darkly and with deceit of purpose to evade the strength of truth that is against them should they speak out They quote Psal 19.7 to prove the Law of God to be perfect in the heart but David intended another Law namely that of the Prophets The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple the Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart the Commandements of the Lord are pure enlightening the eyes c. I have given my thoughts how the Law is writ in the hearts of Gods sanctified people and do grant the thing in all that are Godly by vertue of the new Covenant which they accuse me to deny though falsely but this I deny That the perfection of the whole Law of God is writ in any mans heart so as to know it and do it as it is written in the Prophets and Apostles For as Paul saith We know in part and prophesie in part and see but darkly 1 Cor. 13.9.12 So in James in many things we offend all Besides the Scripture doth not say as they do of yeelding faithfull obedience to the righteous and perfect Law of God in the heart and when they speak not according to Scripture it is to be rejected and disowned themselves have granted in their Answer to the second Question And what that other Covenant is the Law in the heart is under themselves have often expressed to be the new Covenant Jer. 31. Heb. 8. And will they deny the Lawes Statutes Ordinances of God in force writ in Scriptures to be a blessing of priviledge as they are means appointed for man to use in order to that end of Gods writing them in the heart by his Spirit Both the outward writing and the inward impression wrought by the power of Divine grace is from the same Covenant witnesse Deut. 4.7 8 9. For what Nation is so great that hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for And what Nation so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which Moses set before them and therefore he warns them to keep their souls diligently lest they forget the Lawes which their eyes have seen and lest they depart from their hearts but teach them thy Sons and thy Sons Sons and so on These words of the Law of God they were commanded to get them in their hearts and teach them diligently to their children when they sate in their houses and walked abroad lying down and rising up chap. 6.6 7. Thus we may see that those that have the
the visible Church of Christ that are under the Doctrine and ordinances of the grace of the Covenant many are called but few are chosen And these Impostors and Perverters of the new Covenant that teach that all have the Lawes of the new Covenant writ in their hearts may as truly say that all have the promises thereof writ in their hearts then which nothing is more absurd therefore I conclude that as the promises of the Covenant are upon Divine record that we may have hope for our selves and children so likewise is the rule that we are to conforme unto in order to the receiving of the spirituall blessings promised In the next place to excuse their rash insolent censures they assume to themselves To be the spiritual man that judgeth all things and thereupon by their light they say that my blindnesse and deceit is seen and judged who accuseth them of waving the Scripture-authority as if they were out of date Answ And let the World judge what use they make of the Authority of holy Scriptures that have in plain terms denyed them to be the perfect rule of faith and obedience as you have seen before and not many lines off again where they judge me they say The Spirit and light of Christ in them which they witnesse is absolutely binding and the sole judge of error for to him is all judgement given Joh. 5.22 Thus you see they set up another Rule to be sole judge of error and yet they judge me for accusing them falsely But this is but the same in other words which they have urged and I have answered already in the first Question There they say the Spirit is the rule here the light of Christ in them the sole judge of error for they make the light within the law in the heart the Spirit and Christ the exercise of the conscience to be all one and they quote Scriptures meerly to delude the simple and to colour over their real delusions and deceits for if the Spirit and the immediate Revelations of Christ in the heart be the only rule and sole judge of error to what end do they prove it by Scriptures for that which is the sole Judge of error is infallible of it self and needs not any demonstration but faith to believe it that it is so and their going to the Scriptures to prove the Spirit to be the rule in that very thing they make the Scriptures the absolute rule and therein contradict all they say If Christ in them be the sole judge of truth and error why do they make such a noyse of Scripture expressions can they not speak in the Authority of that Christ within them unlesse they fill up their Revelations with those borrowed expressions of the Scriptures which they call a dead Letter that killeth Certainly in the secret of their Consciences they are convinced that the holy Scriptures are the sole Judge of error they being given by the Inspiration of God and the word that we shall be judged by at the last day Joh. 12.48 although they reject it from being the Judge of error now because it crosses their idle proud fancies and itching humors to set up something of their own brain in their Apostate condition and therefore like condition like rule rather then they will repent and return to the right Rule they will set up a Rule of their own making that shall please them better but what will they do in the end thereof Because they had not executed my judgements but despised my statutes and polluted my Sabbaths c. wherefore I gave them statutes also that were not good and judgements whereby they should not live and the Lord polluted them in their own Gifts c. Ezek. 20.24 25. The Lord give them hearts to consider the judgement of God upon such that despise the judgements statutes and Sabbaths the Lord hath commanded in his word Was this judgement of the Lord inflicted for the despising the judgements and Statutes and Sabbaths that were written in their own hearts think you no but for the despising and breaking the statutes lawes and ordinances commanded to be writ and taught the people by Moses and the Prophets as innumerable Texts do evince But while they quote Scripture although they deny it for a rule let us not be beaten with our own weapon and therefore give me leave to examine their quotations to prove the spirituall man and the light of Christ within to be the sole judge of error distinct from the Scriptures The 1 Cor. 2.14 15. them that are spirituall are put in opposition to the naturall man the one knows approves and judges of spiritual things the other receives not the things of the Spirit nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned the spirituall man hath his senses exercised to discerne and judge of things that differ but it is no where said he doth this without the rule of the word that gives that discovery The spirituall man as well as all others may not judge his brother nor another mans servant for we must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ our Lord and Master and all judgement is committed to the Son that men may honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5. as they quote hence they inferre that Christ is the sole judge of error Indeed Christ as he is the Son of man God and Man in one person who hath ascended farre above all heavens sitting at the right hand of God from thence shall he come in the clouds of Heaven with his mighty Angels in flames of fire to render vengeance on the disobedient to the Gospell Because God hath appointed him a day in which he shall judge the World in righteousnesse even by that man whom he hath ordained whereof God hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Act. 17.31 We believe that Jesus Christ shall come in his day with that very same body that suffered death upon the Crosse and was raised from the dead the third day and he shall judge the whole world of mankind that ever were even all those that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth the righteous to the resurrection of everlasting life and the wicked to the resurrection of condemnation Joh. 5.28 29. And let these seduced people take notice of Joh 12.28 29 He that receiveth not my words saith Christ hath one that judgeth him the word that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last day And this word of Christ they reject from being the rule of faith and obedience but whether they will or no they must stand to the judgement of this word of Christ which he hath spoken at the last day William Dusbury tells us that the mighty day of the Lord is appeared in the North of England and is arising towards the South and shall overspread this Nation and all Nations of the world What
unto it were time to forsake and abhorre them Remember the Argument of our Saviour to distinguish between those that are of God and those that are not Joh. 8.47 He that is of God heareth Gods words but ye therefore hear them not therefore ye are not of God They are blessed that hear the word of God and keep it and this word is that word which they heard from the beginning as the same Apostle witnesseth 1 Joh. 2.7 Brethren I write no new Commandement unto you but an old which you had from the beginning and the old Commandement is the word which you have heard from the beginning and he that saith he knowes Christ and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar and the truth is not in him Even those Commandements which were writ and spoke from the beginning that we love one another and this is love that we walk after Christs commandements and this is the Commandement that as you have heard from the beginning so should you walk in it Our duty is to look unto what Christ hath spoken and was heard by them that lived when he was upon the earth as his Apostles who had the promise of the Spirit to bring all things to their remembrance which he had spoken unto them And we are not to look for new commands from Christ now but to cleave to the old and we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip How shall we escape if we neglect so great salsation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him Heb. 2.1 2 3. So likewise God who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets Heb. 1.1 hath in these last dayes spoke unto us by his Son he doth not say that God in these last dayes doth speak or will speak unto us by his Son but God hath already in time past spoke by his Son and that speaking is to these last dayes so that we are not to look for any other speaking or Revelations from any let them pretend what they can but must hear what the Spirit hath said unto the Churches for whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God and this Doctrine of Christ confists in the Commandements that ye have heard from the beginning that we should walk in them 2 Joh. 2.6 9. For many deceivers are entred into the World who confesse that Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh this is is a deceiver and an Antichrist and that is another rule to try the Spirits by whether they be of God or no. Every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but is Antichrist I confesse in the Apostles dayes that was lookt upon to be the great herefie that troubled the Church namely that Jewish denyall of Christs being come in the flesh and that which did overthrow the Christian faith And we cannot say that the Quakers directly are in that Antichristian heresie but this we can safely say that they deny the benefits that come to the Church by Christs sufferings in that flesh he received from the Virgin Mary or else deny it to be a reall body of flesh and so make him but a figure and type of Christ in the Saints who are his true reall body which he now suffers in and by suffering makes satisfaction for them making that death upon the Crosse of none effect which is all one with denying that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh because they deny him that body of flesh that God prepared for him to suffer in even for all those his blood was shed for for remission of fins hence it is that they so commonly say that we must not think to be saved by that Christ without us that dyed at Jerusalem but by Christ within us and that Christ within they make to be all one with the light that is in all Such mad confused notions they have of Jesus Christ who shed his blood for many for remission of sins and did he not shed his blood without us and he is able to save to the utmost them that come to God by him seeing he liveth for ever to make intercession for them For such a high Priest became us who is holy undefiled separate from finners and made higher then the heavens Heb. 7.25 26. And is this done within any think you It 's true Jesus Christ worketh powerfully and effectually in the Saints to their converfion and reforming but to imagine that his powerfull workings in the hearts of his people is Christ in his being and person is a foule mistake as much as to say the actions of a man is the man Dear Friends I cannot but admire and wonder that ever you should adhere to such Teachers that so notoriously derogate from the death and blood-shed and intercession of Jesus Christ who hath suffered but once for sins the just for the unjust to bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned in the Spirit 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many Heb. 9.28 By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified chap. 10.14 All which these Impostors which you follow make void which is to make the whole Gospell of no effect All good newes to sinners is grounded upon this one suffering of Christ without us thereby bearing our sins and taking them away by his bloud his blood cleanseth from all sin and that alone without blood is no remission by his stripes we have healing in him we have redemption through his bloud even the forgivenesse of sins Ephes 1. Doth Christ undergo the stripes of a just God and shed his bloud for our Redemption and forgivenesse within you What abhorred dotages are you bewitched with And no great wonder when you depart from the Counsells of God revealed clearly in the holy Scriptures why whither will you wander when you are got beyond all true bounds If one should have told you when you first had prejudice against the faithfull Ministrie that you wil fall off from all Ministrie and Worship and Sabbaths and private exercises of Religion in your families and from Scriptures and from Christ as the Scriptures teach him for Justification and Salvation c. you would have took it as ill as Hazael but by sad experience you may see your souls surprized with all this and I fear have added obstinacie unto it even scorning all counsel and endeavours to reduce you from these miserable snares with which you are taken and undone if God prevent not by his everlasting love and Covenant mercle from which they that have had good experience of your constancie and fidelity in the wayes
of Righteousnesse and true godlinesse are inclined in charity to hope well of you that there is some good at the bottome and life at the root that will spring forth again and make you instrumentall by your sad experiences to warn others The Third Question propounded WHether any thing besides the holy Scriptures is constituted of the blessed God to reveal Jesus Christ as Redeemer and Saviour to the Spirits of sinfull miserable lost man to bring up men to happinesse On whether lost man without the knowledge of Christ as the Scriptures reveal him may attain unto salvation yea or no. The Quakers Answer None can come to Christ but whom the Father drawes by his unlimited power nor know the Father but he whom the Son reveals him and he that thinks to attain the way to eternall life by reading the Letter of Scripture and regards not the light which comes from Christ that witnesseth for God in the secret of the heart and Conscience deceivs himself for the mystery of eternall life is sealed up in the sealed Book which none shall know by the outward Testimonie of Scripture but by the Inspiration of the Spirit of Christ who is the way the truth and the life to all that in his light wait his power them to guide in faithfull obedience to the Righteous and perfect Law of God written in the heart for the exercise of the Conscience which keeps them void of offence towards God and men according to Testimonie of Scripture Act. 24.16.23.1 My Reply Their Answer to my third Question falls upon other Questions but gives no direct Answer at all for the question doth not exclude the power and grace of the Father and the Son from mans attaining unto salvation but is of another thing namely whether faln lost man without the knowledge and use of the Scriptures may in an ordinary way know Christ as Mediator and be saved by him or thus whether God hath and doth exercise his power and Spirit in bringing corrupt man to the knowledge of Christ as Redeemer and believe in him to eternall life without the use and knowledge of the Scriptures ordinarily The Question is not of extraordinary cases and of Gods unlimited power who can do more then he hath any where revealed he will doe but it is of his ordinary course and power that is limited by his word of truth to do what he will in order to the blessednesse of those that wait upon him in those wayes and in the use of such means himself hath appointed in his holy word all other stamps and forms pretending to the knowledge of God and religious worshipping of him or of being saved by Christ are but the superstitious births of deluded fancies that tend to the deceiving and ruin of a mans self and others Their Answer to this is but dark and to little purpose only they say That their Answer doth stand as a witnesse against me and declares the way to the Father and the Son according to Scriptures Matth. 11.27 Joh. 6.44 Which they say my dark mind is a stranger unto who am querying of Gods constituting ordinary means of salvation and of his ordinary way of working to reveal Christ as Redeemer which say they are unlearned Questions and to be condemned with the light which reproves the world of sin and leads to the Son who is the Redeemer and way to the Father Joh. 14.6 Which way is but one and condemnation you must own unlesse thou canst shew us a Scripture that speaks of ordinary and extraordinary way of Gods exercising his power and Spirit or of a limited power of God which words proceed from thy dark Imaginations and not grounded upon Scripture are concluded to be the births of the deluded fancie you speak of Answ By all this we may judge the sum of their Answer amounts to this That my Question is unlearned and to be condemned with the light which reproves the world of sin and leads to the Son immediately without the help of those means God hath appointed to that end and therefore as before the Scriptures and Ordinances therein commanded are not of necessity but this pretended light and Spirit and unlimited power of God is to be attended upon only not regarding any ordinary means whatever though such as God himself hath appointed and doth only reveal in his word as if all those ordinary and usuall helps that God himself commands in his word for men to use to come to the knowledge of Christ and how to be saved by him were superfluous or opposite to the knowing of him c. although the Scriptures were written and all Instructions therein contained for our learning that we might have comfort and hope all others that have not the use and benefit of Scriptures have no hope and without God in the world as hath been spoken to already and yet this they say is an unlearned Question but surely they say so because they know not how to give a direct Answer to it in plainnesse but it wil lay them open to the weakest judgements to be against Christ as Redeemer as the Scriptures teach him which few would hearken unto should they speak plainly But let all men judge of what Spirit these men are of that condemns the Questions as propounded by the light which condemns the world of sin But let them first discover what sin is in these Questions before they rashly condemn them Secondly let them tell us what light is that which reproves for sin if not the mind of Christ and the voice of the Spirit revealed in the Scriptures Thirdly let them prove that the light which they condemn the Questions with is the true light of Christ or else who will regard them How dare those proud Worms condemne the things they know not how to answer but by denying the holy Scriptures and what they teach But what light is that that leads to the Son who is the Redeemer while you disown the light of Scriptures to be the Rule to make out this high discovery Did you ever know or hear of any since Scriptures were that have attained to know Christ as Redeemer and to believe in him to salvation that never heard of Christ by Scriptures or Scripture ministry Doth not the Apostle determine absolutely as to this case and question by severall interrogations Rom. 10. How shall they call on him of whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not so much as heard of and how can they hear without a preacher and how can they preach except they be sent c. And doth he not conclude from these interrogations that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God he urging that necessity of hearing the word of God in order to faith without which it cannot be And therefore it was that he queries the Galatians thus Received ye the Spirit by the Law or by faith preached not by the Law but by
main fundamentall Did you ever read of going through the Law to Christ Must a sinner go through it in perfect obedience till nothing remains to oblige him further And is this the way to Christ in whom justification is witnessed only I think those that can do so will see but little need of that true Christ who justifies the ungodly and came into the world to save sinners And whether I or you be alienated from the life of Christ as you censure me according to Scripture let the sober judge And whereas I said in my Reply the light which is common to man in corrupt nature doth make discoveries of the eternall Deity and of the righteousnesse contained in the written law of God but discovers nothing of Christ as Redeemer or how a sinner is made just in him the Scriptures being necessary to discover that is the truth Your denyall argues plainly that you have no light in you untill you prove either by the Law and Testimony of the Prophets and Apostles what you deny till then let shame stop your censorious mouthes which almost every line hath some ill favour of And what I have accused you with in pressing people to look to the light within is but to follow after the righteousnesse of the Law at best is true and in so doing you hinder them from seeking after the righteousnesse of Christ as Scriptures teach and you deceive your selves and others your shew of quotations will not cover you as being wilfully perverted there not being any colour in any of the Texts to prove that all in corrupt nature are lightned with the light of Christ to lead out of darknesse to eternall life Joh. 1.9 Which I shall endeavour next to examine your strength and give in my Answer is the main one 1. That all the light in the World whatsoever notion or consideration kind or degree it can come under is from Christ the eternall word that made all things is an unquestionable truth 2. And that he is the only procuring cause of that spirituall light and life to man without which not any can be saved 3. And that this spirituall light and life is in himself as in the fountain and he the principal efficient enlightning and quickning whom he will is by me as easily yeelded but whether Jesus Christ the eternall son of God the only Mediator between a holy God and sinfull man doth enlighten every man that is in the world with such a sufficient light of his Spirit that whosoever will but heed and observe it to obey it will lead them out of the darknesse of corrupt nature to eternall life Whether they have the use of Scriptures or not the use of them is the Question to be disputed from this Text Joh. 1.9 And my Answer is in the negative to it opposing it as very unsound especially when the neglect of necessary means is pleaded and an immediate light and power of Christ only pretended and urged And yet something is to be premised too I yeeld that all men have so much light or means of light offered and afforded that shal leave all men without excuse before the great Tribunall of Jesus Christ where men shall not be condemned for what they could not do and be but for not doing and doing things they should not and had power and light to do and forbeare but would not such a corrupt thing is man in his fall that he will not though he may do better in order to his eternall wellfare Who amongst unregenerate men can stand to plead it with God and say Lord I have done my utmost to forsake my sins and turn to thee in the use of all those helps and means enjoyed with constancy and diligence to the utmost of my power time and place and yet thou hast denyed me thy Grace of acceptance unto life and condemnest me for that which I had not power at all to do and be God cannot be said to be behind-hand with any nor doth the work stick at him while men carelessely neglect to do what they have power to do in the use of those advantages God gives to any Although every mouth shall be stopped and all stand guilty before God that perish yet it will not follow as in the Question that all have a sufficiency of light and power of Grace by Christ to come out of darknesse to eternall life which is a wide different thing which not any Scripture teacheth but disowneth by evident demonstrations nor can this Scripture in hand be urged further then will agree with the proportion of faith And in as much as our adversaries own this Text of Scripture for the rule of their opinion and practice and some others it doth oblige them to own the whole of Scriptures because the same Spirit is the Author of the whole as of those few Texts they build upon And for them to deny the Scriptures for a perfect Rule and in the mean while are so stiffe in urging some particular Texts as this in hand and Swear not at all and Call no man Master and Salute no man by the way The Spirit shall guide you in all truth You shall not need to teach one another c. is a contradiction in its self and a speaking lies in hypocrisie as ever were known But now I come to the words themselves That was the true light which lighteth every man that comes into the world this true light is to be understood of Christ God and man is clear for it was spoken of him whom John was sent to bear witnesse of The Evangelist saith that John was not that light which shines in darknesse c. but was sent to bear witnesse of that light vers 8. And yet we know John is called a burning and a shining light too which is to be understood ministerially as he was fitted and sent to prepare the way and give the present discovery of the very person of Christ to the people of the Jewes who had generally a good opinion of John that he was a true Prophet that so all men through him might believe But why is Christ called that true light fingularly beyond John who was a true light to all men to bring them to believe in Christ Because Christ hath all light and life in himself originally and enlightens others as an efficient of himself being God but John was but his Instrument and Messenger and received all from him for the carrying on that work he was sent to do so that it 's true of John that his person and office was a true shining light in his place but Christ in his person and ministry for as much as he was more then man is that true light indeed that gives light of himself to lighten the world as if he had said there 's not a man in the world but whatsoever light he hath or good under that notion he hath received it from Christ Indeed he is the very Soul of the world
understood with limitation and is not universall to every man that ever was in the world because Christ was not in all ages and places of the world in his person and ministry and powerfull workings visibly This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then light this is from the same pen and must be understood of the same light that he calls that true light chap. 1.9 By which words of John 3.19 is evident is to be understood of Christ himself in person as he was the Son of man and the Son of God see vers 14.16 17. This very discourse to the 22. verse is a relation of what Christ himself spake occasioned by that Question of Nicodemus ver 4. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish c. God sent not his Son into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saved and he that believes not in him is condemned already And then followes verse 19 Which light is himself then come into the world as the former verses read shew And hence you may see that this advantage the people of the Jewes had of Christs corporall presence amongst them preaching the Kingdome of God unto them was such a light as never was in the world before and their not believing in this light was their condemnation and for any now not to believe in the very same person the only Son of God the true light of the world both by his immediate person manifest in the flesh and by his Authority and Spirit flowing from the same Christ immediately revealed in his word cannot be saved and to have the light of Scriptures to discover Christ that true light what he is and what he hath done for sinners to bring them to God and believes not in him accordingly is the condemnation of all such And these Quakers I have often observed though in all their writings they quote this Text John 3.19 they seldome repeat the whole words but usually render the Text thus This is the condemnation of the world the light Insomuch that some that have adhered to them too much have thought that there had been just such a Text indeed but there is not It seems themselves are sensible of the light which is said to come into the world was another thing then what they intend because they leave them out as they are placed by the penman and so put the words together as may make some colour of an immediate inward light which is in all as if the light that is in all men in the world is constituted of God only to be the condemnation of the whole world in the Text when it speaks not of any light save of Christs person and ministry then really come and manifest in that part of the world the Jewes lived in A light for eminency superadded to all that were before him as the Sun excelling the leaft Starres and to love darknesse rather then this Sun of righteousnesse the light of the world is the condemnation but yet to be limited to that part of the world where the light of Christ shines through the benefit and use of the Prophets and Apostles discoveries only How shall they escape that neglect so great salvation which at first began to be preached unto them Heb. 2. Though it be true that there is tribulation and wo to every one that doth evill both to Jew and Gentile and Christian yet as many as sin without Law shall perish without Law and as many as have finned under the written Law shall be judged by the Law and so those that refuse the light of the Gospel that discovers the only remedy this is their condemnation and a sorer judgement much more heavier then of Sodom and Gomorrah or of those that sinned and were punished under Moses and the Prophets And that these depravers and contemners of the mysteries of Christs Kingdome dispensed by Gospel Ordinances in order to the enlightning quickning and saving of sinners shall assuredly feel if the free peculiar grace of God through the blood of Christ prevent it not in giving them repentance and remission of sins who have meerly out of their dark minds through the malice of that old Serpent fomented such blasphemies against the glorious Kingdome and person of Jesus Christ as Satan hath not had the boldnesse to suggest to the worst of men in former times that have been Christians as very many of their own papers published abroad doe witness and which some both of learning and fidelity have taken the pains to give the world notice of And the whole of this in hand will witnesse them Impostors and Apostates that have departed from the Christian Doctrine of faith and obedience both for matter and manner by denying the right Rule and the true object as the Rule reveals Christ Jesus the Redeemer of lost man and the way and means appointed by Christ to convey the blessings of speciall grace into the souls of men unto eternal life they have denyed and reproached as heathenish observations mens Traditions c. And besides their questioning the person natures offices of Christ and so his Mediatorship in performing the work of our Redemption by that one sacrifice of himself upon the Crosse making peace without which person natures offices is not any thing yet done to the salvation of mankind our faith is in vain our worship in vain and we must all die in our sins and yet they tell us of a Christ and a true light of the world and of the blessings of the new Covenant namely the Law of the new Covenant in the heart the free grace of God that hath appeared unto all men c. and by all this they understand no more then the light in mans soul which every one in the world hath more or lesse that is in the dark dead polluted state of corrupt nature and this light they say is the true light and of the pure nature of God that being loved and heeded leads out of darknesse to the knowledge of God to eternall life though they have not the use of Scriptures and this is the eternall Word the everlasting Gospell the Light which gave forth the Scriptures and the Judge of the world and the Kingdome of heaven within and the Law of the new Covenant Christ within and I know not what and that this Christ this light this Gospel this Scripture within this perfect law of the heart may be the better heeded amongst people they render the Scriptures a dead letter the ordinances of worship but outward observations which the kingdome of God is not in and the Ministers they render more odious then a few words will expresse though the office and function more honorable then any other calling amongst men and then urge them to cease from all their own works of hearing praying reading c. and
Gods Spirit a new heart and of putting his fear and writing his lawes and circumcising the hearts of the Fathers and children to love the Lord with all their hearts and sending his Son to blesse his people in turning them from their iniquities and to give them repentance and remission of fins is performed to all in the world I pray you consider and do not wilfully forsake your own mercies in the resisting of that truth which by this time you cannot but confesse in the secret of your souls and stand convinced in your selves that your foundation is meerly the mud and sand of a deluded fancie See what absurdities you plunge your selves into besides the denying of the Scriptures for a perfect Rule of faith and obedience and all other means of working Grace that God hath appointed to that end And in your denying the Authority of Scriptures for a Rule you have weakned the seeming strength of this Text for if it be not a Rule of faith at all then not in this particular thing and then what remains to colour over your main principle save only your private fancies under the pretence of the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures as if the same Spirit would crosse and contradict it self so notoriously as you have seen and thus by laying another foundation besides what the Apostles preached and practised in the Christian Churches of Christ hath runned you out of all truth which the Scriptures teach and which the Saints in all ages since have professed and witnessed with their dearest blood I confesse the Church of God hath been troubled with men of perverse minds that have forsaken the truth and fomented many of the same erroneous opinions that you center in as universall Redemption universall grace freewill justification by works falling finally from grace yet the Authors of these errors use to be more sober and rationall in their inferences and practises concluded hence then you of this Generation they still urged the use of all out ward helps and advantages as to Christian practice both to God and man according to the rule of the word they professed the word for the rule though upon mistake they were forced to pervert it the opinions being so point-blank against the evident light of Scriptures as hath been made to appear by able pens in all times and places against them But the improvement of the same things as touching your selves is most desperate and Diabolicall talk of a sufficient light and grace in all to be saved and then discourage from the use of Scriptures ministry ordinances of Religious Worship c. bid people mind the light while they do what they can to put it out even that which they have received by the blessing of the Lord in the use of Christian education according to Scriptures as if all that any man receives from the Lord in the use of those means himself hath undoubtedly appointed and commanded were inconsistent to the light within when all impressions of the light of Conscience as it is Divine is attained by the blessing of the Lord in the use of the Scriptures and Scripture ministry as hath been spoke to Then to make this light in all Christ the eternall word the Law of the new Covenant the Spirit of God which was promised to be sent to convince the world of sin c. Who ever fancyed such prodigious blasphemies before now which your papers stink of You have questioned the light of Scriptures the light of Christs person and ministry and Authority you have questioned whether there were a written word of God a person natures and offices of Christ and have upon the matter made that little spark of the light of reason corrupted which is in meer heathens the light of Christ who according to promise is called the light of the Gentiles as if that light which is in all that know not God nor ever heard of Jesus Christ what he is and what he did was the fulfilling of those promises and prophosies What use is there of such promises and prophesies that all in the world have had the performance of from the beginning of the world but the holy Apostles understood those promises fufilled only to those Gentiles that were enlightned by Christs word to believe in his name and to submit to his Lawes revealed such Gentiles only were built upon the Prophets and Apostles Christ the chief corner-stone all others were without Christ Aliens from the Commonwealth of Gods Israel strangers from the Covenant of promise and without hope and without God in the world These things are so plain and have been so cleered against you that you will be left without all excuse if you resist such evident light and be ashamed ever to talk of Scripture more if your Consciences be past feeling that you can oppose the light and Authority of Scripture without fear The truth is you are so intoxicated with this notion of Christ lightning all immediately and so bewitched in your minds touching the manner of working it that you preferre the light common to all in the world and the discoveries thereof to eternall happinesse before all the light of Christ which by his Spirit he hath discovered unto any by the writings of the Prophets and Apostles But without any doubt all this is because you have no light in you I have gone beyond my intended bounds though I have not done my intended work which was to go through all your Answers to my ten Questions but for want of my Papers which you detein from me against your promise and that civility I presumed upon in you when I sent them without keeping a Copy by me as I told you And indeed fearing that I shall be too tedious to the Reader and to my own occasions I have thought good to publish these as judging them necessary not only to forewarn you to flie from the wrath which is to come but also to admonish my friends more timely and to informe those of weaker judgements to prevent their running into these damnable herefies while your selves some of you are compassing the earth to make Proselytes and to seduce them into these snares of Hell below And because I know delusion is very strong when it is inflicted in judgement for former coldnesse out of which I fear your obstinacy in that Gulph of Apostasie that you are involved in will rather prompt you to defend and excuse or deny what I have charged you with and endeavoured to convict you of Therefore though out of the same Spirit you writ to me before you be moved to the same envy malice lying censures railings judgings in your return as I see you want not for impudence to face out any thing to asperse and make odious those that are farre better then my self yet I know that my record is on high that out of the integrity of my heart and measure of light received I have writ what I have published and am resolved to be
more vile fith it is for God and the salvation of poor souls entangled under this dark temptation presented under the specious pretences of the Ministers of Christ What civility or Christianity can I or any expect from those that have denyed the holy Scriptures as to that end they were intended and reproached the ordinances and Institutions of the Lord Jesus that Scriptures teach under the notions of heathenish worship and traditions of men outward observations inconsistent with the kingdome of God which reproaches reflect upon the Author and Inspirer of Scripture appointments which is the spirit of God and to be reproached by those that are the reproachers of God and his worship while I am defending him to my power will be my Crown and honour when confusion and shame shall stop the mouthes of his malicious enemies FINIS ERRATA These few amongst other Errataes are to be amended by the Reader PAg. 6. l. 5. for our r. your p 7. l. 31. for lord r. word p. 10. l. 35. for yet r. that p. 15. l. 14. for god r. Good p. 20. l. 12. put the stop after within p. 32. l. 33. for are r. am lb. l. 38. for when r. where p. 33. in the margin for Jam. r. Jer. p. 45. for Act. 9. r. 4. Books written by the Author and are to be sold by Thomas Williams at the Bible in Little-Britain London and William Tompson at Harborough in Leicester-shire THE Bar to free Admission to the Lords Supper removed Or a Vindication of Mr. Humphreys Free Admission to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 8. To receive the Lords Supper the Actual Right and Duty of all Church-Members of years not Excommunicate Made good against Mr. Collins his Exceptions against The Bar Removed large 8. FINIS A Postscript BReaking off abruptly for fear of swelling too big I was forced to omit some special things that I should have been glad to have spoken unto amongst others that the next Questions would have led me unto I have thought good to give a further hint as touching that which I conceive is a main principle of these mens deceiving themselves and others They seem first to debase man as man and say he is altogether a dark dead polluted thing the childe of wrath and his best actings as man are but as a menstruous cloth But then they advance the same man in general by affirming that every man is lighted by the Spirit of Christ that convinceth of sin And this they would have to be free Grace and that promised Spirit which should convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgement and whosoever mindes and believes it shall by this grace and spirit come out of darknesse to eternal life But to discover so great a mistake we must know That it is true that all men in the world have some light by nature more or less that convinceth of sin for it is said that the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the Law and are a Law unto themselves their thoughts accusing or excusing one another Rom. 2.14 Mark the Apostle doth not say that the Gentiles by the Spirit of Christ and free grace inlightning them do the things contained in the Law but they do those things of the Law by nature and they are a law to themselves The Spirit of God is not a Law to themselves because that is distinct from man and gives Lawes to man as he did the written Law to his people but this is another distinct thing they are a Law to themselves Man since the fall hath not lost his reason but that Divine rectitude and perfection thereof that made him conformable to the will of God unto life there is a spark of reason and immortality in the soul of man still which rationall soul though it be depraved of what it was and now is subject to error and vanity that not any can be saved by following that light only yet it is such a light as it is called the Candle of the Lord Prov. 20.27 and directs men to do the things contained in the Law And this is witnessed by most people and nations upon the earth That reason which they have by nature directs them to make lawes to preserve humane societies and the Common-weal of the whole and hence punish Theft Murther Whoredome Drunkennesse Perjury c. and incourage to morall Vertues which things are contained in the Law of God and yet they know nothing of Jesus Christ nor of any other things which accompany salvation Besides as men are under greater advantages of light in respect of the outward means as the Scripture Ministery Education Examples so also in respect of the more common workings of the Spirit inlightning and convincing some man by nature knowes more and doth more the things contained in the Law and Gospell too The very principle of Reason and Conscience urgeth every one to do the Good and to shun the Evill What man of ingenuity can withstand the strength of reason but yeelds his assent though not able to bring up himself to the practise of what himself allowes with sincerity till renewed by the Spirit of Grace The spirit of man knowes the things in man and hath that inspection and reflection in man from the understanding faculty that it knoweth its own motions intentions and actions whether good or evil according to its light and accordingly Conscience Gods Deputy greater then a thousand witnesses either condemns or excuseth And I judge that all men have this in some measure untill through custome in sin and withstanding this light and Gods just Judgement concurring they be given up to a seared conscience past feeling as is said of some But now for these people to run up and down to teach men that this which is but the light of Reason improved by the help of ordinary means and workings is the Spirit of Christ and the free Grace of God that brings salvation is such a pernicious Diabolical dream that never came into the head of any till now I think That mans soul is a created substance given of God from whom are all things is true but that this spirit of man which is called the candle of the Lord is Gods Spirit that was promised to convince the world of unbelief and of the necessity of righteousnesse by Christ victory over sin Satan and hell as that of John intends and leads out of darknesse into eternal life is a most blasphemous error What though they will not say that the soul of man is the Spirit of Christ promised to convince of sin under that notion and expression yet upon the matter they say the same when out of desperate mistake they make that to be the immediate light and power of the Spirit of Christ which in deed and truth is but the rational soul of man in all by nature or acquired in the use of ordinary means and workings And thus you see while they are debasing man below what he is by nature they are advancing him above what he is at the same time by nature they endow him with the Spirit of God and the gifts of free Grace to lead all men out of darknesse to eternall life hence they Deifie that which is the gift of nature and make all men their own Saviours hence they make the differencing act between good and bad the saved and damned to be mans self under dark impotent nature corrupted hence they slight the Death of Christ and say as one to me that sinners have no benefit by that Bloud of Christ that was shed at Jerusalem for that was the bloud of man and it is the Bloud of God that man hath benefit by not that God is capable of shedding bloud but this is a figurative speech setting forth the Spirit of God that convinceth the world of sin It being asked To what end did Jesus Christ come into the world and so to suffer his Answer was To put an end to the Cereremonies and that was all that he would yeeld although he is a man of considerable abilities so strong is the delusion Hence they comprehend all men under the grace of the New Testament and make no difference between the visible professing Church and the Pagan world all may be saved alike if they will Hence they cast off all outward means Ordinances formes of Religious Worship and bid hearken to the spirit within c. as if all things God in his Word hath appointed were alwaies superfluous and in vain They throw away Gods Election special redemption the Saints perseverance They will have men to have the Spirit of Christ and the free Grace of the Covenant and yet be none of his Just contrary to plain Scriptures Rom 8. But I must not enlarge let them tell us how they will escape these Rocks Let them tell us what difference they make between the convictions of the Spirit in the unregenerate Pagan or Christian and those that are regenerate and how the Spirit is in the Infidel and how in the true believer and where any that are accounted for light in the Lord are under darknesse too and where are any in an Infidel state called light in the Lord. Prove all things and the Lord direct to that right understanding of truth best pleasing to himself and our good Farewell
their opinion of a sufficiency of universall grace to all in Christ that leads out of darknesse to eternal life as the Quakers do as hath been shewed by their own Papers under their hands destroyes Gods distinguishing will of his purpose and good pleasure manifesting his mercy and love to whom he will because he will and not to others not only in respect of the end but of the means subservient to the end hence comes free will to be saved or damned which these men cannot evade for if every man in the world hath a sufficient light of Christ to lead out of darknesse to eternall life if they will but heed it c. then it followes that all men may be saved that will unlesse you say that that condition of loving and heeding this sufficient light in man is not in the power of man but is the speciall grace of God given to whom he will upon choyce but you cannot say so but you will destroy your main principle which is universall and must be urged every way sufficient to eternal life and happinesse or else to what purpose is the pressing of this light to all if all have not a power to improve it up to that very end of happinesse That there is such a light and power in all men that shall leave them without excuse and being improved to the utmost shall not only mitigate the Torments of hell but be a means of enjoying many blessings in this world and the way and means of renewing quickning grace where God gives his word and ordinances to any is easily yeelded by men of sober judgement but to say as you that all men in the world have a sufficient light in Christ to lead them out of that corrupt dark state of nature to eternall life and have power in themselves thus to improve it if they will This text Joh. 1.9 falls short of the proof or any other Scripture whatever and therefore to be rejected as a fancy of mans vain mind meerly And do but seriously consider what wicked errors this one principle of yours runs you upon point blank to plain and evident Scriptures First you have in favour of this fancyed such a light in every one that you sometimes call the light Christ the Law of the new Covenant the counsell of God in the secret of the soul that Spirit of Christ which convinceth the world of sin and Christ the light of the Gentiles all which as you apply them to every man in the world have been confuted and are most pernicious errors which the Scriptures oppose Secondly hence you perswade all men to cease from all outward means of light and onely attend upon the light within and to wave all outward worship in holy observances according to Scriptures and only obey the commands of the light and commands of Christ within though inconfistent with the Scriptures never so much For that which I call the word and ordinances namely the holy writings of the Prophets and Apostles and the ordinances of holy Worship which have their institution and foundation from the Spirit of God speaking and moving what they writ These things you say is but the letter and traditions of men as in the latter end of your answer to this fourth Question besides your frequent reproaching these things in most of your papers that fly abroad I have made some discovery already and what means all this but that you judge the light of Christ to all is sufficient alone to life eternall Thirdly hence it is that you have fancyed a more spirituall Christ then Christ that was made flesh by incarnation who was truely God and truely man in one person and offered himself a sacrifice to God to reconcile sinners to God and preached peace to them that were neer and afarre off c. Because this Christ this person this sacrifice and the ends thereof are not known nor heard of to all in the world so that rather then you will put a limit to this Text Joh. 1.9 which meerly the strength of fancy hath taken up you will invent another Christ that will make the Text hold to every man and that is no other then the rationall soul of man corrupted which indeed is called the candle of the Lord but no where called the Lords Christ in whom we have redemption through his bloud c. Fourthly hence you have fancyed an universall free Grace of God to all men in the world equally alike and a new Covenant to all men in the world and this light is that Grace of God and the blessing promised in the new Covenant Heb. 8 and these universalls cannot be without the other of universall redemption though they say little of it because that Christ they have in their fancy was not capable of shedding blood for any such end And why not a universall salvation as well inasmuch the one as the other but that men will not besaved notwithstanding they are redeemed and renewed with saving grace by vertue of Redemption and the new Covenant But do you think that this is all which the Scriptures teach as touching Redemption by Christ the free love and grace of God bestowed on men as they are blessings of the new and everlasting Covenant which stands in remission of sins and in the giving of his Spirit to renew and sanctifie and soften the carnall old hard and rebellious heart of man I say doth all the mercy and grace of God through Christ amount to no more then so as to depend upon the will of man resisting or not improving what God intends to their eternall happinesse If all men have new hearts and the Spirit and pardon of sin by vertue of the new Covenant what can hinder the salvation of all Or what is it that makes this great difference between one man and another if the Grace of God according to the new Covenant makes all equall at first What is it or who hath made thee to differ from another man I pray you answer in whom doth the election obtain it for that some believe and others not You talk of the children of light unto whom saith is only given but why should you make any restriction amongst men if all have Christ in them and have the Law of the new Covenant writ in their hearts as a blessing thereof What should hinder the salvation of all that have this supernaturall Grace will the Lord condemn any that have the light and life of reall grace and forgivenesse of sins by vertue of the new Covenant which you apply to all in the world If all that come into the world have a sufficiency of Grace to lead out of darknesse to eternall life then what need hath any of converting regenerating Grace Or what need any pray for the Grace of God to convert and turn them to God if they have it in themselves as they come into the world Do you think or can you believe that those promises of giving