handle the six Questions in Order Opening them as far as I judge needful laying down Scripture or Reason for what we hold examining what the Adversary hath said against it whether in the Dispute or in the Narrative since or in his Book stiled the Divinity of Christ or any other of his Writings that come to hand And herein I hope I shall deal more candidly with my Adversary then I have been dealt with all my self not bauking his strength but improving it rather For Truth fears no Weapons Doing this I shall commit all to a good God even the Bishop of our souls who will bring all his sheep into his fold and cause them to hear his voyce and give them eternal life never suffer them to perish nor any to pluck them out of his hand You that are Godly do and will strike in with the design of my endeavours by your prayers That Truth might prevail and find more generally entertainment in the hearts of men to the advancement of Christs Kingdom glory of Gods name and eternal blessedness of never-dying souls And my request for you is that having received the Love of the Truth you might by Christ be rooted and grounded therein for ever and so at last be presented holy unblameable and unreproved in his sight This God will do for you and it is the rejoycing of One unworthy to be reckoned among you STEPHEN SCANDRETT To the Misguided FLOCK Commonly Termed QUAKERS Especially in and about Samford YOU will bear with me in this Application allowing every man to speak according to the Light of his own Conscience For your sakes Brethren did I engage in Disputation for your sakes in good will and true compassion to your souls do I also now write My design in it falls in with your desire even that you might have an undeceiving perswasion touching the way to Heaven and Glory that walking therein you may not miss of everlasting Rest when you are departed hence How you may attain this perswasion is a matter of very great importance and well worth a strict inquiry Do but think with your selves how others might attain it A Jew a Turk a Papist an Independant a Presbyterian an Anabaptist If they should say our present perswasion is undeceiving because our hearts assure us therein or because our Teachers do so instruct us or because we have an infallible spirit which will not suffer us to be deceived in any thing your Light would tell you they took not a 〈…〉 But if looking up to God for illumination and 〈…〉 â—earch for and examine the grounds of their own and others Opinions and what they see upon good grounds to be truth that they embrace whoever rejects it what they see upon good ground to be error that they cast aside whoever countenanceth it would not your Light tell you this were a better and a safer course for them Now be your own Judges is not that a good and a safe course for you to take which is so for others You may not then say it is impossible I should be deceived touching my present Opinion because my heart perswades me it is right As a Papist may not thus argue so neither may you For the Heart is deceitful above all things He that trusts to his own Heart is a Fool. Lean not saith God to thine own understanding Neither may you say it cannot be that I should be mistaken in this for such and such have taught it A Turk a Socinian may not thus pin his Faith on anothers sleeve for deceitful workers transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ therefore neither may you Our Saviour cautions you take heed that no Man deceive you commands you call no man Master on Earth and threatens too Cursed be the man that trusteth in man Nor may you say it is impossible I should be out for I have an infallible spirit that will not suffer me to erre in any thing As a Presbyterian an Independant an Anabaptist may not thus build his considence so neither may you It is incumbent on you as well as on them to try the spirits whether they be of God Your work then is looking up for special assistance to examine the grounds of what you and others hold to prove all things that you may hold fast that which is good And truly a well grounded knowledge is a very choice mercy Wisdome and knowledge saith God shall be the Stability of thy times and Strength of Salvation For your furtherance herein if the Lord shall adde his blessing I put this small book into your hands It will present you with the grounds of what your Teachers hold for truth and what we hold Read and Judge which have clearest reason for what they hold which have Scripture taken in its true sense and meaning And as Elijah said to Israel If God be God follow him if Baal be God follow him So say I to you If what we teach be well built upon a sure foundation embrace it If what yours teach be rightly drawn from sound Principles cleave to it for ever Remember it speaks a Generous and a free Spirit to be able with Candor and Impartiality to read an Adversary But unless Gods spirit enlightens your mind you may see truth and not perceive it unless he sanctifies your heart you may perceive it and not embrace or practise it You must therefore needs beg for the gracious presence of God with you if you would benefit your souls by reading Examine your selves also whether you have a Love of the Truth a Readiness to acknowledge and close with it whether it shall appear to be your own opinion or ours If you are resolved in heart to cast away our doctrine though it should never so clearly appear to be the truth of God to retain what you have received from your Teachers though it should never so plainly be discovered error to what good intent can you read It is not Truth you are for but a Party But if you can be willing to take in Truth on which hand soever you find it then are you capable to aim at and receive profit by Reading What do you say How do you find it with you If our present Opinion shall appear to be Truth we can hold to it That 's not so difficult a business But what if the contrary Opinion proves true If it should indeed we hope through Gods grace we should not reject it Only Truth leads to Heaven we should otherwise provoke God to give us up to strong delusions to believe a lie that we might be damned This is like Persons that are in good earnest for Heaven But it is good for you to consider before hand that it is no easie thing to part with an Opinion you have been long wedded to and it may be commended and contended for to be reconciled to an Opinion at which you have it may be for several years taken distast and opposed and to expose your self
immediately by his Spirit reveal savingly all necessary Truths to them who in comparison of a Light they have in common with the Heathen despise the precious Scriptures Christ is a Mystery made manifest by the Scriptures of the Prophets Rom. 16.25 26. But he that trusts to his own heart to make manifest Christ to him is a Fool. Obj. P. 29. We have a more sure Word of Prophesie unto which ye do well to take heed till the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts Therefore by minding this Light within by degrees it will reveal Christ to us They draw not these Conclusions but I am so far from hiding their strength as they have done mine that I had rather improve their Arguments to the utmost for them Answ 1. Prove that by the Dawning of the Day or the Day-star arising in the Heart is to be understood Christs first appearance in Grace unto their Souls Had not Christ thus appeared to them already were they not Believers 2. Prove that by the Word of Prophesie is to be understood the Light in every man Can this Light help every man to Prophesie are all Prophets 3. The Word of Prophesie is the Scripture in which are written the true Prophesies of God Unto which we are to attend as long as we live on Earth even till the Day of Glory dawn and the Day-star Christ Jesus after that we have overcome Rev. 2 26.28 ariseth in our hearts taken in by Vision as now by Faith Arg. 4. If the Spirit guides Believers into all Truth p. 28. then the Light of this Spirit within must needs be a sufficient or full Rule Answ 1. It is not said that the Light in every man guides into all truth 2. Nor is it said that the Spirit guides every man yea or any man without the Scriptures into all truth 3 The true sense is That the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures and enlightning the minds of Believers shall lead them into all Truths necessary to Salvation 'T is weak to argue Believers who enjoy the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures have a full Rule therefore every man hath even those that enjoy neither the Spirit nor the Scriptures but are left to the meer Light that is in every man to guide them Thus it may be seen that neither in the Dispute nor by the improvement of his Arguments then urged nor by his Additional Arguments hath G. W. made good his Assertion that the Light in every man is a full Rule I shall now because I look on this point as the very Seat of the Controversie lay down what I urged and might have been urged to prove That the Light in every man is not a full Rule and consequently no Rule at all by it self to Salvation Arg. 1. If God saw good that even in Innocency this Light which we bring with us into the world should not be mans full and whole Rule nor after to Moses nor after to Christ's time nor in Christ's time nor in the Apostles days then there is little reason to fancy 't is a full Rule now But God saw good that even in Innocency this Light should not be our full and whole Rule for to this he added a Brohibition of eating the Tree of Knowledge to be parts of Adam's Rule nor after to Moses for they were to offer Sacrifices and be Circumcised Nor after to Christ for the Ceremonial Law was part of their Rule nor in Christs time for he observed the Ceremonial Law and also submitted to Baptism Nor in the Apostles days for they upheld the Ordinance of Baptism and of the Supper None of all which things could this Light of it self and without supernatural Revelation direct us to as our Duty and therefore neither may it be looked on now as our full or whole Rule Obj. Touching Innocency G. W. objected Adam could discern by his Light within he ought to abstain from that Fruit. Answ After and by the positive prohibition he was able to know it But it was asked him Could he have discerned it by the meer Light he brought with him into the World without the positive Prohibition He acknowledged He could not So in the positive Institution of Christ it was replied G. W. if he would not shut his Eyes might by the Light within him understand that the Celebration of Baptism and the Supper is the Churches Duty though without those Institutions promulged no man with all his Light is able to find it out Here let it be taken notice that he granted in effect the whole Argument For he granted that before the Prohibition came his Light could not discover what was Gods pleasure touching the Tree of Knowledge and yet he yields that God made abstinence from this Tree his Duty which is the whole contended for And if even in Innocency Mans perfect Light must not be the whole of his Rule but to vindicate his absolute Dominion and to maintain his just Prerogative would at his pleasure impose duty on man over and above what his Light within could shew a reason for what a miserable Mistake is it to imagine that now mans decayed Light should by Gods appointment be the whole of that Rule we are to walk by But though all was thus granted and is very plain yet troubled to see it go so ill with his Cause he cavils p. 30. much to this purpose Was not God in Adam A. God is one thing Adams Light another created of God in him God could reveal his pleasure as he did by the Prohibition but Adams Light without that Prohibition could not shew Adam what was Gods Pleasure as to this Tree as himself hath acknowledged He objects further p. 30. mightily to the purpose The Scriptures were not Adams Rule A. Draw the Conclusion Therefore Adams Light without the prohibition could discern that it was Gods pleasure he should not eat of the Tree of Knowledge These things hang closely Obj. Abraham Enoch had a Rule before the Scriptures were written the Pen-men also directing them in writing These Impertinencies seem to prove something though nothing to the Point in hand I therefore answer 1. Though the Scriptures were not Adams Rule because then not written yet to abstain from the Tree of Knowledge was part of his Rule in Innocency To believe in the Seed of the Woman for breaking of the Serpents Head was part of his Rule after the Fall as also Sacrificing Circumcision part of Abrahams Rule All and every of which Duties the Light in every man could by no means find out without Supernatural Revelation God was pleas'd to reveal these Duties immediately to select persons as Adam Abraham and from them by Tradition and Preaching to communicate them to his Church in following Generations And thus it appears that before the Scriptures were written the Light in every man was not his full Rule but Gods will supernaturally revealed and conveyed to posterity by Tradition and Preaching part thereof But now it pleased
for men to found their contrary opinions on the Scripture Paul p. 17. l. 5. enjoying Scripture but for all this Light missing the sence persecutes the Saints 4. Yet this Light may possibly stumble upon the true sense of Scripture in all points necessary to Salvation the Scripture is perspicuous in these and many destitute of the special Illumination of the spirit and all saving grace have been Orthodox in these points 5. The Spirit of God doth by a common operation help men to understand the true sence of Scripture hence the ungodly amongst us believe those truths which Turks and Jews p. 16. l. 3. Will not be convinced of 6. The Spirit of God by a special operation helps the Saints spiritually to apprehend the true sense of Scripture p. 15. The Inspiration of the Almighty giveth understand And this in all points necessary to Salvation The spirit saith Christ shall lead you into all Truth The duty of all is to look up to God by prayer for his spirit in a right manner to understand the Scriptures 1. They are in themselves an infallible Rule That is 1. A Rule that cannot deceive us 2. A Rule which if we practise in all it requires of us we cannot possibly miss of Salvation Three things necessarily concur to make a Rule thus Infallible 1. It must reveal truth for this only leads to heaven 2. It must reveal nothing but truth it must be incapable of revealing any error instead of truth otherwise it may possibly deceive us and we miss of heaven 3. It must reveal the whole truth at least all necessary to salvation otherwise following it we may come short of Heaven That the Scriptures are in themselves an Infallible Rule I proved in the first dispute for there I then began 2 Tim. 3.16 17. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine c. that the man of God might be perfect throughly furnished to every good work He fled from the argument by a rambling discourse but neither then nor since in his book hath he answered it Let the judicious read p. 15. The proof here is clear For that reveals Truth to us nothing but Truth all Truth necessary to salvation must needs be in it self an Infallible Rule to heaven But the Scriptures reveal Truth given by divine Inspiration Nothing but Truth all Scripture is given no part given by the suggestion of Satan nothing dictated by a principle of darkness Psal 12.6 The words of the Lord are pure words All Truth able to furnish to every good work Therefore an Infallible Rule in themselves 2. They are an Infallible Rule to us That is we can be sure or good and undeceiving grounds that all dictates and directions out of the Scripture are from God and sufficient to guide us to salvation The Miracles of the Pen-men the Efficacy of the word working so good a change on so many in all ages The Innate Characters of divine Authority stamped on the word as the Holiness Majesty Sublimity and Truth of Prophecy suffice abundantly to satisfie our hearts they are from God all from God And satisfied in this their own Testimony their excelling fulness compared with any other Rule what ever and the Consolation of our Spirits upon our Universal and sincere obedience to God speaking in them give us sweet assurance that they are a sufficient guide to Salvation From one of the Characters mentioned the Truth of Prophecy the Apostle Peter hath full assurance that the Scriptures are a most safe Rule to walk by 2 Pet. 1.19 Nevertheless we have a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take beed Can so much be said for the dictates and directions of every mans heart That they are an Infallible Rule to us That as men may be sure that all directions out of the Scriptures are from God so they can be sure on good undeceiving grounds that all directions out of their hearts are from God It will be said the comparison is not rightly stated it should be so all directions of the Light in every man are from God To this I answer So far as men make the Light within their Rule they have nothing to walk by but dictates or counsels out of their own hearts Let but the Question then be stated as that it might meet with the concerns of men as to their practice and it must be thus I shall not therefore alter the stating of this Question though in the handling of it I shall not wave that Query whether all directions of the Light be infallibly from God 1. Can it be said that out of our hearts we are sure proceed no dictate or direction from darkness or error within as we are sure no directions out of scripture proceed from any such principle Not only in the Unregenerate is there darkness ye were sometimes darkness but in the Regenerate also The word of Prophecy shines in the hearts of believers yet it shines there in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.1 19. compared And this darkness abides whilst on earth 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see in a Glass darkly That Now is whilst on Earth 1. Because opposed to Then which is after this Life is ended 2. Because it is as long as Faith Hope and Charity abideth vers 13. And Now abideth Faith c. and that is whilst we live on Earth darkness and error within will be prompting amiss Have all Men that know the Scriptures as much reason to say we are sure no iuward Counsel that we have proceeds from the suggestion of Satan as to say no Scripture-Counsel is suggested by him Within men are to be found many evil motions from Satan 1 John 4.1 Try the spirits for many false Prophets are gone out into the World The Devil is a busie Agent He filled the heart of Ananias and Saphira to lie to the Holy Ghost He put it into the heart of Judas to betray his Master Obj. These were unconverted Answ Are all Converts free from his Temptations Remember the Devil had access to Adam even in Innocency to Peter And why are Saints bid resist him stedfast in the Faith And to put on the whole Armour of God It is now impossible for men to go astray walking after the Counsels they find within as it is impossible to go astray walking after the Counsels that are found in Scripture Eccles 11.9 Rejoyce O young Man in thy youth and walk in the waies of thy bea rt and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee to Judgement If a man saith I shall have peace though I walk after the imagination of mine own heart the Lord will not spare but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against that man Can this please God that every man should do what is right in his own eyes 3. Can it be said that the Light in every man dictates in his
Scripture is not to be preferred before the Spirit p. 13. The Spirit is greater than the Scripture p. 17. And you did acknowledge the Spirit revealed as certainly the mind of God as the Scripture ib. Ans 1. This is nothing to the point the Light in every man one thing the Spirit another Ans 2. Though the Counsels of Gods Spirit in Believers hearts be in themselves as certainly the Truths of God and the Spirit is not to be quenched as are his Counsels in the Scriptures for he can never lie Yet are they not to Believers so certainly the Truths of God Believers are not at all times so readily certain they are indeed the Counsels of the Spirit as they are that the Scriptures are We have a more sure word of Prophesie More sure than what Not only than the Counsels we find in our hearts not only than the Counsels of the Light within us but more sure than the direction or Voice of God himself speaking to us immediately or not by the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.17 There came a voice to him from the excellent Glory This is my Beloved Son v. 18. This Voice we heard v. 19. We have also a more sure Word of Prophesie The Scriptures containing the Prophesies of Christ are to us a more sure Rule than the immediate voice of God himself though in it self what God immediately speaks is as certainly truth as what is spoken in the Scripture Answ 3. The Controversie being about a Rule the Spirit should not be opposed to the Scriptures For the Spirit properly is no Rule at all The Spirit enditing and speaking in the Scriptures is not the Rule but the Authr of the Rule The Spirit bringing Scripture to remembrance even what Christ hath spoken and thereby directing us is not our Rule but puts us in remembrance of the Rule The Spirit enlightning us to understand Gods mind in the Scripture is not our Rule but our spiritual Oculist strengthning our Eyes to see the Rule Nor is the Illumination of the Spirit a Rule at all as he often supposeth the Artificers Rule is one thing the clearness of his Eye to see the Rule another for our rule to Heaven is one thing the clearness of our Understanding given by Gods Spirit to discern the rule another The Rule objectively sets Gods Will and our Duty before us the Spirits illumination brightens our Understanding to apprehend it so set before us And if the Spirit be not a Rule much less is he a greater Rule than the Scriptures He should thus have expressed himself to speak to the Point The Dictates or Counsels or Directions of the Spirit of God immediately and without the Scriptures are to all men a more infallible Rule to Heaven than the Directions of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures are to those that have them And if he had well proved this he had manifested that there is some foundation for his Religion But neither can he nor all his Brethren prove that Gods Spirit doth without the Scripture reveal to every man the whole mind of God as much as is necessary to bring him to Heaven God spake immediately to Moses Did he then thus reveal to every man as much as to him Doth he now Are all Prophets If he should vouchsafe to reveal a little to any of his and not by the Scripture they have also a more sure word of Prophesie c. But since he doth not reveal to any without the Scriptures all necessary Truths as he doth by it to desire and prefer the Spirit teaching without the Scriptures before the Spirit teaching by the Scriptures as a more infallible guide to Heaven is to desire and prefer what God denies us before that which God vouchsafes us to hanker with Evah after the denied fruit to dislike with the Israelites the Mannah that came from Heaven We must not frowardly prescibe to God the Spirit immediately teaching shall be my Guide to Glory the Spirit teaching in the Scriptures shall not We ought thankfully and admiring his Grace accept of that Guide to Glory he chuseth for us 4. I assert The Scripture is a Trying Rule That is a Rule able to prove or manifest Truth to be Truth Falshood to be Falshood in all things that concern our Faith and Conversation A Rule by which we may and ought when we have any reason of doubting to try for our own safety Opinions Doctrines or Spirits whether they are of God or no. Arg. 1. That which discovers the whole Truth is able to try every Opinion Doctrine and Spirit But the Scriptures are a full Rule discovering the whole Truth Arg. 2. By that which we know to be infallible we may and ought to try what is doubtful But we know the Scriptures are an infallible Rule Therefore by them we may and ought to try whatever as to Faith and Conversation we doubt of 2 Pet. 1.19 When the Apostles had said We have a moresure word of Prophesie he adds unto which ye do well to attend He means for trial and proof of Truth He had asserted the Doctrine of Christ to be no Fable ver 16. We have not followed cunningly devised Fables To help their Faith he minds them v. 17. of the Voice from Heaven he heard in the Transfiguration Bnt saith he we have a more sure word of Prophesie more sure to prove the Doctrine of Christ and so confirm our Faith in it Therefore he adds you do well to attend to it that is for this end Arg. 3. That which the Holy Ghost approves of is our duty and for our good But he approves of it that we try Doctrines yea the Doctrines of the Spirit of God by the Scripture Acts 17.11 These were more noble than those of Thessalonica in that they searched daily whether these things were so This Argument was fled from in the first Dispute and neither then nor since answered in their Book Arg. 4. What Rule Christ directs us to try by himself his Apostles also made use of for this purpose is our safe trying Rule But our Saviour directs us to the Scriptures John 5.39 Search the Scriptures they are they which testifie of me that I am the Messiah the things the Jews doubted of He himself made use of it Luke 24.26 27. The Disciples doubting whether he were the Messiah because put to death Ought not saith he Christ to have suffered and beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them the things concerning himself His Apostles likewise Acts 2.24 God raised Christ from the dead for David did so prophesie of him Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell Acts 15. The Question being whether Circumcision were necessary to Salvation concerning this they decreed according to the Scripture v. 15. To this agree the words of the Prophet as it is written c. Arg. 5. We may safely embrace what agrees with Scripture for what agrees with Truth is Truth We may safely reject all that is
contrary to Scripture for what is contrary to Truth is Errour Yea we may safely reject as to Faith and Conversation what is beside the Scripture for what is more than our full Rule is more than what is needful is vain Mark 7.7 In vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrine the Traditions of men Col. 2.18 Beware lest any spoil you through Philosophy or vain deceit after the traditions of men after the Rudiments of the world and not after Christ Therefore the Scriptures are a safe trying Rule Can so much be said for the Light in every man that we may safely try by this in all cases 1. Can that which is scanty discovering but a small part of Gods Will suffice to try in all Cases 2. Can that which Christ calls Darkness that which is fallible it self keep us from being deceived 3. Can that readily give us satisfaction in all doubtful cases which it self is oft to seek Looking within all that we can see when we are in doubt of a thing is a Dictate Inclination or Consideration for it and another against it Now we are to see and need another Rule to try which of these comes from our Light which from our Darkness Whereas every direction of Scripture is sure and needs not be tried Having our Rule to seek we are like to have our satisfaction to seek also 4. If this be a trying Rule then a man may do whatsoever is right in his own eyes Then publishing Heresie to infect others is no sin nor to be punished by God or man as long as the person doth it according to his Light within No nor Drunkenness nor Whoredom nor Theft nor Self-Murder by fasting supposing the Light within puts any upon it And it hath been proved the Light within may approve of sin as it did of Persecution in Saul 5. If this be the trying Rule then it follows contradictory Opinions may possibly be on both sides true G. W. saith his Light tells him that the Light in every man is a sufficient and safe Rule to guide to heaven I am assured in my very Conscience and from the Scripture it is not He saith Baptism with water and the Lords Supper are no Ordinances of Christ now binding the Church I am assured from all the Light within me and from the Scriptures that they are If what he speaks be according to his Light indeed as what I speak is according to mine then it follows we do both hold Truth whilst we contradict one another for whatsoever agrees with the trying Rule is Truth Obj. p. 18. He that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Ans If he had proved that the Scripture speaks here of the Light in every man he had done something vers 19. This is the condemnation saith Christ that Light is come into the world and men love Darkness Christ speaks of a more full Gospel-light which was then come into the world and not before whereas the Light in every man was in the world ever since men were in the world And we know what Christ calls darkness The sense then is this Gospel-light shines now more than before and at this day in the Holy Scriptures but men follow the dictates of their dark Understandin their Light within even their own apprehensions rejecting Gospel-light This is the Condemnation 5. I assert the Scriptures are a Binding Rule and that in those things which the light in every man doth not of it self teach Arg. 1. The Scriptures did bind in Moses time and after to Christs and in the Apostles time even speaking of things which this Light without extraordinary Revelation cannot discover And if so still To deny that the Scripture did in these things then bind is to say it had been no sin for the Jews before Christ death To reject the whole Ceremonial Law or for the Corinthians to reject the Apostles directions touching the Lords Supper Arg. 2. If the Scripture doth not bind us in such things it will follow we are not bound to believe that the Father Son and Holy Ghost are all three one and the same God or that there shall be a Resurrection of the body that we are not bound to keep the first day of the week a Sabbath to the Lord nor to seek for Regeneration nor to repent of our Fall in Adam nor mourn for our corruption of Nature or for any first motions to sin that we are not to be Baptized or Receive the Lords Supper no nor believe in Christ at all for justification nor to embrace the Gospel consequently that the contrary is no sin for this Light of it self without supernatural Revelation teacheth us none of these things Arg. 3. Gods commands cannot want Authority must therefore needs bind us even in those things this light cannot teach But the Scriptures contein such commands Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy This is his command that we believe in his Son do this in remembrance of me Go teach all Nations Baptizing them This argument was urged in the second dispute not answered there nor since in their book Arg. 4. If we are to be saved in obeying Christ fully that is in things this light speaks nothing of as well as in other things to be damned not obeying Christ in those things this light doth not of it self require then in these things the Scriptures do certainly bind us But the former is true Ezek. 18.21 If the wicked will turn and keep all my statutes he shall surely live not only do what the Light in every man teacheth but all my Statutes Heb. 5.9 Christ is the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him and we know he hath commanded us in those things this light cannot of it self teach Jo. 12.48 He that receiveth not my word is not Do this Go baptize his word The word that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last day Ro. 2.16 God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel The Gospel contains commands and mysteries this Light of it self cannot find out Luke 16.29 They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them The Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets taught things above the reach of this Light if men therefore will escape that place of torments they must obey the Scripture in such things as well as other 2. Thes 1.7 8. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ The Gospel still prescribes things above what this light can of it self reaveal or reach The Lord God awaken these men How fearful is it to reject the Scriptures as not binding in those things this Light cannot teach us Obj. But we must not do any thing because we see it written in the Scripture but must obey the spirit of God moving
if Sanctification and Holiness without Christs dying for thee could suffice to redeem thy lost soul Christ gave his Life a ransom in vain 2. Christs sufferings are of that worth that they are abundantly sufficient to redeeâ— our lost souls If not I am willing mine should perish everlastingly But he is God blessed for ever who purchased the Church with his blood Act. 20.28 In his sufferings then there is worth enough worth abundantly enough to redeem our souls for ever Heb. 9.12 He hath obtained eternal Redemption for us We may be as confident of it as we are that we live Our soul is pretious and Christs blood is as pretious and far more pretious 1 Pet. 1.17 18. We are not redeemed with corruptible things but with the pretious blood of Christ Let us then with Paul abhor all sanctification in us all Holiness all works of Faith whatever is wrought by us in comparison of what we spie by faith in Christ And let us put our whole trust in Christs sufferings for the redemption and acquittance or discharge of our lost souls from whatever damnation they are by sin exposed unto that is for justification Arg. 12. For that only doth God justifie us which doth suffice to turn away his wrath from us But Christs sufferings only not any thing done or suffered by us is that for which God doth justifie us This Argument was also pressed the first dispute and enlarged And there not being one word of answer pertinent in his book I proceed and prove the former Proposition Gods wrath hath been kindled against us A Fire saith God Deut. 32.22 is kindled in mine anger and shall burn to the lowest Hell Tophet is prepared Adam unto whom God said in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death sinned and kindled Gods wrath against himself and all his posterity for we are by Nature the Children of wrath In our own persons likewise we have failed of continuing in all and hence is Gods wrath up against us for the Law worketh wrath If Gods wrath hath been stirred up against us it cannot be that we should be justified till his wrath be turned away God burning in his wrath is ready to condemn us to take vengeance on us to consume us as fire not to justifie and acquit us from our ill deserts That therefore for which we are justified must suffice to turn away Gods wrath from us The next Proposition consists of two parts 1. Nothing done or suffered by us sufficeth to turn away Gods wrath Heb. 10.5 Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not Isa 40.16 Lebanon is not sufficient to burn nor the beasts thereof sufficient for aburnt offering ver 15. The Nations are but as a drop of the Bucket How can it be that we poor nothings should be able by doing or suffering any thing turn away the wrath of this Great self-sufficient Soveraign offended with us Can fallen Angels do or suffer any thing When we are made to suffer in our own persons it is for ever for ever that we suffer because miserable worms we never can suffer enough that his wrath should be turned away from us And if burning Ten thousand Millions of years in Hell is not enough to turn his wrath away how little reason is there to imagine that a little faith and the works that follow should suffice If this were enough then in vain did Christ say Heb. 10.7 Lo I come to do thy will O God In vain was Christ our Passover sacrificed for us for what end did he come for what end was he sacrificed for us but that he might make attonement for us that he might make Reconciliation for the sins of the People that he might turn away wrath and so the destroying Angel might pass over us 2. Christs sufferings do suffice to turn away Gods wrath from us 1 Jo. 2.1 2. We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous And he is the Propitiation for our sins Heb. 13.12 But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever sat down on the right hand of God Eph. 5.2 Christ hath loved us and given himself for us an offering and asacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour Let us then place no confidence in sanctification holiness faith and the works that follow as if these saying aside Christs death on the Cross could turn away Gods wrath and render God so well pleased with us as to discharge acquit justifie us but let us by true faith repose all our trust in Jesus who offered himself a sacrifice for us for justification deliverance from wrath to come He is the only hiding place from the storm the only covert from the tempest Arg. 13. That for which God justifies us must suffice to satisfie his justice for our transgression But Christs sufferings only nothing done or suffered by us can suffice to satisfie Gods justice for our transgression Therefore Christs sufferings and not any thing done or suffered by us is that for which God doth justifie us Justice is satisfied upon transgression when it hath duely punished it This premised I prove the Major We having not continued in all God will not justifie us without satisfaction to his justice for our sin 1. We may judge of this by Gods dealing with fallen Angels there being no provision made for the satisfaction of Justice for their fall God will never justifie them but they are to be condemned and bear their deserved punishment for ever Why should we imagine that God will justifie any of us who have fallen as well as they never punishing our fall as justice doth require 2. We may conclude it from Gods Law the contents whereof are all equal holy just and good In the Law we may take notice of three things each of which are conclusive of the point in hand 1. Gods Judgement which is alwaies according to truth and he hath judged that whoever of us in the least tittle do break so equal so holy just and good a Law we do deserve his Curse If he had not thus judged he would not have added this sanction to his Law and said Cursed is he that continues not in all God judgeth this but a meet and deserved punishment And shall we imagine that God will not do what is meet to be done That God should not act according to his own Judgement Hence I think we may conclude God justifieth none of us without punishing our sins 2. Gods Truth God having said in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death and cursed is he that continues not in all doth not his truth engage him to execute his justice in punishing sin should mercy offer to pronounce any man absolved his sin unpunished Truth would stop the mouth of mercy and say hold I have said Cursed is he that continues not in all and I cannot but be true Hence I conclude no offender is justified but his sin is punished to the full 3.
Gods will and purpose In the day thou eatest thou shalt die the death If it be his will and purpose to punish sin in us he doth it Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he Then no fallen man is justified but is sin is punished and so justice his satisfied for that his sin 4. We may demonstrate it from Gods not sparing his own Son Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all What made Gods justice lay on so did Christ ever by sin provoke to this will God punish where there is no sin This is an Ocular demonstration The Faith of a Believer that is justified can here see Justice punishing his transgression and that he is not justified without full satisfaction to Justice God hath punished then the sins of all that are justified in Jesus Christ And the Holy Ghost tells us Heb. 2.10 This became God It became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many Sons unto Glory to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through sufferings Did it not become God to act according to his Judgement according to his Truth according to his Justice having executed his justice on some of his offending Creatures fallen Angels not to let the sins of his other offending Creatures fallen Men and Women to go unpunished The point is clear That for which God justifies us who have been Transgressors must be that which satisfies his Justice for our Transgressions The next Proposition hath two parts 1. Nothing done or suffered by us can suffice to satisfie Gods Justice Every known sin is a wilful rejection of infinite Goodness a free choice of infinite Displeasure a bold contempt of Infinite Majesty presumptuous Rebellion against infinite Soveraignty and a disdainful making him a Liar who is infinitely a Lover of Truth It therefore carries insinite demerit with it and nothing short of infinite punishment or sufferings of infinite wrath can possibly suffice to satisfie for it But what proportion to Infinity can any thing we do or suffer bear Why do men lie in Hell to all eternity but because they are not able to bear a Curse proportionable to the Infinity of Gods perfections against whom they have offended Faith and the Works that follow can this without the imputation of Christs Sufferings satisfie Gods Majesty for our sin It is Blasphemy against God it is most damnable Idolatry to suppose it It is to debase God and make him our Equal this is Blasphemy It is to exalt our selves and make our selves Gods Equal this is Idolatry in the highest degree For there is none but Gods equal and this is God himself in our Nature that is capable to satisfie God for sin Zach. 13.17 Awake O Sword against my Shepherd against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of Hosts If we crawling worms can satisfie Gods Justice any way for our sins then Christ received the Stroak of Gods Jvstice in vain 2. Christs Sufferings suffice to satisfie Gods Justice To compremise this Argument If when we lay under the Sentence of Death Christ became Surety for us had our sins imputed to him died for us God accepted his person his Sacrifice and for his sake turns away his wrath from us forgives us frees us from Condemnation is reconciled to us saves us then Christs Sufferings do suffice abundantly to satisfie Gods Justice for our sins But the Antecedent is true therefore the Consequent also 1. We lay under the sentence of Death Eph. 2.3 We were by nature the Children of wrath even as others 2. Christ became our Surety Heb. 7.22 By so much was Jesus made the surety of a better Testament 3. He died for us 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture 4. God accepted of his Sacrifice Eph. 5.2 He gave himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Savour 5. God accepted of his Person Heb. 8.1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum We have such an High Priest who is set on the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens 6. For his sake doth God turn away his wrath from us 1 John 2.2 He is the propitiation for our sins He saves us from the wrath to come 7. For his sake doth God forgive us Col. 1.14 In whom we have Redemption through his Blood the forgiveness of our sins 8. For his sake doth God free us from Condemnation Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus 9. For his sake is God reconciled to us Rom. 5.10 If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son 1. Pet 3 18. Christ also hath once suffered for us the just for the unjust to bring us to God 10. For his sake he saves us Rom. 5.9 Much more then being now justified by his blood shall we be saved from wrath through him What can we desire more to manifest that Gods Justice is fully satisfied for our sins by the sufferings of Christ Christs Sufferings then are the hope set before us and God hath spoken with an Oath That by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie we might have strong Consolation who are fled for refuge from the Stroke of Gods Justice hither Christs sufferings fled to by Faith are they for which God will justifie us For in regard they have fully satisfied Justice for our sins we may be confident they will secure us from Condemnation it being against Justice it self to punish those sins a second time that have been punished to the full already Against this Doctrine of Satisfaction G. W. Div. of Christ objecteth many things I shall briefly run them over and reduce them to five Conclusions Obj. 1. Satisfaction is not needful Cannot God command his wrath p. 62. Cannot he satisfie and please himself Man can pardon without satisfaction this were to render God more cruel than man 62. Such Blasphemy is this man not afraid to utter The Lord convince and humble him But I answer Canst thou Reader see fallen Angels tormented in hell to all eternity because Gods Justice is no way satisfied for their sins and yet say what need is there for any satisfaction When God judgeth it meet all sin should be punished when in his Threats he hath declared his Will and Purpose for it bound himself by his Truth and Faithfulness canst thou yet say what need have I of any Saviour to satisfie Justice for my sins When God spared not his Son wilt thou say what need these Stroaks of Justice Yet if this Doctrine be true God is cruel in this mans eyes Possibly he will say too If God doth damn the Impenitent if he damnes the fallen angels he is cruel for he can command wrath Can a King forgive all violation of his Laws without punishing any and reign It would not be his perfection to do this
it would be his sin Eli's not punishing his Sons cost him dear and so did the like offence cost David The Lord would have us forgive private Injuries for his sake who will make us satisfaction when the Offender cannot as he himself is willing to forgive us for Christs sake who hath made him satisfaction which we cannot Eph. 4.32 Forgive one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you And since we have assurance that it is the free pleasure and purpose of God according to the truth of his Word and as he judgeth it meet to punish all sin and that he hath punished our sin in his Son how vain is it now to question Cannot God appease his own wrath If God will not justifie us without satisfaction we are not to look for it any other way but rather admire and heartily embrace his Mercy in that for Christs sake he is willing to forgive us Obj. 2. Christs Sufferings could not be any satisfaction to Gods Justice for our sins For they were Persecutors that imputed sin to him p. 63. Nothing but a Creature suffered He suffered by sinners and under the burden and weight of their Transgressions His tender Spirit suffered for Transgressors foreseeing wrath coming on them p. 58. He suffered not eternal death not that height of revenge as goes against Reprobate Angels p. 9. Not infinite Wrath pag. 45. Answ Whatever Persecutors did it must not be denied that God laid on him the iniquity of us all Nor that God made his Soul an Offering for Sin though men were Instruments of part of his Sufferings Not only did he grieve foreseeing mens misery but he bore the killing stroak of Gods Justice to prevent the misery of all that believe in him Without his Death Justice would not suffer that we should be forgiven Without shedding of Blood there is no Remission For the sake of his Death Gods wrath is appeased towards us he forgives accepts loves saves us What can be more evident than that Gods Justice is satisfied in his Death And for that person who is God to suffer a Temporal Death though in his humane nature only this is of infinite value an infinite abasement a stroak of infinite wrath for had not Gods wrath against sin been infinite he would not thus have struck a person of infinite worth and dearness to him interposing as Surety between him and us miserable sinners For God in our Nature to suffer what he did this is more than for Men or Devils to suffer Gods eternal wrath or revenge this wrath more clearly shines in the Infinitude of it in thus smiting the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person than in the eternal damnation of Men and Devils in the unquenchable Flames of Hell Obj. 3. It cannot be that God should punish our sins in Christ to satisfie his Justice God doth not hate his Son p. 52. God bears Infinite love to his Son His Law is the Son shall not bear the iniquity of the Father but every man his own sins Answ That Law admits exceptions One is this Except one man voluntarily becomes Surety for another In this case Gods Law is Take his Garment And he that is Surety for a Stranger shall surely smart for it In regard then Christ voluntarily became Surety for us in punishing him for our Sins God doth not act contrary to this Rule And in regard Christ could conquer his Sufferings and they according to the everlasting appointment of God were to be a Step to his own eternal advancement as well as the Salvation of his chosen it was an act of Gods Dear Love to chuse him forth for this Undertaking though for a time he poured forth his wrath upon him for our Iniquities Isa 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth Obj. 4. Christs death did not make satisfaction to Gods Justice for our sins God promiseth pardon upon our repentance and turning p. 40. If satisfaction be made what need could there be of Christs Intercession p. 15. Why are not all out of Prison and Fetters Why doth the Debt of Obedience still remain p. 60. Why are those for whom Christ died still punished p. 61. Answ It is for Christs sake that God doth pardon upon repentance there is no pardon for fallen Angels promised upon their repentance because Christ satisfied not for them But having purchased Salvation for us at the hands of Justice by his Intercession he obtains the purchase at the hands of free Grace and so applies it to us Christs Death doth so glorifie Gods Justice in our Salvation as if therein he had put forth no act of Grace Christs Intercession doth so glorifie Gods Grace in our Salvation as if therein he had put forth no act of Justice This Satisfaction was designed for all them who through special Grace in time believe These all are delivered here from the guilt and reigning power of their sins and so are out of their Fetters and shall hereafter be delivered from the being of sin It is required of them that they be obedient which is but Gratitude Being disobedient they shall be corrected for their good which is but Love and Kindness They are to suffer nothing from revengeful wrath nothing in order to the satisfying of Gods Justice they shall never come into Condemnation Obj. 5. This Doctrine is mans Invention Did Christ satisfie that man might take liberty to sin As if a Prince should grant an Act of Indempnity that his Subjects might spread Dung on his Face p. 48. Answ How will mad men spurn away Gold and cast Dirt on those that tender it to them Since Mankind fallen must needs according to the truth of Gods Laws established perish for ever as well as fallen Angels if we had had no Mediator to expose himself to the Stroak of Gods Justice engaged and resolved to punish our sins Since for Christs sufferings sake it is that we are pardoned accepted saved all this according to the unerring Scriptures of our most glorious God He must shut his eyes against the Sun who will not see that this Doctrine of Satisfaction is according to truth Nor doth it tend to Licentiousness If a discovery that the least sin deserves Gods infinite wrath that upon commission of the least sin nothing can free us from everlasting burnings but the Death of Jesus Christ in our stead that for the sake of Christs death God is most freely ready to forgive all our sins if this tends not to break the heart for sin to turn the heart to God to engage the heart with everlasting indignation against what is displeasing to the Lord what is Nor can this Writer nominate one of us that encourageth men to take liberty of sinning from the consideration of Christs satisfaction Nay he cannot but know that our common doctrine is none are sharers in the benefit of this satisfaction but those who have such lively apprehensions of
supernatural Revelation direct any to take one step towards Salvation I shall first examine whether this Light can be proved a full Rule then confirm what 's here laid down G. W. affirmed The Light in every man to be a full Rule And thus undertook to prove it Arg. 1. If it he a spiritual Light as wrought by the Spirit of God then 't is a full Rule But I had acknowledged it thus a spiritual Light Answ I do still acknowledge that if its Denomination be taken from its Efficient 't is to be called spiritual for 't is the Spirit creates Reason in us But 't is improper to take a Denomination thence Rather it should be taken from its End and Use and then because it reveals only Moral Duties it would be properly termed Moral But as to his Argument I bid him prove his Consequence he bogles and could make no work of it Then I bid the people mind what pure Argument he brought As though one should say If the stars were created by the Spirit of God they are a full light able to make it Day The Scriptures are as the Sun a full Light to guide us to Heaven The Light in every man but as a Star no full Light to travel by Arg. 2. If it convinceth of Sin Righteousness and Judgment then 't is a full Rule But so it doth Answ It convinceth not of Justifying Righteousness viz. The active and passive Obedience of Christ for it reveals not Christ at all Rep. It doth reveal Christ Proof 1. Rom. 2.14 If the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the Law then it reveals Christ Answ They may do things contained in the Law and never know Christ 'T is not the Law but the Gospel that reveals Christ Proof 2. If the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all men and teacheth to look for the appearance of our Saviour then it revealeth Christ This Grace appears by the Gospel where it comes and the Gospel teacheth to look for our Saviours appearance Prove that the Light in every man reveals this Grace or teacheth to look for the appearance of Christ He adds Proof 3. p. 29. The Light was given to believe in before they were Believers Therefore it reveals Christ to Unbelievers Answ The Light which we are to believe in is Jesus Christ himself and not that Principle of Knowledge that is in every man And before we believe in Christ even that we may believe in him he is revealed to us by the Gospel not by the Light that is in every man Proof 4. Ibid. The Light shined in mens hearts before they did believe to give them the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ Therefore it reveals Christ to all even Unbelievers Answ Read the place 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ A. 1. Mark 'T is not said the Light but God hath shined 2. The true sense is God by the Gospel propounding the Object and by his Spirit enlightning the Eye gives and encreaseth the saving knowledge of Christ in his chosen and thus first they become Believers and afterward more and more are strengthened in their Faith And doth this prove that the Light in every man reveals Christ to all to those that have not the Gospel or that without the Gospel it reveals Christ to any hath shined into our hearts Had not they the Gospel Arg. 3. If the Light in every man be an increasing Light p. 28. doth gradually lead men out of Darkness and Sin as men take heed unto it though it reveals not all things at once then 't is a full Rule But 't is an increasing Light for 't is said To every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Christ gives such a measure now a greater afterwards And p. 29. The path of the Just is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Answ This Argument though not so well managed in the Dispute of any had the greatest shew of reason in it But when it was Answered that the Light in every man never grew up to make of it self and without the Scriptures any discovery of Christ all was dasht presently And there needs no more to be said now For though the use of Reason grows in a Child and now it reveals Stealing unlawful then Lying c. and these first dimly then more clearly yet never attaining of it self to reveal Christ it must needs leave men in that dark state in which Damnation is unavoidable The Gospel must deliver from this dark state The Light in every man cannot do it If it were possible this Light could lead out of all Sin whatever unable to reveal Christ it must needs still leave men in a state of Damnation The Grace that indifferent measures is given to Believers enjoying the Gospel as also the path of the Just who embrace Christ as revealed to them in the Gospel these put men into the state of Salvation indeed but they are one thing the Light in every man another Obj. It might be thus objected If we obey what this Light can reveal according to the measure of it God will accept us For in every Nation he that worketh Righteousnes is accepted of him And what is not revealed doth not bind p. 33. The Church of Corinth was not to make the Epistle of the Church of Rome their Rule Answ 1. Promulgation indeed is necessary to the Obligation of a Law till therefore the Church of Corinth had knowledge of the Epistle to the Romans they were not bound to make it their Rule But after knowledge they were bound Therefore if we should obey this Light only which in its highest measure cannot reveal Christ we should not work Righteousness that we might be accepted For God having given us Scriptures requires more of us than this Light reveals And neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love Obj. p. 32. The Saints of old were according to their several attainments to walk by the same Rule and God would reveal to them Ph. 3.16 Therefore this Light is a full Rule Answ 1. The Saints what 's that to every man 2. They were to walk according to their several attainments what they had got out of the Scriptures By the same Rule the Will of God laid down in the Scriptures so far as they understood it What 's this to those that have not the Scriptures What is it to the Light that is in every man 3. God would reveal more to the Saints But where is any promise that God will reveal Christ to every Heathen that walks according to his Light though he never enjoyes the Scriptures or the Gospel Much less where hath God ever promised that he will
in our hearts within Answ 1. The spirit dwelling in all believers is sometimes a sweet mover to duty though no indwelling spirit yet by common convictions he strives with unbelievers who do resist the Holy Ghost The duty he puts men upon is agreeable to the Scripture and his motions are not to be quenched Answ 2. The things commanded in the Scripture are to be done whether the spirit inwardly puts men forwards or no Look over these Four last Arguments againe Otherwise supposing the spirit never putting forward within it had been no sin for the Jews before Christs time to reject all the Ceremonial Law nor for us to omit all those duties hinted in the Second Argument Gods commands cease not to be Gods commands either because the spirit doth not within put men on to obey them or because they are written therefore we are to obey them though the spirit within puts not on And this is to obey the spirit or to obey God Therefore according to the Fourch Argument Though men should say the spirit did never inwardly put them on they are certainly to be damned who obey not the voice of God in Scripture And to these I adde this Fifth Argument Otherwise some wicked men in living contrary to the Scriptures do not sin cannot be damned for so doing for some have sinned away the motions and strivings of Gods spirit are past feeling given up to reprobate sense 6. We are to hear what the Spirit of Faith saith to the Churches and this is written Answ 3. Yea Because a thing is written in the Scripture are we to do it If my Faith in God or Christ be weak and I find it written fear not I am with thee You believe in God believe also in me I will in Gods assistance rowl my self and act faith on God and Christ for this reason because I see these sweet words in the Scriptures of God If I feel any want what ever and light on these words Ask and ye shall have Call upon me in the time of trouble Be careful for nothing but in every thing let your requests be made known to God because I find these sweet commands in Gods book I will with Gods help take heart and fall to pray I appeal to any mans Conscience whether I do not well in so doing This Induction might pass for the First Argument and the Second is this For seeing a thing written in Scripture I am the more sure it is the mind and Will of God all Scripture being by divine inspiration therefore I thought for this very reson the rather perform it because I find it written Arg. 3. And why doth God command us to read but that we should obey Deut. 17.19 The King shall read in the book of the Law all the dayes of his Life that he might learn to keep all words of this Law to do them The end of our very reading must be practice A 4th Arg. from Examples see in the close of the Letter that follows The Scripture binds and that in those things of which the Light in every man by it self saith nothing And dares any man say that this Light doth bind the Church of God in those things the Scriptures do not teach Let no man be wise above what is written And now let the Reader judge which is the highest and safest Rule to Heaven the Scriptures or the Light in every man Gods will laid down in Scripture is a full only infallible trying binding Rule to Heaven and that in those things of which this Light saith nothing Gods will so much of it as is discovered by this Light is no Rule at all to heaven because no full Rule not the only Rule hardly distinguishable from the dictates of darkness Sin and Satan insufficient to try all Doctrines by not at all binding the Church in those things the Scriptures do not teach To conclude Mind what a dreadful thing 't is to walk by a false Rule to take that for the way to heaven which is not 1. It is Condemnation 2 Thes 2.11 12. God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a Lie That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth It is a fearful thing to be bound hand and foot for ever to be in utter darkness among Devils in a Lake of fire unable to die God langhing at our calamity because we rejected his Counsels and chose our own ways a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God 2. It is Damnation after hope Mistakers think they see the right way to Heaven and therefore hope but to be damned after hope how greatly will this augment the Misery 3. it is to be damned after pains-taking to be saved after Zeal after Conscientiousness in walking as a man supposeth according to the Will of God The Pharisees were conscientious in keeping the Law and setting up their own Righteousness for Justification but through their Errour missing of Christs Righteousness after all their Zeal and Conscientiousness in doing what they did they are damned and lost to all Eternity How unconceivably miserable it is to be deceived It is our safety our great wisdom to walk by such a Rule as cannot deceive us Scripture-Counsel is full and all by divine Inspiration Walk sincerely according to this Rule thou canst not erre thou canst not be damned If all the dictates of Light within were infallibly the Truths of God yet heart Counsels are some of them from Darkness and the Devil walk after these though never so warily thou maist possibly erre possibly thou maist lose thy Soul To say I will forsake all the Counsels of darkness that are within me and walk only after the Counsels of the Light within me is as if thou shouldst say here is a Cup of Wine mixed with poyson I will drink out only the wine and leave the poyson Friend the Scriptures are a Cup of pure wine no Counsels of Sin Errour Darkness Devils mingling with the Counsels of God Is it not safer drinking there Whether every man be enlightned with a saving Light SO much having been spoken by me and granted by the Adversary touching this Light compared with the Scriptures I did deservedly explode this Question out of the Second Dispute where I had but little time left for discussing the following Questions Yet now I must not decline it Upon two accounts may a Light properly be denominated Saving 1. If it reveals objectively all Truths to us necessary to Salvation This may be called saving because if we obey it in all things we shall certainly be saved Thus the Scriptures or the Gospel contained in them are an external saving Light External I say because it must have entrance by our Senses Rom. 1.16 The Gospel is the power of God to Salvation Eph. 1.13 The Gospel of Salvation Acts 11.14 Words by which we may be saved 2. If it enlightens our Understanding effectually to apprehend all Truths necessary to Salvation
inherent holiness Or if the truth of the Charge cannot be denied Justice demanding What hast thou to say for thy self why thou shouldest not be condemned the only defence is by pleading Though I am guilty yet satisfaction hath been made for that guilt Because therefore the same fault cannot be twice punished after satisfaction 't is as if it never were This is the only way of Defence we have at Gods Tribunal We cannot plead we never broke the Law for we have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God But we must plead Satisfaction made to the Law and Justice of God for our guilt by our Surety the Lord Jesus Christ and evidence our right to the benefit of this Satisfaction by our Faith in his Blood even such a Faith as hath wrought by Love 3. Justification doth formally denote a Declaration that the Party accused is Just or Innocent and an Acquittance of him by the Sentence of the Judge But this Acquittance as to us fallen Creatures is a proper Absolution or Pardon Had Adam in Innocency been accused his Justification had been a Declaration of him Innocent in his own person and an Acquittance of him from all penalty of the Law as not deserved Our Justification is a Declaration of us who have been guilty in our own persons just or innocent through the Satisfaction or Righteousness of Christ our Surety made over and reckoned to us through Gods free Grace upon our delieving and an acquitting of us from all penalty of the Law though deserved which is properly Absolution or Pardon So that though Adam in Innocency or a good Angel could be justified without a Pardon yet 't is impossible we should be justified any other way but by being pardoned To sum up our Doctrine If the Question be What is it to be justified The Answer is to be declared just and to be absolved If the Question be Who is it that doth justifie or pronounce us just and absolve us The Apostle answers it Rom. 8. It is God that justifieth If the Question be We are guilty in our own persons for what is it that God doth justifie us The Answer is for the Satisfaction or Righteousness of Christ Rom. 5.18 By the Righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to Justification and Life If the Question be What is it that gives us interest in Christs Righteousness or upon which it is imputed or reckoned to us The Answer is Our Faith Rom. 10.10 With the heart man believeth unto Righteousness If the Question be What will evidence our Faith to be living and sound Faith The Answer is Our sincere Obedience to the Law Jam. 2.24 You see then how that by works a man is justified and not by Faith only We are justified by works as evidencing our Faith living by Faith as giving Interest in Christs Righteousness by Christs Righteousness imputed to us as constituting us righteous and satisfying for our Guilt for the sake of which God doth impute us righteous and absolve us This is the Doctrine we teach G. W. on the contrary teacheth that Justification is by Faith in Christ and by the Works that follow Faith without Christs Righteousness imputed In this we agree there must be a working Faith or no Justification And we must believe in Christ for Sanctification In this we differ whereas according to the Law of God this Charge is and will be brought against us You have not from the beginning of your Life to the end perfectly obeyed the Law It is therefore demanded what have you to say why you should not bear the Curse He saith Faith in Christ and the Works that follow without any mention of Christs holy Life and Sufferings is our sufficient defence against this Charge is that which constitutes us righteous before God as the Law requires and for which consequently God doth declare us righteous and acquit us in Judgment We say that Christs holy Life and Sufferings is our only Defence or Apologie against this Charge the only thing that can constitute us righteous according to what the Law requires the only thing for which God doth declare us righteous in Law and for which he absolves and frees us from the Curse of the Law as being imputed and made ours upon believing And again Christs holy Life and Sufferings being the only thing for which God doth justifie us We say that Faith in Christs Blood and Righteousness as the only thing that can satisfie the Demands of the Law and Justice of God is the only justifying Faith and that Faith that overlooks this Object Christs Obedience to the Death as the only thing that can satisfie the Demands of the Law and Justice of God is but a Soul-destroying Faith whatever it be He on the contrary holds that Faith in Christ for Sanctification only is enough to bring him to Heaven The Controversie thus stated I come now to prove we are justified by Christs Righteousness imputed and not without it From which if I make it good the other point clearly appears That that Faith which carries not out the Soul to Christs Righteousness to have it imputed is but a Soul-destroying Faith Arg. 1. No man can be declared Righteous in a Legal sense but who hath the Righteousness of Christ imputed to him But every one that God doth justifie he declareth righteous in a Legal sense Therefore there is no man justified but who hath Christs Righteousness imputed to him The Minor is proved from what hath been already manifested To justifie is to declare just to declare just in a Legal sense because it is to discharge him from the accusation of the Law and in justifying God doth judge us by the Law though by the Gospel also The Major will easily appear if we consider what 't is to be righteous in a Legal sense It is to be invested with a sinless Righteousness from the beginning of Life to the end thereof for this the Law requires It doth require perfection not only in the end of our Lives but in the middle also and in the beginning It never allows us to sin If at ten years of age a person commits Murder and then lives according to the Law of the Land in every tittle forty years then arraigned for this he pleads that after that Offence he continued to live exactly according to the Law the Judge cannot pronounce him innocent and so acquit him because the Law did not allow him to commit Murder any part of his Life In regard God wants not knowledge and proof of our Offences if we have had but one evil thought or have committed but one sin only all our dayes if he looks not on us in his Son reckoning his sinless Righteousness to us how should he declare us righteous in a Legal sense For the Judgment of God is always according to truth Rom. 2.2 Having Christs Righteousness imputed we are invested with an everlasting Righteousness he did not sin nor