Circumcision yet the Lord had not wholly passed by the Gentils and left them destitute of the Truth or of what might he knowne of him 2. That those of the Gentiles who improved what was given them inwardly from the Lord and kept the Law inwardly delivered unto them were more acceptable unto God then the Iewes who had the outward priviledges of the Law and Circumcision and did not rightly use them so that the Uncircumcision was counted Circumcision and the Circumcision Uncircumcision and hereby hee takes occasion to beat downe the Pride and conceitednes of the Iewes as if they were the only people of God and God were only their God wheras the Apostle saith is hee the God of the Iewes only is hee not also the God of the Gentiles yea of the Gentiles also 3. Rom. 29. And also by this means hee encourageth the Gentiles and preacheth Glad tydings among them to take away all ground of despaire or unbeliefe from them as if the Lord had utterly rejected them becaus of the want of these outward Priviledges bestowed upon the Iewes With which glad tydings hee begins this Epistle shewing First that hee had received Grace and Apostleship to his Brethren for obedience to the Faith among all nations i. e. that all nations might give obedience to the Word of Faith which hee preached which imports a Call from God unto all nations to beleeve Secondly hee sayeth that hee was a Debter both to the Greeks and Barbarians which holds sorth the obligation that was upon him from the Lord who had called him to preach the Gospell unto them then he proceeds to declare what the Gospell was and what was revealed therein both to beleevers and unbeleevers to the just and to the unjust whether Iewes or Gentiles as to them who believed it was the power of God unto Salvation and therein was the righteousnes of God revealed unto the just from Faith to Faith but to them who believed not but wer unrighteous and held the Truth in unrighteousnes therein was the wrath of God revealed against all their ungodlines and unrighteousnes Now in the 19. verse hee answereth secretly an Objection which is to this purpose How is it Paul that thou sayest in the Gospell is revealed the righteousnes of God from Faith to Faith unto the just and also that the wrath of God is from heaven revealed therein against the unrighteous seing the Gentiles have not had the Gospell preached unto them all this tyme by past in which they have lived in their ungodlines and unrighteousnes To this Paul answers That which might be knowne of God was manifest in them for God had shewed it unto them which is as much as to say though the Gospell came not unto them outwardly by the ministry of man yet it came unto them inwardly by the ministry of God himselfe becaus That which may be knowne of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them So that it is manifest that by this expression That which may be knowne of God and as it is in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is understood the Gospell which is a very significant way of expressing it the Gospell is that which may be known of God by men being that which hee hath made manifest and hath shewed unto them The Word that was in the begining with God in which was life and the life is the light of men which is the true light which ligteth every man that cometh into the world that all through him might beleeve This is that which may or can be knowne of God and no more can be knowne of him but what the Gospell which is the Word of God doth reveal and this Word is the Light of men which lighteth every man that cometh into the world which is not only the Power of God unto Salvation unto every one that beleeveth but is the Power of God unto every one that they may beleeve in the day of their visitation Agreeable unto this is that the same Apostle writeth unto the Colossians 1. cap. 23. that the Gospell has beene preached unto every creature which is under heaven but according to the Greek it is which is preached in every creature under heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in every creature i. e. in every man as when Christ said to his Disciples preach the Gospell to every creature i. e. to every man in which Gospell has the righteousnes of God beene revealed unto men in all ages and Generations even among the very Gentiles both the just and the unjust to the just therein hath beene revealed from heaven the righteousnes of God from Faith to Faith to the unjust therein hath beene revealed the wrath of God from heaven against all their ungodlines and unrighteousnes who held the Truth in unrighteousnes and this was a righteous thing with God so to doe so that none of the Gentiles but have had the righteousnes of God revealed unto them in rewarding the Just and Well-doers and in punishing with wrath from heaven the unrighteous and evill-doers as it is Rom. 2. 9. 10. Tribulation and anguish upon every soule of man that doth evill both Iew and Gentil but glory honour and peace to every man that worketh good both to Iew and gentile also But by this manifestation of God in the Gentiles our Adversaries deny that the Gospell or any manifestation that is of a saving nature is understood and it hath passed generally among them that it is but some naturall illumination which they have called the light of nature and the Law of nature which flowes from a mans owne mind and understanding as a meer naturall man which is woefull ignorance darknes in them so to doe as may appear from what is already said If no more should be added to refute this their corrupt Glosse Yet I find it with me to ad somethings further for the clearing of this matter and here I give notice to the Reader that whatever this manifestation of God be there is no question or debate betwixt our adversaries and us concerning the Universality of it for they grant that it is given to every man only they deny that it is Evangelicall and of a saving and spirituall nature which I prove it to be for 1. if it wer not Evangelicall and the very Gospell it selfe in an inward ministration it would quite render the words of the Apostle impertinent and contrary to the purpose hee treats of for Paul is here shewing what the Gospell was and what was revealed in it both to the just and the unjust and becaus the unjust among all the Gentiles and Nations had not the Gospell outwardly administred hee shewes they had it inwardly God having shewed it unto them and this hee gives as the cause of what hee had affirmed of the Gospell Now if Paul had understood this inward manifestation to have beene only the naturall Illumination of mans owne understanding hee could not have given it as a
it Now how can they be glad tydings to any except through a speciall and immediat revelation but from this ground that they are so to all If it be replyed it may to some be knowne through their effectuall calling the Lord secretly persuading them by the secret operation and influence of his Spirit to apply the grace of the Gospell ontwardly held forth To this I answer How shall they in what manner can they be assured of the efficacy of their calling and that their beleef of it is not a meer presumption and groundless imagination for this again must either be knowne by its having an objective evidence of its owne or from the evidence of the Scripture If the first that I affirm to be as it indeed is immediat Revelation exparte objects Which thing these men utterly deny in this age For that secret operation influence or impression of Gods Spirit they will allow to be onely subjective and not objective Which therefore I may justly call as they understand it a blind impulse or impression From whence consequently they cannot infer the certainty of the Gospels belonging to them If they say the evidence is from the Scripture Then certainly it must be from the Scriptures holding forth the Gospell universally to all as glad tydings and so by consequence to them Because there is no Scripture that holds any such thing forth particularly as to them more then to others For as is already shewed that it is held forth as glad tydings to some gives no man firm ground to conclude it so to him as one of those some But waving now this principle of theirs that immediat revelation is ceased through most true it is that there is at this day immediat revelation and that no man can truly apply the Gospell to himself but by immediate revelation yet this Argument is of great weight and force As for example First it cannot be denyed that the truth of the universall being knowne and beleeved is a great and comfortable confirmation to the strengthening of mens faith in the particular application For if the Gospell hold forth good will unto all then certainly unto me So Secondly As I can savingly beleev the Gospell no other way but as held forth unto me by immediat revelation So by this immediat revelation it is not any singular or particular principle that is thus held forth unto me but that which is the universall the common salvation Viz the Light the word the seed which I sind revealed and made manifest in me reproving sin in heart word and deed and secretly drawing me from it unto righteousness which principle is revealed in me to be the grace of the Gospell not I say as any particular principle given unto me and not unto others but as that which is universally given and works so to speak universally answering every where to me in others and to others in me And so it is both outwardly preached and inwardly manifested to be that universall principle which is the grace of the Gospell Through closing with which peace with the Lord is obtained And because it is an universall principle and is so inwardly revealed therefore is my heart the more persuaded to close with it especially at first or in my first entrance For coming to hear that that which secretly reprovs for sin and appears against it in every conscience is the very grace of the Gospell and finding the same thing revealed in my particular this is an occasion or ground for me to beleev it Wheras if the principle were not universall and that there were two principles reproving and convincing of sin the one universal not saving the other particular and saving I might have much reason to question whether what I have be the saving and speciall principle or no. Thus I say The principle being in the first place declared so to speak as an universall thing it is a great help unto the poor soule at its entrance to facilitate its belief Of which thing I have had experience in my own particular who witnessed it revealed in me as universall and so closed with it not that I durst say that there was any speciall principle revealed or given to me For such was the darkness confusion and inclearness that was over my mind that I could not have distinguished it but yet I manifestly felt in my heart that which reproved all sin and weighted me for it working as fire against it But this I knew to be nothing but what was common to others For the same that made me know it in my self made me know and feel it in others And now this universall thing being by Gods faithfull messengers preached unto me as the very grace of the Gospell and the very saving Light of Iesus Christ. O! how glad tydings was it to my soule which closed with the truth thereof by the secret operation of Gods holy Spirit And truly in that day I must needs say that the greatest most manifest and clear prop or ground of my faith that was visible unto my mind that I had in my heart what was saving was even because I found in me that little universall common despised thing the least of all seeds which is at this day more precious unto my soule and more excellent then all the mountains of prey seing that was held forth to be the saving grace wich was universall which I found in mee answering to it in others yea when it was the least of all seeds in me it did wonderfully answer to its self in others in whom it was grown up to be the greatest of all herbs full of heavenly fruit and vertue and while it was yet burthened and oppressed and imprisoned in me it answered to the same the same I say for nature and kind in others where it was in Dominion and perfect liberty over all that oppressed it whereby I was exceedingly reached strengthened and confirmed to beleeve that it was of a saving nature conceiving a blessed hope that it would in due time be raised in me into the same Dominion victory and liberty that I felt it to be in in them which now in a measure I do witness all glory and praise be unto the Lord for ever So I say feeling that universal Principle in me and being perswaded of the Lord that it was universally saving I was thereby helped to beleeve that it was saving in me And indeed that immediate revelation by which faith at first is usually or commonly wrought in the heart is not so much given in a distinct form of words particularly saying this or that thing to the soule as in a manifestation of the divine power and vertu of Gods Spirit in that little seed which the heart is made to feel secretly working in it as sire soap and water as an hammer and two edged sword as a magnet or Load stone drawing the heart to it self And thus is faith at first wrought by the word of God speaking forth
hearing by the word even that word which was in their mouth and in their heart therefore hee adds But I say have they not all heard Yes verely the sound went into all the earth and their words into the ends of the world which words hee citeth out of the 19. Psalme where they are understood of that Universall language which the Heavens and Firmament Day and Night hath unto all men even all particulars without exception and are not cited by him for that end to prove that the visible creation did preach the Gospell unto them in the living clear powerfull Ministration thereof for that it cannot do but hee maketh use of them by way of allusion to signifie that as Universall as the language of these creatures was unto men outwardly even so universall was the language of this Word of faith which is Christ the Messenger of the everlasting Covenant sent to preach unto men in the inward even unto all without exception of any so that all among the Gentiles have heard this Word both Beleevers and Unbeleevers Now as concerning the Beleevers it is certaine for how could they beleeve in him of whom they had not heard and concerning Unbeleevers it is as evident from the Apostles words who saith They have not all obeyed the Gospell for Esaias saith who hath beleeved our report Now Marke the Apostle doth not say They have not all obeyed the Law of nature or the Light of nature but they have not all obeyed the Gospell so that the very Gospell has beene preached unto all otherwise they should never have beene charged with not having obeyed it Againe hee saith But have they not heard Even that which they disobeyed to wit the Gospell Hee answereth Yes verily their sound went into all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world alluding as is said unto that Universall language of the Heavens and Firmament Day and Night which speaks not only unto some of all sorts of men but to all particulars so that this Word hath had its language not only unto some of all sorts but Universally unto all and every particular otherwise the allusion unto the words of the 19. Psalme had been impertinent Moreover the Apostle proceedeth to shew how the Gentiles who followed not after Righteousnes had attained to Righteousnes even that of faith and yet the Iewes missed of it of which as hee gave the reason in the close of the last Chapter why the Iewes missed of it Viz. Beealls they sought it not by faith so in the close of this 10. Chapter hee further adds that notwithstanding all the high thoughts the Iewes had of themselvs as if they were the onely elect people of God and the Gentils cast of that the Lord had said long agoe I will provoke you to jealousie by a people that are no people and by a foolish nation I will anger you And that Esaias is so bold as to affirme that the Lord was more readily found of the Gentiles then of the Iewes for of the Gentiles hee saith I was found of them that sought me not but to Israel hee saith All the day long I have stretched out my hands to a rebellious and gain-saying people So that though the Jewes weremuch seeking and asking and praying yet they did not find the Lord becaus it was but in hypocrisie they were in their hearts a gainsaying and rebellious people whereas the Gentiles many of them had not such a shew of externall devotion and Prayers but were more righteous in heart before the Lord and so did more readily find him and know him yea and did more readily receive the testimony of truth as it was outwardly published by the Apostles then did the Iewes notwithstanding all their great Profession Oh that the late Professors could read their figure in this at this day Some may object that it s said there 's no difference betwixt Iew and Gentile but the same Lord is rich unto all that call upon him which would seeme to import that such a rich mercy as the grace of God is only given to Beleevers and them that call on his name as it is else where said hee giveth grace to the humble wheras wee say hee giveth grace unto all To which I answer these Scripturs doe not import that hee giveth not Grace to all but only that hee giveth more Grace unto them who beleeve and truly call upon him and are humble even to enjoy his love and the comfort of his holy spirit and to none else yet hee giveth Grace even unto the Unbeleevers and Proud and Forgetters of him that they may become Beleevers and true and humble Seekers of him as many have become such who were as bad as any but who doe resist the Lord and the Grace offred and continue so doing till the day of their visitation passe over them the Lord ceaseth any more graciously to visit and hee causeth the same word by which they might have beene saved had they beleeved to become their condemnation becaus of their unbelief And here I desire the reader to observe that the Grace held forth both in this place and all others aforsaid is the very Grace that is evangelicall being the word of faith and the Light which is to be beleeved in and no other Grace making salvation possible to all men doth the Scripture declare of So that it may plainly appear that the universall non-evangelicall grace which Papists and Arminians speake of is but a figment and not the truth which is owned by us Argument 7. From Titus 2. 11. 12. compared with 1. Corinthians 12. 7. FOR the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men or as in the translation of Beza himself hath shined in upon all men teaching us that denying ungodlines and wordly lusts wee should live soberly righteously and Godly in this present world c. And this hee gives as the Reason why Titus should exhort ALL those among whom hee lived unto Temporance Righteousnes and Godlines old men old women yong men yong women and servants c. even becaus the grace of God had appeared not unto them only but unto all men which taught them the same things inwardly as they who were sent of God did teach and exhort them unto outwardly and did not only teach men to deny and forsake the evills and lusts of the world but did appear bringing along with it a power to save from these things and indeed this is the very foundation and fundamentall ground of all outward teaching and instruction and exhortation in relation unto the things which pertaine unto Holines and Godlines that there is an inward principle which is the free grace or gift of God planted in every man to answer and witnes unto the truth of the things which are outwardly taught and exhorted unto even as face answereth unto face in a glasse by and through which inward principle the true Teachers and Ministers of Iesus
THE Universall free grace of the Gospell asserted OR THE LIGHT Of the Glorious Gospell of JESUS CHRIST Shining forth universally and enlightning every Man that coms into the World and therby giving unto every Man a day of visitation wherin it is possible for him to be saved Which is glad tydings unto all People BEING Witnessed and Testifyed unto by us the People called in derision Quakers And in opposition to all Denyers of it of one sort and another proved by many infallible arguments in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit of Truth according to Scripture Testimonies and sound Reason With the objections of any seeming weight against it answered BY GEORGE KEITH Printed in the Year 1671. THE PREFACE THER be two maine and principall things held forth by us which are as it wer the two hinges and fundamentall principles upon which all other things relating either to Doctrins or Practises affirmed by us doe hang and depend The first is that ther is no saving knowledge of God or the things of his Kingdome attainable but by the Immediate revelation of Iesus Christ who is the Image Word and Light of the invisible God in which alone he can be manifest unto the Salvation of men The second is that this Image Word and Light which is Jesus Christ the Son of the Fathers love doth shine forth in some measure universally and enlighten every man that coms into the World and therby giveth unto him a day of visitation wherin it is possible for him to be saved Both which 〈◊〉 they are indeed in the truth are generally denyed but affirmed by us which two not withstanding I may truly say as they are indeed known and witnessed in the truth ar the cheife and principall veins and arteries which convey the very Blood Life and Spirit of the Christian Religion into the true members of that body wherof Jesus Christ is the head And the Lord hath made me plainly to see why the whole body of every Sect professing the Christian Religion up and downe the world is so leane barren dead and emptie of that Life and Spirit which becoms the true Church to have and which the true Church had in the Primitive times even becaus of their ignorance of and opposition unto these two blessed testimonies of truth and I may boldly say it never any society of people did flourish or ever shall or can with excellent induements of either piety or knowledge which denyeth these two testimonies of truth seing they are the very principall means and Ordinances of God which hee hath appointed as through conduits to convey both Piâ—…y and knowledge and all other hevenly gifts and blessings unto men and seeing these are denyed the blessed effect which would follow upon the using of them cannot but be much wanting as where there is an obstruction or stop in the principall veins arteries and nervs of the naturall body that body cannot flourish but must needs be a very sick Paralitick diseased body and near unto death And for this cause it is that the whole body of Christendom so called is in a most lamâ—…table condition and death reigns in it and a thick cloud of darknes fills it and very few there be who know by sensible experience the life kernell and substance of the Christian Religion among all the many professions in it and that small remnant who doe know any thing thereof it is very weakly and faintly and their sight of the things of God is but like the poor blind mans halfe sight after Christ had a little cured him who saw men walking as trees the Reason of all this has beene the ignorance of and opposition unto these two testimonies aforsaid for the ignorance of the true manner of receiving either Piety or pious and Godly wisedome which is by way of immediat Revelation from the Father by Jesus Christ through the holy Spirit this hath hindred and stopped the growth and encrease of holines and piety and the Wisedome and knowledge there unto appertaining as to the Intension i. e. measur or degree of it in the particular which otherwise by this time might have been like the waters of the Sanctuary at a great height and againe the ignorance of that other blessed testimony of truth concerning the universality of the Light word Grace and spirit of God towards and upon all in a day of visitation for the saving and endueing them with holines and holy knowlegd and wisedom hath been a most mischeivous hindrance and lett unto the Extension or spreading of tru piety and knowledg abroad among people in the world The ignorance of the One I say hath hindred the Intension of it and the ignorance of the other its Extension as may be manifest to any who will consider these things wer it but with halfe an eye For what can tend so much to the universall gathering of all the nations Kingdoms languages and kinreds of the earth as to hold forth this universall principle unto them all the Light which lighteth all and every one of them and to informe them that therby and therthrough salvation is attainable by every one and peace reconciliation with God in their beleife of the light and obedience therunto And what can more hinder this universall gathering then that particular narrow straitning limiting principle of men of a pettish narrow heart and spirit who say that salvation never was is nor shall be possible unto the most part of men That God by an eternall decree hath wholly passed them by and left them in darknes without any light to shine in their darknes that can possibly at any time lead them out of it Doth not this discourage people and rather lay a block in the way of their Faith then to point ordirect them unto a pillar and ground of it Yea doth not this Doctrine that other being added to it viz. that immediate Revelation is ceased lay a much more probable foundation for any mans unbeleif and distrust in the Lords mercy and willingnes to save him then for his faith therupon For when any man comes with a call unto them to beleiv that they may be saved and therwithall tells them that God hath left most men without providing them any power by which it is possible for them to beleiv may not all begin to doubt or question with more ground then to beleive whether they be the persons that are thus passed by of the Lord yea or nay When the Lord said but to his disciples one of you shall betray me they wer exceeding sorrowfull all of them and began 〈◊〉 Question Master is it I. How much more then occasion have they to be sorrowfull and to question the very mercy of God for their salvation if it be told them that this mercy is denyed not only to a few but most of men and to many under the visible profession of the Christian Religion And for asmuch as they say immediate Revelation is ceased this shuts
divine touch the soule and will is so far liberated and freed that it can follow that which draweth it without which drawings of the Father Christ saith No man can come unto him The which the Lord is no ways bound to continue for ever 6. And therefore neither do we assert that men that have received this Light and Spirit of God and have given themselvs up unto it to obey it and so are becom Servants of Righteousnes doe receive at once a full and sufficient measure for the whole course of their Lives but onely sufficient for the present state condition opportunity and case to preserve protect and defend them from all evill so that the Creature must be continually exercised in a perpetuall dependance and wayting upon the Lord to receive the renewed and fresh influences of this divine Light and Life according as its present State Condition and Necessity may require there being no security of the soule out of this dependant wayting receiving frame SECTION I. Holding forth the Arguments according to Scripture Testimonies and a vindication of them from the corrupt Glosses of our Adversaries Argument 2. from Ioh. 1. cap. v. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 c. IN this Chapter wee have a full and clear Testimony both from Iohn the Evangelist and Apostle of our Lord Iesus Christ and also from Iohn the Baptist his forerunnor concerning this matter Iohn the Evangelist saith concerning him that he was the Word which was in the beginning and was with God and was God that all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made and that in him was life and the life was the light of Men. In which words hee declareth two things 1. That generall Relation hee hath towards all the Creaturs that he is their Maker All things were made by him Secondly that speciall Relation hee hath towards Men in asmuch as hee is not only their Maker as of other things but hee is their light In him was life and the life was the light of Men Which words doe import very plainly that hee is the Saviour of Men and given unto them for the light of Salvation to renew and restore them out of their fallen condition which is a State of death and of darknes and so Iohn here doeth the work of a true Evangelist in preaching glad tydings to lost Men they ar dead but in him is life they ar darkned through the fall yea and Darknes as it is Eph. 5. 8. But the life is the light of Men and the light shineth in darknes Now Christ was the Life and Light of Men befor the fall in a more near Relation then of any other visible Creatures so as that hee lived in them and shined in them to give them the knowledge of the glory of God in his owne face which is his image in which man was made so hee was the life light of Men before men became darknes and also he is the Light Life of Men which shineth in them while they are darknes to bring them out of it into his owne life and light But now this darknes doth not apprehend the light doth not embrace it nor enjoy it hath not fellowship with it so much doth the word comprehend import neverthelesse by the workings of the light in the darknes men may be changed from being darknes to become light in the Lord. and many have witnessed this blessed charge and so when men are become light through the workings of the originall light in them they can apprehend the light and enjoy it Light can apprehend light though darkâ—…es cannot by all which it may plainly appear that Iohn is in this place holding forth Christ to be the Light and Life unto Men more then simply according to naturall Illumination for that had not been to doe the work of an Evangelist or to preach the Gospell unto Men simply and barely to tell them that Christ doth enlighten them naturally as with naturall Reason and understanding The Gospell wherof Iohn was a Minister and of which this is a most comfortable declaration holds forth Christ to be the Life the Word and the Light in a much more deep and comprehensive signification not excluding the more inferiour kinds and degrees of life communicated unto the Creatures in their capacities but superadding a more excellent degree of Light and Life communicable unto Man from Christ then that which is naturall unto him simply as a naturall Man for indeed every degree of life which Man hath as 1. the Life of Vegetation 2. of Sensation 3. of Reason 4. of Grace is from Christ the universall fountain and spring of Life and hee is justly called the Life in all these considerations But now to limit this universall signification of Light and Life to the 3 inferiour degrees of it exclude the fourth which is the Supreame doth plainly manifest a partiall spirit which is prejudiced against the Truth Let all the Scripturs be searched and it will never be found that Christ is called the Light and the Life simply and barely in Relation to the naturall quickning and Illumination of the Creaturs excluding the spirituall but rather that the spirituall quickning and enlightning is alwayes mostly pointed at not excluding the other as Joh. 11. 25. I am the Resurrection the Life hee that beleeveth in me though hee â—…r dead yet shall hee Live and Joh. 14. 6. I am the Way the Truth and the Life no man cometh unto the Father but by me in which places Christ is held forth principally in Relation to his influence of spirituall Life upon Men and Joh. 8. 12. I am the Light of the world hee thâ—…t followeth me shall not walk in darknes but shall have the Light of Life Which cannot be understood thus hee that followes me as I enlighten naturally shall have the Light of Life which is false but thus hee that followes me as I enlighten spiritually hee shall have the Light of Life Againe in that hee is called the Light of Men this is not to be understood particularly of some men viz. beleevers but of all men both beleevers and unbeleevers within the day of their visitation 1. Becaus it is not said the Life is the Light of some men but of men indefinitly now an indefinit term signifyeth mostly universally and is alwayes so to be understood where no sufficient reason moveth to the contrary 2. Becaus Iohn the Evangelist and Iohn the Baptist much agree in their testimony now Iohn Baptists testimonie was that hee enlightneth every man 3. Becaus this is not only the Light of Beleevers that they may more and more believ but hee is the Light of or unto Unbeleevers in a day of visitation that they may become Beleevers for many Unbeleevers have become Beleevers And how but by the Lighting wherby the Light did lighten them in their unbeleef for when the light first lighteth a man it findeth him in
is the Word of faith in men answers to the things of Faith and therfor the true Ministers of the Gospell offer Faith unto all men there being in all men some measure of illumination by which they are capable to receiv it Now Iohn saith further hee was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not by the World it is manifest hee understandeth Men for that hee maks it a culpable thing that hee being in the World yet the World did not know him and so it cannot be understood of the outward frame of Heaven and Earth which are not in a capacity to know him Therefor according to Iohn hee was in men who knew him not and so in them who did not beleive in him nor receive him He came to his owne and his owne received him not viz. Those who wer his owne 1. by the Right of Creation 2. by the Right of Donation all men yea and all things wer delivered unto him of his Father and they to wit all men wer given him that hee might enlighten them as hee is given unto them for the same and so distributeth unto them their severall Talents that they might putt them to usury and at his coming to Iudgement might give an account of them Now here some reply That by these words in the 10. 11. vers is understood his coming outwardly in the land of Iudea but I answer as hee came there and was a light in the outward which shined gloriously and yet they did neither know him nor receive him so hee did come in the inward in some measure both then unto them and to all others yea and from the beginning forasmuch as hee hath ever beene the light of the world enlightning every man that coms into it therefore Iohn bears testimony unto him not only in what hee was at present but in what hee had been from the beginning both what hee then was and what hee was to be afterwards So by his being in the world and coming unto his owne cannot be simply understood his coming in the outward excluding his inward coming And bâ—…sides his coming IN THE OUTWARD excluding his inward coming could not so enlighten them that they might beleev But hee came enlightening them so that they might beleve Therfore his coming outwardly is not simply nor principally here understood For to his outward coming the following verses doe rather relate Morover John bare testimony of him saying The Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Iesus Christ by which it is evident that Iohn is here preaching Christ as an universall Light unto all not according to a naturall illumination but according to that which is saving and spirituall Grace and Truth saith he cometh by Iesus Christ. And of his fulnes said hee have we all received Grace for Grace Now what ALL is this only the Saints and Beleevers No for if Saints and Beleevers only received Grace from Christ then no Unbeleevers could ever become Saints and also no Saints ever were Unbeleivers which is false For now when Grace first cometh unto men from Christ out of his fulnes it findeth them Unbeleevers and it is given them while they are such to the end that they may be converted from their unbeleef So then Unbeleevers receive Grace that they may beleeve and Beleevers receive it that they may beleeve more and more yet now some yea many and most Unbeleevers suffer not this Grace which they have received to have its operation in them which would change them and make them Beleevers but like the slothfull Servant hide their Masters mony in the earth in a napkin therefore it doth not encrease nor bring forth the fruits of Grace which it doth in them who yeeld submitt unto its operation But some may say if they had received Grace they had received him and so they should have become the Sons of God according to vers 12. I answer the Word receive hath divers significations 1. If a thing be put in such a place it is said to be received as if Seed be sowne in barren earth So the slothfull Servant which hid his Masters mony in the earth is said to have received it Math 25. 24. But 2. a thing is said to be received when it is suffered to have its due operation in that wher it is put and if not it is said to be rejected so the Earth may be said not to receive the Seed which though sowne in it yet it suffers it not to spring up and the Body which receivs good Physick into it yet resisting the operation thereof it may be said not to receive it but reject it And thus many words in Scripture have divers significations which in one is true in another false and so all men of his fulnes received Grace but some receiâ—…e it no otherwise then the barren Earth or Womb receivs the Seed or as the slothfull Servant his Talent and so it proves their condemnation even as the body which receiving good Physick resisting it and working against it is killed thereby Others receive it so as to yeeld to its operation and so they are as the good Ground which receiving the good Seed bringeth forth fruit some 30 some 60 and some 100 fold Argument 2. From Ioh. 3. vers 16. 17. c. to 22. compared with Ioh. 8. 12. IN these words Joh. 3. from v. 16. to 22. Our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ doth from his owne mouth bear a large and plaine Testimony unto this Truth God said he so loved the world that hee gave his only begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Wherby hee doth shew forth the cause of mans perishing and misery to be from mans owne selfe and not from the Lord for the Lord so loved men that hee sent his Son to save them but men did not beleeve in him whom the Father had sent Now that this love of God is universall towards all men and that the Son is come into all to be a Saviour unto them is manifest in that hee saith God so loved the World that whosoever beleeved in him should not perish But here also they have sought out an evasion to darken and corrupt this clear Testimony by the World say they hee means not all men but only the Elect. In opposition to which I say 1. It s but a meer allegation without any ground for they can shew us no place in all the Scripture wher only the Elect are called the World Indeed evill men and unbelievers are oft called the World and sometyms all men are called the World but no wher the Elect alone But 2. supposing the World wer sometyms understood to be only the Elect yet it cannot be so understood here for that it would render these words of our blessed Lord void of sence and nonsensicall which were blasphemous to think For according to that acceptation the words would
run thus God so loved the Elect that whosoever of them Elect beleevs should not perish which is void of sence forasmuch as none of the Elect but must beleeve and yet the Particle whosoever distributeth those who are understood here by the World into Beleevers and Unbeleevers shewing that God so loved all that hee gave an opportunity unto them to be saved by beleeving and if they did not beleeve their perishing was not for want of the Love of God towards them but because they did not beleev in him whom God had sent 3. In that he sayes God sent not his Son into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saved And yet many are condemned it is manifest that even these who are condemned had an opportunity once to be saved and so the Love of God reached once towards them or elce it might be said God sent his Son even mainly and principally to them for their condemnation Againe in that hee sayes This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and man loved darknes rather then the light These two things are plainly held forth 1. that whoever are condemned it is for loving the darknes rather then the light 2. That the light is come and hath appeared unto them all who are condemned for how can any be condemned for not loving that which never came nor appeared unto them Againe it is plaine that every evill Door hath had the light appearing unto him becaus hee is said to hate it Now hee could not hate that which never appeared nor was manifest and that is the light which reproveth his evill deeds Moreover it is also evident that the light did come unto them in a way wherin they could have been saved becaus their condemnation was that they did not beleeve in his Name but loved the darknes rather But they could not be condemned for not beleeving in that which coms not in a saving way Againe If every one who beleeveth not is condemned for unbelief then they have had a Law commanding them to beleev for wher no Law is there is no transgression which Law could be no other then the Law according to the Grace of spirituall and saving Illumination and not according to a meer Naturall enlightning for no light of a mans owne nature can ever give him a Law to beleeve And farther This Illumination can shew if a mans work be wrought in God therefor it is spirituall and sufficient to salvation Againe Iohn 8. 12. He hears a Testimony to the same Truth I am said hee the light of the World he that followes me shall not walk in darknes but shall have the light of life Now that he is the light of the world lighting it according to a spirituall and saving Illumination is hence manifest and not according to that which is but naturall onely for hee alone that followes him as hee doth spiritually and savingly enlighten hath the Light of Life or is saved And as to their evasion that by the World is meant only the Elect that which is aforsaid doth refute it and besides Christ said to the Jewes many of whom did perish and so were Reprobats While yee have the light beleev in it that yee may be the children thereof But that I may overturne the foundation of this evasion I say none are the Elect of God but in relation unto beleeving in the light and loving thereof and none are Reprobate but in Relation unto their unbelief hating and rejecting it for the Lord never reprobated or rejected any but who rejected the Gift of his Love offered unto them so that whoever are elected they are elected according to the foreknowledge of God who did foreknow or foresee that they would beleev and embrace the offer of his love which is Iesus Christ and whoever are Reprobated are Reprobated according to the foreknowledge of God who did foreknow or foresee that they would reject the offer and not believe yet I doe not say that either the Faith of the one or the unbelief of the other was the cause of Gods Eternall decree which hath no cause without himself but this I say men beleeving are the Object of Election and men disbeleiving and rejecting Iesus Christ are the Object of Reprobation not the moving but the terminating so that their unbelief is not the cause of Gods Decree but the cause of their Condemnation and destruction which is decreed And so in Scripture this gift of the Fathers love the Lord Iesus Christ is said to be disallowed or rejected of men Now they could not have rejected him if hee had not come a light unto them and been truly offered for none can reject that which is not offered And if hee was offered hee could be offered under no lesse Terms then making salvation possible to them for the offer of the Lord doth proceed from a true and reall willingnes to give that which is offered who-ever dare say the contrary doe charge the Lord with hypocrisy and dissimulation which is blasphemous but if the Lord hath a true and reall willingnes to give his Son unto all who reject him Then it was possible for them at sometime to have received him for the Lord willeth nothing that is Impossible and it is below that infinite Goodnes and Nobility of the Lord to offer unto poor men that which it is Impossible for them to receive as now it were below all Ingeunity and Humanity in us to offer Alms unto a poor man in such a way as hee could not receive it as if he were bound in fetters and we should stand at a distance and hold it forth unto him but so as hee could not reach it Argument 3. From Rom. 1. v. 18 19 20 21 c compared with Col. 1. 23. THe Apostle Paul whose Ministry was mostly unto the Gentils and therfore is called the Apostle of the Gentils doth in this Epistle hold forth many things concerning the Gentiles both as touching the Priviledges which they had received from the Lord and also the use that they made of them some improved them to advantage but others and that for the most part did misimprove them for which the Lord was provoked against them to give them up to a Reprobate mind And this hee doeth according to the Wisdome given him of God to make way for the more abundant Reception and spreading of the Faith among the Nations which becaus of the want of these outward Priviledges that the Iewes had wer looked upon by the Jewes as out-casts and rejected of God to whom the preaching of the Doctrine of Salvation did not belong which was even the error of Peter and his brethren generally till the Lord convinced him thereof by a vision from Heaven Acts 10. Now in this Epistle among divers other things of importance hee declareth these two things 1. That though the Iewes had Priviledges in the outward above the Gentils as the Law and
clear sight of God being not Intuitive but abstractive and so the Creaturs cannot administer or afford unto us the clear sight of God becaus they cannot exhibit or emit unto us the image of God but only some Prints and footsteps of him but the clear sight of God which is the Intuitive knowledge of him can only bee had in the Son as hee is manifest in the expressed Word and Image which is the Light that giveth with open face only to behold him Now though the Invisible things of God may be clearly seene i. e intuitively in the Creatures yet if the Creaturs have no Causality hereof this knowledge cannot in the least be imputed unto the Creaturs and so not unto any naturall illumination which is either acquired or encreased by them And this is a manifest Reason why the Creaturs of this visible world can not be said to be the cause of this knowledge here mentioned becaus no knowledge wee can receive by them though but as by Instruments is a clear seing of the Invisible things of God wheras this here mentioned is a clear seeing of them which might be in the Creaturs but not by them So that if all Creaturs wer removed yea and turned to nothing save only that Creature which hath this clear sight yet the Invisible things o God could be seene As now if I should see clearly some Excellent Object in or through Glasse which if the Glasse were removed I could see as well without it I could not impute any thing to the Glasse as having influence upon my sight So it is as to this sight of God the Creaturs are as it were a Christall Glasse in and through which the Beauty and Glory of the Lord doth shine which those who are of a pure mind can see in them and through them so that they are no Vail nor hinderance in themselvs and yet they are no cause of this sight neither for if they were removed yet the Lord could be seene Now I shall not say that all these Gentiles had such a sight of the Invisible things of God as to have these Immediate manifestations of his Love Ioy Peace Goodnes and Excellency which the Saints have but there is a Manifestation of God which is in a mixture of Wrath and Mercy Iudgement and Compassion that the Lord administers unto men befor their conversion in order thereunto through which hee appears in them as a Consuming fire and yet not wholly to destroy but to purifie them and consume the iniquity Which Manifestation cannot be imputed unto the Creatures without but is inwardly felt and seene And such a Manifestation had these Gentiles and in some measure every man that coms into the world otherwise hee could not be left without excuse if he had not clearly seene somewhat of the Invisible things of God even his Eternall Power and God head revealing his wrath from Heaven against all ungodlines and unrighteousnes which is called a clear sight in respect of the Wrath and Iudgement of God made manifest in them becaus of sin And thus farre every Eye shall see him who have pierced him that is to say caused the Seed to suffer in their owne particulars But 3. By the things that are made if any man will so translate the words may be understood those things which are inwardly made those marvelous works of the Lord which are wrought in mens hearts both of Judgement and Mercy through the appearance of God and the Revelation of his almighty arme and power in that Heavenly and Divine Principle of his owne Seed by which indeed the Invisible things of him are clearly seen And untill a man come to see the Lord in the things that are made of him in himselfe hee can never see him in the things that are made without him which gave occasion to many of the Gentile Philosophers to bid people seek God within themselvs as Seneca said Intra te quere Deum i. e. Seek God within thy self But now if a man would seek God within himselfe and desire to see him clearly and enjoy him hee must seek him in the Divine Seed and in the things that are made therin and thereof hee must seeke him in the righteousnes purity holines meeknes and temperance which spring up in the Divine Seed and are the works of God and the things which are made by which hee is clearly seene and also enjoyed and possessed for this Seed and the Birth thereof by the springing up of these Heavenly powers and vertues which issue there from Can and doth truly represent the Divine Pâ—…wer aâ—…d God head being the expresse Image of God This hath beene the Lamentable losse of many who have sought God even within themselves that they might see him and enjoy him but have sought him in the naturall illumination and in the perishing and corruptible thoughts and imaginations willings runnings of their owne hearts which are a Vail to darken and blind the Eye instead of helping it to see him wheras they should have sought him in the Divine Seed which generally they set at naught for it has beene the stone that the builders in all ages have despised and trode upon and held it in unrighteousnes but to us who beleeve it is precious and therein and thereby wee have seen those things of God which are too wonderfull for us to declare Now where these heavenly and Divine works of Truth and Righteousnes and Holines are made and brought forth in the Divine Seed there the Lord hath his Throne which is as it were built of these heavenly materialls these Saphirs and Carbuncles and Precious stones according to which it is said Psal. 89 14. Iâ—…stice and Iudgement are the habitation of his Throne and Mercy and Truth shall goe before his face For here doth the Glory of the Lord manifest it selfe as the Heavens here is the Lord seene and tasted and enjoyed as hee is all sweetnes all love all meeknes and gentlenes his Anger and Wrath and severity being turned away which was manifested in the day when Iniquity had power in the heart But as David said If I goe up to Heaven thou art there also Now as the heart where Righteousnes and Holines Purity and humility have place doth represent Heaven wherin God dwelleth and revealeth himselfe in most sweet and comfortable manifestations so the heart where unrighteousnes unholines pride and impurity c. have place doth fitly represent Hell yet even in this Hell God is and doth make his Invisible power and God-head clearly to be seene therin but not in the sweet and comfortable manifestations aforesaid but in such as are very dreadfull and terrible as a consuming fire to devour the Adversary As an angry and Jealous God all anger all wrath all severity and Iustice and no otherwise to be Immediatly seene till iniquity be turned from only unto whom the day of their visitation yet remains the mercy and Compassion of the Lord doth let
Christ and the things by them published and taught were beleeved and received among those unto whom they were sent and if any beleeved not as many did not beleeve they were left without excuse for that there was that in their very hearts that did answer unto the truth And hereby their ignorance may appear who object that if there be an inward principle which doth or can teach all things pertaining unto truth and righteousnes then all outward teaching of men is in vaine Whereas the plaine contrary is the true consequence For were there not an inward principle to teach them all things and to enable to beleeve and performe the things which are required all teaching of men would be in vaine BECAUS that there would be nothing in people to answer or witnes unto the truth of what is taught by which they could be convinced or perswaded nor would there be any thing in them by which they could doe the things required of them and this would indeed make all teaching as vaine as for a man to goe teach the things of humane Reason unto a Beast or to exhort it to doe such and such reasonable things becaus in a beast there is no principle of humane reason by which it can be reached either to understand or doe those things Now it is a bad consequence thus to argue there is a principle of reason in every man therefore it is needles that there should be any men to teach unto others the things of reason wheras this is the great and onely encouragement that the greatest Masters in the things of naturall Reason as in the sciences Physicall and Mathematicall have to teach in that there is a Principle of Reason in their Schollars to answer unto the truth of the things taught by them who beleeve those things not simply becaus of their Masters authority but becaus of that evidence which the Principle of Reason in themselvs giveth unto them And for as much as there is an universall Principle of Reason in men therefor it is that men are so usefull unto one another in propagating knowledge in the things thereof and so it is as touching the things of Faith and Godlines becaus there is an universall Principle of Faith and Godlines in all men which is the free gift of God therfore it is that men can be so usefull unto one another in the propagation thereof and the knowledge thereunto appertaining so that those in whom this Principle is raised and come to have its free course and operation are only appointed to be usefull unto others in a ministry for the raising up of the same Principle in them and turning them towards it most pertinently therfor doth the Apostle according to the Wisdome given him of God hold forth this universall Principle of the Grace of God which hath appeared unto all men bringing salvation as the cause why Titus should exhort all unto those things which did pertaine unto Godlines Now this place of Scripture is such a plaine proof of this blessed truth that a plainer cannot be desired and yet our adversaries goe about to cast a mist of darknes over it by their old corrupt glosse that by all here is again meant not Singulagenerum but Genera singulorum i. e. not all particulars but some of all sorts Which is so frequently before refuted that I need say the lesse here But doe they think so to baffle the understanding of people that they must take their meaning all along of such plaine and full scripture proofs only becaus they say it and that it crosses their private and narrow spirit This acceptation of the word all and every given by them is but improper and seldom used in Scripture in respect of the many times it is used in an universall fence and shall wee therefor passe from the proper and more usuall sence of the word becaus of their bare affirmation Indeed they have but too long Lorded it over the consciences and understandings of people to get them to beleeve any thing for truth if they have but said it but now an Eye is opening among many and will open yet more abundantly to see their nakednes and not any more to take things upon trust from them as they have done And truly it is the singular providence of God that in all these places which hold forth this universall gift of God there is abundant matter in the very words or before or after to evince the truth and overturne their false and unsound glosse therabout as there is also here for now the Apostle bids teach and exhort not only some of all sorts but all not some aged Men Women yong Men yong Women and Servants but ALL among whom hee lived and to whom hee had opportunity and this is the Reason he gives for the grace of God hath appeared unto all Teach instruct exhort ALL even all particulars becaus the grace of God hath appeared unto ALL and a litle after in the next Chapter vers 4. 5. hee giveth the originall cause and spring from whence this universall gift did slow upon all men even the kindnes and love of God towards man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whâ—…ch signifieth the love of God towards Mankind in the generall which comprehends all particulars without exception of any as even the terme Man doth generally signifie in scripture and therefor as the Lord had appeared in love and kindnes towards all men hee wisheth them herein to be like unto their Heavenly Father to be gentle shewing all meeknes unto all men that is not to some of all sorts but to all particulars vers 2. Againe This doth overturne their glosse that in all even all particulars there is such a principle to be found which teacheth to deny the lusts of the world and to live soberly and righteously and the same which teacheth to deny the worldly lusts saith the Apostle teacheth to deny ungodlines and the same which teacheth to live soberly and righteously hee saith teacheth to live Godly and hee doth not tell us of a naturall light which can teach to live soberly and righteously but of the grace of God and which is such a Grace that it bringeth salvation with it according then to the Apostle it is the very saving or salutiferous Grace of God which teacheth to deny the lusts of the world and to live soberly and righteously and such a principle I say is to be found in all men and our Adversaries themselvs confesse that there is an universall Principle in all men teaching sobriety and righteousnes betwixt men and men but they will not acknowledge that it teacheth or can teach Godlines or to deny ungodlines wheras the Apostle holdeth forth the same which teacheth the one to be that which teacheth the other Now if it be objected Then why are not the things pertaining unto Godlines as universally knowne as the things pertaining unto temperance and righteousnes among men I answer becaus the principle
so weak and small being onely a very small remnant or Relict of what man had before the fall To this I reply and say Answ. That this very Answer then grants it to be still of a saving nature in so much that if it save not this or that man in whom it is it is not any defect in the nature but onely in the degree or quantity of it But others that foresee the consequence of this concession will not allow it For if it be saving in the nature of it though it be the least of all seeds yet it may save as Christ compared the tru seed of Regeneration unto a Very little thing even the least of all seeds But that they say this universall pricciple is only som relict of that supernaturall Light which Adam had before the fall and nothing de novo or of a new superadded is not to be granted For if by supernaturall Light they understand the image of God in man that image did wholly dye the light thereof become wholly extinguisht and so the image remayned indeed in man but as a dead body without life or as a candle whose light is blown out and extinguished for the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world and by the fall Christ came to be crucifyed in man Viz. according to the life of the expressed word which being crucified he is said to be crucified though according to the life of the word as it is immanent or dwelling in God and not externally emanant or expressed in man he could never suffer or be crucified And thus as that supernaturall principle became crucified in man through the fall the light thereof came to be wholly extinguished for the light proceedeth from the life An example whereof we have in every naturall thing which liveth Which so soone as they are slain or mortified send forth no more vertu till quickened again And thus a live coale after it is killed giveth no more light till it be revived again by somewhat that is living administred and communicated de novo to it That supernaturall light then which is in all men since the fall is not any relict as aforesaid but some what given of a new to quicken and enlighten the dead body of the divine image and thereby and there through the soule of man which onely can live unto God be a partaker of his life through that life which he breaths into this slain image in which man onely hath fellowship with God according to which man was made in the beginning and because of which he excelled all the other visible creatures for that this divine image expressed or breathed into him whereby he became a living soule i. e. did partake of a life that in the very nature and kind of it excelled the life of all other Visible creaturs which did represent God and give the knowledg of him unto man so far as he was capable of it Now in the last place we have to doe with Arminians and Papists who deny this universall principle to be the grace Evangelicall and consequently that the true seed of Regeneration is sowne in every man which is sufficiently refuted from what hath been said For if this Light or principle be given a new to quicken and raise up the divine image which dyed and was slain by mans fall what can it be but the tru seed of Regeneration For any other principle would be altogether Heterogeneous and so could not serve to quicken or raise it up Let also the many excellent Scripture proofs adduced and opened in the 2 Section and elce where be but well weighed and considered and it will plainly appear that the grace they declare of is truly Evangelicall being called the word of faith and the Gospell Rom 10 8. v. 16. compared and Colossians 1. 23. 27. As also John 1. 9. 7. c. where it s called the tru light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world that all through him might beleeve c. SECTION III. The objections of any seeming weight answered Object 1. NAturall and unconverted men are said Ephes 5. 8. to be darkness how then can saving light be in them Answ. It may be in them notwithstanding in a seed as well as darkness by your own principles is said to be in the Saints so long as they are in this body who yet are in that place said to be Light in the Lord. Why may not then as well light be in them that are called darkness as darkness according to your principles be in them that are called Light in the Lord yea it must have been in them while darkness or they could never have been brought out of that state to be light in the Lord for t' is by the shining of the true light in such that those that resist not its operation come to be so changed Object 2. All men have not faith therefore all men have not saving light Answ. I deny the consequence For faith is the effect of this saving light onely in those that resist not its meek and gentle operation not in those that resist it for in them it produceth not faith but condemnation so we grant all men have not faith hope love nor any of those blessed effects and Vertues of the spirit mentiond Galat. 5. 22. 23. which the Saints alone or the converted onely have but this hinders not but that all might have them the seed which would bring forth these fruits in them did they not oppress it being in them Object 3. Some are said Jude 19. Not to have the spirit Therefore such have no saving light Answ. The word have hath various significations sometimes it signifyes possession enjoyment union and thus all have not the spirit Yea thus none but the Saints have it Other whiles it signifies the presence or in-being of the Spirit in men according to that influence of light and life which prepareth for union and enjoyment and thus all men have the spirit so long as the day of their Visitation remaineth Object 4. It 's said the World cannot receive the spirit of truth because it sees him not neither knows him Therefore c. Answ. The same answer servs For the word receive as well as have is of Various acceptations Thus the World can neither receive nor know the spirit of truth as to union possession and fruition of it But the world that is worldly naturall carnall men may receive the spirit according to that influence which prepareth for union c. for many a wordly and naturall man hath become a child of God But how could any man witness such a change but by receiving the word and spirit of truth while naturall and carnall as it s said as many as received him to them he gave power to become the Sons of God By which receiving here is understood beleeving but there is a more generall receiving of the Spirit by which unbeleevers may come to beleeve
They instance indeed many that knew not all these things quoting Scriptures that speak so of many of them but not of all Now to argue from the particular or particulars to the universall is but an unreasonable way of argumentation and no better then to conclude all men to be blind because some are so Thirdly I have already shewed in Argument 3. 4. and 6. from Rom 1. 2. and 10. Chapters that some of the Gentiles who were under no outward administration of the Gospell did call upon the Name of the Lord and were saved and so consequently knew both sin and the remedy thereof the Lord Jesus But what though they knew not the outward Name if they knew the Nature the Spirit the life which slays sin and cures the soule It is not the meer outward name that saves but the life the power of Christ that quickens cleanses purifies and by this they might besaved For it is the life that saveth Rom. 5. 10. I also shewed from Rom. 2. That some of these Gentiles did so fulfill the Law of God that they were accounted the Iews and circumcision in heart before the Lord had praise of him and were iustifyed And this was a great error among the Jews that the Lord had not a people among the Gentiles who were accepted of him yea it was even the mistake of the Apostles themselvs till the Lord convinced Peter by a vision from heaven Acts. 10. But after he was convinced both by the heavenly Vision as also by meeting with Cornelius a Gentile and uncircumcised and yet a just and devout man one that feared God and all his houshold he broke forth with these words of a truth I now perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that fears God and worketh righteousness is accepted Which plainly imports that there were some in divers Nations who both feared God wrought righteousness and were accepted And what do those words Acts 10. 28 call thou no man unclean import but that God hath not absolutly passed by any man without giving him an opportunity by which he might be saved But say they Paul said he had not known sin but by the Law Rom. 7. wheras you say the light by which he might have kown sin was with him from his child hood again he saith when the commandement came sin revived and he dyed how can this be understood of that Light which was with him from his child hood Answ Very well yea how can it be understood of any thing elce but that Light which now so wrought in him that he saw that which before he saw not For though the Light was with him from his child-hood yet his mind was not turned in towards it and so he did neither see nor know sin so distinctly as was needfull for him to be saved from it And so though the Law in the light and the commandement came unto him from his child-hood yet it came not in that power and force as afterwards when his mind came to be turned towards it For the power of the Light is then onely sufficiently felt in its discovery of sin and the remedy thereof as the mind is turned towards it Besides this Argument lies much more forcibly against the Scriptures being this Law and commandement not onely because he had the outward Law and commandements in the Scripture from his childhood and was always directed to it as his rule and trained up at the foot of Gamaliel a Doctor of this Law But also because the Law never said more at one time then at another to him or any man so that the change that was made in him cannot be ascribed to the Law which he was always a very zealous Professor of but to that light which opened his mind to the understanding of the things of God by which he might understand the Scriptures But they urge further this Light cannot discover the Birth Sufferings death Resurrection and Ascention of the Lord Iesus in the outward the knowledg of which is essentially necessary to salvation Therefore c. Answ. Our own experience teaches us the contrary for we never came to know the mistery of his birth death sufferings as to the true and comfortable use thereof till our minds were turned to the Light And how did the wise men from the East know him Surely the star which outwardly appeared unto them had never been sufficient had not his starre i. e. his Light shined in their hearts Also how did the Centurion and the Canaanitisch woman know and acknowledge him in the outward had greater faith in him then the very Jews And how did the disciples themselvs know him For his outward appearance simply was not sufficient to convince them yea he forbad them to judge according to the outward appearance Of this matter John gives a clear account who first declares him as he is as the light that lighteth every man before he declareâ—…h of him in the outward Forasmuch as he could be known onely by the Light even what he was outwardly By this it was that they beheld his Glory as the Glory of the onely begotten Son of God full of grace and truth But the unbeleevers who beleeved not in the Light wherewith he had enlightned them and whose minds were turned from it in to their own carnall reasonings did not know him though they had the Scriptures that testifyed of him and saw and heard of miracles that he did for they neither knew him nor the Scriptures being gone from his inward appearance in his own Light in their hearts which would have discovered both him in the outward and the Scriptures testimony concerning him But that the knowledge of him as in the outward is of necessity unto salvation we grant not save onely where it is revealed and there it is very usefull and comfortable Yea our very adversaries do not affirme that all who ever were saved had or absolutly behoved to have an express and distinct knowledge of his outward coming For they grant that children may besaved who by reason of their infancy cannot have that knowledge Now if so why may not also some men who are as it were but children infants even babes in Christ as to Spirituall knowledg be saved without that cleare distinct knowledge of his outward coming being borne of his Spirit and sucking in the sincere milk thereof Surely such can never perish Yea the very disciples themselvs were for a season ignorant of the mystery of his death sufferings Resurrection and Ascention Object 22. The Divell or Sathan hath that in him which reprovs him of sin but yet works not at all in him any possibility of being saved Therefore that which reproveh for sin is not universally saving Answ. This is a fallacy called transitio de genere in aliud genus i. e. a passing from one kind to another As to argue from the Devill or Devills to men That because that which
that are to come but we must not limit the Lord so as to have this accomplished in our time but patiently wait the Lords season Object 30. If that Light which was in the Gentiles had been of an Evangelicall nature as you say it is then it would have taught them Evangelicall precepts Viz. to love enemyes bear injuries without revenge overcome evill with good c. which are things which no humane light reason or naturall faculty of man can teach much less bring any man to the practice of Answ. It doth appeare that many of the Gentiles who had not the Scriptures did not onely teach these Doctrines but also in a large measure practise them patiently suffering injuries not onely without revenge but shewing love meekness and rendring good for evill Seing then that this objection ingenuously grants that no naturall power of man could teach or lead to these practises evident it is that that in them which taught and enabled them to obey the truth in these things was supernaturall and Evangelicall G. K. POSTSCRIPT AND because some through ignorance in History have presumed to affirm that none of the Heathens so called knew or practised such things for the conviction of them and a generall service to the truth we shall here alledge some remarkable examples to evince the truth of what is affirmed in those particulars which made Aristotle in his Ethicks lib. 10. chap. 4. 7. say they that did these things did them not as men but as having some thing divine or of God in them Not then to quote at large the Noble Testimony given by Palladius Ambrosius and others concerning Dindimus King of the Brachmans as they are at large published in Latine and Greek and printed in London by T. Raicroft 1668. intituled Palladius de Gentibus Indiae Bragmanibus S. Ambrosius de moribus Brachmanorum Anonymus de Brachmanibus As also another in the high Dutch language inittuled Historie von dem grossen Konig Alexander c. Yerzo auffs new aus der alten Ceutschen sprache in druck gebracht Printed anno 1642. All which do relate the excellent and Christian Evangelicall lessons given by the said Dindimus to Alexander who sent Ambassadors to him to require him to come to him promising him great rewards if he did losse of his head if he did not this in the Name of Alexander the King of all men Son of the great God Jupiter But Dindimus smiling at this Vapour and not moving his head from the leavs he lay upon answered God the great King never begot injury but light peace life the water body and soules which he also receivs when they have finished their course nor was he ever the author of lust This is my Lord and onely God who as he hates murther so he wageth not war c. And a little further he saith The things that I seek I easily attaine to those things which I regard not I am not to be driven to If therefore Alexander take my head he shall not destroy my soule which will return to the Lord while the body which was taken out of the earth shall therunto return For I being made a Spirit shall ascend unto my God who included us in the flesh and placed us upon this earth to try us whether we being gone forth from him would live unto him as he hath commanded who demands an account of those that depart for he is a judge of all injuries and the sighs of those that are injuriously treated become the pains of those that injure them Let Alexander then threaten those that love silver and gold and feare death neither of which hath place among the Brachmans who do neither feare the one nor love the other Go therefore and tell Alexander Dindimus wants him not and if he wants Dindimus let him come to him Which being reported to Alexander he was the more desirous to see that single old man that could conquer him after he had conquered so many Nations And so coming to him said I come to heare a word of wisedome from thee whom I hear dost converse with God To whom Dindimus replyed Very willingly would I administer to thee the words of the wisedom of God hadst thou but place in thy mind to receive the gift of god administred But thy mind being filled with various lusts insatiable avarice and a devilish desire to rule which fights against me and my designe of drawing thee off from destroying Nations and shedding humane blood is in all things contrary to the wisedome by which I and the Brachmans are led who worshipp God love men contemne gold despise death and slight pleasures whereas Alexander and his feare death love gold covet pleasure hate men and despise God adding how can I speak unto thee the words of the wisedome of God whose cogitations are so filled with pomp ostentation and inordinate lusts that a whole world is not able to satiate thee however he refused not to give him that councell which Alexander was as he confessed convinced in his heart was good but could not follow Viz. to cease warring against men without engage himself in another warfare against the enemies within himself his lusts his affections his desires if he desired to be rich indeed and to be a true Victor assuring him that all his power all his hosts all his Riches all his Pomp would at last not availe him any thing But saith he if thou wilt hearken to my words thou shalt possess of my goods who have God to my friend whose inspiration I injoy within me Thus thou shalt overcome lust the mother of penury which never obtains what it seeks Thus thou shalt with us honour thy self by becoming such as God had created thee Adding though thou slay me for telling thee these proffitable things I feare not For saith he I shall return to my God which created all things who knows my cause and before whom nothing is hidden I know not saith he whether thou shalt be so happy as to find thy self perswaded by my words but I assure thee if thou be not when thou art departed hence I shall see thee punished for thy actions heare thee lament with deep and sharp sighs the misery thou hast put many to c. Viz. when thou shalt have no other companion then the memory of the evills thou hast heaped up upon thy self For saith he I know the pains justly inflicted by God upon unjust men Then thou shalt say unto me Dandamis how good a counseller wert thou to me c. These things Alexander heard as t is said of Herod concerning John the Baptist not onely without wroth but with a placid countenance replyed O Dandamis thou true teacher of the Brachmans I have found thee the most excellent amongst men by reason of the Spirit that is in thee I know all that thou hast spoken is true God hath brought thee forth and sent thee into this place