Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	deed_n	light_n	manifest_a	2,272	5	9.7572	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86663	The cause of stumbling removed from all that will receive the truth; and from before the eyes of the wise men of London: in a treatise shewing the difference between the spirit of a man which is the candle of the Lord, and the light which hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world. Also shewing ... there is not diversity of lights and spirits, by which they are ministred ... Herein also is a false hosanna, and a false testimony reproved ... the name of him which hath so long travell'd to bring forth wind and confusion, is one known in the city of London by the name of Iohn Iackson ... that so ... understanding and knowledge of the truth may be increased, in those that follow on to know the Lord. Given forth from the Lords servant, Richard Hubberthorne.	Hubberthorn, Richard, 1628-1662.; Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.	1657 (1657)	Wing H3222; Thomason E929_5; ESTC R202544	39,439	35

all truth to them that love it and obey it And that neither the Light nor the Law doth convince of the sinne of unbelief That the Lamp and the Light are convertable terms Thy word is as a Lamp Psal. 119. 105. and that the Light and the Law is one pag. 30. So by this the Light which is the spirit of man or mans Reason and the Law the word which of that which is called a Testimony of the Lords Christ we shall try it with the former testimony of the Lords Christ as it is written in the Scriptures which was given forth from those which were true witnesses First As in answer to these things there is not one Testimony in the Scriptures neither from Prophet nor Apostle that ever said the Spirit of man or mans reason or understanding was the Light which every one that cometh into the world is enlightned withall But the testimony of truth concerning those which followed their own spirits is this The Lord sent his Prophet Ezekiel to cry wo unto the fooli●h Prophets that followed their own spirits and had seen nothing Ezek. 13. 3. Now they were not without the spirit of a man for then they could not be a man as he saith now if they had the Spirit of man and Reason and if this was all eye how was it that they saw nothing when he saith It sees all things so it is not a true testimony of the Light nor of the Lords Christ But the spirit of man is the Candle of the Lord and the Lord having lighted it then it searcheth the inward parts of the belly And David who knew what the spirit of man was and what a Candle was without light and what it was when it was lighted he said For thou wilt light my candle the Lord my God will enlighten my darknesse Psal. 1● 28. So if the spirit of man be the Candle of the Lord then whether doth not Christ enlighten every man which cometh into the world and whether is not that light Christ seeing the spirit is but the Candle and that it must be lighted Another testimony of his is this That it is the property of Light to make manifest Eph. 5. 13. but all things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light pag. 29. And again in pag. 3● saith That it is not in the power of the light as it is in every man so much as ●o call any thing which is done either good or ●vil Answ. Whether of these two contraries must men believe whether the light is able to make manifest whatsoever is reprovable or that there is no● power in i● to call any thing good or evil But by this all men may see that this is not a true Testimony to the Lords Christ nor to his Light Never was there any such Doctrine preached by any that cryed Hosana to the Son of David no● that did give testimony to the Lords Christ That there is not power in the light to call any shing done good or evil Now let all who have received the measuring-Line and the equal Ballance weigh and consider seeing the Scripture saith Whatsoever things is reprovable is made manifest by ●●e Light Is evil deeds reprovable then they are ●ade manifest then you see them to be evil deeds lying to be an evil deed swearing to be an evil deed drunkennesse to be an evil deed covetousnesse to be an evil deed pride to be an evil deed whoredom to be an evil deed false accusing to be an evil deed gain-saying the truth to be an evil deed anger and wrath to be evil deeds and these things are reprovable and as the light doth make them manifest so it reproves them and such are convinced of sin because they believe not in Christ so that unbelief is reprovable and is made manifest by the Light And whereas some say That the Light doth not reprove for the s●n of unbelief that is false for unbelief is reprovable and whatsoever things are r●proveable is made manifest by the Light but he that doth evil hateth the light and will not bring his deeds to the light lest the light should reprove him Ioh. 3. 20. And Iesus said unto certain Greeks and people which stood by him which objected against his words which was no Saints nor believers While y●● have the Light believe in the Light that ye may be the children of Light Ioh. 12. 36. Now he did not bid them believe in that which could not reprove unbelief I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in darknesse And Iesus cryed and said He that believeth on me believeth on him that sent me Also Ioh. 12. 44 46. This Light was not mans reason nor understanding neither was it mans spirit that was the true Light which lighteneth every one that cometh into the world Ioh. 1. 9. Again another false testimony concerning the Light is this That the Light did drive Adam from the voice and presence of God and so far is the Light from leading up to God that it drives the soul from God and keeps him in the fall pag. 53. Answ. This Doctrine is to turn the truth of God into a lye and to call light darknesse and darknesse light for there is no such testimony in the Scriptures that the Light did drive Adam from the voice and presence of God but Adam saith I was afraid because I was naked and I hid my self It was because he had disobeyed Gods voyce not because he was enlightned for the Scripture saith It is your sins that hath s●parated you from God it doth not say that it is the light which hath separated you from God or driven you from him this may well be called a damnable Doctrine or Doctrine of Devils Hath God sent his Son ● Light into the world to drive the souls from God and keep them in the fall Now let all consider and judge that ever knew the Light whether it be darknesse or it be light which drives the soul from God and keeps it in the fall Now this Doctrine being compared with the Scriptures is utterly false and there is few that professe godlinesse in this Nation that can bear it or approve of it and for such as account themselves the highest profession and above forms under the Name of Seekers to publish such a thing in print here it appears that the best of men is but as a Briar and the most upright is sharper then a Thorn-Hedge for the day of thy Watch-men and thy Visitation cometh now shall be their perplexity Mi● 7 4. Now here is a day for tryal that they which can may try the spirits and doctrines whether they be of God Now I shall lay it to that of God in all is it not the work of the Devil to drive the soul from God and to keep people in the fall If so then it is not the work

of the light which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world is not this to call light darkness to say that the light is so far from leading up to God that it drives the soul from God and keeps him in the Fall What is that which leads man out of the fall if the light keep man in it As this is contrary to Scripture and to truth so it is contrary to his own words as in pag. 7. there saying That by the Light is the will and minde of the Creator made known unto man and he sufficiently qualified to see it and understand it Answ. How can these two stand together That the Light drives man from God and keeps him in the fall and again That it makes known the will and mind of the Creator unto him and sufficiently qualifies him to see and understand it This cannot truly be called Hosana to the Son of David no●A Testimony to the Lords Christ but a Line of Confusion which is stretched out wherein darknesse is come forth as a Cloud and spreads it self over the earth to darken peoples minds from the knowledge and understanding of truth by words without knowledge but his folly shall proceed no further unreproved and made manifest Another false Testimony concerning the light is this That at first it moved upward and man could look God in the face and serve him but now since the fall the Thief is got into the Candle and now the Spirit burns downward and discovers the things beneath Ans. What is the nature of the Light cha●ged or is the Spirit so changed that before it ascended upward and now downward We shall try this according to the Scripture which saith Who knoweth the Spirit of man that goeth upward and the spirit of a Beast which goeth downward to the earth Eccles. 3. 21. so then if it goes downward it is the spirit of a Beast and not the spirit of a man And here it is plainly evident that he knows not the spirit of a man from the spirit of a Beast so unfit to cry Hosana to the Son of David or bear testimony to the Lords Christ But as for the Light which hath enlightned man that cometh into the world the fall did not change the quality of the light for the light is the same as it was but darknesse cannot comprehend ●t neither knows how to give a true testimony of it but confusedly speaks of two lights the one springing up with man in his natural birth sutable to his natural birth and another light sutable to the new birth that is born of the spirit This is a testimony which is not to be found in Scripture to be two Lights sutable to the two births for he that is born of the flesh persecutes him that is born of the Spirit and God hath put enmity between the two Seeds but to say that there is two lights sutable and so the one natural and the other spiritual the one of the earth earthly and the other of the Lord from Heaven as the two births are this is not a testimony according to truth for the light is but one and the spirit of truth is but one and the same spirit which led the Saints which believed into all truth the same did convince the world of sin because they did not believe in Christ Ioh. 16. ● And that light which is the condemnation of the world who love the darknesse rather then Christ the same is the Saviour of all them that believe and one man loves it and another hates it yet it is the same light Ioh. ● 19 but the Scriptures bears no such testimony as that there is two lights in man the one spiritual and the other natural and for any man to say that the light of Christ is natural is blasphemy against the Son of God and is a sin not easily forgiven and it is hard for such to find the place of repentance for every one that comes to repentance must first come to the light which Christ hath enlightned them withall and must know it to be spiritual and confesse it so and with this light come to discern the two births the one from the other and their several natures and how that the one birth is guided by the light it being as the eye giving them to see what to speak before they speak and so keeps them out of the worlds line which is confusion and as a Teacher giving them to understand what to do before they do it and so keeps them out of the condemnation bringing their works before-hand to judgement and so their works are wrought in God who answer the light which they be enlightened withall but the light is not sutable no● according to that birth which is born after the flesh but condemns that in all its wayes and actions and is given to lead the creature out of that nature and out of that birth into the regeneration to lead out of the deeds of darknesse and out of the shadow of death into the living inheritance among those that are sanctified in Christ Jesus Another testimony concerning the light relating to the two Covenants is this That as there was a new Covenant diverse from the former the old so there must of necessity be another light to accompany it diverse from the former that is as then mans spirit so now the spirit of the Lord c. page 35. Answ. Ther● are diversities of gifts but the same spirit and there are differences of Administrations but the same Lord and there are diversities of opperations but it is the same God which worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12 4 5 6. Now all people is to know that there was a ministration different from the administration of the Gospel the new Covenant a different administration from the old but there is no necessity that it be ministred from another spirit nor from another Lord nor from another Light therefore to say that because the Covenants or Admini●●ration● are diverse one from another that therefore it must not be the same spirit but the one by the spirit of man the other the spirit of God and that the light● is to be diverse the one from the other this is a false Testimony ●o●●●● same spirit in which the Law was administred the first Covenant ●● the same was the second administred which doth make perfect according to the conscience Now as all people is brought o●● of their o●● inventions and imaginations and from following their own spirits to own the light of Christ which hath enlightned them they shall know the diversities of Administrations and the diversity of opperations and yet but one Light and one Power and one Spirit and not as many lights as births nor as many spirits as opperations not every Administration to have a diverse light to accompany it for though there be that are called gods whether in heaven ●r in earth as there be gods many and lords many but to

line of thy knowledge and understanding for thou thy self confessest that unto those first beleevers Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob Moses David Daniel and the rest there was communicated unto them a Spirit of Faith and a Light sutable and proportionable whereby they were enabled to behold Christ who was the object of their Faith Then if it did arise from the Spirit of Faith within them and the light of Christ who was the Author of their faith it did not arise from the Declaration of God in the promise without so that the mystery of faith which is held in a pure conscience is yet to be learned which was witnessed amongst the Saints So when thou writes again of the Law of Works or the law of Faith or the discovery which the Lord maketh to his creature under the diversities of these administrations keep back to the measure of the gift of God and then will thy testimony be no larger than thy knowledge which is a guilt hath spread over many in these dayes But this I say Blessed is the man which doth not condemne himself in the thing which he alloweth and which doth not destroy himself with the breath of his own mouth But there is a Generation which their own breath as fire shall devour them Again concerning the Light which every man is enlightned withal which is thy stumbling block and rock of offence as it is unto all the rest whose deeds are evil Thou saieth God hath not annointed it to that work nor laid the weight of eternal Salvation upon the shoulders thereof it being too weak for that service Answ. Him hath God annointed who is the Light of the world and hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world and there is no work of eternal Salvation wrought but in the light which every man is enlightened withal and this light is of him and from him which bears the sins in his own body and is not too weak for that service which the Father hath given him to do and this light is Christ and whereas some say Hath every man Christ every man hath Christ to save or to condemne him Christ is as truly the condemnation of those whose deeds are evil as he is the Saviour of them that believe and as those that believe in the light are already saved by Christ so also those that believe not in his light which he hath enlightened them withal are already condemned and so Christ is near unto every one to answer every mans work according to the nature of it whether he serve sin unto death or be found in the obedience of truth unto eternal life for now is the day appeared to try every mans work of what sort it is and now is many offended because the light is broken forth and their eye is evil because the Lords is good But wo unto the world because of offences if any have the spirit of a King let them search out the cause of the offence which is now broken forth amongst the children of men that the enmity which is in all sorts of people of all professions should rise up together and become a body the wicked joyning hand in hand preaching and printing and crying for unity which they are making up of enmity that they may be strong against that which the Lord hath now brought forth in his light and power to be witnesses unto him in every place wheresoever he doth call them witnessing forth his mercy and truth by which iniquity is purged out and preaching the Gospel freely to every creature whereby they may come to the knowledge of the truth that they may be saved But in the world it is so come to passe in these dayes that he that can but give reviling terms and hard speeches against the light which Christ hath enlightned every man withall calling it natural or insufficient and if they do but revile those which they call Quakers and put this in the beginning of his Book then it passeth with toleration and have as good approbation from the world as any of the Priests have for their Ministry but if any man begin to speak of the light within and the annointing within and the word of faith in the heart and of the mystery of faith in a pure conscience and of the sprinkling of the heart from an evil conscience and of believing in the light as Christ said such a one speaking of these things and not directing his speech in open reproach against them called Quakers the peoples hearts will be filled with jealousie lest he be one So that even the light is become a reproach unto them and their dirision daily but the Lords hand is turned against all such and he is turning the wise men backward and making their wisdom become foolishness For once there was a seeking after light in many that it might rise and open the things of God unto them and reveal the mysteries of his life whereby their souls might be satisfied and now when it is risen in many and hath brought forth its powerful effects now the man of sin hath his time and doth prevail in many to make them believe that it is not the light which is able to save the souls of them which believe in it and doth beget a spirit of jealousie in them which is stronger than death and begetteth a fear in them which worketh torment and many now doth fear and are jealous that that light is not the Christ which hath enlightened them and every one which cometh into the world and this is the work of Satan in the hearts of the disobedient which as every one comes to obey his light and to answer his perfect love to them which is manifest in the light that fear will be cast out and life will be given to that witness of God which once did breath after his life without which the soul cannot rest nor be satisfied and this shall many come to witness as the man of sin comes to be revealed which letteth and will let until he be taken out of the way and then shall they see at what they have stumbled and by what they have been overcome and then they will know that it had been good for them if they had walked i● the light of the Lord insteed of setting themselves against it and as the light it self by such before mentioned is denyed so the testimony which the children of light give of it is also despised and contended against as if it were not to be owned for a Doctrine of truth which doctrine of truth hath been laid often before people and is yet once more that they may consider prove and try and so believe and so be able to give a testimony from the witness of God in themselves First We say that Christ is the light of the world according to his own words Ioh. 8. 12. And again we say That he hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world

THE CAUSE OF STUMBLING Removed from all that will receive the TRUTH and from before the Eyes of the Wise men of LONDON In a Treatise shewing the difference between the spirit of a man which is the candle of the Lord and the light which hath enlightned every man that cometh into the WORLD Also shewing that though there be diversity of Administrations yet there is not diversity of Lights and Spirits by which they are ministred And shewing by clear testimony what the more sure Word of Prophesie is which the Apostle Peter exhorts the people to take heed unto untill the day did dawne and the day-star arise in their hearts Herein also is a false Hosanna and a false testimony reproved and a false witness is rejected and an untimely birth cast out though for the time of Travel it might have been a monster being above two yeers but in the end is brought forth for destruction the name of him which hath so long travell'd to bring forth wind and confusion is one known in the City of London by the name of Iohn Iackson being by the truth of this following made manifest That so by every motion of the Spirit of Truth and every testimony given from it Understanding and Knowledge of the Truth may be increased in those that follow on to know the LORD Given forth from the Lords servant Richard Hubberthorne For this end was I born and for this end came I into the world to bear witness unto the Truth Joh. 18. 37. Every one that is of the Truth heareth my voyce Spoylers shall come up out of the North which shall spoil Babylon Jer. 51. 48. London Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth neer Aldersgate 1657. THE Light is broken forth as the morning and the health of the Nations is in it and is springing forth speedily and the righteousness of the righteous Seed is going forth before them and the glory of the Lord is revealed to his Seed which now calleth and the Lord doth answer Here am I and the Lord hath made and is making his Seed as a watered Garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not and is raising up the foundations of many generations that people may come to build again upon that Foundation which they have been driven from especially by their Pastors for saith the Lord Many Pastors have destroyed my Vinyard they have trodden my Portion under foot and made my pleasant Portion a desolate Wildernesse and have made Gods Heritage as a speckled Bird the Birds round about are against her and all the Beasts of the Field come to devour Jer. 12. 9 10. And now is the Lord come forth against these devourers even as a Lyon bereaved of her young ones for the Lord will not suffer the spoyle of his Heritage no longer but will dresse his Vinyard that it may bring forth fruit unto him And now is the Lord casting out the blind Vatchmen and the foolish Prophets which have followed their own spirit and have seen nothing and all such is the Lord casting out and his everlasting fire is he kindling amongst them And now I hear a cry of torment going through the Nation Can any kindle a fire among Serpents and they not be offended and shut their stings Can any touch the Vipers but they will smell with venom and when Scorpions are trodden upon will they not shew forth their strength Can that nature suffer death patiently nay patience proceedeth from that Seed which slayeth the enmity and destroyeth the man of sin and therefor● as we have one Seed to witnesse for so there is one to witnesse against and as it is the work of the spirit of God to approve the things that are of God so it is iis work also to reprove those things which is contrary to sound Doctrine to the end that every one may know as well what to reject and deny as error as what to own for truth and sound Doctrine therefore of necessity must every one be turned to the light which Christ hath enlightned them withall that they may discern what they are to approve and what they are to reprove and that judgement is true which stands in the light and in the measure of the spirit of Truth TO THE READER MEN of low degree are vanity and men of high degree are a lye and the heart of man is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things Hear this ye wise men and foolish the more ye strive against the Lord the more is your wound made incurable and the higher you rise in envy alwaies the deeper is your fall in confusion And now Christian Reader whose heart God hath opened to see and behold the things that be eternal and can truly discern of different causes and between the good and the evil and between the light and the darknesse This Book is sent forth in the pursute and after a Book called Hosanna to the Son of David c. by a namelesse Author whose work indeed was hardly worthy of an honest mans Name though very subtilly craftily he prosecutes his purpose traverses his steps ful cunningly as this worlds wisdom could guide him in which wisdom he cannot know or receive the things of God therefore it cannot be expected that the things of God should be received from that wisdom and though he hath confounded in his words his description of the Light of Christ sometimes speaking well of it and sometimes otherwise and not knowing hardly whereof he hath affirmed his words are so counfounded and mixed in his corrupt reason in giving forth his knowledge of the things of God which he seems to be ignorant of but onely as he hath the knowledge of them from the Letter by which no man can come to the knowledge of God nor of the things of his Kingdom without the revelation of the Spirit of Jesus and the opperation of the same spirit But friends the testimony of God stands sure for ever though men would confound it in their own reason And this is the testimony That Christ lighteth every man that cometh into the world which light is sufficient to lead every man to God or else to condemn every man from God and this testimony is true notwithstanding all the opposition against it and it shall abide sure for ever though men strive never so much in the gain-saying of it And this is the testimony which we have born and shall bear to the end and who believes it and who believes it not this is the hand of the Lord according to his pleasure and to him we leave it and so we do and must clear our consciences from time to time while the Lord gives us a being And herein we are a good savour to God and our reward is with him whether Israel be gathered or no Isa. 49. And also this namelesse Author which is supposed to be one Iohn Iackson known in this City hath taken some seeming

us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him howbeit there is not in ●very man that knowledge 1 Cor. 8. 5 6 7. and though there be in the world many lights yet to us there is but one him by whom all things was made which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world that in him all men might believe and as every one believes in this light they shall know that mans reason and understanding is not the light which every man is enlightened withall for some are unreasonable men and some are void of understanding Neither is the spirit of man the light of the world which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world neither is any thing called the light of the world in the Scripture but Christ for saith Christ I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darknesse Ioh. 12. 46. Then spake Iesus again unto them saying I am the light of the world ●● that followeth me shall not walk in darknesse bu● shall have the light of life Joh. 8. 12. and again I am the light of the world Joh 9. 5. And the Messenger which was sent before his face to prepare the way of the Lord and to bear witnesse to the truth said In him was life and the life was the light of men and that was the true light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world Ioh. 1. 4 9. And this is the light which in all ages generations and under all Administrations the Sain●s did bear their testimony in and this light did never change nor alter though ages and generations have changed and men have changed and do change and the minds of men change and their wayes change and their worships change and forms and religions which are not according to the light which Christ hath enlightned them withal which changeth not which as it is followed will lead them out of those ways which do change which is not the living way for the new and living way is one with the light which every man is enlightned withall which is every mans way to the Father who follow it and every mans condemnation who disobey it Another testimony concerning the first man Adam in his first estate without sin the sum of it is this That as h● was at first that is at his beginning made s● that is without sin for so was he made Eccles. 7. 29. upright without crookednesse without invention that this man yea in his purest naturals ●annot receive nor discern the things of the spirit of God until ●e i● born of the Spirit or from above according to Ioh. ●13 8. 3 6. 1 Cor. 2. 14 Answ. This Testimony is false for the first Adam before the Fall was the son of God Luk. 3. 38. and did know and perceive Gods voice and power and he knew Gods command That he should not eat of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil which if he did he should dye the death for he was in Gods Image and the Lord spoke unto him and he perceived it and he had right to eat of the Tree of Life which was in the midst of the Garden and if Adam had continued in that state there needed no Law have been added because of transgression neither had there needed any precept upon precept nor line upon line neither any Teacher nor Instructer of the ignorant for there had no death passed over to seperate God from his creature which he had made in his own image and given him power over all Creatures but to say the son of God in the image of God without sin in uprightnesse and power to say that he is sensual having not the spirit or to say that he is the natural man that cannot receive nor discern the things of the spirit of God this is greater blasphemy then that which the Apostle reproved Rev. 2. 9. in those which said they were Iews and were not but were the Synagogue of Satan and all such whi●● brings forth such mysts of darknesse and and ignorance to blind the eye in people which should see the things of God in clearnesse are to be reprovrd sharply that they may be ashamed and no more bring forth that which is both unnecessary and unseasonable and contrary to truth as Iohn Iackson hath done And further he adds That the natural man which Paul speaks of 1 Cor. 2. 14. and compares it with 1 Cor. 15. 44 45. is not to be taken for the carnal sinful man but for a man in puris naturalibus meerly natural pag. 37. Let all therefore consider Pauls words Which things also we speake no● in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual but the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 13 14 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no man ver. 15. Now whether any man that hath the spirit of God can judge that this is not spoken of carnal sinful men or whether any by the spirit of God can judge that this was spoken of a man in the pure nature without sin and let all who have the spirit of judgement judge whether Adam in the image of God without sin did account the things of God as foolishness unto him and if any so judge let them prove it That in Adams innocency without sin the things of God were foolishness unto him or whether the Crosse of Christ which Paul preached was foolishness unto any but unto carnal and sinful men So every man I exhort to come to that of God in you to know the Salt in your selves to savor withall that you may know that Doctrine that stands in the devised words of mans wisdom and not in the Power of God which would turn the Truth of God into a lye and pervert the minds from the right understanding of the things of God But the day is come which hath brought forth light and knowledge and understanding to the simple whereby they see the deeps which are covered with darkness and they come to see and comprehend mens wisdom and their fountain what it brings forth for how should that which is unclean bring forth that which is clean So that now we do not only know the words of those which have set themselves against the truth but the Spirit and power from whence they speak and so in faithfulness bear our testimony against it that the folly of those may be made manifest unto all men who wilfully oppose the truth and their own selves through wilful blindness and so count themselves unworthy of eternal life exercising their strength wisdom and knowledge to shut up the

kingdom of God against themselves and others labouring to keep all people from the light in the darkness as is made manifest in this Generation How many have set themselves to preach and print against the light which Christ the way to the Father hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world withal But now hath God the Father raised up his own seed according to his promise out of the North to spoyl Babylon Jer. 51. 48. I have raised up one from the North saith the Lord and he shall come from the rising of the Sun shall he call upon my name and he shall come upon Princes as upon Morter and as the potter treadeth clay Isa. 41. 25. The promised seed of the Lord is come forth and is spreading over the Nations as the morning over the mountains and blessed are they that receive their testimony for from the wrath of the Almighty shall they be delivered their bread shall not fail them and their waters shall be sure and their fountain shall never be empty but plentious Redemption shall they daily witness and waters of life shall their thirst be satisfied with and all the noise of the Bruits shall not hurt them for the Lord is with them therefore can they not be afraid nor dismaid at that which cometh to pass upon the earth now because light is risen therefore is the evil eyes offended and have now turned their testimonies against the light to make people believe that it doth the same works that darkness sin and Satan doth which is to drive the soul from God and keep it in the Fall and that it is not able to shew the good or the evil of an action to approve nor disapprove which is true of the darkness but not of the light For there is nothing that doth make manifest those things which are reproveable but the light neither is there any thing which doth bring man from that estate where he is driven from God and lead him out of the Fall but the light and so it is time to come out from among all such for all people that desire to know Gods ways lest they be partakers of their plagues and there be none to deliver for many are hardening their hearts in this day of Gods tender love and mercy and so evil do they requite the Lord that instead of turning at his reproofs that they may find mercy they are in their wisdom devising evil words and reproachful terms against the light by which the Lord doth reprove man for his iniquity and are exercising all their abilities to make the light even as darkness and would exclude the power of God from it When as there is no man that doth receive power nor wisdom from God but in the light which Christ ha●h enlightened him withal therefore is Christ now preached as he declared himself to be the light of the world Ioh 8. and as his messenger declared him to have enlightened every man that cometh into the world and this light is now preached and witnessed to be sufficient to lead unto God all that obey it and to let them see that their works are wrought in God Joh. 3. and is sufficient to be the condemnation of all the world that ha●● it according to Joh. ● 19. And for our thus bearing witness of the sufficiency of the light many are ●isen up against us even sl●nderous tongues such as the poyson of Asps is under but the Lord hath delivered us from them and will manifest his strength unto us in bearing testimony to his light and the power of it against all the powers of darkness and overcome them For God hath given his power to his own seed the Children of light and those that rise up against them it is but that they may be broken to pieces For whosoever falleth on ●his stone they shall be broken to pieces and on whomsoever it falls it will grind them to pouder Object But some men say That the light is not sufficient to lead unto God those that obey and follow it And for a proof saith That Paul did not disobey but follow the light which was in him And yet saith That he obtained mercy because he did it ignorantly which if he had disobeyed the light he had sinned against knowledge so the light in him was either not sufficient to discover to him the error of his way or at least it did suspend its act of enlightening him in the knowledge thereof it check'd him not it convinc'd him not c. Answ. To say that Paul did not disobey but follow the light within him that is false For he followed his zeal in madness and pers●cu●ing the Saints and followed his thoughts which were fals● thinking that he did God service and thinking that he ought to do that which is contra●y to the light and so kick'd against the pricks instead of following th●t which did prick him and as for him in that condition and the rest which persecuted Steven to death though they did it ignorantly yet it was not because they were not enlightened nor because the light was not sufficient to have given them the knowledge of him whom they did persecute but because they did resist that which was sufficient to have given them the knowledge As Steven a man ●ull of the holy Ghost did bear witness saying unto Saul and the rest Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears ye do alwayes resist the holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye which of the Prophets have not your Fathers persecuted and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the just One of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murtherers who have received the Law by the disposition of Angels and have not kept it When they heard these things they were cut to the heart So here is little ground in those for any to say they follow the light within them and to say that they was not enlightened which had received the Law which is light by the disposition of Angels and did not keep it Here they disobeyed that which they had received which was the light and did alwayes resist the Holy Ghost which was able to have led them from the●r disobedience and stiffneckedness and if they did persecute to death for lack of knowledge and so did it ignorantly it was because they rejected knowledge and forgot the law of their God which they had received as the Priests did in Hosea 4 6. and because they did forget the Lord as those did in Jer. 18. so it was not because they were never convinc'd nor never reproved but because they would have none of his reproofs for they would not walk in his wayes neither were obedient to his law But I say Did not Israel know To Israel he saith All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people Rom. 10. 21. Therefore let no more such clamorous speeches come forth as to