sufficient For Paul may plant and Apollo water but it is God that gives the increase and yet the word of God as made known in the holy Scriptures must be our rule to act and live by in order to Gods blessing of Spirit and grace to our regeneration and compleating the same unto eternall life Besides we have no promises of Gods giving his spirit unto sinners that have it not to quicken those that are dead in trespasses and sins but what is made in the letter of Scripture and no promises of any thing but what is writ there Rom. 5.15 all good newes from heaven to lost sinners is writ there they are written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope And yet will you say that all the letter killeth Now Reader lay things together and then judge by all that they have said how true it is that they say they have come off clear in what I have charged them with what difference have they made between the outward declaration and the word of faith which the Apostles preached and writ to the severall Churches if all be but the same as I have cleered from theirs the contradiction and their confused nonsense still remains notwithstanding their bitter censures and shuffles And how notoriously false is that of theirs That not any doth know the Scriptures by the outward declaration when the outward declaration 2. Tim. 3.16 as consisting of words committed to writing is the Scriptures that we plead Rev. 1.17 for a perfect rule the declaration and the matter and sense contained therein but the same all which is the inspiration of God and that which the Spirit saith to the Churches for what the Scriptures saith the Spirit saith because all Scripture is by inspiration of God 2. Pet. 1.20.21 c. And not only John but all the pen-men thereof writ as they were moved by the Spirit of God or the Holy Ghost And hence when you Quakers set up the Spirit to be a perfect Rule of faith and life distinct from the Scriptures it will run you upon these Rocks which you will never evade 1. You must either set up another Spirit distinct from the Spirit of God that gave the Scriptures or 2. Maintain that the same Spirit gives a different rule to that which is written by his own inspiration and so make God not only mutable but contrary to himself which to think is to be abhorred as blasphemous 3. Or that the same Spirit hath given additionall lawes to be the rule above what is written by the Prophets and Apostles on which the Church is built which is hardly so I shall judge untill 1. I see the same divine approbation and confirmation of those Lawes as hath been given of all holy Scriptures 2. And yet those Lawes are as consonant and as agreeable to all the Scriptures as written by the Prophets and Apostles as the Apostles writings are consonant and agreeable to the Prophets 3. And untill they can prove that the Scriptures prophecie of such a change in the Church as to set up superadded Lawes 4. And that themselves are the men that the Scriptures have foretold of to superadde spirituall Lawes in the Church to bind the consciences of all as we affirme that the Scripture doth But to prevent mistakes I grant as they 1. That the Spirit is the rule but then you must understand it as the mind of God is revealed by the Spirit in the Scriptures 2. I grant that we have all need of the illuminating quickning operations and influences of the same Spirit that revealed the rule to enable us to know it and believe it and to apply it to our selves and to applie our selves unto it so as to live unto God in all Christian obedience according to this Rule 3. I grant that the Rule without the blessing of Grace concurring doth not simply of it self enlighten and quicken any nor are any truely and savingly enlightned quickned and renewed but by the revealed word of God as the only means appointed and designed of God to that very end to the intelligent Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10. And of his own good will hath he begot us again by his word Jam. 2.1 And now I shall give a word to my dear friends of Farndon and to all that are abused and drawn aside by these deceivers and the deceits and cheats of their own hearts in hope of a blessing to my poor endeavours who am touched with a deep sense of the sad delusions which at the present you are intangled most desperately in My dear friends Who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth which you have once received with a great deal of joy and comfort to your souls when with constancie and patience you have made a good proâ—ession of the wayes of Godlinesse revealed by the word practised by men and women fearing God in all the ages of the Church of Christ you know the times and places when and where your Spirits have been made joyfull in the house of Prayer and praising of the ever blessed God Your hearts have been heated and warmed by the power of his word and Sacraments the strict observing of Sabbathâ— a constant course of the worshipping God in your families by a serious calling upon the name of the Lord instruction of those under you in the principles of Gods truth and fear and have walked before them in all Godlinesse and honesty according to this word of the Lord which now is in contempt and reproach by those that seduce you as is too obvious to the impartiall as is above cleared and their slanders shifts and shuffles discovered You may see how they have reproached the Institutions and ordinances of our Lord as heathenish by compareing them to that great Image of that heathen King Dan. 3.3 You may see how they deny the Scriptures to be a perfect Rule of knowing God believing in him and living unto him And yet they reproach me to be a lying slanderer in charging them with that which is an apparent truth as I have witnessed by their own lying Papers and thus they have reproached me most falsely and the lyes are returned upon their own heads whilst they witnesse themselves perfect and without sin and have entred the new Jerusalem in which none shall enter that makes a lie My friends some of you have heard William Duesbury say of himself In Duesbury new Births he thus witnesseth of himself that he was as perfect as that Christ which dyed at Jerusalem this is witnessed by one of credit and fidelity amongst your selves I forbeare his name Oh proud polluted Worme that dare exalt himself to a perfection equall with God the everlasting father whose name is called Wonderfull Counseller the Prince of peace the mightie God Isa 9. who fulfilled all righteousnesse from his birth to the consummating of all
of Righteousnesse and true godlinesse are inclined in charity to hope well of you that there is some good at the bottome and life at the root that will spring forth again and make you instrumentall by your sad experiences to warn others The Third Question propounded WHether any thing besides the holy Scriptures is constituted of the blessed God to reveal Jesus Christ as Redeemer and Saviour to the Spirits of sinfull miserable lost man to bring up men to happinesse On whether lost man without the knowledge of Christ as the Scriptures reveal him may attain unto salvation yea or no. The Quakers Answer None can come to Christ but whom the Father drawes by his unlimited power nor know the Father but he whom the Son reveals him and he that thinks to attain the way to eternall life by reading the Letter of Scripture and regards not the light which comes from Christ that witnesseth for God in the secret of the heart and Conscience deceivs himself for the mystery of eternall life is sealed up in the sealed Book which none shall know by the outward Testimonie of Scripture but by the Inspiration of the Spirit of Christ who is the way the truth and the life to all that in his light wait his power them to guide in faithfull obedience to the Righteous and perfect Law of God written in the heart for the exercise of the Conscience which keeps them void of offence towards God and men according to Testimonie of Scripture Act. 24.16.23.1 My Reply Their Answer to my third Question falls upon other Questions but gives no direct Answer at all for the question doth not exclude the power and grace of the Father and the Son from mans attaining unto salvation but is of another thing namely whether faln lost man without the knowledge and use of the Scriptures may in an ordinary way know Christ as Mediator and be saved by him or thus whether God hath and doth exercise his power and Spirit in bringing corrupt man to the knowledge of Christ as Redeemer and believe in him to eternall life without the use and knowledge of the Scriptures ordinarily The Question is not of extraordinary cases and of Gods unlimited power who can do more then he hath any where revealed he will doe but it is of his ordinary course and power that is limited by his word of truth to do what he will in order to the blessednesse of those that wait upon him in those wayes and in the use of such means himself hath appointed in his holy word all other stamps and forms pretending to the knowledge of God and religious worshipping of him or of being saved by Christ are but the superstitious births of deluded fancies that tend to the deceiving and ruin of a mans self and others Their Answer to this is but dark and to little purpose only they say That their Answer doth stand as a witnesse against me and declares the way to the Father and the Son according to Scriptures Matth. 11.27 Joh. 6.44 Which they say my dark mind is a stranger unto who am querying of Gods constituting ordinary means of salvation and of his ordinary way of working to reveal Christ as Redeemer which say they are unlearned Questions and to be condemned with the light which reproves the world of sin and leads to the Son who is the Redeemer and way to the Father Joh. 14.6 Which way is but one and condemnation you must own unlesse thou canst shew us a Scripture that speaks of ordinary and extraordinary way of Gods exercising his power and Spirit or of a limited power of God which words proceed from thy dark Imaginations and not grounded upon Scripture are concluded to be the births of the deluded fancie you speak of Answ By all this we may judge the sum of their Answer amounts to this That my Question is unlearned and to be condemned with the light which reproves the world of sin and leads to the Son immediately without the help of those means God hath appointed to that end and therefore as before the Scriptures and Ordinances therein commanded are not of necessity but this pretended light and Spirit and unlimited power of God is to be attended upon only not regarding any ordinary means whatever though such as God himself hath appointed and doth only reveal in his word as if all those ordinary and usuall helps that God himself commands in his word for men to use to come to the knowledge of Christ and how to be saved by him were superfluous or opposite to the knowing of him c. although the Scriptures were written and all Instructions therein contained for our learning that we might have comfort and hope all others that have not the use and benefit of Scriptures have no hope and without God in the world as hath been spoken to already and yet this they say is an unlearned Question but surely they say so because they know not how to give a direct Answer to it in plainnesse but it wil lay them open to the weakest judgements to be against Christ as Redeemer as the Scriptures teach him which few would hearken unto should they speak plainly But let all men judge of what Spirit these men are of that condemns the Questions as propounded by the light which condemns the world of sin But let them first discover what sin is in these Questions before they rashly condemn them Secondly let them tell us what light is that which reproves for sin if not the mind of Christ and the voice of the Spirit revealed in the Scriptures Thirdly let them prove that the light which they condemn the Questions with is the true light of Christ or else who will regard them How dare those proud Worms condemne the things they know not how to answer but by denying the holy Scriptures and what they teach But what light is that that leads to the Son who is the Redeemer while you disown the light of Scriptures to be the Rule to make out this high discovery Did you ever know or hear of any since Scriptures were that have attained to know Christ as Redeemer and to believe in him to salvation that never heard of Christ by Scriptures or Scripture ministry Doth not the Apostle determine absolutely as to this case and question by severall interrogations Rom. 10. How shall they call on him of whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not so much as heard of and how can they hear without a preacher and how can they preach except they be sent c. And doth he not conclude from these interrogations that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God he urging that necessity of hearing the word of God in order to faith without which it cannot be And therefore it was that he queries the Galatians thus Received ye the Spirit by the Law or by faith preached not by the Law but by
the text and judge me for pleading the holy perfect just Lawes and Institutions of God and Christ that Scriptures teach the only Rule of the Saints obedience as if these were to vanish as making nothing perfect as is very probable that 's their sense Therefore no great matter that I come under their censure when the holy Lawes of God revealed in the holy Scriptures cannot escape their slanders Thus you may see of what Spirit they are of both by their forwardnesse to censure and falshood in their Answer But then in the next paragraph they have another Answer to the same thing where they yeeld 1. That the perfect Law in the heart is the same with that in Scripture but under another Covenant 2. They say this perfect Law of God in the heart is in all that are in the new Covenant 3. Then they say That this Law is perpetually one and the same in all that have it and it admits of no addition alteration nor repeal 4. Where Regeneration is witnessed and the heart quickned by the grace of God his Law is writ in that heart These four things were occasioned upon some queries put to them which for want of my Copy I cannot directly transcribe amongst which Queries one was Whether this perfect Law in the heart gives any Evangelicall discoveries of the person natures offices of Christ which they say is an unlearned Question condemned by the light which gave forth the Scriptures c. Reader mark here they make the Law in the heart the Rule which is perpetuall without repeal as before which directeth them in answering and yet this Law is but a blessing of the new Covenant Another while they say the Spirit is the sole judge and only Rule as you have heard Another while the light of Christ that enlighteneth every one that comes into the world another while the eternall word that was from the beginning which made all things and in their close of all they say written from the Spirit of truth who is the same in all the children of light Thus you see they make the Law written in the heart and the Spirit of truth and the eternal word all one the Law which is promised and given by that one God that made all things is the same that made all things Again one while they plead the work of the Law writ in the hearts of all in the world another while restrain it only to those that are in the new Covenant and regenerate quickned by the grace of God one while man by nature hath no light remaining in him at all but is darknesse another while all in the world are enlightened by Christ They plead a perfect Law within and the same with the Lawes of God in Scriptures and yet condemn me for pleading the Lawes and Ordinances of God in Scripture for a Rule That of the Scripture made nothing perfect say they and yet confesse it the same with that in the heart Surely either these are learned Paradoxes or else absurd contradictions they may do well to clear themselves better and speak plain and directly to the things in hand 1. The Question is still where we read of a perfect Law of God in the heart and where it is made the Rule and ground of the Saints obedience 2. And the Question is whether the Law in the heart be under another Covenant distinct from the perfect law of God as declared in the Scripture 3. And still the Question is what we are to understand by the Law of God in the heart which is the same with Scriptures whether the ten Commandements writ in Tables of Stone only or all those positive precepts of Gospel worship and obedience conjoyned with them also 4. And still the Question is whether the Law in the heart without the use of Scriptures make any evangelicall discoveries of the person natures and offices of Christ as he is Redeemer of lost man 5. And whether all shall be saved that have the Law of God writ in their hearts by vertue of the new Covenant or any be saved that live to years of discretion that know not Christ as the Scriptures testifie of him in order to his coming in the world to save sinners Although these queries have been put to them they will not answer plainly and directly but darkly and with deceit of purpose to evade the strength of truth that is against them should they speak out They quote Psal 19.7 to prove the Law of God to be perfect in the heart but David intended another Law namely that of the Prophets The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple the Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart the Commandements of the Lord are pure enlightening the eyes c. I have given my thoughts how the Law is writ in the hearts of Gods sanctified people and do grant the thing in all that are Godly by vertue of the new Covenant which they accuse me to deny though falsely but this I deny That the perfection of the whole Law of God is writ in any mans heart so as to know it and do it as it is written in the Prophets and Apostles For as Paul saith We know in part and prophesie in part and see but darkly 1 Cor. 13.9.12 So in James in many things we offend all Besides the Scripture doth not say as they do of yeelding faithfull obedience to the righteous and perfect Law of God in the heart and when they speak not according to Scripture it is to be rejected and disowned themselves have granted in their Answer to the second Question And what that other Covenant is the Law in the heart is under themselves have often expressed to be the new Covenant Jer. 31. Heb. 8. And will they deny the Lawes Statutes Ordinances of God in force writ in Scriptures to be a blessing of priviledge as they are means appointed for man to use in order to that end of Gods writing them in the heart by his Spirit Both the outward writing and the inward impression wrought by the power of Divine grace is from the same Covenant witnesse Deut. 4.7 8 9. For what Nation is so great that hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for And what Nation so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which Moses set before them and therefore he warns them to keep their souls diligently lest they forget the Lawes which their eyes have seen and lest they depart from their hearts but teach them thy Sons and thy Sons Sons and so on These words of the Law of God they were commanded to get them in their hearts and teach them diligently to their children when they sate in their houses and walked abroad lying down and rising up chap. 6.6 7. Thus we may see that those that have the
was the true Christ Of a five-fold witnesse and testimony that Christ urged on his own behalf in this chapter this of the testimony of Scripture is one and not the least to prevail upon the credence of that unbeleeving people What they mean by not regarding the light which gave them forth to learn is beyond my understanding to find out What light is that which gave the Scriptures is it not the Spirit of God all Scripture being given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.16 Surely he that regards the Inspirations of God regards the Author of those inspirations for to say a man is obedient to the Scriptures and by search is willing to know Gods will to do it more and yet regards not God that gave it forth is a contradiction in it self but these men assume that in them only is the light which gave the Scripture and hence they judge in that we regard not what they say and write we regard not the light c. and our cleaving to the rule of Scriptures which are the Inspirations of God and not regarding them seems to be the deceit and to wrest the Scriptures to our own destruction as if the Scriptures were writ for mens destruction and deceit and not for their learning comfort and hope but that place in 2 Pet. 3.16 is spoken of unlearned and unstable men that wrest not only some hard places but also the other Scriptures to their own destruction and therefore bids the Church beware lest being drawn away by the error of the wicked they fall from their own stedfastnesse Oh the giddinesse and unstability of these mens Spirits that have runned from Sect to Sect till they have run through all and then think to center in a way of their own choosing in which they do not practise any one duty of religious Worship to God private or publike as the holy Scriptures teach and to make Conscience thereof from Scripture Authority And yet others and not themselves they charge with wresting the Scriptures as in their next clause Such are they that put them in the place of the light and think them the only way and means appointed by God to eternall life Answ You may see who they judge to be most guilty of wresting the Scriptures to their own destruction namely those that think them the only way and means appointed by God both to know and believe in Christ the Redeemer to eternal life and to live unto God according to this Rule this is but the same with their denying the Scriptures to be a perfect Rule of faith and obedience censuring those that make them the Rule of faith and obedience as if by so doing men deceive themselves and wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction Oh profane impiety and sinfull blindnesse themselves are involved in for not receiving the truth in the love of it c. But I see I shall be too large and tire the Reader if I examine all things of theirs which is needlesse because we have the same again and again in other words which is answered already as to the substance of them But they tell me Thou goest on in thy blind zeale seeking to maintain the Scriptures to be the only means to reveal Christ as Redeemer and the only way in which God puts forth his Divine power to give light and life to men To this they Answer But who art thou that wilt limit God to a way and means of manifesting his power and Spirit who hath promised to powre it upon all flesh and that Sons and Daughters shall prophesie and see visions Joel 2.28 And we witnesse his promise fulfilled and fulfilling and know that he will have mercie on whom he will have mercy Answ 1. 'T is true God will have mercy on whom he will but the Question is whether God exercises his saving mercies of the Covenant to any in bringing them to salvation by Christ without the knowledge and use of the Scriptures for how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how can they be saved that do not at all believe in Christ as hath been spoke to already Rom. 10. And if our Gospel be hid or withheld it is to them that perish 2. The blessing of the Scriptures given to a people is a peculiar mercy to any people and never was common unto all God hath given his Lawes and Statutes unto Israel as for the heathen they have not known his ways To them was committed the Oracles of God the Covenant and the promises and the service of God and the Adoption c. but all others are without Christ strangers to the Covenant of promise and without hope and God in the world Ephes 2. And whomsoever God shewes mercy unto as to the end to save them he shews mercy unto in giving them the means he saves by and as is the end so is the means appointed by the Lords peculiar mercy restrained to the Christian Churches distinct from all others and to affirme the same is not our limiting of God but it 's the pleasure and wisdome of God to limit his power by the word of his eternall truth and to argue from his unlimited power against his word of truth Covenant and promise is to be wise above what is written if not contrary which trusted unto is high presumption As for that of Joel 2.28 The Apostle witnessed that promise fulfilled when those extraordinary gifts of the Spirit were given to the Apostles Act. 2.16 17. So likewise upon the Gentiles when Peter preached the word unto Cornelius and his friends were the same gifts of the holy Ghost and they spake with Tongues as did the Apostles at the beginning chap. 10.45 46. chap. 11.15 16 17. compared So that it 's clear that of Joel was fulfilled in the Apostles dayes and by them applyed to that very manner of giving forth of the Spirit which not any in our times can witnesse or evince by the same gifts of miracles and Tongues and yet these conceited Quakers witnesse the same promise fulfilling in them still although they have nothing of the same things spoken of Act. 2.4.16 When they have the gift of Tongues working miracles we shall more easily incline to believe they are endowed with immediate Revelations themselves so much boast of If they have not the gift of Tongues and of miracles the Apostles and some others had which accompanyed the gift of Revelations what reason have we to believe them in what they pretend while they are utterly destitute of the other I do not go about to limit Gods power but that in his wisdome and good pleasure he may give the same gifts again to men but yet I am not bound to believe God hath and doth give the same gifts to these men that so boast they being not approved of God in having gifts of Tongues and miracles as they had that applyed that of the Prophet Joel to themselves I grant that all necessary gifts
from all that knowledge got from the letter and carnall teachings of mans wisdome as they call it they bid them be dead to all these and then they shall be in the way to be taught of God and lead on to eternall life and perfection All you that are Christians and know any thing of the things of Christs Kingdome may run and read that the very height of their attainments and perfections endeavoured after is nothing else but downright Apostasie putting darknesse for light and light for darknesse who out of a blind zeal from that very mistake forsake the Lord and those helps and means himself hath appointed to lead men on in the wayes of light and life and chuse their own delusions untill Satan captivate them at his pleasure who hath suggesfed and fill'd their hearts with all those abhorred lies as you have seen which fall down flat before the simplicity of truth as the Scriptures teach as Dagon before the Ark of God as in some competent measure hath already been discovered But to return to the text in hand let us now examine things further The substance of what I have writ hath been to shew how Christ is the light of the world and by what wayes and means he communicates the true light of spirituall life to the saving of the souls of sinners and without which ordinary wayes and means himself hath designed to that end as his words and holy Ordinances dispensed accordingly not any can be said to be lightned by Christ as the Text intends and they must confesse it cannot be understood in a universall sense that Christ lightneth every man that ever was is and shall be in the world from the beginning to the end for there is a great part of mankind that come into the world and go out of it again that never had so much as the use of reason as Insants and fools nay some never were lighted with the light of nature as those that are born blind and therefore reason doth force them to put in some limitation why not that which I have contended for seeing it is so much agreeing with the light of other Scriptures The state of man in corrupt nature your selves consesse is darknesse which is the state of all the heathen and unbelievers every where And then again you say this light is from Christ and is not common to man by nature it is the great gift of God his Grace that hath appeared unto all men and teacheth all that are guided by it as in your Answ Tit. 2.12 Now say I if it be such a light of Christ that is not common to men by nature but a gift of Gods Grace that in the Apostolicall Churches hath appeared to all men by the preaching of the Gospel the word of Gods Grace as they quote then it followes that themselves restrain the Text to the same limit and sense that I have cleared for by this in Titus they have explained what their sense is of the other and this of Titus is spoken of the Doctrine of the Gospel which by the grace of God was manifested in those times and places writ unto by the preaching of the Gospel the rules and directions contained therein so teacheth all men every where as in particular by his Epistle he had instructed them as the particulars instanced in is obvious to any indifferent eye that reads the Epistle And therefore against their wills you see sometimes they will speak truth though they intend not the truth but a shew of countenancing their error because here they find the word All which proves not a universality in that place as themselves dream even while they say this light is the gift of God his grace to all universally and yet say is not common to men by nature for man by nature is darknesse and hath no light in him c. then it followes that by the gift of Gods grace which all men in the state of nature are enlightned withall is common to all by gift that are but in the state of nature and wherein doth this differ from that which you say that it is not common to men by nature what is the nature of man in generation but the gift of God distinguished from the nature of all other sensitive living creatures Is not the rationall soul of man common to men by nature and yet is Gods created gift in common to all that by nature are born alive in the world and what ever all have by gift is of grace in a true sense But what is this to the light of Christ to enlighten and save the world when this gift as to the end of saving is peculiarly limited and intended to them only that upon the discovery and tender of his person and merit believe in him to eternall life Joh. 3. And this discovery of his person and merit knowes no man but by the only ministry of the word of Christ and the Apostles as hath been proved We usually understand what gift is common to all in the state of nature that is a common gift in all by nature not excluding the God of mans nature from whom all good givings come to the Sons of men But it remains still to prove that Christ is given for light and salvation in common to all universally so that every one in the world may be saved by him that will and that this light of Christ is nothing else but the writing of the Law of God in the heart which the heathens in some measure all have and doth shew amongst whom Christ is not so much as named much lesse-known to eternall life This is life eternall to know the true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Doubtlesse the Spirit of God in Scripture puts a difference between person and person by nature we that are Jewes by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles c. Gods Covenant and promises to the Jewes Nation and their ingaging to service and worship according to Gods lawes in writing gives them peculiar advantage by nature from the rest of the Gentile world they were separate from by an externall forme of Religion and profession of the true God which I conceive holds still of the visible professing Church of Christ that externally at least worship God in truth as the writings of the Prophets and Apostles teach And besides in the visible Church that have the same means and Covenant of promise and God nigh unto them the distinguishing grace of God makes a difference Many are outwardly thus called and yet but few elect and chosen to salvation Jacob and Esau in the Church by nature and yet the distinguishing will and pleasure of God made them to differ his free love to the one and not to the other before they had done either good or evill Not in him that willeth and runneth but in God that shewes mercy mans diligence is his duty but Gods blessing to mans diligence is Gods free mercy but now
THE Quakers Apostasie FROM The perfect Rule of the Scriptures DISCOVERED In a double Reply to a twofold Answer of theirs in the Vindication of several Queries propounded by the Author WHEREIN Their Deceits Blasphemies and Reproches against Scripture Authority and Ordinances of institute Religious Worship are spoken unto Their main Principles examined and denyed The truth defended and cleared against their Railing Slandering Censorious Pens and Tongues By JOHN TIMSON of Great Bowden in Leicestershire 1 TIM 4.1 2. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hyprocrifie having their consciences seared with an hot iron LONDON Printed by E. C. for Tho. Williams at the Bible in Little Britain and Will Tomson at Harborough in Leicestershire 1656. The Preface to the Reader THE occasion of these few sheets was this The deep sense and apprehension of my spirit towards these seduced people in generall and some of my dear friends in speciall that are drawn aside and entangled in these dark Diabolicall snares hath moved my bowels to pitch upon this as a fit expedient to reduce them from that sad temptation and way of wandering themselves are so insensible of These Queries I first delivered to my friends and I desired that they would get them answered by the ablest they could of that perswasion At last I received an answer from William Duesbury then prisoner at Northampton which Answer was so obscure deceitfull and confused that I was constrained in my Reply to urge him earnestly to Answer directly to the Question with severall Queries to understand his sense which accordingly himself and Thomas Stubs and John Whitehead have answered more directly and subscribed their hands I have in this given you the substance of theirs as faithfully as I was able to understand their sense and have not in the least wittingly mistaken them And however they are apt to accuse me of slandering them in things that are too grosse in plainnesse of words to publish to the world they judging their novices and all others besides themselves uncapable to receive some of their principles as yet and therefore they study how to darken their sense by subtill glozing equivocating expressions and shuffles yet their damnable heresies are apparent to the intelligent and impartiall sober Christian And I shall desire of them to deal no otherwise by me then I have dealt with them what I have charged them withall is upon such rationall grounds that I am sure themselves are convinced in the secrets of their hearts that I lie not and for them to reproach me with that they cannot in conscience with any colour of reason make good will most reflect upon their own heads and be a shame to themselves and cause by saying and unsaying to evade what is justly charged upon them Truth is invincible and ought to be published it seeks no corners nor minds any shiftings but is entire of it self and will stand when all the imaginations and inventions of the dark mind of man shall be scattered and brought to nothing They frequently judge men by the light which gave forth the Scriptures even while they are opposing the Authority of Scriptures as they are the only rule of knowing the true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent and how to believe in hun and live in all Christian obedience unto him If they judge of men and error by the same light that gave forth the Scriptures why do they censure me for but pleading the Authority of Scriptures to be a perfect Rule of faith and obedience Is the light of the Spirit of God contrary to the light of his own Inspirations Are the Inspirations of God upon Divine record to be rejected as uselesse and fallible because they crosse the instigiations of ignorant man who is all his life long subject to error Are they so drunk with delusion and impudence that they will rather charge the Scriptures with deceit then question their own deceitfull hearts Can they be more sure that the Instigations in their own hearts are from God rather then the Inspirations of God in the Scriptures We may be sure that the Scriptures are of God and writ for our learning Rom. 1.5 But neither we nor themselves can be sure that their Revelations pretended to are of God and given for our learning comfort and hope unlesse they were confirmed by the same unquestionable Authority that the Scriptures are And for them to plead an infallible rule within and yet to be urging a Rule without from the Scripture is most absurd if the Spirit be the Rule as they affirme why do they not stick to that rule hath the Rule of the Spirit need of the testimony of the letter to prove it by What proof can be given to prove that which is the highest proof and rule it self How many things do they pretend Scripture for while at the same time they will deny and question the most things that the Scriptures plainly teach Let them tell us what they believe and practise from the teaching and obligation of Scriptures if they stand obliged to nothing that the Scriptures teach why do they quote it and speak in the language thereof As if they were for it when they are not which is rank hypocrisie and done of purpose to deceive If they judge themselves obliged to some things which the Scriptures teach because God hath taught them therein why do they not then believe and do all that the Lord teacheth in them upon the same reason and account But if any men in the world are without the true light of God those men are that speak not according to the Law and Divine Testimony of Scriptures Isa 8.20 If any speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them their light is involved in darknesse their wisdome in folly so saith the Prophet Jeremiah chap. 10. Ye have rejected the word of the Lord and what wisdome is there in you Were not this verified upon these men would they boast that they are as perfect as Christ that dyed at Jerusalem and say that he that trusts in Christ that dyed at Jerusalem for salvation shall be deceived and reproach his Institutions and holy Ordinances with the odium of mens Traditions outward observations inconsistent with Gods Kingdome and compare them to NebuchadneZZar's great Idol would they set up a light and power in blind impotent nature corrupted sufficient to lead out of darknesse to eternall life without the use and knowledge of Scriptures would they forme a Christ in their minds that is in all men without person natures offices would they confound God and man into one denying God to be distinct from his Saints would they renounce all their former teachings and practices received from the Lord by the means of his word and ordinances and wholly follow the imaginations of a strong deluded heart c.
of faith we preach Rom. 10. I told you that was a contradiction and a confused senselesse thing which you say stands as a witnesse against me and bid me prove my accusation Answ 1. I queryed you whether any of you did know and believe what is written in the Scriptures without the outward declaration unto which you answere not at all 2. I query what you mean by the word of faith in the mouth and in the heart which the Apostle preached Rom. 10.6 7 8. whether it be the same with the Doctrine of faith declared in the Scriptures writ to the Churches or different from it As I concluded before in my replie so I shall make it good still notwithstanding all that you have writ that the word of faith which the Apostles preached and writ to the severall Churches is the same with that which you call the outward declaration What are the writings of the Prophets and Apostles but the word of faith I told you that this of the Apostle doth allude to that in Deuteronom 30. and there we find the same of the word as it was written in the law as heer of the word of faith preached The Doctrine of faith was so familiarly preached and beat into mens heads hearts and mouthes that ignorance could not excuse any and the Apostle explains what this word of faith is verse 9. thus That if thou shalt confesse with the mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved You may see it's clear enough what the Apostle understands by word in the mouth and in the heart if you be not too perverse and in the 10 verse there is a reason urged to make all your cavils fall For with the heart man believes unto righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation and proves it by the Scripture Whosoever beleeveth on him shall not be ashamed Isa 28.16 What can be concluded hence but what the writings of the Scriptures contain and declare and yet you say not any can know the Scriptures by the outward declaration but by the word of faith which word of faith in your quotation is discovered by the Scriptures what it is so that you say and unsay not by the outward declaration but by it a meer contradiction which you will never free your selves of But why cannot any know Scripture by its own writing Can you know what is contained in the holy Scriptures without the outward declaration if not then you must know it by the outward declaration or not at all How do you know what is in your books but by the outward declaration But instead of answering to clear your selves you are froward and very impertinent and obscure and desperately confused as followeth in their next wherein they should shew us the difference between the declaration of Scripture and the word of faith preached And first they witnesse the Scriptures by the same light and Spirit that gave them forth Rom. 10. and in Christ Jesus the Lord of faith which the Apostles preached and declared of they believe Rom. 10.6 7. as the Apostles did who knew the Letter which kil'd and the word of faith which is quick and powerfull which word say they is God that made all things and the letter testifies of him whose name is called the word of God Revel 19.11 12. Joh. 1.1 Heb. 4.12 And then they say they have come off clear of what I have accused them of in their answer Answ Here is nothing but pride and coniusion in these lines unlesse we can credit every thing they have the boldnesse to say as infallible How are the Scriptures beholding to them for their witnesse who have the same light and Spirit which gave them forth the Lord of Hosts gave them forth all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God 1. Tim. 3. and they have the same light and the same spirit equall with God if one may believe what they say of themselves But what think you are not the Scriptures as inspired and given of God a perfect rule of faith and obedience unlesse you witnesse them to be so and what letter was that which the Apostles knew killed you take it for granted that it is the whole declaration of holy Scriptures but it is because you have no light nor Spirit of God in you The word of faith Rom. 10.6 7. is quick and powerfull c. which word is God that made all things Most senselesse Is the profession of Christ in the mouth and believing in him with the heart God that made all things is every gift and work of God in man God that made all things this is like their other notion Christ lighteth all and therefore that light is Christ as if every work and operation of Christ is Christ just like those that make God to be every thing that from him lives and moves c. So again Christ is the word his name shall be called the word of God and they have Christ the word of God within them and what need of that which is written they have it in the life and fountain and they will come under no other writings nor rule although never so much commanded by God in the expressions of the holy Spirit in the Scriptures Touching Heb. 4.12 in the second verse he shewes us what word he meant where he saith That the Gospel was preached to them as unto us but the word that they heard profited not them because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it What word was this which was heard but the outward declaration in voice or writing or both And this word is quick and powerfull c. and the savour of life to some and of death to others according to the pleasure of him with whom we have to doe he blessing or blasting his own word and ordinance to the different ends intended by himself and for his glory whether in the diligent use thereof men be saved or in the contempt and neglect of the word men be damned The 2 Cor. 3.6 where it is said the Letter killeth is to be understood of the ministrie of Moses in comparison of the Gospell ministry administred by the Apostles that of Moses not so spirituall glorious effectuall as the new Testament was and yet it had its glory too but no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth vers 10. The Ceremonials their Gospel were but shadowes of good things to come the substance was Christ who was but darkly seen by the people but the Precepts and Threats of the Law were cleer which brought them under guilt and the remedie obscure and the fruit but little in comparison of the Apostles Ministry c. And hence the letter killed as administred by Moses but grace and truth comes by Jesus Christ It 's true the ministrie of the Apostles without the powerfull operation of the Spirit concurring was not
mans self and to be urged upon others as the authority of the Scripture The Quakers Answer The Revelations of Jesus Christ are according to Scripture which bind up the testimonie and seal the law in the hearts among my disciples And what Revelations and Dictates in the heart are contrary to the law and testimonie are to be disowned and rejected according to Isai 8.20 My Reply The Answer is both cloudie and deceitfull yet seems to be in the Negative when they say what Dictates and Revelations is in the Conscience and heart of man contrary to the Law and Testimony is not to be regarded but disowned But then the Question is what they mean by Law and Testimonie whether the old and new Testaments or Law and Testimonie in the heart If of the first their Answer is true but if of the last their Answer is false and unsound and it will follow that the Revelations and Dictates of the heart not to be found in Scriptures are as binding to my own and other mens Consciences as the Scriptures contrary to their own quotation Isai 8.20 c. The truth is they will have the inward Dictates of the heart binding to Conscience and the rule when they have denyed the holy Scriptures to be a rule of faith and obedience as we have seen in their Answer to the first Question they will take no notice of Scripture Authority as if they were altogether out of Date Whereas every true Christian doth believe that God hath ordained the holy Scriptures alone to be the object of faith and ground of all our obedience and serving of God and to do any Religious service to God out of any other Principle is but will-worship and to follow the imaginations of our own hearts serving the Devil and not God Their Answer saith My accusation is false and the cloud and deceit is in my self who cannot endure sound Doctrine but call it unsound and question whether the Law and Testimonie in the heart which is the Law of the new Covenant Jer. 31.33 be the Rule to judge error by and here with the light of Christ the spirituall man who judgeth all things thy blindnesse and deceit is seen and judged and we witnesse the Scriptures to be writ for our learning and a testimony against thee and all such lyars who have got them to talk on and would set them above the Revelations of the Spirit and light of Christ which we witness is absolutely binding and the sole judge of error for to him is all Judgement given Joh. 5.22 And in his power thou art bound and thy error judged Answ Reader thou mayst see what impudent foreheads they have by saying my accusation is false when themselves have discovered to purpose the deceit of their Answer which saith The Revelations of Christ are according to the Scriptures and what Dictates are in the heart of man contrary to the Law and Testimony is not to be regarded but disowned according to Isai 8.20 In which Text we are to go to the Law and the Testimony and if any speak not according to that word it is 〈◊〉 cause there is no light in them which word is to be understood of Moses and the Prophets without all controversie So that take their answer as expressed and a plain minded Christian cannot but judge it sober and true but you may see they speak one thing and mean another thing for in their last answer to mine they tell us what they mean by Law and Testimony namely the Dictates Revelations and Law and Testimony in the heart And is not that a deceitfull answer to make a shew of one thing and intend another for if their answer had been to their intent it should have been this The Revelations of Christ within are of greater force then the Scriptures and what Dictates or Revelations in the heart of man are contrary to the Law and Testimonie in the heart are to be disowned and they should have left out their quotation had they not been purposely minded to deceive and yet they tell us often that as they write so they mean and speak the truth in plainnesse most horrible hypocrisie and deceit which nothing but impudent lying and a knavish head dare go about to excuse much lesse impute falsehood upon the innocent for discovering it Did you ever read of Law and Testimonie in the heart and did you ever read that the Law and Testimonie in the heart is the Law of the new Covenant and did you ever read that the Law in the heart is the Law of the new Covenant where is the new Covenant called a Law and the only rule to judge error by We know the whole Book of God written by Moses and the Prophets is called the Book of the Covenant Exod. 24.7 And that which you call the Law of the New Covenant is the blessing promised in the new Covenant put into performance where and to whom God is pleased in the use of the word and ordinances of the Covenant to regenerate renew quicken and change the hearts of any to yeeld willing and heartie obedience to the holy Lawes of God commanded in his word Do these strangers to the nature of the new Covenant think that all have the Law of God writ in their hearts by vertue of he new Covenant Who can deny this writing of Gods Law and giving his Spirit c. Jer. 31.33 Heb. 8. to be a saving blessing of the Covenant farre different to Rom. 2.14 which is a Law in the heart common to all upon another account If that which they plead be writ in all then all have true saving Grace and shall be saved for that Covenant is everlasting and unchangeable and then if all have not that Law of the new Covenant to what end is that quoted but to deceive making the most to believe a lye where their damnable Tenents take and so upon the matter they destroy all Christian Lawes and obedience and presse men that are Christians to turne Heathens in minding the Law of Nature only And should I speak my heart touching the nature of the new Covenant I should expresse my self thus That the Covenant of Grace that brings salvation to faln man is founded upon and confirmed by the death of Christ in which Covenant the promises of a new heart and of giving Gods Spirit and writing his Lawes are the main all other promises precepts threats and ordinances in the whole Book of God have their tendencie in order to the Lords putting into execution of those spirituall blessings promised and this Covenant is to be restrained to the visible professing Church and their seed as a speciall blessing beyond all the rest of the world that are left to wander in their own wayes And in the Church this Covenant is not to all universally and absolute but indefinitely and conditional so that not any can be excluded from it in particular nor all included in it conjunctively taken for in
by the eternall word which was from the beginning not by themselves Answ 1. That word was manifested in the flesh and dwelt amongst men justified in the Spirit and received into glory farre above the Heavens I demand how they know his mind touching my particular state in this censure pronounced whether they have it by voice from heaven or by vision or by the ministrie of Angels or dream or fancie or how 2. If the eternall word that was made flesh revealed it to them as he is in them for that 's the fancie then the word made flesh is in them bodily and not at the right hand of God where he lives for ever to make intercession for those he dyed for and obey him 3. If these censures be from the eternall word what is the reason they are so contrary to the written word which is the inspiration of God and the revelation of Christ and that which the Spirit saith to the Churches which every one that hath an eare to heare let him hear What have I pleaded but the Spirits rule as contained in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles Christ the chief Corner stone on which the true Church is built in all ages and for this these great Prophets judge me to be none of Abraham's seed and say I am rased out of his faith but what was his faith as to salvation more then what the Scriptures reveale and the weakest true Beleever hath In that I say the Scriptures are the object of faith c. is to be understood of what is contained in them and taught by them How do you or any know that there is but one God and what he is and how he will be worshipped and served but by the Scriptures How do you or any know that there is a Christ what he is and how he came into the World to save sinners and how he saves them and who he saves but by the Scriptures How do you or any know that there is a Covenant of grace and promises of eternall life and what commands but by the Scriptures Hence the Scriptures are the only rule of knowing God and Jesus Christ beleeving in him and living unto him They say Christ is the object of faith but that this is known and for what ends and uses and what is faith and how to live by it the Scriptures only make the discovery and they are writ for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope all those that are without the Scriptures are without all comfort and hope and God in the World And now whether they that oppose and deny the Scriptures to be a perfect Rule of faith and obedience or I that defend them to be the only rule deserve to be judged let every one that would be reckoned for a true Christian judge And as touching the faith of Abraham and who are his seed themselves are not much skil'd in who talk of the Law of the new Covenant writ in every mans heart as if every man were of the seed of Abraham and in the new Covenant made with him except my self and some others that out of zeale to the truth and doing service for the Church oppose them Both Abraham and all the faithfull upon Divine Record were obedient to the Commands of God and gave glory to God in believing his promises which you are farre from that reject his commands and promises in the Prophets and Apostles which not any of the children of Abraham in a spirituall sense ever did Them that are of faith are children unto Abraham and blessed with him but as for those that have departed from the true Doctrine of faith and obedience the Apostles writ to the Churches for their Rule as it is manifest from your own tongues and pens your selves have and chuse your own wayes following the imaginations of your own deceiving hearts that your selves are not of Abraham's seed much lesse of his faith while you cast off that Christian obedience to the lawes of Christ revealed in his word so did not our father Abraham And let me tell you in plainnesse your Worship and all your service is meerly vain so long as you like the Pharises teach for Doctrine the precepts of men namely such precepts that are the Dictates of your own idle brains And by an excessive fondnesse to the commands of your own fancies or the Devils suggestions you wickedly make voyd the holy just and equal commands of God What think you is not God the same as he ever was Hath he not given his statutes lawes and ordinances to Israel and to all that are of the same Church And is not this a great blessing among his people God hath not done this for the Heathen no they have not known his wayes Hath not God strictly forbidden either to adde to or diminish from his lawes upon the penalty of a curse Did not God say to Joshua thou shalt diligently observe and do all that is commanded not turning to the right hand or to the left Doth not Christ charge his Disciples to teach the baptized to observe and do all things whatever he hath commanded Matth. 28. And doth not Paul commend the Church of Corinth for being obedient in all things and for keeping the ordinances that he delivered unto them 1 Cor. 11.2 The Lawes and Ordinances of Jesus Christ were in force in the Apostolical Churches when were they repealed by what Authority and by whom Is not Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever You talk of the light of Conscience much can this light be blotted out of the Book of your Conscience it will not be long before conscience be fully opened to accuse and condemn you for reproaching the commands and ordinances of the Lord Jesus You talk of a Christ within you while you are disobedient and rebellious to Jesus Christ without you that gave his life a ransome for many Do you think a Christ within of your own making is able to secure you from the wrath of the Lamb when he shall come with his mighty Angels in flames of fire to render vengeance upon the disobedient to the Gospell You say you are perfect and in heaven and in the mean time strengthen your selves with lies and open your mouths with blasphemies and contempt of the holy things of Christ as hath been shewed but what will you do in the end thereof you tell me now out of your wonted boldnesse to belie the truth which the Scriptures teach that I am in the Will-worship in acting obedience from another Principle namely the Scriptures and so walk after the imaginations of my own heart which leads thee to worship the Devill in bringing forth those many lies in thy Paper begotten by the father of lies But I tell you the time is coming when your mouths that are opened in blasphemies shall be stopped and that word that I have urged against you shall judge you in that day
But their pride will be their ruine And the Lord will rebuke the madnesse of these Prophets and they are in the same way of perishing as in the gainsaying of Corab But dear friends I hope that there is that fear of God in your hearts that will preserve you from running out into these desperate heresies as to deny the holy Scriptures to be the Rule and ground of faith and obedience For you know deny the Authority of Scriptures the only boundary of truth and the only Touch-stone that every spirit and opinion is to be tryed by then all shall be left to follow the imaginations of their own idle heads and act as their deceitfull hearts shall suggest then they that can get the greatest confidence conceitednesse and strongest fancies and the impudentest tongues to vent their own inventions will be the only men for the true Religion and then who can tell what is truth and who are guided by the spirit of God and who by the Devill The very denying the Authority of the Scriptures bringeth all into confusion and heathenisme inevitably Cast off that which God hath ordained to direct us then the Devil will put in to mislead into all error and how shall any be able to know his workings and temptations from the pure workings of God for our good when the authority of the Scriptures are laid aside Nay who can be certain of any things in himself or in others that they please God when I or they cannot be certain they are ordained of God to that end if you lay aside the Authority of Scriptures And how just is it for God to punish the hearts of men with all spirituall delusions blindness and error and to let Satan loose upon mens souls when they cast off that which God hath given to direct and instruct in all righteousnesse and to every good work as 1 Tim. 3. You know how it is said that he that provideth not for his own hath denyed the faith as to that particular duty which the Doctrine of faith teacheth and is worse then an Infidell What would the Apostle have said of these that deny the whole Doctrine and Rule of Faith and yet have been once Christians sure they are worse than Infidells and it had been better they had never known the way of righteousnesse then after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandements of the Lord delivered unto them by word or writing 2 Pet. 2.20 see chap. 3.1.2 wherein the Apostle endevoured to stirre up their pure minds by way of remembrance that they might be mindsul of the words that were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the Commandements of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour which comprehends the whole Scriptures of old and new Testament on which the Church is built the Scriptures are and in them do contain the Oracles of God which is a great advantage and preferment to those they are committed unto beyond all others Rom. 2.1 2. To them is the Covenant and the promises and the service of God chap. 9. And whatever were writ before time was writ for our learning that the Church of God through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15. Whereas on the other hand those that are denyed the Scriptures are Aliens from the Common wealth of Israel and strangers to the Covenant of Promise and without hope and God in the world Ephes 2.12 as is clear of the like Infidel state that the Ephesians were in before their conversion to Christianity I tell you to deny the Scriptures is the desperatest error that any mortals can possibly plunge themselves into having once professed them such I am sure forsake their own mercies and judge themselves unworthy of eternall life by despising the Gospel of Christ contained in the Scriptures they slight the everlasting Covenant of Grace and all the promises writ in the Book of God there being not a promise made to any in the world but what is in the Scripture nor can any expect that God will give that which he doth not promise to any Let them tell me what promises are writ in the heart that deny the Scripture to be the only rule of faith and obedience if they be without the promise then they are without hope and God in the world as the poor Indians are if not worse by denying that which they have the means to know nay have known and been convinced and rejoyced in the spiritual blessings promised but now wilfully deny them and reject them as not to be believed that are written for the great comfort of the Lords people I tell you friends these miserable Worms uncovenant themselves and unchrist themselves as if they cared not for grace and mercie in their standing before God In denying the Scripture they deny all that grace and mercy that is writ there for the comfort and hope of poor penitent finners If the Scriptures shall be denyed their Authority by them then it will follow that they have removed the Lords antient bounds and the only Judge of all error What is heresie but the broaching of errors and vain opinions and practices contrary to the holy Lawes and Institutions of God recorded in Scriptures in taking away the rule they are involved in all heresie whatever for God will not be any otherwayes known trusted in worshiped and obeyed then himself hath taught and prescribed us in his word When men dare think of God after their own fancies and believe in him after their vain minds and worship God as seems good in their own eyes as all do that deny the Scripture to be a perfect Rule no wonder that they make God like themselves and themselves like God and that they preach another Gospell and set up another Christ and fancie another Heaven and another day of judgement and another Law and Rule to try all things by If men cease to be Christians and forsake the rules of Christianity while they continue to be men and have any sparks of immortality in them they will be doing in one way or other in order to eternity But will you receive these seducers into your houses and bid them God speed that deny the only Rule of righteousnesse and not be partakers with them Judge ye And can a greater proof and demonstration be given against any that they are Impostors and deceivers false teachers then this that in plain terms will deny the Authority of the holy Scriptures to be the only Rule of faith and obedience as those do which you receive and adhere unto which is a confirmation to me of the truth and Divine approbation of the publike ministry that you have forsaken when I observe what teachers you follow even those that deny the Authority of Scriptures And should our Teachers deny the Authority of holy Scriptures to be the Rule of faith and obedience and set up their own fancies to be the Rule as they do which you adhere
the simple and David acknowledges it to be both a Lamp and a light Psal 119. Besides whatsoever makes manifest is light but the Scripture doth make manifest what Christ is and what he hath done and suffered and for whom and for what ends So also they make manifest what sin is and the wages thereof what holinesse and true Worship of God is and how God will be served by all that shall be saved therefore the Scriptures are a true light If the Spirit of Christ doth give forth light to men then the Scriptures are a light to enlighten men because holy men writ them as they were moved and inspired by the holy Ghost and all Scripture were given by Inspiration of God and therefore deny the light of Scriptures and deny the light of the Spirit for what the Scripture saith the Spirit saith they being the Revelations and Inspirations of the Spirit And what may we think of these seducers that under pretence of a light within and a perfect Law of God in the heart and the Revelations of Christ in them condemn me for making the Revelations and Inspirations of God in Scripture a perfect Rule of faith and obedience but we are sure the Law of God which Scriptures teach is perfect holy just and good and a sure word and the Inspirations of God contained in Scriptures are true as God himself but as for that Law and Spirit that cannot stand unlesse the Scriptures fall it is easie to discern from whence it is But say they this light is not received from the Scripture but from Christ c. Answ The light of Scripture is the light of Christ as also the Scripture Ministry by which alone Christ became a light to the Gentiles and in that Christ hath appointed a Ministry of men and given them gifts and Authority to preach the Gospell unto the Gentiles and by his blessing hath made them successefull to turn them from darknesse to light as in the Apostles age especially Thus and no otherwise is he sent to be a light unto the Gentiles for how can any believe in him of whom they never heard as hath been spoke to already and what ever is wrought by his Authority in the use of means is all one with being wrought by Christ himself to any that are sober And hence those distinctions of mine are grounded of Christ more strictly and immediately and of Christ more comprehensive and in a mediate sense as he hath made the promise of his presence and blessing to those Ministers of the Gospell that teach and administer in the Church all things whatsoever Christ hath commanded to be done Matth. 28.19 He that walks in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks will be with the Scripture Ministry to the end of the World untill the whole be gathered and united to their head and made compleat in him They say this light of Christ cannot be blotted out as thou sayst That which I said was a supposition thus Suppose that all the light of Christ as Redeemer which you from time to time have received from the use of Scriptures Ministry Education Discourse were blotted out of your minds and heads tell me what you could know of Christ as he is designed of God to redeeme lost man and how the work of Redemption is wrought more then the rude heathen that never heard of his name All that they Answer to this is That the light cannot be blotted out as thou saist But what light is that which cannot be blotted out Say they The light of Christ that leads out of darknesse to the knowledge of God to eternall life though they have not the use of Scriptures this light is not received into the mind and head from the Scripture neither cannot be blotted out but it comes from Christ the light of the Gentiles such as thou callest Heathens who many of them shew the work of the Law in their hearts and shall be excused when thou and all that oppose the light of Christ shall be condemned Christians look about you for the Devil was never so bold as now and I think there is more of the Devil in so few lines then ever were writ by man before consider them well I assure you it 's all their own Was ever such an abominable thing asserted amongst Christians The light of Christ that leads out of darknesse to the knowledge of God to eternall life is not received in the mind from the Scripture but from Christ the light of the Gentiles As if the Scriptures were opposed to the light of Christ or of no use to reveal Christ as Redeemer to the salvation of lost man Christians you see now their Answer what it is to the Question namely That the light of Christ without the use of Scripture leads out of darknesse to the knowledge of God to eternall life c. even to the Gentiles that never heard of Christ nor believe in him to salvation But if this be true to what end did Christ come into the world and lay down his life to be a ransome for many and why did he shed his blood for many for remission of sins Christs death and resurrection is all in vain for all the world from the beginning have had this kind of light shewing the work of the law in their hearts and do by nature the things contained in the Law 1. But let them prove that this work of the Law is the light of Christ that Simeon prophesied of and the Prophets and that the Apostles witnessed fulfilled by their preaching and writings 2. And let them prove that the work of the Law in their hearts leads out of darknesse to eternall life The Scriptures say the contrary By the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified nor is there any law that can give life 3. And let them prove that the work of the Law in the hearts of unbelieving Gentiles is a spirituall blesseing of the new Covenant Heb. 8. which the Apostle applyed to the believing Church so did the Prophets of old time Jer. 31. If they cannot prove these three things let shame stop their lying mouths Jesus Christ as he was promised to be a light of the Gentiles Isai 42.6 7. is to be understood of a peculiar spirituall light Christ was given for such a light to the Gentiles as should open the blind eyes and bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in darknesse in the Regions and shadow of death out of the Prison house to guide their feet in the way of peace Luk. 1. Which accordingly was fulfilled in the Apostles age but how not by Christ immediately but by Christs Authority who appointed men and furnished them with gifts and abilities to preach the Gospell unto them and opened their hearts to receive it and become Christians in profession and truth And in that they were converted and enlightened by means himself appointed is all one by being converted and enlightened
main fundamentall Did you ever read of going through the Law to Christ Must a sinner go through it in perfect obedience till nothing remains to oblige him further And is this the way to Christ in whom justification is witnessed only I think those that can do so will see but little need of that true Christ who justifies the ungodly and came into the world to save sinners And whether I or you be alienated from the life of Christ as you censure me according to Scripture let the sober judge And whereas I said in my Reply the light which is common to man in corrupt nature doth make discoveries of the eternall Deity and of the righteousnesse contained in the written law of God but discovers nothing of Christ as Redeemer or how a sinner is made just in him the Scriptures being necessary to discover that is the truth Your denyall argues plainly that you have no light in you untill you prove either by the Law and Testimony of the Prophets and Apostles what you deny till then let shame stop your censorious mouthes which almost every line hath some ill favour of And what I have accused you with in pressing people to look to the light within is but to follow after the righteousnesse of the Law at best is true and in so doing you hinder them from seeking after the righteousnesse of Christ as Scriptures teach and you deceive your selves and others your shew of quotations will not cover you as being wilfully perverted there not being any colour in any of the Texts to prove that all in corrupt nature are lightned with the light of Christ to lead out of darknesse to eternall life Joh. 1.9 Which I shall endeavour next to examine your strength and give in my Answer is the main one 1. That all the light in the World whatsoever notion or consideration kind or degree it can come under is from Christ the eternall word that made all things is an unquestionable truth 2. And that he is the only procuring cause of that spirituall light and life to man without which not any can be saved 3. And that this spirituall light and life is in himself as in the fountain and he the principal efficient enlightning and quickning whom he will is by me as easily yeelded but whether Jesus Christ the eternall son of God the only Mediator between a holy God and sinfull man doth enlighten every man that is in the world with such a sufficient light of his Spirit that whosoever will but heed and observe it to obey it will lead them out of the darknesse of corrupt nature to eternall life Whether they have the use of Scriptures or not the use of them is the Question to be disputed from this Text Joh. 1.9 And my Answer is in the negative to it opposing it as very unsound especially when the neglect of necessary means is pleaded and an immediate light and power of Christ only pretended and urged And yet something is to be premised too I yeeld that all men have so much light or means of light offered and afforded that shal leave all men without excuse before the great Tribunall of Jesus Christ where men shall not be condemned for what they could not do and be but for not doing and doing things they should not and had power and light to do and forbeare but would not such a corrupt thing is man in his fall that he will not though he may do better in order to his eternall wellfare Who amongst unregenerate men can stand to plead it with God and say Lord I have done my utmost to forsake my sins and turn to thee in the use of all those helps and means enjoyed with constancy and diligence to the utmost of my power time and place and yet thou hast denyed me thy Grace of acceptance unto life and condemnest me for that which I had not power at all to do and be God cannot be said to be behind-hand with any nor doth the work stick at him while men carelessely neglect to do what they have power to do in the use of those advantages God gives to any Although every mouth shall be stopped and all stand guilty before God that perish yet it will not follow as in the Question that all have a sufficiency of light and power of Grace by Christ to come out of darknesse to eternall life which is a wide different thing which not any Scripture teacheth but disowneth by evident demonstrations nor can this Scripture in hand be urged further then will agree with the proportion of faith And in as much as our adversaries own this Text of Scripture for the rule of their opinion and practice and some others it doth oblige them to own the whole of Scriptures because the same Spirit is the Author of the whole as of those few Texts they build upon And for them to deny the Scriptures for a perfect Rule and in the mean while are so stiffe in urging some particular Texts as this in hand and Swear not at all and Call no man Master and Salute no man by the way The Spirit shall guide you in all truth You shall not need to teach one another c. is a contradiction in its self and a speaking lies in hypocrisie as ever were known But now I come to the words themselves That was the true light which lighteth every man that comes into the world this true light is to be understood of Christ God and man is clear for it was spoken of him whom John was sent to bear witnesse of The Evangelist saith that John was not that light which shines in darknesse c. but was sent to bear witnesse of that light vers 8. And yet we know John is called a burning and a shining light too which is to be understood ministerially as he was fitted and sent to prepare the way and give the present discovery of the very person of Christ to the people of the Jewes who had generally a good opinion of John that he was a true Prophet that so all men through him might believe But why is Christ called that true light fingularly beyond John who was a true light to all men to bring them to believe in Christ Because Christ hath all light and life in himself originally and enlightens others as an efficient of himself being God but John was but his Instrument and Messenger and received all from him for the carrying on that work he was sent to do so that it 's true of John that his person and office was a true shining light in his place but Christ in his person and ministry for as much as he was more then man is that true light indeed that gives light of himself to lighten the world as if he had said there 's not a man in the world but whatsoever light he hath or good under that notion he hath received it from Christ Indeed he is the very Soul of the world
Gods Spirit a new heart and of putting his fear and writing his lawes and circumcising the hearts of the Fathers and children to love the Lord with all their hearts and sending his Son to blesse his people in turning them from their iniquities and to give them repentance and remission of fins is performed to all in the world I pray you consider and do not wilfully forsake your own mercies in the resisting of that truth which by this time you cannot but confesse in the secret of your souls and stand convinced in your selves that your foundation is meerly the mud and sand of a deluded fancie See what absurdities you plunge your selves into besides the denying of the Scriptures for a perfect Rule of faith and obedience and all other means of working Grace that God hath appointed to that end And in your denying the Authority of Scriptures for a Rule you have weakned the seeming strength of this Text for if it be not a Rule of faith at all then not in this particular thing and then what remains to colour over your main principle save only your private fancies under the pretence of the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures as if the same Spirit would crosse and contradict it self so notoriously as you have seen and thus by laying another foundation besides what the Apostles preached and practised in the Christian Churches of Christ hath runned you out of all truth which the Scriptures teach and which the Saints in all ages since have professed and witnessed with their dearest blood I confesse the Church of God hath been troubled with men of perverse minds that have forsaken the truth and fomented many of the same erroneous opinions that you center in as universall Redemption universall grace freewill justification by works falling finally from grace yet the Authors of these errors use to be more sober and rationall in their inferences and practises concluded hence then you of this Generation they still urged the use of all out ward helps and advantages as to Christian practice both to God and man according to the rule of the word they professed the word for the rule though upon mistake they were forced to pervert it the opinions being so point-blank against the evident light of Scriptures as hath been made to appear by able pens in all times and places against them But the improvement of the same things as touching your selves is most desperate and Diabolicall talk of a sufficient light and grace in all to be saved and then discourage from the use of Scriptures ministry ordinances of Religious Worship c. bid people mind the light while they do what they can to put it out even that which they have received by the blessing of the Lord in the use of Christian education according to Scriptures as if all that any man receives from the Lord in the use of those means himself hath undoubtedly appointed and commanded were inconsistent to the light within when all impressions of the light of Conscience as it is Divine is attained by the blessing of the Lord in the use of the Scriptures and Scripture ministry as hath been spoke to Then to make this light in all Christ the eternall word the Law of the new Covenant the Spirit of God which was promised to be sent to convince the world of sin c. Who ever fancyed such prodigious blasphemies before now which your papers stink of You have questioned the light of Scriptures the light of Christs person and ministry and Authority you have questioned whether there were a written word of God a person natures and offices of Christ and have upon the matter made that little spark of the light of reason corrupted which is in meer heathens the light of Christ who according to promise is called the light of the Gentiles as if that light which is in all that know not God nor ever heard of Jesus Christ what he is and what he did was the fulfilling of those promises and prophosies What use is there of such promises and prophesies that all in the world have had the performance of from the beginning of the world but the holy Apostles understood those promises fufilled only to those Gentiles that were enlightned by Christs word to believe in his name and to submit to his Lawes revealed such Gentiles only were built upon the Prophets and Apostles Christ the chief corner-stone all others were without Christ Aliens from the Commonwealth of Gods Israel strangers from the Covenant of promise and without hope and without God in the world These things are so plain and have been so cleered against you that you will be left without all excuse if you resist such evident light and be ashamed ever to talk of Scripture more if your Consciences be past feeling that you can oppose the light and Authority of Scripture without fear The truth is you are so intoxicated with this notion of Christ lightning all immediately and so bewitched in your minds touching the manner of working it that you preferre the light common to all in the world and the discoveries thereof to eternall happinesse before all the light of Christ which by his Spirit he hath discovered unto any by the writings of the Prophets and Apostles But without any doubt all this is because you have no light in you I have gone beyond my intended bounds though I have not done my intended work which was to go through all your Answers to my ten Questions but for want of my Papers which you detein from me against your promise and that civility I presumed upon in you when I sent them without keeping a Copy by me as I told you And indeed fearing that I shall be too tedious to the Reader and to my own occasions I have thought good to publish these as judging them necessary not only to forewarn you to flie from the wrath which is to come but also to admonish my friends more timely and to informe those of weaker judgements to prevent their running into these damnable herefies while your selves some of you are compassing the earth to make Proselytes and to seduce them into these snares of Hell below And because I know delusion is very strong when it is inflicted in judgement for former coldnesse out of which I fear your obstinacy in that Gulph of Apostasie that you are involved in will rather prompt you to defend and excuse or deny what I have charged you with and endeavoured to convict you of Therefore though out of the same Spirit you writ to me before you be moved to the same envy malice lying censures railings judgings in your return as I see you want not for impudence to face out any thing to asperse and make odious those that are farre better then my self yet I know that my record is on high that out of the integrity of my heart and measure of light received I have writ what I have published and am resolved to be