and heard Ioh. 3. 32. we speak that we do know and testifie that we have seen ver 11. He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him ver 34. The Prophets and the Apostles were lights in their time but their light is set I mean their personal preaching ceaseth Zech. 1. 5. Your Fathers where are they And the Prophets do they live for ever 2 Pet. 1. 14. Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me But of Christ it is said Rom. 6. 9 10. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him For in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God Eph. 4. 8. When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men ver 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended farre above all Heavens that he might fill all things to wit with his light as it follows ver 11 12 13. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ. So that Christ is now not only a permanent light but also more eminent shining as he did on the earth to the Iews so more gloriously since his ascension to the Gentiles And though the man of sin hath much obscured the light of Christ and the mystery of iniquity that began to work in Pauls time hath prevailed after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders yet shall that wicked one be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightnesse of his coming 2 Thes. 2. 7 8 9. And then shall Christ shine more gloriously in his day and with him the righteous shall shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Matth. 13. 43. And then shall the Lord be to them an everlasting light and their God their glory Isa. 60. 19. Sect. 6. Christ the effectual inlightning Light Christ is the true light that is the effectual light which doth indeed that which light is to do As he is termed the true bread which was from Heaven Ioh. 6. 32. because he giveth life to the world ver 33. He that eateth of this bread shall live for ever ver 58. And as he is termed the true vine Ioh. 15. 1. Because he yeilds fruit as a vine so is he termed the true light because he doth inlighten effectually John 8. 12. I am the light of the world saith Christ be that followeth me shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life Ioh. 12. 46. I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darknesse There are lights that like ignis fatuus foolish fire lead men into dark places lakes and bogs whereinto they that follow them perish There are lights that for a while lead men in the way and then soon go out and so leave men in darknesse and perplexity But the Lord Christ leads alwaies in the right way even in the way of life neither is he ever extinguished but so shines as that whosoever follows him shall be directed aright in his way be guided into the way of peace Luk. 7. 79. With thee saith the Psalmist Psal. 36. 9. is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light There is an amazing light that by its brightnesse doth as it were strike dead and cast down to the earth Revel 1. 16 17. When Christ appeared to John in his glory and his countenance was as the Sun shineth in his strength upon the sight of him John fell at his feet as dead When Saul journied to Damascus about noon suddainly there-shine from Heaven a great light round about him so that he could not see for the glory of the light but was blind for some daies Acts 22. 6. 11. Acts 9. 9. The Lord Christ is an excelling light yet not striking dead nor casting down nor blinding but rather an erecting light a clearing light a directing light an enlivening and inlightning light which would lead me to the consideration of the way of Christs inlightning but that somewhat more is to be said of the truth of Christ the light Sect. 7. Christ was the true Light in respect of the truth of his words 2. Christ is the true light in respect of his sayings he delivered that which was truth which is Logick truth and the truth he spake according to his mind which is moral truth 1. He could freely say John 8. 14. Though I bear record of my self yet my record is true for I know whence I came and whether I go Ver. 16. If I judge my judgment is true for I am not alone but I and the Father that sent me Ver. 17 18. It is written in your Law that the testimony of two men is true I am one that bear witnesse of my self and the Father that sent me beareth witnesse of me Ver. 26. He that sent me is true and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him Ver. 28. When ye have lift up the Son of man then shall ye know that I am he and that I do nothing of my self but as my Father hath taught me I speak these things Ver. 31 32. If ye continue in my Word then are ye my Disciples indeed and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free Ver. 40. But now ye seek to kill me a man that hath told you the truth which I have heard of God Ver. 45. Which of you convinceth me of sin And if I say the truth why do ye not believe me Joh. 10. 25. The works that I do in my Fathers Name bear witnesse of me Ver. 37 38. If I do not the works of my Father believe me not But if I do though ye believe not me believe the works that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him Joh. 16. 10. The words that I speak unto you I speak not of my self but the Father that dwelleth in me he doeth the works In which speeches our Lord Christ avers the truth of the light that is Doctrine or Words he taught in that they were received from God and witnessed by him which was proved 1. By the works which Christ did which were invincibly proved to be of God by the greatnesse frequency freenesse and goodnesse of them being in opposition to Satan and with such evidence of all freedom from imposture and acquaintance with Satan that even those who followed
Mar. 7. 21. makes evil reasonings thoughts and folly to come from within out of the heart of man he surely makes mens hearts void of light till they be enlightened with his light And when James Chap. 1. 14 15. makes every mans sin the issue of his own lust as every good gift from the Father of lights who of his own will begets us again with the word of truth Jam. 1. 17 18. he intimates there 's not light in us to avoid sin till the Father of lights begets us again with the word of truth Sect. 4. Vacuity of light without Christ enlightening is proved from Gen. 6. 5. 8. 21. Job 14. 4. 15. 14. 25. 4 5 6. 11 12. Psal. 51. 5. Jer. 10. 14. 17. 9. and experience To these Texts in the new Testament I shall adde more out of the old As first the words Gen. 6. 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination or the whole imagination or frame of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually or every day which speech is with little alteration repeated Gen. 8. 21. the imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth which speech is not a censure only of the Giants that werein the old world but of all men even from the youth of man without any exception of any and therefore is from their generation Nor is it to be conceived to be an excess of speech expressing more then was true for Gen. 6. 5. it is given as a reason of the great wickedness of man and Gods intended severe punishment and set down as the object of Gods view on his inquisition in the later to set out the greatness of his patience by the greatness of mans sinfulness to which ends those speeches had been impertinent if they were understood as expressing more then was true For then they had not expressed a true inquisition or a just reason of a severe judgement which is alwayes to be expressed as befits a Judge whose judgement is according to naked truth Rom. 2. 2. not with Rhetorical amplifications after the manner of Oratours or a right reason of Gods patience if the provocation were not as great as the words intimate Now this being supposed true we may hence argue thus If every imagination or the whole imagination or frame of the thoughts of mans heart be only evil continually or every day from his youth or childehood then every man till he be enlightened by Christ wants light to guide him in the knowledge of his duty and the way of salvation for if the thoughts be not right the actions are not right nor the light sufficient if men stumble and fall it is an argument they want light but such is the imagination of mans heart as the Texts do express Therefore every man that cometh into the world wants light to rectifie his thoughts about the things of God And that this pravity of mens imaginations is an hereditary and not meerly voluntary or an acquired disease by use custome or imitation the speech of Job doth intimate Job 14. 4. where to deprecate Gods bringing him into judgement with him in a bemoaning plight he thus speaketh Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Wherein Job expresseth that it is no marvel that all mens lives are so short and so full of trouble because all being unclean naturally none by natural generation can beget a clean childe And if all are unclean morally as they come into the world then all are void of light for that 's a chief part of moral uncleanness till Christ enlighten them The same is confirmed by other passages in the Book of Job as Chap. 15. 14. What is man that he should be clean and he which is born of a woman that he should be righteous Job 25. 4 5 6. How can he be clean that is born of a woman Iob 11. 12. Vain man would be wise though man be born like a wild Asses colt Which speeches do plainly assert mans uncleanness and unrighteousness and ignorance as he is born into the world by natural generation To which may be adjoyned that speech of David concerning himself Psal. 51. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me which is not likely to be meant of any special sin of his mother of whom no such thing is related nor is it likely that he would mention it to her reproach nor would it be pertinent to his confession of his own sin nor is likely to be an Hyperbole or excess of speech as Psal. 58. 3. Joh. 9. 34. For those Hyperbolical expressions are descriptions of a man notoriously and openly ungodly in the course of his life whereas David however he sinned in the matter of Urijah yet in respect of the constant course of his life was a man after Gods own heart and therefore it seemes to me to note his original corruption by natural conception as the cause of his great enormity in the matter of Urijah and to aggravate his sin as springing from himself Now of such corruption want of light to guide us in our way to happiness is a chief part That which the Prophet Jeremiah speaks Jer. 10. 14. Every man is brutish in his knowledge and Jer. 17. 9. The heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked or incurably sick who can know it do express such a destitution of light truth and rectitude as shew that the heart of man is very evil Which being spoken of men universally as they are unchanged can be well imputed to no other reason or cause then the derivation of sinfull corruption to all mankinde by natural generation To all which allegations from Scripture experience addes abundant confirmation sith the ignorance unteachableness frowardness untractableness of persons especially in duties of Religion and the worship of God untill by Catechizing Preaching Discipline Government and other meanes whereby the wildeness of mens spirits is tamed they be brought to some sense and conformity to their duty And even then when by such meanes the hearts and lives of men are somewhat fashioned yet upon every new provocation of fear or hope they quickly draw back from any good course and embrace any errour unless by the Ministery of the word help of Government and work of Gods Spirit they be strengthened do fully shew that of themselves persons want light to guide them and power to uphold themselves in any thing that is good but on the contrary are prone to receive impressions and ro hatch devices of sin and errour till Christ do enlighten them Sect. 5. Every man needs enlightening by Christ by reason of the many evils consequent on sin As for the second reason of mans needing light from Christ by reason of the evils consequent on our natural darkness which are not to be removed but by Christs enlightening it is in like manner manifest by
through small hints Daniel is said to have light and understanding and wisdome found in him in that he was able to interpret dreams and shew hard sentences and dissolve doubts Dan. 5. 11 12. But beyond all the Lord Christ was light the Spirit of the Lord did rest upon him the Spirit of wisdome and understanding the Spirit of counsel and might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord Isa. 11. 2. In him are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2. 3. No man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11. 27. Jesus knew all men neither needed he that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man Joh. 2. 24 25. He knew the thoughts of the Seribes Mat. 9. 4. He knew Judas would betray him afore Judas had conceived the treason Joh. 6. 70 71. He opened the secret counsels of God foretold the future troubles of the Jews persecutions of his Disciples his own death and resurrection the preaching of the Gospel and gathering of his Church over the world which are accomplished and the resurrection of the dead at his return to the final judgement which will be undoubtedly brought to pass in the day of the Lord So that of him it is true which we read Dan. 2. 22. He revealeth the deep and secret things he knoweth what is in the darkness and the light dwelleth with him Sect. 7. Christ is Light in respect of truth and grace 6. By Light is meant truth Isa. 8. 20. To the Law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them that is no truth in them or no comfort to them say others He that doth the truth saith Christ. cometh to the light Joh. 3. 21. Light and truth are either the same or very like and helpfull to each other Psal. 43. 3. Oh send out thy light and thy truth Now light well agrees to Christ under this notion sith he is the way the truth and the life Joh. 14. 6. All his words were words of truth his Gospel the Gospel of truth Jam. 1. 18. Col. 1. 5. If ye continue in my Word saith Christ Joh. 8. 31 32. then are ye my Disciples indeed And ye shall knew the truth and the truth shall make you free 7. By Light favour and grace and goodness and love are meant Numb 6. 35. Job 29. 3 Psal. 4. 7. Prov. 16. 15. In the light of the Kings countenance is life and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain Lightsomeness in the face is a sign of goodness and love in the heart as on the other side a lowring grim visage is a sign of a tyrannical and imperious spirit Light is the most diffusive and communicative of all qualities and so fitly resembles grace and love And so it is said of Christ Psal. 45. 2. Thou art fairer then the children of men Grace is powred into thy lips therefore God hath blessed thee for ever Cant. 5. 16. His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely 1 Pet. 2. 3. If ye have tasted how gracious the Lord is Luk. 4. 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath aneinted me to preach the Gospel to the poor he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of fight to the blind to set at liberty them that are braised to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And the eyes of all them that were in the Synagegue were fastened on him And he began to say unto them This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears And all bare him witness and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth Vers. 22. All his words looks deeds except when he had to do with proud hypocrites and incurably wicked persons did evidence a dove-like spirit harmeless compassionate kinde patient full of love and goodness He went about like the Sun doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil Act. 10. 38. And therefore in this respect is to be termed the Light by excellency The Word dwelt among us full of grace and truth Of his fulness we have all received grace for grace Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ John 1. 14. 16 17. 2. This attribute of light is given to Christ both in respect of his divine nature in respect of which it is said Joh. 1. 4. In him was life and the life was the light of men and in respect of his humane concerning which it is said Joh. 9. 5. As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world Which I shall shew when I speak of his enlightening Sect. 8. The Application in a double Use to see the estate of men without Christ and to draw our eyes to him For present we may hence infer 1. That they who are unacquainted with Christ are in darkness Ye were once darkness saith the Apostle Eph. 5. 8. minding them of their estate antecedent to their being in Christ. A man without Christ preached and believed is like a person in darkness 1. He is in respect of his estate as a man in the dark in that he cannot discern his own condition how unclean he is what danger is near him what way to avoid it what help to use He that is out of Christ and sees not by his light discerns not the filth of sin nor the keeneness of Gods anger nor how to remove the one or to asswage the other 2. A man without the light of Christ doth neither know God truly nor his precepts or counsel and so knows not how to address himself to God nor how to observe Gods eye on him nor what gifts he tenders to him nor what directions he gives him 3. A man without Christ his light is like the Syrians who were led to Samaria when they imagined they were in Dothan It 's easie for Satan or any deceiver to lead them hell-ward when they pretend to direct them heaven-ward Any cheat any errour or delusion may be put on him that wants Christ to be his light 4. He that wants light from Christ is as he that walks in the dark one while he stumbles here another time he wanders there If he be in the way yet it is more then he knows and therefore is uncertain whether it be best to go forward or backward or stand still How full of uncertainty have been the most witty Philosophers the most skillfull Rabbins the most acute Papists in their way following their own reason or tradition of men How miserably do they stumble and fall and hurt their souls How sadly do they wander out of the way when they think they are in it 5. Want of light from Christ leaves men in fears and perplexities what shall befall them The light of Christ secures
not Christ did in his Name cast out Devils Luk. 10. 49 50. And by this he refuted Luk. 11. 19. the Pharisees who imputed his casting out Devils to an assistance of the Prince of the Devils 2. By the concomitants and consequents of his lifting up which was his death on the crosse Joh. 11. 32 33. For 1. The prediction of it with the fulfilling thereof shewed he spake from God whose property it is to foretell future contingents as certain 2. The things themselves proved him to come from God 1. The wonderfull accidents that hapned at his death Mat. 27. 54. the renting of the Vcil of the Temple and of the rocks and the quaking of the earth and opening of the graves made the Centurion and his Souldiers say Truly this was the Son of God 2. His Resurrection not withstanding all the obstruction used by Pilate and the Jews with the rising of many bodies of the Saints which slept and appeared to many in Jerusalem manifest by the many and undoubted signs thereof to many persons many times proves his descent from God 3. The giving of the Spirit on the great day of Pentecost in the sight of Proselytes from all Countries which was also done by Apostles in other places together with many Miracles in his Name proved that he taught the truth he received from the Father 4. The dispossessing of Satan of his Empire in the worship of Idols and the giving of Oracles as from them and the drawing of the Gentiles to him as he foretold Joh. 12. 31 32. in which was part of the great mystery of Godlinesse 1 Tim. 3 16. which we at this day see accomplished together with many other Prophecies of the destruction of Jerusalem its treading down of the Gentiles the Preaching of the Gospel over all the world the calamities of the Jews the persecution of the Christians with other things Matth. 24. Luk. 21. and elsewhere abundantly demonstrate that he was the true light which came down from Heaven in respect of the Doctrine he taught and words he spake His words also appear to be the true light from the matter of them and the ends whereunto they tend and the effects of them For 1. The matter of them is pure like God containing holy Precepts not amorous Poems or sophistical quirks of wit or curious devices of art or cunning maxims of State policy or glorious atchievements of war or any thing that tends to exalt man but such Precepts and Revelations as make man spiritual heavenly wise like unto God There is nothing vain and fabulous like to the frothy wit of men nor deceitfull like to the wily old Serpent but solid and weighty concerning peace with God conversion unto him denying our selves taking up our Crosse following of Christ in patience contentednesse meeknesse humility and such like things as shew faith in God and hope of a reward in Heaven all plain without flattery of men to induce them to follow him in hopes of earthly preferment and worldly wealth or pleasure or praise of men but the clean contrary yet are they such things as when declared appear so necessary for sinners so full of goodnesse and congruity to Prophetical Predictions that the conscience of men not listed up with pharisaical concei's of self-righteousnesse nor obstinately addicted to their own lusts will assent to and embrace them 2. The ends of them and the effects are the salvation of man and the glory of God All that Christ spake it was to comfort the humble and afflicted soul Luk. 4. 18. to ease the burthened Matth. 11. 28. to direct them to God to reform the evils in Gods worship to take men off from covetousnesse hypocrisie and such evils as are pernicious to believe in God to love each other to lay up our treasure in Heaven not to be excessively carefull for the things of this life with whatever else might bring men nigh to God and alienate them from this present evil world And accordingly so were and are the effects regeneration or new birth rejoycing in God mortification of the deeds of the body comfort in tribulation a life of faith love to the Brethren in Christ and everlasting consolation and good hope through grace All which with inumerable other Characters and Symptomes of Christs Doctrine and Testimony do shew that he was the true light and that what he spake to Pilate Joh. 18. 37. was right To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witnesse unto the truth every one that is of the truth heareth my voice Lastly That in respect of his sincerity or moral truth he was the true light it is manifest in that as he said to the Jews he sought not his own will but the will of the Father which sent him Joh 5. 30. That he sought not his own glory Joh. 8. 50. Which appears in that he sometimes forbad the spreading of his fame withdrew himself when they would have made him King Joh. 6. 15. was content to be deprived of ordinary conveniencies Luk. 9. 58. In a word made himself of no reputation or emptied himself and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men and being in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even to the death of the crosse Phil. 2. 7 8. that he might give Testimony to the truth Sect. 8. Application by way of Vindication of our selves from the Accusation of Quakers as if we denied the Light John 1. 9. and warning to shun false Lights From that which hath been said 1. It may appear that those who go under the name of Quakers do unjustly accuse publique Preachers as if they did deny the true light which inlighteneth every man that cometh into the world that they deny Christ the light for so in their speeches and books they do frequently charge them None that I have seen is more profuse and frequent in these charges then G. F. that is George Fox in his Catechism who saith p. 7 Toat neither the Jews nor Christians do believe in the light which doth inlighten every man that cometh into the world though they professe some of Christs and the Apostles words which the Jews do not P. 9. he saith Teachers by the will of man meaning publique Preachers in England and Professors say that Christ doth not inlighten every one that cometh into the world and they deny Christ. P. 13. That none can confesse Christ but who confesse the light which every man is inlightened withall But frequently in the same paper he terms such as acknowledge not the light which he imagins every one hath Antichrists Deceivers not Teachers of Christ but deniers of him p. 15. But this crimination is but the raving of men that are used to make clamours and outcries without any proof Though the text plainly enough distinguisheth the light inlightening and the light in every man from that true
light of the Scripture and endeavour to make odious the teachers of it If they cannot prevail to keep it from men in a strange language they will corrupt it with false glosses if they cannot suppress Preachers they will render them suspected or infamous if they cannot shut out the light of Scripture and Preaching they will set something else in competition with it as the Authority of the Church a Council Pope tradition light within each or some other thing to hide the light from shining forth Therefore it chiefly concerns men in these times wherein men are exceeding busie to pervert and thereby to darken the truth to be very diligent and circumspect in examining by the Scripture what they hear their doctrine is the fruit by which false Prophets are to be known Mat. 7. 15 16. If they speak not according to the Scripture it is because there is no light in them Is. 8. 20. 4. Use should be made of the Ministers appointed to teach us by him who ascended up on high and gave gifts to men Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints and edifying of the body of Christ that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every winde of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive but speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things unto him who is the head even Christ Eph. 4. 11 12 14 15. Certainly nothing more prevents the practices of deceivers then learning from a solid Ministry and associating with sober and stable Christians 2. To move us to make use of Christ as the true light it is necessary that we should become sensible of our own darkness If ye were blinde saith Christ Joh. 9. 41. ye should have no sin but now ye say we see therefore your sin remaineth Because thou faist I am rich and encreased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and blinde and naked I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou maist be rich and white raiment that thou maist be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve that thou maist see Rev. 3. 17 18. They that apprehend a light within them without Christ are incurably blind such fond imaginations lock men fast up under invincible ignorance As he said that to be incredulous is the sinews of wisdome so may I say that to be jealous of our own darkness is the readiest way to drive us to Christ the true light Experience will tell us that they who talk as if they knew as much as Preachers can tell them are found when tried the most ignorant sots and those who are so well conceited of their own strength and wisdome as to count the counsel and warning of others unnecessary bidding them not care for them are soon caught by cunning deceivers To become a wise improver of Christs light it is of great moment to discern our own blindeness and then a Christian learns most when he findes his own ignorance Such sense of our own emptiness begets an appetite to wholesome doctrine when such as conceive themselves full have no stomack to the most precious truths of Iesus Christ but are filled with windy vanities 3. It concerns those to Whom the light of Christ is held forth not to shut their eyes against it when held before them For this saith our Lord Joh. 3. 19 20. is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather then light because their deeds were evill For every one that doth evill hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved And indeed it is the signe of a man that is filthy and resolved to be filthy of a man incurable and marked to destruction who shuns that light which should direct him to discerne his errour and to learn his way Nor can there be a greater indignity to Christ then when he is come into the world to be one light to have our minds possessed with a resolution not to receive it 4. If the light shine into thy soul from Christ so as that any convictions or discoveries of truth from Christ get into thee take heed that thou hold it not in unrighteousness nor seek to quench it The wrath of God saith the Apostle Rom. 1. 18. is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men that hold the truth in unrighteousness Where lust imprisons light Where corrupt affections put out the Lamp of truth there is no entrance of the light of Christ into that soul. 5. The light must be believed as our Lord Christ saith John 12. 36. While we have light we are to believe in the light that we may be children of light Believing the words of Christ is indeed the reception of Christ as our light When we entertain the Gospell of Christ we do behold with open face as through a glass the glory of the Lord and are transformed into the same image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. The more steddily we eye Christ the more assimilated we shall be to him His Doctrine will fashion our minds his example will direct our practise so as that in a good sense we shall be christed with Christ he will be in us and we in him one with us and we with him not we live but Christ live in us Faith is the Loadstone of the soul which drawes the soul to Christ and makes a man to be as he was in this world crucified risen ascending up with him dead to the world living unto God 6. There must be a love of the light It s the greatest sign of a man willfully evill when he hates the light and its a good sign of a man truly good when he can delight in that light which discovers his own evils Christ hath therefore determined this to be the great condemnation that men love darkness rather then light for that 's the sign they side with the Prince of darkness and that men that do the truth come to the light that their deeds may be manifest that they are wrought in God John 3. 19 20 21. The more light is rejected the more purely voluntary any sin is when men are willingly ignorant they are incurably evill But the more love and delight there is in the light of truth the more freely it is chosen and more fully imbraced Light is a most delightfull quality unless it be to illaffected eyes and so is truth to all but such as are of vitiated spirits the more Heavenly the light is the more pure and so the truth of Christ the Lord from Heaven is the clearest truth and most amiable Moses gave a Law but in shadowes Christ the only begotten Son which is in the bosome of the
grace hereby Do they hold that common supernatural light outward and inward objective and inherent is given to many at least of the unsanctified that live under the preaching of the Gospel And who contradicteth them in this Do they hold that as the Sun is appointed in nature to be the light of every man that cometh into the world though some parts of the earth were never illuminated by it and blind men partake not of its light and the night or shutting our eyes or windows may exclude it so Christ is by office the Sun in the world of grace giving men actually all the gracious light they have and being sufficient himself to enlighten all and giving them an illuminating Word which is sufficient in its own kind to do its own part though many are blind and many for their sin are deprived of the communication of this light Why all this we maintain as well as they Do they say that all this light within us and without us is to be hearkened to and obeyed Why what man did they ever speak with that 's a Christian that denieth it But if they make mans Reason in faculty or act or any of this inward light to be Christ personally within us and deny any Christ but such a one that is essentially one with such a light that is with every wicked man we abhor this Infidelity and blasphemy and marvell that such hellish darknesse should have the face to assume the name of light If they maintain that the common Reason of the world is sufficient to bring men to the Faith of Christ without any other kind of light from the Spirit or written or preached Word I would fain be resolved in these few Questions Q. 1. How comes it to passe that all Nations that never heard the Gospel are utterly void of Faith in Christ when the Nations that have the Gospel do generally know him more or lesse Q. 2. Why did not the world believe in Christ even generally before his coming if Reason was then a sufficient Light Q. 3. Why did Christ preach himself while he was on earth if the people had all sufficient Light before Q. 4. Why did he send his Apostles to preach through the world if the people had sufficient Light before Q. 5. Why did he set Pastours and Teachers in his Church if all have a sufficient Light within them Q. 6. Why do the Quakers go up and down teaching men their own Doctrines if all men have sufficient Light already Q. 7. Why do they cry out against us as being in darknesse when all men have sufficient Light within them Q. 8. Will they pray for more light and grace or not If not they are impiously proud If yea then it seems they have not yet light and grace sufficient Q. 9. Whereas they say the light within is sufficient if obeyed Our Question is Whether it be sufficient to make men obey it For that 's the grace that we are speaking of that causeth men to hearken believe and obey For Faith is not of our selves but it is the gift of God And mens hearts must be opened as Lydia's was Act. 16. to hear and receive the truth revealed Now to say that the Light or Grace which is given to cause us to Believe and Obey is sufficient if we will believe and obey is ridiculous as if Christ should have said to Lazarus I will raise thee if thou wilt first raise thyself Q. 10. But how can any Light be sufficient were a man never so obedient to reveal that which is not manifested by it or by any Revelation that doth accompany it No Light or Revelation among the Heathens in America doth tell them that Christ was incarnate dyed rose ascended or intercedeth for us or is the King Priest or Teacher of the Church or will raise the dead and judge the world How then can their light be sufficient to help them to the belief of this I think it 's past controversie that no man hath sufficient Grace for salvation till his last breath For if God adde not more for his preservation excitation and perseverance all will be lost But this point which Quakers most insist on the Reverend Author hath very judiciously handled in this Treatise and therefore I shall say no more of it The truth is here opened to the shaming of their errours with great Scripture evidence which impartially considered may easily convince all that believe the Scriptures and make it appear that the Light that is in these men is Darknesse Luk. 11. 35. Though the difference and too-eager Disputations between the Reverend Author and my self about the point of Infant-Baptism be too well known yet it is our desire that it be as much known that we desire to hold the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace as Members of the same Head and Body uniting our force for the common Truths against the pernicious adversaries thereof And though we own not in each other or our selves the discerned errours of doctrine or life which through humane frailty we may be guilty of Neverthelesse whereto we have already attained we desire to walk by the same Rule and mind the same things hoping that if in any thing we be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto us Phil. 3. 15 16. I think it is time for men that have any sense of the common interest of Christianity and Reformation to lay by those contentions that have brought us so low and almost made us a prey to the common Romish adversaries The Lord grant it be not too late The two great works of the Jesuites in England are to procure Liberty for the Profession of Popery and to weaken if not take down a fixed able Ministry They cannot do this work of themselves without the help of men professing a zeal for Reformation But how much they have promoted it by such hands and how much they are likely further by them to promote it I had rather lament with daily tears than open to a generation of deluded souls that will not believe they are doing the work of the Devil and the Pope till they find themselves in Rome or the Inquisition It astonisheth me to foresee if a wonder of mercy do not prevent it how these contetious souls will be worryed by their consciences and ready even to eat their flesh when they see by the conjunction of forreign and Domestick Papists the Cause of Christ once trodden down in the hand and see how they betrayed the Gospel of their Posterity into the hands of tyrannous Idolaters and how the familistical Juglers of these times made use of them to set up Popery Which â—ow is the work that is already so farre carried on that all our endeavours if united are like to be little enough to prevent We are not so childish as 'to fear lest Quaking should become the National Religion We know these squibs will soon be out But those that animate
them have Italy and Spain and Austria and France Armies and Navies and swarmes of Fryers and Jesuites at their backs and I take their Liberty and Dominion to be words almost of the same signification But let the Curse of the Almighty Defender of his Church yet follow the underminers of his holy Truth and confound the builders of this Babel And never let the Deliverances in 88 and from the Powder-plot be buried in the ruines of an ungratefull apostatized Land When you hear that among our Rulers it shall be endeavoured that Liberty for Popery shall be granted and secured from interruption from any future Parliaments then remember what I say and let the consciences of those that have betrayed us be awakened and let them see then what friends they have been to our Religion and whither their uncharitable perversnesse hath brought a miserable Land I have already told the Episcopal Brethren that Bishop Usher and I did fully agree in half an hour and therefore it is not long of us that our wound is yet unhealed And though I never treated with Mr. Tombes about such a matter I am confident that he and I should agree in one daiestreaty upon termes of communion charity and forbearance among those of our several waies And therefore if we yet continue unhealed let the shame and horror lie on them that are obstinate in their uncharitable waies And that it should be harder to agree with the Congregational Brethren is incredible Why then is there not long ago a setled concord among all these That yet there should be a frustration of all Assemblies and endeavours to these ends and so easie so necessary so Christian a work should be yet undone yea obstinately resisted after so many years experience and opportunity till we are all ready to be devoured by the common adversary this is our astonishment and Englands shame and especially of some that have been the hinderers and will cost the consciences of some men dear when God ariseth to judge the earth and vindicate his honour which they betrayed by their self-blinding and Church-troubling Pride Reader as I invite thee to the perusall of this Treatise for thy edification so do I most earnestly intreat thee if thou beest a divider to study the nature of holy Charity and Catholick Unity and follow us that desire to lead thee to the Love and Concord of the Saints And to further this work I intreat thee also impartially to peruse Mr. William Allen's Retractation of Seperation which if thou wilt do with a Christian frame of spirit then go on to destroy the Church by divisions and further their work that would betray us to the Papists if thou canst If our wickednesse have not caused God to passe an irreversible Decree of departing from us and leaving England to be a stye of Romish abominations he will yet cause his people to retreat from their divisions and presently to hear the Voice of Peace For which I shall daily pray and groan and labour according to my power and if God deny it me and tell me this is not a world that 's fit for so great a mercy I hope I shall long the more for Heaven and cry and wait for the glorious appearing of the Prince of Peace Come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen Richard Baxter October 17. THE CONTENTS SERM. I. Christ the Light SEct. 1. Of the Evangelists scope method the reading and meaning of Joh. 1. 9. Sect. 2. Christ is the Light and the term Light explained Sect. 3. Christ is Light as the Prince of life Sect. 4. Christ is Light as the Lord of Glory Sect. 5. Christ is Light as cause of Peace and Joy Sect. 6. Christ is Light in respect of his Purity and Wisdome Sect. 7. Christ is Light in respect of Truth and Grace Sect. 8. The application in a double Use to see the estate of men without Christ and to draw our eyes to him SERM. II. Christ the True Light Sect. 1. Christ no counterfeit Light Sect. 2. Christ more then a typical Light Sect. 3. Other Lights not Lights in comparison of Christ. Sect. 4. Christ the Original Light Sect. 5. Christ the perfect Light Sect. 6. Christ the effectual inlightning Light Sect. 7. Christ was the true Light in respect of the Truth of his Word Sect. 8. Application by way of vindication of our selves from the accusation of Quakers as if we denied the Light John 1. 9. and warning to shun false Lights SERM. III. Christ the inlightning Light Sect. 1. Christ inlightens all things with their natural light as Creatour Sect. 2. Christ inlightens the world with the knowledge of God as the Prophet of the Church Sect. 3. Christ as High Priest enlightens with the Light of pea and joy in God Sect. 4. Christ as King of Saints enlightens with the Light of glory Sect. 5. Christ enlightens by his natural power as Gods Son and by special commission as sent of God Sect. 6. Christ enlightens by his Preaching Example Spirit Apostles now in this time by his power and glory in the world to come Sect. 7. Christ enlightens by reason of his own lustre and his Fathers design to shew him to the world Sect. 8. Application by way of inference that we are to bless God for Christs enlightening and all that are Christs are children of Light SERM. IV. Men coming into the world need Light from Christ. Sect. 1. The necessity of Christs enlightening is asserted because of the blindness which is in all at birth Sect. 2. Universal corruption at birth is proved from Joh. 3. 6. Sect. 3. Vacuity of Light without Christ enlightening is proved from Rom. 8. 7 8. Rom. 3. 9 10 11. 23. 1 Cor. 2. 14. Mar. 7. 21 Jam. 1. 14. Sect. 4. Vacuity of Light without Christ enlightening is proved from Gen. 6. 5. 8. 21. Job 14. 4. 15. 14. 25. 4 5 6. 11 12. Psal. 51. 5. Jer. 10. 14. 17. 9. and experience Sect. 5. Every man needs enlightening by Christ by reason of the many evils consequent on sin Sect. 6. Application to make us sensible of sins evil and the worlds vanity and to provoke us to seek a treasure above and Light from Christ to comfort us SERM. V. Every man hath Light from Christ to make him inexcusable Sect. 1. A natural Light from Christ is yeelded to be in every man and the opinions of Free-willers of its sufficiency are set down Sect. 2. The opinion of the Quakers concerning a Light in each man is enquired into Sect. 3. Some Light is in the most barbarous yet the knowledge of the most refined Gentiles may be conceived to come from some acquaintance with the written Law or Tradition from Adam Sect. 4. The Light without the written Word which was in the Gentiles in the utmost extent of it was imperfect Sect. 5. The Gentiles Light by nature served to restrain from sin and to leave men inexcusable Sect. 6. Application to justifie us against
that by a faithfull and carefull use of those natural abilities that light of reason conscience and understanding which every person of mankind under heaven receiveth from God he may and shall receive from him yet further that which shall be of saving import and consequence to him Not much short of these is that French divine of much note who maintains universal grace objective though not subjective that is though there be not such an universal working by illumination or other operation of the Spirit of God so sufficient or effectual as to beget saith in every one yet there is so much revealed to every man even those that have not heard of Christ as might if they would apprehend it beget faith in God to salvation Sect. 2. The Opinion of the Quakers concerning a Light within each man is inquired into Out of the Principles of these men whether instilled by Popish Emissaries which have crept into the English Armies and Churches or some other way that sort of people who now go under the name of Quakers from their usual quaking before they began to speak thereby deluding the people as if they waited for a Revelation from God though most of their speeches of all of them have been their usual invectives against Preachers and pressing men to follow the light within them these people I say have drawn their tenet of an universal light in every man that cometh into the world without Bibles Preachers Church-communion Christian Ordinances to know his duty so as that he may be perfect which is indeed the reviving of old Pelagianism or worse and tends to the making of Christian Religion if not all Religion whatsoever unnecessary Those who heretofore or at this day maintain this universal sufficient light besides these Quakers are many of them subtile disputants and do set down their opinion distinctly and argue for it acutely though they decline the expresse owning of Pelagius his grosser expressions and Puccius his natural faith and Hurberus his universal election But the Quakers as they are for the most part destitute of that art of reasoning so they decline all conference in which they may be pressed to state the point in difference distinctly and to deliver their proofs and answer objections but instead thereof by clamour and reproaches which please their silly followers they reject all motions tending to a fair debate of the point in controversie Being desirous to know what they held one of them brought to me James Nailors Book termed A salutation to the seed of God and Love to the Lost which being in many passages obscure I delivered to him that brought me the Book fifty five Queries to be answered by them yea or no as the person had required of me to answer his Queries The Answer though made by one formerly known to me as a person of some ingenuity and learning yet was framed otherwise then I required declining to answer affirmatively or negatively to the Question as by me propounded but shifting off a plain Answer and instead thereof venting personal invectives Yet to my third Question which was thus Do you believe that those men who were never taught the Doctrine of the Law or of the Gospel of Jesus Christ have commonly a light within each of them which may guide them to the true knowledge of God and his waies unto everlasting life Omitting his words of obloquy thus he answered The Law is spiritual and there is no Nation or people into which the sound of it hath not come and the Gentiles which had not the letter were a law to themselves shewing the effect of the Law written in their hearts And Christ is the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world with a spiritual light the one loves this light and brings his deeds to it and by this light is led from his evil deeds into the knowledge of God who is life eternal in Christ to know the other hates the light because his deeds are evil and loves darknesse rather then light and there is his condemnation And their sound who were Ministers of this truth went into all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world Rom. 10. 18. In which Answer there is not an expresse resolution of the Question but sundry shifts to avoid a plain Answer as 1. Whereas he asserts that the Law is spiritual Rom. 7. 14. which is the Law of the ten Commandements or the last Precept of the ten and the Apostle ver 9. saith I was alive without the Law once which intimates that he was once without the Law that is without the right knowledge and understanding of it And Rom. 2. 14. the Gentiles of whom my Question was are said twice not to have the Law yet this Answerer asserts There is no Nation or people into which the sound of it hath not come and to avoid the objection arising from the words useth this expression And the Gentiles which had not the letter whereas the words are expresse they having not the Law 2. He patcheth together different Scriptures Joh. 1. 9. Joh. 3. 19 20. as if the light communicated by Christ coming into the world were the same with that with which in his sense he lighteth every man that cometh into the world not heeding that if every man that cometh into the world had a light sufficient to guide him and that even the Gentiles of whom Paul saith Gal. 4. 8. that they knew not God had a spiritual light and that thereby some were led from their evil deeds into the knowledge of God who is life eternal in Christ to know then none were in darknesse contrary to Paul Ephes. 5. 8. none were without Christ or without God in the world contrary to Paul Ephes. 2. 12. then Christ need not come into the world to inlighten men nor sond Ministers of this truth into all the earth sith they had this light before Christ was come into the world to inlighten them with spiritual light and if Christ doth inlighten with this spiritual light every one that cometh into the world there are none but come to the light they having it within them and it doth reprove their deeds whether they will or no. But it is no marvell that men that boast so much of light within them shew so much darknesse of mind in their expressions it being true of them as Christ said of the Pharisees Joh. 9. 41. Because ye say We see therefore your sin or blindnesse remains However it may be hence gathered that this is their conceit That every man that cometh into the world even the Gentiles that had not the letter by which he meanes the holy Scriptures or Bible or any Preacher or Teacher to instruct them out of it yet had from Christ a spiritual light and that one loves this light and brings his deeds to it and by this light is led from his evil deeds into the knowledge of God who is life eternal in
themselves Their reviling but their disturbed passions and impatience of gainfaying Their affected speech looks carriage but a desire to hide their falshood and to insinuate into the affections of those unwary souls whom they would ensnare What do all the devices of Jesuits Popes and their agents tend to but either by force or subtility to set up the monstrous power of the man of sin and their own domineeting over mens consciences under him What is there in their conclave but policy In their Council of Treat but deceit In their Iesuits and Casuists but juggling Have not the Jansenists proved them so versatile in their determinations as to make their resolutions such as might fit all humours What is there but fraud in their doctrine and practice about keeping faith with Hereticks deposing destroying Princes excommunicate by the Pope equivocating answers upon oath with mental reservations And shall we go after such Masters and leave Christ Remember we that one is our Master even Christ Mat. 23. 10. And when any shall sollicite us either not to adhere to Christ as our teacher be it under pretence of being Christs infallible Vicar or not to read or hear his Gospel preached be it under pretence of a sufficient light within them or a new revelation reject them Forget not that Christ hath warned you that if any shall say unto you lo here is Christ or there believe it not Mat. 24. 23. Say as Paul Gal. 1. 9. If any man or Angel preach any other Gospel then is taught by Christ let him be accursed We will not venture our lives upon Mountebanks and will we venture our souls upon deceivers Shall we follow our own conceits which so often prove foolish and neglect Christs doctrine which alwayes proves wise and safe No no let us answer as Peter did for the rest of the Apostles Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God Ioh. 6. 68 69. Oh that I could finde your mindes so established in the truth so armed against all the wily methods of the Devil so instructed in the truth that you may not be as children tossed to and fro and carried about with every winde of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive but speaking or seeking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ Eph. 4. 14 15. Alas what can we expect but if we follow blinde leaders as all are that teach the things of God otherwise then Christ and his Apostles did we should fall with them into the ditch into everlasting perdition On the other side there is so much plain and clear light in Christ his doctrine as will guide our feet into the way of peace Away then with all such obtruded or insinuating teachers us endeavour to hide from us the light of Christ shining in his doctrine recorded in Scripture Let the word of Christ dwell richly in us in all wisdome Col. 3. 16. Let 's say as that blessed Martyr did None but Christ none but Christ That Christ which preached died at Hierusalem that word of his which is written in my Bible shall be my light to the testimony of Iesus to his everlasting Gospel I stick if men speak not according to it it is because there is no light in them Isaiah 8. 20. To this end it will concern you to take with you and observe these Directions 1. To take heed of false lights under what disguise soever they come The Lord Christ foretold his Disciples Mat. 24. 24. That there should arise false Christs and false Prophets and should shew great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very elect concerning whom he saith Vers. 23. If any man shall say unto you Lo here is Christ or there believe it not Of these he had forewarned Christians Mat. 7. 15. Beware of false Prophets which come to you in sheepes cloathing but inwardly they are ravening Wolves Paul had foretold Act. 20. 29 30. that after his departing grievous Wolves should enter in among them not sparing the flock and that of the Ephesian Christians themselves should men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them and thereupon warns the Ephesian Elders to take heed to themselves and to the flock over which the holy Ghost had made them overseers Vers. 28. Paul tels the Corinthians 2 Cor. 11. 13 14. of false Apostles deceitfull workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light And of such he admonisheth the Romans I beseech you brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16. 17 18. Peter also tells 2 Pet. 2. 1. that there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false teachers among Christians who privily should bring in damnable heresies denying the Lord that bought them 1 Ioh. 2. 18. And as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now there are many Antichrists 1 Ioh. 4. 1. Beloved believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world All which passages do demonstrate the great danger of Christians being beguiled by deceivers who are cunning in transforming themselves as their master Satan doth into Angels of light that they may seem Ministers of righteousness Wherefore it concerns all such as regard the safety of their souls not to be facile in entertaining such as pretend to hold forth light but to examine what they suggest and to try afore they trust To which end it will be needfull 1. That we be of discerning Spirits to know the disposition of persons that pretend light whether they be proud arrogant self-seeking vain-glorious covetous more vehement then considerate obsequious for advantages but otherwise wilfull 2. Concerning their proceedings whether they deal with the weakest afore they argue with the ablest whether they affect more shew of holiness then proof of doctrine whether they love not to conceal their opinions till they have ensnared men by raising a high esteem of their persons whether they practise not to disparage others that they may engross the esteem and affections of men whether they be not much in talk little in deed These and many more enquiries may much prevent the deceits of those that with feigned words make merchandize of weak souls But 3. The chief way is to try what they obtrude upon us by the Scripture Such Owles will not endure this light but as Tertullian terms them they are Lucifuga Scripturarum they fly the