handle the six Questions in Order Opening them as far as I judge needful laying down Scripture or Reason for what we hold examining what the Adversary hath said against it whether in the Dispute or in the Narrative since or in his Book stiled the Divinity of Christ or any other of his Writings that come to hand And herein I hope I shall deal more candidly with my Adversary then I have been dealt with all my self not bauking his strength but improving it rather For Truth fears no Weapons Doing this I shall commit all to a good God even the Bishop of our souls who will bring all his sheep into his fold and cause them to hear his voyce and give them eternal life never suffer them to perish nor any to pluck them out of his hand You that are Godly do and will strike in with the design of my endeavours by your prayers That Truth might prevail and find more generally entertainment in the hearts of men to the advancement of Christs Kingdom glory of Gods name and eternal blessedness of never-dying souls And my request for you is that having received the Love of the Truth you might by Christ be rooted and grounded therein for ever and so at last be presented holy unblameable and unreproved in his sight This God will do for you and it is the rejoycing of One unworthy to be reckoned among you STEPHEN SCANDRETT To the Misguided FLOCK Commonly Termed QUAKERS Especially in and about Samford YOU will bear with me in this Application allowing every man to speak according to the Light of his own Conscience For your sakes Brethren did I engage in Disputation for your sakes in good will and true compassion to your souls do I also now write My design in it falls in with your desire even that you might have an undeceiving perswasion touching the way to Heaven and Glory that walking therein you may not miss of everlasting Rest when you are departed hence How you may attain this perswasion is a matter of very great importance and well worth a strict inquiry Do but think with your selves how others might attain it A Jew a Turk a Papist an Independant a Presbyterian an Anabaptist If they should say our present perswasion is undeceiving because our hearts assure us therein or because our Teachers do so instruct us or because we have an infallible spirit which will not suffer us to be deceived in any thing your Light would tell you they took not a 〈…〉 But if looking up to God for illumination and 〈…〉 â—earch for and examine the grounds of their own and others Opinions and what they see upon good grounds to be truth that they embrace whoever rejects it what they see upon good ground to be error that they cast aside whoever countenanceth it would not your Light tell you this were a better and a safer course for them Now be your own Judges is not that a good and a safe course for you to take which is so for others You may not then say it is impossible I should be deceived touching my present Opinion because my heart perswades me it is right As a Papist may not thus argue so neither may you For the Heart is deceitful above all things He that trusts to his own Heart is a Fool. Lean not saith God to thine own understanding Neither may you say it cannot be that I should be mistaken in this for such and such have taught it A Turk a Socinian may not thus pin his Faith on anothers sleeve for deceitful workers transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ therefore neither may you Our Saviour cautions you take heed that no Man deceive you commands you call no man Master on Earth and threatens too Cursed be the man that trusteth in man Nor may you say it is impossible I should be out for I have an infallible spirit that will not suffer me to erre in any thing As a Presbyterian an Independant an Anabaptist may not thus build his considence so neither may you It is incumbent on you as well as on them to try the spirits whether they be of God Your work then is looking up for special assistance to examine the grounds of what you and others hold to prove all things that you may hold fast that which is good And truly a well grounded knowledge is a very choice mercy Wisdome and knowledge saith God shall be the Stability of thy times and Strength of Salvation For your furtherance herein if the Lord shall adde his blessing I put this small book into your hands It will present you with the grounds of what your Teachers hold for truth and what we hold Read and Judge which have clearest reason for what they hold which have Scripture taken in its true sense and meaning And as Elijah said to Israel If God be God follow him if Baal be God follow him So say I to you If what we teach be well built upon a sure foundation embrace it If what yours teach be rightly drawn from sound Principles cleave to it for ever Remember it speaks a Generous and a free Spirit to be able with Candor and Impartiality to read an Adversary But unless Gods spirit enlightens your mind you may see truth and not perceive it unless he sanctifies your heart you may perceive it and not embrace or practise it You must therefore needs beg for the gracious presence of God with you if you would benefit your souls by reading Examine your selves also whether you have a Love of the Truth a Readiness to acknowledge and close with it whether it shall appear to be your own opinion or ours If you are resolved in heart to cast away our doctrine though it should never so clearly appear to be the truth of God to retain what you have received from your Teachers though it should never so plainly be discovered error to what good intent can you read It is not Truth you are for but a Party But if you can be willing to take in Truth on which hand soever you find it then are you capable to aim at and receive profit by Reading What do you say How do you find it with you If our present Opinion shall appear to be Truth we can hold to it That 's not so difficult a business But what if the contrary Opinion proves true If it should indeed we hope through Gods grace we should not reject it Only Truth leads to Heaven we should otherwise provoke God to give us up to strong delusions to believe a lie that we might be damned This is like Persons that are in good earnest for Heaven But it is good for you to consider before hand that it is no easie thing to part with an Opinion you have been long wedded to and it may be commended and contended for to be reconciled to an Opinion at which you have it may be for several years taken distast and opposed and to expose your self
Scripture is not to be preferred before the Spirit p. 13. The Spirit is greater than the Scripture p. 17. And you did acknowledge the Spirit revealed as certainly the mind of God as the Scripture ib. Ans 1. This is nothing to the point the Light in every man one thing the Spirit another Ans 2. Though the Counsels of Gods Spirit in Believers hearts be in themselves as certainly the Truths of God and the Spirit is not to be quenched as are his Counsels in the Scriptures for he can never lie Yet are they not to Believers so certainly the Truths of God Believers are not at all times so readily certain they are indeed the Counsels of the Spirit as they are that the Scriptures are We have a more sure word of Prophesie More sure than what Not only than the Counsels we find in our hearts not only than the Counsels of the Light within us but more sure than the direction or Voice of God himself speaking to us immediately or not by the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.17 There came a voice to him from the excellent Glory This is my Beloved Son v. 18. This Voice we heard v. 19. We have also a more sure Word of Prophesie The Scriptures containing the Prophesies of Christ are to us a more sure Rule than the immediate voice of God himself though in it self what God immediately speaks is as certainly truth as what is spoken in the Scripture Answ 3. The Controversie being about a Rule the Spirit should not be opposed to the Scriptures For the Spirit properly is no Rule at all The Spirit enditing and speaking in the Scriptures is not the Rule but the Authr of the Rule The Spirit bringing Scripture to remembrance even what Christ hath spoken and thereby directing us is not our Rule but puts us in remembrance of the Rule The Spirit enlightning us to understand Gods mind in the Scripture is not our Rule but our spiritual Oculist strengthning our Eyes to see the Rule Nor is the Illumination of the Spirit a Rule at all as he often supposeth the Artificers Rule is one thing the clearness of his Eye to see the Rule another for our rule to Heaven is one thing the clearness of our Understanding given by Gods Spirit to discern the rule another The Rule objectively sets Gods Will and our Duty before us the Spirits illumination brightens our Understanding to apprehend it so set before us And if the Spirit be not a Rule much less is he a greater Rule than the Scriptures He should thus have expressed himself to speak to the Point The Dictates or Counsels or Directions of the Spirit of God immediately and without the Scriptures are to all men a more infallible Rule to Heaven than the Directions of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures are to those that have them And if he had well proved this he had manifested that there is some foundation for his Religion But neither can he nor all his Brethren prove that Gods Spirit doth without the Scripture reveal to every man the whole mind of God as much as is necessary to bring him to Heaven God spake immediately to Moses Did he then thus reveal to every man as much as to him Doth he now Are all Prophets If he should vouchsafe to reveal a little to any of his and not by the Scripture they have also a more sure word of Prophesie c. But since he doth not reveal to any without the Scriptures all necessary Truths as he doth by it to desire and prefer the Spirit teaching without the Scriptures before the Spirit teaching by the Scriptures as a more infallible guide to Heaven is to desire and prefer what God denies us before that which God vouchsafes us to hanker with Evah after the denied fruit to dislike with the Israelites the Mannah that came from Heaven We must not frowardly prescibe to God the Spirit immediately teaching shall be my Guide to Glory the Spirit teaching in the Scriptures shall not We ought thankfully and admiring his Grace accept of that Guide to Glory he chuseth for us 4. I assert The Scripture is a Trying Rule That is a Rule able to prove or manifest Truth to be Truth Falshood to be Falshood in all things that concern our Faith and Conversation A Rule by which we may and ought when we have any reason of doubting to try for our own safety Opinions Doctrines or Spirits whether they are of God or no. Arg. 1. That which discovers the whole Truth is able to try every Opinion Doctrine and Spirit But the Scriptures are a full Rule discovering the whole Truth Arg. 2. By that which we know to be infallible we may and ought to try what is doubtful But we know the Scriptures are an infallible Rule Therefore by them we may and ought to try whatever as to Faith and Conversation we doubt of 2 Pet. 1.19 When the Apostles had said We have a moresure word of Prophesie he adds unto which ye do well to attend He means for trial and proof of Truth He had asserted the Doctrine of Christ to be no Fable ver 16. We have not followed cunningly devised Fables To help their Faith he minds them v. 17. of the Voice from Heaven he heard in the Transfiguration Bnt saith he we have a more sure word of Prophesie more sure to prove the Doctrine of Christ and so confirm our Faith in it Therefore he adds you do well to attend to it that is for this end Arg. 3. That which the Holy Ghost approves of is our duty and for our good But he approves of it that we try Doctrines yea the Doctrines of the Spirit of God by the Scripture Acts 17.11 These were more noble than those of Thessalonica in that they searched daily whether these things were so This Argument was fled from in the first Dispute and neither then nor since answered in their Book Arg. 4. What Rule Christ directs us to try by himself his Apostles also made use of for this purpose is our safe trying Rule But our Saviour directs us to the Scriptures John 5.39 Search the Scriptures they are they which testifie of me that I am the Messiah the things the Jews doubted of He himself made use of it Luke 24.26 27. The Disciples doubting whether he were the Messiah because put to death Ought not saith he Christ to have suffered and beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them the things concerning himself His Apostles likewise Acts 2.24 God raised Christ from the dead for David did so prophesie of him Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell Acts 15. The Question being whether Circumcision were necessary to Salvation concerning this they decreed according to the Scripture v. 15. To this agree the words of the Prophet as it is written c. Arg. 5. We may safely embrace what agrees with Scripture for what agrees with Truth is Truth We may safely reject all that is
contrary to Scripture for what is contrary to Truth is Errour Yea we may safely reject as to Faith and Conversation what is beside the Scripture for what is more than our full Rule is more than what is needful is vain Mark 7.7 In vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrine the Traditions of men Col. 2.18 Beware lest any spoil you through Philosophy or vain deceit after the traditions of men after the Rudiments of the world and not after Christ Therefore the Scriptures are a safe trying Rule Can so much be said for the Light in every man that we may safely try by this in all cases 1. Can that which is scanty discovering but a small part of Gods Will suffice to try in all Cases 2. Can that which Christ calls Darkness that which is fallible it self keep us from being deceived 3. Can that readily give us satisfaction in all doubtful cases which it self is oft to seek Looking within all that we can see when we are in doubt of a thing is a Dictate Inclination or Consideration for it and another against it Now we are to see and need another Rule to try which of these comes from our Light which from our Darkness Whereas every direction of Scripture is sure and needs not be tried Having our Rule to seek we are like to have our satisfaction to seek also 4. If this be a trying Rule then a man may do whatsoever is right in his own eyes Then publishing Heresie to infect others is no sin nor to be punished by God or man as long as the person doth it according to his Light within No nor Drunkenness nor Whoredom nor Theft nor Self-Murder by fasting supposing the Light within puts any upon it And it hath been proved the Light within may approve of sin as it did of Persecution in Saul 5. If this be the trying Rule then it follows contradictory Opinions may possibly be on both sides true G. W. saith his Light tells him that the Light in every man is a sufficient and safe Rule to guide to heaven I am assured in my very Conscience and from the Scripture it is not He saith Baptism with water and the Lords Supper are no Ordinances of Christ now binding the Church I am assured from all the Light within me and from the Scriptures that they are If what he speaks be according to his Light indeed as what I speak is according to mine then it follows we do both hold Truth whilst we contradict one another for whatsoever agrees with the trying Rule is Truth Obj. p. 18. He that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Ans If he had proved that the Scripture speaks here of the Light in every man he had done something vers 19. This is the condemnation saith Christ that Light is come into the world and men love Darkness Christ speaks of a more full Gospel-light which was then come into the world and not before whereas the Light in every man was in the world ever since men were in the world And we know what Christ calls darkness The sense then is this Gospel-light shines now more than before and at this day in the Holy Scriptures but men follow the dictates of their dark Understandin their Light within even their own apprehensions rejecting Gospel-light This is the Condemnation 5. I assert the Scriptures are a Binding Rule and that in those things which the light in every man doth not of it self teach Arg. 1. The Scriptures did bind in Moses time and after to Christs and in the Apostles time even speaking of things which this Light without extraordinary Revelation cannot discover And if so still To deny that the Scripture did in these things then bind is to say it had been no sin for the Jews before Christ death To reject the whole Ceremonial Law or for the Corinthians to reject the Apostles directions touching the Lords Supper Arg. 2. If the Scripture doth not bind us in such things it will follow we are not bound to believe that the Father Son and Holy Ghost are all three one and the same God or that there shall be a Resurrection of the body that we are not bound to keep the first day of the week a Sabbath to the Lord nor to seek for Regeneration nor to repent of our Fall in Adam nor mourn for our corruption of Nature or for any first motions to sin that we are not to be Baptized or Receive the Lords Supper no nor believe in Christ at all for justification nor to embrace the Gospel consequently that the contrary is no sin for this Light of it self without supernatural Revelation teacheth us none of these things Arg. 3. Gods commands cannot want Authority must therefore needs bind us even in those things this light cannot teach But the Scriptures contein such commands Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy This is his command that we believe in his Son do this in remembrance of me Go teach all Nations Baptizing them This argument was urged in the second dispute not answered there nor since in their book Arg. 4. If we are to be saved in obeying Christ fully that is in things this light speaks nothing of as well as in other things to be damned not obeying Christ in those things this light doth not of it self require then in these things the Scriptures do certainly bind us But the former is true Ezek. 18.21 If the wicked will turn and keep all my statutes he shall surely live not only do what the Light in every man teacheth but all my Statutes Heb. 5.9 Christ is the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him and we know he hath commanded us in those things this light cannot of it self teach Jo. 12.48 He that receiveth not my word is not Do this Go baptize his word The word that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last day Ro. 2.16 God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel The Gospel contains commands and mysteries this Light of it self cannot find out Luke 16.29 They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them The Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets taught things above the reach of this Light if men therefore will escape that place of torments they must obey the Scripture in such things as well as other 2. Thes 1.7 8. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ The Gospel still prescribes things above what this light can of it self reaveal or reach The Lord God awaken these men How fearful is it to reject the Scriptures as not binding in those things this Light cannot teach us Obj. But we must not do any thing because we see it written in the Scripture but must obey the spirit of God moving
necessary to salvation when they are by the Gospel or Scripture objectively revealed unto him 't is but a wild fancy to imagine that this Light can without the Gospel and Scripture find out and objectively reveal these spiritual Truths But when they are objectively revealed he cannot know them He who when he is plainly shewn is not apprehensive of the Mystery of a Trade would never take it of his own head Arg. 2. If this Light can objectively reveal all Truths necessary to salvation then there was no need that God should inspire holy men to write the Scripture Men might have done well enough without them are little or nothing advantaged by them The Heathen for a Rule are in as good a condition as we The Scripture reveals all Truth necessary to salvation and their Light can do this But God was not about a needless work when he inspired the Penmen of the Scripture Rom. 3.1 2. What advantage hath the Jew Much every way chiefly because that unto them were committed the Oracles of God The Heathen without the Covenants of promise are without hope Eph. 2.12 Therefore this Light doth not objectively reveal all Truths necessary to Salvation Now let us see what Arguments G. W. hath to prove that every man is enlightned with a saving Light Arg. 1. p. 28. Nehem. 9.20 26. Thou gavest them also thy good Spirit to instruct them nevertheless they rebelled Therefore all are savingly enlightned To this our Opposer gave no Answer Ans No wonder when it was never urged in my hearing The Israelites had a saving external light viz. the Spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures and in the Prophets What 's this to prove that those who have not the Scriptures have soch a Light Again The Spirit was given to instruct them but not by any effectual Illumination otherwise they had not been rebellious Their Rebellion proves they had no internal saving Light Arg. 2. p. 26. The Spirit or Light of God is greater or more universal than the Scripture and contains that which the Scripture contains and more Answ Those bare Assertions without Proof deserve to be rejected without Answer And here he confounds Light and Spirit The Light is Universal in respect of the Subject they have it that have not the Scripture not in respect of the Object it reveals not all the mind of God as doth the Scripture The Query is not what the Spirit of God can reveal he can no doubt reveal all and add to the Scripture if he please But whether he actually doth reveal all saving Truths to all Men without the Scripture This should be proved Arg. 3. p. 10. Will you deny immediate Revelation that the people might pin their faith on your sleeve Ans This man knows we direct people to the Revelation of the spirit in the Scripture therefore his own light here condemns him If I could find out any better arguments of his I would produce them But take them such as they are Arg. 4. p. 17. Christ is given to be a Light to the Gentiles and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth Answ And so Christ is externally by the Scriptures and Gospel preached and internally by his spirit effectually enlightning both wayes a saving Light to all the Gentiles that are saved Here 's nothing to prove that every man is effectually enlightned or externally taught all necessary truths by Christ immediatly and without the Scriptures Arg 5. p. 31. Whatsoever may be known of God is not manifest within Answ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That which is commonly known his external power and God head Not his grace favour and mercy in Christ without which all other knowledge is in sufficient Arg. 6. It might be argued If Heathens have not the knowledge of truths necessary to salvation how are they left without excuse Answ Because God is not bound to reveal Christ to every man and what Truths are revealed every man sins against them And they are condemned not for not believing in Christ but for those sins Rom. 2.12 They that have sinned without Law shall perish without Law And if their acting coutrary to their shallow Light shall render them inexcusable How great will his condemnation be that casts off the saving Light of Scripture and will walk only after such dim Light as is in Heathens This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the world and men love darkness more than Light They cannot say we never heard that Christ shed his blood for remission of sins if we had we would have believed But this argument might be farther improved thus If their living contrary to their Light renders them without excuse then if they had lived up to their Light they had been saved Answ 1. This is but a frivolous supposition for none ever did none ever could live up to their Light that is from the beginning of their knowledge to the end of their dayes perfectly do every thing they know to be their duty Rom. 3.9 2. But suppose they had this had been no coming up to the condition of the Coyenant of works for this Light is not able perfectly to discover it Psal 119.96 I have seen an end of all perfection but thy the commandment is exceeding broad If by the help of Scripture and that measure of the spirit that was given to David he was not able to see the utmost bounds of Gods Law much less can this dim Light of it self reveal them 3. Nay suppose this Light had been able to discern perfectly the whole condition of the Covenant of works and once more suppose they had been able from the beginning of Life to the end to fulfill this also yet being fallen creatures being by nature the Children of wrath if God had not some way or other revealed Christ to them they had most certainly perished for the Covenant of works is no way of salvation for fallen man Gal. 3.21 If ever he be saved it must be by the Covenant of Grace that holds forth Christ The sum is this This Light revealing Duty their disobedience did render them unexcusable not revealing Christ their obedience could not have excused them for is not he a fighter against God that saith they were unjustly by nature the Children of wrath Admire we Gods grace for a revelation of Christ If we sincerely live our Light that is the precious Scripture though our unavoidable failings are many our God in Christ will save us Arg. 7. p. 19. Why should God give to man this Light surely Gods good will and end is to convince them of sin that they may see and hate it and by degrees be drawn out of it and so find mercy and peace and satisfaction with the Lord in forsaking sin and embracing Righteousness Answ 1. Suppose we should perfectly be drawn from sin to holiness without faith in Christs blood for remission never should we find mercy and true peace with God but standing charged with past guilt should every
covet That the Principles inclining hereunto are sins they are called sin dwelling in us To act no further then the Light that is in every man doth dictate is all one as to say I will not repent of the first motions of my heart to sin nor of any sinful principles in me I will not fly to Christs blood for pardon for them 3. This Light doth not dictate that Baptism by water is Gods will But God in Scripture commands Go Baptize In what sense Philip who could not be without the mind of Christ herein may assure our Consciences Acts 8 36 37. Look here is water But to go no further then the Light that is in every man doth dictate is as much as to say doest thou Lord command go Baptize I will not baptize nor be baptized 4. The Light that every man hath doth not dictate that we ought to celebrate the Lords Supper that is to meet to take bread signifying the body of Christ by institution and give thanks and break it and give and take and eat in remembrance of Christ to take Wine and having blessed give it signifying Christs blood by institution and take and drink to shew forth the Lords death But the Scriptures manifest this in all particulars clearly to be the mind and will of Christ and to the sanctified 1 Cor. 1.2 God in the Scripture commands 1 Cor. 11.24 25. Take eat do this To practice no further then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate is to say to a commanding God I will not take I will not eat And this in these four particulars is Rebellion Therefore that Person who having the Scriptures will practice no more then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate cannot be saved Have the commands of Christs no Authority over mens Consciences Or do his commands cease to be his commands for being written Doth not Christ say the word that I have spoken shall Judge you Jo. 12.48 And is not he resolved to take vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel 2 Thes 1.7.8 Truly these words Repent Believe Baptize Do this Yea and now by reduction Remember the Sabbath are though written not only the words of Christ but they are Gospel also Woe Woe to those Persons at the day of Judgement that are then found to have lived and dyed in Rebellion against Christs commands by these words These words shall Judge them and for disobeying the Gospel Christ will take vengeance on them To conclude blame was laid on Israel that of a long time they had not kept the Passeover as it was written 2 Chron. 30.5 But in Nehemiahs time the People of God finding it written that they should keep the feast of Tabernacles on this motive obeyed Neh. 8.14 And t is said v. 17. There was great gladness They were assured they pleased God in so doing And the mother of our Lord was careful after the daies of her Purification to offer a sacrifice as it was written Knowing it was written she knew she was bound and heartily obeyed These instances are in things the Light in all men doth not dictate as it doth not dictate Justification by Christs Righteousness Repentance and Faith in Christs blood for pardon of sinful motions of the heart and sinful Principles the observation of the Christian Sabbath Baptism and the Supper The former things instanced the Scriptures declare abolished These the Scriptures no where reveal they are abolished The God of all grace then open your understanding to see your duty and obey fully and not by halves that following God fully with Caleb and Joshua you may be accepted of the Lord. Your Truly well-wisher in Christ Jesus St. Scandrett Thus it appears the words I delivered in the Dispute taken in a right sense are no way in themselves derogatory to the Truth of God I am willing to hear defective because I did not fully explain my words in the dispute But I cannot but complain of disingenuity and falseness when I see p 4. They have given out that I should say This Light within might through the blessing of God with a good improvement save them that have not the Scriptures By what I have written it is clearly otherwise Quest I desire to answer one Query more to give full satisfaction touching inward Light 'T is this Is not the immediate teaching of the Spirit the highest and safest Rule to heaven Is it not safer to walk by the immediate teachings of the Spirit in our hearts than by the teaching of the Spirit in the Scripture and to entertain the spirits teachings in the Scripture no further then they agree with these than to entertain these no further than they agree with the Spirits teachings in the Scripture This Query is weighty And indeed the whole Controversie stated anew I must be large in the solution of it First Therefore I shall open the Terms then lay down my Answers 1. Let us remember nothing is a Rule to heaven but it Reveals Law and Gospel our whole Duty 2. Let us understand the ways of the Spirits teaching 1. He teacheth us Physically by enlightning our minds Thus Gods Spirit so assures our hearts that Jesus is Christ that there is no need in the least we should enquire of men the truth of it 1 John 2.27 The Anointing which ye have received abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you John was confident Seducers should never be able to perswade them that Jesus was not the Christ Hence also Paul could curse an Angel that should preach any other Gospel than what he had delivered This Teaching is no Rule at all but an help to see the Rule 2. He teaches us Morally or Objectively propounding or setting before us Gods Mind or Will to embrace and walk by 1 John 14.26 The Comforter shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you These Teachings which take in the things taught are a Rule for we must walk according to them And of this way of the Spirits Teaching must we understand the Question 3. Let us be informed what is the immediate teaching of the Spirit There is a Mediate which is done by Means by the Scriptures as in the last mentioned The Spirit brings these to remembrance and thus we hear a word behind us saying this is the way walk in it when we turn to the right hand or to the left Isa 30.21 By the Ministry Thus the Spirit of Christ in the Prophets 1 Pet. 1.11 Testified to the Church beforehand the sufferings of Christ And by other means even by the works of Creation and the Light in every man propounding the Creation to be considered he helps us to conclude a God thence that he is to be worshipped c. I say Gods Spirit by these teacheth us for in him we live move and have our being without his help the world could not come into consideration without his
help no such Conclusion could appear hence deducible By the use of Reason the Spirit teaceth the Heathen Moral Duties The immediate teaching of Gods Spirit must be that which is done without means Thus God neither by Adams Reason nor any Scripture nor by the works of Creation but immediately by himself taught him that he must abstain from the Tree of Knowledge And after his Fall that the Seed of the Woman should break the Serpents head And afterwards enjoyned Circumcision to Abraham the Ceremonial Law to Moses speaking to him face to face Immediately by himself did he inspire into the Penmen of the Scripture what they were to write thereby to discover to his people what he would have them to do When he put Prophesies into the mouths of his Prophets sending them with Denunciations against any as the young Prophet against Jeroboam Jonah against Nineveh when he taught Paul the Gospel by Revelation all was by his immediate teaching The Terms opened I shall now lay down what I judge the Truth touching this Point in twelve Answers Answ He who is immediately taught of God his whole Duty hath higher honour than he that is taught it by the Scriptures Answ 2. He that walks by the immediate teachings of the Spirit cannot possibly err in so doing Gods Spirit is a Spirit of Truth But Answ 3. I know but one man of all who ever were in the world unto whom Gods immediate teachings were the highest and safest Rule to Heaven This was Moses Before the Scripture was written God did immediately reveal to him the Moral Ceremonial and Judicial Law The Ceremonial Law was their Gospel Here Moses had the full the then only the infallible the trying the binding Rule by immediate Revelation delivered to him Therefore I conclude Gods immediate teachings were to Moses the highest and the safest Rule to Heaven But can any man shew a second Adam had in innocency immediate revelation it was but part of his Rule and so no Rule of it self to heaven Had Adam obeyed Gods immediate prohibition and violated the Law of Nature written in his heart he had not retained his Innocency bare forbearing that fruit would not have brought him to heaven When afterwards Christ was immediately revealed suppose he had believed in Christ but wholly neglected that remnant of the Moral Law that still was in his heart would that Faith have saved him Single out any of the Prophets who had immediate revelation as to particular things did not the Book of the Law written by Moses bind them even those Commands which could not all certainly have any necessary and apparent connexion with what Truths God immediately inspired into them that they viewing only what was immediately taught them might herein see and hence conclude all their duty as to have no need of any recourse at all to any thing Moses wrote to help them to know and perform any part thereof David was so read though a Prophet in the Scripture and thence learned to fear God Deut. 17.19 Ans 4. It makes for our safety to look up earnestly to pray and use all means for the Illumination of Gods Spirit that the eyes of our understanding being enlightned we may know what is the hope of the Fathers Calling and what the riches of the glory of his Inheritance in the Saints Unto Believers God doth thus reveal that which Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard nor can enter into the heart of man to conceive Hereby 't is they see Eye to Eye that is brightly Faith being the Evidence of things not seen They see the King in his Glory And this he doth accompanying the Ministration of the everlasting Gospel Luke 4.18 He hath sent me saith Christ to preach recovering of sight to the blind The Gospel therefore is called the Ministration of the Spirit This we must attend upon as Lydia did that we might have our hearts opened and may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the Love of Christ which passeth knowledge This we may hopefully watch for God hath covenanted I will put my Laws into their minds and purposed to destroy the face of covering cast over all people A. 5. And for our furtherance in holiness let me step a little out we are to look up for Gods gracious Spirit to sanctifie assist and comfort us He is the Spirit of Faith and Love as well as of a sound mind The Spirit of Holiness And Gods Covenant is to put his Laws into our hearts as well as into our minds This obtained we shall be Vessels meet for our Masters use God hath likewise covenaned to put his Spirit into the hearts of his people to enable them to walk in his Statutes Without him we can do nothing But strengthened with all might according to his glorious power nothing shall be too hard for us If God be for us who can be against us We shall be able to do all things through Christ strengthening us And hath not the Son of God promised to send the Spirit as a Comforter Gods Spirit doth shed abroad Gods Love in the hearts of Believers doth make known to them the things freely given them of God doth witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God doth seal them If we obtain the Spirit in this operation of his though we had even never so much desponding shut up against all comfort and hope we should presently find strong Consolation for when he giveth quietness who then can make trouble As we stand in need of so we may with good hope look up for Gods Spirit to sanctifie assist comfort us A. 6. To return again When we are at a loss at any time for Gods will and the way we should walk in we may very safely look up for the Mediate Objective Teachings of Gods Spirit to be directed As heretofore when Gods people wanted direction in a particular case they enquired of God as in the case of going to War or the like God did immediately shew them his will so now have Gods people good grounds to believe that God will mediately teach them and resolve all their doubts in necessary things if they heartily seek it of him Christ hath said The Spirit shall bring to your remembrance Acts 15. Gods Church was troubled with a doubt necessary to be determined Whether the Gentiles must be circumcised Peter brings an Argument from experience to prove they need not James minds his Argument v. 14. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his Name And to this saith he agree the words of the Prophet Who brought this to his mind Here we see it fulfilled that the Spirit brings sutable Scriptures to remembrance to teach Gods people in doubtful cases This is the mediate objective Teaching of the Spirit A. 7. But what warrant have all men nay Gods people
now to expect a Revelation of all Truths necessary to salvation by the immediate objective teachings of Gods Spirit It is not for us to expect and promise our selves or others this if the Lord hath no where promised it Can it be proved when Christ saith The Spirit shall lead you into all truth that this is to be understood without means without the Scripture When God saith They shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me The sense is they shall not teach as the unconverted are to be taught who believe not who have no saving knowledge of God at all So they who have received the anointing need not as doubting and unbelieving persons that any teach them that Jesus is the Christ Can it be proved that the words are to be understood in that sense as to exclude the Ministry from edifying the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith This Assertion That God is pleased objectively and immediately by his Spirit to reveal to all men or to his own people at least all Truths and all Duty necessary to Salvation so that they need not mind the Scripture but only wait for these immediate objective Teachings is the Wile of Satan whereby evil men take people off from what they acknowledge the full and the only Rule to lead them into a thousand Errours I prove it an Errour by these Arguments following Arg. 1. God hath promised that in order to his peoples instruction in matters necessary to Salvation his Word shall concur with his Spirit to the end of the world Therefore 't is not his pleasure to teach his people these necessary Truths immediately or without the word much less to teach all men The promise we have Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy Seed nor out of the mouth of thy Seeds Seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Arg. 2. God never from the beginning of the world to the Apostles days so taught his Church much less all men Therefore 't is without reason to imagine he doth so now Not in Innocency for the Moral Law he taught Adam by that Light he was created with which Moral Law contained necessary Truths to his Salvation In Moses's days though he himself was so taught yet none else the Church was taught mediately by Moses his Ministry In the Apostles days the Church was taught by their Ministry The Apostles themselves had immediate Revelation the Prophets also but 1 Cor. 12.29 Are all Apostles Are all Prophets Arg. 3. Excepting Moses there cannot a man be shewn to whom God by immediate Revelation discovered all Duties necessary to Salvation Paul might seem the most likely but though the Gospel was so manifested to him yet not the Law this was partly by the Law of Nature partly by the consideration of the works of Creation especially by the Scriptures How fond is the Conceit then that the whole Church should now be so taught Arg. 4. Had it been Gods purpose in Gospel times to teach all men nay to teach his whole Church immediately all their Duty then would he not have provided for this end Scriptures inspiring his word into Holy men and moving them to write it and enduing them with the Spirit of Prophesie and the Spirit of Miracles to render them credible that without hesitancy his Church might embrace the word wrote by them for the undoubted Truth of God Had this been Gods pleasure he would not have appointed a Ministry and that to continue to the end of the world for this very end to instruct his Church in those Truths that are necessary to Salvation Go preach saith Christ I am with you always to the end of the world And he gave some Apostles some Pastors and Teachers for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come into the unity of Faith Did God provide Scripture and appoint Ministers with an intent not to use them but to do all immediately by his Spirit without them When God gives Means he doth not ordinarily work without means but by them It is worth observation where the Scripture and Ministry are vouchsafed the Heathen attain only to know Moral Duties nothing of Christ Is it not because God concurs to teach them with the means they have the Law of Nature but doth not supply the want of means they have not to teach them immediately Jesus Christ Where therefore he hath given Scriptures and the Ministry he doth not ordinarily teach without them Men may as well expect God should ordinarily preserve life and strength without Bread Arg. 5. Immediate teachings were extraordinary things Therefore not to be expected by all men nor ordinarily and for continuance by the Church Look on them in Abraham in Moses in Samuel or any of the Prophets they were extraordinary Those persons chosen above any for God thus to reveal himself to The Revelation at certain times only 1 Sam. 3. The Lord called Samuel and to him denounced Judgment upon Elies House It was so extraordinary that all Israel v. 20. from Dan to Beersheba took notice of it and hereby knew that Samuel was established a Prophet of the Lord. And v. 21. It is said God appeared to him again in Shiloh This was no ordinary thing Daniel's and Ezekiel's Visions no ordinary things nor were Joseph's and Nebuchadnezzar's and Pharaoh's Dreams nor John's Revelation Every one nay every Believer must not look that the Sun should stand still at his Prayers or the Sea be driven back for him This were to confound ordinary with extraordinary Arg. 6. He that is by the Spirit immediately taught the Gospel can say I received it not of man neither was I taught it but by Revelation of the Holy Ghost But every Believer cannot say so Therefore every Believer is not immediately taught the Gospel Arg. 7. If immediate teaching be a sufficient Rule to Heaven then Believers need not hear the Word or read the Scriptures But God commanding Believers Be swift to hear Remember the Law of Moses my Servant Vnto the word of Prophesie ye do well to attend Thou shalt read Deut. 17.10 puts them not upon a needless duty Arg. 8. If every Believer hath immediate teachings then every one of them can write Gods mind as infallibly as the Pen-men of the Scripture Then every believer may add to the Scripture and enlarge the Churches Canon Whereas Heb. 1.1 God did deliver the Churches Canon by parts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but now by his Son which opposed to the former discovers the whole Canon is by Christ delivered no more parts that may be added are now to be expected Arg. 9 They that hold this must either say
AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST Quakerisme Wherein these Following QUESTIONS Are Opened the Truth concerning them Proved the contrary Arguments Examined and Confuted Whether the Scriptures or the Light in every man be our Rule to Heaven Whether the Light in every man be a Saving Light Here Something also concerning Immediate Teaching Whether Perfection viz. a State free from all Sin be attainable in this Life Whether Baptism with Water be an Ordinance of Christ binding us Whether the Supper be an Ordinance of Christ binding us Whether Justification be by the Righteousness of Christ imputed By Stephen Scandrett Minister of Gods Word 1 Cor. 3.13 Every mans works shall be made manifest for the Day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel 1671. TO THE GODLY READER A Brief Account of Two Disputations between George Whitehead Robert Ludgater c. Quakers and the Author BEing informed of the great number of Quakers in and about Old-Samford and considering the destructive Opinions of those that teach among them the certain eternal ruine of them if in all things they should believe and practise according to the Doctrine of some at least of these Teachers As Pauls Spirit was stirred in him when he saw the Athenians wholly given to Idolatry so my Bowels yearned towards this misguided Flock of which many I am perswaded truly breathing after Salvation are led away as those two hundred men that went after Absolom in the simplicity of their hearts and know not whither these Teachers are leading them What might be done to stop the erroneous course of this people If these that take upon them to preach among them saw the evil of their own wayes it would be a good step to the reducing of many Is it impossible that these should be informed I told a Friend that lived near the place I could willingly discourse with some of their Teachers had I an opportunity aiming only at a private Conserence About a year after this person directs two Quakers to my House with a Letter which when I opened I found that whereas I had challenged to dispute with them they required these may be the Questions c. and that time and place may be agreed upon I wondred at this Language for before the Quakers utterly disclaimed any such thing as a Challenge Yet considering that a Dispute would draw Quakers to it who are utterly averse from hearing any that preach the wholsom Doctrine of the Gospel and thus there might be an advantage of clearing up the Truths of God before them it may be the Lord will convince some of them at least and so rescue them from that destruction their Teachers are drawing them into I consented Pauls practice in the School of Tyrannus was my Encouragement and my Hope trusting in the Lord for help and setting his Glory the advancement of Truth and the salvation of souls before mine Eyes The Place being appointed the Day come George Whitehead appearing my Antagonist I demanded Whether he would grant the Scriptures to be a Truth or no This Principle being yeilded to bottom an Argument upon I required silence to begin with Prayer This was flouted at Thou hast thy God to seek Thus did he shewing a scornful proud self-confident Spirit deride the solemn Worship of God who is to be sanctified in all things especially in undertakongs of this nature in that he only can enlighten and lead us into Truth and all assembled stood in need of his teaching Gods people surely are a Generation of such as seck his face I returned not reviling for reviling I came for another purpose I further press'd for silence He continuing to dissent I did however though the more briefly seek Gods presence among his people and his Vindication of what is Truth This done Concerning the Scriptures I asserted them to be a most certain and infallible Rule He bids me prove it This was my Argument That which is given by Inspiration of God to guide us to heaven cannot but be a most certain and infallible Rule But so are the Scriptures He granted the Scriptures were given by inspiration but instead of shewing how these may deceive us notwithstanding which indeed is impossible he rambles and runs out in an impertinent Discourse as if he were preaching rather than disputing And this was his manner when to prove the Scriptures a trying Rule I urged an Argument from the example of the Bereans That which God approves of is our Duty But God approves of it that we try Doctrines by the Scripture This therefore is our duty He would not hearken to this argument nor attempt to give any answer at all to it though repeated three or four times but flies to another thing rambling tediously Indeed to prove Perfection he brought several Arguments and Scriptures one after another somewhat closely and having received distinct Answers to them he fairly ceased being unable to make good his Assertion and heard my Argument to the contrary But then grow mose tedious again in his repetitions and impertinences I was too mild towards him But when entring upon Justification I saw that he hid himself in impertinent long answers and that the day was now far spent that I might not be prevented in what I chiefly designed the discovery of the only way of Justification by Christs Righteousness imputed that people might see whither these Teachers were leading them and prevent if God saw good their everlasting damnation of body and soul I resolved I would not regard him but deliver something to the People touching this point for their instruction and safety Three Arguments I delivered and enlarged my self on them freely and fully to the People and would not be interrupted pressing them as they desired to escape condemnation at Gods Barr to look for Justification in nothing else but the righteousness of Christ imputed to fly to Christ and build only on his Blood and Righteousness as that alone that is able to satisfie God for their transgression And having done this I commended all to God by Prayer and went away The People seeing how I was hindred by this mans tedious enlargements desired another dayes dispute I told G. W. by a Letter that if he would give it in Writing that what Question is asked pertinent to the point in hand it should be answered expresly by affirming or denying it the Question being capable of such an answer I was willing to meet him a second time And that it might be lawful for others also to speak his friends and mine that so we might carry the Dispute on and the People attend through this veriety with less weariness He useth many shifts to keep off from this engagement I being peremptory knowing without this he would ramble but not dispute at length he gives this under his hand I do intend
to disgrace by openly as it were proclaiming your own ignorance during that time and by becoming unconstant to what you have so long professed to bear the reproach ill will and malice of your own Party they will contemptuously call you Apostates and what not What do you now say to the matter Can you still hold your purpose Now you begin to stagger The Devil is an utter enemy to Truth he knows it leads to Heaven In this case therefore he will be prompting what ever hazard thou dost run spare thy self Concerning the Kings Messenger said the Prophet See how this Son of a Murderer hath sent to take away mine Head look when the Messenger cometh shut the door and hold him fast at the door Unless the great God of Heaven and Earth stand by you thus will you deal with Truth if our Opinion appear to be it you will look on 't with as much malignity as on a spiteful enemy that would take away all that ever you have you would be sure to bar it out of your hearts But the Lord will enable all his savingly to take in his Truth Concerning such the Apostle could say God hath chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth Seek therefore your help from the Lord. If he shall graciously transform you by the renewing of your mind in spite of flesh and blood Earth and Hell you shall prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God And so shall your perswasion be undeceiving so shall your hopes be such as maketh not ashamed The Desire as well as Design of Your Souls hearty Friend STEPHEN SCANDRETT AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST Quakerisme Concerning the Scriptures compared with the Light that is in every man as to their being our Rule BY a Rule understand not an Artificial Rule that Instrument by which Artificers are guided but a Moral that Instrument that God makes use of to direct bind us to our duty that we directed by it and obedient to it may obtain Gods favour and be saved By the Light in every man understand 1. Not the special saving Illumination of the Spirit of God whereby we are able to discern effectually the Mysteries of the Cospel for though the truly sanctified have this Light Matth. 13.16 Blessed are your Eyes for they see yet not any in their unregenerate state 1 Cor. 2 14 The Natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually difcerned 2. Much less the In-dwelling Spirit of God P. 26. He consounds the Spirit the light making both one For though the truly sanctified as before have him dwelling in them to help their Infirmities to lead them into all truth to quicken comfort strengthen and cause them to walk in Gods Statutes 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that ye are the Temples of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you Yet the Spirit of God is not thus in every man Jude v. 19. These are they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit 3. Not the Light of the Gospel as the Word is used 2 Cor. 4.4 Lest the Light of the glorious Gospell of Christ should shine into their hearts For the Gospel is not given to every man Psal 147.19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his Statutes unto Israel he bath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they have not known them And where the Gospel is given all do not receive it into their hearts that it should be within them Acts 13.46 It was necessary the Word of God should first have been spoken unto you but seeing ye put it from you we turn to the Gentiles 4. Not Christ who is called the Light of the world For Christ Personally is in Heaven Acts 3.21 Whom the Heaven must receive till the times of Restitution of all things Christ spiritually or the Image of Christ consisting in Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness is only in the Regenerate for in whom he thus is to them he is a sure ground of hope of Glory Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory But every man hath not a sure Ground to hope for Glory All in whom Christ thus is are approved of God 2 Cor. 13 5. Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates or unapproved Is every man approved of God Again Some are without Christ Eph. 2.12 At that time ye were without Christ The Body that is without the Soul hath not the Soul in it and he that is without Christ hath not Christ in him 5. But understand that Principle of Knowledge that is indeed to be found in every man For Christ lighteth every man that cometh into the world This Principle therefore is in the disobedient as well as the obedient Ro. 1 18. The wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness of men who hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness Those that will not live the Truth have however a principle in them whereby they know much of it 't is in the Heathen as well as the Christian The Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law If they had not a principle whereby to know these things how could they do them It will render the whole world of ungodly men unexcusable at the last day even those that have not the Scriptures as well as those that have For they cannot say but that they understood something of Gods Will which yet they have not practised This Light let men term it how they please is nothing else but mans Reason For since it is none of the four Lights first mentioned let any tell what else can it be Take away any of those Lights from within a man he still hath Light or a Principle of Knowledge remaining in him But take away Reason the remaining Light is gone In this Controversie this principle we call not Reason so much as Light Yet the Light that is in every man to prevent Mistakes By Scripture understand not Paper Ink or Letters but the Truths and Will of God as written in the Books of the Old and New Testament The Terms opened we come to the Business The Essential difference between Vs and the people called Quakers lies here They hold that the Light in every man is the Rule that directs to Heaven that the Scripture therefore is to be embraced so far only as it agrees with this Light We hold That the Scripture is the Rule that directs to Heaven that the Light within every man therefore is to be regarded so far only as it agrees with the Scripture Now though we both agree that neither of these is wholly to be cast off yet that men might see which of them is to be embraced as the highest and safest Rule which of them is to be rejected in competition with the other I assert these things concerning the Scriptures 1.
That they are a full Rule 2. That the Will of God laid down in them is the only Rule 3. That they are a Trying Rule 4. A Binding Rule and that in those things of which the Light in every man saith nothing 5. An infallible Rule to Heaven If these things be made good and on the contrary so much cannot be said for the Light in every man that it is a full Rule that Gods Will as much as is revealed by it is the only Rule that it is a trying Rule a bin ing Rule in those things in which the Scripture saith nothing an infallible Rule and Guide to Heaven then it will appear we have greater reason to cleave to Scripture than to the Light that is in every man as the highest and safest Rule to Heaven I assert 1. The Scriptures are a full Rule a Rule discovering all things necessary to Salvation the whole Mind and Will of God concerning his Churches duty according to which if we sincerely endeavour to walk 't is impossible we should miss of Heaven This Assertion they would have me prove in the second Dispute Nay said I we will differ first you shall grant it or deny it Loath they were to grant deny they could not But being press'd to it it was acknowledged that the Scriptures are a full Rule And so ought all men to acknowledge for saith the Holy Ghost Prov. 30 7. Add thou not unto his words lest he reprove thee and thou be found a Liar There needs no addition to Gods Words written to make them a full Rule to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.16 17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto every good work If the Scriptures can direct Gods Church and People to every good work then there is not any duty they are bound to not any good Work but they are there directed to it consequently they are a most full Rule unto Salvation What good reason have all to cleave to this Rule It cannot he denied that they who walk by it take the right way to Salvation Rev. 1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and keepeth the words of the Prophecy of this Book These men seeing their Cause wounded by this Acknowledgment would fain lick themselves whole again by this Addition p. 9. Though the Will of God laid down in Scripture be the Rule p. 27 the full Rule yet this Will is that we should follow the Light within and the Spirit of God within to guide us into all Truth A. They speak impertinently here of the Spirit which by the Scriptures and not without leads all the faithful into all Truth The Spirit is one thing the Light in every man of which we now dispute another When they say 't is Gods will laid down in Scripture that we follow the Light within I ask Do they mean that we follow the Light in every man as a full Rule Then let them shew where doth the Scripture point at this Light as a full Rule Do they mean that we follow this Light and go not against Reason and Conscience in those things which it is able to direct us agreeing with the Scriptures indeed amongst a thousand Commands in Scripture this is one Isa 46 5 6 7 8. God calls on those that would worship him by similitudes to shew themselves men to act according to reason which is able to tell them that nothing visible can represent Gods Excellencies I said before that the Light in every man is not wholly to be cast off nor do any of us say the voice of Conscience is to be slighted but obeyed so far as it speaks according to Scripture this derogates nothing from the fulness of the Scripture How would these miserable men unsay what they have said Will they say that that single Command of regarding the Light in every man in what it can speak according to Scripture is of it self alone all the fulness of the Scripture Alas this were to say that there is nothing else in all the Scriptures but that one single Command repeated over and over for if there be a thousand more and Exhortations and Reproofs and Threats and Promises and approved Examples and Gospel-Discoveries c. they do all concur to the fulness of the Scripture the Wound bleeds still a fulness they have acknowledged to be in Scripture and cannot go back Whoever them give themselves up to walk according to Scripture rule cannot miss of Heaven whoever cast off the Scriptures either in whole or in part cast off that rule that would fully guide them to Heaven our Adversaries themselves being Judges Obj. But G. W. objects p. 27. You granted we have but part of the Scriptures Answ Do these men fight with themselves Would they prove the Scriptures no full rule and yet acknowledge they are Some Books the Prophets wrote are lost indeed as the Book of Nathan the Prophet and the Prophesie of Ahijah the Shilonite and the Vision of Iddo the Seer 2 Chron. 9.29 The Book of Themajah the Prophet 2 Chron. 12.15 and others Yet what was the Canon and what God designed to be his Churches Rule in all future Ages is entirely preserved and shall be unto the end of the world Matth. 5.18 Heaven and Earth shall pass but one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the Law the Churches Rule till all be fulfilled 2 Pet. 1.19 We have a more sure Word of Prophesie unto which ye do well to attend as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place untill the Day of Glory dawn and the Day star arise in your hearts till having overcome Rev. 2.26 28. the Lord Christ be received into your hearts by Vision as now by Faith Thus we may see cause to rejoyce in the Scriptures as a full Rule to Heaven though many Writings of the Prophets are lost Can this he said for the Light in every man that it is also a full rule Concerning it I yield that without the Scriptures this Light is able to discover something of God and his Mind and Will unto us It can reveal that there is a God that he is to be feared loved trusted in worshipped that his Name is to be reverenced that some time is to be set apart for his worship that Parents are to be honoured Magistrates submitted to Children provided for that we are to love one another not take away one anothers Life unjustly that we are to fly Adultery Stealing Cheating Lying to tender our Neigbours good Name These things have been found amongst Heathens that enjoy not Scripture nor supernatural Revelation And in these things because the Light in every man speaks according to Scripture we are to attend unto it But â— I deny that it can without the Scripture shew to us our whole duty or that without the Scripture it can shew to any enough to save them Yea I deny that this Light can of it self and without
immediately by his Spirit reveal savingly all necessary Truths to them who in comparison of a Light they have in common with the Heathen despise the precious Scriptures Christ is a Mystery made manifest by the Scriptures of the Prophets Rom. 16.25 26. But he that trusts to his own heart to make manifest Christ to him is a Fool. Obj. P. 29. We have a more sure Word of Prophesie unto which ye do well to take heed till the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts Therefore by minding this Light within by degrees it will reveal Christ to us They draw not these Conclusions but I am so far from hiding their strength as they have done mine that I had rather improve their Arguments to the utmost for them Answ 1. Prove that by the Dawning of the Day or the Day-star arising in the Heart is to be understood Christs first appearance in Grace unto their Souls Had not Christ thus appeared to them already were they not Believers 2. Prove that by the Word of Prophesie is to be understood the Light in every man Can this Light help every man to Prophesie are all Prophets 3. The Word of Prophesie is the Scripture in which are written the true Prophesies of God Unto which we are to attend as long as we live on Earth even till the Day of Glory dawn and the Day-star Christ Jesus after that we have overcome Rev. 2 26.28 ariseth in our hearts taken in by Vision as now by Faith Arg. 4. If the Spirit guides Believers into all Truth p. 28. then the Light of this Spirit within must needs be a sufficient or full Rule Answ 1. It is not said that the Light in every man guides into all truth 2. Nor is it said that the Spirit guides every man yea or any man without the Scriptures into all truth 3 The true sense is That the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures and enlightning the minds of Believers shall lead them into all Truths necessary to Salvation 'T is weak to argue Believers who enjoy the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures have a full Rule therefore every man hath even those that enjoy neither the Spirit nor the Scriptures but are left to the meer Light that is in every man to guide them Thus it may be seen that neither in the Dispute nor by the improvement of his Arguments then urged nor by his Additional Arguments hath G. W. made good his Assertion that the Light in every man is a full Rule I shall now because I look on this point as the very Seat of the Controversie lay down what I urged and might have been urged to prove That the Light in every man is not a full Rule and consequently no Rule at all by it self to Salvation Arg. 1. If God saw good that even in Innocency this Light which we bring with us into the world should not be mans full and whole Rule nor after to Moses nor after to Christ's time nor in Christ's time nor in the Apostles days then there is little reason to fancy 't is a full Rule now But God saw good that even in Innocency this Light should not be our full and whole Rule for to this he added a Brohibition of eating the Tree of Knowledge to be parts of Adam's Rule nor after to Moses for they were to offer Sacrifices and be Circumcised Nor after to Christ for the Ceremonial Law was part of their Rule nor in Christs time for he observed the Ceremonial Law and also submitted to Baptism Nor in the Apostles days for they upheld the Ordinance of Baptism and of the Supper None of all which things could this Light of it self and without supernatural Revelation direct us to as our Duty and therefore neither may it be looked on now as our full or whole Rule Obj. Touching Innocency G. W. objected Adam could discern by his Light within he ought to abstain from that Fruit. Answ After and by the positive prohibition he was able to know it But it was asked him Could he have discerned it by the meer Light he brought with him into the World without the positive Prohibition He acknowledged He could not So in the positive Institution of Christ it was replied G. W. if he would not shut his Eyes might by the Light within him understand that the Celebration of Baptism and the Supper is the Churches Duty though without those Institutions promulged no man with all his Light is able to find it out Here let it be taken notice that he granted in effect the whole Argument For he granted that before the Prohibition came his Light could not discover what was Gods pleasure touching the Tree of Knowledge and yet he yields that God made abstinence from this Tree his Duty which is the whole contended for And if even in Innocency Mans perfect Light must not be the whole of his Rule but to vindicate his absolute Dominion and to maintain his just Prerogative would at his pleasure impose duty on man over and above what his Light within could shew a reason for what a miserable Mistake is it to imagine that now mans decayed Light should by Gods appointment be the whole of that Rule we are to walk by But though all was thus granted and is very plain yet troubled to see it go so ill with his Cause he cavils p. 30. much to this purpose Was not God in Adam A. God is one thing Adams Light another created of God in him God could reveal his pleasure as he did by the Prohibition but Adams Light without that Prohibition could not shew Adam what was Gods Pleasure as to this Tree as himself hath acknowledged He objects further p. 30. mightily to the purpose The Scriptures were not Adams Rule A. Draw the Conclusion Therefore Adams Light without the prohibition could discern that it was Gods pleasure he should not eat of the Tree of Knowledge These things hang closely Obj. Abraham Enoch had a Rule before the Scriptures were written the Pen-men also directing them in writing These Impertinencies seem to prove something though nothing to the Point in hand I therefore answer 1. Though the Scriptures were not Adams Rule because then not written yet to abstain from the Tree of Knowledge was part of his Rule in Innocency To believe in the Seed of the Woman for breaking of the Serpents Head was part of his Rule after the Fall as also Sacrificing Circumcision part of Abrahams Rule All and every of which Duties the Light in every man could by no means find out without Supernatural Revelation God was pleas'd to reveal these Duties immediately to select persons as Adam Abraham and from them by Tradition and Preaching to communicate them to his Church in following Generations And thus it appears that before the Scriptures were written the Light in every man was not his full Rule but Gods will supernaturally revealed and conveyed to posterity by Tradition and Preaching part thereof But now it pleased
for men to found their contrary opinions on the Scripture Paul p. 17. l. 5. enjoying Scripture but for all this Light missing the sence persecutes the Saints 4. Yet this Light may possibly stumble upon the true sense of Scripture in all points necessary to Salvation the Scripture is perspicuous in these and many destitute of the special Illumination of the spirit and all saving grace have been Orthodox in these points 5. The Spirit of God doth by a common operation help men to understand the true sence of Scripture hence the ungodly amongst us believe those truths which Turks and Jews p. 16. l. 3. Will not be convinced of 6. The Spirit of God by a special operation helps the Saints spiritually to apprehend the true sense of Scripture p. 15. The Inspiration of the Almighty giveth understand And this in all points necessary to Salvation The spirit saith Christ shall lead you into all Truth The duty of all is to look up to God by prayer for his spirit in a right manner to understand the Scriptures 1. They are in themselves an infallible Rule That is 1. A Rule that cannot deceive us 2. A Rule which if we practise in all it requires of us we cannot possibly miss of Salvation Three things necessarily concur to make a Rule thus Infallible 1. It must reveal truth for this only leads to heaven 2. It must reveal nothing but truth it must be incapable of revealing any error instead of truth otherwise it may possibly deceive us and we miss of heaven 3. It must reveal the whole truth at least all necessary to salvation otherwise following it we may come short of Heaven That the Scriptures are in themselves an Infallible Rule I proved in the first dispute for there I then began 2 Tim. 3.16 17. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine c. that the man of God might be perfect throughly furnished to every good work He fled from the argument by a rambling discourse but neither then nor since in his book hath he answered it Let the judicious read p. 15. The proof here is clear For that reveals Truth to us nothing but Truth all Truth necessary to salvation must needs be in it self an Infallible Rule to heaven But the Scriptures reveal Truth given by divine Inspiration Nothing but Truth all Scripture is given no part given by the suggestion of Satan nothing dictated by a principle of darkness Psal 12.6 The words of the Lord are pure words All Truth able to furnish to every good work Therefore an Infallible Rule in themselves 2. They are an Infallible Rule to us That is we can be sure or good and undeceiving grounds that all dictates and directions out of the Scripture are from God and sufficient to guide us to salvation The Miracles of the Pen-men the Efficacy of the word working so good a change on so many in all ages The Innate Characters of divine Authority stamped on the word as the Holiness Majesty Sublimity and Truth of Prophecy suffice abundantly to satisfie our hearts they are from God all from God And satisfied in this their own Testimony their excelling fulness compared with any other Rule what ever and the Consolation of our Spirits upon our Universal and sincere obedience to God speaking in them give us sweet assurance that they are a sufficient guide to Salvation From one of the Characters mentioned the Truth of Prophecy the Apostle Peter hath full assurance that the Scriptures are a most safe Rule to walk by 2 Pet. 1.19 Nevertheless we have a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take beed Can so much be said for the dictates and directions of every mans heart That they are an Infallible Rule to us That as men may be sure that all directions out of the Scriptures are from God so they can be sure on good undeceiving grounds that all directions out of their hearts are from God It will be said the comparison is not rightly stated it should be so all directions of the Light in every man are from God To this I answer So far as men make the Light within their Rule they have nothing to walk by but dictates or counsels out of their own hearts Let but the Question then be stated as that it might meet with the concerns of men as to their practice and it must be thus I shall not therefore alter the stating of this Question though in the handling of it I shall not wave that Query whether all directions of the Light be infallibly from God 1. Can it be said that out of our hearts we are sure proceed no dictate or direction from darkness or error within as we are sure no directions out of scripture proceed from any such principle Not only in the Unregenerate is there darkness ye were sometimes darkness but in the Regenerate also The word of Prophecy shines in the hearts of believers yet it shines there in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.1 19. compared And this darkness abides whilst on earth 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see in a Glass darkly That Now is whilst on Earth 1. Because opposed to Then which is after this Life is ended 2. Because it is as long as Faith Hope and Charity abideth vers 13. And Now abideth Faith c. and that is whilst we live on Earth darkness and error within will be prompting amiss Have all Men that know the Scriptures as much reason to say we are sure no iuward Counsel that we have proceeds from the suggestion of Satan as to say no Scripture-Counsel is suggested by him Within men are to be found many evil motions from Satan 1 John 4.1 Try the spirits for many false Prophets are gone out into the World The Devil is a busie Agent He filled the heart of Ananias and Saphira to lie to the Holy Ghost He put it into the heart of Judas to betray his Master Obj. These were unconverted Answ Are all Converts free from his Temptations Remember the Devil had access to Adam even in Innocency to Peter And why are Saints bid resist him stedfast in the Faith And to put on the whole Armour of God It is now impossible for men to go astray walking after the Counsels they find within as it is impossible to go astray walking after the Counsels that are found in Scripture Eccles 11.9 Rejoyce O young Man in thy youth and walk in the waies of thy bea rt and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee to Judgement If a man saith I shall have peace though I walk after the imagination of mine own heart the Lord will not spare but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against that man Can this please God that every man should do what is right in his own eyes 3. Can it be said that the Light in every man dictates in his
heart the whole Truth as much as is necessary to salvation What though it should be able infallibly to tells us that we ought not to commit murther or adultery and direct us in some other few moral duties Yet as long as it cannot infallibly reveal all Truth necessary to salvation for as hath been shewn 't is no full Rule it cannot possibly be an infallible Rule to heaven 4. Can it be said that every man hath an infallible Spirit of discerning the Counsels of this Light within him from the Counsels of darkness sin and error within him and of Satan that hath access to him If every man had such a spirit yet were not this Light to be preferred because it reveals but few truths in comparison of the Scriptures But the unconverted have not p. 16. Paul mistaken was unconverted And saith our Saviour They that kill you shall think they do God service They find no counsel in Scripture putting them upon this therefore they must find it in their own hearts 'T is the Counsel of darkness and error yet taken for the Counsel of their Light for they approve it and think it to be from God They are not therefore infallibly guided in judging the counsels of their hearts Nor have the converted this infallible spirit of discerning the dictates of Light within from the dictates of Darkness The young Prophet could not discern when the old one counselled in the name of the Lord to come back and eat Bread 1 King 1.18 David thought he should please God by bringing up the Ark though in a Cart 'T was by the Counsel of his own heart not of the Scriptures Nathan thought David might build God a Temple 2 Sam. 7.2 3. Since no man hath an infallible Spirit of discerning between the Counsels of Light and Darkness in the heart how can men say of every motion in their hearts I am as sure this is and this is not from God as they can say of all the Counsels in the Scripture I am sure these are from God When men have their right sense of what is counselled in their hearts they may possibly take Error for Truth When they have the right sense of what is counselled in Scripture they cannot We need no infallible Spirit to help to discern the Counsels of Light and Darkness in Scripture for all there comes from God To make the Counsels of the Scripture our Rule is safe To make the Counsels of our hearts dangerous 'T is the way to be led into a thousand errors A deceived heart hath turned them aside 5. May it not be possible for the Light in every man to dictate some error for Truth at least through our fault forcing it to speak when it should be silent Obj. It might be objected that I confessed it to be a Light wrought by the spirit of God in every man and how possibly can a Light of the Spirit of God direct amiss Answ 1. The Spirit the Creator who speaks in the Scripture cannot possibly fall from his goodness and dictate Error But things created are in their nature mutable may fall from their goodness and dictate Error as is to be seen in many of the Angels and in our first Parents Consider Evahs Judgement which was wrought by the Spirit of God Gen. 3.6 The Woman saw that the Tree was to be desired to make one wise She saw 't was an act of her Judgement or that power of judging which the spirit of God had in perfection created in her She saw that the Tree was to be desired 't was false She erred Here you see what the Spirit of God reveals is mutable and falls from its goodness and so dictates Error And if Evahs Judgement failed her may not our power of judging what is Gods will what not call it Light or what you will fail us though created by the spirit of God 2. This Light that Gods spirit hath created in us is now placed there where it meets with much Darkness and Vice to corrupt it But a corrupt Judge will pass a wrong sentence 3. Paul persecuting the Church acted according to his conscience Act. 26.9 I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth The Scripture sets forth Conscience by thoughts Ro. 2.15 Their Conscience bearing witness and their thoughts mean while accusing or excusing one another Therefore Pauls Conscience put him on to persecute The great Query is whether Pauls Conscience did act according to Pauls Light or against his Light or according to his Darkness only his Light standing Neuter Not against his Light for Paul not having studied the Scriptures sufficiently concerning Christ not having attended to the Doctrine of Christ preached by his Disciples was not informed concerning Christ the light he brought with him into the world unable to reveal that there should be a Christ much less that this Jesus of Nazareth is he he therefore had no Light concerning Jesus of Nazareth for his Conscience to act against further though a man may act against his own light yet a mans Conscience never acts against his Light Hence is it that when a man acts against his Light he acts against his Conscience also this ever siding with his Light If it should be said Pauls Conscience acted according to his darkness only his Light standing Neuter I ask what Light was that that stood Neuter Any Light able then to reveal Jesus of Nazareth to be the Christ Since he had no such Light no such Light could stand Neuter Let it be considered God sets up Conscience in man to act according to the best present Light in him This cannot be denied Hence when Conscience hath not satisfying light to act by it is doubtful and refuseth to encourage to act when it hath light discovering such an action contrary to Gods Will it restrains from doing it if it be done it accuseth condemneth When it hath light representing such an action pleasing to God it puts on to do it excuseth approveth a man for doing it And doth it with any confidence encourage to do a thing unless a mans best present light be positively for it Since Pauls Conscience did positively put him on to persecute the Church and this with all confidence I thought verily I conclude Pauls Light stood not Neuter but his present Light his best present light all his best present light was positively for persecuting the Church of Christ Now judge whether this light within may not dictate Sin for Duty Errour for Truth 4. It is possible for darkness to prompt Errour in stead of Truth But this Light which the Spirit of God hath created in every man is darkness Therefore it is possible nay very easie for this Light to prompt Errour and hard in some cases to do otherwise That it is darkness I prove Matth. 6.23 If thine Eye be evil thy whole Body is full of darkness Some peoples eyes are evil and if
their whole bodies be full of darkness it follows that there no true Light at all in them the Light that is is real darkness It therefore is added If the Light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness Luke 11.35 Take heed that the Light which is in thee be not darkness If there were no danger that a mans Light should be darkness what room were there for this warning It is therefore uudeniable that there is a Light in man which is but darkness And I ask what Light is that Not Christ himself in the Saints not his holy Spirit that dwelleth in them not the Light of the Gospel taken in by Faith not the special illumination of the Holy Ghost Tell us then what Light can it be but the Light we brought with us into the world the Light that is in every man He that hath no more but this Light is all Darkness Therefore it is said Eph. 5 8. Ye were sometimes Darkness All darkness Ye had then not one Drachm of Light in you the Light you had was but Darkness Q. But how can this be If it be Light 't is Light how can it be and not be the same thing Ans It can of it self without Scripture teach Moral Duties that God is to be worshipped Parents obeyed c. as hath been hinted often and in this respect 't is Light But it cannot reveal Christ of it self When he is revealed by the Striptures and preaching of the Gospel it cannot discern him nor any other spiritual Mystery of the Gospel for they are spiritually discerned the Natural man with all his Light cannot reach to this And in these two respects 't is meer darkness no more able to guide a man to Salvation than darkness it self Obj. We may not put Light for Darkness Ans When Christ evidently hints the Light within may be darkness must he be thus reproved You may not put Light for Darkness That which in respect of Morals is Light he calls Light and the same being in respect of Spirituals real Darkness he properly calls it so He doth not therefore put Light for Darkness And G. W. himself acknowledgeth Div. of Christ in Answer to Mr. Dawson p. 42. That the Natural man bath not power to discern spiritual things Is not his Light darkness then What he adds yet he hath a power to receive them is very odd For how do men receive spiritual things into their Souls but first by discerning them then approving and embracing them His Reason is miserable for after Conversion he doth saith he receive them He might as well have said the Unconverted hath power to receive spiritual things for after Conversion he doth discern them 'T is as if he should have said When Sampson was an Infant he had power to carry the Gates of a City up the Hill for when he was a man he did it In Conversion we receive a new Light and a new Heart which is a new power to receive spiritual things This Light that is wrought in us by the Spirit of God when put upon it to direct us how to obtain Pardon and Justification bids us seek it by the works of the Law never pointing to Christ therefore at least being forced to speak through our fault where it should be silent as being unable to direct herein it both can and doth misguide It will be yielded in terms I think that there is no Pardon or Justification without Faith in Christ And it hath been proved that this light of it self cannot speak one Syllable of Christ therefore it cannot tell us how to obtain Pardon and Justification If then we will force it to speak in this point it must needs speak Falshood if any thing See it thus directing Rom. 2.13 14. The doers of the Law shall be justified for when the Gintiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law to themselves The Apostle lays down the way of Justification by the Law of works The Doers of the Law shall be justified He proves it for the Light of Nature puts the Gentiles upon doing of the works of the Law that they may be justified having no knowledge of the Law of Grace which direct to Christ by Faith for Justification they walk by the Law of works which is no way to Heaven for a fallen Creature The like we may see in several of the Israelites Rom. 9.32 They sought for Righteousness not by Faith but by the works of the Law And that the Light within them did put them upon this we may see chap. 10.2 I bear them Record that they have a zeal of God This they did then in a zeal for God designing his Glory and to do his will But never doth a man any thing in zeal to Gods glory but when his Reason his Judgment his Conscience his best Understanding the best Light he hath puts him on And that this is not the way to obtain Justification is evident chap. 9.32 The works of the Law are called a stumbling Stone It is a truth indeed that the Doers of the Law shall be justified but no man can possibly be a Doer He that hath once in thought word or deed in all his life broken the Law is not a Doer of the Law but a Transgressor therefore this is no way for our Justification because in our hearts are motions of darkness and errour because Satan hath access to insinuate evil into us because the Light we brought into the world doth not reveal all necessary Truths because we have not an infallible Spirit to discern these few Truths it doth reveal from Errours suggested in our hearts and because 't is possible for this very light it self to suggest errour we are not sure upon good grounds that all Counsels out of our hearts are from God as werare sure all Counsels out of the Scriptures are from God No can we so safely walk after Counsels out of our own hearts for the Counsels of the light within come out of our own hearts as we can safely walk after Counsels out of the Scripture These are infallible to us the other not Before I end I must answer what he brings to prove this Light an infallible Rule Arg. 1. p. 17. l. ult Christ bids us believe in the Light He would not have us believe in that that might deceive us Answ John 12.36 Whilst ye have the Light believe in the Light The words intimate they were like to lose the Light according to the Threat Matth. 21.43 The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you The true sense here is Whilst ye have the Gospel believe in me the Light of the world 'T is not Believe in the Light you brought with you into the World Nor was this to be taken from them Not believing in Christ they were to cary this to Hell with them to torment them for their Sin Arg. 2. The
moment be liable to the everlasting wrath of God 2. Gods good end in giving this Light is to reveal moral duties and sins against nature that avoiding these sins and practising these duties we might be delivered from temporal judgements as Nineveh was and might enjoy the Lords common savours 3. Gods gracious end in giving us the Scriptures is that seeing and embracing Christ Righteousness and Gods Mercy in him our souls might sincerely be reconciled to his Will and so living to God we might be sure of mercy favour and salvation Arg. 8. They usually bring that Scripture Luke 17.21 Behold the Kingdom of God is with you Answ Gods Kingdom is to be considered either as to the Common or as to the special Administration of it 1. As to the Common and this is whereby God doth restrain convince make offers of Christ and Grace and sometimes give a taste of the heavenly gift by the preaching of the word and the common operation of the spirit carrying the word into the Consciences of men for the word of God is quick and powerful piercing to the dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit God had so set up his Kingdom in them as he had not in the Heathen They are therefore called the Children of the Kingdom Mat. 8.12 Of the Kingdom only in this common Administration of it for they were to be cast out and the Kingdom of God was to be taken from them 2. As to the special Administration of it and this is whereby God awakens souls unites them to Christ by a lively Faith makes them willing subjects and stablishing them in their obedience preserves them to glory by his word and by his spirit powerfully applying it to their hearts inlightning renewing quickning comforting and dayly assisting them God had not thus set up his Kingdom in the Pharisees for his Kingdom as to this Administration of it is not in word but in power 1 Cor. 4.20 Is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 Is never to cease while the world last Dan. 7.27 Whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom Hence then cannot be concluded either that there is a Light effectually saving in Pharisees or the unconverted or that there is a Light objectively saving in every man for though the Pharisees had in them such a light which if they had embraced sincerely they had been in the way to salvation yet this was forc'd into them by Christs Preaching his Miracles and the common operation of the Spirit They did not bring it into the World with them Quest It was asked me in the first dispute I shall speak according to my best remembrance I know I must give account If an heathen obey his Light may he be saved And then not having so fully seen into this point I was shy and answered I was not to Judge them that are without Quest I was afterwards asked If a man improves his Light within him may not he be saved I answered he may and added if he improves that is studieth Scripture and looketh up to God for a blessing he may That night reflecting upon his passage I was very much disturbed in my spirit because I did not more fully speak to this point laying down the manner how upon improvement he might be saved and expressing the Truth on the contrary side What might unskilful people conclude from this Assertion Next day my wife destitute and near her Travail begging with Tears that I would seek her out an habitation I could not in the least regard her I could easily embrace any self-abasement to prevent the dammage of any soul through mistake To effect this as much as might be I drew up and dispatcht a Letter to G. W. with a Paper containing the same things to Thaxted where the dispute was to be openly read among them The Letter follows A LETTER sent to G. W. Beloved Friend TOuching one Query in the Disputation whether if a man improve the Light within him may he not be saved My Answer was that if he improve it that is make use of it in studying the Scripture and look up to God for a blessing he may be saved I judge it needful to acquaint you with my meaning how he may be saved 'T is this God may I do not say certainly will much less that be is bound I disown Pelagianisme so bless him as to give him to see embrace and endeavour to practice his whole mind revealed in the Scripture that is to speak with reference to you to sanctifie the Christian Sabbath seek justification by the Righteousness of Christ imputed repent if his sinful nature and sinful motions of his heart submit to the Ordinances of Baptism and the Lords Supper and in other things universally incline his heart to please him thus may the Lord through grace save him I was defective in the Disputation that I did not manifest this so weighty a matter Yea and that I did not manifest the Truth on the other side which is this For a Person to whom Scriptures are given to practice no more then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate rejecting the Scripture as not obliging in those things that this Light doth not discover is to fling away his own salvation Arg. 1. That Person that erres in the Doctrine of Justification by Christs Righteousness only and so sets up something else instead of this Righteousness for justification cannot possibly be saved Gal. 5.4 But this Light that is in every man doth not dictate that justification is by Christs Righteousness only Arg. 2. That Person that in many things lives and dies in allowed Rebellion against the mind and will of God revealed cannot be saved But having Scriptures to practice no more then what the Light in every man doth dictate is to live and dye in allowed rebellion against the mind and will of God revealed in many things 1. This Light doth not dictate that the Christian Sabbath is to be kept but God in Scripture commands Remember the Sabbath that is one day in seven which the Lord shall chuse in Gospel times it is not the seventh from the creation Let no man judge you for the Sabbath day and if it must be one of the other six which doth the Lord more clearly in Scripture point at then the first day To keep it holy do no manner of work To practice no more than what the Light that is in every man doth dictate is as good as to say I will not remember the Sabbath I will work on that day 2. This Light doth not dictate that Lusts or first motions of sinful principles much less the principles themselves are sins and so to be repented of and that we are to fly to Christ blood for pardon Rom. 7.7 But the Scripture sends us to Christ for pardon for all sin calls to repent of all sin manifesteth that the first motion to sins are sins thou shalt not
with them Christs spiritual Coming therefore puts not an end to this Ordinance Therefore it must needs be that only his second coming in the flesh or his last coming at the end of the world that shall put an end to this Ordinance If they will cavil at Christs appearing in the Flesh let them know that Christ will change our vile Bodies and make them like his glorious Body And yet saith Job In my flesh shall I see God So that when Jobs Body is a glorious Body like Christs yet doth it not cease to be flesh No more doth Christs Obj. Div. p. 50. If Christs coming in the Spirit be not the end of the Lords Supper where then is the Mystery and inward Spiritual Grace signified by the Outward Sign Answ This man seems better pleased with his Conceits than Christs Truth and when he cannot by Reason perswade he would by Sophistry cheat men into a belief of Errour Is the Contest about the Design Is it not about the Cessation of the Supper He speaks not to the Point If the Argument had been framed thus What is the Design of the Lords Supper that attained is the Cessation of it But Christs Spiritual Coming is the Design The Maâ—or Peoposition would have carried as much Truth in it as this The Design of Preaching is to form Christ in us assoon as Christ is formed in a man therefore he must he preached unto him no more The design of eating is to have Hunger satisfied to be strengthened If therefore a person hath once satisfied his hunger and strengthened himself by eating he must never eat more It being clear that the Supper is an Ordinance of the Lords own appointing never repealed nay appointed to continue till Christs coming in the end of the world Is it not Rebellion against the Lord to reject it And shall we be found as Pharaoh crying Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice When the Lord hath appointed it for our good to further our spiritual Communion with him nourish strengthen our Faith and help us in our Obedience shall we reject this Love of Christ Shall we deprive our own Souls of this Spiritual Food Indeed had men only appointed it we could have no warrant to use it no ground to expect Gods blessing in the use of it In vain do they worship me saith God teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men But since it is the Lords own Institution there is good to be hoped for from it Deut. 12.28 It shall go well with thee and with thy Children after thee for ever when thou dost that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God This Ordinance is such a thing What though it be a Sign a Shadow If God sets us a Shadow a Brazen Serpent it shall not be in vain to look up unto it What if it were true that we were perfect Yet if the Lord will appoint Adam even in Innocency the use of a Sign the Tree of Life he hath reason to rejoyce in it And truly by instituted Worship in a singular manner doth God try our Love or Hatred of him as we may see in the Second Commandment He will show Mercy to thousands of them that love him punish the iniquity of Parents upon their Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate him God reckons those that are Conscientious Upholders of instituted Worship Lovers of him To conclude therefore Let us examine our selves and so let us eat for if we would judge our selves we shall not be judged of the Lord. Whether we are Justified by the Righteousness of Christ Imputed THis is a Point of great moment A man may erre in many other things and yet be saved as by fire but an Errour in the substance of this is certain Damnation All therefore had need be well informed about it By the Righteousness of Christ understand his Active and Passive Obedience or his fulfilling the Law in his own person when on Earth and his suffering to the death according to the will of his Father By the Imputation of it understand Gods making it over to us upon believing his giving granting vouchsafing it to us reckoning or accounting it ours As for the word Justifie the Scripture sometimes but very rarely useth it to signifie to make just by inherent Holiness or to sanctifie Tit. 3.5 7. He saved us by the washing of Regeneration that being justified c. It is used in contradistinction to Sanctification 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are sanctified but ye are justified c. And thus mostly We are therefore to take it in this latter sense In which it hath two significations all belonging to the same thing It signifies to declare Just Luke 7.35 Wisdom is justified of her Children Psal 51.4 That thou maist be justified when thou speakest To Absolve Acquit or Discharge Rom. 8.33 It is God that justifieth who shall condemn Prov. 17.15 He that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the ust are both abomination to the Lord. Here it cannot signifie to make just for this would be no abomination to the Lord. As to the thing signified 1. Justification implies an Accusation true or false When a Father commends his Child charged with no crime this is not Justification but Praise The Devil may bring false accusations against us Had man continued in the State of Innocency no true Accusations could have been brought against him But now Moses or the Law of God is the true Accuser of every one of us John 5.45 There is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust The Law saith Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them Gal. 3.10 The true Accusation or Charge that it brings and at the Day of Judgment will bring against us is this Thou hast broken the Law for thou hast not from the beginning of thy life to the end thereof done every thing required in it The Law will thus charge us for it is not abrogated or made null If it were no wicked man could be condemned by it But our Saviour tells us Luke 16.17 It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass than one tittle of the Law to fail And we are assured Rom. 2.12 He that hath sinned in the Law shall be judged by the Law 2. Justification doth necessarily suppose an Apology or a Defence made by or for the Party accused For if there be nothing pleaded on his hehalf the Judge may not justifie but must condemn him This Defence is but two ways to be made either proving the Accusation false So Wisdom is justified of her Children This world censures the Wisdom of God foolishness but her Children honour her And so would a good Angel be justified if accused the Accusation would be proved false and that he never from the first moment of his Creation once sinned against God thus he is capable of being justified by