Horns do hate the Whore make her desolate and naked eat her flesh and burn her with fire yet do they agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled Rev. 17. 16 17. Thou therefore that wouldest have the name of destroying the Whore art so far from obeying the Truth that thou hast the nature of the Beast the great Antichrist whose followers and admirers are the world whose worship is not performed to the living God that made the Heavens and the Earth but to the Dragon from whom the said Beast hath his Power his Seat and his great Anthority thy blasphemies are great already thou beginnest to have a stout Look thy followers do admire thee saying in effect Who is able to make War with thee thou blasphemest against God his Name his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven Revel 13. 6. A God above and a God out of thee thou sayest is Carnal his Name by which his People through Faith therein have Salvation is blasphemed in thy denying the appointments of Christ in the New Testament those Worshippers of God who worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth are by thee despised and contemned the followers of Jesus Christ that love him though now they see him not and believing in him do rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 7 8. yet are they the object of thy scorn and derision Thy pretended opposition therefore to the Whore will not prove thee other than a Limb at least of that Beast which the World in worshipping doth worship Devils and Idols of Gold and Silver and Brass and Stone and Wood which neither can see nor hear nor walk See Revel 13. 4 12. Revel 9. 20. Thus this proof also is made void and of no effect Sect. 9 But fourthly Suppose that thou didst discern all secrets and didst see into all A Concession and Answer to the fourth proof and through all men as thou sayest yet art thou not therefore in the Truth for those that have the use of Divinations that have the familiarity of evil spirits do sometimes discover very secret and hidden things yet the Devil is the father of such Revelations And art thou therefore Justified because thou sometimes doest very strange things and revealest very great secrets No not all except the power by which thou doest them were the Power of God and not of Satan and except the end for which thou doest them were the Glory of God and not of Satan It is not therefore thy going into a house the doors being shut and out again none knowing how as one of the Preachers up of thee so called Light within hath done nor thy appearing in the field to one walking alone and then vanishing away again that will justifie thee to be in the Truth except this were done by the Power and for the Glory of God neither is it the declaring to a man all that he had done that day before he came into thy company and much of that he had done at other times also as one of the Preachers up of thee so called Light within did to one that came to visit him in prison that can prove this Deceiver to be a servant of the Lord for the servants of the Lord are not alwayes to be found by such tokens for it is written of one that had the knowledge of all secrets who yet was so far from being a servant of the Lord that he was appointed for destruction at that very time when he had so great knowledge of whom it is said Be hold thou art wiser then Daniel there is no secret that they can hide from thee and yet because his heart was lifted up by reason of his wisdom and riches therefore the Lord pronounceth destruction upon him and though he said I sit in the Seat of God yet God said Thou art a man and not God though thou set thy heart as the heart of God And wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee I am God but thou shalt be a man and no God in the hand of him that slayeth thee See Ezek. 28. 2. 9. How far short the Preachers up of the so called Light within come of this pride of heart let their sayings witness for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Mat. 12. 34. For they say they must judge all men they see into and through all men they have the Godhead in them even as Christ hath and the like But though thou set thy heart as the heart of God yet will he destroy thee and bring thee down to the Pit And wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee I am God but thou shalt be a man and no God in the hand of him that slayeth thee Thus it is apparent that they which suppose they know all secrets and because of their wisedom do lift up their hearts in pride contemning God and his Truth will at last be so far infatuated that they shall not know how to save themselves from destruction and perpetual wo and misery Therefore it is a very false conclusion to conclude that because thou knowest others secrets therefore thy way is the way of Truth for it is evident that the discerning of secrets is so far from being a proof that the discerners thereof are servants of God and obeyers of his Truth that there by they are sometimes proved to be slaves of Satan and followers of his delusions But Sect. 10 Fifthly Suppose that thou art in Sufferings more then any other yet notwithstanding thou art not therefore in the Truth A Concession and Answer to the fifth Proof For as hath been said it is not the Sufferings but the Cause that makes a Martyr What if a man do give his body to be burned it profiteth nothing except it be done with charity 1 Cor. 13. 3. But when in love to God and to his Truth a man suffereth for the Truth this is available but this is not thy case Let none of you saith the Apostle suffer as a Murtherer or as a Thief or as an evil-doer or as a busie body in other mens matters yet if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God on this behalf 1 Pet. 4. 15 16. But never did any of the Preachers up of the so called Light within suffer as a Christian never did they suffer for Christ whose Person and Doctrine they deny And were it so that Sufferings did alwayes demonstrate the Sufferer to be in the Truth it would not onely justifie evil doers but also Truth it self which is alwayes one and the same would thereby become mutable and variable But what need I spend time to confute so vain a Notion as this for in very deed they that do suffer but a reproachful word for the Truths sake that Suffering is more acceptable with God than the suffering of death for errour therefore to conclude
to be come in the flesh to deny the Ordinances which he hath appointed to set forth what he hath done in the body of his flesh and it is as much as to deny that ever he shall come again to deny that Appointment which he hath ordained to be used until his second coming or to abuse it with the Papists turning that into a Sacrifice Propitiatory which Christ ordained only to signifie the Propitiatory Sacrifice of his own Body to make that by an humane invention of Transubstantiation to be the very Body and Blood of Christ there present upon their Altar in the hand of their Priest which Christ appointed so signifie his Body as to shew his bodily absence the Bread being present his Body being at the right hand of God in the Glory of the Father This is as much as to deny his coming bodily for if his Body be present how can his Body be at the right hand of God If his Body be come since his Ascention how can his Body be still to come But the truth is so great an harmony is between the Preachers up of the Light within all men and the Doctors of the Romish Synagogue that their Doctrine tends to one thing viz. The denyal of Jesus Christ come in the flesh of Justification by the imputation of Faith in his Blood for Righteousness of Remission of Sins by his Grace of the right use and end of his holy Ordinances yea to the denyal of the vertue of the Death of Christ the essicacy of his Resurrection and the glory of his Coming I shall therefore for conclusion of this Chapter set forth according to the Scriptures of Truth the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the bodies of all men by the power of the Resurrection of Christ the glory of his Coming and the End of the World Sect. 8 For thus saith the Word of the Truth of the Gospel concerning those that shall be saved as it is written 2 Tim. 1. 8 9. 10. God saith the Apostle hath saved us and called us with an holy Calling not according to our Works but according to his own Purpose and Grace given us in Christ Iesus before the world began but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Iesus Christ who hath abolished Death and brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel By his Death he hath destroyed him that had the power of Death Heb. 2. 14. By his Resurrection and Ascension in his own Body He hath led captivity captive He conquered the Grave and overcame it by Death not for himself who knew no sin but for the world of sinners unto whom Death is due as the wages of Sin the just reward of Iniquity Rom. 6. 23. which Death passed upon all men excepting Christ who sinned not because that all have sinned Rom. 5. 12. and are in bondage under Sin and Death the great enemies of the peace and comfort of Mankind for whose deliverance from Sin and Death Christ hath dyed and hath invited the world of sinners to repent and believe the Gospel for the Remission of their Sins and their deliverance from Death from which he will in his due time deliver all those that believe in his Name For he must reign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. that the saying that is written may come to passe Death is swallowed up into Victory according to the Word of the Lord by the Prophet Hosea ch 13. 14. I will ransom them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy plagues O Grave I will be thy destruction Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes And to this end Jesus Christ did give himself a Ransom for all and tasted Death for every man 1 Tim. 2. 6. Heb. 2. 9. that he might bring all men out of the Grave which though it be not yet effected yet he hath payed the Price that so at his appearing he may raise all men from that first death and deliver from wrath to come all that wait for him believing on his Name 1 Thess 1. 10. 1 Ioh. 3. 23. according as himself hath testified Ioh. 5. 28 29. Marvel not at this saith he for the hour is coming in which all that are in the Grave shall hear the voice of the Son of God and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation So that it is evident that that of man which goeth to the grave shall be raised again as he hath said I will ransom them from the power of the grave c. But if the bodies of them which are cast into the grave shall not be raised from thence how then is there a ransoming of them from the power of the Grave or a redeeming them from Death How is Captivity led captive or who how will the Grave then come to destruction and not rather be the destroyer And how will the Word of the Almighty Creator be fulfilled and his glorious Power manifested who made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that therein is and keepeth Truth for ever Psal 146. 5 6. Sect 9 But it is further evident That the bodies of Believers although they dye and turn to dust yet shall they be raised again and live eternally as is testified in the Scripture 1 Cor. 15. 42 43 44. by the Apostle concerning the Resurrection of the Dead It is sown saith he in Corruption It is raised in Incorruption It is sown in Dishonour It is raised in Glory It is sown in Weakness It is raised in Power It is sown a Natural Body It is raised a Spiritual Body By all which how evidently is the Resurrection of that which dyes proved It which is sown and it which is raised is one and the same only the condition wherein it is raised is more excellent than that wherein it is sown They that turn Scripture into Allegories cannot turn this into any nor make an Interpretation contrary to this without making themselves very absurd for if they shall say It is the Seed of God which is thus sown then it seems the Seed of God shall be sown in one condition and shall be raised in another yea they must hold that the Seed of God is sown a Natural Body and raised a Spiritual Body changing its Properties which cannot be No no it is the Corruptible man the natural Bodies of Believers which shall be raised changed and fashioned like the glorious Body of Christ and as is testified in the Scripture concerning that Seed which is sown into the Earth as Wheat or other Grain That which is sown is not sown that Body which shall be for when it is sown it is sown but bare Grain not clothed with any thing but God giveth it a Body as it pleaseth him clothed excellently yet to every Seed his own Body And as the Body
with thee by way of Concession in putting the case that all this which thou sayest were so and that thou went beyond all others in every one of these five Particulars yet notwithstanding thy Way and Practice is a manifest falshood as shall be made evident in that which followeth Sect. 6 For first suppose that thou in Bodily Habit didest neglect thy self as much as the A Concession and Answer to the first Proof Romish Fryers or the Hermite before spoken of Art thou ere the more in the Truth for that it is apparent that both They and Thee notwithstanding this Humility in shew are great Adversaries to the Truth of the Gospel and that we may know that this shew of Humility in neglect of the Body is no sufficient Proof for this purpose the Scriptures of Truth do warn us of a sort of false Worshipers who worship Angels and walk after the Commandements of men being vainly puft up in their fleshly Minds who hold not the Head Christ Jesus by subjecting to his Ordinances yet are subject to the Ordinances of men touch not tast not handle not which things saith the Apostle indeed have a shew of Wisdom in Will-Worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body not in any Honour to the satisfying of the Flesh Col. 2. 18 19 21 22 23. Oh what a Glorious shew of Wisdom is there in Will-Worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body but alass what benefit is in all this for when this comes to be tryed it is found to be but the Wisdom of this World which is Earthly Sensual and Devilish James 3. 15. And is not the Worship of those that call themselves followers of the Light within the Worship of Angels that is of Devils while they disobey that which God hath shewed them in the Scriptures of Truth and intrude into such things which are not to be found there Where is there such a thing to be found in all the Record that God hath given of his Son that all men ought not to look into and be guided by the Scriptures of Truth but that all men ought to look into and be guided by the so called Light which is within them Oh the vanity of that fleshly and puffed up Mind that hath been the Author of this Intrusion and Doctrine of Devils so directly contrary to the Doctrine of the Holy Prophets Apostles and of Christ Himself the greatest of them all who requires us to hearken to the Word of the Lord expressed in the Law and in the Testimony to take heed unto the most sure Word of the Prophets 2 Pet. 1. 19. to searth the Scriptures which are able to make us wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3. 15. Therefore although thou art outwardly more humble than any other that is no confirmation that thou art in the Truth but in the Falshood rather while thy Doctrine is so directly contrary to the Word of Truth And thus thy pretended proof of thy Humility lies dead and will not do the service for which it is brought Sect. 7 But Secondly Suppose that thou art in A Concession and Answer to the second Proof Vnity and all others are in Differences yet this doth not prove that therefore thou art in the Truth for first although the Devil endeavours to break the Peace of the Saints by sowing Discord among the Brethren because he knows that their Unity will be the ruine of his Kingdom and although sometimes through his Temptations many turn aside from the Truth yet notwithstanding the Lord owns the rest as his People that stand fast in it to those few Names in Sardis which did not defile their Garments it is promised That they shall walk with the Lord in White Rev. 3. 4. notwithstanding the polluted estate of the rest Although there was Divisions among the Disciples of Christ yet they were his Disciples and the Lord useth means to unite them to the Truth that are turning aside after Error before he utterly rejecteth them and when he doth punish the Transgressors he spareth the Obedient as is to be seen in the case of the seven Churches of Asia Rev. ch 2. and 3. So that although Divisions may appear among the Professors of the Faith of Christ it is not safe from thence to conclude that none of those Professors are in the Truth Shall we condemn all Professors because some walk contrary to their Profession Shall we condemn all the Angels of God because some of them did not keep their first estate but left their own Habitations Jude vers 6. Thus it is clear that Divisions amongst Brethren do not warrant an Universal Sentence upon them But Secondly Unity is no absolute estimony of Verity for the Prophets of Ahab spake with one consent there was no Division amongst them although they were four hundred they all agreed together to bid Ahab go up and prosper though it proved his destruction 1 Kings 22. 6 11 12 13. one Micaiah that differed from them all his words was true being the Words of the Lord and their words was false being the inspiration of Satan If ye then the Preachers up of the so called Light within are in Unity your Unity arising from a lying spirit which is in all your mouths we can conclude your condition to be no better then Ahabs and his Prophets and as the Lord permitted that lying spirit to be in the mouths of all Ahabs Prophets to intice him because he had so exceedingly sinned against the Lord by rejecting his Counsel to go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead even so hath the Lord sent or permitted a lying spirit to be in all your mouths that you may intice all them that do reject the Counsel of God which is written in the new Testament to go on and fall and be snared taken and destroyed as it is written 2 Thes 2. 11. 12. For this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a Lie that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness It is therefore apparent that unity is not a sure proof of verity Those that are said to have one mind Revel 18. 13. to what end is it but to give their Power and strength to the Beast c. Those that Christ invited to his Marriage Supper Luke 14. 18. They all with one consent began to make excuse This Argument therefore being but a Popish Fig-leaf is utterly invalid But Sect. 8 Thirdly suppose thou destroy the Whore more then any other of her opposers and that by perswading her children to leave her A Concession and Answer to the third Proof and to follow after thee yet notwithstanding thou art not therefore in the Truth for many of the Adversaries of the Whore are enemies to the Gospel of Christ though the great City be divided into three parts yet it is great Babel still Revel 16. 19. and though the ten
TESTIMONY FOR THE Son of Man And against the Son of Perdition Wherein is set forth the FAITH and OBEDIENCE of GODS ELECT Testified by the Mouth of the Lord Angels Men. With a true Discovery of a Bundle of Equivocations Confusions and Hypocrisies in those who call Themselves Preachers of and to the Light within all Men who yet are so far in darkness themselves that they acknowledge not the Scriptures and Ordinances of Jesus Christ so as to be Directed by the one to the Obedience of the other By Joseph Wright a Servant of Jesus Christ Luke 11. 44. Wo unto you Scribes Pharisees Hypocrites for ye are as Graves which appear not and the men that walk over them are not aware of them Heb. 10. 38. Now the just shall live by Faith c. Isa 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to This Word it is because there is NO LIGHT IN THEM LONDON Printed for Stephen Dagnal and are to be sold at his Shop in Alisbury and at Leyton 1661. To the Beloved FLOCK of JESUS CHRIST that are in the Faith and Fellowship of Him according to his glorious Gospel in ENGLAND And to all them that in every place call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ who sits at the right hand of God the Father in the Heavens out of every man on Earth Blessings Riches of Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplyed upon you from the most high Lord of all who dwels in that Immortal Light which mortal Eyes did never see nor can see and from Jesus Christ his Eternal Son in truth and love to the establishing your hearts in the Love of the Truth and to the giving you an Inheritance among them that are Sanctified by Faith which is in him to the Glory of the only wise God to whom be ascribed Blessings Glory Power Salvation Might and Praises in the highest throughout all Ages in the Churches by his only Son Jesus Christ even for ever and for ever Amen My dear Friends and Brethren Sect. 1 IT hath pleased the Father of Mercies that we should have our Lot in these Times wherein Iniquity doth abound and the Love of many doth wax cold and indeed wherein the Mystery of Iniquity doth mightily work and prevail so that if it were possible the very Elect should be deceived and beguiled from the simplicity of the Gospel of their Salvation by the deceits that are abroad and the workers of Wickedness who labour with all their might to darken the Counsel of God by words without knowledge Job 38. 2. Prov. 21. 30. Satan you know hath alwayes endeavoured to Counter-work the Dispensation of God ever labouring to make his wicked Designs and Devices to be as like the Truth of the Lord as possible that thereby he might keep back the Children of men from giving themselves up to the Lord Jesus Christ a notable Example we have of this in Pharoah and his Sorcerers who withstood with Signs wrought by deceit Moses who wrought by the finger of God And it is foretold to us that like as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses even so shall the Truth be resisted by some that would seem to have as beautiful a face for a while as Truth it self so that it will be hard to distinguish the one from the other without abundance of the Spirit of Discerning But this is Truths Character it will have the Victory and Triumph notwithstanding all the fierce opposition that it meets with and the higher men and devils clime to overtop and over-master it and to exalt themselves above it the greater will be their fall and their condemnation and the manifestation of their madness and folly for it shall be discovered as that of Jannes and Jambres also was Sect. 2 Now for as much as Errors and Delusions are many as Truth but one I cannot make it my business at this time to put into your hands an Advertisement and Discovery of them all nay it is needless for me so to do because generally that is done already Notwithstanding I thought good to give you a discription of one that is most dangerous having perfect knowledge thereof from the first springing of it up in this our Nation to this time and knowing how taking it is to many because it seems to carry along with it a zealous Conversation whereby many of you have been apt to think that there is but one step betwixt it and Truth I have therefore very faithfully in this Book set before you the large and wide distance that there is between the things herein opposed and the Truth that you profess that you may be warned to hold fast the Profession of your Faith without wavering and not be drawn away with the flouds of Iniquity like dead Fish with the streams Sect. 3 Many of you are apt to be too credulous to that which seems to have a parcel of good words in its mouth and is spoken against and opposed by some ungodly men not weighing things well before you imbrace them but letting your affections out-run your judgments Be therefore careful and seek the Lord depart from evil be ever following that which is good For evil men understand not Judgment but they that seek the Lord understand all things Prov. 28. 5. Try things out by the Scriptures before the Lord and seek his face by Fasting and Prayer and be sure you be not drawn to Fasting without Prayer for that is dangerous Sect. 4 You have been throughly Warned by the Servants of God to beware of all Whorish Worship it would be a sad thing that for fear of her and her filthiness you or any of you should run into the Son of Perdition's Practises O what great need have you to be sober and watch unto Prayer I therefore your fellow Companion in the patient waiting for of the coming of Christ do earnestly in all bowels of honest affection in Christ Jesus beseech you to handle the Spirit against which I here contend roughly at the door Is not the found of its Masters feet behind it I am pressed to this Work by many weighty Considerations you know how nearly I am related to you that you may not be ensnared and taken in an evil net while I by any means may through grace help and prevent it is that for which the dispensation of God calls upon me I have though unworthy been appointed by many of you for a defence of that Truth of the Gospel which you profess and have had many a grapple with these Fore-runners of the Man of Sin as well as with the Emissaries of the Whore whereby I have the advantage to see into their deceits and whose Servants they are who say they are Apostles and are not but are Lyers Therefore I am bound to make it known to the end that the Mystery of Iniquity may be discovered and that the Christ of God may be magnified his Truth advanced his People established and
God is not in all his thoughts but as saith the same Prophet Psal 69. 32. The humble shall see this and be glad and your heart shall live that seek God Sect. 12 The humble do see themselves in a lost and undone Estate by reason of Sin which they and all the world are guilty of by the Sentence of the righteous Law of God they are so broken in their spirits finding themselves under the Curse of the Law Gal. 3. 10 That as Christ teacheth concerning the penetant Publican Luke 18. 10. thinking themselves not worthy to lift up their eyes to Heaven do smite their breasts saying God be merciful to us Sinners while the proud Pharisee rejoycing in himself and in his own Righteousness of the Law like those that now Preach up the Light within exalteth himself saying God I thank thee I am not as other men are Extortioners Unjust Adulterers or even as this Publican Oh with what affection doth the Repentant Believer receive Jesus Christ Oh how precious is the Blood of Sprinkling to him Heb. 12. 24. Which the proud Legalist Pharisee Papist and pretended Preacher up of the Light within do trample under their feet Sect. 13 Even as Water is to a thirsty Land Psal 143. 6. or to the panting Hart Psal 42. 1. which being at the point of death except it be refreshed by the Water Brooks doth expire So is it with the poor Believer who finding himself beset on every side with the guilt and burthen of his Sins which he not able to bear flees from but is still pursued with the guilt thereof until he meets with Christ who sets him free from the guilt and takes away the burthen of his Sins giveth him assurance of peace with God through the Satisfaction which he hath made to his Justice by the Sacrifice of himself for all his sins that are past and requiring this late lost Creature now to follow him he bringeth him to his Fathers house makes him a Son of God by Adoption and giveth him the holy Spirit whereby he may both know that God is his Father and be inabled to serve him in newness of spirit promiseth him that his Grace shall be sufficient for him to relieve him in all his Temptations in this world and that by his Mediation with God he will so secure him from the Calumnious Accusations of Satan that he shâ—â—l not be able to lay any thing to his Charge in the Court of Heaven and now requiring him to be faithful to the death assureth him that he will give him the Crown of life Oh what glorious Grace is this Oâ— hâ—w is he that was Sentenced to death and pursued with the Executioners thereof meeting with Jesus Christ and being by him not only delivered from the power of his Puâ—suers but also intituled to Everlasting Life refreshed and comforted who is able to express the consolation of the water of Life John 4. 10. which Jesus Christ gives to refresh the fainting Spirits of those he meets with that while they flee from sin are pursued with the Law Sin and Death and are never able by all the strength they have to deliver themselves from the power of those their Enemies until Jesus Christ interpose with the might of his power relieve them by his grace delivering the poor broken in spirit that are pursued with the guilt power and wages of Sin from the Law Sin and Death speaking peace to them in the pardon of their sins sprinkling his Blood upon their spirits to cleanse them from the guilt thereof and giving them the holy Spirit John 7. 37 38 39. to strengthen them against the Reigning power of Sin and thereby intituling them to life Everlasting and to the deliverance from the wages of Sin which is Everlasting Death Sect. 14 Oh how contrary is the Doctrine of the Gospel to the Doctrine of those that Preach up the Light within all men as that which though it be but the work of the Law Rom. 2. 15. is sufficient in the opinion of these followers of the Romish Synagogue to lead out of all Sin and eternally to save and therefore contrary to the practice of the Apostles who direct unto Christ all the weary and heavy laden with sin with Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World John 1. 29. These Messengers of Satan lead all such as follow them from Christ to themselves setting up themselves under pretence of the Light within and rejecting that which is indeed the Light viz. the Word of the Prophets of Christ and of his Apostles 2 Pet. 1. 19. which is written in the Scriptures of Truth Dan. 10. 21. they set up that which is indeed the Darkness of this world the Traditions of men the Doctrines of the Romish Harlot and other Adversaries to the Doctrine of the Gospel which they deliver by word of mouth and disperse in their written Books and Pamphlets CHAP. II. Wherein is shewed That the Doctrine of these that call themselves Preachers of and to the Light within all men is not according to the Doctrine of Jesus Christ expressed in the Scriptures of Truth neither concerning the Person of Christ nor the Father Son and Spirit nor the Light nor the Ordinances of Christ nor the Resurrection of the Dead nor the Coming of Christ nor the End of the World Also the Doctrine which is according to Godliness as it relates to these Particulars is here manifested Sect. 1 THe second thing which I lay to thy Charge which teachest that People should be guided by the Light which is within all men is That thy Doctrine is not according to the Doctrine of the Scriptures neither concerning the Conception of Jesus Christ nor the Divine Being of the Father Son and Spirit nor the Light nor the Ordinances of Christ nor the Resurrection of the Dead nor the Coming of Christ nor the End of the World and therefore thou art led by the Spirit of Antichrist Sect. 2 First Because thou dost not confess that by vertue of the Holy Spirit his coming upon and the Power of the Highest his overshadowing that visible woman called Mary that that man Christ Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and made of the Woman without her knowing of man and that he is the only begotten Son of God both according to the Spirit of Holiness Rom. 1. 3 4. and also as he is a man of flesh and bones and that there is none nor can be any that is the Son of God in that sense that that God-man Christ Jesus was and is the Son of God from and to all Eternity according to the Spirit of Holiness and also in the fulness of time according to the flesh Gal. 4. 4. I say because thou dost not own this Person which I here speak of to be the only begotten Son of God and no other but he in all the world beside Therefore thou art deceived and art a Deceiver for thou sayest
of Wheat which is raised and brought forth doth not arise out of other Grain but doth absolutely and truly arise out of that very Seed and by the Power of God groweth out of that very Kernel which was sown even so shall it be in the Resurrection from the Dead the Natural and Visible Bodies of those that believe in Christ although they shall not be raised as they are sown viz. vile corruptible natural weak and dishonourable yet nevertheless they shall be raised and though God will give a Body as it pleaseth him clothed with incorruptibility yet he will give to every Seed his own body 1 Cor. 15. 38. and they shall be raised again without all deformity and clothed upon with their house which is from Heaven yea their vile Bodies shall be made like the glorious Body of Christ even a Spiritual Body which Spiritual Body shall arise out of that Natural Body which doth die and is laid in the Ground even as Grain doth arise out of that very Grain which was sown being the same in substance when raised as when sown only raised in a glorious condition sown in a weak and dishonourable And as the Grain doth all arise and leaves not one jot of it self in the ground even so there shall not be left one jot of whatsoever goes to the making up this Body compleat and every way a perfect man but it shall be raised wholly and fully as it is written 1 Cor. 15. 35 36 37 38 42 43 44. Sect. 10 And that all Believers may be fully assured that their vile Bodies shall be changed and fashioned like the glorious Body of Christ according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. 20 21. The Apostle doth unfold this Mystery 1 Cor. 15. 51 52 53 54 55. Behold saith he I shall shew you a Mystery We shall not all Sleep but we shall all be Changed in a moment at the twinkling of an eye at the last Trump for the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead viz. in Christ 1 Thes 4. 16 17. such as lye in the visible Earth shall be raised incorruptible and we viz. the faithful that are alive and remain in this corrupt mortal estate unto that time shall then be changed for this corruptible must put on incorruption and this Mortal must put on Immortality so when this Corruptible shall have put on Incorruption and this Mortal shall have put on Immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory O Death Where is thy Sting O Grave Where is thy Victory The Sting of Death is Sin and the Strength of Sin is the Law but thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Thus is the Resurrection and Change of all Believers from Death to Life from Corruptible to Incorruption from Mortal to Immortality by the blessed Apostle both Vindicated and Unfolded that every faithful Man and Woman may know that although the Wages of sin is Death yet the Gift of God is eternal Life through Iesus Christ Rom. 6. 28. which God will give unto them all at one and the same time even at the coming of Christ that according to the Word of Truth 1 Thess 4. 15. These that remain unto the coming of the Lord may not prevent them which are asleep in him but although the Lords Labourers are called to work in his Vinyard at the several Hours of the Day of his Grace yet they all shall have their reward together at the Evening Matth. 20. 8. For God hath provided so well for the Faithful of this last Age that though many in former Ages have obtained a good Report through Faith yet shall not they without these be made perfect Heb 11. 39 40. Sect. 11 And although the Preachers up 〈◊〉 the Light within all men do boast of Perfection which they imagine that some of them do attain unto in this life yet it is evident by the Scriptures of Truth that the Perfection in Glory which is promised to the Faithful and the Perfection in Holiness unto which they are exhorted is not attained unto but only in part until the bodies of those that beleeve in Christ the second Adam are raised from the Grave and changed from the corruption whereinto they are fallen by the offence of the first Adam Rom 5. 15 For although in this Life those that believe in Christ are through the Rich Mercy of God even when they were dead in Sins quickened together with Christ Ephes 2. 5. and so renewed in the Spirit of their Mind Ephes 4. 23. that with the Minde they serve the Law of God Rom. 7. 24. Yet alas this Perfection is but in part Paul himself who had attained to so great a Portion of Grace that by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus he was made free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. 2. and though together with this Freedom from Guilt and liablenesse to Punishment for Sin he was so set free from the Dominion of Sin being not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. that he did delight in the Law of God after the Inward Man yet notwithstanding he found another Law in his Members which warring against the Law of his Mind brought him into Captivity to the Law of Sin in his Members Rom. 7. 22 23. So that though he had hope of Deliverance from this his Enemy the Flesh which lusteth against the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. and for his comfort had obtained the Gift of God The Holy Spirit as a help to him to war a good warfare and as the Earnest of his Inheritance Ephes 1. 13 14. which is to be enjoyed at the Redemption or Deliverance of the purchased Possession yet for the present such was his Condition that as himself testifieth Rom. 7. 23. So then saith he With the Mind I my self serve the Law of God but with my Flesh the Law of Sin So that although this Renovation of the Spirit of the Mind by the Assistance of the Holy Spirit whereby a Believer knows himself to be a Son of God by Adoption and is inabled to cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 16. be the earnest of the Inheritance a Rising with Christ through the Faith of the Operation of God who raised him from the Dead to the obtaining Forgivenesse of all Trespasses Col. 2. 12 13. yet this is not the Resurrection from the Dead nor the State of Perfection which the Faithfull unto death shall obtain as the same Apostle testifies 2 Tim. 4. 7. I have fought a good fight saith he I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousnesse which the Lord the Righteous Judg shall give me at that Day and not to me only but unto all them also that loves his appearing For the obtaining whereof his great Desire was while he enjoyed but the
earnest of the Spirit and was at home in the body and absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 4 5 6 7. to be found in Christ not having his own Righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith that I may know him saith he and the Power of his Resurrection and the Fellowship of his Sufferings being made conformable unto his Death if by any means I may attain unto the Resurrection from the Dead not as though I had already attained either were already Perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus Phil. 3. from the 8th Verse to the end So that that which truly and properly is called the Resurrection from the Dead is the raising of man from the dead in every part wherein he is dead by reason of sin to be alive again and to live in every part wherein he lived before he sinned For before man sinned he was alive in Spirit Soul and Body Gen. 2. 7. and so should for ever have lived and not have tasted death nor have seencorruption or have returned unto Dust in his visible body had he not transgressed the righteous Law of God for the wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. which Law of God Man at first was able to have kept and might and ought to have kept it but he broke it through his wilful disobedience in hearkening to the Counsel of Satan and thereby brought himself and his Posterity to the Penalty therein threatned In the day saith God that Eating thou shalt Eat Dying See Gen. 2. 17. with the Hebbrew in the Margent thou shalt Die. Therefore the Resurrection from the Dead is the Raising of the whole Man from Death in every part wherein he is dead by reason of Transgression to be alive again and to live in every part which was once alive before Transgression This Resurrection is yet to come The renewing of the Spirit of the mind is but the Earnest or Assurance thereof and of Happinesse at that time It is to come and not past as the False Teachers did affirm of whom the Apostle doth give warning to the Saints 2 Tim. 2. 16 17 18. but shun saith he prophane and vain bablings for they will encrease unto more ungodlinesse and their word will eat as doth a canker or gangreen of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus who concerning the Truth have erred saying that the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some From whence we may take notice That these False Teachers did err in mis-applying the Resurrection of Man for they did not deny a Resurrection wholly but taking a part for the whole or puting the Earnest for the Inheritance said It was past already In like manner those against whom we contend they do not say That there is No Resurrection at all yet in effect they say as much for they say It is past with them and they look for no other kind of Resurrection than what they do now enjoy But this their Doctrine being no better than vain bablings all true Believers are to shun and avoid Sect. 12 And yet they that are thus deceived as to imagine that they have attained unto the Resurrection from the dead think to bring something to bear up their building from Revel 20. 6. where the Spirit of God saith Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection on such the Second Death hath no power c. concluding that the Resurrection is past with those that have attained to their supposed Degree of Perfection but alas they are greatly deceived for the First Resurrection here spoken of is not the Quickening of the Spirit only but the raising up and investing the whole bodies souls and spirits of those Holy Ones there mentioned with Life and Immortality And that this is so appears by the 4th and 5th Verses where John saith I saw the souls of them which were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshipped the Beast neither his Image neither had received his Mark upon their Foreheads or in their Hands and they lived and raigned with Christ a Thousand Years but the rest of the Dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished This is the First Resurrection c. Now what part of man is it which is capable of being beheaded Is it not the Body Therefore the Bodies lived though only the Soul is mentioned and it is usual in Scripture to mention a part for the whole as Gen. 46. 27. All the Souls of the house of Jacob which came into Aegypt were threescore and ten but who knows not that their Bodies came also And were it so That by the first Resurrection here mentioned is meant the Renovation of the Spirit of man by rising from sin to newness of Life yet this is so far from concluding against the Resurrection of the Body of man that the Resurrection of the Body of every true Believer may rather be concluded from it as saith the Apostle Paul Rom. 8. 11. But if the Spirit of him saith he that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you and as the Holy Spirit doth bear witnesse with the spirit of every true Believer that he is a Son of God so also that he is an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ of a glorious Inheritance which is to be enjoyed at the Redemption of the Body This Redemption of the body See Rom. 8. 16. 17 23. is that which all Believers wait with patience for and hope to enjoy in their bodies which now are liable to Sufferings for Christs sake and seeing it is in the last times that the Beast and his Image are set up which the Saints refusing to worship or to receive his Mark are by his Followers persecuted to death as a reward of whose Sufferings the First Resurrection shall be given to them and to all other Believers that are asleep in Jesus therefore it will not be accomplished till the Lord himself descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch Angel and with the Trump of God and then the Dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thess 4. 16. and this saith the Spirit is the First Resurrection Revel 2. 5. as is also testified 1 Cor. 15. 21 22 23. For since by Man came Death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead For as in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive but every man in his own order Christ the First Fruits afterward they that are Christs at his coming Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdome to God even the Father when he shall have put down all Rule all Authority
Glory everlasting Acts 17. 31. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is that sure sign of the Prophet Jonah for the Substance of Adam being raised from the dead in the Person of Christ it gives assurance of a resurrection to the same Substance in the Persons of others and seeing Jesus Christ doth promise to them that believe the Gospel not onely the Resurrection from the Grave but also eternal Life the Creature man hath good assurance of enjoying happinesse by following his Counsel because the created Substance in Christs Person hath taken possession thereof for as the Apostle teacheth Rom. 11. 16 17. The Branches must necessarily be Holy where the Root is Holy and the Lump where the first fruit So that if men and women will be content to break off their sins by repentance that by Faith through grace they may be grafted into Christ they may be well assured to partake of the Root and Fatnesse of him their Olive Tree that is to say enjoy a likeness of Life and Immortality with the Humane nature of Christ which will be communicated to them from the Divine Nature of Christ by or through his Humane Nature as he himself hath promised Rev. 3. 21. saying To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne This is the comfort of Believers in all their Tribulations for the Name of Christ and for the testimony whereof the blessed Marryt Saint Stephen dyed who beholding in Heaven the Glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God was so filled with consolation and assurance that he said to them which did so fiercely persecute him Behold I see the Heaven opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God and in this confidence he called upon God saying Lord Iesus receive my Spirit and Lord lay not this sin to their charge Acts 7. 55 56. The Glorification of the Created Substance in the Person of Christ was that which comforted Stephen when his enemies cryed out stopped their ears ran upon him with one accord cast him out of the City and stoned him to death as a Blasphemer for he saw the assurance of his own glorification in seeing the Son of Man in Glory though Satan was pleading by his instruments against him on earth yet while Jesus Christ in the Created and noâ— Glorified Substance was pleading for him in Heaven he was not discouraged at death it self but was so well assured of his own happinesse and so well instructed in Christian exercise that calling upon the Lord Jesus to receive his own Spirit he prayed unto him also to forgive the sins of those that murdered him Oh how great is the consolation of the Faithful in Christ Jesus upon the account of the Glory to which the Humane Nature in his Person is now advanced full well may they withstand all the Powers of darkness and say with the Apostle Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed ye rather that is risen again who is even at the Right Hand of God who also maketh intercession for us See 1 Pet. 3. 21 22. Heb. 1. 3. Heb. 12. 2. Believers having such an Advocate and High Priest of their Profession who is first made like unto his Brethren touched with all their infirmities sin onely excepted and now also made higher than the Heavens that Humane Nature by Personal conjunction with the Divine Nature and by what it hath received from it being become so Spiritual that it may be truly said the lasâ— Adam That is the Created Substance in Christs Person is now made into a quickening Spirit so that it may well be concluded that as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them even so the Son quickeneth whom he will for as the Father hath Life in Himself so hath he given to the Son to have Life in himself and hath given him Authority to execute Judgement also because he is the Son of Man John 5. 21 26 27. And he having suffered by being Tempted and Crucified and being now also made perfect that is to say having broke the Head of the Serpent overcome all his enemies and being in the Humane Nature of his own Person exalted above them he is able to relieve all his Disciples in all their temptations yea to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them And so they that See Heb. 2. 14 15 17 18. Heb. 7. 25 now suffer with Christ shall in due time partake of his Divine Nature that they shall be in like estate and condition with his now Glorified Humane Nature and reign with him in Glory Everlasting 2 Tim. 2. 11 12. Thus it is evident that as the Created Substance in Christs Person is now invested with Glory so the same Substance in those that believe in him shall in due time be advanced to it as those that believe not in him shall be kept far from it Sect. 11 But now if we consider those severe threatnings which by those that call themselves Preachers of and to the Light within c. sometimes are denounced as they say against sin and withal do remember what it is that is the Subject of their blessing viz. not the Creature Man but a supposed Seed or uncreated Substance in man then is it not easie to conclude also what is the subject of their curse viz. not the Creature Man consisting of Spirit Soul and Body but some other thing a contrary Seed and it s likely they will say it is the Devil but let them call it what they will this is evident that it tends much to the imboldening man to God on in his Sin and Rebellion against God and the Gospel of his Grace to suggest unto him that the Devil onely is the Subject of the Wrath of God There cannot be a Doctrine more advantagious to Satan and to the advancement of his Kingdom then such a Doctrine which perswadeth that the Devil onely shall bear the blame and suffer the punishment for all the sins that man doth commit Oh how gredidily will a man that is so perswaded commit all manner of wickednesse but it is not good for any man to trust to the lies of the old Serpent nor to the falshood of any of his instruments for the Word of Christ is directly contrary to the word of Antichrist for the Scriptures of Truth do declare that the Creature Man which obeyeth not the Gospel but liveth and dieth in unbelief shall as being a cursed seed be cast into utter darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 8. 12. Those eyes that have been the windows of vain desire and have not looked up to Heaven to behold the work of God that so they might consider the operation of his hands Psal 28. 5. and turn and repent and believe the Gospel shall
laps as that spirit which you call the Light within hath caused some little Children to do where some of you have been present Sect. 17 But that an evil spirit is your familiar which also you communicate to such as adhere to your Doctrine shall be yet further manifested in several particulars First that humming blowing and hollow sighing proceeding from the bottom of your bellies from whence is it but from the evil spirit that hath there his residence for as the Hebrew word that signifies familiar spirit doth also signifie bottles to intimate that they which have familiar spirits do speak as it were througâ— bottles So some of you have had a voyce speaking to them from the hollow or bottom of their bellies which is no other than the voyce of the evil spirit and indeed by what else are you inabled at your meetings when you have nothing to say but by a spirit that comes into some of you by which ye are made able to speak 2 or 3. hours and then when ye have done are as empty again as if no such thing had been and so by the said spirits going out of one into another those things are performed which you ascribe to the Light within all men and as it hath been said by some of your selves Life goes to Life Life goes to Life So it is manifest that by the assistance of that spirit that comes from one and goes to another and not by the Light within all men are you inabled to do those things ye do and that hollow humming sighing and speaking is not from the Light within all men nor from the Light within your selves but from the spirit of darkness which you have received and are his instruments to help others to receive For Secondly Your silent meetings of Meditation or muttering is the direct practice of such as have familiar spirits as the Prophet teacheth Isai 8. 19. For the word translated Mutter signifies a silent Meditation or muttering as they that understand the Hebrew word do observe To what end therefore are your silent Meetings of Meditations or Mutterings but for the Communicating your unclean spirit for never did any of the Churches of Christ or servants of the living God hold Meetings of silence to meet and speak not one word to one another is such a practice of which there is not any example in the Word of God but even the contrary is found there for it is written They that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it c. Mal. 3. 16. So that it is certain that the Practice of silent Meetings is contrary to the Practice of the People of God in all ages Therefore the Scripture Isai 8. 19. is worth thy further consideration as it is there written When they shall say unto you Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto Wizards that peepe and that mutter Should not a People seek unto their God for the living to the dead Now the Spirit of God upon this accompt gives warning and instruction in the very next words vers 20. saying To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them Now let them shew if they are able that either the Law or Testimony of Christ speaketh any thing to the Justification of their doings their silent Meetings of Meditations or Mutterings their slighting the Word of God the Scriptures of Truth setting up their own Traditions under the name of the Light within for what ever they boast of Light Light here is an obsolute sentence upon them that there is no light in them Oh that all that hear might fear and not persist with them to their own destruction When men and Satan enter into Covenant when men hold Meetings to carry on his design to publish his Doctrine to communicate his Spirit Oh my Soul come not thou into their secrets unto their Assembly mine Honour be not thou united Gen. 49. 6. for they reject with the Pharisees and Papists the Counsel of God and set up their own unwritten Traditions they are gone a side after Satan whose Doctrine they publish and whose unclean spirit they hold assemblies in silence to communicate But Thirdly It is further manifest even by the confession of some of your own Prophets and Proselytes who are and have been owned by you as in your Ministry and of your way that an evil spirit is by you communicated as for instance There came a spirit into one of you as he was going to reprove another which did roar and make such a terrible noise in his belly that one might have heard it near a furlong from him the which he himself did confesse to be the Devil Another and one that is as a brand pluckt out of the fire did testifie before many witnesses that when he did joyn with those that preach up the Light within a spirit came into him which did make him quake and tremble so exceedingly that he thought it would have tore him in pieces which the Spectators were so afraid to behold that they called in several other persons to help hold him in his Bed which they had much ado to perform the Bed on which he lay did shake so exceedingly which violence was the motion of the evil spirit with which his own Spirit did not consent Another who is now bodily destroyed did confess a little before her death that there did a spirit speak in the bottom of her Belly with a vocal voice to the hearing of the outward ear and bad her go and leave her Kindred and House and all therein and Preach where it would have her and it would reward her three-fold c. The said party within a very little time after was found dead in a Furrow of Water And thus a dear Friend of mine was deluded and by your means destroyed which I cannot forget while I remember my self Sect. 18 But I will conclude this Chapter with the story of the sad pranks the Devil played in one that thought himself perfect who had been a great Preacher of to the so called Light within such a one that was concluded both by himself others to have attaired to the state of Perfection for several years past the said party being at a great Meeting of those that are called Preachers and followers of the Light within c. When they with such others as came to hear and himself also expected that he should have been the Teacher of the rest to have shewed them the way to the state of perfection yet so it was that a spirit entred into him as he sate behind the Table which did cause his Feet to fasten to the frame of the Table whereon he had set them and did cause his knees to clap together and there to stay and his arms to lock together and so to abide it did cause his mouth to shut his
this Chapter it is manifest that those thy main grounds viz. Thy Humility Thy Unity Thy destroying the Whore Thy discerning Secrets and Thy Sufferings are utterly insufficient though supposed to prove that the Preachers up of the so called Light within are in the Truth yea by that way which thou hast taken to justifie thine own way and to disparage the Faith and Obedience of the People of God thine own falshood rottennesse and deceit is discovered So that into the pit which thou hast digged for others thou art fallen thy self the snare which ye have spread for others hath caught your selves by the heels CHAP. V. That the Preachers up of the so called Light within do deny the Doctrine of the Scriptures to be the Word of God that although Christ is truly called the Word of God yet the Doctrine of the Scriptures is truly so to be called and accounted That it is very dangerous to add to or take from the Scriptures That those that contemn the Doctrine of the Scriptures of Truth do despise Jesus Christ and God the Father The reason why such as despise the Scriptures find no more vertue in them Eight Considerations to prove the Doctrin of the Scriptures to be the Word of God and an infalliable Teacher Two other grounds to prove the former conclusion the first taken from the Light which is in the Scriptures the latter from the powerful operation of the Doctrine thereof upon the hearts of Believers Sect. 1 BUt if the Preachers up of the so called Light within were able to justifie their way and Practice by the Scriptures it is likely they would endeavour so to do but being unable thereby to carry on their design they endeavour by such like Arguments as are used by the Popish Synagogue to justifie themselves as we have heard and that they may proceed with the greater security they deny the Doctrine of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament commonly called the Bible to be the Word of God for the discovery therefore of their wickednesse herein and for the vindicating the Blessed Doctrine of Salvation contained in the Scriptures that which here followeth is intended to conclude this work For first That thou that preachest up the so called Light within c. dost deny the Doctrine which is contained in that Book called the Bible to be the Word of God appears by thy reproachful language concerning it yea in words at length ye do familliarly deny it to be the Word of God one of you laying that Bible upon the ground and setting his feet upon it said If this be the Word of God why doth it not stir and speak Thus ye delight to abuse the Scriptures and because ye can so do therefore ye conclude they are not the Word of God and being lifted up with Pride and filled with Rage against the Word of God expressed in the Scriptures of Truth ye call all such Carnal as give them that Title giving this reason for your so doing viz. Because the Scripture saith Christ is the Word of God and therefore ye conclude the Scripture is not the Word of God c. And to colour over your deceit ye alledge a sentence of Scripture and presently declare a falsehood saying The Word of God is quick and Powerful which is true but the Scripture is a dead Letter which is false thus ye fume out disdain against the Scriptures and against those that acknowledge them to be the Word of God and a word of Power to them which do believe But Secondly That I may make thy ignorance with thy enmity unto the Scriptures manifest I shall undertake by Divine assistance to prove them to be the Word of God and an infallible Teacher to them which do believe for although the Scripture doth say that Christ is the Word of God yet it doth also affirm that his Commandment contained in the Scriptures is the Word of God and as I did never deny the former since I was instructed in the Doctrine of the Scriptures so I do affirm that whosoever doth own the Scriptures to be the Word of God doth not deny that Christ is the Word of God neither can such a thing be layed to their charge without doing great injury to them but I say as it is true that Christ is the Word of God as the Scripture saith Revel 19. 13. So it is as true that the Scripture is the Word of God as Christ saith Mark 7. 13. Sect. 2 It might therefore well be concluded that they which are so curious as to make a distinction betwixt the words you and thou may as well be able if they be not wilfully or maliciously blind to make an acknowledgement of the Word of God as it is given forth in the Scriptures and the Word of God as it is Essentially in Christ Are the Precepts Promises and Threatnings which are a main part of the Scriptures and were the Word of God before they were written in the Scriptures I say are they the less the Word of God because they are written in the Scriptures Is not the Truth expressed in the Scriptures eternal and uncorruptible because the Ink and Paper is subject to alteration Shall we think so of the Truth therein expressed God forbid And what less then an Almighty hand hath preserved that Book viz. the Bible unto this present hour notwithstanding all the rage and fury of the Devll and his instruments against it who now being unable to suppresse it by force have devised this deceitful Doctrine viz. To teach all men to hearken to the Light within them thereby to turn away their minds from the Doctrine of the Scriptures Concerning therefore the Purity and Eternity of the Doctrine of Salvation expressed in the Scriptures the Scripture doth give ample Testimony in many places The Words of the Lord saith David are pure words as silver tryed in a Furnace of earth purified seven times Psal 12. 6. Every Word of God saith Solomon is Pure he is a shield to them that put their trust in him Prov. 3. 5. The entrance of thy words saith David giveth Light it giveth understanding to the simple Psal 119. 130. Heaven and Earth saith Christ shall passe away but my Words shall not passe away Mat. 24. 35. Whosoever therefore saith he shall be ashamed of me and of my words of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Father with the holy Angels Mark 8. 38. Therefore said Peter unto the Lord when Jesus said unto the Twelve Will ye also go away Lord saith he to whom shall we go Thou hast the Words of Eternall Life and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God John 6. 67 68 69. Thus is the Purity and Eternity of the Truth expressed in the Scriptures vindicated yea it will be found to be so unchangeable that those that now despise it shall lie under the punishment therein
threatned to the contemners thereof for ever and ever as those that imbrace the precious promises obey the holy Commandments and fear the dreadful Threatnings declared in the Scriptures shall enjoy in spirit soul and body the blessednes of Life Eternal and although now the proud contemners of God and of his Word that dare tread the Bible under their feet in scorn of the Doctrine expressed therein are called Happy and those workers of wickedness are set up in the minds of many yet the time will come when God will make up his Jewels and spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him and then will there be a discerning between the Righteous and the Wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not See Mal. 3. 13 14 15 16 17 18. Sect. 3 But as no other Person is the Son of God in the sence wherein Jesus Christ is he being the onely begotten Son of God both from all Eternity according to his Divine Nature and also in the fulness of time according to his Humane Nature So no other Doctrine whatsoever is the Word of God so as the Doctrine of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament is the Word of God for God wrote the words of the Covenant and gave the Record of his Son whose Doctrine and Miracles are written that ye might believe that Jesus is Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have Life through his Name John 20. 30. Which Doctrine of the Scriptures our Saviour Jesus Christ who as God and man in one Person is called the Word of God declared to be the Word of God when he reproved the Scribes and Pharisees for their making void the Commandment of God that they might keep their own Traditions making saith he the Word of God of no effect c. In which sentence it is very evident that our Saviour Jesus Christ called the Commandment of God expressed in the Scriptures The Word of God See Mark 7. And to this agrees the words of the Apostle 2 Cor. 2. 17. For we are not as many which corrupt or deal deceitfully with the Word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ That Word of God which they did not corrupt was the Doctrine which they delivered from God to the People concerning Jesus Christ and Salvation by him which they delivered both by word of mouth and by writing And as it is observed that the Hebrew word which is translated Commandments doth signifie Words as Exod. 34. 28. He wrote upon the Tables the Words of the Covenant the ten Words or Commandments which withall other Commandments of the old Covenant is called the Word or Doctrine of God So also the Words of Christ written in the Scriptures of the new Covenant is truely called the Word or Doctrine of God though Moses and other Prophets spake and wrote it yet the Word or Doctrine is the Word or Doctrine of God for these holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit 2 Pet. 1. 21. So although Peter Paul and the rest of those holy Pen-men of the Scriptures of the new Covenant did speak write the Doctrine therein contained yet the Doctrine is the Word or Commandment of God as the Apostle teacheth 2 Cor. 3. 5. Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of our selves as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God who also hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament or Covenant the Doctrine whereof they delivered not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the holy Spirit teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual 1 Cor. 2. 13. Sect. 4 Therefore God will punish all such severely that add to or take from the Scriptures Prov. 30. 6. Revel 22. 18 19. For whosoever doth speak a word against the Scriptures speaketh against him whose Will is therein expressed yea whosoever speaketh disdainfully and reproachfully of the Seriptures speaketh so against God himself for was it ever known that the Word Law or Commandment of a King was contemned and evil spoken of but the KIng who gave that Law Word or Commandment was also thereby dishonoured and his Name or Power dispised Is a Kings Honour bound up in his Laws and is not the Honour of the great God concerned in his Laws will earthly Kings punish the contemners of their Commands as far as their Power dorh extend and will not the King Eternal whose Power is universal But as the Adversaries of Jesus Christ dealt with him in the Dayes of his Humiliation even so do his Enemies deal by his Word in these dayes and surely those that in the Personal absence of Christ do vent their rage against the Scriptures would shew the same indignation against Christ himself were he personally present if it were in their power so to do those that tread the Scriptures under their feet would trample upon the Person of Christ were he in their way opposing their designs as the Scriptures are and like as the Scribes and Pharisees did conclude that Jesus Christ was not the Son of God because they could so abuse him and found no vertue in him so do these Adversaries of Christ the Preachers up of the so called Light within conclude against the Scriptures their being the Word of God because they can abuse them and finde no vertue in them And as Christ did then suffer his Person to be abused by wicked hands Acts 2. 23. So he now suffers his Word to be despised which notwithstanding he will one day Vindicate to the utter Confusion of the Enemies thereof he gave his Back to the smiters and his Cheekes to them that plucked off the hair and hid not his Face from shame and spitting he was mocked crowned with Thorns Scourged nailed to the Crosse Crucified and slain and what Power or vertue did his Persecuters feel in him while they did any of these things to him did they not in effect say in these mens words This a Christ a Saviour this the Word of God this quick and powerful he cannot save himself how then should he save others If thou be the Christ come down from the Crosse said they and we will believe thee To like purpose these blasphemers of God and of his Truth when they have cast the Scriptures on the ground have said Rise up if thou be the Word of God Oh the wonderful patience and forbearance of God! Oh the wretchednesse and perversnesse of man God sent his Son to save men men Crucified him he sent his Word to instruct men men despise it and tread it under their feet they can now call the Scriptures lifeless and say they have no vertue in them what might not they have said that nailed Christ to the Cross It is recorded that a woman did but touch the hem of his Garments and virtue came out of him but they that Crucified him might have said
that they had both touched and felt him and yet found no vertue come out of him No marvel therefore that the Scriptures seems to be lifeless and a dead Letter to such whose Faith is dead to them it is no wonder that the Scriptures do not enlighen them that go about to destroy them or in Christ himself while they were kiling him they found little excellency And why were some refreshed even by the touching of Christs Garment and others that â—ouched his Body felt no benefit Was it not because the one came to him with a Hand of Faith and Love owning him â—o be the Son of God and the other came with wicked hands to crucifie and slay him because they denyed him to be the Christ And wherefore is it that some find wonderful comfort in the Scriptures and are thereby made wise unto Salvation Is it not because they come with humble and believing Hearts to them But they must needs be a dead Letter to such whose Faith and Affections is quite dead to them Sect. 5 But to make a further manifestation of the Divine Authoriiy of the Scriptures I will lay down these following Considerations to prove the Scriptures to be an infallible Teacher of the Doctrine of Salvation First Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this world â—hat can name a Work of Righteousnesse which as an Act Deed or Duty of Righâ—eousnesse ought to be observed by the Sons of men which the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament do not make mention of fairly discover and fully comprehend Therefore the Scripture is an Infallible Teacher of the Doctrine of Salvation 2. Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this world that can name a work of wickednesse which as an Act or Deed of wickednesse ought not to be done by any of the Sons of men which the Scriptures do not most severely forbid upon pain of the greatest Punishments to be inflicted on them that persist therein Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 3. Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this World that can declare any Promise either of Peace or Happinesse which as a Promise from the True God ought to be embraced by the Sonâ— of men which the Scriptures of the Old and new Testament do not make mention of and very fairly and fully declare Therefore the Scriptures are an infallible Teacher c. 4. Because there is no man nor Spirit or Light within any Man in this world that can declare any Punishment which God wil inflict upon sinners for their disobedience which the Scripture speaketh not of and very fully declares Therefore the Scriptures are an infallible Teacher c. 5. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove any act or deed which the Scripture calls an act of Righteousness to be an act or deed of Wickedness Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 6. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man can prove any act or deed which the Scriptures call an act of Wickedness to be an act or deed of Righteousness Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 7. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove any Promise which is made in Scripture to be false or that it shall not be made good according to the condition thereof to those to whom it is made Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 8. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove that any of the Threatnings expressed in the Scriptures against the workers of iniquity are either unreasonable or false or that they are not according to the minde of God or shall not come to pass Therefore the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are an infallible Teacher c. The Word of God therefore expressed in the Scriptures of Truth concerning his Commandments his Promises his threatings is very far in Authority and clearness beyond any Spirit or Light in any mortal man in the world therefore I conclude they are above all mens books words or Doctrine an infallible Teacher such as are able to make wise unto Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus being given by inspiration of God and are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Search the Scriptures therefore saith the Lord Jesus Christ for they are they which testifie of me Joh. 5. 39. To the Law and to the Testimony saith the Prophet if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them Isai 10. 20. Sect. 6 To the foregoing grounds I will add two other whereby the Light and power of the Doctrine of the Scriptures is further manifested and so conclude The first of which is taken from Ephes 5 13. Whatsoever saith the Apostle doth make manifest is Light now the Scriptures doth make manifest the mystery which was kept secret since the world began which according to the Commandment of the everlasting God is by the Doctrine of the Apostles made known to all Nations for the obedience of faith therefore according to Pauls Doctrine the Scripture is Light for by it is the way of Salvation manifest See Rom. 16. 25 26. Rom 15 4 2 Pet. 3. 1 2. The Apostle Peter also teacheth the same Doctrine for after he had declared what they which were with Christ in the Mount had seen and heard he tells us that we have a more sure word of prophesie or of the Prophets whereunto ye do well saith he that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in our hearts that is as hath been already shewed until the Resurrection of the dead and coming of Christ from heaven with his mighty Angels c. Now we know that a shining Light in a dark place is of great use of such concernment is the Doctrine of the Scriptures as the Prophet Teacheth The Commandment of the Lord is pure saith the Prophet Enlightening the eyes Psal 19. 8 9. Thy word is a Lamp unto my feet saith he and a light unto my paths Oh! of what blessed concernment are the Scriptures of Truth to direct in the way of the Lord unto which sure word of Prophecie or of the Prophets and Apostles of Jesus Christ we shall do well if we take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place remembring this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit They are not therefore of private or particular interpretation as though
they did concern one time or the men only which spake them But they are of a general interpretation and do concern as they are Prophesies and declare the Doctrine of Salvation all times and People as saith the Prophet This shall be written for the generation to come and the People which shall be created shall praise the Lord Ps 102. 18. Bow down thine ear saith Solomon and hear the words of the Wise they shall be fitted in thy lips that thy trust may be in the Lord have not I written to thee excellent things that I might make thee to know the certainty of the words of Truth that thou mightest answer the words of Truth to them that send unto thee See Pro. 22. 17 18 19 20 21 22. Therefore did Peter write both his Epistles viz. to stir up the pure minds of the believers by way of remembrance that those that had obtained pure minds might be mindful of the words spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the Commandments of the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour Knowing this first saith he that there shall come in the last dayes scoffers viz. such as will taunt and scoffe at the Scriptures at the Doctrine written therein and at such as believe and practice it Which scoffers do walk after their own lusts and not after the words of the holy Prophets and the Commandment of the Apostles of Christ Oh! how much is this fulfilled in these dayes by which we know it is the last times 2 Pet. 3. 1 2 3. Let Believers therefore take heed and beware of false Teachers let them believe and imbrace the Doctrine of the Scriptures of Truth Dan. 10. 21. which teach us that we should believe that Jesus is Christ the Son of God and that believing we might have Life through his Name 1 John 20. 31. Let them therefore give themselves to the reading or hearing the Doctrine of the Scriptures and as every man hath received the gift whether of Prophesie Ministring Teaching or Exhortation Rom. 12. 6 7 8. So ought they to minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Graces of God 1 Pet. 4. 10. Sect. 7 The last ground which I shall insist upon is the powerful opperation of the Doctrine of the Scriptures upon the hearts of such as believe which experience the good things of God can witness viz. that upon reading hearing and meditating in the Scriptures of Truth God hath sweetly refreshed their spirits with riches of Grace spiritual Comforts and Heavenly consolations and made the Scriptures of Truth a word of Power by which he hath powerfully wrought both to convince convert them to turn them from darkness to light from the Kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Acts 26. 18. Yea it is an evident Argument that they which are strangers to what I here say let their Profession be what it will Truth was never yet espoused to their Souls never did any man of God say that the Scripture is a dead Letter a Carnal thing to feed the Carnal mind Oh the Darkness that is in some that boast of Light who can call the holy Scriptures a dead Letter a Carnal thing to feed the Carnal mind and yet themselves do fill the Nation with Books and Writings what may one think of this but that they do either condemn the thing which themselves allow or else they have found out a way to make their Letters and Books to become Spiritual and to cause all other even the Sacred Scriptures to become Carnal which though written or Printed as theirs yet not from the same inspiration for the Doctrine of the Scriptures was written by the Inspiration of God But how can there Doctrine be from the same inspiration which is against the Doctrine of the Scriptures How much therefore is it to be lamented that the Scriptures of Truth should be so villified and reproached and that any should be so deluded as wholly to neglect the reading of them and let them lie in the corners of their houses without all regard of them alas it was not so with Professors in the Marian dayes when one Book of it was at five pounds value and for the least Epistle a man would give a load of hay and carry it up to London into the Bargain but now we having plenty men dare abuse it and tread it under their feet and because it doth not cry out with a vocal voice and reprove in and by it self alone therefore they conclude it is worth nothing and yet can highly esteem of their own Books although they can do as little But now consider take the best grain that can be procured lay it in a dry place where it cannot grow and will it become fruitful not at all But sown in the field and it will bring forth abundantly Even so lay thy Bible in a corner of thy house without regard of the Doctrine therein contained and it will be no waies profitable to thee but lay up the Doctrine thereof in thy heart where it should be and it will become a fruitful Word to thee for it is not likely that the Doctrine of the Scriptures should do thee any good or that thou shouldest feel any vertue in it while thou endeavourest to shut it out of thy heart but let the sayings of the Scriptures when and where they reprove for sin and exhort to amendment of life let the Judgements therein written against the workers of Iniquity and the Promises of Grace which God hath there recorded for the comfort of them that by Faith lay hold on Jesus Christ come close to thy heart and pray that God may make those Promises thine and yield up thy self to the holy directions therein contained and then thou wilt find that there is vertue in the Scriptures Oh! there is a Divine flame in them if they be but taken to the heart that will warm and quicken the dead and benummed affections Did not the Words of Christ make his Disciples hearts to burn within them while he talked with them and while he opened to them the Scriptures I Luke 24. 32. Oh! therefore give diligence to obey what is written in the Scriptures of Truth for if you that are contrary minded shall not consider and leave your Inventions and the Traditions of men which you have imbraced your sin lyeth at your own doors and your blood upon your own heads for what a sad thing is it that men should quote Scriptures like Satan to justifie their Doctrine of deceit which they deliver and yet notwithstanding esteem the Scriptures of no value That men should wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. Cry down the Word of God and set up the Word of man and Satan yea they can reprove some for reading the Scriptures and yet if one have been at their Meetings and while they are teaching up the so called Light within be reading one of their Books giving little or no heed to what is spoken yet he is not reproved By which it is evident that they know that the design which they drive on is not in the Scriptures of Truth but in their own Books and therefore it is of like acceptance with them to read their Books as to hear their Preaching Let all believers therefore pray that they may be delivered from them which Preach up the so called Light within who deny the Doctrine of the Scriptures of Truth expressed in the Bible to be the Word of God and set up their own sayings for a rule of direction which yet hath no Testimony from God or from his Word Sacra Scriptura est liber vitae origo aeterna Cujus incorporalis Essentia Cujus cognitio vita Cujus Scriptura indelebilis Cujus inspectus desiderabilis Cujus Doctrina facilis Cujus Scientia dulcis Cujus profunditas inscrutabilis Cujus verba innumerabilia vnum tantum Verbum omnia Hug. de art Noe. Thus Englished The Sacred Scripture is the Book of Life Whose Original is Eternal Whose Essence is incorporeal Whose Knowledge is Life Whose writings is indeliable Whose inspect is desireable Whose Doctrine is easie Whose knowledge is sweet Whose depth is unsearchable Whose words are innumerable and onely one Word All. THE END ERRATA IN the Epistle to all the Churches Page 3. line 17. read truth is In the Epistle to the Reader p. 3. l. 5. r. the so called Light l. 21. r. which in all men as the only means of Salvation In the Epistle to all those that teach up the Light within p. 2. l. 27. r. so called Light within p. 4. l. 14. r. so called Light within p 5. l. 18. f. lies r. lyar Of the Book p. 1. l. 6. r. the so called Light l. 21. r. the so called Law or Light p. 2. l. 11. r. makest p. 3. l. 11. r. preacheth p. 6. l. 13. f. Loyaâ— r. Legal l. 19. f. so that it r so it l. last r. as p. 27. l. 25. f. abase r. alass p. 28. l. 12. f. works r. work p. 29. l. 10. f. lives r. life p. 42. l. 11. dele it l 20. r. and to render p. 47. l. 28. d. yet p. 50. l. 23. f. so r. to p. 57. l. 1. f. I shall shew r. I shew l. 3. f. at r. in p. 70. l. 3. f. plunged r. plagued p. 75. l. 11. r. have alwaies margent r. Acts 24. 16. p. 7â— l. 7. f. spoke r. spoken l. 23. f. god r goe p. 88 l. 2. r. Angels p â—1 l. 15. f it s r his l. 17. after world r. of the ungodly so by his word shall the world p. 141. l 12. f. god r. goe p. 144. l. 2 f. desiring r. despising p. 167. l. 23. f. he r. she p. 168. l. 1. f. he r she l. 3 f. him r. her l. 4 f. him r. her l. 5. f. he r. she f. him r. â—er l. 8. f. him r. her f. his r. her l. 10. f. he r. she l. 22 f. his r. â—er p. 173. in the Contents l. 1. f. fine r. five l. 16 f. fine r. five p. 174. l. 15. f. he r. thee p. 185. l. 8 9. f. alleth r. calleth p. 205. l. 21. f. that Bible r. the Bible