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A46867 The friendly enquirer's doubts and objections answered concerning the light within, the word of God, the church of Christ, gospel ministers, ordinances in general and in particular, water baptism, and the Lord's supper : together with a brief testimony against oaths and swearing / first intended and written for the satisfaction of some particular acquaintance and now published for more general service by James Jackson. Jackson, James, fl. 1674-1708. 1698 (1698) Wing J73; ESTC R34952 26,741 110

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every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 and our blessed Lord said John 8.12 I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life While ye therefore have the Light believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light John 12.36 and he bids seek first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof which Kingdom he told the Scribes and Pharisees was in them Luke 17.21 whence it is evident that every true Convert must inwardly turn from the Power of Satan and Kingdom of darkness within and inwardly seek and feel after the marvelous Light of God's Kingdom to seek the Lord if haply they might feel after him and find him tho' he be not far from every one of us Acts 17.27 and the Apostle James writing to Sinners bids them lay aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the ingrafted Word which is able to save their Souls which Peter calls the sure Word of Prophesie unto which says he ye do well to give heed as unto a Light that shines in a dark place till the day dawn and the day star arise in your Hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 which said ingrafted Word and sure Word of Prophesie cannot be intended or meant by the Holy Ghost to be the Scriptures because they are not able to Save Mens Souls or give Eternal Life to such as think to have it thence John 5.39 but it is the Light of Christ our Lord in whom is Life Eternal and the same Life is the Light of Men and his Name is called the Word of God Rev. 19.13 2 Object But dost thou deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God Which is the only rule both for Life and also to judge of Doctrines and the only Weapon to resist Satan and confute his Ministers and Christ overcame the Tempter only by the Scriptures which are the Sword of the Spirit and the Word of God Answ 1. In obedience to the command of Christ John 5.39 I have perused and diligently searched the Scriptures both in the Originals and several Translations it may be as much as any Man and find that they sufficiently declare and testify of and for our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to be the Word of God But through the whole Volumn of this holy Book called the Bible and Scriptures of Truth I find not therein that they are called by this Name 2. And therefore that the Scriptures are the Sword of the Spirit or the Word of God I have no Scripture warrant to believe but that the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit I own and witness experimentally and that it is sharper than a Two edged Sword like a Hammer and Fire the Ax at the Root of the Tree and that 't is Vnchangeable Incorruptible and Eternal without beginning of Days or end of Time and so are not the Scriptures 2. Nevertheless we preferr the Holy Scriptures above all Books as they were given forth by the Holy Spirit of God and therefore of Divine Authority and believe them to be a true Declaration of God and of his Word yet we must not fix our hopes of Eternal Life in the Scriptures as the Jews did and would not believe in Chirst nor come to him that they might have Life John 5.38.39.40 It is not they therefore who have the Scriptures but only they who have the Son of God that have life 1 John 5.12 4. Wherefore we preferr Christ Jesus above the Scriptures for in all things he must have the preheminence therefore said John he is preferr'd before me for he is before me and before Abraham was saith Christ I am Wherefore know that we build not upon the holy Prophets and Apostles their Words Works Writings and Experiences but upon Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone and the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles so that we have not received our Light Life Peace Comfort Faith Hope and Assurance from the Writings of the Saints but from him that was their Light Life Hope Rest and Foundation and have our teaching from that inward Light Law Word and Vnction whereby Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob and Joseph walked with and pleased God long before the Scripture or Scriptural Rules were written and manifested 5. Neither are the Scriptures the only Rule for they declare and testifie of the Law written in the Heart and the Rule of a new Creature Gal. 6.15.16 and as for the only Judge of Doctrines we know that the Scriptures are hard to be understood and therefore Men in their Carnal Wisdom are putting their several meanings upon one and the same Scripture wherefore we say the Spirit of God is the Judge of Doctrines because he alone who gave forth the Scriptures best knows the meaning thereof For the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 Answer 6. Neither yet do I believe that the Scriptures were the only means which Christ made use of to overcome and repel the Tempter in the Wilderness for Satan allegdd and pleaded Scripture till he indeed took the Sword of the Spirit even his Divine Power and commanded him to be gone and said Get thee behind me Satan Object 3. Though it is granted that Christ by his Light and Spirit is in every true Believer yet we cannot believe him to be so in every Man for Paul tells the Ephesians that before their Conversion they were without God and without Christ in the World Eph. 2.12 and the same Apostle bids others to examine and prove themselves and to know that Jesus Christ is in you except you be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 whereby it appears that Vnbelievers and Reprobates are without Christ Answ 1. As to Vnbelievers before Conversion they are alienated from the Life and Light of Christ and under the Powers of the Prince of Darkness nevertheless the true Light shines in this Darkness but the Darkness comprehendeth it not John 1.5 and I can truly witness to the Truth hereof knowing the time when I was without Christ and without God in the World i. e. without the true knowledge of them living as if there was no God yea without any awful regard to the Eye of God yet I can as truly affirm that at that time the Light of Christ was in me testifying against all mine Iniquities And tho' this may seem to be a Mistery that a measure of his Light should be in a Man when that Man is without Christ yet having experienced the truth hereof do therefore testify that it is one thing for the Light of Christ to be in a Man and another thing for a Man to be in the Light of Christ and therefore affirm that the Light of Christ is in every Man but no Man is in Christ Jesus till he be a new Creature Answ 2. And as to Reprobates such as the Scripture testify who have sinned out the Day of Grace
Land of Egypt from whence ye came out where thou sowedst thy Seed and didst carry Water to it as to a Garden of Herbs Verse 11. But it is a Land of Hills and Valleys and drinketh Water of the Rain of Heaven no need here of Man's Pumping Draining or Forceing Verse 12. A Land which the Lord thy God careth for the Eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it from the begining of the Year even to the end of the Year And observe what a good account Caleb and Joshua gave of the Land in the presence of these Men who had brought up the aforesaid evil report to the jeopardy of their Lives Numb 14.7 It is say they an exceeding good Land a Land that floweth with Milk and Hony and as for those Gyants and mighty Men of stature say they fear not the People of the Land they are bread for us and upon hearing of this all the Congregation bad Stone them with Stones Whereby it is very observable how readily the common People close with and embrace the evil suggestions of the Enemy and also how hard a thing it is to undeceive such as are prejudiced against the Truth tho' grounded only upon bare report and false accusations and thus the Hearts of People are perverted 2. And yet these Evil Men do not only discourage the Hearts of the People by despising and Reproaching the good Land but they also deter and hinder them by suggesting such difficulties as possibly cannot be overcome such Enemies as never on this side the Grave can be conquered Altho' the Lord had graciously promised a total subduing of all Israel's Enemies Deut. 11.22 Saying If ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you to do them to love the Lord your God to walk in all his ways and to cleave to him then will the Lord drive out all these Nations from before you and ye shall possess greater Nations and mightier ●han your selves and there shall no Man be able to stand before you All this and much more did the Lord promise to Israel of Old concerning a perfect dominion and victory over all their Enemies And in a more especial manner hath he promised an absolute Conquest and Deliverance from the Kingdom and Powers of Darkness to all that are Travelling to the Spiritual Canaan even unto all that receive Jesus Christ that love him believe in him and obey his Voice John 1.7.9 They who walk in the Light as he is in the Light have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus cleanseth from all Sin and if we confess and forsake our Sins God is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleans● us from all Vnrighteousness John 12.46 I am come saith Christ a Light into the World that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in Darkness And indeed for this very end is our Lord Jesus promised sent and manifested to put an end to Sin to finish Transgression and bring in everlasting Righteousness to destroy the works of the Devil to bind the strong Man though never so well armed to cast him out and spoil his Goods not in part but to save even to the uttermost all that come to the Father by him But these Men do not only refuse and despise the Land of Promise and the only way to Life and Salvation but hinder and shut up the Kingdom that others who would enter in cannot yea they deny the only means of eternal Salvation by their confidently affirming that Revelation is ceased whereas our Lord Jesus hath declared and all the Faithful Servants of God in all Ages bear witness That none know the Father but he to whom the Son reveals him 7. And we are against all those who are and have with Judas through envy and avarice been the betrayers of the Interest and cause of Christ and People of God into the Merciless Hands of cruel Persecutors who will not yet see But saith the Lord they shall see and be ashamed for their envy against my People Of these therefore I shall only say with Jacob Simeon and Levi are Brethren Instruments of cruelty are in their Habitations O my Soul come not thou into their Secret unto their assembly mine honour be not thou united for in their Anger they shed much Blood and in their self-will they digged down a Wall Gen. 49. But the Ministers of Christ whom he has sent as his Ambassadors we own and none else if you say who are they I answer they who have received their Commission and Embassie from Christ for saith he to his Father As thou sent me so have I sent them into the World and to his Disciples he said As the Father sent me into the World even so send I you into the World John 17. 1st Christ was the Son of God and a Voice from Heaven testified saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear him 2ly he was immeasurably anointed with the Spirit 3d. by Vertue of his Sonship and Unction he endured and conquered all the Assaults and Temptations of Satan and 4ly he went out and preached the Gospel and 5ly that Doctrine which he had preached and witnessed to in his Life he confirmed and sealed by his Death in his Blood So are all true Ministers in their measure Children of God his anointed ones fitted through Sufferings to preach the Doctrine of the Gospel in the Life Power of the Eternal Word and thereby made ready to Seal thereto with their Blood if required Answ 2. As concerning Churches we believe that the Lord had a Church and peculier People whom he hath preserved through all Ages from the beginning to this present time in and with whom he will also abide for ever and this Church we own which is in The Communion of Saints one with another in the things of God through their Vnion with Iesus Christ which differs from the Churches of Men 1st In their constitution not gathered by Force Fear Favour or Will of Man but drawn of the Father adopted through the new Birth and so become a Spiritual Society first united to Christ by the Spirit of Faith and then knit together by the Bond of Love and Peace 2ly in their Discipline not by a Temporal Sword nor by humane Officers that act in the strength of natural or acquired parts but built beautified and governed by Christ himself Isa 54.12 Zach. 6.12 and by Instruments helped so far as the Spirit of Jesus Christ acts in them 2 Cor. 13.3 in the Church of Christ all are taught of God Isaiah 54.13 Tit. 2.11 1 John 2.27 4ly the Churches of Men are often broken to pieces scatered and confounded But the Gates which is the Power of Hell shall never prevail against the true Church Mat. 16.18 5ly in the Churches of Men are more Wicked than Righteous nay all of them being unrighteous and unclean are more or less the Synagogues of Satan the Habitation of Anti-christ
and have been yet are and while in their carnal Sinful State will be Persecutors of the true Church Gal. 4.29 but in the true Church they are all Righteous Isaiah 60. from the 1st to the 20th and hereof it may be tru●y said Who is like thee O People saved by the Lord the Shield of thy help and the Sword of thine Excellency Thine Enemies shall be found Liars unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their high-places yea this poor despised persecuted Flock are the Temples of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 6.16 And the Body of Christ Eph. 4.4 in which Body 1st there is but one Head 2ly there is not one dead Member 1 Pet. 2.4.5 3ly there is no Law of force but every Member acteth by the Law of Love 4ly all Members united into this Body sympathize one with another both in Comfort and Afflictions please therefore to see 1 Cor 12.25 This One Body is unite● by one Spirit into one Hope 〈◊〉 one Lord and hath but one Fai●● and one Baptism Eph. 4. 〈◊〉 which one Baptism leads me 〈◊〉 Answer the third Branch of the last Objection Answ 3. As concerning Ordinances in General 1st The Scripture calls nothing Sin or any thing Practical but that which is prohibited or expresly commanded by the great Legislator neither shall any be saved or are to be judged in Spiritual matters by any Law but by the Law of God or by any Lawgiver but by Jesus Christ He that speaketh evil of his Brother and judgeth his Brother speaketh evil of the Law and judgeth the Law thou art not a doer of the Law but a judgé James 4.12 There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy and Isa 33.22 The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Lawgiver the Lord is our King he will save us Col. 2. 16. let no Man therefore judge you in meat or drink c. which were a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World why as tho' living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances Touch not Taste not Handle not which all perish with the using after the commandments and doctrines of Men Touch not Taste not Handle not which things indeed have a shew of wisdom in will-Worship c. all which perish in the using 2ly the Scriptures reject all Religious performances that are done without warrant from Heaven Isa 1.12 When ye come to appear before me who hath requir'd this at your hands to tre●● my Courts Bring no more va●● Oblations Incense is an Abom●nation to me c. and Micah 6.6 7 8 3ly the Scriptures declare that all outward Ordinances are Temporary only till the time of Reformation and to be abolished by Christ Heb. 9.1 to 14. Col. 2.6 to the end Eph. 2.15 4ly the Scriptures shew us that the outward abolished Ordinances and the Traditions of Men hinder and prevent Obedience to Christ and Submission to the will and commands of God This is the will of God even your Sanctification 1 Thes 4.3 this is the work of God or the work he requires saith Christ that ye believe on him whom he hath sent John 6.28 And this is the commandment saith John that we should believe in the Name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he hath given us command But alas how is the work of God laid aside his will and commands neglected and the beggerly Rudiments and Elements of this World pleaded for and maintained and mostly by such who reject the command of God and Christ that for secular ends keep and observe their pretended Ordinances and make the Word of God of none effect by their Traditions Mark 7.5 to 13. Mat. 23.23 5ly as Man cannot be polluted or defiled by that which is without him no more doth any thing be it what it can Bread or Wine or Water from without cleanse or comfort the inward Man according to Mark 7.14 to 23. 6ly nor yet in matters of Faith and Worship are we to receive our Measures or Rules from Councils or Synods or the best of Men further than the express command of the Lord for their warrant Moses had no Authority to institute any Laws or Ordinances but to teach the People Obedience to those God had prescribed Exodus 24.12 and Christ's Commission to the Apostles was go Teach them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you and Lo I am with you to the end of the Word Mat. 28.20 And now more particularly concerning the two Sacraments so called and first touching Baptism or rather Baptisms for there be many we read of divers sorts of Washings or Baptizings as the Baptizing of Pots and Cups for so it is in the Greek Mark 7.8 and we read of the Doctrine of Baptisms Heb. 6.2 and now concerning John's Baptism which in its time was not only New but mighty Famous insomuch that the People mused and were all in expectation whether John were not the Christ but he confessed that he was but a fore-runner and that his Baptism was weak and imperfect and temporary an elementary Figure and Shadow of Christ's Powerful Spiritual and Saving Baptism from hence its evident that the Baptism of John and the Baptism of Christ are and ever was two distinct Baptisms and as the Heavens are high above the Earth so vast a difference is betwixt them 1. They are two in Name Apollos an Eloqent Man and mighty in the Scriptures knew only the Baptism of John to whom Aquilla and Priscilla expounded the way more perfectly Acts 18.25 2. They differ in time He that comes after me shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost Mat. 3.11 and said Christ John Baptized with Water but ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence 3. They are two in Nature the one a created visible Element the other an holy invisible quickening Spirit 4. They differ in their Effects John's reacheth only to the outside the Spirit 's Baptism cleanseth the Soul and Conscience 5. John's Baptism was but a Sign a Shadow and a Legal Ceremony but the Baptism of the Spirit is the Substance and the Truth of that which Water typified 6. John's Water Baptism was Temporary of short duration and continuance as all Legal Signs and Ceremonies had an end so this being nearer the Truth and Substance and to the day of Christ than they was of less continuance and being a shadow must fly away by the glorious rising and brightness of his Son And so John's Baptism was of use a little before Christ's manifestation in the Flesh and was to continue till his Ascension and then when Christ's Baptism began the shadow must by degrees decrease and vanish and give way to the Substance the Sign abolished and the Truth exalted the Letter resigns to the Spirit the Servant to the Son So that Christ's Fire Baptism put an end to John's Water Baptism for as all the Prophets were