Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	covenant_n	law_n	moral_a	4,802	5	10.4234	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A74947	Rayling rebuked: or, A defence of the ministers of this nation: by way of answer to the unparrallel'd calumnies cast upon them in an epistle lately published by Thomas Speed merchant of Bristol, unhappily become the Quakers advocate. Wherein, some Scriptures are opened, and diverse things objected by the Quakers, examined and answered. With an hortatory epistle prefixed to fasten Christians to Jesus Christ in these un-glewing times, wherein so many play fast and loose with him. By William Thomas minister of the Gospel at Ubley.	Thomas, William, 1593-1667.	1656 (1656)	Thomason E883_5; ESTC R207300	68,071	90

comes into the Church or into the world collected into a Church as world is taken Mat. 13. 38. though not by saving illumination yet by saving revelation that is by that Gospel-revelation that is fit to save them though divers receiving the revelation do through their own fault loose the salvation So that which way soever the words be taken the sense that the Quakers fasten upon them will fall For understand the text of naturall light and then no man hath enough to save him understand it of spiritual and saving light and then every man hath not enough to save him Mat. 13. 11. John 17. 25. I shall leave this text worthy of the view of the worthiest men to their better consideration observing only what sufficeth to the present purpose which is that the lightning there spoken of doth at least include and that signally the light of Nature the other light I mean the light of the Word being not communicated to any in any observable generallity before the coming of Christ but only to the Jewes who were the only people of God and whose priviledge it was to have the Oracles of God communicated and committed to them Rom. 3. 2. Which I note for this purpose to shew that this Scripture cannot be rightly urged to conclude that there is a light in every man reaching unto Christ and unto salvation But the other scripture to wit John 8. 12. is of another consideration as being delivered by Christ as God manifested in the flesh and appearing in the world in person and in Gospel-preaching and so it directly intends his enlightening of the world that is both Jews and Gentiles for he doth not say as in the other place I am the light of every one that comes into the world with the saving knowledge of the Gospel and concerning this its true that whosoever follows Christ enlightening them by his voice which some doe through grace many do not and none can without it shall not walk in darknesse but have the light of eternall life John 10. 27 28. Now here lies the deceipt that both scriptures are confusedly clapt together when the first speaks if not of the light of Nature onely yet of that in a great part and the latter speaks onely of Gospel-light particularly it lies in applying that effect to this light spoken off in both places as if every one that comes into this world had a light to lead him to heaven with belongs properly to the light spoken of in the latter place And yet the light spoken of in the latter place is not saving by the use of our own Free-will but by the grace of God I shall now apply my self to my Opponent with whom my Brethren have dealt providently in Querying him out of his starting hols that so there may be a fair fight in the open field Were his meaning fair and honest and he intended no more when he saith he that followeth that light but that he that follows Christ the great light of the world as he directeth by his Word Spirit should have the light of life or that Christ Jesus the light were sufficient to teach and guide to the Father I say if he meant thus we should not gainsay him and the Charge in such a sense is his own not ours But if his meaning be that Christ puts a sufficient light within every man that comes into the world to guide him unto the Father and unto life I deny that to be true and charge him and his company with falshood in affirming it for that natural light which is the alone light that Christ the word communicates to all men universally shines in so much darknes since the fall that the darknes comprehends it not so as to make out that from it which is sufficient for salvation It s true that Christ or the light lightning is sufficient to guide to the Father every one that comes into the world but not every light of Christ lighted Let him shew any Scripture that saith that Christ so enlightens every man as that that light is sufficient to guide him to the Father that explication is his addition nay the light that all men have though it seem to make them know God as God yet it sufficeth not to make them know that there is a Father that is to informe them that there is Father Son and Holy Ghost or that there is any Gospel Since natural light insists only on the moral Law and covenant of works for there cannot be more written in the heart of fallen man without further revelation than there was in the heart of innocent man which was only the Law of works not the law of faith There is nothing known of the Gospel but by report and tidings from God Rom. 10 14 15. But let all Christians marke the poison that lyes under these lips every man hath a light that is a light within him for so they still expresse it to help him to life and guide him to the Father Therefore 1. No need of teaching or the ministry of man that is his own inference here therefore come no more at Sermons 2. Nor need of Scripture For what necessity of a light without if there be a light within sufficient for the enjoyment of life an● fo● direction to the Father the fountain of life Therefore throw away Scripture as a dead letter 3. Nor need of grace for every man that comes into the world whether he have grace or no grace hath that light with him which if he will make use of it it is enough for him therefore set up free will which Quakers as they conceive that are neerly acquainted with them call a power accompanying the light to destroy every evil as appears in them that yields themselves to it and watch that their vain mindes draw them not from abiding in the the pure light of Christ Thus corruptly do they speak but do you Christians who have been taught better things look with a jealous eye upon the light within If the light of the Word and the light in the heart agree together then you may take the light in the heart as Gods light but if that light within agree not with the light of Scripture without then look upon it as darknesse and fear it as a traveller doth a dark night or a mendipmist or that which they call a foolish fire by which so many wander out of their way T. S. And then what need of our teachings W. T. By our teachings he means Ministers teachings To this therefore I answer 1. That his inference is little worth because it is brought from a false ground of his own to wit that every man hath a light in him sufficient to bring him to God when none can come to God but by Christ Heb. 7. 25. Nor by Christ unlesse by faith nor have any such faith ordinarily unlesse by hearing Rom. 10. 14. Nor hear without the Word of