the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Secondly As the Light of which we speak cannot give nor lead to life so it knows not nor can make any discovery of the Redeemer who only can give life it is not acquainted with the precious Gospel-Mysterie hid in God it knows nothing of the good pleasure and purpose of Grace in God to restore faln man to life and communion with himself by Jesus Christ For the clearing whereof let it be observed That the Scripture doth abundantly testifie 1. That God purposed in himself from Eternity to restore man to life by Jesus Christ and no other way who therefore is most rightly callled the repairer of the breach the restoreâ— of paths to dwell in Isa 58. 12. and the restorer of life Ruth 4. 15. And 2. That Christ only can give a new life and 3. That he onely is the way to the Father as may be seen in these few instances Eph. 1. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world 5. Having predéstinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ unto himself according to the good pleasure of his will Chap. 3. 11. According to the Eternal Purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. That Christ only can give life see 1 Cor. 15. 45. And so it is written The first man Adam was made a living soul the last Adam was made a quickening spirit John 10. 20. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly Ver. 28. I give unto thee Eternal life John 6. 57. He that eateth me even he shall live by me 1 Jo. 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath life c. And he also is the new and living way to the Father Heb. 10. 19 20. Having therefore Brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way whicâ—h he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh None knows the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Matth. 11. 27. Nor can any come to the Father but through this new and living way There 's no other entrance into the Paradise of God and to the Tree of Life but onely by Jesus Christ Rev. 2. 7. And therefore such Teachers as excluding the Mediator do affirm That as Adam fell from God by departing from the Light within him even so is he recovered and restored by returning and yeelding obedience to that Light within do lead people from Christ Jesus the true way to the Law that old deadly Gate through which it is impossible for any of the sons of Adam to enter and live They that would lead men unto God by a perfection of obedience in themselves and not by saith in a crucified Christ as the only way into the holiest instead of bringing them into Heaven to life and peace with God do shut up the Kingdom against them No man by the endeavours of the highest perfection of Reason or natural speculations of the Divinity will ever find accesse to God upon a Mercy-seat until he come to acknowledge the flesh or dead body of Christ to be the only way consecrated and prepared for him Heb. 10. 29 30. 2. That the Light that is in every man knows not this mysterie of Christ nor is able to make any discovery of it as is evident from Eph. 3. 9. where the holy Spirit testifies That it hath been hid in God from the beginning of the World And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mysterie which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ to the intent that now unto Principalities and Powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God Mark here it was hid from the beginning of the World so that neither all the Light in Adam in his innocency nor in the holy Angels knew it how much less could the Candle-light of mans Spirit since the fall by any force remaining in it enter into this great secret Doth not Christ himself tell us plainly That these things are hid from the wise Matth. 11. 25. I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent and hast revealed them unto babes And doth not Paul say when he preached the Gospel That he spake the wisdom of God in a Mysterie which none of the Princes of this World knew 1 Cor. 2. 7 8. But we speak the Wisdom of God in a Mysterie even the hidden Mystetie which God ordained before the world to our glory which none of the Princes of this world knew for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory And doth not the same Paul who was a learned man brought up at the feet of Gamaliel and instructed according to the perfect manner of the Law Acts 22. 3. And as touching the righteousnesse thereof blameless Phil. 3. 6. plainly declare That before his Conversion notwithstanding all his Light and Learning and all his care to follow that Light to the utmost for he had lived in all good Conscience before God until that day Acts 23. 1. he was ignorant of these things and utterly unable with all his natural and acquired parts to come to the knowledge of them Why else if it was not so did he so violently persecute the Saints as appears at large in Acts 8. 3. 9. 1. and 22. 5 9 19 20 and 26. 10 11. And how else could he think with himself That he ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth Acts 26. 9. And kick against the pricks and persecute the Lord Jesus ver 14 15. But that the Light within which he was faithful to was unable to make known unto him the true Jesus and that it was so he himself doth yet further declare in those words Who are thou Lord Acts 26. 15. and in 1 Tim. 1. 13â— where he confesseth he had been a blasphemer a persecutor and injurious yet had obtained mercy because he did it ignorantly in unbelief Thirdly As the Light in every man knows not the Redeemer who according to Gods Eternal Purpose is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. So it is altogether unable to discover the way and means whereby the Redeemer and with him life and happiness is to be received and enjoyed that is it knows nothing of the Law of Faith mentioned by the Apostle Rom. 3. 27. The tenor whereof is this That whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life according to John 3 15 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not
which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God So Matth. 13. 11. He answered and said unto them viz. his Disciples Because it is given unto you to know the mystâ—ries of the Kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given That Light only is saving which discovers these things to which agrees that saying of Christ John 17. 3. And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent But there are some who know not the Father nor the Son John 16. 3. And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me Matth. 11. 27. No man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Nor the Spirit John 14. 17. Even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him nor the things of the spirit 1 Cor. 2. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned They have not the Spirit as was proved before therefore they cannot discern spiritual things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiritually Yea further they cannot discern nor know these things because their understanding is darkned Ephes 4. 18. and as to these things they are meer darkness Ephes 5. 8. Yea the light that is in them is darkness according to the words of Christ Matth. 6. 23. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness And Christ himself gives another reason why they cannot know these things Matth. the 13. the 11th Because it is not given to them It is given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given And in Matth 11. 25. he tells us plainly it is because they are hid from them And at that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Therefore Christ doth not lighten every man that comes into the world with a saving light To such as Christ enlightens with a saving Light he also gives a spiritual life such he quickens regenerates and makes new Creatures such as the Light is such is the Life in men Joh. 1. 4. And the Life was the Light of men If the Light be saving that is effectually and eventually saving it quickens and regenerates and makes a new Creature according to that in 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a Glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord this saving Light and Life and given together as John 8. 12. Thou spake Jesus again unto them saying I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life A man cannot have a saving Light to see the Kingdom of God except he be born again John 3. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a mâ—n be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God And hence it is that Christ is a live-making Spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. because who soever is enlightened with a saving Light is also quickened together with Christ Eph. 21 5. You hath he quickened c even when ye were dead in sins hath he quickened us together with Christ But Christ doth not quicken and regenerate every man that comes into the world every one is not a new Creature some are born of the flesh John 3. 6. and are in the flesh Rom. 8. 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God some are dead in sin wherein they walk according to the course of this World Eph. 2. 1 2. and have not life 1 John 5. 12. He that hath not the Son hath not life yea some do dye in their sins John 8. 24. I said therefore unto you that ye shall dye in your sins for if ye believe not that I am he ye shall dye in your sins Therefore Christ doth not lighten every man that comes into the world with a saving light Whom Christ enlightens with a saving Light to them he also gives Faith the words of Christ are plain John 12. 46. I am come a Light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness Mark where there is no Faith there is an abiding in darkness and so no saving Light Faith is the Organ of the soul to receive and let in a saving Light An unbelieving soul is a dark and ignorant soul hence it is that Christ who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beginner of Faith Heb. 12. 2 when he gives his Spirit to illuminate the understanding and to fill the soul with his marvellous light he doth also by the same Spirit give and work faith for it is his gift Eph. 2. 8. whereby the soul is capacitated to receive him as a glorious light to dwell in the heart And thus Christ by his Spirit and Faith and no other way dwells in the heart irradiating the whole soul with the bright beams of his glorious light according to these Scriptures John 14. 16 17. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you Eph. 2. 22. In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith But every man that comes into the world hath not Faith 2 Thes 3. 2. For all men have not Faith none believe but such as are ordained to eternal life Acts 13. 48. And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed None can come to or believe on Christ but such as the Father draws John 6. 44. No man can come to me except the Father which sent me draw him nor hath every man that comes into the world Christ dwelling in him some are without him Eph. 2. 12. That at that time viz. when they were Gentiles in the flesh ye were without Christ in the world Some have him not 1 John 5. 12. He that hath not the Son hath not life In a word beleevers only have Christ dwelling in them John 6. 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him Therefore Christ doth not enlighten every man that comes into the world with a saving Light To these last Arguments I remember not any thing brought by way of answer to weaken any one proof but that which was their last and chiefest Refuge was that Text John 1.
light is Gods creature so also is internal light intellectuall light invisible light both in Angels and men the Angels those ministring spirits those flames of fire those star-like sparkles of light are Angels of light 2 Cor. 11. 14. yet they are but derivative lights lighted up by the Father of lights and spirits Ja 1. 17. Heb 12. 9. created by him by whom all things were made Col. 1. 16. For by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principallities or Powers c. So the spirit of man is a light in man an invisible light called the candle of the Lord Pro. 20. 27. formed in man by the Lord Zach. 12. 1. of which more will be said afterwards 5. As all derivative lights which God hath made are subordinate to himself so are the inferior one to another the light in man when he was at his best was far inferior to the light of wisdome and knowledg in Angels Psal 8. 5. the light in Angels is far inferior to the light in the man Christ Jesus as he is the anointed Saviour and sustains the office of a Mediator he as such is the Sun-light far above all other lights lighted up by the Father of lights in him are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2. 3. These things being premised I come to shew what the light in every man is The light that is in man may be considered either 1. With respect to the will and affâ—ctions and so it is that inward peace comfort joy and gladness which is opposed to the darkness of inward trouble griefe and sorrow and thus I find the Scripture frequently speaking of light and darkness metaphorically as Psal 97. 11. Light that is joy is sowne for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart Isa 50. 10. He that walks in darkness and hath no light is one that hath no peace no comfor no consolation when the Jewes were delivered from Hamans conspiracie they had light and gladness joy and honour Esth 8. 16. so Job 18. 5. the light of the wicked that is their joy and comfort shall be put out the Church saith Micah 7. 8. When I sit in darkness the Lord will be a light unto me that is of joy and comfort Or secondly the light in every man may be considered and so it is spoken of in this question with respect to the intellectual powers the mind and understanding and thus it is the spirit of every man which is in him the Father of lights and spirits doth form a spirit in every man Zach. 12. 1. Who formeth the spirit of man in him or as it is Gen. 2. 7. The Lord breathed into man the breath of life and man became a living soul agreeable to that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 45. The first man Adam was made a living soul so that without this spirit he could not be a man now this spirit in every man is the light in every man according to the testimony of that Scripture Prov. 20. 27. The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord that is a candle which the Lord hath set up in him to see by whereof he is the Author and efficient cause Mark Reader this spirit or light in every man is not the Lord but a candle lighted up by the Lord this interâ—al light in the little world man is no more the Lord then the external lights in the firmament are the Lord nay it is so farr from being the Lord the Sun light that it is lesser and inferior to the light in other creatures namely the Angels as was hinted before their light of wisdome reason and understanding doth farr exceed mans as the wise womans words to the King do import 2 Sam. 14. 20. and my Lord is wise according to the wisdom of an Angel of God to know all things that are in the earth and so do those words Rev. 4. 8. they are full of eyes within moreover as this light in every man is inferior to other lights so it is limited and â—â—unded as to the use and exercise of it and cannot extend it self beyond its bounds as will appear by that which followes Again this spirit of a man or light in every man is the reason and the understanding of a man which in the state of mans created integritie was an ascendant light shining with pure Beams of light whereby he was adâ—pted to know his God that made him and the end why he made him and how to answer that end that is to know him as God and glorifie him as God by yielding just and perfect obedience unto him this was the end of Gods making man that he should serve him as David argues Psal 95. 6. Oh come let us worship and how down let us kneel before the Lord our maker for he is our God c. And Psal 100. 3. Know ye the Lord he is God it is he that made us and not we our selves and the end of Gods making us exprest ver 2. Serve ye the Lord c. Of this light we may understand Christ to speak Math. 6. 23. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness that is if thy intellectual eye be blind how great is thy blindness Together with this light set up in man which shewed him his Creator and that he was to be served and how he was to be served it was necessary that Law should be implanted and written in his heart which Law is called light Prov. 6. 23. whereby the will and mind of his Creator was imprest upon him and made known unto him so that by the Spirit or light set up in him he could reflect upon this Law as a rule to every motion and operation and understand the reason and reasonableness of it yet here by the way it is to be observed that this Law is not God God is the Law-giver or the Law-writer whether in the fleshly Tables of the heart or in Tables of Stone but the Law giver or the Law writer is not the Law nor è Contra c. The Law was written in the natural mans heart to be a Rule according to which he was to obey and worship his God therefore it is not to be called God and worshiped as God its true that the Law as also the light as it is in God the fountain of Wisdom and Justice is God but the Law exhibited and in a manner ineffable and beyond expression imprest upon and formed in the heart of man is not God as the thing formed is not the former of the thing Now God saith of himself Isa 45. 7. I form the Light c. even as it is said of him Zach. 12. 1. Who formeth the spirit of man within him And Gen. 2. 7. And the Lord God formed