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
man the Hebrew Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 formavit is the same in all the three places importing that the things formed are not God that formed them the like may be gathered from other words which signifie to create or make the Law of God written in mans heart is begotten of God proceeds from him is his off-spring as all lights whatsoever are from him and lead to him and thence it is that he is called the Father of Lights Jam. 117. but it is not the Father of Lights who is an infinite and incomprehensible Fountain of perfection and glory but a borrowed ray or beam of Divine Glory confined to its Orb and limited to its uses as all other lights are beyond which it cannot go And thus the Scripture seems frequently to distinguish between God and his Law as Psal 1. 2. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord. Psal 37. 31. The Law of God is in his heart And Psal 40. 8. Thy Law is in my heart 2 Chron. 12. 1. it 's said of Rehoboam He forsook the Law of the Lord. In all which places there is a clear distinction between the Law or Rule given to man and the Author of it from all which it is evident that the Law written in mans heart is not God And thus have we an account of the fullest light that was in man before his fall The sum whereof is this He had the light of a clear understanding to know his Creator and his whole will contained in that Law which was written in his heart and the Light of Reason to see how just and equitable it was to yeeld perfect obedience to his will and thus he could look his God in the face and come into his presence with delight and serve him with gladness But all the Light that man had in his Created integrity whether set up in his Spirit or in the Law implanted in him was not sufficient to manifest or make known unto him a Redeemer for as in that state he had no need of a Redeemer so his Light had neither commission nor power to make one known to him even as it was with the Angels which never fell they having no need of redemption notwithstanding all their light had never known the Redeemer but by means of the Church which stands in need of him Eph. 3. 10. To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God so 1 Pet. 1. 12. Which things the Angels desire to look into And as their Light so the Light which Adam had before his fall was so limited and bounded that it could not extend it self then nor now if any had as great a measure as he had further then to shew how man being perfectly obedient to the whole will of his Creator might live for ever in the happy fruition of him as such Since the fall of man this Candle of the Lord in him that is his Reason and Understanding is become exceeding dim in comparison of what it was before as the Scripture testifies Eph. 4. 18. Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the Life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart In the fall the Devil got into this Candle the mind of man whereof he hath ever since kept possession and will keep it still except a stronger than he cast him out he is the Spirit that works in the children of disobedience and so blinds their minds and darkens their eyes that they cannot look up to God or discern the things that concern his glory and their own happiness but their Candle doth mostly give light downward to things below Eph. 2. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked acâ—ording to the course of this world according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience 2 Cor. 4. 4. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them Insomuch that it may be said of every man in the fall how wise soever he may conceit himself to be That he is a vain empty man born like a wild Asses Colt Job 11. 12. and that he is in respect of man in his Innocency but a beast in regard of his ignorance man that was made like unto God hath made himself by his fall like unto a beast according to that of Solomon Eccles 3. 18. I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men That God might manifest them and that they might see that they â— themselves are beasts Yet is not this Light wholly extinct for then he could not exist but would cease to be a man where there is no spirit of a man there is no man So likewise the Law written in mans heart which at first was plainly to be read is not so oblitterated but that there is sufficient left to render God righteous in his proceedings against men who do hold that measure of the knowledge of God which is left in them in unrighteousness and to leave them inexcusable before him in the day of the revelation of the righteous Judgement of God Rom. 2. 5 6. I say there is so much of the Eternal Power and God-head manifested and made known to men by the things that are made that such as like not to retain God in their knowledge nor to glorifie him so far as they do know him shall be left without excuse in the day when God shall render to every man according to his deeds according to Rom. 1. 18 19 20 21. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness because that which may be known of God is manifest in them or to them for God hath shewed it unto them for the invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and Godhead so that they are without excuse Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God c. In asmuch therefore as there is a Light remaining in every man since the fall though far inferiour to that which was in man in his innocency I shall endeavour in the next place further to declare these two things 1. What this remaining Light can do or what the utmost uses of it are And 2. What it cannot do There is a fourfold use of the Light that is in every man since the fall 1. To make manifest 2. To direct 3. To convince 4 To feel after God First This Light as the Scripture testifies searcheth all the inward parts of the belly Prov. 20. 27. The Spirit of a man is the Candle of the Lord
Light according to Joh 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God therefore this Light is to all that have it the Light of life Joh. 8. 12. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the Light of life the same Spirit that inlightens doth regenerate and renew Tit. 3. 5. According to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost and so not every man that comes into the world but he that is born of the Spirit Joh. 3. 5. and made a new creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. according to that Gospel-promise Ezek. 36. 26 A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you is inlightned with the marvellous Light of Christ By this Spirit also doth he write this new Law of Faith in their hearts called the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 2. according to that of the Apostle Heb. 8. 10. I will put my Laws in their minds and write them in their hearts where he speaks not of the Law of works which is writ in the Natural mans heart but of the Law of the new Covenant which the Apostle is there treating of and which God would put into their hearts who were in Covenant with him and whose sins and iniquities he will remember no more Neither doth he onely give a new life a new light a renewed spirit and write his Laws in their hearts by his Spirit but that he may cause them to walk in his ways Ezek. 26. 27. and that they may have help in themselves Job 6. 13. he gives the Spirit himself to dwell in their hearts as the same Scripture Ezek. 26 27 testifies And I will put my Spirit within you So Gal. 4. 6. And because you are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father and so they become one spirit with the Lord 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit And this is that witness that every believer hath in himself 1 Joh. 5. 10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself a witness that he is the childe of God Rom 8. 16. The Spirit it self beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God And while he looks at and believes on a Christ without him as having done all in his own person for him according to Rom. 4. 25. Who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Rom. 8. 3. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Heb. 9. 26. And now in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself And Heb. 10. 12. But this man after he had once offered sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God He also knowes and hath a witness in himself that Christ dwels in his heart Eph. 3. 17. and lives in him as Paul witnessed Gal. 2. 20. Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me And he is the habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2. 27. In whom ye are builded for an habitation of God through the Spirit 1 Joh. 3. 24. We know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us From that which hath bin said it doth plainly appear that the mistake of this people is very grosse who call the light in every man Christ and worship it as the Redeemer and the Lord that bought them whereas indeed as hath been cleared this light in every man is but the spirit of a man and the law written in his heart from the terrour and condemnation whereof the Lord Jesus came to deliver It also appears that to worship this light as the Redeemer is to worship an imaginarie and fictitious Christ and indeed an Idol and in effect to deny the person of the true Jesus who is Emmanuel God and man in union who in his own person without us not in ours hath by one offering once for ever wrought eternal redemption for us Heb. 9. 12. By his own blood he entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternall Redemption for us and is the alone object of Faith yea hence it will follow that whosoever affirmeth as this people doe that the light in every man is Christ is a deceiver and an Antichrist such as the Apostle speaks of 2 Joh. 7. For many deceivers are entred into the World who confess not that Jesus Christ is come into the flesh This is a deceiver and an Antichrist whom the Saints are forbidden to receive into their house or to bid them God speed Verse 10. Receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed But of these and other usefull Inferences more fully after the answering of an Objection or two wherein all their seeming strength lies and whereon their greatest confidence is built Against that which I have said there is nothing more frequently urged then that one Scripture Joh. 1. 9. That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world This Scripture they account to be an invincible proof of their fundament all Assertion which in their words and writings is thus held forth this light is Christ God the Lord God and the Lamb the object of faith and this true light which is Christ lightens not some but every man coming into the world And therefore it must needs be saving And that this light can be meant of no other then of Christ they further alledge Joh. 8. 12 35 36. where it is plainly exprest that Christ is the light of the world Because I observe that that subtil Adversary Satan doth get the greatest advantage against many weak and unstable souls through their misunderstanding and wresting of these Scriptures in the mean while being ignorant of his devices I shall indeavour according to my measure to declare the minde of Christ in them that if it be the will of the Lord such as are taken captive by him may escape out of his Snares When it is said that that was the true light which lighteth every man that comes into the world two things must be considered 1 Who this true light is 2 How he lighteth every man that comes into the world For the first the Scriptures do witness that this true light is the Word God by whom the world was made for as it is said Joh. 1. 1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God So that which is spoken of in the 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10. verses following is to be referred to the Word God the Creator of all things and not to the Word as the Word is
be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for the promise is unto you and your children and to all that are a far off even as many as the Lord our God shall call And Jo. 38. 39. He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living water But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified so that it is apparent in several respects that this Scripture proves not their assertion Further it was said that Balaam was a wicked man and yet he had the spirit of God and saw the starr of Jacob Numb 24. therefore every man that comes into the world hath the spirit of Christ Ans It is one thing to have the spirit of the Son which is the great promise of the new Covenant Isa 50. 21. dwelling in a man 2 Tim. 1. 14. and another thing to have the spirit of God come upon a man at some particular time and for some particular work thus it was with Balaam and thus with Saul and his messengers 1 Sam 19. 20. 21. 23. but this proves not that every man that comes into the world hath the sprit of Christ for the Scripture doth not say that these men had the spirit of God before it came upon them only these Scriptures do shew that God can and sometimes doth by the power of his spirit impress upon a wicked man and make him to declare some future glorious things for his own praise and his peoples comfort as Dan. 4. 1. 2. 3. Joh. 11. 50. 51. may be seen neither is it said in that place Numb 24. 17. that Balaam saw the starr of Jacob but I shall see him but not now I shall behold him but not nigh but when every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 17. but it will not follow hence that he had the faith of Job to see him his Redeemer Job 19. 25. 27. nor the spirit of the mediator the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2 5. which only dwels in believers 2 Tim. 1. 14. that good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us no more then the Angel of the Lord that spake in the Asse with mans voyce Numb 22. 28. 2 Pet. 2. 16. dwelt in the Asse though that is utterly false which this people hath published in their Paper viz. that he was a Baptist which said that Balaam had no more spirit then his Horse Some of them asked what was that which caused Judas to bring the money again and made him repent implying as I apprehend them that it must needs be the spirit of Christ Ans There is a light and law in every man that convinces and reproves of sin except of not believing in Christ Rom. 2. 14 15. for when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their concscience also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or excusing one another and this made Judas bring the money again c. But this light or Law in every man is not the spirit of Christ mentioned Joh. 16. 7. 8. which was promised to be sent to reprove or convince the world of the sin of not believing in Christ c. for he was not come while as Christ was not ascended John 16. 7. 13. but of this light and Law in every man I shall speak more after the rest of my Arguments to prove my assertions are laid down By these briefe Answers it may appear with what little success these Scriptures were brought to prove that every man even the wicked and unregenerate have the spirit of Christ and that notwithstanding all that was said the plain and positive Scriptures brought brought by me to prove the contrary viz. That all men have not the Spirit of Christ do remain firm â—and â—nshaken there being nothing more plain than Christ's own words John 14. 17. That the world cannot receive the Spirit of Truth And the Apostles Rom. 8. 9. Jude 19. That some are in the flesh are sensual not having the Spirit of Christ As I could get liberty other Arguments were propounded for the proof of that which I had undertaken to make good viz. That Christ doth not lighten every man that comes into the world with a saving Light which are as follow though in that confused Assembly they could not be so orderly and with that enlargement urged as they are here set down Whom Christ enlightens with a saving Light into their hearts he causeth the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ to shine to give the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ according to the testimony of Paul 2 Cor. 4. 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ He brings life and immortality to light through the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. And he doth no otherwayes manifest the Grace of God our Reconciliation Peace and Salvation but by the light of the glorious Gospel shining in our hearts and he that wants this Gospel-light hath no saving-light but is lost 2 Cor. 4. 3. But if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost But Christ doth not cause this light of the glorious Gospel to shine in the heart of every man that comes into the world for the Gospel is hid to some and the light of it doth not shine in their hearts as the Scripture testifies 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. But if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Therefore Christ doth not enlighten every one that comes into the world with a saving light Whom Christ enlighteneth with a saving light to them is given an understanding to know the Father 1 John 2. 13 Ye have known the Father And the Son 1 John 5. 20. And we know the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true And the Spirit John 14. 17. Even the spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him c. And the things that are freely given them of God 1 Cor. 2. 10 12. But God hath revealed them uuto us by his spirit Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit
searching all the inward parts of the Bedy That is Whatsoever is most secret in our minds for as in the Belly natural conceptions are wrought and shaped so in the Mind Moral Conceptions of good or evil are wrought and shaped To this also agrees the saying of the Apostle 1 Cor. 2. 11. What man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man whech is in him That is No other man knows what his own thoughts are or what they are working but his own understanding This Spirit of a man sees all the inward motions and outward actions of a man with a direct act of the understanding which is called Science and this simply considered makes not any thing that is discovered good or evil And this is the first use of the Light that is in every man viz. To make manifest the things of a man to himself Secondly This Light in every man is useful for direction in a double respect 1. As it looks upon the Law written in his heart it presents unto him the principles of Justice Righteousness Equity Soberness and other Moral Vertues and shews him what is right to be done according to that of the Apostle Rom. 2. 14. For when the Gentiles that is unconverted Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law that is formally published and preached unto them are a Law unto themselves Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their Conciences also bearing witness c. 2. As it looks upon the works of the Creation which are seen such clear beams of the God-head may be understood by the things that are made as might direct and induce man to glorifie God as God which the same Apostle Rom. 1. 18 19. makes the ground of the Righteousnesse of God in that dreadful Revelation of his Wrath against all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse of men who ever they be who hold the Truth in unrighteousnesse Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them or to them But how or where hath God manifested this to them The Apostle answers in the next words Verse 20. For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and God-head so that they are without excuse So that though every man have not a Light in him that is able to save him as will be further cleared hereafter yet he hath so much as will make him guilty and leave him without excuse Thirdly the light in every man is useful for conviction for though as was said before when it looks upon the things of a man with a direct act it makes nothing good or evil yet when it reflects upon the Law within which shall be the Rule of every motion and operation and compares the Action done with that Law the goodness or evilness of it is discovered according as it bears conformitie or non-conformitie thereunto and now Science or a bare knowing of an Action done is become Conscience for this reflex Act of the soul is called Conscience that is a knowing together with something else as when the understanding considers what is done in conjunction with a Law according to which it ought to be done thus the Spirit of a man which is the Candle of the Lord doth manifest the deed done and the Law discovers the quallitie of the Action according to that of the Apostle Rom. 3. 20. By the Law is the knowledg of sin were there not a Law there would be no Transgression and were not the Law looked upon and the Action compared with it there would be no such thing as Conscience but when deeds are laid before the Law as a Glasse shews not only the face but the spots that are in it so it will give a true report of their regularitie or irregularitie of their goodness or badness and suitable thereto will its Sentence be and Answerable to the Sentence the Law pronounceth will be the excusations or accusations of the person according to Rom. 2. 15. Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their Consciences also bearing witness and their thoughts mean while excusing or accusing one another Hence I say it comes to passe that when a man a meer natural man refuseth to follow this light of direction in doing what is right he is convinced in himself that he guiltie his Conscience troubleth him and judgeth him and is a Witnesse for the Lord that he is righteous when he judgeth according to that saying of the Apostle Rom. 3. 19. Now we know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them who are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guiltie before God or be subject to the judgment of God not having a word to object why Sentence should not be executed because they have Transgressed This light was that which manifested to Adam his Transgression convinced him of his guilt tormented him with fear and made him hide himself from the presence of the Lord Gen. 3. 10. I heard thy voice in the Garden and was afraid because I was naked and I hid my self and as it was then so it hath been ever since and will be still that if any man transgresse that Rule and Law that is written in the heart of every natural man there is a light set up in his conscience which will accuse him be a witness against him torment him and condemn him according to that testimonie before mentioned Rom. 2. 15. and 1 Joh. 3. 20. this manifested to Judas his sin and caused him to bring again the money and confess he had sinned And more then this is not needful by way of Answer to H. W. or any other person demanding where that witness is that doth condemn and what that was which caused Judas to bring again the money and to confess that he had sinned in that he had betrayed the innocent blood Fourthly there is yet a further use of this light common to all men it doth not only make manifest direct and convince but is able also to know much of God as a Creator and Law giver at least his eternal power and Godhead by the works of the Creation which are seen Rom. 1. 19 20. and to feel and seek after him as such Acts 17. 27 28. That they should seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him and find him though he be not farr from every one of us for in him we live move and have our being c. Thus for the light in all men or common to all men good and bad believers and Infidels may go serve for the fore mentioned excellent uses even since by trasgression man fell from his created integritie the sum whereof is briefly this Every man hath a light springing up with
perish but have everlasting life The knowledge of this Law sprung not up with mankind in nature it was not written in the heart of natural man as a thing just and equal Adam's Light onely shewed him what was just to be done and when he had sinned convinced him and passed sentence upon him and there left him in his misery not affording any direction or help for his recovery which made him fear and hide himself Gen. 3. 10. Then was the great fountain of free Grace opened and by the occasion of the transgression and misery of man this Law of Faith was added and founded upon Christ in that Gracious Promise Gen. 3. 15. The seed of the woman shall break the head of the Serpent this Law is not natural but supernatural not springing up together with man as that of works but added to shew the exceeding riches of the Grace of God in his kindness to poor sinners through Jesus Christ Eph. 2. 7. which is as farr above the reach of a natural man to know as the Heavens are above the Earth yea as the thoughts of God are above the thoughts of man Though vain man would be wise yet he is born like a wild Asses Colt Job 11. 12. It s above the reach of his reason to conceive how Faith in a crucified Christ should be the way to save a sinner and hence it is that the preaching of a Christ crucified for the obedience of Faith is to the Greekes soolishness 1 Cor. 1. 23. he is not able by all his Candle-light to discover this misterie of the hidden wisdom of God according to that divine Testimonie 1 Cor. 2. 9 14. Eye hath not seen nor Eare heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 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 the truth hereof will yet further appear by considering that Querie Acts 2. 37. Men and brethren what shall we do and that of the Gaoler Acts 16. 30. Sirs what must I do to be saved which do clearly argue that these men now prict in their hearts and wounded in their consciences had no sufficient Light nor understanding to direct themselves to a remedie and therefore they ask What shall we do And as this Light cannot discover the Law of Faith so it cannot convince any man that his not believing in Christ is a sin this is the proper work of the Spirit the Comforter as the Scripture testifies John 16. 7 8 9. Nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you and when he is come he will reprove or convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment of sin because they believe not in me c. In as much then as it is clearly manifest that the natural man with all his Light is unable to reach these great misteries this gives occasion to speak somewhat briefly of that light which can reveal and make them manifest which will be found to be a Light as far exceeding the Light of the natural man in glory as the ministration of the Gospell exceeds the ministration of the Law in glory 2 Cor. 3. 11. For if that which is done away be glorious how much more that which remaineth is glorious as the things discovered to wit the glorious Gospell of Christ the knowledg of the glory that is the goodness and mercy of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. are more glorious so is the Light discovering them hence it is called the marvellous Light of God 1. Pet. 2. 9. and it is no other then the Light of Christ Jesus as Mediator between God and man 1 Tim. 2. 5. which doth irradiate the soul of man with the knowledg of these great misteries agreeable to that of the Psalmist Psal 36. 9. In thy Light we shall see Light He is given to be a Light of the Gentiles Acts 13. 47. He only being in the Bosome of the Father can reveal him according as himself doth witness Math. 11. 27. Neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Joh. 1. 18. No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the Bosome of the Father he hath declared Him The invisible and inaccessable God coming down in the man Christ Jesus which is the great misterie of godliness God manifest in the flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. makes all the glory of his goodness and mercy to appear in the Face of Jesus Christ as he said to Moses Exo. 33. 19. I will make all my goodness to pass before thee hence he is said to be the brightness of his glory Heb. 113. now as Christ is the shining forth of the Fathers glory so it is he only that shines into the hearts of all that believe on him the Light of the konwledge of the glory of God as in the first creation God made all things by the word so in the new creation or new creature all things wrought by the Word made flesh who is the one Mediator between God and man 1 Tim. 2. 5. and the great Agent by which Christ workes is his Holy Spirit that Spirit which the world never saw nor can receive Joh. 14. 17. By this Spirit sent forth he doth reveal the misterious things of the Gospel even the hidden wisdom of God concerning Christ and the new creature which was not written in the heart of man nor could be known by the wisdom of this world as it is evident in 1 Cor. 2. 9 10 11 12. Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God now we have received not the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of god that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God thus the same Apostle saith that his knowledg in the misterie of Christ was revealed unto him by the Spirit Eph. 3. 4 5. Christ doth no other way inlighten the eye of the understanding but by his Spirit Eph. 1. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him the eyes of your understanding being inlightned c. This is that Spirit that teacheth all things John 14. 26. that guides into all truth Joh. 16. 13. And because none but new creatures can receive this new
means the more to amuse the people and beget in them an opinion of me as some hainous offender Surely methinks they should not be so weak as to imagine that these unchristian calumniations should pass with wiser men for a sufficient refutation of what I have writ And if hereby they think to affright me they are greatly mistaken for I fear nothing that they or any others can do to hurt my unstained reputation amongst men I shall therefore pass by many biting false scornful jeering and frothy expressions in their published Papers and onely mention some few of those censures judgings cursings which like a floud they have sent out against me with their names who have published their Papers or sent them open Such as have sent Sealed Letters their names are concealed Thomas Gurwen in a Paper writes thus John Wigans what a rage and chafe art thou in and how theu swellest and fretieth Oh the plagues of God will be thy portion and be poured out upon thy head Thou was so full of rage and bitterness and envie and malice in thy heart Thou hast raked and scraped a deal of chaff and rabling stuff which came out of the bottomless pit In another Paper A filthy dreamer who vomits up thy own shame Thy Book will be thy utter overthrow for it 's no more to me thoâ—â— chaff and dirt under my feet In another Paper Thy ill-bred behaviour thy ill-bred sawcie tongue unnurtured and unbred and besides thy sawcie language Thy hypocrisie and sawcie tongue and unmanner liness and ill breeding Whether this was endited by Thomas Curwen Husbandman or dictated by George Fox Shoo-maker I know not but when he hath shewed as he hath not in what particulars I have manifested ill-bred behaviour sawcie unnurtured unmannerly language I may possibly learn better but never in this mans School Let the Wise judge what manner are most likely to be learned from this master of Cacologie Margaret Fell in one Letter Thou manifests thy gainsaying spirit Core-like gainsaying and resisting of the truth as Jannes and Jambres did that is to say the light with the which every man is enlightned is not the light of Christ nor a saving light Thou art without God in the world Thou hast manifested thy self to be out of the first step that leads to Christianity and art a minister of darkness Thy foul sinful prayers are abominable They fleshly performances are but grass and chaff All thy rotten bypocritical performances Thou hast committed sacriledge and hast blasphemed against the holy Spirit of God which never will be forgiven thee in this world nor in that which is to come Thou art under it and it remains upon thee for ever That foul and unclean spirit that thou art of Thou manifests thy dark sottish spirit In a second Letter Thou begins with a lye and ends with the devil and sets John Wigan next to him as if thou wast his head-Vicegerent but certainly thou art a great zealot for him All such unclean spirits as thine is Thy black defiled heart and conscience Thou hast manifested thy self to be a childe of darkness What hast thou to do to take the Name of God and Christ in thy mouth Thou enemy of God Thou art a thief Thou are not a believer of Christ Thou art yet in thy sins Thou art a man separated from God Thou never knewest nothing of the worship of God Thy envious poysonous heart Thou art under the chain and it is over thee A fighter against God and his truth and the reward thou wilt be sure to have And never look that that which is cursed will be blest Thou art accursed and no other portion can thou have and this is Scripture and truth to thee In a third Letter Thou can do something in writing a Book of thy own dreams and thy imaginations and brain-studies and telling of lyes which thou hatcheth out of darkness Thou art a meer Sot and Ignoramus Thy evil unclean heart Thy malicious dark envious spirit Thy weakness inability and ignorance in the things of God I having told her that if she called the light that that is in every man that comes into the world Christ she set up an Idol and if she worshipped that light as Christ the Redeemer she was an idolateâ— She answers thus I never heard such words but from an idolater and a blasphemer against God and Christ Thou art an enemy of God thou art worse then the Jews Thou art a fit man to joyn with the Turk to set up Mahomet O thou infidel O thou childe of darkness Speaking of Christ she saith I am a witness for him against all such Antichrists and deceivers and blasphemers as thou art Thou art a minister of the night and of darkness in the Apostacie Thou art a night-bird The curse and the judgement that 's written therein speaking of the Scripture Christ Jesus and the Apostle hath pronounced it upon thee Thou art the man Thou hast lost God and Christ Because I asked this Question viz. What Parish-priest in England had got more money with his tongue then George Fox since he was Journeyman-Shoomaker in Manchester she saith Thou art a wicked ungodly impudent lyer Thou lyer A proud disdainful spirit A heathenish spirit which torments thee and many more such night-owls as thou art Thou wicked lyer The devil the God of this world is thy God and thou hast done what thou canst in opposing the Quakers to get him glory Thou hast a great measure of the spirit of envie malice and cruelty and bloud Thus far are her expressions whom Thomas Curwen affirms to be so vertuous a woman that I am not worthy to take her name in my mouth Another writes thus Thy vain hypocritical prayers and formal preachings and Chains offerings Thou art darker and darker and will be to thy dying day unless thou come to believe undoubtedly that Christ enlightens every man that comes into the world with a saving light You have been and are hypocrites Thy blasphemies against the everlasting truth Another writes thus Thou opposes the truth and manifests thy self to be an enemy of Christ the light an opposer of the Gospel which is the power of God of which power thou art ignorant and a stranger unto Thou art gone into rebellion and not onely ignorant of the true God and Christ but also art become an enemy and opposer of him by deceit and deceivableness Thou hardens thy heart and stiffens thy neck against the Lord and heaps up wrath against the day of wrath Another writes thus Thou hardens thy self against the truth more and more It hath been evidently manifested that thou art an enemy to God and his truth Thou art in thy will worship and carnal ordinances as Baptism and bread and wine Thou art vainly puft up with thy fleshly minde and art in the steps of the false Prophets of old and the false Apostles in the days of Christ In a Paper from William Holden
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