line of thy knowledge and understanding for thou thy self confessest that unto those first beleevers Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob Moses David Daniel and the rest there was communicated unto them a Spirit of Faith and a Light sutable and proportionable whereby they were enabled to behold Christ who was the object of their Faith Then if it did arise from the Spirit of Faith within them and the light of Christ who was the Author of their faith it did not arise from the Declaration of God in the promise without so that the mystery of faith which is held in a pure conscience is yet to be learned which was witnessed amongst the Saints So when thou writes again of the Law of Works or the law of Faith or the discovery which the Lord maketh to his creature under the diversities of these administrations keep back to the measure of the gift of God and then will thy testimony be no larger than thy knowledge which is a guilt hath spread over many in these dayes But this I say Blessed is the man which doth not condemne himself in the thing which he alloweth and which doth not destroy himself with the breath of his own mouth But there is a Generation which their own breath as fire shall devour them Again concerning the Light which every man is enlightned withal which is thy stumbling block and rock of offence as it is unto all the rest whose deeds are evil Thou saieth God hath not annointed it to that work nor laid the weight of eternal Salvation upon the shoulders thereof it being too weak for that service Answ. Him hath God annointed who is the Light of the world and hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world and there is no work of eternal Salvation wrought but in the light which every man is enlightened withal and this light is of him and from him which bears the sins in his own body and is not too weak for that service which the Father hath given him to do and this light is Christ and whereas some say Hath every man Christ every man hath Christ to save or to condemne him Christ is as truly the condemnation of those whose deeds are evil as he is the Saviour of them that believe and as those that believe in the light are already saved by Christ so also those that believe not in his light which he hath enlightened them withal are already condemned and so Christ is near unto every one to answer every mans work according to the nature of it whether he serve sin unto death or be found in the obedience of truth unto eternal life for now is the day appeared to try every mans work of what sort it is and now is many offended because the light is broken forth and their eye is evil because the Lords is good But wo unto the world because of offences if any have the spirit of a King let them search out the cause of the offence which is now broken forth amongst the children of men that the enmity which is in all sorts of people of all professions should rise up together and become a body the wicked joyning hand in hand preaching and printing and crying for unity which they are making up of enmity that they may be strong against that which the Lord hath now brought forth in his light and power to be witnesses unto him in every place wheresoever he doth call them witnessing forth his mercy and truth by which iniquity is purged out and preaching the Gospel freely to every creature whereby they may come to the knowledge of the truth that they may be saved But in the world it is so come to passe in these dayes that he that can but give reviling terms and hard speeches against the light which Christ hath enlightned every man withall calling it natural or insufficient and if they do but revile those which they call Quakers and put this in the beginning of his Book then it passeth with toleration and have as good approbation from the world as any of the Priests have for their Ministry but if any man begin to speak of the light within and the annointing within and the word of faith in the heart and of the mystery of faith in a pure conscience and of the sprinkling of the heart from an evil conscience and of believing in the light as Christ said such a one speaking of these things and not directing his speech in open reproach against them called Quakers the peoples hearts will be filled with jealousie lest he be one So that even the light is become a reproach unto them and their dirision daily but the Lords hand is turned against all such and he is turning the wise men backward and making their wisdom become foolishness For once there was a seeking after light in many that it might rise and open the things of God unto them and reveal the mysteries of his life whereby their souls might be satisfied and now when it is risen in many and hath brought forth its powerful effects now the man of sin hath his time and doth prevail in many to make them believe that it is not the light which is able to save the souls of them which believe in it and doth beget a spirit of jealousie in them which is stronger than death and begetteth a fear in them which worketh torment and many now doth fear and are jealous that that light is not the Christ which hath enlightened them and every one which cometh into the world and this is the work of Satan in the hearts of the disobedient which as every one comes to obey his light and to answer his perfect love to them which is manifest in the light that fear will be cast out and life will be given to that witness of God which once did breath after his life without which the soul cannot rest nor be satisfied and this shall many come to witness as the man of sin comes to be revealed which letteth and will let until he be taken out of the way and then shall they see at what they have stumbled and by what they have been overcome and then they will know that it had been good for them if they had walked iâ— the light of the Lord insteed of setting themselves against it and as the light it self by such before mentioned is denyed so the testimony which the children of light give of it is also despised and contended against as if it were not to be owned for a Doctrine of truth which doctrine of truth hath been laid often before people and is yet once more that they may consider prove and try and so believe and so be able to give a testimony from the witness of God in themselves First We say that Christ is the light of the world according to his own words Ioh. 8. 12. And again we say That he hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world
say such have obeyed and followed the light within them which if they had then when God had called they would have answered and it could not have been said they had been disobedient which when Stephen told them of their resisting of the Holy Ghost and their disobedience to the Law which was light his words did answer something of God within them whâ—n they were cut to the heart and that which had disobeyed the Holy Ghost and the Law which they had received that did stone him to death and thâ—rein they did kick against that which did prick them But the light of Christ is sufficient to lead all unto God which do obey and follow it and there was never any in all Generations from Abel uâ—to this Generation that ever in such ignorance and wilful impudency Preach and Print against the sufficiency of the light of Christ as in this age is brought forth For as others did reject the lesser so these the greater others did disobey that which they had received from the disposition of Angels and those that which is given by the Son of God who saith I am the light of the world He doth not say that the Spirit of man is the light of the World nor that mans Reason is the light of the World as some have said Neither did ever Christ say That his Light was insufficient but did bid those which were of the world believe in the light that they might be the Children of light Joh. 12. 36. and did tell such which were of the world that the kingdom of God was within them So there was something in them which was of power but such a doctrine is now hated in the world to preach any thing within man to be of power or ability to guide or lead man to God or sufficient to believe in But the Scripture saith The word of Faith is in thy heart which was the Word the Apostles preached to obey and to do it and Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God But how shall they Hear without a Preacher But I say Have they not all heard Yes verily their â—ound went out into all the Earth and their words unto the ends of the World but they have not all obeyed But again it is said in the false Hosanna That the discovery of sin and iniquity may be where the sound of Christ as a door as the lâ—ght as the way may not have been and for proof saith it was so in the first man that measure and degree of light which discovered sin to him was the Law written in him Answ. He who is the light of the world in him was life and this life was the light of man and he is before all thâ—ngs and by him all things consist and the first man Adam who was made a living soul and waâ— the son of God the light that was in him was the light of the son of God while he remained in Gods Image and when he was fallen from Gods Image into transgression that which made manifest his transgression was the light which he was fallen from and God did never write his law in mans heart but there was a measure of Christ But men in ignorance and blindness pretend to be Ministers of distinctions between the Law and Christ whenas they neither know what they say nor whereof they affirm nor seeing how it was added because of transgression till the seed should come ordained by Angels in the hands of a Mediator Gal. 3. 19. and as well ministred forth in the light of the Mediator For though there was and is diversity of administrations and of operations yet the same Lord and the same Light that Light in which the Prophets saw Christ and prophesied before-hand of the coming of the Just was the same in which the Apostles witnessed him come and the same light which lets men see their sins is that which lets them see their Saviour and leads them from their sins to Christ as they are obedient to it But to say there is the discovery of sin and iniquity where the sound of Christ as a door the light the way hath not been this remains to be proved seeing the Apostle saith That the sound is gone into all the Earth and the words to the end of the world Have they not all heard Yes verily That which makes manifest is light Is there light making sin manifest and is there nothing of Christ seeing that his life is the light of men and that men have no light but what proceeds from his life When was ever Christ and the light which discovers sin separated and where is that Scripture which saith That the sound of Christ as a light hath never been heard where sin and iniquity is discovered but that which hath brought forth these things may well be called an untimely birth which never saw the Son nor never knew the light which Christ hath enlightened every man withal which cometh into the world for a little of this fruit doth manifest that tree from whence it springs and so we shall judge the tree by its fruits Another fruit from this tree is to give his testimony of the Law of Faith which is this How far the Law of Faith may be said to be written upon every mans heart is not given unto me to understand only this glimpse I have of it That it appears to have had an influence upon the heart of man by those sacrifices which were offered up to God before the publication of the positive Law wherein as well Cain as Abel offered sacrifices Gen. 4. 4. Answ. This testimony doth not procâ—ed from the Word of Faith in thy heart for that would give an understanding how the Law of Faith is written in the hearâ— as well as how the Law of Works is written and this thy glimpse which thou saies thou sees from the proposing of the Promise and the influence which thou sayes thou seest upon the heart of man by the Sacrifices of Cain as well as Abel offered unto God if this thy pretended light and glimpse which is so far of Christ be truly weighed and tâ—yed it may prove but a vain vision and a divination of thy own heart as all who consider thy testimony of the law of Faith in saying that the discovery thereof ariseth from what is without and that it had never been known nor never thought of nor never would it or could it rationally have come into the heart of man to have conceived such a thing but from the Declaration of God in his promise Here it doth appear Faith is a Mystery to thee and thy eye have not seen it nor the ear heard neither hath it entered into thy heart to conceive Faith in the working and operation of it And in that thou saiest well that it was not given thee to understand how it is written upon every mans heart and thou had done well if thou had not stretched thy self beyond the
come by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God then how is it that he is not the word of Faith being that word by which Faith comes when it is heard and he being the Author of it May he not then as well be called the Word of it as the Author of it seeing he is the Word by which it comes but that all may understand what this word of faith was which the Apostle preached This was Christ Rom. 10. and they preached no other Word to be the Word of faith but Christ That whosoever believed on him should not be ashamed So that if the ignorance of Christ and of the Apostles words were blotted out of the hearts of our Accusers they would be silent and the daylie reproach would cease And whereas it is affirmed by us That the Light or a measure of Christ within is a sure Word of Prophesie or a more sure Word of Prophesie as Peter saith 2 Peâ—. 1. 19. And whereas many are offended at this and labours to make people believe that this is the Writings of the Prophets which is the more sure Word of Prophesie the Apostle speaks of because he saith Knowing this first that no Prophesie of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by she Holy Ghost c. Ans. Now I shall make it appear that it was not the Writings of the Prophets which was that more sure Word as first concerning that here is one thing held out to be a sure Word and another thing held out to be more sure as unto those to whom it was spoken And as concerning the first That which is held out to be a sure Word is that which â—ame from the Father the voice which camâ— from the excellent Glory saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am wâ—ll pleased and this voice which came from Heaven the Disciples heard when they were with him in the holy Mount This was a sure Word when it was spoken and when it was written it was a sure Testimony as sure as any of the Prophets Writings for the Prophets did see that he was to come and that he that was to come was the well-bâ—loved Son of the Father and they wrote this down and it was a sure testimony of Christ and Peter and the rest saw that he was come and did hear the voice from the excellent Glory proclaiming him to be the Son of God and when they had seen it they wrote it down and this was as sure a testimony yea a surer then the Prophets and that which the Apostles were eye-witnesses of and did write down for truth was as much â—â— be taken heed unto as that which the Prophets declared and this will all men of understanding judge that the Apostle Peter did not direct the people to the Prophets words to take heed to them because they were more sure thâ—n his own and more to be believed But although the Apostles words and writings was confirmed with more power and witnesse of the Spirit then the Prophets and both true yet the Apostles Ministry unto those which did not see those things which the Prophets saw muchlesse those things the Apostles saw no not so far as the dawning of the day nor to the day-star risen in their hearts therefore Peter dividing the word of God aright saith unto them We have a more sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arisâ— in your hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. It was more sure for them to â—ake heed unto that which was as a light shining in a dark place till the day-star did arise and the day dawn in their hearts then the declarations from others without them declaâ—rd in words writings as thus for example by experience to such I shall direct my speech who cannoâ— witnesse the day dawned nor the day-star risen in their hearts nor hath heard the voice from the excellent Glory to such I say That which I have seen and heard the visions power and glory wherein I am an eye witnesse of his glory and of his appearance this I may declare and write unto you and you may believe it But to such I say It is more sure for them to take heed to the light that shines in the dark place till they come to witnesse in â—hemselves the day dawned and day-star risen and the Son of God made manifest in them then to take heed to the words which I have declared though it be a true testimony for the Apostle did not write to himself nor say that it was more sure unto him buâ— unto them unto whom he wrote his Epistle for unto him no Word of Prophesie was more sure then that which he had seen and heard when he was with Christ in the holy Mount So this may inform your understandings who have more desirâ— to know the truth then to oppose it and may put to silence the vain disputings by men of corrupt minds who are destitute of the truth alwayes corrupting the words of truth to oppose the life of it as many such there are in these dayes which the Lord hath and will rebuke sharply that they may be ashamâ—d but all who are led and guided by the light of Christ shall know the annointing in them and the word of faith yea the Son of God He that can receive it without offencâ— let him 5. Obj. But he that hath opposed us saith in pag. 25. of his Book in the second part That the dawning of the day is rather an evening then a morning Ans. Now let all which have but known a day and a night in the Creation judge whether the evening or the morning be the dawnings of the day or whether the day-star be a fore-runner of the day or of the night then it will not be incredible which I have said before that he calls darknesse light and light darknesse but in such things our opposers will not receive a good report from those which can give true judgement and to such it is left to judge of those things Obj. Again he saith in pag. 35. That the spirit of truth was not a Comforter to the Apostles nor a reprover to the world before Christ was ascended and yet himself to contradict himself saith that he was in them before and dwelt in them the same spirit but not the same measure Ans. Here is Babylon at the height fit to be pul'd down but needs little answering seeing that iâ— answereth it self and for such reasons as these he might well conceal his name And if he could have put this off by hiding his Name for an Hosanna to the Son of David or A Testimony to the Lords Christ then he might well have boasted and have gloryed in his shame as if there had been
THE CAUSE OF STUMBLING Removed from all that will receive the TRUTH and from before the Eyes of the Wise men of LONDON In a Treatise shewing the difference between the spirit of a man which is the candle of the Lord and the light which hath enlightned every man that cometh into the WORLD Also shewing that though there be diversity of Administrations yet there is not diversity of Lights and Spirits by which they are ministred And shewing by clear testimony what the more sure Word of Prophesie is which the Apostle Peter exhorts the people to take heed unto untill the day did dawne and the day-star arise in their hearts Herein also is a false Hosanna and a false testimony reproved and a false witness is rejected and an untimely birth cast out though for the time of Travel it might have been a monster being above two yeers but in the end is brought forth for destruction the name of him which hath so long travell'd to bring forth wind and confusion is one known in the City of London by the name of Iohn Iackson being by the truth of this following made manifest That so by every motion of the Spirit of Truth and every testimony given from it Understanding and Knowledge of the Truth may be increased in those that follow on to know the LORD Given forth from the Lords servant Richard Hubberthorne For this end was I born and for this end came I into the world to bear witness unto the Truth Joh. 18. 37. Every one that is of the Truth heareth my voyce Spoylers shall come up out of the North which shall spoil Babylon Jer. 51. 48. London Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth neer Aldersgate 1657. THE Light is broken forth as the morning and the health of the Nations is in it and is springing forth speedily and the righteousness of the righteous Seed is going forth before them and the glory of the Lord is revealed to his Seed which now calleth and the Lord doth answer Here am I and the Lord hath made and is making his Seed as a watered Garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not and is raising up the foundations of many generations that people may come to build again upon that Foundation which they have been driven from especially by their Pastors for saith the Lord Many Pastors have destroyed my Vinyard they have trodden my Portion under foot and made my pleasant Portion a desolate Wildernesse and have made Gods Heritage as a speckled Bird the Birds round about are against her and all the Beasts of the Field come to devour Jer. 12. 9 10. And now is the Lord come forth against these devourers even as a Lyon bereaved of her young ones for the Lord will not suffer the spoyle of his Heritage no longer but will dresse his Vinyard that it may bring forth fruit unto him And now is the Lord casting out the blind Vatchmen and the foolish Prophets which have followed their own spirit and have seen nothing and all such is the Lord casting out and his everlasting fire is he kindling amongst them And now I hear a cry of torment going through the Nation Can any kindle a fire among Serpents and they not be offended and shut their stings Can any touch the Vipers but they will smell with venom and when Scorpions are trodden upon will they not shew forth their strength Can that nature suffer death patiently nay patience proceedeth from that Seed which slayeth the enmity and destroyeth the man of sin and thereforâ— as we have one Seed to witnesse for so there is one to witnesse against and as it is the work of the spirit of God to approve the things that are of God so it is iis work also to reprove those things which is contrary to sound Doctrine to the end that every one may know as well what to reject and deny as error as what to own for truth and sound Doctrine therefore of necessity must every one be turned to the light which Christ hath enlightned them withall that they may discern what they are to approve and what they are to reprove and that judgement is true which stands in the light and in the measure of the spirit of Truth TO THE READER MEN of low degree are vanity and men of high degree are a lye and the heart of man is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things Hear this ye wise men and foolish the more ye strive against the Lord the more is your wound made incurable and the higher you rise in envy alwaies the deeper is your fall in confusion And now Christian Reader whose heart God hath opened to see and behold the things that be eternal and can truly discern of different causes and between the good and the evil and between the light and the darknesse This Book is sent forth in the pursute and after a Book called Hosanna to the Son of David c. by a namelesse Author whose work indeed was hardly worthy of an honest mans Name though very subtilly craftily he prosecutes his purpose traverses his steps ful cunningly as this worlds wisdom could guide him in which wisdom he cannot know or receive the things of God therefore it cannot be expected that the things of God should be received from that wisdom and though he hath confounded in his words his description of the Light of Christ sometimes speaking well of it and sometimes otherwise and not knowing hardly whereof he hath affirmed his words are so counfounded and mixed in his corrupt reason in giving forth his knowledge of the things of God which he seems to be ignorant of but onely as he hath the knowledge of them from the Letter by which no man can come to the knowledge of God nor of the things of his Kingdom without the revelation of the Spirit of Jesus and the opperation of the same spirit But friends the testimony of God stands sure for ever though men would confound it in their own reason And this is the testimony That Christ lighteth every man that cometh into the world which light is sufficient to lead every man to God or else to condemn every man from God and this testimony is true notwithstanding all the opposition against it and it shall abide sure for ever though men strive never so much in the gain-saying of it And this is the testimony which we have born and shall bear to the end and who believes it and who believes it not this is the hand of the Lord according to his pleasure and to him we leave it and so we do and must clear our consciences from time to time while the Lord gives us a being And herein we are a good savour to God and our reward is with him whether Israel be gathered or no Isa. 49. And also this namelesse Author which is supposed to be one Iohn Iackson known in this City hath taken some seeming
occasion against us by searching our Books and as he saith hath found some contradictions in them which may appeare to be so to his dark mind yet in the sight of the spirit of the Lord that is truth which he sees to be no other then error However this is sent forth for the true information of peoples minds that they may know that truth is bold and confident and that it is Armor which defendeth from all enemies and giveth strength to answer the craftinesse of men And this same Iohn Iackson hath shewed himself now to be one with the common Priests of the world for as they have done so hath he opposed the way and people of God and with the very same Arguments shewing that he is of the very same spirit with them his discourse and arguments being of the same nature as theirs are yea he hath shewed himself to be of the very same spirit with all the open prophane wretches which doth revile and scorn and abuse in every town and countrey the Lords people and as they do so so hath he written with subtil Arguments to the very same end as they reproach and scorn to wit in a derision and despising the way and servants of the Lord so that his self-separation is now seen what it is to be a very cheat and hypocrisie who while he professeth a separation from the world doth practice the very same wickednesse and is not changed from them in nature though he be in appearance But what a poor work hath he brought forth in two years time which he saith his work hath been as Embres raked up in ashes yet a work that gains no praise of God nor very little of the praise of any man It seems he hath hatched mischief upon his bed and brought it forth in the morning Who would have thought but a wise man in that time would have brought forth a larger peece and more to purpose I am sure he might have made better use of his time in another exercise then to have writ against the servants of the Lord It had been more honest for him to have set his Pen to Paper and studyed to have given his testimony against the pride and drunkennesse and oppression and whoredoms and wickednesse in this great City I say it had been more honest and liker a Saint to have sought the reforming of prophanenesse and wickednesse that greatly abounds in this City then to have studyed two years to bring forth his invented stuffe against a harmlesse and innocent people which he nor any can justly charge with evil but as he hath digged deep by his imaginations in recollecting a seeming-contradiction out of our writings which is no contradiction no more then Christs words are who saith Except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood ye have no life in you and yet in the same discourse saith The flesh profits nothing and for Isaiah to go with the word of the Lord to Hezekiah to tell him he should dye and not live yet in the same instant of time told him he should live and not dye Would not Iohn Iackson have counted these contradictions But what he hath done in this in sending forth a Book against the Quakers he hath been so far from beating down sin drunkards and rude scorners and abusive men that he hath fully strengthened their hands and the wickedst people in this Nation are very glad of his work He hath given them matter to oppose truth withall but his reward and theirs shall be both with one hand and he shall drink his portion in the same Lake with such whose hands he hath strengthened and let him know and themall God hath established us upon a sure Mountain which the Gates of Hell and Death cannot prevail against So his work iâ— counted of us and cast by as our spoyled prey of Babylons treasure only this is sent abroad after it in the pursute of it which is not done with multitudes of words of mans wisdom but in the plain nakednesse of innocent truth which is more strength then all his Arguments of guile whereby he would deceive the people but he can deceive none but such as are deceived already for all that are in the light and in the truth sees beyond all that he can say and are established where his word can never reach them to take away their peace or disquiet them for as I said we are established upon a sure foundation and are tryed and proved and cannot be blown away with any windy Doctrines of men which begets into stâ—ffe and not into true sincerity of heart but wo unto that man that works offence and doth cast stumbling-blocks in the way of the simple And though the Lords people be a suffering people yet wo unto them that causeth them to suffer And though he and some others in their spirits were elevated thinking thereby to trample upon the innocent by that occasion happening concerning I. N. which was not suffered of the Lord to be as an occasion to destroy his people but as an occasion to try them and to prove them and thereby are they tryed and proved and the more setled rather then confounded and Iohn Iackson and such like may glory in such things for a moment because the appearance of it seems evil yet the Lord will make their glorying void for the Lord hath wayes enough to preserve his people and this we have found in many needful times and as concerning this thing which was looked upon as a breach among us by many yet it 's over and truth stands a top of it the beauty of truth appears through it all and truth is more lovely when it is proved and purged What if the Lord suffer his to be lead and tempted for a season let not the wicked boast of this for though the righteous fall he shall rise again but the wicked fall into mischief But yet we learn something by this what a great use the devil hath made hereof and how many Books and lying Scribbles hath been sent forth about it concerning us which are all counted by us no better then the worst corrupted treasure that ever grew in Babylon and the best of it is but baubles to please vain minds for men of sound understandings can take no pleasure therein And we see how by all means the Devil and his people seeks occasion against the wayes and people of God how glad are the wicked when they get an occasion against the Lords people and how do they glory in it and boast in it for a time thinking that their hands are strengthened in a greater boldnesse to do mischief And Iohn Iackson is one of those that takes pleasure in these things and he hath managed his businesse with a great deal of craft but there is none that will praise him for it except such whose wicked hands he strengthens such as he must have stumblings after the way of the Lord hath
kingdom of God against themselves and others labouring to keep all people from the light in the darkness as is made manifest in this Generation How many have set themselves to preach and print against the light which Christ the way to the Father hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world withal But now hath God the Father raised up his own seed according to his promise out of the North to spoyl Babylon Jer. 51. 48. I have raised up one from the North saith the Lord and he shall come from the rising of the Sun shall he call upon my name and he shall come upon Princes as upon Morter and as the potter treadeth clay Isa. 41. 25. The promised seed of the Lord is come forth and is spreading over the Nations as the morning over the mountains and blessed are they that receive their testimony for from the wrath of the Almighty shall they be delivered their bread shall not fail them and their waters shall be sure and their fountain shall never be empty but plentious Redemption shall they daily witness and waters of life shall their thirst be satisfied with and all the noise of the Bruits shall not hurt them for the Lord is with them therefore can they not be afraid nor dismaid at that which cometh to pass upon the earth now because light is risen therefore is the evil eyes offended and have now turned their testimonies against the light to make people believe that it doth the same works that darkness sin and Satan doth which is to drive the soul from God and keep it in the Fall and that it is not able to shew the good or the evil of an action to approve nor disapprove which is true of the darkness but not of the light For there is nothing that doth make manifest those things which are reproveable but the light neither is there any thing which doth bring man from that estate where he is driven from God and lead him out of the Fall but the light and so it is time to come out from among all such for all people that desire to know Gods ways lest they be partakers of their plagues and there be none to deliver for many are hardening their hearts in this day of Gods tender love and mercy and so evil do they requite the Lord that instead of turning at his reproofs that they may find mercy they are in their wisdom devising evil words and reproachful terms against the light by which the Lord doth reprove man for his iniquity and are exercising all their abilities to make the light even as darkness and would exclude the power of God from it When as there is no man that doth receive power nor wisdom from God but in the light which Christ haâ—h enlightened him withal therefore is Christ now preached as he declared himself to be the light of the world Ioh 8. and as his messenger declared him to have enlightened every man that cometh into the world and this light is now preached and witnessed to be sufficient to lead unto God all that obey it and to let them see that their works are wrought in God Joh. 3. and is sufficient to be the condemnation of all the world that haâ—â— it according to Joh. â— 19. And for our thus bearing witness of the sufficiency of the light many are â—isen up against us even slâ—nderous tongues such as the poyson of Asps is under but the Lord hath delivered us from them and will manifest his strength unto us in bearing testimony to his light and the power of it against all the powers of darkness and overcome them For God hath given his power to his own seed the Children of light and those that rise up against them it is but that they may be broken to pieces For whosoever falleth on â—his stone they shall be broken to pieces and on whomsoever it falls it will grind them to pouder Object But some men say That the light is not sufficient to lead unto God those that obey and follow it And for a proof saith That Paul did not disobey but follow the light which was in him And yet saith That he obtained mercy because he did it ignorantly which if he had disobeyed the light he had sinned against knowledge so the light in him was either not sufficient to discover to him the error of his way or at least it did suspend its act of enlightening him in the knowledge thereof it check'd him not it convinc'd him not c. Answ. To say that Paul did not disobey but follow the light within him that is false For he followed his zeal in madness and persâ—cuâ—ing the Saints and followed his thoughts which were falsâ— thinking that he did God service and thinking that he ought to do that which is contraâ—y to the light and so kick'd against the pricks instead of following thâ—t which did prick him and as for him in that condition and the rest which persecuted Steven to death though they did it ignorantly yet it was not because they were not enlightened nor because the light was not sufficient to have given them the knowledge of him whom they did persecute but because they did resist that which was sufficient to have given them the knowledge As Steven a man â—ull of the holy Ghost did bear witness saying unto Saul and the rest Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears ye do alwayes resist the holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye which of the Prophets have not your Fathers persecuted and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the just One of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murtherers who have received the Law by the disposition of Angels and have not kept it When they heard these things they were cut to the heart So here is little ground in those for any to say they follow the light within them and to say that they was not enlightened which had received the Law which is light by the disposition of Angels and did not keep it Here they disobeyed that which they had received which was the light and did alwayes resist the Holy Ghost which was able to have led them from theâ—r disobedience and stiffneckedness and if they did persecute to death for lack of knowledge and so did it ignorantly it was because they rejected knowledge and forgot the law of their God which they had received as the Priests did in Hosea 4 6. and because they did forget the Lord as those did in Jer. 18. so it was not because they were never convinc'd nor never reproved but because they would have none of his reproofs for they would not walk in his wayes neither were obedient to his law But I say Did not Israel know To Israel he saith All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people Rom. 10. 21. Therefore let no more such clamorous speeches come forth as to
according to his words who was sent a Messenger before his face to bear witnesse to the truth and his witnesse is true Ioh. 2. 9. And as Christ hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world so we say to every man warning both small and great to believe in the light that they may be the children of light which was Christs Doctrine to the world Ioh. 12. 36. And now what Christ doth and effecteth by it in those that believe in his light and followeth it which effects and opperations by the world is denyed and by us is affirmed some of the effects of it I shall mention which is opposed as first That it will not let those that are guided by it take Gods Name in vain but will draw thâ—m out of the Worships of the world and keep them in the fear of God and to stand still in it is the first step to peace That it discovers things that are contrary to it That it is their Teacher that love it and their condemnation that hate it according to Christs words Ioh. 3. 19. That waiting in it will guide them to God and shew them the way to the Father as Christ saith No man cometh unto the Father but by me Ioh. 14. 6. and no man cometh unto the Father by Christ but as they are led and guided by his light within them That it opâ—ns all the Scriptures and leads man out of the fall up to God for him hath the Fathâ—r given to be a Leader and Commander unto the people and he leadeth them by his light Another effect is That it convinceth of all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and is a Teacher and Director teaching and directing in righteousnesse purity and holinesse c. And that the light is but one in him that loves it and in him that hates it leading the one to God from whence it comes to receive eternal life and condemning the other from God because he obeyeth not the truth that he might be saved And this is the testimony of truth which is now held forth never to be denyed But who hath believed our report even they to whom the Arm of the Lord is revealed And this is the way by which people may come to know the truth of this testimony by obeying the light which Christ hath enlightned them withall thereby shall they know whether this Doctrine be of God or whether we speak of ourselves and whether all those effects is not brought forth by the working of Christs light in them and then they shall not believe onely because of our words nor be envious against it because of others words but will finde the testimony in themselves which is according to the record which God hath given of his Son and according to the testimony which we have given of the light and he that believeth shall be established Now that which opposeth this is that which beareth a testimony contrary to Christ who saith For this end was I born and for this end came I into the world to bear witnesse unto the truth and every one that is of the truth heareth my voice Ioh. 18. 37. And this was his witnesse and his Messengers witnesse That he was the Light of the world and That this is the true light which hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world Ioh. 8. 12. Ioh. 1. 9. And this contrary testimony which is brought forth is this That it is the spirit of man that is the light which hath enlightned every man and so going about to prove the spirit of man not to be sufficient under this would destroy the sufficiency of the light of Christ But the Scriptures never did give testimony that the spirit of man was the light of the world neither did we ever say that this light was the spirit of every man nor a natural light And therefore this man which hath writ a Volume in proving a natural light or mans reason insufficient let all people take notice what he contradicts or disproves by it he doth not by it contradict nor disprove any thing that we have said for we never did affirm that mans reason was the light but he hath laboured to contradict himself He hath set up an Image and then glories in breaking of it down from our words draws a false inference and glories in confounding it And this is the general course of our opposers to raise a false proposition or conclusion from their own imaginations and then contradict it and then cry The Quakers contradicted or confuted and their Doctrine disproved and they irrecoverably slain and many such cryes is gone forth in the world among people like the noise of many waters To which I answer Nay they are not of such a birth that they are so easily slain nor of such a Doctrine that they are so easily disproved for the immortal birth is brought forth unto which God hath given wisdom and understanding to be as wise as Serpents and in their innocency is their wisdom brought forth which Seed inheriteth the strength of the Almighty so though they be permitted to fight and contend against the truth yet to prevail is not given them Therefore in vain is the Net spread in the sight of any Bird and in vain do they exercise their strength against the Lords annointed for this which they have brought forth is but as setting of bryars and thorns in battel against the Lord or as if the untimely birth should strive against that birth which is brought forth without deformity to slay it as those in former ages who were wiser in their generation then the children of light sought to slay the Heir that the Inheritance might be theirs In like manner do men now also rise up against the life of the same Seed which is risen in the hearts of the children of men to slay it that so they may professe the Scriptures in their high swelling words of vanity having mens persons in admiration because of advantage for if this Seed doth live which the Lord hath not onely brought to the birth but also brought forth it will stop that profession which stands in the hypocrisie and will quench that violence of fire in which that zeal flames out which is not according to knowledge But the Seed is risen which inherits the strength of the Almighty which can bear all things and suffer all things and will come to reign over all gainsayers for all the high swelling words of vanity shall come to nought and truth shall be exalted over all in the power of the eternal Spirit when blacknesse of darkness will cover all those spirits which have spent their strength against the appearance and manifestation of truth and those that now boast themselves in their presumption against the servants of the Lord and testimony of truth Shall come to be a servant of servants even to the least in the kingdom of God before they have right unto that which they now profess