Selected quad for the lemma: love_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A65980
|
Antichrist's strongest hold overturned, or, The foundation of the religion of the people called Quakers bared and razed in a debate had with some of them in the castle at Lancaster and in an additional account of the light within ..., here also is shewed the occasion of their rise and growth, together with the right way of discovering their secret delusions ..., hereunto is annexed an appendix wherein their evil language is discovered ... / all which is published ... by J.W.
|
Wigan, John.
|
1651
(1651)
|
Wing W2096; ESTC R30213
|
71,934
|
77
|
made flesh as ver 14. or as the Word is God manifest in the flesh as 1 Tim. 3. 16. or as the Word is in union with the humane nature according to his name Emmanuel Matth. 1. 23. Let the impartial and unprejudiced Reader consider what is said in every verse and I doubt not but he will finde it according to the report given as in the 2 verse it is said The same was in the beginning that is the same Word God distinct from the humanity and so it is in the verse following As in the 3. verse All things were made by him that is by the Word God in the 4. verse In him was life and the life was the light of men That is God the Word the Creator who gives life and light to all men according to that in Acts 17. 28 29. In him we live move and have our being and we are all his off-spring in the 5. verse And the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not That is The Word God as it is explained in the 10. verse He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not Though the Word the Creator shined as light in the world and was not far from every one of us as the Apostle speaks Acts 17. 27. and had set up a Candle in them whereby the eternal power and Godhead might be known by the things that were made yet such was the darkness of men that they did not comprehend and acknowledge him In the 7. and 8. verses it 's said John was sent to bear witness of that light that is of the Word God to wit that God the Word was come to manifest himself in the flesh he bare witness that the light which was in the world and by whom the world was made and whom the world knew not was now come to appear in the flesh It 's true that John also bare witness of Christ in both natures as when the Word was made flesh verse 14. it 's said in the 15. verse John bare witness of him and afterward when he saw Jesus coming unto him he saith Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world verse 29. Where he speaks of him as the Word made flesh and Tabernacled amongst us But in the verses before mentioned he onely asserts and proves his Divinity In like manner are we to understand the 9 verse That was the true light that is the Word God the Creator and former of all things Isa 40. 28. was to wit in the beginning for thither the Verb in the Original in every verse doth carry us the true light not a borrowed or derived light but the fountain and original of all light according to that Scripture 1 Joh. 1. 5. God is light and in him is no darkness at all This I say is proper to the Creator who is the fountain of Life and Light to all beings according to their capacities whereas Christ as Mediator deriveth Light from the Father as he doth Life and Subsistance as he himself doth witness Joh. 6. 57. I live by the Father c. And thus we see who this true light is Viz. The Word God And hence it may be that the word Christ is not once named in any of the first 9. verses of the first of John but only the Word 2. How doth he lighten every man that cometh into the World The Word God or God the Word as Creator of all things doth lighten every man that cometh into the world by setting up in every man a Spirit by which he lives which is called the Candle of the Lord Prov. 20. 27. and by writing a Law in his heart of which Spirit and Law I have spoken before This is a true and faithful account of the Light that Lightens every man But doth not Christ say expresly Joh. 8. 12. I am the light of the World and is not the Word and the true light of whom John bare witness Christ That the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World is the Word as such I have already proved And further I say according to Joh. 1. 14. That the Word was made flesh and tabernacled amongst men and they beheld his glory the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father and being imbodied in flesh he is thenceforth and so considered called Christ the Lord or the Lords Christ Luke 2. 11 26. For unto us in born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lords Christ And no otherwise doth he bear that name but as he is the Word made flesh to be seen and beleeved on it is not the Word alone nor the flesh alone but the Word and flesh in union that is called Christ Joh. 1. 41. We have found the Messias which is being interpreted the Christ And is a light to lighten the Gentiles Luk. 2. 26 32. And it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lords Christ A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel Till then there was no such thing as a Christ or a light to the Gentiles but only in a promise The Word being thus made flesh manifested and seen 1. Joh. 1. 2. brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel by his appearing 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel Now that purpose of grace and love which was in the Fathers bosom before the world began which was promised Gen. 3. 15. The seed of the woman shall break the head of the serpent and from that time believed and expected by all the faithful appears by this manifestation of God in the flesh Tit. 2. 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared And 3. 4. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared c. And thus is Christ said to come a light into the world not to lighten every man that comes into the world but onely those that believe on him according to that testimony Joh. 12. 46. I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness This also is that light mentioned Joh. 3. 19. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather then light And Joh. 8. 12. I am the light of the world c. This Word made flesh is
it till their Corner-stone and mine be so thorowly tryed that it may evidently appear whether of them is the true Rock Christ Jesus And whereas I said in my paper that I was willing and ready again to debate the point in controversie with Geo. Fox or any of his friends before the high Sheriff or any in the commission of peace if they should require us to come forth for that end Let not George think to shuffle himself out and put the task upon others for he must know that in as much as it is affirmed that he was called of the Lord from his trade as the Apostles were my desire is in this matter chiefly to deal with him and such others that say they were Apostles that their doctrine and deeds being brought to light it may be clearly known whether they be true Apostles indeed or false who preach another Jesus and Gospel then Paul did as I have great cause to suspect them and doubt not to prove them to be if they adhere to the principles which are laid down by them in their printed books and asserted and maintained in our late debate And lest it should be thought that these Mechanicks are mentioned with contempt as if none such were or could be usefull labourers in the Lords vineyard I do here seriously profess that any truth declared by such a one being sent is as precious to me as coming from any other man And there are at this day persons well known to me of several occupations under a special anointing who being sent are successfull labourers in the work of the Gospel and whom I highly esteem for their works sake But as the Lord approveth not so neither can I own preachers who are not sent Jer. 23. 32. Rom. 10. 15. but do creep privily into the work and run unsent Jude 4. Jer. 14. 14. Nor can I bid them God speed who bring not the doctrine of Christ nor preach the same Jesus and Gospel that Paul did but speak perverse things Acts â—o 30. bringing in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2. 1. For though such as these may say and others may think that they are Apostles when they are not and for the greater confirmation of their erroneous Doctrines may boast of gifts as some have said to me that George Fox had the gifts of Tongues and to others it hath bin said he could speak above thirty Languages And by this and such like plausible pretences they may insinuate themselves into many and gain a multitude of followers which is one certain character of Antichrists last coming that many shall follow his pernitious wayes Matth. 24. 5. 2. Pet. 2. 2. Yet when they are tryeâ— they will be found lyars Rev. 2. 2. In the Interim I have one request to leave with the sober Reader Viz. That he will seriously and impartially resolve in himself these following Queries 1. Whereas it can be found in all the Scriptures that any of the true Prophets or Christ or his Apostles ever used such language as is before mentioned to any person professing Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ or whether it be not clearly the fruit of an Antichristian spirit as hath bin hinted 2. Whether there can be any other aym in the aforesaid censures then to cast an odium upon and to cause a disesteem of the person opposing them And whether this was not the practice of the false Prophets and false Apostles of old thereby to gain more credit to their own cause 3. Whether it be not a manifest abuse of the Scriptures and a presumptuous intruding into the office of Christ positively to affirm that the sins of any man shall never be forgiven in this world nor in that which is to come meerly because he denies that light that is in every man that comes into the world to be saving In as much as the Scripture no where saith that that light is saving 4. Whether do not this people censure all the men and women in the world as well as the Author of these papers to be out of the first step that leads to Christianity to be infidels and to be accursed if they deny the light that is in every man that comes into the world to be saving And whether is not this asmuch as to say that they only and none besides themselves are Christians And whether is not this a great appearance of pride in them thus highly to extol themselves above all others 5. And whether are not all these censures directly contrary to the Scriptures and such as make them lyable to greater Judgment Matt. â—â— 2. Jam. 3. 1 2. 6. Whether do not these clamours and evil speakings for which there is no Scriptural warrant manifestly slow from bitterness anger â—rath malice as the Apostle intimates Eph. 4. 31. 7. Whether any wise experienced Christian can judge this people to be in a perfect sinless estate who appear with these open sinful revilings cursings judgings in their mouthes Nay-since they boast and glory in this their shame Whether is it not evident that they are servants of Corruption 8. Whether this hath not bin their manner all along to strive to overcome with these carnal weapons threatenings censurings cursings revilings c. And since no spiritual weapon is yet employed in the management of their cause whether have not all persons just cause to suspect tâ—â— badness of it and that as the weapons are carnal and devilish so is their cause supported thereby 9. Whether it be not abominable wickedness to father all their evil speeches upon the Holy Ghost and to say when they curse rayle revile speak falsly and frothily that it is by his inspiration and command 10. Whether can any man rationally conclude that these people beare any true love to that person whom they judge to be an enemy of God and â—â—cursed and whose sins shall never be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Or rather when they profess love and say they desire his eternal welfare is not there just ground to believe that they speak lyes in Hypocrisie as it 's said Apostates should do in the later times 1 Tim. 4. 2. 〈◊〉 11. Do they not plainly discover a persecuting spirit in the forementioned revilings and may not any man in reason conclude that whom they judge an enemy of God and accursed they would use as such if they had power 12. Lastly I leave it to be considered by such as will take the paines to read the account which I have given of the light within whether they do not speak all this evil of me merely because I have told them the truth and not for any other cause c. By that time thou hast well considered these Queries and by the resolution of them hast gained a better understanding of this people â—â—robable if providence intermit not another sheet may be preâ—â—ted to thy