Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	able_a	salvation_n	wise_a	5,460	5	6.2694	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96978	Testimony for the son of man and against the son of perdition wherein is set forth the faith and obedience of Gods elect, testified by the mouth of the Lord, angels & men. With a true discovery of a bundle of equivocations, confusions, and hyprocisies, in those who call themselves preachers of, and to the light within all men; who yet are so far in darkness themselves, that they acknowledge not the scriptures and ordinances of Jesus Christ, so as to be directed by the one, to the obedience of the other. By Joseph Wright, a servant of Jesus Christ.	Wright, Joseph, 1623-1703.	1661 (1661)	Wing W3706; ESTC R229892	108,801	255

with thee by way of Concession in putting the case that all this which thou sayest were so and that thou went beyond all others in every one of these five Particulars yet notwithstanding thy Way and Practice is a manifest falshood as shall be made evident in that which followeth Sect. 6 For first suppose that thou in Bodily Habit didest neglect thy self as much as the A Concession and Answer to the first Proof Romish Fryers or the Hermite before spoken of Art thou ere the more in the Truth for that it is apparent that both They and Thee notwithstanding this Humility in shew are great Adversaries to the Truth of the Gospel and that we may know that this shew of Humility in neglect of the Body is no sufficient Proof for this purpose the Scriptures of Truth do warn us of a sort of false Worshipers who worship Angels and walk after the Commandements of men being vainly puft up in their fleshly Minds who hold not the Head Christ Jesus by subjecting to his Ordinances yet are subject to the Ordinances of men touch not tast not handle not which things saith the Apostle indeed have a shew of Wisdom in Will-Worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body not in any Honour to the satisfying of the Flesh Col. 2. 18 19 21 22 23. Oh what a Glorious shew of Wisdom is there in Will-Worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body but alass what benefit is in all this for when this comes to be tryed it is found to be but the Wisdom of this World which is Earthly Sensual and Devilish James 3. 15. And is not the Worship of those that call themselves followers of the Light within the Worship of Angels that is of Devils while they disobey that which God hath shewed them in the Scriptures of Truth and intrude into such things which are not to be found there Where is there such a thing to be found in all the Record that God hath given of his Son that all men ought not to look into and be guided by the Scriptures of Truth but that all men ought to look into and be guided by the so called Light which is within them Oh the vanity of that fleshly and puffed up Mind that hath been the Author of this Intrusion and Doctrine of Devils so directly contrary to the Doctrine of the Holy Prophets Apostles and of Christ Himself the greatest of them all who requires us to hearken to the Word of the Lord expressed in the Law and in the Testimony to take heed unto the most sure Word of the Prophets 2 Pet. 1. 19. to searth the Scriptures which are able to make us wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3. 15. Therefore although thou art outwardly more humble than any other that is no confirmation that thou art in the Truth but in the Falshood rather while thy Doctrine is so directly contrary to the Word of Truth And thus thy pretended proof of thy Humility lies dead and will not do the service for which it is brought Sect. 7 But Secondly Suppose that thou art in A Concession and Answer to the second Proof Vnity and all others are in Differences yet this doth not prove that therefore thou art in the Truth for first although the Devil endeavours to break the Peace of the Saints by sowing Discord among the Brethren because he knows that their Unity will be the ruine of his Kingdom and although sometimes through his Temptations many turn aside from the Truth yet notwithstanding the Lord owns the rest as his People that stand fast in it to those few Names in Sardis which did not defile their Garments it is promised That they shall walk with the Lord in White Rev. 3. 4. notwithstanding the polluted estate of the rest Although there was Divisions among the Disciples of Christ yet they were his Disciples and the Lord useth means to unite them to the Truth that are turning aside after Error before he utterly rejecteth them and when he doth punish the Transgressors he spareth the Obedient as is to be seen in the case of the seven Churches of Asia Rev. ch 2. and 3. So that although Divisions may appear among the Professors of the Faith of Christ it is not safe from thence to conclude that none of those Professors are in the Truth Shall we condemn all Professors because some walk contrary to their Profession Shall we condemn all the Angels of God because some of them did not keep their first estate but left their own Habitations Jude vers 6. Thus it is clear that Divisions amongst Brethren do not warrant an Universal Sentence upon them But Secondly Unity is no absolute estimony of Verity for the Prophets of Ahab spake with one consent there was no Division amongst them although they were four hundred they all agreed together to bid Ahab go up and prosper though it proved his destruction 1 Kings 22. 6 11 12 13. one Micaiah that differed from them all his words was true being the Words of the Lord and their words was false being the inspiration of Satan If ye then the Preachers up of the so called Light within are in Unity your Unity arising from a lying spirit which is in all your mouths we can conclude your condition to be no better then Ahabs and his Prophets and as the Lord permitted that lying spirit to be in the mouths of all Ahabs Prophets to intice him because he had so exceedingly sinned against the Lord by rejecting his Counsel to go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead even so hath the Lord sent or permitted a lying spirit to be in all your mouths that you may intice all them that do reject the Counsel of God which is written in the new Testament to go on and fall and be snared taken and destroyed as it is written 2 Thes 2. 11. 12. For this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a Lie that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness It is therefore apparent that unity is not a sure proof of verity Those that are said to have one mind Revel 18. 13. to what end is it but to give their Power and strength to the Beast c. Those that Christ invited to his Marriage Supper Luke 14. 18. They all with one consent began to make excuse This Argument therefore being but a Popish Fig-leaf is utterly invalid But Sect. 8 Thirdly suppose thou destroy the Whore more then any other of her opposers and that by perswading her children to leave her A Concession and Answer to the third Proof and to follow after thee yet notwithstanding thou art not therefore in the Truth for many of the Adversaries of the Whore are enemies to the Gospel of Christ though the great City be divided into three parts yet it is great Babel still Revel 16. 19. and though the ten

that they had both touched and felt him and yet found no vertue come out of him No marvel therefore that the Scriptures seems to be lifeless and a dead Letter to such whose Faith is dead to them it is no wonder that the Scriptures do not enlighen them that go about to destroy them or in Christ himself while they were kiling him they found little excellency And why were some refreshed even by the touching of Christs Garment and others that ●ouched his Body felt no benefit Was it not because the one came to him with a Hand of Faith and Love owning him ●o be the Son of God and the other came with wicked hands to crucifie and slay him because they denyed him to be the Christ And wherefore is it that some find wonderful comfort in the Scriptures and are thereby made wise unto Salvation Is it not because they come with humble and believing Hearts to them But they must needs be a dead Letter to such whose Faith and Affections is quite dead to them Sect. 5 But to make a further manifestation of the Divine Authoriiy of the Scriptures I will lay down these following Considerations to prove the Scriptures to be an infallible Teacher of the Doctrine of Salvation First Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this world ●hat can name a Work of Righteousnesse which as an Act Deed or Duty of Righ●eousnesse ought to be observed by the Sons of men which the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament do not make mention of fairly discover and fully comprehend Therefore the Scripture is an Infallible Teacher of the Doctrine of Salvation 2. Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this world that can name a work of wickednesse which as an Act or Deed of wickednesse ought not to be done by any of the Sons of men which the Scriptures do not most severely forbid upon pain of the greatest Punishments to be inflicted on them that persist therein Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 3. Because there is no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man in this World that can declare any Promise either of Peace or Happinesse which as a Promise from the True God ought to be embraced by the Son● of men which the Scriptures of the Old and new Testament do not make mention of and very fairly and fully declare Therefore the Scriptures are an infallible Teacher c. 4. Because there is no man nor Spirit or Light within any Man in this world that can declare any Punishment which God wil inflict upon sinners for their disobedience which the Scripture speaketh not of and very fully declares Therefore the Scriptures are an infallible Teacher c. 5. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove any act or deed which the Scripture calls an act of Righteousness to be an act or deed of Wickedness Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 6. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man can prove any act or deed which the Scriptures call an act of Wickedness to be an act or deed of Righteousness Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 7. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove any Promise which is made in Scripture to be false or that it shall not be made good according to the condition thereof to those to whom it is made Therefore the Scripture is an infallible Teacher c. 8. Because no Man nor Spirit or Light within any man c. can prove that any of the Threatnings expressed in the Scriptures against the workers of iniquity are either unreasonable or false or that they are not according to the minde of God or shall not come to pass Therefore the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are an infallible Teacher c. The Word of God therefore expressed in the Scriptures of Truth concerning his Commandments his Promises his threatings is very far in Authority and clearness beyond any Spirit or Light in any mortal man in the world therefore I conclude they are above all mens books words or Doctrine an infallible Teacher such as are able to make wise unto Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus being given by inspiration of God and are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Search the Scriptures therefore saith the Lord Jesus Christ for they are they which testifie of me Joh. 5. 39. To the Law and to the Testimony saith the Prophet if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them Isai 10. 20. Sect. 6 To the foregoing grounds I will add two other whereby the Light and power of the Doctrine of the Scriptures is further manifested and so conclude The first of which is taken from Ephes 5 13. Whatsoever saith the Apostle doth make manifest is Light now the Scriptures doth make manifest the mystery which was kept secret since the world began which according to the Commandment of the everlasting God is by the Doctrine of the Apostles made known to all Nations for the obedience of faith therefore according to Pauls Doctrine the Scripture is Light for by it is the way of Salvation manifest See Rom. 16. 25 26. Rom 15 4 2 Pet. 3. 1 2. The Apostle Peter also teacheth the same Doctrine for after he had declared what they which were with Christ in the Mount had seen and heard he tells us that we have a more sure word of prophesie or of the Prophets whereunto ye do well saith he that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in our hearts that is as hath been already shewed until the Resurrection of the dead and coming of Christ from heaven with his mighty Angels c. Now we know that a shining Light in a dark place is of great use of such concernment is the Doctrine of the Scriptures as the Prophet Teacheth The Commandment of the Lord is pure saith the Prophet Enlightening the eyes Psal 19. 8 9. Thy word is a Lamp unto my feet saith he and a light unto my paths Oh! of what blessed concernment are the Scriptures of Truth to direct in the way of the Lord unto which sure word of Prophecie or of the Prophets and Apostles of Jesus Christ we shall do well if we take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place remembring this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit They are not therefore of private or particular interpretation as though

laps as that spirit which you call the Light within hath caused some little Children to do where some of you have been present Sect. 17 But that an evil spirit is your familiar which also you communicate to such as adhere to your Doctrine shall be yet further manifested in several particulars First that humming blowing and hollow sighing proceeding from the bottom of your bellies from whence is it but from the evil spirit that hath there his residence for as the Hebrew word that signifies familiar spirit doth also signifie bottles to intimate that they which have familiar spirits do speak as it were throug● bottles So some of you have had a voyce speaking to them from the hollow or bottom of their bellies which is no other than the voyce of the evil spirit and indeed by what else are you inabled at your meetings when you have nothing to say but by a spirit that comes into some of you by which ye are made able to speak 2 or 3. hours and then when ye have done are as empty again as if no such thing had been and so by the said spirits going out of one into another those things are performed which you ascribe to the Light within all men and as it hath been said by some of your selves Life goes to Life Life goes to Life So it is manifest that by the assistance of that spirit that comes from one and goes to another and not by the Light within all men are you inabled to do those things ye do and that hollow humming sighing and speaking is not from the Light within all men nor from the Light within your selves but from the spirit of darkness which you have received and are his instruments to help others to receive For Secondly Your silent meetings of Meditation or muttering is the direct practice of such as have familiar spirits as the Prophet teacheth Isai 8. 19. For the word translated Mutter signifies a silent Meditation or muttering as they that understand the Hebrew word do observe To what end therefore are your silent Meetings of Meditations or Mutterings but for the Communicating your unclean spirit for never did any of the Churches of Christ or servants of the living God hold Meetings of silence to meet and speak not one word to one another is such a practice of which there is not any example in the Word of God but even the contrary is found there for it is written They that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it c. Mal. 3. 16. So that it is certain that the Practice of silent Meetings is contrary to the Practice of the People of God in all ages Therefore the Scripture Isai 8. 19. is worth thy further consideration as it is there written When they shall say unto you Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto Wizards that peepe and that mutter Should not a People seek unto their God for the living to the dead Now the Spirit of God upon this accompt gives warning and instruction in the very next words vers 20. saying To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them Now let them shew if they are able that either the Law or Testimony of Christ speaketh any thing to the Justification of their doings their silent Meetings of Meditations or Mutterings their slighting the Word of God the Scriptures of Truth setting up their own Traditions under the name of the Light within for what ever they boast of Light Light here is an obsolute sentence upon them that there is no light in them Oh that all that hear might fear and not persist with them to their own destruction When men and Satan enter into Covenant when men hold Meetings to carry on his design to publish his Doctrine to communicate his Spirit Oh my Soul come not thou into their secrets unto their Assembly mine Honour be not thou united Gen. 49. 6. for they reject with the Pharisees and Papists the Counsel of God and set up their own unwritten Traditions they are gone a side after Satan whose Doctrine they publish and whose unclean spirit they hold assemblies in silence to communicate But Thirdly It is further manifest even by the confession of some of your own Prophets and Proselytes who are and have been owned by you as in your Ministry and of your way that an evil spirit is by you communicated as for instance There came a spirit into one of you as he was going to reprove another which did roar and make such a terrible noise in his belly that one might have heard it near a furlong from him the which he himself did confesse to be the Devil Another and one that is as a brand pluckt out of the fire did testifie before many witnesses that when he did joyn with those that preach up the Light within a spirit came into him which did make him quake and tremble so exceedingly that he thought it would have tore him in pieces which the Spectators were so afraid to behold that they called in several other persons to help hold him in his Bed which they had much ado to perform the Bed on which he lay did shake so exceedingly which violence was the motion of the evil spirit with which his own Spirit did not consent Another who is now bodily destroyed did confess a little before her death that there did a spirit speak in the bottom of her Belly with a vocal voice to the hearing of the outward ear and bad her go and leave her Kindred and House and all therein and Preach where it would have her and it would reward her three-fold c. The said party within a very little time after was found dead in a Furrow of Water And thus a dear Friend of mine was deluded and by your means destroyed which I cannot forget while I remember my self Sect. 18 But I will conclude this Chapter with the story of the sad pranks the Devil played in one that thought himself perfect who had been a great Preacher of to the so called Light within such a one that was concluded both by himself others to have attaired to the state of Perfection for several years past the said party being at a great Meeting of those that are called Preachers and followers of the Light within c. When they with such others as came to hear and himself also expected that he should have been the Teacher of the rest to have shewed them the way to the state of perfection yet so it was that a spirit entred into him as he sate behind the Table which did cause his Feet to fasten to the frame of the Table whereon he had set them and did cause his knees to clap together and there to stay and his arms to lock together and so to abide it did cause his mouth to shut his

this Chapter it is manifest that those thy main grounds viz. Thy Humility Thy Unity Thy destroying the Whore Thy discerning Secrets and Thy Sufferings are utterly insufficient though supposed to prove that the Preachers up of the so called Light within are in the Truth yea by that way which thou hast taken to justifie thine own way and to disparage the Faith and Obedience of the People of God thine own falshood rottennesse and deceit is discovered So that into the pit which thou hast digged for others thou art fallen thy self the snare which ye have spread for others hath caught your selves by the heels CHAP. V. That the Preachers up of the so called Light within do deny the Doctrine of the Scriptures to be the Word of God that although Christ is truly called the Word of God yet the Doctrine of the Scriptures is truly so to be called and accounted That it is very dangerous to add to or take from the Scriptures That those that contemn the Doctrine of the Scriptures of Truth do despise Jesus Christ and God the Father The reason why such as despise the Scriptures find no more vertue in them Eight Considerations to prove the Doctrin of the Scriptures to be the Word of God and an infalliable Teacher Two other grounds to prove the former conclusion the first taken from the Light which is in the Scriptures the latter from the powerful operation of the Doctrine thereof upon the hearts of Believers Sect. 1 BUt if the Preachers up of the so called Light within were able to justifie their way and Practice by the Scriptures it is likely they would endeavour so to do but being unable thereby to carry on their design they endeavour by such like Arguments as are used by the Popish Synagogue to justifie themselves as we have heard and that they may proceed with the greater security they deny the Doctrine of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament commonly called the Bible to be the Word of God for the discovery therefore of their wickednesse herein and for the vindicating the Blessed Doctrine of Salvation contained in the Scriptures that which here followeth is intended to conclude this work For first That thou that preachest up the so called Light within c. dost deny the Doctrine which is contained in that Book called the Bible to be the Word of God appears by thy reproachful language concerning it yea in words at length ye do familliarly deny it to be the Word of God one of you laying that Bible upon the ground and setting his feet upon it said If this be the Word of God why doth it not stir and speak Thus ye delight to abuse the Scriptures and because ye can so do therefore ye conclude they are not the Word of God and being lifted up with Pride and filled with Rage against the Word of God expressed in the Scriptures of Truth ye call all such Carnal as give them that Title giving this reason for your so doing viz. Because the Scripture saith Christ is the Word of God and therefore ye conclude the Scripture is not the Word of God c. And to colour over your deceit ye alledge a sentence of Scripture and presently declare a falsehood saying The Word of God is quick and Powerful which is true but the Scripture is a dead Letter which is false thus ye fume out disdain against the Scriptures and against those that acknowledge them to be the Word of God and a word of Power to them which do believe But Secondly That I may make thy ignorance with thy enmity unto the Scriptures manifest I shall undertake by Divine assistance to prove them to be the Word of God and an infallible Teacher to them which do believe for although the Scripture doth say that Christ is the Word of God yet it doth also affirm that his Commandment contained in the Scriptures is the Word of God and as I did never deny the former since I was instructed in the Doctrine of the Scriptures so I do affirm that whosoever doth own the Scriptures to be the Word of God doth not deny that Christ is the Word of God neither can such a thing be layed to their charge without doing great injury to them but I say as it is true that Christ is the Word of God as the Scripture saith Revel 19. 13. So it is as true that the Scripture is the Word of God as Christ saith Mark 7. 13. Sect. 2 It might therefore well be concluded that they which are so curious as to make a distinction betwixt the words you and thou may as well be able if they be not wilfully or maliciously blind to make an acknowledgement of the Word of God as it is given forth in the Scriptures and the Word of God as it is Essentially in Christ Are the Precepts Promises and Threatnings which are a main part of the Scriptures and were the Word of God before they were written in the Scriptures I say are they the less the Word of God because they are written in the Scriptures Is not the Truth expressed in the Scriptures eternal and uncorruptible because the Ink and Paper is subject to alteration Shall we think so of the Truth therein expressed God forbid And what less then an Almighty hand hath preserved that Book viz. the Bible unto this present hour notwithstanding all the rage and fury of the Devll and his instruments against it who now being unable to suppresse it by force have devised this deceitful Doctrine viz. To teach all men to hearken to the Light within them thereby to turn away their minds from the Doctrine of the Scriptures Concerning therefore the Purity and Eternity of the Doctrine of Salvation expressed in the Scriptures the Scripture doth give ample Testimony in many places The Words of the Lord saith David are pure words as silver tryed in a Furnace of earth purified seven times Psal 12. 6. Every Word of God saith Solomon is Pure he is a shield to them that put their trust in him Prov. 3. 5. The entrance of thy words saith David giveth Light it giveth understanding to the simple Psal 119. 130. Heaven and Earth saith Christ shall passe away but my Words shall not passe away Mat. 24. 35. Whosoever therefore saith he shall be ashamed of me and of my words of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Father with the holy Angels Mark 8. 38. Therefore said Peter unto the Lord when Jesus said unto the Twelve Will ye also go away Lord saith he to whom shall we go Thou hast the Words of Eternall Life and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God John 6. 67 68 69. Thus is the Purity and Eternity of the Truth expressed in the Scriptures vindicated yea it will be found to be so unchangeable that those that now despise it shall lie under the punishment therein