now to expect a Revelation of all Truths necessary to salvation by the immediate objective teachings of Gods Spirit It is not for us to expect and promise our selves or others this if the Lord hath no where promised it Can it be proved when Christ saith The Spirit shall lead you into all truth that this is to be understood without means without the Scripture When God saith They shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me The sense is they shall not teach as the unconverted are to be taught who believe not who have no saving knowledge of God at all So they who have received the anointing need not as doubting and unbelieving persons that any teach them that Jesus is the Christ Can it be proved that the words are to be understood in that sense as to exclude the Ministry from edifying the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith This Assertion That God is pleased objectively and immediately by his Spirit to reveal to all men or to his own people at least all Truths and all Duty necessary to Salvation so that they need not mind the Scripture but only wait for these immediate objective Teachings is the Wile of Satan whereby evil men take people off from what they acknowledge the full and the only Rule to lead them into a thousand Errours I prove it an Errour by these Arguments following Arg. 1. God hath promised that in order to his peoples instruction in matters necessary to Salvation his Word shall concur with his Spirit to the end of the world Therefore 't is not his pleasure to teach his people these necessary Truths immediately or without the word much less to teach all men The promise we have Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy Seed nor out of the mouth of thy Seeds Seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Arg. 2. God never from the beginning of the world to the Apostles days so taught his Church much less all men Therefore 't is without reason to imagine he doth so now Not in Innocency for the Moral Law he taught Adam by that Light he was created with which Moral Law contained necessary Truths to his Salvation In Moses's days though he himself was so taught yet none else the Church was taught mediately by Moses his Ministry In the Apostles days the Church was taught by their Ministry The Apostles themselves had immediate Revelation the Prophets also but 1 Cor. 12.29 Are all Apostles Are all Prophets Arg. 3. Excepting Moses there cannot a man be shewn to whom God by immediate Revelation discovered all Duties necessary to Salvation Paul might seem the most likely but though the Gospel was so manifested to him yet not the Law this was partly by the Law of Nature partly by the consideration of the works of Creation especially by the Scriptures How fond is the Conceit then that the whole Church should now be so taught Arg. 4. Had it been Gods purpose in Gospel times to teach all men nay to teach his whole Church immediately all their Duty then would he not have provided for this end Scriptures inspiring his word into Holy men and moving them to write it and enduing them with the Spirit of Prophesie and the Spirit of Miracles to render them credible that without hesitancy his Church might embrace the word wrote by them for the undoubted Truth of God Had this been Gods pleasure he would not have appointed a Ministry and that to continue to the end of the world for this very end to instruct his Church in those Truths that are necessary to Salvation Go preach saith Christ I am with you always to the end of the world And he gave some Apostles some Pastors and Teachers for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come into the unity of Faith Did God provide Scripture and appoint Ministers with an intent not to use them but to do all immediately by his Spirit without them When God gives Means he doth not ordinarily work without means but by them It is worth observation where the Scripture and Ministry are vouchsafed the Heathen attain only to know Moral Duties nothing of Christ Is it not because God concurs to teach them with the means they have the Law of Nature but doth not supply the want of means they have not to teach them immediately Jesus Christ Where therefore he hath given Scriptures and the Ministry he doth not ordinarily teach without them Men may as well expect God should ordinarily preserve life and strength without Bread Arg. 5. Immediate teachings were extraordinary things Therefore not to be expected by all men nor ordinarily and for continuance by the Church Look on them in Abraham in Moses in Samuel or any of the Prophets they were extraordinary Those persons chosen above any for God thus to reveal himself to The Revelation at certain times only 1 Sam. 3. The Lord called Samuel and to him denounced Judgment upon Elies House It was so extraordinary that all Israel v. 20. from Dan to Beersheba took notice of it and hereby knew that Samuel was established a Prophet of the Lord. And v. 21. It is said God appeared to him again in Shiloh This was no ordinary thing Daniel's and Ezekiel's Visions no ordinary things nor were Joseph's and Nebuchadnezzar's and Pharaoh's Dreams nor John's Revelation Every one nay every Believer must not look that the Sun should stand still at his Prayers or the Sea be driven back for him This were to confound ordinary with extraordinary Arg. 6. He that is by the Spirit immediately taught the Gospel can say I received it not of man neither was I taught it but by Revelation of the Holy Ghost But every Believer cannot say so Therefore every Believer is not immediately taught the Gospel Arg. 7. If immediate teaching be a sufficient Rule to Heaven then Believers need not hear the Word or read the Scriptures But God commanding Believers Be swift to hear Remember the Law of Moses my Servant Vnto the word of Prophesie ye do well to attend Thou shalt read Deut. 17.10 puts them not upon a needless duty Arg. 8. If every Believer hath immediate teachings then every one of them can write Gods mind as infallibly as the Pen-men of the Scripture Then every believer may add to the Scripture and enlarge the Churches Canon Whereas Heb. 1.1 God did deliver the Churches Canon by parts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but now by his Son which opposed to the former discovers the whole Canon is by Christ delivered no more parts that may be added are now to be expected Arg. 9 They that hold this must either say
contrary to Scripture for what is contrary to Truth is Errour Yea we may safely reject as to Faith and Conversation what is beside the Scripture for what is more than our full Rule is more than what is needful is vain Mark 7.7 In vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrine the Traditions of men Col. 2.18 Beware lest any spoil you through Philosophy or vain deceit after the traditions of men after the Rudiments of the world and not after Christ Therefore the Scriptures are a safe trying Rule Can so much be said for the Light in every man that we may safely try by this in all cases 1. Can that which is scanty discovering but a small part of Gods Will suffice to try in all Cases 2. Can that which Christ calls Darkness that which is fallible it self keep us from being deceived 3. Can that readily give us satisfaction in all doubtful cases which it self is oft to seek Looking within all that we can see when we are in doubt of a thing is a Dictate Inclination or Consideration for it and another against it Now we are to see and need another Rule to try which of these comes from our Light which from our Darkness Whereas every direction of Scripture is sure and needs not be tried Having our Rule to seek we are like to have our satisfaction to seek also 4. If this be a trying Rule then a man may do whatsoever is right in his own eyes Then publishing Heresie to infect others is no sin nor to be punished by God or man as long as the person doth it according to his Light within No nor Drunkenness nor Whoredom nor Theft nor Self-Murder by fasting supposing the Light within puts any upon it And it hath been proved the Light within may approve of sin as it did of Persecution in Saul 5. If this be the trying Rule then it follows contradictory Opinions may possibly be on both sides true G. W. saith his Light tells him that the Light in every man is a sufficient and safe Rule to guide to heaven I am assured in my very Conscience and from the Scripture it is not He saith Baptism with water and the Lords Supper are no Ordinances of Christ now binding the Church I am assured from all the Light within me and from the Scriptures that they are If what he speaks be according to his Light indeed as what I speak is according to mine then it follows we do both hold Truth whilst we contradict one another for whatsoever agrees with the trying Rule is Truth Obj. p. 18. He that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Ans If he had proved that the Scripture speaks here of the Light in every man he had done something vers 19. This is the condemnation saith Christ that Light is come into the world and men love Darkness Christ speaks of a more full Gospel-light which was then come into the world and not before whereas the Light in every man was in the world ever since men were in the world And we know what Christ calls darkness The sense then is this Gospel-light shines now more than before and at this day in the Holy Scriptures but men follow the dictates of their dark Understandin their Light within even their own apprehensions rejecting Gospel-light This is the Condemnation 5. I assert the Scriptures are a Binding Rule and that in those things which the light in every man doth not of it self teach Arg. 1. The Scriptures did bind in Moses time and after to Christs and in the Apostles time even speaking of things which this Light without extraordinary Revelation cannot discover And if so still To deny that the Scripture did in these things then bind is to say it had been no sin for the Jews before Christ death To reject the whole Ceremonial Law or for the Corinthians to reject the Apostles directions touching the Lords Supper Arg. 2. If the Scripture doth not bind us in such things it will follow we are not bound to believe that the Father Son and Holy Ghost are all three one and the same God or that there shall be a Resurrection of the body that we are not bound to keep the first day of the week a Sabbath to the Lord nor to seek for Regeneration nor to repent of our Fall in Adam nor mourn for our corruption of Nature or for any first motions to sin that we are not to be Baptized or Receive the Lords Supper no nor believe in Christ at all for justification nor to embrace the Gospel consequently that the contrary is no sin for this Light of it self without supernatural Revelation teacheth us none of these things Arg. 3. Gods commands cannot want Authority must therefore needs bind us even in those things this light cannot teach But the Scriptures contein such commands Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy This is his command that we believe in his Son do this in remembrance of me Go teach all Nations Baptizing them This argument was urged in the second dispute not answered there nor since in their book Arg. 4. If we are to be saved in obeying Christ fully that is in things this light speaks nothing of as well as in other things to be damned not obeying Christ in those things this light doth not of it self require then in these things the Scriptures do certainly bind us But the former is true Ezek. 18.21 If the wicked will turn and keep all my statutes he shall surely live not only do what the Light in every man teacheth but all my Statutes Heb. 5.9 Christ is the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him and we know he hath commanded us in those things this light cannot of it self teach Jo. 12.48 He that receiveth not my word is not Do this Go baptize his word The word that I have spoken the same shall judge him at the last day Ro. 2.16 God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel The Gospel contains commands and mysteries this Light of it self cannot find out Luke 16.29 They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them The Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets taught things above the reach of this Light if men therefore will escape that place of torments they must obey the Scripture in such things as well as other 2. Thes 1.7 8. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ The Gospel still prescribes things above what this light can of it self reaveal or reach The Lord God awaken these men How fearful is it to reject the Scriptures as not binding in those things this Light cannot teach us Obj. But we must not do any thing because we see it written in the Scripture but must obey the spirit of God moving
God immediately reveals the same Truth and Duty that are contained in the Scripture or divers from these If the same this is to say God doth that of which there is no need at all because 't is done already that he doth that in an extraordinary way which he hath already done in an ordinary He feeds Israel with Manna after that they are furnished with the Corn of Canaan If divers this is to say there is another way to heaven beside that that is laid down in Scripture But it is acknowledged that Gods will laid down in Scripture is a full Rule an only Rule Arg. 10. Satan casts evil motions into us the Spirits are to be tried false Teachers to be convinced Therefore 't is false that we need not mind the Scripture but only wait for immediate teachings Having already proved Satans access to believers the Antecedent is clear The Consequent I thus make good 1. If we cleave not to the Rule given the Scripture and try by it 't is easie for Satan to prevail with us to embrace his injections for good If our first Parents in a state of perfection and knowing it was the Devils Counsel not holding to the Rule given were prevailed upon much more may we who are not always so sure 't is Satan when he is busie with us and who have not attained to Adams perfection 2. Spirits cannot so well be tried false Teachers cannot at all be convinced by immediate teachings as a Rule By the Scripture they may Two things in order hereunto are to be examined the Doctrine of the Spirits and the Lives of the Teachers Suppose then a Jew should teach the Messiah is not come pretending immediate Mission and Revelation for this G. W. to convince him tells him 't is a false Doctrine for I am sent and taught by the Spirit immediately that he is come The Jew laughs at him and tells him he is deluded G. hath no more to say But when Apollos took the Jews to task Acts 18.28 He mightily convinced them and that publickly shewing by the Scripture that Jesus was Christ Again If a man walks naked in the Market-place crying out against sin if another kills himself by Fasting if a third gives himself up to commit Fornication and all these pretend immediate Revelation their warrant it is not sufficient to their Conviction for a man to tell them I am immediately taught of God that in you these are sins The other will deride you fancy your self so taught of God but you know not the depths of the spirit as I do I am a Prophetess saith Jezebel Rev. 2.20 But Gods word written in the Scripture plainly condemning these things in all convincingly shews them odious every where and is enough to stop their mouthes that dare plead for their Lawfulness Arg. 11. I shall adde this The spirit doth not immediately reveal the whole Bible to Believers therefore he doth not reveal immediately to them all their duty For 't is their duty to believe all that is there taught to practice all that is there commanded The Scriptures a binding Rule to prove this Thus it appears immediate Revelation of our whole duty is not vouchsafed therefore have we no warrant to expect it To look for it is presumption to fancy we have it is to pride our selves in a Lye and will cause to despise the Scripture Answ 8. To refuse the teachings of Gods spirit in the Scripture unless so far as they agree with immediate teachings within cannot be safe It is to limit and tempt the Lord to impose upon him as saying thou shalt immediately teach me first or I will listen to nothing in thy Scripture According to this an Heathen coming amongst us and reading or hearing the Gospel must not entertain it because it was never immediately taught him by the spirit A Child must not obey any thing of the Scripture till it be first immediately taught him But If any shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life Rev. 22.19 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them Deut. 27.26 The Scriptures are binding Answ 9. It cannot but be very safe to attend unto and obey the Teachings of Gods Spirit in the Scriptures There is no inward Revelation can be more sure As to us the Scriptures are a more sure word of Prophecy and unto it we do well to give heed And Blessed is he that Readeth Rev. 1.3 If through the assistance of Gods Spirit with sincerity integrity constancy a man walks according to Scripture Rule he cannot possibly miss of Salvation Answ 10. The Holy Ghost will not be offended to have any of his other teachings tryed by his teachings in the Scripture This he approves in the Bereans safely may we therefore embrace what is agreeing with the Scripture safely reject what agrees not with it Gods will laid down in Scripture being the only Rule Answ 11. To make immediate teachings without tryal our Rule is to expose our selves to a thousand errors Answ 12. The teaching of Gods Spirit in the Scripture is the highest and safest Rule to heaven It is most safe to walk by this It is not safe to refuse the teaching of the Spirit in the Scripture because we find not immediate Teachings that agree therewith but very safe not to entertain immediate Teachings of the Spirit until we know they agree with Scripture because we are enjoyned to try the Spirits And now by all that hath been spoken hitherto it easily appeareth that Quakers have have no saving Rule by which they walk no sound foundation on which they build We are built on the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets laid down in Scripture This is our Rule this is our foundation here we fetch all Doctrines for our Faith hence all directions for our practice But what is their Rule their foundation If they say the Light in every man then they must fetch all their Doctrines all their directions hence But this is sand for it reveals but a small part of their duty and not a word of Christ This failing they usually fly to immediate Revelation If this be their Rule their foundation they must receive hence all Doctrine all direction necessary to salvation If they receive some only 't is but a sorry foundation they cannot build on it for full direction If they look for the knowledge of all Doctrines all Duties hence they build on a Castle in the Air a meer fancy for though God can he doth not he never did immediately teach his Church all they were to believe and practice Whether perfection that is a state free from all sin be attainable in this Life LEt the Reader consider one thing that though the Scripture speaks of perfection sometimes in this sense Heb. 12.23 The spirits of just men made perfect 1 Cor. 13.10 When that which is perfect is come Yet not
supernatural Revelation direct any to take one step towards Salvation I shall first examine whether this Light can be proved a full Rule then confirm what 's here laid down G. W. affirmed The Light in every man to be a full Rule And thus undertook to prove it Arg. 1. If it he a spiritual Light as wrought by the Spirit of God then 't is a full Rule But I had acknowledged it thus a spiritual Light Answ I do still acknowledge that if its Denomination be taken from its Efficient 't is to be called spiritual for 't is the Spirit creates Reason in us But 't is improper to take a Denomination thence Rather it should be taken from its End and Use and then because it reveals only Moral Duties it would be properly termed Moral But as to his Argument I bid him prove his Consequence he bogles and could make no work of it Then I bid the people mind what pure Argument he brought As though one should say If the stars were created by the Spirit of God they are a full light able to make it Day The Scriptures are as the Sun a full Light to guide us to Heaven The Light in every man but as a Star no full Light to travel by Arg. 2. If it convinceth of Sin Righteousness and Judgment then 't is a full Rule But so it doth Answ It convinceth not of Justifying Righteousness viz. The active and passive Obedience of Christ for it reveals not Christ at all Rep. It doth reveal Christ Proof 1. Rom. 2.14 If the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the Law then it reveals Christ Answ They may do things contained in the Law and never know Christ 'T is not the Law but the Gospel that reveals Christ Proof 2. If the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all men and teacheth to look for the appearance of our Saviour then it revealeth Christ This Grace appears by the Gospel where it comes and the Gospel teacheth to look for our Saviours appearance Prove that the Light in every man reveals this Grace or teacheth to look for the appearance of Christ He adds Proof 3. p. 29. The Light was given to believe in before they were Believers Therefore it reveals Christ to Unbelievers Answ The Light which we are to believe in is Jesus Christ himself and not that Principle of Knowledge that is in every man And before we believe in Christ even that we may believe in him he is revealed to us by the Gospel not by the Light that is in every man Proof 4. Ibid. The Light shined in mens hearts before they did believe to give them the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ Therefore it reveals Christ to all even Unbelievers Answ Read the place 2 Cor. 4.6 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 A. 1. Mark 'T is not said the Light but God hath shined 2. The true sense is God by the Gospel propounding the Object and by his Spirit enlightning the Eye gives and encreaseth the saving knowledge of Christ in his chosen and thus first they become Believers and afterward more and more are strengthened in their Faith And doth this prove that the Light in every man reveals Christ to all to those that have not the Gospel or that without the Gospel it reveals Christ to any hath shined into our hearts Had not they the Gospel Arg. 3. If the Light in every man be an increasing Light p. 28. doth gradually lead men out of Darkness and Sin as men take heed unto it though it reveals not all things at once then 't is a full Rule But 't is an increasing Light for 't is said To every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Christ gives such a measure now a greater afterwards And p. 29. The path of the Just is as the shining Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Answ This Argument though not so well managed in the Dispute of any had the greatest shew of reason in it But when it was Answered that the Light in every man never grew up to make of it self and without the Scriptures any discovery of Christ all was dasht presently And there needs no more to be said now For though the use of Reason grows in a Child and now it reveals Stealing unlawful then Lying c. and these first dimly then more clearly yet never attaining of it self to reveal Christ it must needs leave men in that dark state in which Damnation is unavoidable The Gospel must deliver from this dark state The Light in every man cannot do it If it were possible this Light could lead out of all Sin whatever unable to reveal Christ it must needs still leave men in a state of Damnation The Grace that indifferent measures is given to Believers enjoying the Gospel as also the path of the Just who embrace Christ as revealed to them in the Gospel these put men into the state of Salvation indeed but they are one thing the Light in every man another Obj. It might be thus objected If we obey what this Light can reveal according to the measure of it God will accept us For in every Nation he that worketh Righteousnes is accepted of him And what is not revealed doth not bind p. 33. The Church of Corinth was not to make the Epistle of the Church of Rome their Rule Answ 1. Promulgation indeed is necessary to the Obligation of a Law till therefore the Church of Corinth had knowledge of the Epistle to the Romans they were not bound to make it their Rule But after knowledge they were bound Therefore if we should obey this Light only which in its highest measure cannot reveal Christ we should not work Righteousness that we might be accepted For God having given us Scriptures requires more of us than this Light reveals And neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love Obj. p. 32. The Saints of old were according to their several attainments to walk by the same Rule and God would reveal to them Ph. 3.16 Therefore this Light is a full Rule Answ 1. The Saints what 's that to every man 2. They were to walk according to their several attainments what they had got out of the Scriptures By the same Rule the Will of God laid down in the Scriptures so far as they understood it What 's this to those that have not the Scriptures What is it to the Light that is in every man 3. God would reveal more to the Saints But where is any promise that God will reveal Christ to every Heathen that walks according to his Light though he never enjoyes the Scriptures or the Gospel Much less where hath God ever promised that he will
He was raised again for our Justification Chap 8. 34. He lives for ever to make intercession for us So his Godhead concurs with his Man hood in applying his purchase to us and thus his Divine Power gives us all things that pertain to Life and Godliness But this hath nothing in it to prove that considered meerly as God he is our Saviour and that he never as God man purchased Salvation for us or that he applies salvation to us without any respect to his purchase or that his manhood doth not at all concur in applying salvation to us God is our Saviour but in saving us he give us nothing but what is purchased Let it be remembred that since Christ as God-man did purchase our salvation and still his Manhood concurrs with his Godhead in applying it Christ as God man is our Saviour and not as God only And to deny that Christ is our Saviour as God-man is to contradict all promises and Prophecies concerning Christ as the Son of Man the Seed of the Woman the seed of Abraham of David that a bone of him shall not be broken that he should be a man of sorrows In the old Testament And to contradict the whole History of the New and indeed the whole Gospel of Christ What saith he of himself Rev. 22.16 I am the Root and Of-spring of David As God the Root as man the Of-spring And what was his main design in taking our nature Mind that Scripture Matt. 26.28 This is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins His design was by dying for us to purchase our pardon and consequently salvation Act. 20.28 God purchased the Church by his blood This never could be excluding his manhood As God man then he is our Saviour It follows If the light in every man can of it self Reveal Chrst as our Saviour then it must without the help of supernatural Revelation discover that the Son of God took our Nature on him that he did dye for us that he did purchase forgiveness and salvation for us by his death If it cannot Reveal these things it cannot reveal our Saviour for by these things he is our Saviour Let me a new propound my Argument That that Reveals not Christ as God-man that hath dyed for us to purchase our forgiveness cannot be a full Rule cannot guide us to salvation But this Light cannot so Reveal him I prove the Major by that Scripture John 6.53 Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Except by a lively Contemplation of your humane nature assumed into one person with my divine Nature faith in Gods mercy springs and is dayly nourished and strengthened and quickned in you Your souls are not sanctified not reconciled to God and his wayes you have no heart to serve God in sincerity so as to be accepted of God and to live with him in Eternity You are dead in your sins If life Eternal be to know him as Jesus Christ whom the Father sent John 17.3 Then not to know him as Jesus Christ whom the Father hath sent is to be deprived of Eternal life The Jews therefore though they trust in a promised Messiah yet not looking on him as already sent they perish God hath now set him forth to be a propitiation through faith in his Blood Rom. 3.25 If we have have not faith in his blood then there is but little hope to have Gods wrath turned away from us But the light in every Man as hath been shewn cannot of it self reveal Christ at all much less thus reveal him We have a Maxim in Philosophy nil fit in intellectu quod non fuit prius in sensu All our knowledge comes in by our senses And it holds good here for as we in this age could never have known that there was such a man as Alexander the great were it not that we read and hear of him so by the bare light in every man never could we attain to know that Christ was born that he lived a sinless life that he suffered death suffered for our sins by the appointment of the Father and thereby obtained Eternal Redemption for us and that he rose the third day and is now removed up into glory God doth not ordinarlly give us this knowledge any other way but by our senses Rom. 10.17 Faith comes by hearing vers 14. How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard This knowledge then comes not from our light within but from our light without viz. the Gospel read or preached to us The Conclusion 1 hope is now evident that this light in every man is no full Rule nor by it self is it any Rule at all to Heaven Object G. W. Divinity of Christ p. 41. Then all the Gentiles that have not the Gospel preached to them perish Answ 1. The Scriptures Reveals but one way of Salvation for the Jew and for the Gentile or Heathen and that his knowledge of and faith in Christ Rom. 3.30 Seeing it is one God shall justifie the Circumcision by Faith and the Vncircumcision through Faith Gal. 3.8 The Scripture foreseeing that God would justifie the Heathen through Faith Preached before the Gospel unto Abraham 2. Therefore where God designs the saving of any among the Gentiles he doth bring them to the knowledge of Christ and works faith in them and this ordinarily by the Gospel which the word of Faith Ro. 15.12 There shall be a Root of Jesse and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles trust 3. Therefore where the Gospel is not given generally they perish Where no Vision is the people perish Object Divination of Christ p. 40. This layes the blame upon God that they are not saved Answ Methinks Men should dread to oppose so clear a truth by so desperate a deduction least God condemn them for Blasphemers of his Majesty at the last day A fallen creature without a Saviour cannot be saved now is the blame to be laid on God that Devils are not saved because God provided not a Saviour for them What a wicked and hellish Position is this if God gives not every sinner what is necessary to Salvation the blame is to be laid on God that he is not saved Without Regeneration no man can be saved is the blame of every damned mans perdition to be laid on God because he did not Regenerate him Is God thus a debter to sinners Who hath first given to him By sin all mankind hath forfeited salvation God was not bound to provide for us a Saviour any more then for the fallen Angels therefore it cannot be he should be bound to give the Gospel to every one of us though without this we ordinarily perish The Gospel is Gods own and may he not without blame do what he will with his own give it to whom he please and deny it to whom he
for men to found their contrary opinions on the Scripture Paul p. 17. l. 5. enjoying Scripture but for all this Light missing the sence persecutes the Saints 4. Yet this Light may possibly stumble upon the true sense of Scripture in all points necessary to Salvation the Scripture is perspicuous in these and many destitute of the special Illumination of the spirit and all saving grace have been Orthodox in these points 5. The Spirit of God doth by a common operation help men to understand the true sence of Scripture hence the ungodly amongst us believe those truths which Turks and Jews p. 16. l. 3. Will not be convinced of 6. The Spirit of God by a special operation helps the Saints spiritually to apprehend the true sense of Scripture p. 15. The Inspiration of the Almighty giveth understand And this in all points necessary to Salvation The spirit saith Christ shall lead you into all Truth The duty of all is to look up to God by prayer for his spirit in a right manner to understand the Scriptures 1. They are in themselves an infallible Rule That is 1. A Rule that cannot deceive us 2. A Rule which if we practise in all it requires of us we cannot possibly miss of Salvation Three things necessarily concur to make a Rule thus Infallible 1. It must reveal truth for this only leads to heaven 2. It must reveal nothing but truth it must be incapable of revealing any error instead of truth otherwise it may possibly deceive us and we miss of heaven 3. It must reveal the whole truth at least all necessary to salvation otherwise following it we may come short of Heaven That the Scriptures are in themselves an Infallible Rule I proved in the first dispute for there I then began 2 Tim. 3.16 17. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine c. that the man of God might be perfect throughly furnished to every good work He fled from the argument by a rambling discourse but neither then nor since in his book hath he answered it Let the judicious read p. 15. The proof here is clear For that reveals Truth to us nothing but Truth all Truth necessary to salvation must needs be in it self an Infallible Rule to heaven But the Scriptures reveal Truth given by divine Inspiration Nothing but Truth all Scripture is given no part given by the suggestion of Satan nothing dictated by a principle of darkness Psal 12.6 The words of the Lord are pure words All Truth able to furnish to every good work Therefore an Infallible Rule in themselves 2. They are an Infallible Rule to us That is we can be sure or good and undeceiving grounds that all dictates and directions out of the Scripture are from God and sufficient to guide us to salvation The Miracles of the Pen-men the Efficacy of the word working so good a change on so many in all ages The Innate Characters of divine Authority stamped on the word as the Holiness Majesty Sublimity and Truth of Prophecy suffice abundantly to satisfie our hearts they are from God all from God And satisfied in this their own Testimony their excelling fulness compared with any other Rule what ever and the Consolation of our Spirits upon our Universal and sincere obedience to God speaking in them give us sweet assurance that they are a sufficient guide to Salvation From one of the Characters mentioned the Truth of Prophecy the Apostle Peter hath full assurance that the Scriptures are a most safe Rule to walk by 2 Pet. 1.19 Nevertheless we have a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take beed Can so much be said for the dictates and directions of every mans heart That they are an Infallible Rule to us That as men may be sure that all directions out of the Scriptures are from God so they can be sure on good undeceiving grounds that all directions out of their hearts are from God It will be said the comparison is not rightly stated it should be so all directions of the Light in every man are from God To this I answer So far as men make the Light within their Rule they have nothing to walk by but dictates or counsels out of their own hearts Let but the Question then be stated as that it might meet with the concerns of men as to their practice and it must be thus I shall not therefore alter the stating of this Question though in the handling of it I shall not wave that Query whether all directions of the Light be infallibly from God 1. Can it be said that out of our hearts we are sure proceed no dictate or direction from darkness or error within as we are sure no directions out of scripture proceed from any such principle Not only in the Unregenerate is there darkness ye were sometimes darkness but in the Regenerate also The word of Prophecy shines in the hearts of believers yet it shines there in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.1 19. compared And this darkness abides whilst on earth 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see in a Glass darkly That Now is whilst on Earth 1. Because opposed to Then which is after this Life is ended 2. Because it is as long as Faith Hope and Charity abideth vers 13. And Now abideth Faith c. and that is whilst we live on Earth darkness and error within will be prompting amiss Have all Men that know the Scriptures as much reason to say we are sure no iuward Counsel that we have proceeds from the suggestion of Satan as to say no Scripture-Counsel is suggested by him Within men are to be found many evil motions from Satan 1 John 4.1 Try the spirits for many false Prophets are gone out into the World The Devil is a busie Agent He filled the heart of Ananias and Saphira to lie to the Holy Ghost He put it into the heart of Judas to betray his Master Obj. These were unconverted Answ Are all Converts free from his Temptations Remember the Devil had access to Adam even in Innocency to Peter And why are Saints bid resist him stedfast in the Faith And to put on the whole Armour of God It is now impossible for men to go astray walking after the Counsels they find within as it is impossible to go astray walking after the Counsels that are found in Scripture Eccles 11.9 Rejoyce O young Man in thy youth and walk in the waies of thy bea rt and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee to Judgement If a man saith I shall have peace though I walk after the imagination of mine own heart the Lord will not spare but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against that man Can this please God that every man should do what is right in his own eyes 3. Can it be said that the Light in every man dictates in his
their whole bodies be full of darkness it follows that there no true Light at all in them the Light that is is real darkness It therefore is added If the Light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness Luke 11.35 Take heed that the Light which is in thee be not darkness If there were no danger that a mans Light should be darkness what room were there for this warning It is therefore uudeniable that there is a Light in man which is but darkness And I ask what Light is that Not Christ himself in the Saints not his holy Spirit that dwelleth in them not the Light of the Gospel taken in by Faith not the special illumination of the Holy Ghost Tell us then what Light can it be but the Light we brought with us into the world the Light that is in every man He that hath no more but this Light is all Darkness Therefore it is said Eph. 5 8. Ye were sometimes Darkness All darkness Ye had then not one Drachm of Light in you the Light you had was but Darkness Q. But how can this be If it be Light 't is Light how can it be and not be the same thing Ans It can of it self without Scripture teach Moral Duties that God is to be worshipped Parents obeyed c. as hath been hinted often and in this respect 't is Light But it cannot reveal Christ of it self When he is revealed by the Striptures and preaching of the Gospel it cannot discern him nor any other spiritual Mystery of the Gospel for they are spiritually discerned the Natural man with all his Light cannot reach to this And in these two respects 't is meer darkness no more able to guide a man to Salvation than darkness it self Obj. We may not put Light for Darkness Ans When Christ evidently hints the Light within may be darkness must he be thus reproved You may not put Light for Darkness That which in respect of Morals is Light he calls Light and the same being in respect of Spirituals real Darkness he properly calls it so He doth not therefore put Light for Darkness And G. W. himself acknowledgeth Div. of Christ in Answer to Mr. Dawson p. 42. That the Natural man bath not power to discern spiritual things Is not his Light darkness then What he adds yet he hath a power to receive them is very odd For how do men receive spiritual things into their Souls but first by discerning them then approving and embracing them His Reason is miserable for after Conversion he doth saith he receive them He might as well have said the Unconverted hath power to receive spiritual things for after Conversion he doth discern them 'T is as if he should have said When Sampson was an Infant he had power to carry the Gates of a City up the Hill for when he was a man he did it In Conversion we receive a new Light and a new Heart which is a new power to receive spiritual things This Light that is wrought in us by the Spirit of God when put upon it to direct us how to obtain Pardon and Justification bids us seek it by the works of the Law never pointing to Christ therefore at least being forced to speak through our fault where it should be silent as being unable to direct herein it both can and doth misguide It will be yielded in terms I think that there is no Pardon or Justification without Faith in Christ And it hath been proved that this light of it self cannot speak one Syllable of Christ therefore it cannot tell us how to obtain Pardon and Justification If then we will force it to speak in this point it must needs speak Falshood if any thing See it thus directing Rom. 2.13 14. The doers of the Law shall be justified for when the Gintiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law to themselves The Apostle lays down the way of Justification by the Law of works The Doers of the Law shall be justified He proves it for the Light of Nature puts the Gentiles upon doing of the works of the Law that they may be justified having no knowledge of the Law of Grace which direct to Christ by Faith for Justification they walk by the Law of works which is no way to Heaven for a fallen Creature The like we may see in several of the Israelites Rom. 9.32 They sought for Righteousness not by Faith but by the works of the Law And that the Light within them did put them upon this we may see chap. 10.2 I bear them Record that they have a zeal of God This they did then in a zeal for God designing his Glory and to do his will But never doth a man any thing in zeal to Gods glory but when his Reason his Judgment his Conscience his best Understanding the best Light he hath puts him on And that this is not the way to obtain Justification is evident chap. 9.32 The works of the Law are called a stumbling Stone It is a truth indeed that the Doers of the Law shall be justified but no man can possibly be a Doer He that hath once in thought word or deed in all his life broken the Law is not a Doer of the Law but a Transgressor therefore this is no way for our Justification because in our hearts are motions of darkness and errour because Satan hath access to insinuate evil into us because the Light we brought into the world doth not reveal all necessary Truths because we have not an infallible Spirit to discern these few Truths it doth reveal from Errours suggested in our hearts and because 't is possible for this very light it self to suggest errour we are not sure upon good grounds that all Counsels out of our hearts are from God as werare sure all Counsels out of the Scriptures are from God No can we so safely walk after Counsels out of our own hearts for the Counsels of the light within come out of our own hearts as we can safely walk after Counsels out of the Scripture These are infallible to us the other not Before I end I must answer what he brings to prove this Light an infallible Rule Arg. 1. p. 17. l. ult Christ bids us believe in the Light He would not have us believe in that that might deceive us Answ John 12.36 Whilst ye have the Light believe in the Light The words intimate they were like to lose the Light according to the Threat Matth. 21.43 The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you The true sense here is Whilst ye have the Gospel believe in me the Light of the world 'T is not Believe in the Light you brought with you into the World Nor was this to be taken from them Not believing in Christ they were to cary this to Hell with them to torment them for their Sin Arg. 2. The
Scripture is not to be preferred before the Spirit p. 13. The Spirit is greater than the Scripture p. 17. And you did acknowledge the Spirit revealed as certainly the mind of God as the Scripture ib. Ans 1. This is nothing to the point the Light in every man one thing the Spirit another Ans 2. Though the Counsels of Gods Spirit in Believers hearts be in themselves as certainly the Truths of God and the Spirit is not to be quenched as are his Counsels in the Scriptures for he can never lie Yet are they not to Believers so certainly the Truths of God Believers are not at all times so readily certain they are indeed the Counsels of the Spirit as they are that the Scriptures are We have a more sure word of Prophesie More sure than what Not only than the Counsels we find in our hearts not only than the Counsels of the Light within us but more sure than the direction or Voice of God himself speaking to us immediately or not by the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.17 There came a voice to him from the excellent Glory This is my Beloved Son v. 18. This Voice we heard v. 19. We have also a more sure Word of Prophesie The Scriptures containing the Prophesies of Christ are to us a more sure Rule than the immediate voice of God himself though in it self what God immediately speaks is as certainly truth as what is spoken in the Scripture Answ 3. The Controversie being about a Rule the Spirit should not be opposed to the Scriptures For the Spirit properly is no Rule at all The Spirit enditing and speaking in the Scriptures is not the Rule but the Authr of the Rule The Spirit bringing Scripture to remembrance even what Christ hath spoken and thereby directing us is not our Rule but puts us in remembrance of the Rule The Spirit enlightning us to understand Gods mind in the Scripture is not our Rule but our spiritual Oculist strengthning our Eyes to see the Rule Nor is the Illumination of the Spirit a Rule at all as he often supposeth the Artificers Rule is one thing the clearness of his Eye to see the Rule another for our rule to Heaven is one thing the clearness of our Understanding given by Gods Spirit to discern the rule another The Rule objectively sets Gods Will and our Duty before us the Spirits illumination brightens our Understanding to apprehend it so set before us And if the Spirit be not a Rule much less is he a greater Rule than the Scriptures He should thus have expressed himself to speak to the Point The Dictates or Counsels or Directions of the Spirit of God immediately and without the Scriptures are to all men a more infallible Rule to Heaven than the Directions of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures are to those that have them And if he had well proved this he had manifested that there is some foundation for his Religion But neither can he nor all his Brethren prove that Gods Spirit doth without the Scripture reveal to every man the whole mind of God as much as is necessary to bring him to Heaven God spake immediately to Moses Did he then thus reveal to every man as much as to him Doth he now Are all Prophets If he should vouchsafe to reveal a little to any of his and not by the Scripture they have also a more sure word of Prophesie c. But since he doth not reveal to any without the Scriptures all necessary Truths as he doth by it to desire and prefer the Spirit teaching without the Scriptures before the Spirit teaching by the Scriptures as a more infallible guide to Heaven is to desire and prefer what God denies us before that which God vouchsafes us to hanker with Evah after the denied fruit to dislike with the Israelites the Mannah that came from Heaven We must not frowardly prescibe to God the Spirit immediately teaching shall be my Guide to Glory the Spirit teaching in the Scriptures shall not We ought thankfully and admiring his Grace accept of that Guide to Glory he chuseth for us 4. I assert The Scripture is a Trying Rule That is a Rule able to prove or manifest Truth to be Truth Falshood to be Falshood in all things that concern our Faith and Conversation A Rule by which we may and ought when we have any reason of doubting to try for our own safety Opinions Doctrines or Spirits whether they are of God or no. Arg. 1. That which discovers the whole Truth is able to try every Opinion Doctrine and Spirit But the Scriptures are a full Rule discovering the whole Truth Arg. 2. By that which we know to be infallible we may and ought to try what is doubtful But we know the Scriptures are an infallible Rule Therefore by them we may and ought to try whatever as to Faith and Conversation we doubt of 2 Pet. 1.19 When the Apostles had said We have a moresure word of Prophesie he adds unto which ye do well to attend He means for trial and proof of Truth He had asserted the Doctrine of Christ to be no Fable ver 16. We have not followed cunningly devised Fables To help their Faith he minds them v. 17. of the Voice from Heaven he heard in the Transfiguration Bnt saith he we have a more sure word of Prophesie more sure to prove the Doctrine of Christ and so confirm our Faith in it Therefore he adds you do well to attend to it that is for this end Arg. 3. That which the Holy Ghost approves of is our duty and for our good But he approves of it that we try Doctrines yea the Doctrines of the Spirit of God by the Scripture Acts 17.11 These were more noble than those of Thessalonica in that they searched daily whether these things were so This Argument was fled from in the first Dispute and neither then nor since answered in their Book Arg. 4. What Rule Christ directs us to try by himself his Apostles also made use of for this purpose is our safe trying Rule But our Saviour directs us to the Scriptures John 5.39 Search the Scriptures they are they which testifie of me that I am the Messiah the things the Jews doubted of He himself made use of it Luke 24.26 27. The Disciples doubting whether he were the Messiah because put to death Ought not saith he Christ to have suffered and beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them the things concerning himself His Apostles likewise Acts 2.24 God raised Christ from the dead for David did so prophesie of him Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell Acts 15. The Question being whether Circumcision were necessary to Salvation concerning this they decreed according to the Scripture v. 15. To this agree the words of the Prophet as it is written c. Arg. 5. We may safely embrace what agrees with Scripture for what agrees with Truth is Truth We may safely reject all that is
in our hearts within Answ 1. The spirit dwelling in all believers is sometimes a sweet mover to duty though no indwelling spirit yet by common convictions he strives with unbelievers who do resist the Holy Ghost The duty he puts men upon is agreeable to the Scripture and his motions are not to be quenched Answ 2. The things commanded in the Scripture are to be done whether the spirit inwardly puts men forwards or no Look over these Four last Arguments againe Otherwise supposing the spirit never putting forward within it had been no sin for the Jews before Christs time to reject all the Ceremonial Law nor for us to omit all those duties hinted in the Second Argument Gods commands cease not to be Gods commands either because the spirit doth not within put men on to obey them or because they are written therefore we are to obey them though the spirit within puts not on And this is to obey the spirit or to obey God Therefore according to the Fourch Argument Though men should say the spirit did never inwardly put them on they are certainly to be damned who obey not the voice of God in Scripture And to these I adde this Fifth Argument Otherwise some wicked men in living contrary to the Scriptures do not sin cannot be damned for so doing for some have sinned away the motions and strivings of Gods spirit are past feeling given up to reprobate sense 6. We are to hear what the Spirit of Faith saith to the Churches and this is written Answ 3. Yea Because a thing is written in the Scripture are we to do it If my Faith in God or Christ be weak and I find it written fear not I am with thee You believe in God believe also in me I will in Gods assistance rowl my self and act faith on God and Christ for this reason because I see these sweet words in the Scriptures of God If I feel any want what ever and light on these words Ask and ye shall have Call upon me in the time of trouble Be careful for nothing but in every thing let your requests be made known to God because I find these sweet commands in Gods book I will with Gods help take heart and fall to pray I appeal to any mans Conscience whether I do not well in so doing This Induction might pass for the First Argument and the Second is this For seeing a thing written in Scripture I am the more sure it is the mind and Will of God all Scripture being by divine inspiration therefore I thought for this very reson the rather perform it because I find it written Arg. 3. And why doth God command us to read but that we should obey Deut. 17.19 The King shall read in the book of the Law all the dayes of his Life that he might learn to keep all words of this Law to do them The end of our very reading must be practice A 4th Arg. from Examples see in the close of the Letter that follows The Scripture binds and that in those things of which the Light in every man by it self saith nothing And dares any man say that this Light doth bind the Church of God in those things the Scriptures do not teach Let no man be wise above what is written And now let the Reader judge which is the highest and safest Rule to Heaven the Scriptures or the Light in every man Gods will laid down in Scripture is a full only infallible trying binding Rule to Heaven and that in those things of which this Light saith nothing Gods will so much of it as is discovered by this Light is no Rule at all to heaven because no full Rule not the only Rule hardly distinguishable from the dictates of darkness Sin and Satan insufficient to try all Doctrines by not at all binding the Church in those things the Scriptures do not teach To conclude Mind what a dreadful thing 't is to walk by a false Rule to take that for the way to heaven which is not 1. It is Condemnation 2 Thes 2.11 12. God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a Lie That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth It is a fearful thing to be bound hand and foot for ever to be in utter darkness among Devils in a Lake of fire unable to die God langhing at our calamity because we rejected his Counsels and chose our own ways a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God 2. It is Damnation after hope Mistakers think they see the right way to Heaven and therefore hope but to be damned after hope how greatly will this augment the Misery 3. it is to be damned after pains-taking to be saved after Zeal after Conscientiousness in walking as a man supposeth according to the Will of God The Pharisees were conscientious in keeping the Law and setting up their own Righteousness for Justification but through their Errour missing of Christs Righteousness after all their Zeal and Conscientiousness in doing what they did they are damned and lost to all Eternity How unconceivably miserable it is to be deceived It is our safety our great wisdom to walk by such a Rule as cannot deceive us Scripture-Counsel is full and all by divine Inspiration Walk sincerely according to this Rule thou canst not erre thou canst not be damned If all the dictates of Light within were infallibly the Truths of God yet heart Counsels are some of them from Darkness and the Devil walk after these though never so warily thou maist possibly erre possibly thou maist lose thy Soul To say I will forsake all the Counsels of darkness that are within me and walk only after the Counsels of the Light within me is as if thou shouldst say here is a Cup of Wine mixed with poyson I will drink out only the wine and leave the poyson Friend the Scriptures are a Cup of pure wine no Counsels of Sin Errour Darkness Devils mingling with the Counsels of God Is it not safer drinking there Whether every man be enlightned with a saving Light SO much having been spoken by me and granted by the Adversary touching this Light compared with the Scriptures I did deservedly explode this Question out of the Second Dispute where I had but little time left for discussing the following Questions Yet now I must not decline it Upon two accounts may a Light properly be denominated Saving 1. If it reveals objectively all Truths to us necessary to Salvation This may be called saving because if we obey it in all things we shall certainly be saved Thus the Scriptures or the Gospel contained in them are an external saving Light External I say because it must have entrance by our Senses Rom. 1.16 The Gospel is the power of God to Salvation Eph. 1.13 The Gospel of Salvation Acts 11.14 Words by which we may be saved 2. If it enlightens our Understanding effectually to apprehend all Truths necessary to Salvation
necessary to salvation when they are by the Gospel or Scripture objectively revealed unto him 't is but a wild fancy to imagine that this Light can without the Gospel and Scripture find out and objectively reveal these spiritual Truths But when they are objectively revealed he cannot know them He who when he is plainly shewn is not apprehensive of the Mystery of a Trade would never take it of his own head Arg. 2. If this Light can objectively reveal all Truths necessary to salvation then there was no need that God should inspire holy men to write the Scripture Men might have done well enough without them are little or nothing advantaged by them The Heathen for a Rule are in as good a condition as we The Scripture reveals all Truth necessary to salvation and their Light can do this But God was not about a needless work when he inspired the Penmen of the Scripture Rom. 3.1 2. What advantage hath the Jew Much every way chiefly because that unto them were committed the Oracles of God The Heathen without the Covenants of promise are without hope Eph. 2.12 Therefore this Light doth not objectively reveal all Truths necessary to Salvation Now let us see what Arguments G. W. hath to prove that every man is enlightned with a saving Light Arg. 1. p. 28. Nehem. 9.20 26. Thou gavest them also thy good Spirit to instruct them nevertheless they rebelled Therefore all are savingly enlightned To this our Opposer gave no Answer Ans No wonder when it was never urged in my hearing The Israelites had a saving external light viz. the Spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures and in the Prophets What 's this to prove that those who have not the Scriptures have soch a Light Again The Spirit was given to instruct them but not by any effectual Illumination otherwise they had not been rebellious Their Rebellion proves they had no internal saving Light Arg. 2. p. 26. The Spirit or Light of God is greater or more universal than the Scripture and contains that which the Scripture contains and more Answ Those bare Assertions without Proof deserve to be rejected without Answer And here he confounds Light and Spirit The Light is Universal in respect of the Subject they have it that have not the Scripture not in respect of the Object it reveals not all the mind of God as doth the Scripture The Query is not what the Spirit of God can reveal he can no doubt reveal all and add to the Scripture if he please But whether he actually doth reveal all saving Truths to all Men without the Scripture This should be proved Arg. 3. p. 10. Will you deny immediate Revelation that the people might pin their faith on your sleeve Ans This man knows we direct people to the Revelation of the spirit in the Scripture therefore his own light here condemns him If I could find out any better arguments of his I would produce them But take them such as they are Arg. 4. p. 17. Christ is given to be a Light to the Gentiles and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth Answ And so Christ is externally by the Scriptures and Gospel preached and internally by his spirit effectually enlightning both wayes a saving Light to all the Gentiles that are saved Here 's nothing to prove that every man is effectually enlightned or externally taught all necessary truths by Christ immediatly and without the Scriptures Arg 5. p. 31. Whatsoever may be known of God is not manifest within Answ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That which is commonly known his external power and God head Not his grace favour and mercy in Christ without which all other knowledge is in sufficient Arg. 6. It might be argued If Heathens have not the knowledge of truths necessary to salvation how are they left without excuse Answ Because God is not bound to reveal Christ to every man and what Truths are revealed every man sins against them And they are condemned not for not believing in Christ but for those sins Rom. 2.12 They that have sinned without Law shall perish without Law And if their acting coutrary to their shallow Light shall render them inexcusable How great will his condemnation be that casts off the saving Light of Scripture and will walk only after such dim Light as is in Heathens This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the world and men love darkness more than Light They cannot say we never heard that Christ shed his blood for remission of sins if we had we would have believed But this argument might be farther improved thus If their living contrary to their Light renders them without excuse then if they had lived up to their Light they had been saved Answ 1. This is but a frivolous supposition for none ever did none ever could live up to their Light that is from the beginning of their knowledge to the end of their dayes perfectly do every thing they know to be their duty Rom. 3.9 2. But suppose they had this had been no coming up to the condition of the Coyenant of works for this Light is not able perfectly to discover it Psal 119.96 I have seen an end of all perfection but thy the commandment is exceeding broad If by the help of Scripture and that measure of the spirit that was given to David he was not able to see the utmost bounds of Gods Law much less can this dim Light of it self reveal them 3. Nay suppose this Light had been able to discern perfectly the whole condition of the Covenant of works and once more suppose they had been able from the beginning of Life to the end to fulfill this also yet being fallen creatures being by nature the Children of wrath if God had not some way or other revealed Christ to them they had most certainly perished for the Covenant of works is no way of salvation for fallen man Gal. 3.21 If ever he be saved it must be by the Covenant of Grace that holds forth Christ The sum is this This Light revealing Duty their disobedience did render them unexcusable not revealing Christ their obedience could not have excused them for is not he a fighter against God that saith they were unjustly by nature the Children of wrath Admire we Gods grace for a revelation of Christ If we sincerely live our Light that is the precious Scripture though our unavoidable failings are many our God in Christ will save us Arg. 7. p. 19. Why should God give to man this Light surely Gods good will and end is to convince them of sin that they may see and hate it and by degrees be drawn out of it and so find mercy and peace and satisfaction with the Lord in forsaking sin and embracing Righteousness Answ 1. Suppose we should perfectly be drawn from sin to holiness without faith in Christs blood for remission never should we find mercy and true peace with God but standing charged with past guilt should every
moment be liable to the everlasting wrath of God 2. Gods good end in giving this Light is to reveal moral duties and sins against nature that avoiding these sins and practising these duties we might be delivered from temporal judgements as Nineveh was and might enjoy the Lords common savours 3. Gods gracious end in giving us the Scriptures is that seeing and embracing Christ Righteousness and Gods Mercy in him our souls might sincerely be reconciled to his Will and so living to God we might be sure of mercy favour and salvation Arg. 8. They usually bring that Scripture Luke 17.21 Behold the Kingdom of God is with you Answ Gods Kingdom is to be considered either as to the Common or as to the special Administration of it 1. As to the Common and this is whereby God doth restrain convince make offers of Christ and Grace and sometimes give a taste of the heavenly gift by the preaching of the word and the common operation of the spirit carrying the word into the Consciences of men for the word of God is quick and powerful piercing to the dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit God had so set up his Kingdom in them as he had not in the Heathen They are therefore called the Children of the Kingdom Mat. 8.12 Of the Kingdom only in this common Administration of it for they were to be cast out and the Kingdom of God was to be taken from them 2. As to the special Administration of it and this is whereby God awakens souls unites them to Christ by a lively Faith makes them willing subjects and stablishing them in their obedience preserves them to glory by his word and by his spirit powerfully applying it to their hearts inlightning renewing quickning comforting and dayly assisting them God had not thus set up his Kingdom in the Pharisees for his Kingdom as to this Administration of it is not in word but in power 1 Cor. 4.20 Is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 Is never to cease while the world last Dan. 7.27 Whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom Hence then cannot be concluded either that there is a Light effectually saving in Pharisees or the unconverted or that there is a Light objectively saving in every man for though the Pharisees had in them such a light which if they had embraced sincerely they had been in the way to salvation yet this was forc'd into them by Christs Preaching his Miracles and the common operation of the Spirit They did not bring it into the World with them Quest It was asked me in the first dispute I shall speak according to my best remembrance I know I must give account If an heathen obey his Light may he be saved And then not having so fully seen into this point I was shy and answered I was not to Judge them that are without Quest I was afterwards asked If a man improves his Light within him may not he be saved I answered he may and added if he improves that is studieth Scripture and looketh up to God for a blessing he may That night reflecting upon his passage I was very much disturbed in my spirit because I did not more fully speak to this point laying down the manner how upon improvement he might be saved and expressing the Truth on the contrary side What might unskilful people conclude from this Assertion Next day my wife destitute and near her Travail begging with Tears that I would seek her out an habitation I could not in the least regard her I could easily embrace any self-abasement to prevent the dammage of any soul through mistake To effect this as much as might be I drew up and dispatcht a Letter to G. W. with a Paper containing the same things to Thaxted where the dispute was to be openly read among them The Letter follows A LETTER sent to G. W. Beloved Friend TOuching one Query in the Disputation whether if a man improve the Light within him may he not be saved My Answer was that if he improve it that is make use of it in studying the Scripture and look up to God for a blessing he may be saved I judge it needful to acquaint you with my meaning how he may be saved 'T is this God may I do not say certainly will much less that be is bound I disown Pelagianisme so bless him as to give him to see embrace and endeavour to practice his whole mind revealed in the Scripture that is to speak with reference to you to sanctifie the Christian Sabbath seek justification by the Righteousness of Christ imputed repent if his sinful nature and sinful motions of his heart submit to the Ordinances of Baptism and the Lords Supper and in other things universally incline his heart to please him thus may the Lord through grace save him I was defective in the Disputation that I did not manifest this so weighty a matter Yea and that I did not manifest the Truth on the other side which is this For a Person to whom Scriptures are given to practice no more then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate rejecting the Scripture as not obliging in those things that this Light doth not discover is to fling away his own salvation Arg. 1. That Person that erres in the Doctrine of Justification by Christs Righteousness only and so sets up something else instead of this Righteousness for justification cannot possibly be saved Gal. 5.4 But this Light that is in every man doth not dictate that justification is by Christs Righteousness only Arg. 2. That Person that in many things lives and dies in allowed Rebellion against the mind and will of God revealed cannot be saved But having Scriptures to practice no more then what the Light in every man doth dictate is to live and dye in allowed rebellion against the mind and will of God revealed in many things 1. This Light doth not dictate that the Christian Sabbath is to be kept but God in Scripture commands Remember the Sabbath that is one day in seven which the Lord shall chuse in Gospel times it is not the seventh from the creation Let no man judge you for the Sabbath day and if it must be one of the other six which doth the Lord more clearly in Scripture point at then the first day To keep it holy do no manner of work To practice no more than what the Light that is in every man doth dictate is as good as to say I will not remember the Sabbath I will work on that day 2. This Light doth not dictate that Lusts or first motions of sinful principles much less the principles themselves are sins and so to be repented of and that we are to fly to Christ blood for pardon Rom. 7.7 But the Scripture sends us to Christ for pardon for all sin calls to repent of all sin manifesteth that the first motion to sins are sins thou shalt not
covet That the Principles inclining hereunto are sins they are called sin dwelling in us To act no further then the Light that is in every man doth dictate is all one as to say I will not repent of the first motions of my heart to sin nor of any sinful principles in me I will not fly to Christs blood for pardon for them 3. This Light doth not dictate that Baptism by water is Gods will But God in Scripture commands Go Baptize In what sense Philip who could not be without the mind of Christ herein may assure our Consciences Acts 8 36 37. Look here is water But to go no further then the Light that is in every man doth dictate is as much as to say doest thou Lord command go Baptize I will not baptize nor be baptized 4. The Light that every man hath doth not dictate that we ought to celebrate the Lords Supper that is to meet to take bread signifying the body of Christ by institution and give thanks and break it and give and take and eat in remembrance of Christ to take Wine and having blessed give it signifying Christs blood by institution and take and drink to shew forth the Lords death But the Scriptures manifest this in all particulars clearly to be the mind and will of Christ and to the sanctified 1 Cor. 1.2 God in the Scripture commands 1 Cor. 11.24 25. Take eat do this To practice no further then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate is to say to a commanding God I will not take I will not eat And this in these four particulars is Rebellion Therefore that Person who having the Scriptures will practice no more then what the Light that is in every man doth dictate cannot be saved Have the commands of Christs no Authority over mens Consciences Or do his commands cease to be his commands for being written Doth not Christ say the word that I have spoken shall Judge you Jo. 12.48 And is not he resolved to take vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel 2 Thes 1.7.8 Truly these words Repent Believe Baptize Do this Yea and now by reduction Remember the Sabbath are though written not only the words of Christ but they are Gospel also Woe Woe to those Persons at the day of Judgement that are then found to have lived and dyed in Rebellion against Christs commands by these words These words shall Judge them and for disobeying the Gospel Christ will take vengeance on them To conclude blame was laid on Israel that of a long time they had not kept the Passeover as it was written 2 Chron. 30.5 But in Nehemiahs time the People of God finding it written that they should keep the feast of Tabernacles on this motive obeyed Neh. 8.14 And t is said v. 17. There was great gladness They were assured they pleased God in so doing And the mother of our Lord was careful after the daies of her Purification to offer a sacrifice as it was written Knowing it was written she knew she was bound and heartily obeyed These instances are in things the Light in all men doth not dictate as it doth not dictate Justification by Christs Righteousness Repentance and Faith in Christs blood for pardon of sinful motions of the heart and sinful Principles the observation of the Christian Sabbath Baptism and the Supper The former things instanced the Scriptures declare abolished These the Scriptures no where reveal they are abolished The God of all grace then open your understanding to see your duty and obey fully and not by halves that following God fully with Caleb and Joshua you may be accepted of the Lord. Your Truly well-wisher in Christ Jesus St. Scandrett Thus it appears the words I delivered in the Dispute taken in a right sense are no way in themselves derogatory to the Truth of God I am willing to hear defective because I did not fully explain my words in the dispute But I cannot but complain of disingenuity and falseness when I see p 4. They have given out that I should say This Light within might through the blessing of God with a good improvement save them that have not the Scriptures By what I have written it is clearly otherwise Quest I desire to answer one Query more to give full satisfaction touching inward Light 'T is this Is not the immediate teaching of the Spirit the highest and safest Rule to heaven Is it not safer to walk by the immediate teachings of the Spirit in our hearts than by the teaching of the Spirit in the Scripture and to entertain the spirits teachings in the Scripture no further then they agree with these than to entertain these no further than they agree with the Spirits teachings in the Scripture This Query is weighty And indeed the whole Controversie stated anew I must be large in the solution of it First Therefore I shall open the Terms then lay down my Answers 1. Let us remember nothing is a Rule to heaven but it Reveals Law and Gospel our whole Duty 2. Let us understand the ways of the Spirits teaching 1. He teacheth us Physically by enlightning our minds Thus Gods Spirit so assures our hearts that Jesus is Christ that there is no need in the least we should enquire of men the truth of it 1 John 2.27 The Anointing which ye have received abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you John was confident Seducers should never be able to perswade them that Jesus was not the Christ Hence also Paul could curse an Angel that should preach any other Gospel than what he had delivered This Teaching is no Rule at all but an help to see the Rule 2. He teaches us Morally or Objectively propounding or setting before us Gods Mind or Will to embrace and walk by 1 John 14.26 The Comforter shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you These Teachings which take in the things taught are a Rule for we must walk according to them And of this way of the Spirits Teaching must we understand the Question 3. Let us be informed what is the immediate teaching of the Spirit There is a Mediate which is done by Means by the Scriptures as in the last mentioned The Spirit brings these to remembrance and thus we hear a word behind us saying this is the way walk in it when we turn to the right hand or to the left Isa 30.21 By the Ministry Thus the Spirit of Christ in the Prophets 1 Pet. 1.11 Testified to the Church beforehand the sufferings of Christ And by other means even by the works of Creation and the Light in every man propounding the Creation to be considered he helps us to conclude a God thence that he is to be worshipped c. I say Gods Spirit by these teacheth us for in him we live move and have our being without his help the world could not come into consideration without his
help no such Conclusion could appear hence deducible By the use of Reason the Spirit teaceth the Heathen Moral Duties The immediate teaching of Gods Spirit must be that which is done without means Thus God neither by Adams Reason nor any Scripture nor by the works of Creation but immediately by himself taught him that he must abstain from the Tree of Knowledge And after his Fall that the Seed of the Woman should break the Serpents head And afterwards enjoyned Circumcision to Abraham the Ceremonial Law to Moses speaking to him face to face Immediately by himself did he inspire into the Penmen of the Scripture what they were to write thereby to discover to his people what he would have them to do When he put Prophesies into the mouths of his Prophets sending them with Denunciations against any as the young Prophet against Jeroboam Jonah against Nineveh when he taught Paul the Gospel by Revelation all was by his immediate teaching The Terms opened I shall now lay down what I judge the Truth touching this Point in twelve Answers Answ He who is immediately taught of God his whole Duty hath higher honour than he that is taught it by the Scriptures Answ 2. He that walks by the immediate teachings of the Spirit cannot possibly err in so doing Gods Spirit is a Spirit of Truth But Answ 3. I know but one man of all who ever were in the world unto whom Gods immediate teachings were the highest and safest Rule to Heaven This was Moses Before the Scripture was written God did immediately reveal to him the Moral Ceremonial and Judicial Law The Ceremonial Law was their Gospel Here Moses had the full the then only the infallible the trying the binding Rule by immediate Revelation delivered to him Therefore I conclude Gods immediate teachings were to Moses the highest and the safest Rule to Heaven But can any man shew a second Adam had in innocency immediate revelation it was but part of his Rule and so no Rule of it self to heaven Had Adam obeyed Gods immediate prohibition and violated the Law of Nature written in his heart he had not retained his Innocency bare forbearing that fruit would not have brought him to heaven When afterwards Christ was immediately revealed suppose he had believed in Christ but wholly neglected that remnant of the Moral Law that still was in his heart would that Faith have saved him Single out any of the Prophets who had immediate revelation as to particular things did not the Book of the Law written by Moses bind them even those Commands which could not all certainly have any necessary and apparent connexion with what Truths God immediately inspired into them that they viewing only what was immediately taught them might herein see and hence conclude all their duty as to have no need of any recourse at all to any thing Moses wrote to help them to know and perform any part thereof David was so read though a Prophet in the Scripture and thence learned to fear God Deut. 17.19 Ans 4. It makes for our safety to look up earnestly to pray and use all means for the Illumination of Gods Spirit that the eyes of our understanding being enlightned we may know what is the hope of the Fathers Calling and what the riches of the glory of his Inheritance in the Saints Unto Believers God doth thus reveal that which Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard nor can enter into the heart of man to conceive Hereby 't is they see Eye to Eye that is brightly Faith being the Evidence of things not seen They see the King in his Glory And this he doth accompanying the Ministration of the everlasting Gospel Luke 4.18 He hath sent me saith Christ to preach recovering of sight to the blind The Gospel therefore is called the Ministration of the Spirit This we must attend upon as Lydia did that we might have our hearts opened and may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the Love of Christ which passeth knowledge This we may hopefully watch for God hath covenanted I will put my Laws into their minds and purposed to destroy the face of covering cast over all people A. 5. And for our furtherance in holiness let me step a little out we are to look up for Gods gracious Spirit to sanctifie assist and comfort us He is the Spirit of Faith and Love as well as of a sound mind The Spirit of Holiness And Gods Covenant is to put his Laws into our hearts as well as into our minds This obtained we shall be Vessels meet for our Masters use God hath likewise covenaned to put his Spirit into the hearts of his people to enable them to walk in his Statutes Without him we can do nothing But strengthened with all might according to his glorious power nothing shall be too hard for us If God be for us who can be against us We shall be able to do all things through Christ strengthening us And hath not the Son of God promised to send the Spirit as a Comforter Gods Spirit doth shed abroad Gods Love in the hearts of Believers doth make known to them the things freely given them of God doth witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God doth seal them If we obtain the Spirit in this operation of his though we had even never so much desponding shut up against all comfort and hope we should presently find strong Consolation for when he giveth quietness who then can make trouble As we stand in need of so we may with good hope look up for Gods Spirit to sanctifie assist comfort us A. 6. To return again When we are at a loss at any time for Gods will and the way we should walk in we may very safely look up for the Mediate Objective Teachings of Gods Spirit to be directed As heretofore when Gods people wanted direction in a particular case they enquired of God as in the case of going to War or the like God did immediately shew them his will so now have Gods people good grounds to believe that God will mediately teach them and resolve all their doubts in necessary things if they heartily seek it of him Christ hath said The Spirit shall bring to your remembrance Acts 15. Gods Church was troubled with a doubt necessary to be determined Whether the Gentiles must be circumcised Peter brings an Argument from experience to prove they need not James minds his Argument v. 14. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his Name And to this saith he agree the words of the Prophet Who brought this to his mind Here we see it fulfilled that the Spirit brings sutable Scriptures to remembrance to teach Gods people in doubtful cases This is the mediate objective Teaching of the Spirit A. 7. But what warrant have all men nay Gods people