immediately by his Spirit reveal savingly all necessary Truths to them who in comparison of a Light they have in common with the Heathen despise the precious Scriptures Christ is a Mystery made manifest by the Scriptures of the Prophets Rom. 16.25 26. But he that trusts to his own heart to make manifest Christ to him is a Fool. Obj. P. 29. We have a more sure Word of Prophesie unto which ye do well to take heed till the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts Therefore by minding this Light within by degrees it will reveal Christ to us They draw not these Conclusions but I am so far from hiding their strength as they have done mine that I had rather improve their Arguments to the utmost for them Answ 1. Prove that by the Dawning of the Day or the Day-star arising in the Heart is to be understood Christs first appearance in Grace unto their Souls Had not Christ thus appeared to them already were they not Believers 2. Prove that by the Word of Prophesie is to be understood the Light in every man Can this Light help every man to Prophesie are all Prophets 3. The Word of Prophesie is the Scripture in which are written the true Prophesies of God Unto which we are to attend as long as we live on Earth even till the Day of Glory dawn and the Day-star Christ Jesus after that we have overcome Rev. 2 26.28 ariseth in our hearts taken in by Vision as now by Faith Arg. 4. If the Spirit guides Believers into all Truth p. 28. then the Light of this Spirit within must needs be a sufficient or full Rule Answ 1. It is not said that the Light in every man guides into all truth 2. Nor is it said that the Spirit guides every man yea or any man without the Scriptures into all truth 3 The true sense is That the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures and enlightning the minds of Believers shall lead them into all Truths necessary to Salvation 'T is weak to argue Believers who enjoy the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures have a full Rule therefore every man hath even those that enjoy neither the Spirit nor the Scriptures but are left to the meer Light that is in every man to guide them Thus it may be seen that neither in the Dispute nor by the improvement of his Arguments then urged nor by his Additional Arguments hath G. W. made good his Assertion that the Light in every man is a full Rule I shall now because I look on this point as the very Seat of the Controversie lay down what I urged and might have been urged to prove That the Light in every man is not a full Rule and consequently no Rule at all by it self to Salvation Arg. 1. If God saw good that even in Innocency this Light which we bring with us into the world should not be mans full and whole Rule nor after to Moses nor after to Christ's time nor in Christ's time nor in the Apostles days then there is little reason to fancy 't is a full Rule now But God saw good that even in Innocency this Light should not be our full and whole Rule for to this he added a Brohibition of eating the Tree of Knowledge to be parts of Adam's Rule nor after to Moses for they were to offer Sacrifices and be Circumcised Nor after to Christ for the Ceremonial Law was part of their Rule nor in Christs time for he observed the Ceremonial Law and also submitted to Baptism Nor in the Apostles days for they upheld the Ordinance of Baptism and of the Supper None of all which things could this Light of it self and without supernatural Revelation direct us to as our Duty and therefore neither may it be looked on now as our full or whole Rule Obj. Touching Innocency G. W. objected Adam could discern by his Light within he ought to abstain from that Fruit. Answ After and by the positive prohibition he was able to know it But it was asked him Could he have discerned it by the meer Light he brought with him into the World without the positive Prohibition He acknowledged He could not So in the positive Institution of Christ it was replied G. W. if he would not shut his Eyes might by the Light within him understand that the Celebration of Baptism and the Supper is the Churches Duty though without those Institutions promulged no man with all his Light is able to find it out Here let it be taken notice that he granted in effect the whole Argument For he granted that before the Prohibition came his Light could not discover what was Gods pleasure touching the Tree of Knowledge and yet he yields that God made abstinence from this Tree his Duty which is the whole contended for And if even in Innocency Mans perfect Light must not be the whole of his Rule but to vindicate his absolute Dominion and to maintain his just Prerogative would at his pleasure impose duty on man over and above what his Light within could shew a reason for what a miserable Mistake is it to imagine that now mans decayed Light should by Gods appointment be the whole of that Rule we are to walk by But though all was thus granted and is very plain yet troubled to see it go so ill with his Cause he cavils p. 30. much to this purpose Was not God in Adam A. God is one thing Adams Light another created of God in him God could reveal his pleasure as he did by the Prohibition but Adams Light without that Prohibition could not shew Adam what was Gods Pleasure as to this Tree as himself hath acknowledged He objects further p. 30. mightily to the purpose The Scriptures were not Adams Rule A. Draw the Conclusion Therefore Adams Light without the prohibition could discern that it was Gods pleasure he should not eat of the Tree of Knowledge These things hang closely Obj. Abraham Enoch had a Rule before the Scriptures were written the Pen-men also directing them in writing These Impertinencies seem to prove something though nothing to the Point in hand I therefore answer 1. Though the Scriptures were not Adams Rule because then not written yet to abstain from the Tree of Knowledge was part of his Rule in Innocency To believe in the Seed of the Woman for breaking of the Serpents Head was part of his Rule after the Fall as also Sacrificing Circumcision part of Abrahams Rule All and every of which Duties the Light in every man could by no means find out without Supernatural Revelation God was pleas'd to reveal these Duties immediately to select persons as Adam Abraham and from them by Tradition and Preaching to communicate them to his Church in following Generations And thus it appears that before the Scriptures were written the Light in every man was not his full Rule but Gods will supernaturally revealed and conveyed to posterity by Tradition and Preaching part thereof But now it pleased
our Gracious God supernaturally to reveal his whole Will touching his Churches duty to the end of the World unto particular men moving them by his Spirit to write which motion was their Rule for that Action the same and commanding others to transcribe Copies that so our guidance to Heaven might safely be conveyed to posterity not lost through neglect nor forgotten through the slipperiness of his peoples Memories nor altered by relating it from mouth to mouth nor corrupted by the Relation of it made sometimes by wicked men So that as before the Scriptures were written Gods Will made known partly by the Light in every man partly by Supernatural Revelation and conueyed to posterity by word of mouth Tradition and Preaching was the full Rule of the Church then living so the same Will of God more clearly and brightly made known by Supernatural Revelation and conveyed down to us most safely by the Holy Scriptures of the Prophets and others is our full Rule in which we are to triumph as guiding us comfortably to Glory and Salvation Obj. Touching the Ceremonial Law he objects p. 31. As for those Laws of Ceremonies and Shadows to the Jews Salvation doth not depend upon them Answ This is much to the purpose The Query is whether those Laws were not part of their Rule before the death of Christ and whether the Light in them without the promulgation of those Laws could discover them Though our Salvation doth not depend on the Jewish Ceremonies yet had not the neglect of them before Christ's death been sin to a Jew Had not the contempt of them then been the hazard of his Soul Then it follows that these Laws were part of their Rule and that the Light within them was not their full or whole Rule The same is to be said for the Supper and Baptism in the Apostles days These were part of the Churches duty yet the Light within without the help of Supernatural Revelation or the Institution promulged could not discover it Obj. p. 8. If the Light within doth not dictate Baptism nor the Supper then if you Baptize you do it not as lead thereto by the Light within Answ 1. Would these men prove that the Light within without the help of Supernatural Revelation can see Baptism and the Supper a Duty Why then are they against it rebelling against the Light within 2. By the help of Supernatural Revelation even the Scriptures our Reason can tell us our Consciences can convince us of our duty herein And we dare not shut our eyes against the Truth lest we perish for ever But were it not for Scriptures our Light within could say nothing here To conclude Since something which the meer Light within could not reveal hath been the Duty of Gods people from Adam in Innocency to the Apostles days it followeth that in all that time the Light within was not their full Rule And certainly that Rule that comes short of what the Church in the Apostles days went to Heaven by cannot be a full Rule to us Arg. 2. That which doth not reveal many duties which we are bound to perform cannot be to us a full Rule and safely bring us to Glory A full Rule reveals all our duty whatever God would have his Church do and is pleasing to him But this Light in every man doth not reveal many duties which we are bound to perform We are bound to believe that the Father is God the Son God the Holy Ghost God and that these three are one God But these are high mysterious Truths which without Supernatural Revelation the Light in every man can no way discover We are bound to believe the Resurrection of our Bodies a fundamental Article of our Faith but Reason cannot assure us of this to seek for a new Birth but meer Reason cannot apprehend this nor the tendency of it no more than whither the wind goeth To pray that Gods Kingdom might come his Spirit might govern within us and cause us to bring forth fruit hearing the Word But this is a Mystery Mark 4.11 20. We are bound not to have the least motion or inclination in our hearts to sin against God Thou shalt not covet Consequently to repent of any such Motion fly to Christs Blood for the pardon of it but by the light within Paul had not known Lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet We are bound to believe and repent of our Fall in Adam and consequently fly to Christ for recovery but laying aside Scriptures this light cannot reveal that Adams eating the fruit of a Tree should be our Fall We are bound to keep the first day of the week a Sabbath to the Lord one day in seven we are enjoyned in the fourth Commandment the seventh from the Creation is not now the day Col. 2.6 Let no man judge you in Meat or Drink or in respect of a holy day or the New Moon or of the Sabbath days It must then be one of the other six and which doth the Scripture point out unto so much as the first John was in the Spirit on the Lords day And the Disciples met on the first day of the week to break Bread The bare light in every man cannot shew this We are bound to celebrate the Ordinance of Baptism Go Baptize The Ordinance of the Supper Do this By all this it appears this light cannot be a full Rule As much duty as it can reveal ought to be done these things which it cannot reveal ought not to be left undone If we would safely get to Heaven we must with Caleb fully follow the Lord obey him in all his Commandments and not those only this Light reveals Herod could do many things Arg. 3. My chief Argument is this That which reveals not Christ cannot possibly be a full Rule or by it self any Rule at all to Heaven But the Light in every man without Supernatural Revelation can make no discovery of Christ Therefore it cannot possibly be a full Rule or by it self be any Rule at all that can guide any to Salvation The Major I prove That that reveals not Christ can of it self be no Rule at all to Heaven Two things will clear this 1. There is no Salvation but by Christ God hath indeed exalted Christ to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to Israel and forgiveness of Sins But there is not Salvation in any other Acts 4 12. For there is none other Name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ John 14.6 No man cometh unto the Father but by me As there is but one God so there is but one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 They that are without Christ are without God without hope Ephes 2.12 2. There is no Interest in Christ without Knowledge and Faith in him This is that which the promise
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