THE True Light Shining in Darkness And dispelling the Mists of Errour arising from the Darkness of Man's heart c. promoted by the Prince of Darkness against the Truth of God in the matter of our JUSTIFICATION Shewing That by the deeds of the Law or Man 's own Righteousâ—ess no flesh can or shall be justified in the sight of God The First Part. By THO. TAYLOR the meanest and unworthiest of the Servants and Ministers of Jesus Christ and now Pastor to a small Congregational Church in Cambridge Rom. 1.21 22. Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkned professing themselves to be wise they became fools LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1693. TO THE READER WHoever thou art that Readest this small Treatise upon so great a Subject as the matter of mans Justification before God know that thou art concerned to consider seriously and weigh well in thy mind what is here written without prejudice forasmuch as thou art the man to whom this word is sent either for the informing and undeceiving thee in this matter if thou be'st deceived Or for the confirming thee in the truth and strengthning thy Faith in Christ. If thou be'st already by the teachings of Gods holy Spirit one that knowest him that is true and arâ— in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 5.20 And we know the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal Life And it is immediately added Little Children keep your selves from Idols And though there be many Idols in mans heart yet this is one of the greatest and most dangerous and hardest to be departed from a mans own righteousness if it be but as it were by the works of the Law And as we know that an Idol is nothing but the Image and Likeness of that which it is not So verily this mans own righteousness is nothing a meer Imagination of Mans own heart exalted against God which is not nor cannot be in Gods sight and so it should be in thine Abominable to thee and abhorred by thee as it is to him Job 15.14 15 16. What is man that he should be clean And he which is born of a Woman that he should be righteous Behold he putteh no trust in his Saints yea the heavens are not clean in his sight How much more abominable and filthy is man which drinketh iniquity like water And 9.30 31. If I wash my self with Snow-water and make my hands never so clean yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch and mine own cloaths shall abhor me And Luke 16.15 And he said unto them Ye are they which justifie your selves before men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongsâ— men is abomination in the sight of God Read therefore this small Treatise pray tâ— God that thou mayest read it without prejuâ—dice To help thee so to do as much as in me lieth I declare unto thee three things namely 1. That I am not ingaged in Spirit worldly interest or design with any party now engaged disputing and contending one against other about these matters further than for the truths sake and so far as the truth of the Gospel obligeth me to defend and bear witness to the same as it may be found to lodge and dwell on the one side or on the other in any part of it And perhaps it will sufficiently appear that I am not of that party that may boast much of this Doctrine which is most true in it self and yet did not give proof and assurance of hope that themselves are sincere and sound in the Faith of Christ. The Doctrine may be true in its self and yet their Faith in the receiving of it be but a dead and a vain Faith which will never save them as James 2.17 18 19 20. Even so Faith if it hath not Works is dead being alone Yea a man may say Thou hast Faith and I have Works shew me thy Faith without thy Works and I will shew thee my Faith by my works Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well The Devils also believe and tremble But wilt thou know O vain man that Faith without Works is dead And ungodly men still though boasting of the Grace of God in works yet denying indeed the only Lord God and our Saviour Jesus Christ by turning the grace of God into lasciviousness Jud. 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. And too many such Professors we have now who in Spirit and Practice Course of Life and Conversation practically deny what they verbally profess as they had there Tit. 1.15 16. Unto the pure all things are pure But unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their mind and Consciâ—nce is defiled They profess that they know God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate But let not this offend thee for truth is truth still and will be for ever Hebrews 13.7 8. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Phil. 3.17 18 19 20 21. Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their Belly And whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things For our conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashon'd like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself 2. Here thou wilt find no carnal weapons as Oratory enticing words of mans wisdom excellency of speech fierie if not perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth No reasonings after the Flesh and the Wisdom of the World which cometh to naught But evidence and demonstration of the Spirit with power 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5. For though we walk in the Flesh i. e. in the body we do not war after the Flesh i. e. after the carnal mind which is corrupt and weak For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong
holds Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 1 Cor. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. And I brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mens wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power That your Faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the wisdom of this World or of the Princes of this World that come to nought 3. That the great truth herein declared opened demonstrated and applyed is not mine nor of mine own but is the truth of God in Christ Jesus ministred by the Spirit to the holy Prophets of old and witnessed by them who spake not of themselves but as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 For the Prophecy came not in the old time by the will of man but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost And declared in the fulness of time by the Son of God who came from the bosom of the Father John 1.18 No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him And John 3.31 32 33 34. He that cometh from above is above all he that is of the earth is earthly and speaketh of the Earth he that cometh from Heaven is above all And what he hath seen and heard that he testifieth and no man receiveth his testimony He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God For God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him And also witnessed by the Holy Apostles chosen of God to that end Upon which testimony of the holy Prophets and Apostles as the Foundation Christ himself being the Chief or Head-corner stone the whole Church of God is built Ephes. 2.20 And are built upon the foudation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself be-the chief Corner-stone so that he that refuseth despiseth and rejecteth this truth in the ministry of us poor weak earthen vessels despiseth not man but God as Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me And 1 Thes. 4.8 He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit Therefore thou art obliged to pay all honour reverence obedience and subjection to truth because it is Gods truth and not mans and to receive the word because it is Gods word and not ours And to receive the Word as it is indeed the word of God and not as the word of Man is the mystery of effectual or saving Faith Whereby the Faith of Gods Elect is distinguished from the common and temporary Faith of Hypocrites and temporary professors 1 Thes. 2.13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Therefore whatever infirmities thou seest or may see in us and whatever temptations in our flesâ— weaknesses wants necessities emptineâ—s nothingness let not the the word of God be refused or despised But receive it as if Christ himself was present on Earth in human shape to speak to thee with his own mouth Gal. 4.13 14 15 16. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first And my temptation which was in my Flesh ye despised not nor rejected but received me as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus Where is then the blessedness you speak of for I bear you record that if it had been possible ye would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them to me Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth Therefore ask thy heart this question is this the truth of God or no If thy heart answereth No I do not like it nor the persons that preach it Then to the Law and to the testimony to the holy Prophets and Apostles and to Christ himself Whose testimonies are all distinctly recorded and then ask thy heart this question again Darest thou with a stiff neck and uncircumcised heart always resist the Holy Ghost as thy Fathers did so dost thou dare to do Acts 7.51 Ye stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do always resist the Holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye If thou shouldest dare to refuse all the Prophets and Apostles who spake on earth yet there is one more who speaketh from Heaven even the Son of God himself and darest thou refuse him also Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven Consider therefore in thy heart that whatever we are or may be esteemed to be who are the poor Ministers of Christ yet though we be nothing let the Holy Prophets and Apostles be esteemed as something for they shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19.28 And Jesus said unto them Verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel And the true Church of the living Ged which is cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet doth wear them as a Crown of twelve Stars upon her head And wilt thou trample them under thy feet Rev. 12.1 And there appeared a great wonder in Heaven a Woman cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars But however though we be nothing yet let the Son of God Jesus Christ himself be something For verily God the Father thinks him to be something When he hath given him a name that is above every name that is in Heaven and that is on the Earth That every Knee shall bowe and every Tongue confess to him as Phil. 2.9 10 11 12. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name That at the name of Jesus every Knee shall bowe of things in Heaven or things in Earth and things under the Earth And that every Tongue shall confess
you all as my crown and my joy in the Day of Jesus Christ And though I cannot say of you all that I have begotten you by the Gospel no blessed be God that you were in Christ before my coming amongst you and that others labours were blest for that end to you yet this also I can say of some of you now in the Church and of others not yet joyned to it that I have begotten you through the Gospel unto Jesus Christ and that you are the seal of my Ministry and the proof of Christ speaking in me and by my Ministry unto your Hearts effectually yet in you all and concerning every one of you I do rejoyce in three things Namely 1. Your Election of God known of us and manifestly appearing in you by the Sanctification of the spirit unto Obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ as 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledg of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ and 2 Thes. 2.13 14. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Your abiding in the Truth and the Truth abiding in you and that you stand fast both in the Faith and love of the Truth that you may be saved When so many have departed from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and are as is to be feared given up to strong delusion to believe a lie that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness as 1 Tim. 4.1 2 Thes. 2.11 12. Which sheweth the unction of the holy one to be in you as 1 John 2.20.21 But ye have an unction from the holy One and ye know all things I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth But because ye know it and that no lie is of the truth and again v. 26 27. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you But as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him 28. And now little Children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming And in this I do rejoyce and will rejoyce in and over you all your stedfast abiding and walking in the Truth when there are so many deserters as 2 John 1. Whom I love in the truth and not I only but also all they that have known the truth for the truth sake which dwelleth in us and shall be with us for ever And 3 John 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my Children walk in truth and again John 8.31 32. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free 3. Your order in the Faith and fellowship of the Gospel as a Church which appeareth in your professed and declared subjection to the Government which Christ hath set in his Church and that because it is Christs appointment that so it should be and his Spirit works in you that willing and ready subjection and obedience as a fruit of your Faith upon which dependeth and followeth that blessed Peace that ye now have both in your own Consciences and among your selves it 's prophesied of Christ Isa. 9.7 Of the encrease of his government and of his peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever This belongs to the Kingly Office of Christ to whom only it appertaineth to give and appoint Laws for his Church and they must not appoint Laws for themselves nor can Man or any sort of Men in the World appoint or give Laws to the Church of Christ 't is Christ prerogative Royal and he alone sits and rains as King in Zion as Ps. 2.6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion Now this Government which Christ hath set in his Church is by a Faithful and approved Ministry as Pastors and Teachers freely chosen by the whole Church according to Christs mind and rightly set over them in the Lord as he hath appointed them to be Ephes. 4.11 12 13. And being so set as Acts 14.23 The Church and all the Members are to obey such and to have them in high esteem for their works sake and to be subject unto them in the true light and conduct of the word shining in their Ministry and therefore they are called Stars and Angels or Messengers from the Ministerial light and conduct they give to the Church from Christ himself the Sun of Righteousness and the Angel of the Covenant as Rev. 1.20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the even Churches The Churches therefore I say are to be subject to them and to obey them in the light of Truth shining in their Ministry from Christ the head as the Stars do shine in the Firmament with their lesser lights all borrowed from the Sun and for the proof of this let these Scriptures be considered and well weighed Heb. 13.7 8. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever And again v. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you And 1 Tim. 5.17 18 19. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine For the scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox that treadeth out the corn and The labourer is worthy of his reward Against an elder receive not an accusation but before or under two or three witnesses Where the rule of the Ministry is secured of the double honour of Maintenance and Reverence and 1 Thes. 5.12 13. And we beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you And to esteem them very highly for their works sake And be at peace
thou beest cloathed with change of Raiment i. e. the perfect Righteousness of Jesus Christ Which unless thou puttest on by Faith neither thy person nor service can be accepted of him For as there is no salvation out of Christ so also out of Christ and his Righteousness there is no acceptation to any person under Heaven And that thou Oh man mayest yet be more fully convinced that thou canst not stand before God in the best of thine own Righteousness but only and alone in this Righteousness of God which is by the Faith of Christ unto all and upon all them that believe Consi-that thou canst not stand before thine own Conscience in the best of thine own Righteousness And if thy Conscience be an awakened and enlightened Conscience it will witness against thee yea it will judge and condemn thee in the best of thy Inherent Righteousness of inward qualâ—ficatâ—ons and external performances We will suppose and thou mayest say thou hast Faith but hast thou not unbeâ—ief as well as Faith And is not thy unbelief more than thy Faith And many times dost thou not act at least in some caseâ— as if thou hadst no Faith And doth not thy Conscience reprove and judge as Christ doth his Disciples Mat. 4.40 Thou wilt say also thou dost repent and thou hatest thaâ— which is evil well but dost thou not find also impenitency and hardness of Heart at least some times and in some cases Dost thou not find thy Heart sometimes to be without all tenderness And to be even hardened from Gods fear so that neither the Word of God nor yet the Rod of God do make impression upon thee Isa. 63.17 Yea neither the Mercies nor the Judgments of God dost thou lay to Heart as thou oughtest to do Isa. 42.24 25. Thou wilt say thou art Humble but is there not Pride also in thy Heart And doth not Pride prevail many times in thy Heart as it did in Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32.25 And doth not thy Conscience reprove thee for thy Pride as his did verse 26 Thou wilt say also that thou dost Love God but dost thou love him withall thy Heart and all thy Soul and all thy Strength Dost not thou love thy Carnal Self also and the Creature more than God at least sometimes and in some particular cases And doth not the love of thy Self and of the Creature prevail above all the love of God in thy Heart And so of the rest of all thy Inherent Qualifications And then for thy external performances thou wilt say that thou prayest and callest upon God in thy Closeâ— in thy Family in and with the Congreation of the People of God And thou hearest the word and that with joy and delight thou receivest the seals of Gods Covenant and thou joynest fasting with thy Prayers and chastenest thy Soul therewith Well but Oh Man doth not sin mix it self with thy best duties and iniquity creep into all thy holy things And doth not thine own Conscience tell thee and reprove thee for these things And thou art put to it after all to cry out Lord be merciful to me a Sinner a Wretch an unclean thing Now if this be true and these things be so that thou canst not stand before thine own enlightened and awakened Conscience in the best of thine own Righteousness either of inherent qualifications or external duties How canst thou think to stand before God who is greater than thy Heart or Conscience and knoweth all things as 1 Joh. 3.20 Yea he knoweth more evil by thee and seeth more sin and iniquity in thee and in thy holy things than ever thou didst or canst do Psal. 19.12 Jer. 17.9 10. Therefore he is greater than thy Heart and knoweth all things as thine own Heart condemns thee in all those things he will condemn thee also for thou canst not stand before him in these rags in these filthy rags Is it not therefore Oh man whoever thou art that hearest the word of God this day I say is it not thy duty and thy interest also to comply with and submit unto this Righteousness of God and seek a better Righteousness out of thy self by Faith in his Son Is not this Righteousness better than thy own Are not the royal robes better than filthy rags Canst thou stand before the great King of Heaven and Earth in filthy garments And will he accept thee Will not his Wrath burn against thee and Say friend how camest thou in hither not having on the wedding garment and will not he say Take him hence bind him hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth And wilt not thou be left speechless and without excuse as Mat. 22.11 12 13 14. Oh therefore put on this wedding garment and wear iâ— always when thou comest before the King and treadest in his Courts be sure thou beest in it having it on and never dare to look God in the Face without it as Phil. 3.9 But be found in it whilst thou livest when thou comest to die and at the Day of Judgment That the shame of thy nakedness do not appear to thy everlasting confusion Infer 5. But then again fifthly Hence we may also Infer and Aâ—gue how greatly it is the duty and work and as well the interest also of every Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be himself well instructed in the knowledge of this Righteousness of God and understandingly faithfully and clearly to Preach and declare this Righteousness of God which is by the Faith of Christ unto all and upon all them that believe And that it is your Duty and Interest to understand and know this Righteousness of God and to be well instructed in and acquainted with this Mistery of Faith and to Hold it in a pure Conscience as the Apostle doth command 1 Tim. 3.9 will appear by the Considerations following 1 Consid. This Righteousness of God by Faith in his Son Jesus Christ is the great foundation truth of the Gospel and as it concerns every wise and skilful builder to look well to his foundation upon which the whole building and his success therein and also his reputation as a workman doth depend So it doth greatly concern every Gospel Minister that he may be a skilful builder in the Church of God to look well to the foundation of the Faith and Hope not only of himself but also of the whole Church of Gods Elect For other foundation can no man lay than what is already laid which is Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever as 2 Cor. 3.11 If a Minister lay his foundation in the works of the Law and mans Righteousness it will never hold whatever hope or confidence he builds upon this foundation in himself or others will certainly fall when his work shall come to be tryed and himself and all those that hear him and whom he builds upon this foundation will certainly perish unless
among your selves This is the order and Government which Christ hath set in his Church upon which their peace doth depend And where thiâ— Government of Christ is not submitted unto and kept but is rejected and broken there is an end of Peace there followeth nothing but confusion and every evil work as James 3.16 To prevent which Christ hath set Order and Government in the Church yea in all the Churches of Christ as 1 Cor. 14.33 As it is in a Mans Heart if the Government of Christ be not there if Christ ruleth not there by his Word and Spirit there is no Peace to that Man There is no Peace saith my God to the wicked Even so it is in a Church if Christs Goverment be not there there is no Peace but strife and bitter envying confusion and every evil work And I will therefore Rejoyce and do Rejoyce in this concerning you all beholding and seeing your order and the stedfastness of your Faith in Christ as Col. 2.5 6. For though I be absent in the flesh yet am I with you in spirit joying and beholding your order and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. For this order floweth from the stedfastness of your Faith in Christ as the breach of it in others doth emerge from the unstedfastness of their Faith As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him v. 7. Rooted and built up in him and stablished in the faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving Beware lest any man spoil you Keep therefore and hold fast this Faith and order and this will be your wisdom and understanding in the sight of all Men as Deut. 4.5 Ephes. 5.17 18 19 20. And this is the salt or true wisdom commended to us by Christ himself which will preserve you in purity and peace and keep you from Corrupting as Mark 9.50 Salt is good but if the salt have lost his saltness wherewith will you season it Have salt in your selves and have peace one with another And this as it is and will be your glory so it will be our rejoycing in the Day of Christ Heb. 13.17 And 1 John 2.28 That we i. e. we your Elders and Ministers may rejoyce in the Day of Christ. As ye have therefore obeyed and in a great Conflict and Tryal of your Faith and Patience have testified yout obedience to the Truth through the Spirit So I beseech you work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure And be in nothing terrified by your adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition but unto you of salvation and that of God For to you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but alsâ— to suffer for his sake Having the samâ— conflict which ye saw to be in me Phil 1.28 29. Now whether I live or die whether I be present in the body and so absent from the Lord or whether I be absent from the body that I may be present with the Lord stâ—and fast in one Spirit with one mind striving together for the Faith of the Gospel and so fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love of one accord and of one mind And the God of peace shall be with you and shall bruise Satan under your Feet shortly and shall make those that say they are Jews and are not but are the synagogue of Satan to come and worship before you feet and to know that he hath loved you as Rev. 3.8 9. Amen THE True Light In the matter of our Justification before GOD. Rom. 3.20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledg of sin THIS Text is an Epiphonema or closing speech wherein the holy Apostle Paul gives us the just and right conclusion or result of the whole matter with respect to Mans justification before God and doth Peremptorily determine in the negative that by the deeds or works of the Law no flesh can or shall be justified in his sight and brings it in with the illative note therefore as the undeniable consequence and true result of his whole Argument in the two foregoing Chapters wherein he hath fully proved as he saith v. 9. of this chap. that Jews and Gentiles are all under Sin 1. The Gentiles he clearly proves in the first Chapter to be under Sin in that when they knew God or might have known him by the light of Nature in his works of Creation and Providence as Rom. 1.19 20 they did not glorifie him as God but contrary to the light of nature debased and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the Image of corruptible Man v. 23 24 25. Had they but used their poor dim light of nature aright to have paid some suitable Veneration to the glory of the Godhead in worshiping of him they might have escaped many vile affections and actions amongst themselves For which they could not so much as pretend light or nature and of the wickedness or danger whereof they could not so much as pretend ignorance but as a punishment of their impiety towards God God gave them up to vile affections and unseemly actions amongst themselves as v. 26 27 28 29 30 31 And these Sins they not only committed against the light of nature but delighted in though convicted in their own Conscience that the issue thereof could be no less than eternal Death and Damnation as v. 32. Who knowing the judgment of God c. So severely but justly doth God punish wilful Idolatry and false worship a Sin against the first Table by giving such a person or People up to all manner of Sins and most horrible lusts and abominable practices even against Human Nature to their own Destruction Nothing being more righteous and just than that they who will not give unto God the glory of his own worship should be given up of God to work their own Damnation and Destruction see 2 Thes. 2.10 11 12. 2. The Jews he as clearly proves to be under Sin in the second Chapter For whereas they rested in the law and made their boast of God as Rom. 2. v. 17 18 19 20. yet they transgressed that law which they so much boasted of and through transgressing thereof dishonoured God and caused his name to be blasphemed amongst the Gentiles as v. 21 22 23. And therefore the Jews as well as the Gentiles are left without excuse and the mouth of them both equally stopped being become guilty before God The Gentiles by Sinning without law yet against the light and law of Nature as Rom. 1.20.32 c. The Jews by Sinning under the law and whilst they judged the poor Gentiles became more obnoxious and inexcusable themselves in that they did the same or worse things as Rom. 2. v. 11 12. And
attempt and therefore beware and take heed of it it is disobedience in the highest degree 1 Pet. 2.6 7 8. Verses This is Spiritual wickedness and therefore greater Spiritual wickedness is that which hath in it spirits of wickedness and therefore more strong and vigorous We see by experience a little quantity of Spirits extracted by Art hath much more vigour and strength in it than a far larger quantity in the common bulk Where the spirits are not united but dissipated in the common matter vis unita fortior Here are the spirits of many sins united in one in this going about to establish a mans own righteousness in opposition to the righteousness of God For 1 st Here is the Sin of ignorance not 〈◊〉 invincible ignorance for that cannot be iâ—â—puted as Sin to any but of willful or willinâ— ignorance as the Apostle Peter reproves thâ— scoffers of the last times 2 Pet. 3.5 〈◊〉 this they are willingly ignorant of c. Theâ— might have known if they would but theâ— were not willing to know they were willing to be ignorant that so they might scoff thâ— more freely at the promise of his coming And so here men are willingly ignorant oâ— Gods righteousness that they might establish their own So Rom. 10.3 For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness and going abouâ— to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God And v. 2. For I bear them record they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge This ignorance and want of knowledge 〈◊〉 them is no extenuation or excuse of their sin but an aggravation of it as that whereby they i. e. the Jews are left without excuse because they might and ought to have known better seeing the whole dispensation aeconomy of the Ceremonial Law was in the proper scope and tendency of it to lead them out of themselves unto Christ to seek righteousness by Faith in him and upon this account they are as much without â—xcuse as the Gentiles were Rom. 1.19 20. Who when they knew God or might have â—nown him yet did not glorifie him as God 2 ly Here is the Sin of Enmity and Rebellion of the Will against God They submitted not themselves to the Righteousness of God ' â—is a Meiosis wherein more is implyed than exprest They submitted not but rebelled and set themselves against the Righteousness of God from the enmity of their Carnal mind And Christ saith unto this Generation of Men John 5.40 And ye will not come unto me that ye might have Life 3. Here is the Sin of Pride Going about to establish their own they submitted not themselves to the righteousness of God Going about to establish their own Righteousness here is the Pride of mans Heart he will exalt himself he will have somewhat of his own he will exalt his own Righteousness against the Righteousness of God and such is the Pride of man by nature that if he cannot have Righteousness and Life in himself he will not be beholden to another for it and if left to himself will rather perish eternally than go out of himself to seek Righteousness and Life in Christ. 4 ly Here also is the Sin of obstinacy anâ— willful reâ—using and rejecting the Righteousness of God in Christ though infinitely beâ—ter than their own and persisting thereiâ— in opposition to all the clear Light of God Word and those convictions of the Spirit fastned thereby upon their minds As the holy man Stephen tells them plainly Act 7.51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised iâ— Heart and Ears ye do always resist the Holy Ghost As your Fathers did so do ye So that all these things with some others which might be mentioned do make it plainly appear to be a very sinful and wicked attempt in man to go about to establish his own Righteousness But 3. It is also a very dangerous attempt none can engage in this attempt but with the utmost peril and loss of his Soul if persisted in a mans own righteousness is a stumbling stone at which they stumble and so fall and perish eternally So fall upon that stone which breaks them to pieces and provoke till it falls upon them and grinds them to powder Namely Christ the Foundation stone in Sion So Rom. 9.32 For theâ— stumbled at that stumbling stone as it is written Behold I lay in in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence But who are they that stumbled But those that sought not Righteousness by Faith in Christ but as it were by the works of the Law And wherefore did they stumble at Christ and his Righteousness But because they went about to establish their own Their zeal their madness for a Righteousness of their own made them blind and not able to see the Righteousness of God made them enemies unto and haters of Christ and his Righteousness and in all the world none such enemies to Christ and the Righteousness of God as these none such inveterate Persecutors of Christ and his Holy Apostles and that spake against the things Preached by them as these men did contradicting and blaspheming Act. 13.45 1 Thes. 2.15 16. Their Zeal for their own Righteousness and made them exceedingly mad raging and foaming out their own shame against the truth of the Gospel viz. The Doctrine of Free Grace and Justification by Faith in Christ alone without the Deeds or Works of the Law Use. 3. This Doctrine speaketh by way of Exhortation and that first to Sinners and secondly to Saints first to them that are out of Christ and secondly to them that are in Christ. 1. To Sinners and such as are out Christ if there be no hope for you no poâ—sibility for you to obtain Righteousness anâ— Justification by the works of the Law in thâ— sight of God then be Exhorted to escapâ— for your Lives and fly for refuge unto Jesuâ— Christ the hope the only hope the 〈◊〉 hope set before you in the Gospel Yoâ— have no hope by the Law but there 〈◊〉 hope for you in Jesus Christ Grace for thâ— greatest Sinners in the World There iâ— hope in Christ for the Jew and for the Gentile There is no man upon Earth so holy that can be justified by the deeds of the Law And there is no man upon Earth so sinful and wicked but he may obtain Righteousness and be justified by Faith in Jesus Christ Rom. 9.30 What shall we say then that thâ— Gentiles who followed not after the Law of Righteousness have attained unto righteousness even the Righteousness which is of Faith Oh therefore make haste and fly for refuge unto Jesus Christ. The true Heirs of Promise Heb. 6.17 are described by this Character ver 18. Who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hopâ— set before us And all that are or shall be Heirs of Promise must and shall fly for refuge to lay hold upon this hope which is Jesus Christ who is entered within the vail who when
Rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh these two must go together in the heart and walking of a Christian You cannot rejoyce in Christ Jesus if you have or put any confidence in the flesh and ye cannot have confidence in the flesh if ye do aright rejoyce in Christ Jesus To have confidence in the flesh is to have trust and confidence in the Law and in the Deeds and Works of the Law done by you either before or after your laying hold upon Christ as your Refuge the internal Deeds of the Law which are the qualifications virtues and graces of the mind and the external Deeds of the Law which are the external actions of thy Life and Conversation both with respect to God and Man done and wrought in conformity to the holy Law of God so far as thou art able to reach it The Duties of the first Table and of the second those which respect Religion towardâ— God and those which respect Righteousnesâ— towards Man as they are or can be performed by thee these all are comprehended in the word flesh as appeareth plainly by the Apostle Phil. 3.4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh if any other man thinketh that he hath whereof to trust in the flesh I more And then he addeth all his Legal qualifications priviledges and performances before his Conversion v. 5 6. Circumcised the eight day c. and then he adds all his own Righteousness of the Law in the internal and external Deeds of it after his Conversion and Faith in Christ v. 9. And be found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith So that all his own Righteousness both before and after Conversion he sets in opposition to the Righteousness of God by Faith in Christ and this all this that is a mans own Righteousness he calleth flesh and forbids and denies any confidence or trust to be put in it either by himself or by any other man so as that he or any other person should think or judge or reckon himself righteous and justified in Gods sight by his own Righteousness either of inherent qualifications or external obedience no no this is abominable this the Apostle abhors in himself and deters all others from But on the other hand to trust alone unto Christ and rely and depend upon the perfect Righteousness of Christ which is the Righteousness of God and is made ours by Faith and not by Works this is to rejoyce in Christ Jesus but to have confidence in our own Righteousness this is to have confidence in the flesh And there are two reasons why all a mans own Righteousness is called flesh 1. Because it is weak and unable to bear the weight of mans hope and confidence as touching his being righteous thereby or justified before God and thus the Horses of the Egyptians are said to be flesh not spirit because of their weakness and inability to answer the sinful trust and confidence which the Jews had in them Isa. 31. v. 3. And 2. Because it is polluted sinful and unclean by the infirmity and imperfection of grace in the best and by the mixtures of sin and corruption that attend us in our best Duties as Isa. 64.6 But we are all as an unclean thing and our Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags and therefore not to be trusted in and relied upon when we come before and have to do with God Now therefore ye that are in Christ and desire to rejoyce in Christ Jesus have see that ye have no confidence in the flesh covet earnestly the best gifts strive after the highest attainments of inherent grace and holiness but trust not to put no confidence in your own Works and Righteousness for by the Works of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight 3. And last of all See that ye worship God in the Spirit Phil. 3.2 For we are the true Circumcision which worship God in the spirit rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh So that to your rejoycing in Christ Jesus and having no confidence in the flesh you must add this also To worship God in the spirit Now to worship God in the spirit implieth these three things namely 1. To Worship God in the Spirit is to Worship God in Christ those of the Concision spoken of in the beginning of Phil. 3. Who trusted to Circumcision and the Works of the Law or their own Righteousness Worshipped God in the Deeds and Works of the Law which the Apostle here calls Flesh and so they Worshipped God not in the Spirit but in the Flesh They rested in their own Deeds and Works and looked not to Christ Jesus who was the End Perfection and Substance of the Ceremonial Law And so indeed their Worship terminated in their own Righteousness and they did not by Faith go out of themselves unto Christ and his Righteousness and so they did not Worship God in the Spirit i. e. Evangelically and by Faith in Christ but legally and presuming upon their own Merit and Worthiness without Christ and so all their Worshipping was Carnal and in the Flesh after the Old Covenant and Works but not Spiritual and Evangelical i. e. after the New Covenant and Grace To Worship God therefore in Christ and by Faith in him as your only Righteousness and always to come unto the Father by the Son this is indeed to Worship him in the Spirit relying upon his Mediation Merit Blood and Righteousness as the Mediator of the New Covenant and not upon the Old Covenant and Works 2. To Worship God in the Spirit is to Worship him sincerely and with a true heart and thus to Worship God in the Spirit is to Worship him in truth Joh. 4 23 24. But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to Worship him God is a Spirit and they that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and in Truth These Concisionisâ— did Worship God not in Truth but iâ— outward Shew and Hyporisie for they Worshiped him in the outward Circumcision oâ— the Flesh but the inward Circumcision of the Heart which is in the Spirit and Soul and Mind that was wanting that they looked not after Thus whilst they doted upon and boasted of the external Sign they lost they minded not the thing signified i. e. the internal Grace and Spirit and there was not that in the Heart and Spirit within that might accord and stand with and answer to Circumcision without i. e. the Answer of a good Conscience no the Conscience was neither sprinkled with the Blood of Christ nor sanctified by his Spirit and hence they did not they could not draw near to God with a true heart nor in that full assurance of Faith that God would either hear
or accept them in their Worshiping of him A guilty Conscience and an unsanctified Heart is always hypocritical and playeth false and loose in worshiping God hence Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water and the heart must first be sprinkled from an evil Conscience and body washed with pure water by the Blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ before any Man can worship God in Spirit and in Truth and I do and dare too affirm it from the Word of God that there is not a true and spiritual Worshipper of God in all the World but such as are so inwardly sprinkled and washed with the Blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ all others do worship God carnally and hypocritically not in Spirit and in Truth not sincerely and inwardly Oh therefore you that are in Christ see look to it that you worship God in the Spirit and in Truth for else there is none in all the World to do it 3. To worship God in the Spirit is to worship him in and according to his own holy Institutions Ordinances and Appointments and not according to Humane Inventions not according to Mens Traditions there is neither Spirit nor Truth in that Worship that hath not the stamp of Divine Authority upon it Voluntary Humility and Will-worship and all things of mans devising in the Worship of God and that hold not the Head Christ Jesus can minister no grace or spiritual nourishment to the Members and Joynts of the Body Eph. 4.16 compared with Col. 2.18 19 20 21 22 23. A little Leaven will leaven the whole lump and a little Superstition and Will-worship after thâ— Doctrines and Commandments of Men 〈◊〉 render the whole Worship vain and fruitleâ—â— to your selves as well as displeasing provokeâ—ing and unacceptable to God and so wheâ—â— all the ends of Worship are lost it becomâ— altogether vain as Mat. 15.9 But in vaâ—â— they do worship me teaching for Doctrine tâ—â— Commandments of men and who hath â—â—â—quired these things at your hands will 〈◊〉 day dash in pieces the confidence of all sucâ— Worshippers and evidence the vanity as weâ—â— as the impiety of all such Worship Humanâ— Traditions and Impositions of Men undeâ— what name or pretence soever whether of Eâ—â—clesiastical or of holy learned and judicioâ— persons or the Authority of the Civil Magistrate are not sufficient to warrant us iâ— our worshiping of God No no we muâ—â— to the Law and to the Testimony and iâ— they speak not according to this Word therâ— is no light or morning in them And wheâ—â— men have once rejected the Word of thâ— Lord what Wisdom is in them yea whaâ— Holiness is in them what Learning is in them yea professing themselves to be wise they are become fools and why then should you that are in Christ follow them or be led by them wherein they do not follow Christ or are led by his Word and Spirit 'T is time for us to leave them who have left the Head Jesus Christ and have gone a whoring from under their Gods What though all the World wander after and worship the Beast yet those whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life must not comply with them Rev. 13.7 8. Ye that are in Christ are the Temple of the Living God for God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols wherefore come out from amongst them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. And again Rev. 18 4. And having therefore dearly Beloved these promises viz. of God's receiving us and of being a Father to us and our being his Sons and his Daughters as before Let us cleanse our selvet from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 And let it be considered by you that if you be rejected of the World for not worshiping with them after their Rudiments ye shall be received of God in Christ as the true Worshippers that worship him in spirit and truth i. e. that worship him in Christ sincerely and according to his own Institution and whether it is better to please God or Men to be rejected of Men and to be received of God or to be received of Men and rejected of God judge ye for to be jâ—stified by Works and our own Righteousness and to worship God by Humane Inventions are equally hateful and abominable with God tho' highly esteemed amongst Men Jer. 44.4 Oh do not this abominable thing that I hate And Luk. 16.15 Ye are they which justifie your selves before Men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongst Men is abomination in the sight of God And for us to think within our selves that we can be justified in the sight of God by our own Works or Righteousness or that we can worship God by Humane Inventions or Mens Traditions is to think that God is altogether such an one as our selves for which certainly he will reprove us Psal. 50.21 22. And there is a secret yet strong connexion betwixt these two grand Errours viz. to be justified by Works and to worship God by and after our own Inventions for they commonly go together and stand and fall together And those that are corrupt or loose in the Doctrine of Justification are accordingly as corrupt and loose in Worship And therefore when a Professing People grow loose in the Worship of God 't is an ill Omen and just ground of godly jealousie and fear that such are unsound and loose in the Point of Justification Hence Gal. 4.8 9 10 11. And that they are not fast knit by a sincere Faith unto Christ the Head Col. 2.19 20 21 22. Let us therefore as many as are perfect be thus minded to rejoyce in Christ Jesus have no confidence in the flesh and worship God in the Spirit then and not till then are we the tâ—ue Circumcision then and not till then do we walk after the spirit and not after the flesh As therefore ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him And the God of Peace shalâ— be with you Amen The Second Part of the True Light Shining in Darkness To give to us the knowledge of Salvation to guide our feet into the way of Peace OR The Righteousness of God Manifested opened and declared as the True and only Matter of our Justification before GOD through Faith in Jesus Christ. Being one Sermon or Doctrine of five more remaining upon Rom. 3.21 22. But now the Righteousness of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Even the Righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference Preached first in and about the City
and in a state of Death and Condemnation they were not justified from Eternity no not one of them that Live and are Justified by Faith in Christ for they all and always thus judge that they were all dead i e. condemned and not justified before they believed in Christ and do freely confess the truth and therefore not one of them doth profess or can profess any such Faith that he was Justified from Eternity Part. 6. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity denyeth and overthroweth the Doctrine of Regeneration or new Birth and the necessity thereof which Christ himself doth plainly affirm and urge upon every man in this World John 3.3 5 8. and so do all the holy Prophets and Apostles as may be easily proved if there were any so bold as to deny it Now he that is Justified by Faith in Christ and hath this power and priviledge given unto him to become a Son of God as every true believer hath John 1.11 12. he also is born of God as John 1.13 which were born not of blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God as James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth not one Believer and so Justified person in this World but he is born of God and begotten of God and so is born again as 1 Pet. 1.23 being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever ver 25. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is Preached unto you so that not one person is or can be justified by Faith but at the same time and by the same word of Faith Preached to him and Believed by him he is also born again he therefore that saith he was justified from Eternity saith also that he was born of God from Eternity and he that was born of God from Eternity needeth not nor can be born again for Regeneration is but once and those that were born of God from Eternity are far from being new born Babes as all true Believers are after their first Conversion and Calling and as the Apostle Peter calleth and styleth them 1 Pet. 2.2 3. Part. 7. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity denieth destroyeth and overthroweth the Doctrine of Repentance and Conversion to God by Christ and by consequence takes away the necessity thereof the holy Scriptures do every where establish both in the Old and New Testament the necessity of Repentance and Conversion to God as Isa. 55.6 7. Act. 3.19 Act. 26.17 18. Luke 24.45 46 47. But he that saith he was justified from Eternity by consequence saith that he had remission of Sins from Eternity and that his Sins were blotted out from Eternity for Justification is Remission of Sins as Psalm 32.1 2 3. And blotting out of Sins as Isa. 43.25 And so he needeth not to Repent and be Converted for asmuch as he had his sins blotted out from Eternity and was Righteous from Eternity and well it is if men of these notions and traditions which they have received to hold do not become as the Pharisees of old so Whole as they need no Physician and so Righteous in their own Eyes that like the 99 Just Persons they need no Repentance or Conversion as Luke 15.4 8. And if the name of Repentance and Conversion shall still be pretended to and boasted of amongst them it shall only consist in making Proselytes to this their Tradition of Justification from Eternity which they call the Gospel and a more glorious Light than former Ages have enjoyed And some have not blushed to affirm than perhaps the Apostles had But let them take heed lest that Wo come upon them spoken by the Mouth of Truth himself Mat. 23.15 Part. 8. This Doctrine doth frustrate and make void all the ends of Christ Death and Suffering which are the Justification and Salvation of Gods Elect for if they were Justified from Eternity what need was there of Christs dying to obtain that for them which they had from all Eternity So that if this Doctrine be true as they affirm then as the Apostle saith in another case Gal. 2.21 Christ is dead in vain Part 9. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity destroyeth and overthroweth the Doctrine and Order of God's new Creation in Christ and making all things new in him which the Holy Scriptures do every where establish both in the Old and New Testament This is certain the Old Creation was first and before the New else it were not new Adam was before Christ or the first Adam before the Second as Rom. 4.12 and 1 Cor. 15.45 46 47. And so it is written the first man Adam was made a living Soul the last Adam was made a quickning Spirit howbeit that was not first which is Spiritual but that which is Natural and afterward that which is Spiritual The first or old Creation in Adam is the natural and the second or new Creation in Christ the Spiritual now that was not first which is Spiritual but that is first which was natural therefore the Workmanship of God in the natural or old creation was first And the workmanship of God in the new Creation in Christ is the Spirâ—tual and therefore last the second must be after the first or else 't is not second the new must be after the old or else the old is not old nor the other new Now Justification by Faith in Christ is Gods Workmanship in the new Creation as 2 Cor. 5.17 18. Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things i. e. the things of the first Creation in Adam are passed away behold all things are become new And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. And therefore Reconciliation and Justification by Jesus Christ as ver 19. are parts of the new Creation in Christ as also is most manifest Eph. 2.8 9 10. 't is manifest I say that God at first setled all things So the first Adam and all men in him upon the foundation of the Law or Covenant of Works which settlement was broken or dissolved by the first transgression and Death entred upon all men by Sin and no hope or possibility of Righteousness or Life by that Law or Covenant any more therefore now God bringeth forth Christ the second Adam and settles all things again upon a new Covenant of Grace restoring Righteousness and Life by Jesus Christ to all that believe this is the new Creation that which is Spiritual Now therefore Justification and Salvation by Faith in Christ was not from Eternity because 't is Gods new Creation in Christ And forasmuch as the Old Creation and that which is Natural was not from Eternity but in Time 'T is manifest that Gods new Creation in Christ to any man in this World was not from Eternity but in Time for the first must be before the second and the old