AN
APOLOGY
FOR THE
True Christian Divinity,

BEING AN
EXPLANATION and VINDICATION
OF THE
PRINCIPLES and DOCTRINES
Of the People called
QUAKERS.

Written in Latin and English
By ROBERT BARCLAY,

And since translated into High Dutch, Low Dutch, French, and Spanish, for the Information of Strangers.

The Eighth Edition in ENGLISH.

BIRMINGHAM;
Printed by JOHN BASKERVILLE,
and sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster.
M DCC LXV.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TO
CHARLES II.
KING
OF
GREAT BRITAIN,
And the Dominions thereunto belonging:
ROBERT BARCLAY,

A Servant of Jesus Christ, called of God to the Dispensation of the Gospel now again revealed, and, after a long and dark Night of Apostasy, commanded to be preached to all Nations, wisheth Health and Salvation.

As the Condition of Kings and Princes puts Them in a Station more obvious to the View and Observation of the World than that of other Men, of whom, as Cicero observes, neither any Word or Action can be obscure; so are those Kings, during whose Appearance upon the Stage of this World it pleaseth the Great King of Kings singularly to make known unto Men the wonderful Steps of His unsearchable Providence, more signally observed, and their Lives and Actions more diligently remarked, and enquired into by Posterity; especially if those Things be such as not only relate to the outward Transactions of this World, but also are signalized by the Manifestation or Revelation of the Knowledge of God in Matters spiritual and religious. These are the Things that rendered the Lives of Cyrus, Augustus Cæsar, and Constantine the Great, in former Times, and of Charles the Fifth, and some other modern Princes in these last Ages, so considerable.

But among all the Transactions which it hath pleased God to permit, for the Glory of His Power, and the Manifestation of His Wisdom and Providence, no Age furnisheth us with Things so strange and marvellous, whether with Respect to Matters civil or religious, as these that have fallen out within the Compass of Thy Time; who, though Thou be not yet arrived at the Fiftieth Year of thy Age, hast yet been a Witness of stranger Things than many Ages before produced. So that whether we respect those various Troubles wherein Thou foundest Thyself engaged while scarce got out of Thy Infancy; the many different Afflictions, wherewith Men of Thy Circumstances are often unacquainted; the strange and unparalleled Fortune that befel Thy Father; Thy own narrow Escape, and Banishment following thereupon, with the great Improbability of Thy ever returning, at least without very much Pains and tedious Combatings; or finally, the Incapacity Thou wert under to accomplish such a Design; considering the Strength of those that had possessed themselves of Thy Throne, and the Terror they had inflicted upon foreign States; and yet that, after all this, Thou shouldest be restored without Stroke of Sword, the Help or Assistance of foreign States, or the Contrivance and Work of human Policy; all these do sufficiently declare that it is the Lord’s Doing, which, as it is marvellous in our Eyes, so it will justly be a Matter of Wonder and Astonishment to Generations to come; and may sufficiently serve, if rightly observed, to confute and confound that Atheism wherewith this Age doth so much abound.

As the Vindication of the Liberty of Conscience (which Thy Father, by giving Way to the importunate Clamours of the Clergy, the Answering and Fulfilling of whose unrighteous Wills has often proved hurtful and pernicious to Princes, sought in some Part to restrain) was a great Occasion of those Troubles and Revolutions; so the Pretence of Conscience was that which carried it on, and brought it to that Pitch it came to. And though no Doubt some that were engaged in that Work designed good Things, at least in the Beginning, albeit always wrong in the Manner they took to accomplish it, viz. by carnal Weapons; yet so soon as they had tasted the Sweets of the Possessions of them they had turned out, they quickly began to do those Things themselves for which they had accused others. For their Hands were found full of Oppression, and they hated the Reproof of Instruction, which is the Way of Life; and they evilly intreated the Messengers of the Lord, and caused his Prophets to be beaten and imprisoned, and persecuted his People, whom he had called and gathered out from among them, whom he had made to beat their Swords into Plow-shares, and their Spears into Pruning-hooks, and not to learn carnal War any more: But he raised them up, and armed them with spiritual Weapons, even with his own Spirit and Power, whereby they testified in the Streets and High-ways, and publick Markets and Synagogues, against the Pride, Vanity, Lusts, and Hypocrisy of that Generation, who were righteous in their own Eyes; though often cruelly intreated therefore: And they faithfully prophesied and foretold them of their judgment and Downfal, which came upon them; as by several Warnings and Epistles, delivered to Oliver and Richard Cromwell, the Parliament, and other then Powers, yet upon Record, doth appear.

And after it pleased God to restore Thee, what Oppressions, what Banishments, and evil Intreatings they have met with, by Men pretending Thy Authority, and cloaking their Mischief with Thy Name, is known to most Men in this Island; especially in England, where there is scarce a Prison that hath not been filled with them, nor a Judge before whom they have not been haled; though they could never yet be found guilty of any Thing that might deserve that Usage. Therefore the Sense of their Innocency did no Doubt greatly contribute to move thee, three Years ago, to cause some Hundreds of them to be set at Liberty: For indeed their Sufferings are singular, and obviously distinguishable from all the rest of such as live under Thee in these two Respects.

First, In that among all the Plots contrived by others against Thee, since Thy Return into Britain, there was never any, owned of that People, found or known to be guilty, (though many of them have been taken and imprisoned upon such Kind of Jealousies) but were always found innocent and harmless, as became the Followers of Christ not coveting after, nor contending for the Kingdoms of this World, but subject to every Ordinance of Man, for Conscience Sake.

Secondly, In that in the hottest Times of Persecution, and the most violent Prosecution of those Laws made against Meetings, being clothed with Innocency, they have boldly stood to their Testimony for God, without creeping into Holes or Corners, or once hiding themselves, as all other Dissenters have done; but daily met, according to their Custom, in the publick Places appointed for that End; so that none of Thy Officers can say of them, That they have surprized them in a Corner, overtaken them in a private Conventicle, or catched them lurking in their secret Chambers; nor needed they to send out Spies to get them, whom they were sure daily to find in their open Assemblies, testifying for God and His Truth.

By which those who have an Eye to see, may observe their Christian Patience and Courage, Constancy and Suffering joined in one, more than in any other People that differ from them, or oppose them. And yet, in the midst of those Troubles, Thou canst bear Witness, that as on the one Part, they never sought to detract from Thee, or to render Thee and Thy Government odious to the People, by nameless and scandalous Pamphlets and Libels; so on the other Hand they have not spared to admonish, exhort, and reprove Thee; and have faithfully discharged their Consciences towards Thee, without flattering Words, as ever the true Prophets in ancient Times used to do to those Kings and Princes, under whose Power Violence and Oppression was acted.

And although it is evident by Experience to be most agreeable both to divine Truth, and human Policy, to allow every one to serve God according to their Consciences; nevertheless those other Sects, who for the most Part durst not peep out in the Times of Persecution, while these innocent People stood bold and faithful, do now combine in a joint Confederacy, notwithstanding all the Former Janglings and Contentions among themselves, to render us odious; seeking unjustly to wrest our Doctrine and Words, as if they were both inconsistent with Christianity and civil Society; so that to effectuate this their Work of Malice against us, they have not been ashamed to take the Help, and commend the Labours, of some invidious Socinians against us. So do Herod and Pontius Pilate agree to crucify Christ.

But our Practice, known to Thee by good Experience to be more consistent with Christianity and civil Society, and the Peace and Welfare of this Island, than that of those who thus accuse us, doth sufficiently guard us against this Calumny; and we may indeed appeal to the Testimony of Thy Conscience, as a Witness for us in the Face of the Nations.

These Things moved me to present the World with a brief, but true Account of this People’s Principles, in some short Theological Propositions; which, according to the Will of God, proving successful, beyond my Expectation, to the Satisfaction of several, and to the exciting in many a Desire of being farther informed concerning us, as being every where evil spoken of; and likewise meeting with publick Opposition by some, as such will always do, so long as the Devil rules in the Children of Disobedience; I was thereby farther engaged, in the Liberty of the Lord, to present to the World this Apology of the Truth held by those People: Which, because of Thy Interest in them, and theirs in Thee, as having first appeared, and mostly increased, in these Nations under Thy Rule, I make bold to present unto Thee.

Thou knowest, and hast experienced their Faithfulness towards their God, their Patience in Suffering, their Peaceableness towards the King, their Honesty, Plainness and Integrity in their faithful Warnings and Testimonies to Thee; and if Thou wilt allow Thyself so much Time as to read this, Thou mayest find how consonant their Principles are both to Scripture, Truth, and right Reason. The Simplicity of their Behaviour, the Generality of their Condition, as being poor Men and illiterate; the Manner of their Procedure, being without the Wisdom and Policy of this World, hath made many conclude them Fools and Mad-men, and neglect them, as not being capable of Reason. But though it be to them as their Crown, thus to be esteemed of the Wise, the Great, and Learned of this World, and tho’ they rejoice to be accounted Fools for Christ’s Sake; yet of late some, even such who in the World’s Account are esteemed both Wise and Learned, begin to judge otherwise of them, and find, that they hold forth Things very agreeable both to Scripture, Reason, and true Learning.

As it is inconsistent with the Truth I bear, so it is far from me to use this Epistle as an Engine to flatter Thee, the usual Design of such Works; and therefore I can neither Dedicate it to Thee, nor crave Thy Patronage, as if thereby I might have more Confidence to present it to the World, or be more hopeful of its Success. To God alone I owe what I have, and that more immediately in Matters spiritual; and therefore to Him alone, and to the Service of His Truth, I dedicate whatever Work He brings forth in me; to whom only the Praise and Honour appertain, whose Truth needs not the Patronage of worldly Princes; His Arm and Power being that alone by which it is propagated, established and confirmed. But I found it upon my Spirit to take Occasion to present this Book unto Thee; that as Thou hast been often warned by several of that People, who are Inhabitants of England; so Thou may’st not want a seasonable Advertisement from a Member of Thy ancient Kingdom of Scotland; and that Thou may’st know, which I hope Thou wilt have no Reason to be troubled at, that God is raising up and increasing that People in this Nation. And the Nations shall also hereby know, that the Truth we profess is not a Work of Darkness, nor propagated by Stealth; and that we are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, because we know it to be the Power of God unto Salvation; and that we are no Ways so inconsistent with Government, nor such Disturbers of the Peace, as our Enemies, by traducing us, have sought to make the World believe we are: For which to Thee I dare appeal, as a Witness of our Peaceableness and Christian Patience.

Generations to come shall not more admire that singular Step of Divine Providence, in Restoring Thee to Thy Throne, without outward Bloodshed, than they shall admire the Increase and Progress of this Truth, without all outward Help, and against so great Opposition; which shall be none of the least Things rendering Thy Memory remarkable. God hath done great Things for Thee; He hath sufficiently shewn Thee, that it is by Him Princes rule, and that He can pull down and set up at His Pleasure. He hath often faithfully warned Thee by His Servants, since He restored Thee to Thy Royal Dignity, that Thy Heart might not wax wanton against Him, to forget His Mercies and Providences towards Thee; whereby He might permit Thee to be soothed up, and lulled asleep in Thy Sins, by the Flattering of Court-parasites, who, by their Fawning, are the Ruin of many Princes.

There is no King in the World, who can so experimentally testify of God’s Providence and Goodness; neither is there any, who rules so many free People, so many true Christians: Which Thing renders Thy Government more Honourable, Thyself more Considerable, than the Accession of many Nations, filled with slavish and superstitious Souls.

Thou hast tasted of Prosperity and Adversity; Thou knowest what it is to be banished Thy native Country, to be over-ruled, as well as to rule, and sit upon the Throne; and being oppressed, Thou hast Reason to know how hateful the Oppressor is both to God and Man: If after all these Warnings and Advertisements, Thou dost not turn unto the Lord with all Thy Heart, but forget Him, who remembered Thee in Thy Distress, and give up Thyself to follow Lust and Vanity; surely great will be Thy Condemnation.

Against which Snare, as well as the Temptation of those, that may or do feed Thee, and prompt Thee to Evil, the most excellent and prevalent Remedy will be, to apply Thyself to that Light of Christ, which shineth in Thy Conscience, which neither can, nor will flatter Thee, nor suffer Thee to be at Ease in Thy Sins; but doth and will deal plainly and faithfully with Thee, as those that are Followers thereof have also done.

GOD Almighty, who hath so signally hitherto visited Thee with His Love, so touch and reach Thy Heart, ere the Day of Thy Visitation be expired, that Thou mayest effectually Turn to Him, so as to improve Thy Place and Station for His Name. So wisheth, so prayeth,

Thy Faithful Friend and Subject,

Robert Barclay.

From Ury, in my native Country of Scotland, the 25th of the Month called November, in the Year MDCLXXV.

R. B.

R. B. Unto the Friendly Reader wisheth Salvation.

Forasmuch as that, which above all Things I propose to myself, is to declare and defend the Truth; for the Service whereof I have given up and devoted myself, and all that is mine; therefore there is nothing which for its Sake (by the Help and Assistance of God) I may not attempt. And in this Confidence, I did sometime ago publish certain Propositions of Divinity, comprehending briefly the chief Principles and Doctrines of Truth; which appearing not unprofitable to some, and being beyond my Expectation well received by many, though also opposed by some envious Ones, did so far prevail, as in some Part to remove that false and monstrous Opinion, which lying Fame, and the Malice of our Adversaries, had implanted in the Minds of some, concerning us and our Doctrines.

In this Respect it seemed to me not fit to spare my Pains and Labour; and therefore, being actuated by the same Divine Spirit, and the like Intention of propagating the Truth, by which I published the Propositions themselves, I judged it meet to explain them somewhat more largely at this Time, and defend them by certain Arguments.

Perhaps my Method of Writing may seem not only different, but even contrary, to that which is commonly used by the Men called Divines, with which I am not concerned: Inasmuch as I confess myself to be not only no Imitator and Admirer of the School-men, but an Opposer and Despiser of them as such, by whose Labour I judge the Christian Religion to be so far from being bettered, that it is rather destroyed. Neither have I sought to accommodate this my Work to itching Ears, who desire rather to comprehend in their Heads the sublime Notions of Truth, than to embrace it in their Hearts: For what I have written comes more from my Heart than from my Head; what I have heard with the Ears of my Soul, and seen with my inward Eyes, and my Hands have handled of the Word of Life, and what hath been inwardly manifested to me of the Things of God, that do I declare; not so much regarding the Eloquence and Excellency of Speech, as desiring to demonstrate the Efficacy and Operation of Truth; and if I err sometimes in the former, it is no great Matter; for I act not here the Grammarian, or the Orator, but the Christian; and therefore in this I have followed the certain Rule of the Divine Light, and of the Holy Scriptures.

And to make an End; What I have written, is written not to feed the Wisdom and Knowledge, or rather vain Pride of this World, but to starve and oppose it, as the little Preface prefixed to the Propositions doth shew; which, with the Title of them, is as followeth.

THESES THEOLOGICÆ.

TO THE
CLERGY,
Of what Sort soever, Unto whose Hands these may come; But more particularly

To the Doctors, Professors, and Students of Divinity, in the Universities and Schools of Great Britain, whether Prelatical, Presbyterian, or any other;

ROBERT BARCLAY,

A Servant of the Lord God, and one of those who in Derision are called Quakers, wisheth unfeigned Repentance, unto the Acknowledgment of the Truth.

FRIENDS,

Unto You these following Propositions are offered; in which, they being read and considered in the Fear of the Lord, you may perceive that simple, naked Truth, which Man by his Wisdom hath rendered so obscure and mysterious, that the World is even burthened with the great and voluminous Tractates which are made about it, and by their vain Jangling and Commentaries, by which it is rendered a Hundred-fold more dark and intricate than of itself it is: Which great Learning (so accounted of) to wit, your School-divinity (which taketh up almost a Man’s whole Life-time to learn) brings not a Whit nearer to God, neither makes any Man less wicked, or more righteous than he was. Therefore hath God laid aside the Wise and Learned, and the Disputers of this World; and hath chosen a few despicable and unlearned Instruments (as to Letter-learning) as he did Fishermen of old, to publish his pure and naked Truth, and to free it of those Mists and Fogs wherewith the Clergy hath clouded it, that the People might admire and maintain them. And among several others, whom God hath chosen to make known these Things (seeing I also have received, in Measure, Grace to be a Dispenser of the same Gospel) it seemed good unto me, according to my Duty, to offer unto you these Propositions; which though short, yet are weighty, comprehending much, and declaring what the true Ground of Knowledge is, even of that Knowledge which leads to Life Eternal; which is here witnessed of, and the Testimony thereof left unto the Light of Christ in all your Consciences.

Farewel.

R. B.

[Pg iii]

The First Proposition.

Concerning the true Foundation of Knowledge.

Seeing the Height of all Happiness is placed in the true Knowledge of God ([1]This is Life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent) the true and right understanding of this Foundation and Ground of Knowledge is that which is most necessary to be known and believed in the first Place.

The Second Proposition.

Concerning Immediate Revelation.

Seeing [2]no Man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son revealeth him; and seeing the Revelation of the Son is in and by the Spirit; therefore the Testimony of the Spirit is that alone by which the true Knowledge of God hath been, is, and can be only revealed; who as, by the moving of his own Spirit, he converted the Chaos of this World into that wonderful Order wherein it was in the Beginning, and created Man a living Soul, to rule and govern it, so by the Revelation of the same Spirit he hath manifested himself all along unto the Sons of Men, both Patriarchs, Prophets and Apostles; which Revelations of God by the Spirit, whether by outward Voices and Appearances, Dreams, or inward objective Manifestations in the Heart, were of old the formal Object of their Faith, and remain yet so to be; since the Object of the Saints’ Faith is the same in all Ages, though set forth under divers Administrations. Moreover, these divine inward Revelations, which we make absolutely necessary for the building up of true Faith, neither do nor can ever contradict the outward Testimony of the Scriptures, or right and sound Reason. Yet from hence it will not follow, that these divine Revelations are to be subjected to the Examination, either of the outward Testimony of[Pg iv] the Scriptures, or of the natural Reason of Man, as to a more noble or certain Rule or Touchstone: For this divine Revelation, and inward Illumination, is that which is evident and clear of itself; forcing, by its own Evidence and Clearness, the well-disposed Understanding to assent, irresistibly moving the same thereunto; even as the common Principles of natural Truths move and incline the Mind to a natural Assent: As, That the Whole is greater than its Part; That two contradictory Sayings cannot be both true, nor both false: Which is also manifest, according to our Adversaries Principle, who (supposing the Possibility of inward divine Revelations) will nevertheless confess with us, that neither Scripture nor sound Reason will contradict it: And yet it will not follow, according to them, that the Scripture, or sound Reason, should be subjected to the Examination of the divine Revelations in the Heart.

The Third Proposition.

Concerning the Scriptures.

From these Revelations of the Spirit of God to the Saints, have proceeded the Scriptures of Truth, which contain, 1. A faithful historical Account of the Actings of God’s People in divers Ages, with many singular and remarkable Providences attending them. 2. A prophetical Account of several Things, whereof some are already past, and some yet to come. 3. A full and ample Account of all the chief Principles of the Doctrine of Christ, held forth in divers precious Declarations, Exhortations and Sentences, which, by the moving of God’s Spirit, were at several Times, and upon sundry Occasions, spoken and written unto some Churches and their Pastors: Nevertheless, because they are only a Declaration of the Fountain, and not the Fountain itself, therefore they are not to be esteemed the principal Ground of all Truth and Knowledge, nor yet the adequate primary Rule of Faith and Manners. Nevertheless, as that which giveth a true and faithful Testimony of the first Foundation,[Pg v] they are and may be esteemed a secondary Rule, subordinate to the Spirit, from which they have all their Excellency and Certainty; for as by the inward Testimony of the Spirit we do alone truly know them; so they testify, that [3]the Spirit is that Guide by which the Saints are led into all Truth: Therefore, according to the Scriptures, the Spirit is the first and principal Leader. And seeing we do therefore receive and believe the Scriptures, because they proceeded from the Spirit; therefore also the Spirit is more originally and principally the Rule, according to that received Maxim in the Schools, Propter quod unumquodque est tale, illud ipsum est magis tale. Englished thus: That for which a Thing is such, that Thing itself is more such.

The Fourth Proposition.

Concerning the Condition of Man in the Fall.

[4]All Adam’s Posterity (or Mankind) both Jews and Gentiles, as to the first Adam or earthly Man is fallen, degenerated, and dead, deprived of the Sensation or Feeling of this inward Testimony or Seed of God, and is subject unto the Power, Nature, and Seed of the Serpent, which he sows in Men’s Hearts, while they abide in this natural and corrupted State; from whence it comes, that not their Words and Deeds only, but all their Imaginations are evil perpetually in the Sight of God, as proceeding from this depraved and wicked Seed. Man therefore, as he is in this State, can know nothing aright; yea, his Thoughts and Conceptions concerning God and Things spiritual, until he be disjoined from this evil Seed, and united to the Divine Light, are unprofitable both to himself and others: Hence are rejected the Socinian and Pelagian Errors, in exalting a natural Light; as also of the Papists, and most Protestants, who affirm, That Man, without the true Grace of God, may be a true Minister of the Gospel. Nevertheless, this Seed is not imputed to Infants, until by Transgression they actually join themselves therewith; [5]for[Pg vi] they are by Nature the Children of Wrath, who walk according to the Power of the Prince of the Air.

The Fifth and Sixth Propositions.

Concerning the Universal Redemption by Christ, and also the Saving and Spiritual Light, wherewith every Man is enlightened.

The Fifth Proposition.

[6]God, out of his infinite Love, who delighteth not in the Death of a Sinner, but that all should live and be saved, hath so loved the World, that he hath given his only Son a Light, that whosoever believeth in him should be saved; who enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World, and maketh manifest all Things that are reproveable, and teacheth all Temperance, Righteousness, and Godliness: And this Light enlighteneth the Hearts of all in a Day,[7] in order to Salvation, if not resisted: Nor is it less universal than the Seed of Sin; being the Purchase of his Death, who tasted Death for every Man; for [8]as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

The Sixth Proposition.

According to which Principle (or Hypothesis) all the Objections against the Universality of Christ’s Death are easily solved; neither is it needful to recur to the Ministry of Angels, and those other miraculous Means, which, they say, God makes use of, to manifest the Doctrine and History of Christ’s Passion, unto such who (living in those Places of the World where the outward Preaching of the Gospel is unknown) have well improved the first and common Grace; for hence it well follows, that as some of the old Philosophers might have been saved, so also may now some (who by[Pg vii] Providence are cast into those remote Parts of the World, where the Knowledge of the History is wanting) be made Partakers of the Divine Mystery, if they receive and resist not that Grace, [9]a Manifestation whereof is given to every Man to profit withal. This certain Doctrine then being received (to wit) that there is an Evangelical and Saving Light and Grace in all, the Universality of the Love and Mercy of God towards Mankind (both in the Death of his beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Manifestation of the Light in the Heart) is established and confirmed against all the Objections of such as deny it. Therefore [10]Christ hath tasted Death for every Man; not only for all Kinds of Men, as some vainly talk, but for every one, of all Kinds; the Benefit of whose Offering is not only extended to such, who have the distinct outward Knowledge of his Death and Sufferings, as the same is declared in the Scriptures, but even unto those who are necessarily excluded from the Benefit of this Knowledge by some inevitable Accident; which Knowledge we willingly confess to be very profitable and comfortable, but not absolutely needful unto such, from whom God himself hath with-held it; yet they may be made Partakers of the Mystery of his Death (though ignorant of the History) if they suffer his Seed and Light (enlightening their Hearts) to take Place (in which Light, Communion with the Father and Son is enjoyed) so as of wicked Men to become holy, and Lovers of that Power, by whose inward and secret Touches they feel themselves turned from the Evil to the Good, and learn to do to others as they would be done by; in which Christ himself affirms all to be included. As they then have falsely and erroneously taught, who have denied Christ to have died for all Men; so neither have they sufficiently taught the Truth, who affirming him to have died for all, have added the absolute Necessity of the outward Knowledge thereof, in order to the obtaining its saving Effect; among whom the Remonstrants of Holland have been chiefly wanting, and many other Assertors of Universal Redemption, in that they have not placed the Extent of this Salvation in that Divine and Evangelical[Pg viii] Principle of Light and Life, wherewith Christ hath enlightened every Man that comes into the World, which is excellently and evidently held forth in these Scriptures, Gen. vi. 3. Deut. xxx. 14. John i. 7, 8, 9. Rom. x. 8. Tit. ii. 11.

The Seventh Proposition.

Concerning Justification.

As many as resist not this Light, but receive the same, in them is produced an holy, pure, and spiritual Birth, bringing forth Holiness, Righteousness, Purity, and all these other blessed Fruits which are acceptable to God; by which Holy Birth (to wit, Jesus Christ formed within us, and Working his Works in us) as we are sanctified, so are we justified in the Sight of God, according to the Apostle’s Words, [11]But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Therefore it is not by our Works wrought in our Will, nor yet by good Works, considered as of themselves, but by Christ, who is both the Gift and the Giver, and the Cause producing the Effects in us; who, as he hath reconciled us while we were Enemies, doth also in his Wisdom save us, and justify us after this Manner, as saith the same Apostle elsewhere, [12]According to his Mercy he saved us, by the washing of Regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.

The Eighth Proposition.

Concerning Perfection.

[13]In whom this holy and pure Birth is fully brought forth, the Body of Death and Sin comes to be crucified and removed, and their Hearts united and subjected unto the Truth, so as not to obey any Suggestion or Temptation of the Evil One, but to be free from actual sinning, and transgressing of the Law of God, and in that Respect perfect. Yet doth this Perfection still admit of a Growth; and[Pg ix] there remaineth a Possibility of sinning, where the Mind doth not most diligently and watchfully attend unto the Lord.

The Ninth Proposition.

Concerning Perseverance, and the Possibility of Falling from Grace.

Although this Gift, and inward Grace of God, be sufficient to work out Salvation, yet in those in whom it is resisted it both may and doth become their Condemnation. Moreover, in whom it hath wrought in Part, to purify and sanctify them, in order to their further Perfection, by Disobedience such may fall from it, and turn it to Wantonness, making Shipwreck of Faith; and [14]after having tasted of the Heavenly Gift, and been made Partakers of the Holy Ghost, again fall away. Yet such an Increase and Stability in the Truth may in this Life be attained, from which there cannot be a total Apostasy.

The Tenth Proposition.

Concerning the Ministry.

As by this Gift, or Light of God, all true Knowledge in Things Spiritual is received and revealed; so by the same, as it is manifested and received in the Heart, by the Strength and Power thereof, every true Minister of the Gospel is ordained, prepared and supplied in the Work of the Ministry: And by the leading, moving, and drawing hereof, ought every Evangelist and Christian Pastor to be led and ordered in his Labour and Work of the Gospel, both as to the Place where, as to the Persons to whom, and as to the Times when he is to minister. Moreover, those who have this Authority may and ought to preach the Gospel, though without human Commission or Literature; as on the other Hand, those who want the Authority of this Divine Gift, however learned or authorized by the[Pg x] Commissions of Men and Churches, are to be esteemed but as Deceivers, and not true Ministers of the Gospel. Also, who have received this holy and unspotted Gift, [15]as they have freely received, so are they freely to give, without Hire or Bargaining, far less to use it as a Trade to get Money by it: Yet if God hath called any from their Employments, or Trades, by which they acquire their Livelihood, it may be lawful for such (according to the Liberty which they feel given them in the Lord) to receive such Temporals (to wit, what may be needful to them for Meat and Clothing) as are freely given them by those to whom they have communicated Spirituals.

The Eleventh Proposition.

Concerning Worship.

All true and acceptable Worship to God is offered in the inward and immediate moving and drawing of his own Spirit, which is neither limited to Places, Times, or Persons; for though we be to worship him always, in that we are to fear before him, yet as to the outward Signification thereof in Prayers, Praises, or Preachings, we ought not to do it where and when we will, but where and when we are moved thereunto by the secret Inspirations of his Spirit in our Hearts, which God heareth and accepteth of, and is never wanting to move us thereunto, when Need is, of which he himself is the alone proper Judge. [16]All other Worship then, both Praises, Prayers and Preachings, which Man sets about in his own Will, and at his own Appointment, which he can both begin and end at his Pleasure, do or leave undone as himself sees meet, whether they be a prescribed Form, as a Liturgy, or Prayers conceived extemporarily, by the natural Strength and Faculty of the Mind, they are all but Superstitions, Will-worship, and abominable Idolatry in the Sight of God; which are to be denied, rejected, and separated from, in this Day of his spiritual Arising: [17]However it might have pleased him (who winked at the Times of Ignorance, with Respect to the[Pg xi] Simplicity and Integrity of some, and of his own innocent Seed, which lay as it were buried in the Hearts of Men, under the Mass of Superstition) to blow upon the dead and dry Bones, and to raise some Breathings, and answer them, and that until the Day should more clearly dawn and break forth.

The Twelfth Proposition.

Concerning Baptism.

As there is [18]one Lord and one Faith, so there is one Baptism; which is not the putting away the Filth of the Flesh, but the Answer of a good Conscience before God, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And this Baptism is a pure and spiritual Thing, to wit, the Baptism of the Spirit and Fire, by which we are buried with him, that being washed and purged from our Sins, we may walk in Newness of Life; [19]of which the Baptism of John was a Figure, which was commanded for a Time, and not to continue for ever. As to the Baptism of Infants, it is a mere human Tradition, for which neither Precept nor Practice is to be found in all the Scripture.

The Thirteenth Proposition.

Concerning the Communion, or Participation of the Body and Blood of Christ.

The [20]Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ is inward and spiritual, which is the Participation of his Flesh and Blood, by which the inward Man is [21]daily nourished in the Hearts of those in whom Christ dwells; of which Things the breaking of Bread by Christ with his Disciples was a Figure, which they even used in the Church for a Time, who had received the Substance, for the Cause of the Weak; even as [22]abstaining from Things strangled, and from Blood; the [23]washing one another’s Feet, and the [24]anointing of the Sick with Oil; all which are commanded with no less Authority and Solemnity than[Pg xii] the Former; yet seeing they are but the Shadows of better Things, they cease in such as have obtained the Substance.

The Fourteenth Proposition.

Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters purely Religious, and pertaining to the Conscience.

Since God hath assumed to himself the Power and Dominion of the Conscience, who alone can rightly instruct and govern it therefore [25]it is not lawful for any whatsoever, by Virtue of any Authority or Principality they bear in the Government of this World, to force the Consciences of others; and therefore all Killing, Banishing, Fining, Imprisoning, and other such Things, which Men are afflicted with, for the alone Exercise of their Conscience, or Difference in Worship or Opinion, proceedeth from the Spirit of Cain, the Murderer, and is contrary to the Truth; provided always, that no Man, under the Pretence of Conscience, prejudice his Neighbour in his Life or Estate; or do any Thing destructive to, or inconsistent with Human Society; in which Case the Law is for the Transgressor, and Justice to be administered upon all, without Respect of Persons.

The Fifteenth Proposition.

Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &c.

[26]Seeing the chief End of all Religion is to redeem Man from the Spirit and vain Conversation of this World, and to lead into inward Communion with God, before whom, if we fear always, we are accounted happy; therefore all the vain Customs and Habits thereof, both in Word and Deed, are to be rejected and forsaken by those who come to this Fear; such as the taking off the Hat to a Man, the Bowings and Cringings of the Body, and such other Sa[Pg xiii]lutations of that Kind, with all the foolish and superstitious Formalities attending them; all which Man has invented in his degenerate State, to feed his Pride in the vain Pomp and Glory of this World; as also the unprofitable Plays, frivolous Recreations, Sportings and Gamings, which are invented to pass away the precious Time, and divert the Mind from the Witness of God in the Heart, and from the living Sense of his Fear, and from that evangelical Spirit wherewith Christians ought to be leavened, and which leads into Sobriety, Gravity, and Godly Fear; in which, as we abide, the Blessing of the Lord is felt to attend us in those Actions in which we are necessarily engaged, in order to the taking Care for the Sustenance of the outward Man.

AN

APOLOGY

FOR THE

True Christian Divinity.

PROPOSITION I.

Concerning the true Foundation of Knowledge.

Seeing the Height of all Happiness is placed in the true Knowledge of God, [27](This is Life Eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent) the true and right understanding of this Foundation and Ground of Knowledge is that which is most necessary to be known and believed in the first Place.

He that desireth to acquire any Art or Science, seeketh first those Means by which that Art or Science is obtained: If we ought to do so in Things Natural and Earthly, how much more then in Spiritual? In this Affair then should our Inquiry be the more diligent, because he that Errs in the Entrance, is not so easily brought back again into the Right Way; he that misseth his Road from the Beginning of his Journey, and is deceived in his first Marks, at his first setting forth, the greater his Mistake is, the more difficult will be his Entrance into the Right Way.

The Way to the true Knowledge of God.Thus when a Man first proposeth to himself the Knowledge of God, from a Sense of his own Unworthiness, and from the great Weariness of his Mind, occasioned by the secret Checks of his Conscience, and the tender yet real Glances of God’s Light upon his Heart; the[Pg 2] earnest Desires he has to be redeemed from his present Trouble, and the fervent Breathings he has to be eased of his disordered Passions and Lusts, and to find Quietness and Peace in the certain Knowledge of God, and in the Assurance of his Love and Good-will towards him, make his Heart tender, and ready to receive any Impression; and so (not having then a distinct Discerning) through Forwardness embraceth any Thing that brings present Ease. If either through the Reverence he bears to certain Persons, or from the secret Inclination to what doth comply with his natural Disposition, he fall upon any Principles or Means by which he apprehends he may come to know God, and so doth center himself, it will be hard to remove him thence again, how wrong soever they may be: For the first Anguish being over, he becomes more hardy; and the Enemy being near, creates a false Peace, and a certain Confidence, which is strengthened by the Mind’s Unwillingness to enter again into new Doubtfulness, or the former Anxiety of a Search.

Jewish Doctors and Pharisees resist Christ.This is sufficiently verified in the Example of the Pharisees and Jewish Doctors, who most of all resisted Christ, disdaining to be esteemed Ignorant; for this vain Opinion they had of their Knowledge, hindered them from the true Knowledge; and the mean People, who were not so much pre-occupied with former Principles, nor conceited of their own Knowledge, did easily believe. Wherefore the Pharisees upbraid them, saying, [28]Have any of the Rulers or Pharisees believed on him? But this People, which know not the Law, are accursed. This is also abundantly proved by the Experience of all such, as being secretly touched with the Call of God’s Grace unto them, do apply themselves to false Teachers, where the Remedy proves worse than the Disease; because instead of knowing God, or the Things relating to their Salvation aright, they drink in wrong Opinions of him; from which it is harder to be disintangled, than while the Soul remains a Blank, or Tabula rasa. For they that conceit themselves Wise, are worse to deal with than they that are sensible of their Ignorance. Nor hath it been less the Device of the Devil, the great[Pg 3] Enemy of Mankind, to persuade Men into wrong Notions of God, than to keep them altogether from acknowledging him; the latter taking with few, because odious; but the other having been the constant Ruin of the World: For there hath scarce been a Nation found, but hath had some Notions or other of Religion; so that not from their denying any Deity, but from their Mistakes and Misapprehensions of it, hath proceeded all the Idolatry and Superstition of the World; yea, hence even Atheism itself hath proceeded: For these many and various Opinions of God and Religion, being so much mixed with the Guessings and uncertain Judgments of Men, have begotten in many the Opinion, That there is no God at all. This, and much more that might be said, may shew how dangerous it is to miss in this first Step: All that come not in by the right Door, are accounted as Thieves and Robbers.

Epictetus.Again, How needful and desirable that Knowledge is, which brings Life Eternal, Epictetus sheweth, saying excellently well, Cap. 38. [Greek: isthi hoti to Kyriôtaton: ισθι ὁτι το Κυριωτατον], &c. Know that the main Foundation of Piety is this, To have [Greek: orthas hypolêpseis: ορθας ὑποληψεις], right Opinions and Apprehensions of God.

This therefore I judged necessary, as a first Principle, in the first Place, to affirm; and I suppose will not need much farther Explanation or Defence, as being generally acknowledged by all (and in these Things that are without Controversy I love to be brief) as that which will easily commend itself to every Man’s Reason and Conscience; and therefore I shall proceed to the next Proposition; which, though it be nothing less certain, yet by the Malice of Satan, and Ignorance of many, comes far more under Debate.

[Pg 4]

PROPOSITION II.

Of Immediate Revelation.

[29]Seeing no Man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son revealeth him; and seeing the Revelation of the Son is in and by the Spirit; therefore the Testimony of the Spirit is that alone by which the true Knowledge of God hath been, is, and can be only revealed: Who as, by the Moving of his own Spirit, he disposed the Chaos of this World into that wonderful Order in which it was in the Beginning, and created Man a Living Soul, to Rule and Govern it; so by the Revelation of the same Spirit he hath manifested himself all along unto the Sons of Men, both Patriarchs, Prophets and Apostles: Which Revelations of God by the Spirit, whether by outward Voices and Appearances, Dreams, or inward objective Manifestations in the Heart, were of old the formal Object of their Faith, and remain yet so to be; since the Object of the Saints’ Faith is the same in all Ages, tho’ held forth under divers Administrations. Moreover, these Divine Inward Revelations, which we make absolutely necessary for the building up of true Faith, neither do, nor can ever, contradict the outward Testimony of the Scriptures, or right and sound Reason; yet from hence it will not follow, that these Divine Revelations are to be subjected to the Test, either of the outward Testimony of the Scriptures, or of the Natural Reason of Man, as to a more noble or certain Rule and Touchstone; for this Divine Revelation, and Inward Illumination, is that which is evident and clear of itself; forcing, by its own Evidence and Clearness, the well-disposed Understanding to assent, irresistibly moving the same thereunto, even as the common Principles of natural Truths do move and incline the Mind to a natural Assent: As, That the Whole is greater than its Part; That two Contradictories can neither be both true, nor both false.

[Pg 5]

Knowledge Spiritual and Literal distinguished.For the better understanding then of this Proposition, we do distinguish betwixt the certain Knowledge of God, and the uncertain; betwixt the spiritual Knowledge, and the literal; the saving Heart-[Pg 6]Knowledge, and soaring, airy Head-Knowledge. The last, we confess, may be divers Ways obtained; but the first, by no other Way than the inward immediate Manifestation and Revelation of God’s Spirit, shining in and upon the Heart, inlightning and opening the Understanding.

The Certainty of which Truth is such, that it hath been acknowledged by some of the most refined and famous of all Sorts of Professors of Christianity in all Ages; who being truly upright-hearted, and earnest Seekers of the Lord, (however stated under the Disadvantages and epidemical Errors of their several Sects or Ages) the true Seed in them hath been answered by God’s Love, who hath had Regard to the Good, and hath had of his Elect Ones among all, who finding a Distaste and Disgust in all other outward Means, even in the very Principles and Precepts more particularly relative to their own Forms and Societies, have at last concluded, with One Voice, That there was no true Knowledge of God, but that which is revealed inwardly by his own Spirit. Whereof take these following Testimonies of the Ancients.

Aug.1. [30]“It is the Inward Master (saith Augustine) that Teacheth, it is Christ that Teacheth, it is Inspiration that Teacheth: Where this Inspiration and Unction is wanting, it is in vain that Words from without are beaten in.” And thereafter: “For he that created us, and redeemed us, and called us, by Faith, and dwelleth in us by his Spirit, unless he speaketh unto us Inwardly, it is needless for us to cry out.”

Clem. Alex.2. [31]“There is a Difference (saith Clemens Alexandrinus) betwixt that which any one saith of the Truth, and that which the Truth itself, interpreting itself, saith. A Conjecture of Truth differeth from the Truth itself; a Similitude of a[Pg 7] Thing differeth from the Thing itself; it is one Thing that is acquired by Exercise and Discipline; and another Thing, which by Power and Faith.” Lastly, the same Clemens saith, [32]“Truth is neither hard to be arrived at, nor is it impossible to apprehend it; for it is most Nigh unto us, even in our Houses, as the most wise Moses hath insinuated.”

Tertullian.3. [33]“How is it (saith Tertullian) that since the Devil always worketh, and stirreth up the Mind to Iniquity, that the Work of God should either cease, or desist to act? Since for this End the Lord did send the Comforter, that because human Weakness could not at once bear all Things, Knowledge might be by little and little directed, formed, and brought to Perfection, by the Holy Spirit, that Vicar of the Lord. I have many Things yet (saith he) to speak unto you, but ye cannot as yet bear them; but when that Spirit of Truth shall come, he shall lead you into all Truth, and shall teach you these Things that are to come. But of this his Work we have spoken above. What is then the Administration of the Comforter, but that Discipline be directed, and the Scriptures revealed?” &c.

Jerome4. [34]“The Law (saith Jerome) is Spiritual, and there is need of a Revelation to understand it.” And in his Epistle 150. to Hedibia, Quest. 11. he saith, “The whole Epistle to the Romans needs an Interpretation; it being involved in so great Obscurities, that for the understanding thereof we need the Help of the Holy Spirit, who through the Apostle dictated it.”

Athanasius.5. [35]“So great Things (saith Athanasius) doth our Saviour daily: He draws unto Piety, persuades unto Virtue, teaches Immortality, excites to the Desire of Heavenly Things, reveals the Knowledge of the Father, inspires Power against Death, and shews himself unto every one.”

Gregory6. [36]Gregory the Great, upon these Words [He shall teach you all Things] saith, “That unless the same Spirit is present in the Heart of the Hearer, in vain is the Discourse of the Doctor. Let no Man then ascribe unto the Man that teacheth, what he understands from the Mouth of him that speaketh; for unless he that teacheth be within, the Tongue of the Doctor, that is without, laboureth in vain.”

Cyrillus Alexandrinus7. [37]Cyrillus Alexandrinus plainly affirmeth, “That Men know that Jesus[Pg 8] is the Lord by the Holy Ghost, no otherwise than they who taste Honey know that it is sweet, even by its proper Quality.”

Bernard.8. [38]“Therefore (saith Bernard) we daily exhort you, Brethren, that ye walk the Ways of the Heart, and that your Souls be always in your Hands, that ye may hear what the Lord saith in you.” And again, upon these Words of the Apostle [Let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord] “With which Threefold Vice (saith he) all Sorts of Religious Men are less or more dangerously affected, because they do not so diligently attend, with the Ears of the Heart, to what the Spirit of Truth (which flatters none) inwardly speaks.”

This was the very Basis, and main Foundation, upon which the Primitive Reformers built.

Luther.[39]Luther, in his Book to the Nobility of Germany, saith, “This is certain, That no Man can make himself a Teacher of the holy Scriptures, but the Holy Spirit alone.” And upon the Magnificat he saith, “No Man can rightly know God, or understand the Word of God, unless he immediately receive it from the Holy Spirit; neither can any one receive it from the Holy Spirit, except he find it by Experience in himself; and in this Experience the Holy Ghost teacheth, as in his proper School; out of which School nothing is taught but mere Talk.”

Phil. MelancthonPhilip Melancthon, in his Annotations upon John vi. “Those who hear only an outward and bodily Voice, hear the Creature; but God is a Spirit, and is neither discerned, nor known, nor heard, but by the Spirit;By the Spirit alone God is known. and therefore to hear the Voice of God, to see God, is to know and hear the Spirit. By the Spirit alone God is known and perceived.”

Which also the more Serious to this Day do acknowledge, even all such who satisfy themselves not with the Superficies of Religion, and use it not as a Cover or Art. Yea, all those who apply themselves effectually to Christianity, and are not satisfied until they have found its effectual Work upon their Hearts, redeeming them from Sin, do feel that no Knowledge effectually prevails to the producing of this, but that which proceeds from the warm Influence of God’s Spirit upon the Heart, and from the comfortable Shining of his[Pg 9] Light upon their Understanding.Dr. Smith of Cambridge, concerning Book-Divinity.And therefore to this Purpose a modern Author, viz. Dr. Smith of Cambridge, in his Select Discourses, saith well; “To seek our Divinity merely in Books and Writings, is to seek the Living among the Dead. We do but in vain many Times seek God in these, where his Truth is too often not so much Enshrined as Entombed. Intra te quære Deum, Seek God within thine own Soul: He is best discerned [Greek: noera epaphê: νοερα επαφη] (as Plotinus phrased it) by an Intellectual Touch of him. We must see with our Eyes, and hear with our Ears, and our Hands must handle the Word of Life (to express it in St. John’s Words) [Greek: hoti tês psychês aisthêsis: ὁτι της ψυχης αισθησις], &c. The Soul itself hath its Sense, as well as the Body. And therefore, David, when he would teach us to know what the Divine Goodness is, calls not for Speculation, but Sensation: Taste, and see how good the Lord is. That is not the best and truest Knowledge of God, which is wrought out by the Labour and Sweat of the Brain, but that which is kindled within us, by an heavenly Warmth in our Hearts. And again: There is a Knowing of the Truth, as it is in Jesus, as it is in a Christ-like Nature; as it is in that sweet, mild, humble, and loving Spirit of Jesus, which spreads itself, like a Morning Sun, upon the Souls of good Men, full of Light and Life. It profits little to know Christ himself after the Flesh; but he gives his Spirit to good Men, that searcheth the deep things of God. And again: It is but a thin airy Knowledge, that is got by mere Speculation, which is ushered in by Syllogisms and Demonstrations; but that which springs forth from true Goodness, is [Greek: theioteron ti pasês hypodeixeôs: θειοτερον τι πασης ὑποδειξεως] (as Origen speaketh) It brings such a Divine Light into the Soul, as is more clear and convincing than any Demonstration.”

By Revelation is the true Knowledge of God.If those therefore who have all the other Means of Knowledge, and are sufficiently Learned therein, whether it be the Letter of the Scripture, the Traditions of Churches, or the Works of Creation and Providence, whence they are able to deduce strong and undeniable Arguments (which may be true in themselves) are not yet to be esteemed Christians, according to the certain and infallible Definition above-mentioned; and if the inward and immediate Revelation of God’s Spirit in the Heart, in such as have been altogether ignorant of some, and but very little skilled in others, of these Means of attaining Knowledge, hath brought them to Salvation; then it will[Pg 11] necessarily and evidently follow, that Inward and Immediate Revelation is the only sure and certain Way to attain the true and saving Knowledge of God.

But the first is true: Therefore the last.

Now as this Argument doth very strongly conclude for this Way of Knowledge, and against such as deny it; so in this Respect it is the more to be regarded, as the Propositions, from which it is deduced, are so clear, that our very Adversaries cannot deny them. For as to the first, it is acknowledged, that many Learned Men may be, and have been, damned. And as to the second, who will deny but many illiterate Men may be, and are, saved? Abel, Seth, Noah, &c. instanced.Nor dare any affirm, that none come to the Knowledge of God and Salvation by the inward Revelation of the Spirit, without these other outward Means; unless they be also so bold as to exclude Abel, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Job, and all the holy Patriarchs from true Knowledge and Salvation.

The Sum then of what is said amounts to this, That where the true Inward Knowledge of God is, through the Revelation of his Spirit, there is all; neither is there an absolute Necessity of any other. But where the best, highest, and most profound Knowledge is, without this there is nothing, as to the obtaining the great End of Salvation. This Truth is very effectually confirmed by the first Part of the Proposition itself, which in few Words comprehendeth divers unquestionable Arguments, which I shall in brief subsume.

I.First, That there is no Knowledge of the Father but by the Son.

II.Secondly, That there is no Knowledge of the Son, but by the Spirit.

[Pg 12]

III.Thirdly, That by the Spirit God hath always revealed himself to his Children.

IV.Fourthly, That these Revelations were the formal Object of the Saints’ Faith.

V.And Lastly, That the same continueth to be the Object of the Saints’ Faith to this Day.

Of each of these I shall speak a little particularly, and then proceed to the latter Part.

For the infinite and most wise God, who is the Foundation, Root and Spring of all Operation, hath wrought all Things by his Eternal Word and Son. [40]This is that Word that was in the Beginning with God, and was God, by whom all Things were made, and without whom was not any Thing made that was made, [41]This is that Jesus Christ, by whom God created all Things, by whom, and for whom, all Things were created, that are in Heaven and in Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be Thrones, or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers, Col. i. 16. Who therefore is called, The first-born of every Creature, Col. i. 15. As then that infinite and incomprehensible Fountain of Life and Motion operateth in the Creatures by his own Eternal Word and Power; so no Creature has Access again unto him but in and by the Son, according to his own express Words, No Man knoweth the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him, Mat. xi. 27. Luke x. 22. And again, he himself saith, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: No Man cometh unto the Father but by me, John xiv. 6.

Hence he is fitly called, The Mediator betwixt God and Man: For having been with God from all Eternity, being himself God, and also in Time partaking of the Nature of Man; through him is the Goodness and Love of God conveyed to Mankind, and by him again Man receiveth and partaketh of these Mercies.

[Pg 13]

Hence is easily deduced the Proof of this first Assertion, thus:

If no Man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him; then there is no Knowledge of the Father but by the Son.

But no Man knoweth the Father but the Son.

Therefore, there is no Knowledge of the Father but by the Son.

The first Part of the Antecedent are the plain Words of Scripture: The Consequence thereof is undeniable; except one would say, that he hath the Knowledge of the Father, while yet he knows him not; which were an absurd Repugnance.

Again, if the Son be the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no Man cometh unto the Father but by him; then there is no Knowledge of the Father but by the Son.

But the first is true: Therefore the last.

The Antecedent are the very Scripture Words: The Consequence is very evident: For how can any know a Thing, who useth not the Way, without which it is not knowable? But it is already proved, that there is no other Way but by the Son; so that whoso uses not that Way, cannot know him, neither come unto him.

Where it is to be noted, that I always speak of the saving, certain and necessary Knowledge of God; which that it cannot be acquired otherways than by the Spirit, doth also appear from many clear Scriptures. For Jesus Christ, in and by whom the Father is revealed, doth also reveal himself to his Disciples and Friends in and by his Spirit: As his Manifestation was outward, when he testified and witnessed for the Truth in this World, and approved himself faithful throughout; so being now withdrawn, as to the outward Man, he doth teach and instruct Mankind inwardly, by his own Spirit; He standeth at the Door and knocketh, and whoso heareth his Voice and openeth, he comes in to such, Rev. iii. 20. Of this Re[Pg 14]velation of Christ in him, Paul speaketh, Gal. i. 16. in which he placeth the Excellency of his Ministry, and the Certainty of his Calling. And the Promise of Christ to his Disciples, Lo, I am with you to the End of the World, confirmeth the same Thing; for this is an Inward and Spiritual Presence, as all acknowledge: But what relates hereto will again occur. Proof I.I shall deduce the Proof of this Proposition from two manifest Places of Scripture: The first is, 1 Cor. i. 11, 12. What Man knoweth the Things of a Man, save the Spirit of a Man which is in him? The Things of God are known by the Spirit of God.Even so the Things of God knoweth no Man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the Things which are freely given us of God. The Apostle in the Verses before, speaking of the wonderful Things which are prepared for the Saints, after he hath declared, that the Natural Man cannot reach them, adds, that They are revealed by the Spirit of God, Ver. 9, 10. giving this Reason, For the Spirit searcheth all things, even the deep Things of God. And then he bringeth in the Comparison, in the Verses above-mentioned, very apt, and answerable to our Purpose and Doctrine, that as the Things of a Man are only known by the Spirit of Man; so the Things of God are only known by the Spirit of God: That is, that as nothing below the Spirit of Man (as the Spirit of Brutes, or any other Creatures) can properly reach unto, or comprehend the Things of a Man, as being of a nobler and higher Nature; so neither can the Spirit of Man, or the Natural Man, as the Apostle in the 14th Verse subsumes, receive nor discern the Things of God, or the Things that are Spiritual, as being also of an higher Nature; which the Apostle himself gives for the Reason, saying, Neither can he know them, because they are Spiritually discerned. So that the Apostle’s Words, being reduced to an Argument, do very well prove the Matter under Debate, thus:

If that which appertaineth properly to Man, cannot be discerned by any lower or baser Principle than the Spirit of Man; then cannot those Things, that properly relate unto God and Christ, be known or discerned by any lower or baser Thing than the Spirit of God and Christ.

[Pg 15]

But the first is true: Therefore also the second.

The whole Strength of the Argument is contained in the Apostle’s Words before-mentioned; which therefore being granted, I shall proceed to deduce a second Argument, thus:

That which is Spiritual can only be known and discerned by the Spirit of God.

But the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the true and saving Knowledge of him, is Spiritual:

Therefore the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the true and saving Knowledge of him, can only be known and discerned by the Spirit of God.

Proof II.No Man can call Jesus Lord, &c. The other Scripture is also a Saying of the same Apostle, 1 Cor. xii. 3. No Man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. This Scripture, which is full of Truth, and answereth full well to the enlightened Understanding of the spiritual and real Christian, may perhaps prove very strange to the carnal and pretended Follower of Christ, by whom perhaps it hath not been so diligently remarked. Spiritual Truths are Lies spoken by Carnal Men.Here the Apostle doth so much require the Holy Spirit, in the Things that relate to a Christian, that he positively avers, we cannot so much as affirm Jesus to be the Lord without it; which insinuates no less, than that the Spiritual Truths of the Gospel are as Lies in the Mouths of carnal and unspiritual Men; for tho’ in themselves they be true, yet are they not true as to them, because not known, nor uttered forth, in and by that Principle and Spirit that ought to direct the Mind, and actuate it; in such Things they are no better than the counterfeit Representations of Things in a Comedy; neither can it be more truly and properly called a real and true Knowledge of God and Christ, than the Actions of Alexander the Great, Julius Cæsar, &c. if now transacted upon a Stage, might be called truly and really their Doings, or the Persons representing them might be said truly and really to have conquered Asia, overcome Pompey, &c.

Like the Pratling of a Parrot.This Knowledge then of Christ, which is not by the Revelation of his own Spirit in the Heart, is no more properly the Knowledge[Pg 16] of Christ, than the Pratling of a Parrot, which has been taught a few Words, may be said to be the Voice of a Man; for as that, or some other Bird, may be taught to sound or utter forth a rational Sentence, as it hath learned it by the outward Ear, and not from any living Principle of Reason actuating it; so just such is that Knowledge of the Things of God, which the natural and carnal Man hath gathered from the Words or Writings of Spiritual Men; which are not true to him, because conceived in the natural Spirit, and so brought forth by the wrong Organ, and not proceeding from the Spiritual Principle; no more than the Words of a Man, acquired by Art, and brought forth by the Mouth of a Bird, not proceeding from a Rational Principle, are true, with respect to the Bird which utters them. Wherefore from this Scripture I shall further add this Argument:

If no Man can say Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost; then no Man can know Jesus to be the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

But the first is true: Therefore the second.

From this Argument there may be another deduced, concluding in the very Terms of this Assertion: Thus,

If no Man can know Jesus to be the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost; then can there be no certain Knowledge or Revelation of him, but by the Spirit.

But the first is true: Therefore the second.

For making the Truth of this Assertion appear, it will be but needful to consider God’s manifesting himself towards, and in relation to his Creatures, from the Beginning, which resolves itself always herein. The first Step of all is ascribed hereunto by Moses, Gen. i. 2. And the Spirit of God moved upon the Face of the Waters. The Revelation is by the Spirit of God.I think it will not be denied, that God’s Converse with Man, all along from Adam to Moses, was by the Immediate Manifestation of his Spirit: And afterwards, through the whole Tract of the Law, he spake to[Pg 17] his Children no otherways; which, as it naturally followeth from the Principles above proved, so it cannot be denied, by such as acknowledge the Scriptures of Truth to have been written by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost: For these Writings, from Moses to Malachi, do declare, that during all that Time, God revealed himself to his Children by his Spirit.

Object.But if any will Object, That after the Dispensation of the Law, God’s Method of Speaking was altered;

Answ.Sanctum Sanctorum. I answer: First, That God spake always immediately to the Jews, in that he spake always immediately to the High-Priest from betwixt the Cherubims; who, when he entered into the Holy of Holies, returning, did relate to the whole People the Voice and Will of God, there immediately Revealed. So that this immediate Speaking never ceased in any Age.

None shut out from this Immediate Fellowship.Secondly, From this immediate Fellowship were none shut out, who earnestly sought after, and waited for it; in that many, besides the High-Priest, who were not so much as of the Kindred of Levi, nor of the Prophets, did receive it and speak from it; as it is written, Numb. xi. 25. where the Spirit is said to have rested upon the Seventy Elders; which Spirit also reached unto two that were not in the Tabernacle, but in the Camp; whom when some would have forbidden, Moses would not, but rejoiced, wishing that all the Lord’s People were Prophets, and that he would put his Spirit upon them, Ver. 29.

This is also confirmed, Neh. ix. Where the Elders of the People, after their Return from Captivity, when they began to sanctify themselves by Fasting and Prayer, numbering up the many Mercies of God towards their Fathers, say, Ver. 20. Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them; and Ver. 30. Yet many Years didst thou forbear, and testify against them by thy Spirit in thy Prophets. Many are the Sayings of Spiritual David to this Purpose, as Psalm li. 11, 12. Take not thy holy Spirit from me; uphold me with thy free Spirit. Psal. cxxxix. 7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Hereunto doth the Prophet Isaiah ascribe the Credit of his Testimony, saying, Chap. xlviii. 16. And now[Pg 18] the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me. And that God revealed himself to his Children under the New Testament, to wit, to the Apostles, Evangelists, and Primitive Disciples, is confessed by all. How far now this yet continueth, and is to be expected, comes hereafter to be spoken to.

Proved.This will easily appear by the Definition of Faith, and considering what its Object is: For which we shall not dive into the curious and various Notions of the School-men, but stay in the plain and positive Words of the Apostle Paul, who, Heb. xi. describes it two Ways. What Faith is?Faith (saith he) is the Substance of Things hoped for, and the Evidence of Things not seen: Which, as the Apostle illustrateth it in the same Chapter by many Examples, is no other but a firm and certain Belief of the Mind, whereby it resteth, and in a Sense possesseth the Substance of some Things hoped for, through its Confidence in the Promise of God: And thus the Soul hath a most firm Evidence, by its Faith, of Things not yet seen nor come to pass. The Object of this Faith, is the Promise, Word, or Testimony of God, speaking in the Mind. The Object of Faith, Deus Loquens.Hence it hath been generally affirmed, That the Object of Faith is Deus Loquens, &c. that is, God Speaking, &c. Which is also manifest from all those Examples, deduced by the Apostle throughout that whole Chapter, whose Faith was founded neither upon any outward Testimony, nor upon the Voice or Writing of Man, but upon the Revelation of God’s Will, manifest unto them, and in them; as in the Example of Noah, Ver. 7, thus, By Faith Noah being warned of God, of Things not seen as yet, moved with Fear, prepared an Ark to the saving of his House; by the which he condemned the World, and became Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith. Noah’s Faith.What was here the Object of Noah’s Faith, but God speaking unto him? He had not the Writings nor Prophesyings of any going before, nor yet the Concurrence of any Church or People, to strengthen him; and yet his Faith in the Word, by which he contradicted the whole World, saved him and his House.[Pg 19] Abraham’s Faith.Of which also Abraham is set forth as a singular Example, being therefore called the Father of the Faithful, who is said against Hope to have believed in Hope; in that he not only willingly forsook his Father’s Country, not knowing whither he went; in that he believed concerning the coming of Isaac, though contrary to natural Probability; but above all, in that he refused not to offer him up, not doubting but God was able to raise him from the Dead; of whom it is said, That in Isaac shall thy Seed be called. And last of all, In that he rested in the Promise, that his Seed should possess the Land, wherein he himself was but a Pilgrim, and which to them was not to be fulfilled while divers Ages after. The Object of Abraham’s Faith in all this, was no other but inward and immediate Revelation, or God signifying his Will unto him inwardly and immediately by his Spirit.

But because, in this Part of the Proposition, we made also Mention of external Voices, Appearances, and Dreams in the Alternative, I think also fit to speak hereof what in that respect may be objected; to wit,

Object.That those who found their Faith now upon Immediate and Objective Revelation, ought to have also outward Voices or Visions, Dreams or Appearances for it.

Answ.The Ministry of Angels speaking in the Appearance of Men to the Saints of old. It is not denied, but God made use of the Ministry of Angels, who, in the Appearance of Men, spake outwardly to the Saints of old, and that he did also reveal some Things to them in Dreams and Visions; none of which we will affirm to be ceased, so as to limit the Power and Liberty of God, in manifesting himself towards his Children. But while we are considering the Object of Faith, we must not stick to that which is but Circumstantially and Accidentally so, but to that which is Universally and Substantially so.

Next again, We must distinguish betwixt that which in itself is subject to Doubt and Delusion, and therefore is received for and because of another; and that which is not subject to any Doubt, but is received simply for and because of itself, as being Prima Veritas, the very First and Original Truth. Let us then consider how, or how[Pg 20] far, these outward Voices, Appearances and Dreams, were the Object of the Saints’ Faith: Was it because they were simply Voices, Appearances or Dreams? Revelations by Dreams and Visions.Nay certainly; for they were not ignorant that the Devil might form a Sound of Words, convey it to the outward Ear, and deceive the outward Senses, by making Things to appear that are not. Yea, do we not see by daily Experience, that the jugglers and Mountebanks can do as much as all that, by their Legerdemain? God forbid then, that the Saints’ Faith should be founded upon so fallacious a Foundation, as Man’s outward and fallible Senses. What made them then give Credit to these Visions? Certainly nothing else, but the secret Testimony of God’s Spirit in their Hearts, assuring them that the Voices, Dreams and Visions, were of and from God. Abraham believed the Angels; but who told him that these Men were Angels? We must not think his Faith then was built upon his outward Senses; but proceeded from the secret Persuasion of God’s Spirit in his Heart. This then must needs be acknowledged to be originally and principally the Object of the Saints’ Faith; without which there is no true and certain Faith, and by which many Times Faith is begotten and strengthened, without any of these outward or visible Helps; as we may observe in many Passages of the Holy Scripture, where it is only mentioned, And God said, &c. And the Word of the Lord came unto such and such, saying, &c.

Object.But if any one should pertinaciously affirm, That this did import an outward audible Voice to the Carnal Ear;

Answ.I would gladly know, what other Argument such an one could bring for this his Affirmation, saving his own simple Conjecture. It is said indeed, The Spirit witnesseth with our Spirit; but not to our outward Ears, Rom. viii. 16. And seeing the Spirit of God is within us, and not without us only, it speaks to our spiritual, and not to our bodily Ear. The Spirit speaks to the Spiritual Ear, not to the Outward.Therefore I see no Reason, where it is so often said in Scripture, The Spirit said, moved, hindered, called such or such a one, to do or forbear such or such a Thing, that any have to conclude that[Pg 21] this was not an Inward Voice to the Ear of the Soul, rather than an Outward Voice to the Bodily Ear. If any be otherwise minded, let them, if they can, produce their Arguments, and we may further consider of them.

From all therefore which is above declared, I shall deduce an Argument, to conclude the Proof of this Assertion, thus:

That which any one firmly believes, as the Ground and Foundation of his Hope in God, and Life Eternal, is the formal Object of his Faith.

But the inward and immediate Revelation of God’s Spirit, speaking in and unto the Saints, was by them believed, as the Ground and Foundation of their Hope in God, and Life Eternal.

Therefore these inward and immediate Revelations were the formal Object of their Faith.

There is nevertheless a very firm Argument confirming the Truth of this Assertion, included in the Proposition itself, to wit, That the Object of the Saints’ Faith is the same in all Ages, though held forth under divers Administrations. Which I shall reduce to an Argument, and prove, thus:

First, Where the Faith is one, the Object of the Faith is one.

But the Faith is one: Therefore, &c.

That the Faith is one, is the express Words of the Apostle, Eph. iv. 5. who placeth the one Faith with the one God; importing no less than, that to affirm two Faiths, is as absurd as to affirm two Gods.

The Faith of the Saints of old the same with ours.Moreover, if the Faith of the Ancients were not one and the same with ours, i. e. agreeing in Substance therewith, and receiving the same Definition, it had been impertinent for the Apostle, Heb. xi. to have illustrated the Definition of our Faith, by the Examples of that of the Ancients, or to go about to move us by the Example of Abraham,[Pg 22] if Abraham’s Faith were different in Nature from ours. Nor doth any Difference arise hence, because they believed in Christ, with respect to his Appearance outwardly as future; and we, as already appeared: For neither did they then so believe in him to come, as not to feel him present with them, and witness him near; seeing the Apostle saith, They all drank of that spiritual Rock which followed them, which Rock was Christ. Nor do we so believe concerning his Appearance past, as not also to feel and know him present with us, and to feed upon him; except Christ (saith the Apostle) be in you, ye are Reprobates; so that both our Faith is one, terminating in one and the same Thing. And as to the other Part or Consequence of the Antecedent; to wit, That the Object is one, where the Faith is one; the Apostle also proveth it in the fore-cited Chapter, where he makes all the Worthies of old Examples to us. Now wherein are they imitable, but because they believed in God? And what was the Object of their Faith, but inward and immediate Revelation, as we have before proved? Their Example can be no-ways applicable to us, except we believe in God as they did; that is, by the same Object. The Apostle clears this yet further by his own Example, Gal. i. 16. where he saith, So soon as Christ was revealed in him, he consulted not with Flesh and Blood, but forthwith believed and obeyed. The same Apostle, Heb. xiii. 7, 8. where he exhorteth the Hebrews to follow the Faith of the Elders, adds this Reason, Considering the End of their Conversation, Jesus Christ, the same To-day, Yesterday, and for ever: Hereby notably insinuating, that in the Object there is no Alteration.

Object.If any now object the Diversity of Administration;

Answ.I answer; That altereth not at all the Object: For the same Apostle mentioning this Diversity three Times, 1 Cor. xii. 4, 5, 6. centereth always in the same Object; the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same God.

But further; If the Object of Faith were not one and the same, both to us and to them, then it would follow that we were to know God some other Way than by the Spirit.

[Pg 23]

But this were absurd: Therefore, &c.

Lastly, This is most firmly proved from a common and received Maxim of the School-men, to wit, Omnis actus specificatur ab objecto, Every Act is specified from its Object: for which if it be true, as they acknowledge; (though for the Sake of many, I shall not recur to this Argument, as being too Nice and Scholastick; neither lay I much Stress upon those Kind of Things, as being that which commends not the Simplicity of the Gospel) it would follow, that If the Object were different, then the Faith would be different also.

Such as deny this Proposition now-a-days, use here a Distinction; granting that God is to be known by his Spirit; but again denying that it is Immediate or Inward, but in and by the Scriptures, in which the Mind of the Spirit (as they say) being fully and amply Expressed, we are thereby to know God, and be led in all Things.

As to the Negative of this Assertion, That the Scriptures are not sufficient, neither were ever appointed to be the adequate and only Rule, nor yet can guide or direct a Christian in all those Things that are needful for him to know, we shall leave that to the next Proposition to be examined. Christians are now to be led by the Spirit, in the same Manner as the Saints of Old.What is proper in this Place to be proved, is, That Christians now are to be led inwardly and immediately by the Spirit of God, even in the same Manner (though it befal not many to be led in the same Measure) as the Saints were of old.

Query I. Who is this Comforter?As to the First, Most do acknowledge that there is nothing else understood than what the plain Words signify: which is also evident by many other Places of Scripture, that will hereafter occur; neither do I see how such as affirm otherways can avoid Blasphemy: For, if the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, and Spirit of Truth, be all one with the Scriptures, then it will follow that the Scriptures are God, seeing it is true that the Holy Ghost is God. Nonsensical Consequences from the Socinians Belief of the Scriptures being the Spirit.If these Men’s Reasoning might take Place, wherever the Spirit is mentioned in relation to the Saints, thereby might be truly and properly understood the Scriptures: which, what a nonsensical Monster it would make of the Christian Religion, will easily appear to all Men. As where it is said, A Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal; it might be rendered thus, A Manifestation of the Scriptures is given to every Man to profit withal; what notable Sense this would make, and what a curious Interpretation; let us consider by the Sequel of the same Chapter, 1 Cor. xii. 9, 10, 11. To another the Gifts of Healing, by the same Spirit; to another, the working of Miracles, &c. But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every Man severally as he will. What would now these great Masters of Reason, the Socinians, judge, if we should place the Scriptures here instead of the Spirit? Would it answer their Reason, which is the great Guide of their Faith? Would it be good and sound Reason in their Logical Schools, to affirm that[Pg 25] the Scripture divideth severally, as it will, and giveth to some the Gift of Healing, to others the working of Miracles? If then this Spirit, a Manifestation whereof is given to every Man to profit withal, be no other than that Spirit of Truth, before-mentioned, which guideth into all Truth; this Spirit of Truth cannot be the Scripture. I could infer an Hundred more Absurdities of this Kind, upon this sottish Opinion; but what is said may suffice. For even some of themselves, being at Times forgetful, or ashamed of their own Doctrine, do acknowledge, that the Spirit of God is another Thing, and distinct from the Scriptures, to Guide and Influence the Saints.

Query II. Where is his Place?Secondly, That this Spirit is inward, in my Opinion, needs no Interpretation, or Commentary, He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. This Indwelling of the Spirit in the Saints, as it is a Thing most needful to be known and believed; so is it as positively asserted in the Scripture, as any Thing else can be. If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you, saith the Apostle to the Romans, Chap. viii. 9. And again, Know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. vi. 19. And that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Cor. iii. 16. Without this the Apostle reckoneth no Man a Christian. If any Man (saith he) have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. These Words immediately follow these above-mentioned, out of the Epistle to the Romans, But ye are not in the Flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be the Spirit of God dwell in you. The Spirit within, the main Token of a Christian.The Context of which sheweth, that the Apostle reckoneth it the main Token of a Christian, both positively and negatively: For in the former Verses, he sheweth how the carnal Mind is Enmity against God, and that such as are in the Flesh, cannot please him. Where subsuming, he adds concerning the Romans, that they are not in the Flesh, if the Spirit of God dwell in them. What is this but to affirm, that they, in whom the Spirit dwells, are no longer in the Flesh, nor of those who please not God, but are become Christians indeed? Again, in the next Verse he concludes negatively, that If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his; that is, he is no Christian. He then that acknowledges himself Ignorant, and a Stranger to the Inward[Pg 26] In-being of the Spirit of Christ in his Heart, doth thereby acknowledge himself to be yet in the Carnal Mind, which is Enmity to God; to be yet in the Flesh, where God cannot be pleased; and in short, whatever he may otherways know or believe of Christ, or however much skilled, or acquainted with the Letter of the Holy Scripture, not yet to be, notwithstanding all that, attained to the least Degree of a Christian; yea, not once to have embraced the Christian Religion. For take but away the Spirit, and Christianity remains no more Christianity, than the dead Carcase of a Man, when the Soul and Spirit is departed, remains a Man; which the living can no more abide, but do bury out of their Sight as a noisome and useless Thing, however acceptable it hath been, when actuated and moved by the Soul. Lastly, Whatsoever is Excellent, whatsoever is Noble, whatsoever is Worthy, whatsoever is Desirable in the Christian Faith, is ascribed to this Spirit; without which it could no more subsist, than the outward World without the Sun. Hereunto have all true Christians, in all Ages, attributed their Strength and Life. It is by this Spirit, that they avouch themselves to have been converted to God, to have been redeemed from the World, to have been strengthened in their Weakness, comforted in their Afflictions, confirmed in their Temptations, imboldened in their Sufferings, and triumphed in the Midst of all their Persecutions. The great and notable Acts that have been and are performed by the Spirit in all Ages.Yea, The Writings of all true Christians are full of the great and notable Things, which they all affirm themselves to have done, by the Power, and Virtue, and Efficacy of this Spirit of God working in them. It is the Spirit that quickeneth, John vi. 63. It was the Spirit that gave them Utterance, Acts ii. 4. It was the Spirit by which Stephen spake, That the Jews were not able to resist, Acts vi. 10. It is such as walk after the Spirit, that receive no Condemnation, Rom. viii. 1. It is the Law of the Spirit that makes free, Ver. 2. It is by the Spirit of God dwelling in us, that we are redeemed from the Flesh, and from the Carnal Mind, Ver. 9. It is the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us, that quickeneth our mortal Bodies, Ver. 11. It is through this Spirit, that the Deeds of the Body are mortified, and Life obtained, Ver. 13. It is[Pg 27] by this Spirit, that we are adopted, and cry ABBA Father, Ver 15. It is this Spirit, that beareth Witness with our Spirit, that we are the Children of God, Ver. 16. It is this Spirit, that helpeth our Infirmities, and maketh Intercession for us, with Groanings which cannot be uttered, Ver. 26. It is by this Spirit, that the glorious Things which God hath laid up for us, which neither outward Ear hath heard, nor outward Eye hath seen, nor the Heart of Man conceived by all his Reasonings, are revealed unto us, 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. It is by this Spirit, that both Wisdom, and Knowledge, and Faith, and Miracles, and Tongues, and Prophecies, are obtained, 1 Cor. xii. 8, 9, 10. It is by this Spirit, that we are all Baptized into one Body, Ver. 13. In short, what Thing relating to the Salvation of the Soul, and to the Life of a Christian, is rightly performed, or effectually obtained, without it? And what shall I say more? For the Time would fail me, to tell of all those Things, which the Holy Men of Old have declared, and the Saints of this Day do themselves enjoy, by the Virtue and Power of this Spirit dwelling in them. Truly my Paper could not contain the many Testimonies, whereby this Truth is confirmed; wherefore, besides what is above-mentioned out of the Fathers, whom all pretend to Reverence, and those of Luther and Melancthon, shall deduce yet one observable Testimony out of Calvin, because not a few of the Followers of his Doctrine do refuse and deride (and that, as it is to be feared, because of their own Non-experience thereof) this Way of the Spirit’s In-dwelling, as uncertain and dangerous; that so, if neither the Testimony of the Scripture, nor the Sayings of others, nor right Reason can move them, they may at least be reproved by the Words of their own Master, who saith in the third Book of his Institutions, Cap. 2. on this wise:

Calvin of the Necessity of the Spirit’s Indwelling in us.“But they alledge, it is a bold Presumption for any to pretend to an undoubted Knowledge of God’s Will; which (saith he) I should grant unto them, if we should ascribe so much to ourselves, as to subject the Incomprehensible Counsel of God to the Rashness of our Understandings. But while we simply say, with Paul, that we have received[Pg 28] not the Spirit of this World, but the Spirit which is of God; by whose Teaching we know those Things that are given us of God, what can they prate against it, without reproaching the Spirit of God? For if it be an horrible Sacrilege to accuse any Revelation coming from him, either of a Lie, of Uncertainty or Ambiguity, in asserting its Certainty, wherein do we offend? But they cry out, That it is not without great Temerity, that we dare so boast of the Spirit of Christ. Who would believe that the Sottishness of these Men were so great, who would be esteemed the Masters of the World, that they should so fail in the first Principles of Religion? Verily I could not believe it, if their own Writings did not testify so much. Paul accounts those the Sons of God, who are actuated by the Spirit of God; but these will have the Children of God actuated by their own Spirits, without the Spirit of God. He will have us call God Father, the Spirit dictating that Term unto us, which only can witness to our Spirits, that we are the Sons of God. These, though they cease not to call upon God, do nevertheless dismiss the Spirit, by whose guiding he is rightly to be called upon. He denies them to be the Sons of God, or the Servants of Christ, who are not led by his Spirit; but these feign a Christianity that needs not the Spirit of Christ. He takes away the Hope of a blessed Resurrection, unless we feel the Spirit residing in us; but these feign a Hope without any such a Feeling; but perhaps they will answer, that they deny not but that it is necessary to have it, only of Modesty and Humility we ought to deny and not acknowledge it. What means he then, when he commands the Corinthians to Try themselves, if they be in the Faith; to Examine themselves, whether they have Christ, whom whosoever acknowledges not dwelling in him, is a Reprobate? By the Spirit which he hath given us, saith John, we know that he abideth in us. And what do we then else but call in question Christ’s Promise, while we would be esteemed the Servants of God, without his Spirit, which he declared he would pour out upon all his? Seeing these Things are the first Grounds of Piety, it is miserable Blindness to accuse[Pg 29] Christians of Pride, because they dare glory of the Presence of the Spirit; without which glorying, Christianity itself could not be. Without the Spirit’s Presence Christianity must cease.But by their Example they declare, how truly Christ spake, saying, That his Spirit was unknown to the World, and that those only acknowledge it, with whom it remains.” Thus far Calvin.

If therefore it be so, Why should any be so foolish as to deny, or so unwise as not to seek after this Spirit, which Christ hath promised shall dwell in his Children? They then that do suppose the Indwelling and Leading of his Spirit to be ceased, must also suppose Christianity to be ceased, which cannot subsist without it.

Query III. What is the Work of the Spirit?Thirdly, What the Work of this Spirit is, is partly before shewn, which Christ compriseth in two or three Things, [42]He will guide you into all Truth; He will teach you all Things, and bring all Things to your Remembrance. Since Christ hath provided for us so good an Instructor, why need we then lean so much to those Traditions and Commandments of Men, wherewith so many Christians have burthened themselves? Why need we set up our own carnal and corrupt Reason for a Guide to us, in Matters spiritual, as some will needs do? The Spirit the Guide.May it not be complained of all such, as the Lord did of old, concerning Israel, by the Prophets, Jer. ii. 13. For my People have committed two Evils, they have forsaken me, the Fountain of Living Waters; and hewed them out Cisterns, broken Cisterns, that can hold no Water? Have not many forsaken, do not many deride and reject, this Inward and Immediate Guide, this Spirit, that leads into all Truth; and cast up to themselves other Ways, broken Ways indeed, which have not all this While brought them out of the Flesh, nor out of the World, nor from under the Dominion of their own Lusts and sinful Affections; whereby Truth, which is only rightly learned by this Spirit, is so much a Stranger in the Earth?

A perpetual Ordinance to God’s Church and People.From all then that hath been mentioned concerning this Promise, and these Words of Christ, it will follow, That Christians are always to be led inwardly and immediately by the Spirit of God dwelling[Pg 30] in them; and that the same is a standing and perpetual Ordinance, as well to the Church in general in all Ages, as to every Individual Member in particular; as appears from this Argument:

The Promises of Christ to his Children are Yea and Amen, and cannot fail, but must of Necessity be fulfilled.

But Christ hath promised, That the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth, shall abide with his Children for ever, shall dwell with them, shall be in them, shall lead them into all Truth, shall teach them all Things, and bring all Things to their Remembrance:

Therefore, The Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth, his abiding with his Children, &c. is Yea and Amen, &c.

Again: No Man is redeemed from the Carnal Mind, which is at Enmity with God, which is not subject to the Law of God, neither can be; no Man is yet in the Spirit, but in the Flesh, and cannot please God; except he in whom the Spirit of God dwells.

But every true Christian is in measure redeemed from the Carnal Mind, is gathered out of the Enmity, and can be subject to the Law of God; is out of the Flesh, and in the Spirit, the Spirit of God dwelling in him:

Therefore every true Christian hath the Spirit of God dwelling in him.

Again: Whosoever hath not the Spirit of Christ, is none of his; that is, no Child, no Friend, no Disciple of Christ.

But every true Christian is a Child, a Friend, a Disciple of Christ:

Therefore every true Christian hath the Spirit of Christ.

Moreover: Whosoever is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, in him the Spirit of God dwelleth and abideth.

But every true Christian is the Temple of the Holy Ghost:

Therefore in every true Christian the Spirit of God dwelleth and abideth.

But to conclude: He in whom the Spirit of God dwelleth, it is not in him a lazy, dumb, useless Thing; but it moveth, actuateth, go[Pg 31]verneth, instructeth, and teacheth him all Things, whatsoever are needful for him to know; yea, bringeth all Things to his Remembrance.

But the Spirit of God dwelleth in every true Christian:

Therefore the Spirit of God leadeth, instructeth, and teacheth every true Christian whatsoever is needful for him to know.

Answ.This Opinion, though somewhat more tolerable than the former, is nevertheless not altogether according to Truth, neither doth it reach the Fulness of it.

Arg 1.1. Because there be many Truths, which, as they are applicable to Particulars and Individuals, and most needful to be known by them, are in no-wise to be found in the Scripture, as in the following Proposition shall be shewn.

Besides, the Arguments already adduced do prove, that the Spirit doth not only Subjectively help us to discern Truths elsewhere delivered, but also Objectively present those Truths to our Minds. For that which teacheth me all Things, and is given me for that End, without doubt presents those Things to my Mind which it teacheth me. It is not said, It shall teach you how to understand those Things that are written; but, It shall teach you all Things. Again, that which brings all Things to my Remembrance, must needs present them by Way of Object; else it were improper to say, It brought them to my Remembrance; but only, that it helpeth to remember the Objects brought from elsewhere.

Arg. 2.My second Argument shall be drawn from the Nature of the New Covenant; by which, and those that follow, I shall prove that we are led by the Spirit, both Immediately and Objectively. The Nature of the New Covenant is expressed in divers Places: And

[Pg 32]

Proof 1.First, Isa. lix. 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 into thy Mouth, shall not depart out of thy Mouth, nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed, nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed’s Seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. The Leadings of the Spirit.By the latter Part of this is sufficiently expressed the Perpetuity and Continuance of this Promise, It shall not depart, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. In the former Part is the Promise itself, which is the Spirit of God being upon them, and the Words of God being put into their Mouths.

1. Immediately.First, This was Immediate, for there is no Mention made of any Medium; he saith not, I shall by the Means of such and such Writings or Books, convey such and such Words into your Mouths; but My Words, I, even I, saith the Lord, have put into your Mouths.

2. Objectively.Secondly, This must be Objectively; for [the Words put into the Mouth] are the Object presented by him. He saith not, The Words which ye shall see written, my Spirit shall only enlighten your Understandings to assent unto; but positively, My Words, which I have put into thy Mouth, &c. From whence I Argue thus:

Upon whomsoever the Spirit remaineth always, and putteth Words into his Mouth, him doth the Spirit teach Immediately, Objectively, and Continually.

But the Spirit is always upon the Seed of the Righteous, and putteth Words into their Mouths, neither departeth from them:

Therefore the Spirit teacheth the Righteous Immediately, Objectively, and Continually.

Proof 2.Secondly, The Nature of the New Covenant is yet more amply expressed, Jer. xxxi. 33. which is again repeated and re-asserted, by the Apostle, Heb. viii. 10, 11. in these Words, For this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel, after those Days, saith the Lord, I will put my Laws into their Minds, and write them in their Hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a People. And they shall not teach every Man his Neighbour, and every Man his Brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest.

[Pg 33]

The Object here is God’s Law placed in the Heart, and written in the Mind; from whence they become God’s People, and are brought truly to know him.

The Difference between the Outward and Inward Law. In this then is the Law distinguished from the Gospel; the Law before was outward, written in Tables of Stone; but now is inward, written in the Heart: Of old the People depended upon their Priests for the Knowledge of God, but now they have all a certain and sensible Knowledge of Him; concerning which Augustine speaketh well, in his Book De Litera & Spiritu; from whom Aquinas first of all seems to have taken Occasion to move this Question, Whether the New Law be a written Law, or an Implanted Law; Lex scripta, vel Lex indita? Which he thus resolves, Affirming, That the New Law, or Gospel, is not properly a Law written, as the Old was, but Lex indita, an Implanted Law; and that the old Law was written without, but the new Law is written within, on the Table of the Heart.

How much then are they deceived, who, instead of making the Gospel preferable to the Law, have made the Condition of such as are under the Gospel far worse? The Gospel Dispensation more glorious than that of the Law.For no Doubt it is a far better, and more desirable Thing, to converse with God Immediately, than only Mediately, as being an higher and more glorious Dispensation: And yet these Men acknowledge, that many under the Law had Immediate Converse with God, whereas they now cry it is ceased.

Again, Under the Law, there was the Holy of Holies, into which the High Priest did enter, and received the Word of the Lord immediately from betwixt the Cherubims, so that the People could then certainly know the Mind of the Lord; but now, according to these Men’s Judgment, we are in a far worse Condition, having nothing but the outward Letter of the Scripture to guess and divine from; concerning the Sense or Meaning of one Verse of which scarce two can be found to agree. But Jesus Christ hath promised us better Things, tho’ many are so unwise as not to believe him, even to guide us by his own unerring Spirit, and hath rent and removed the Veil, whereby not only one, and that once a Year, may enter; but all of us, at all[Pg 34] Times, have Access unto him, as often as we draw near unto him with pure Hearts: He reveals his Will to us by his Spirit, and writes his Laws in our Hearts. These Things then being thus premised; I argue,

Where the Law of God is put into the Mind, and written in the Heart, there the Object of Faith, and Revelation of the Knowledge of God, is inward, immediate, and objective.

But the Law of God is put into the Mind, and written in the Heart of every True Christian, under the new Covenant:

Therefore the Object of Faith, and Revelation of the Knowledge of God to every True Christian, is inward, immediate, and objective.

The Assumption is the express Words of Scripture: The Proposition then must needs be true, except that which is put into the Mind, and written in the Heart, were either not inward, not immediate, or not objective, which is most absurd.

1. Common.First, This could not be any special, peculiar, or extraordinary Privilege, but that which is common to all the Saints, it being a general Epistle, directed to all them of that Age.

2. Certain.Secondly, The Apostle proposeth this Anointing in them, as a more certain Touch-stone for them to discern and try Seducers by, even than his own Writings; for having in the former Verse said, that he had written some Things to them concerning such as seduced them, he begins the next Verse, But the Anointing, &c. and ye need not that any Man teach you, &c. which infers, that having said to them what can be said, he refers them for all to the inward Anointing, which teacheth all Things, as the most firm, constant, and certain Bulwark, against all Seducers.

[Pg 35]

3. Lasting.And Lastly, That it is a lasting and continuing Thing; the Anointing which abideth. If it had not been to abide in them, it could not have taught them all Things, neither guarded them against all Hazard. From which I argue thus,

He that hath an Anointing abiding in him, which teacheth him all Things, so that he needs no Man to teach him, hath an inward and immediate Teacher, and hath some Things inwardly and immediately Revealed unto him.

But the Saints have such an Anointing:

Therefore, &c.

I could prove this Doctrine from many more Places of Scripture, which for Brevity’s Sake I omit; and now come to the second Part of the Proposition, where the Objections usually formed against it are answered.

Answ.But this bespeaketh much Ignorance in the Opposers; for we distinguish between the Thesis and the Hypothesis; that is, between the Proposition and Supposition. For it is one Thing to affirm, that the true and undoubted Revelation of God’s Spirit is certain and infallible; and another Thing to affirm, that this or that particular Person, or People, is led infallibly by this Revelation, in what they speak or write, because they affirm themselves to be so led, by the inward and immediate Revelation of the Spirit. The first is only asserted by us; the latter may be called in question. The Question is not, Who are, or are not so led? But, Whether all ought not, or may not be so led?

The Certainty of the Spirit’s Guidance proved.Seeing then we have already proved, that Christ hath promised his Spirit to lead his Children, and that every one of them both ought and may be led by it; if any depart from this certain Guide in Deeds, and yet in Words pretend to be led by it, into Things that are not good, it will not from thence follow, that the true Guidance of the Spirit is uncertain, or ought not to be followed; no more than it will follow, that the Sun sheweth not Light, because a Blind Man, or one who wilfully hurts his Eyes, falls into a Ditch at Noon-day[Pg 36] for want of Light; or that no Words are spoken, because a Deaf Man hears them not; or that a Garden full of fragrant Flowers has no sweet Smell, because he that has lost his Smelling doth not Smell it. The Fault then is in the Organ, and not in the Object.

All these Mistakes therefore are to be ascribed to the Weakness or Wickedness of Men, and not to that Holy Spirit. Such as bend themselves most against this certain and infallible Testimony of the Spirit, use commonly to alledge the Example of the old Gnosticks, and the late Monstrous and Mischievous Actings of the Anabaptists of Munster; all which toucheth us nothing at all, neither weakens a Whit our most true Doctrine. Wherefore, as a most sure Bulwark against such Kind of Assaults, was subjoined that other Part of our Proposition, thus; Moreover these Divine and Inward Revelations, which we establish, as absolutely necessary for the founding of the True Faith, as they do not, so neither can they at any Time contradict the Scriptures Testimony, or sound Reason.

By Experience.Besides the intrinsick and undoubted Truth of this Assertion, we can boldly affirm it, from our certain and blessed Experience. For this Spirit never deceived us, never acted nor moved us to any Thing that was amiss; but is clear and manifest in its Revelations, which are evidently discerned by us, as we wait in that pure and undefiled Light of God, that proper and fit Organ, in which they are received. Therefore if any reason after this Manner,

That because some Wicked, Ungodly, Devilish Men, have committed wicked Actions, and have yet more wickedly asserted, that they were led into these Things by the Spirit of God:

Therefore, No Man ought to lean to the Spirit of God, or seek to be led by it;

The Absurdity of the Consequence.I utterly deny the Consequence of this Proposition; which, were it to be received as true, then would all Faith in God, and Hope of Salvation, become uncertain, and the Christian Religion be turned into mere Scepticism. For after the same Manner I might reason thus:

Because Eve was deceived by the Lying of the Serpent:

[Pg 37]

Therefore she ought not to have trusted to the Promise of God.

Because the old World was deluded by Evil Spirits:

Therefore ought neither Noah, nor Abraham, nor Moses, to have trusted the Spirit of the Lord.

Because a lying Spirit spake through the Four Hundred Prophets, that persuaded Ahab to go up and fight at Ramoth Gilead:

Therefore the Testimony of the true Spirit in Micaiah was uncertain, and dangerous to be followed.

Because there were seducing Spirits crept into the Church of old:

Therefore it was not good, or it is uncertain, to follow the Anointing, which taught all Things, and is Truth, and is no Lie.

Who dare say, that this is a necessary Consequence? Moreover, not only the Faith of the Saints, and Church of God of old, is hereby rendered uncertain, but also the Faith of all Sorts of Christians now is liable to the like Hazard, even of those who seek a Foundation for their Faith elsewhere than from the Spirit. For I shall prove by an inevitable Argument, ab Incommodo, i. e. from the Inconveniency of it, that if the Spirit be not to be followed upon that Account, and that Men may not depend upon it, as their Guide, because some, while pretending thereunto, commit great Evils; that then, neither Tradition, nor the Scriptures, nor Reason, which the Papists, Protestants and Socinians, do respectively make the Rule of their Faith, are any Whit more certain. 1. Instances of Tradition.The Romanists reckon it an Error to celebrate Easter any other Ways than that Church doth. This can only be decided by Tradition. And yet the Greek Church, which equally layeth Claim to Tradition with herself, doth it otherwise. [43]Yea, so little effectual is Tradition to decide the Case, that Polycarpus, the Disciple of John, and Anicetus, the Bishop of Rome, who immediately succeeded them, according to whole Example both Sides concluded the Question ought to be decided, could not agree. Here of Necessity one of them must Err, and that following Tradition. Would the Papists now judge we dealt fairly by them, if we should thence aver, that Tradition is not to be regarded? Besides, in a Matter of far greater Importance, the[Pg 38] same Difficulty will occur, to wit, in the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome; for many do affirm, and that by Tradition, That in the first Six Hundred Years the Roman Prelates never assumed the Title of Universal Shepherd, nor were acknowledged as such. And as that which altogether overturneth this Presidency, there are that alledge, and that from Tradition also, That Peter never saw Rome; and that therefore the Bishop of Rome cannot be his Successor. Would ye Romanists think this sound Reasoning, to say as you do?

Many have been deceived, and erred grievously, in trusting to Tradition:

Therefore we ought to reject all Traditions, yea, even those by which we affirm the contrary, and, as we think, prove the Truth.

Lastly, In the[44] Council of Florence, the chief Doctors of the Romish and Greek Churches did debate whole Sessions long, concerning the Interpretation of one Sentence of the Council of Ephesus, and of Epiphanius, and Basilius, neither could they ever agree about it.

2. Of Scripture.Secondly, As to the Scripture, the same Difficulty occurreth: The Lutherans affirm they believe Consubstantiation by the Scripture; which the Calvinists deny, as that which, they say, according to the same Scripture, is a gross Error. The Calvinists again affirm absolute Predestination, which the Arminians deny, affirming the contrary; wherein both affirm themselves to be ruled by the Scripture and Reason in the Matter. Should I argue thus then to the Calvinists?

Here the Lutherans and Arminians grossly err, by following the Scripture:

Therefore the Scripture is not a good nor certain Rule; and è contrario.

Would either of them accept of this Reasoning as good and sound? What shall I say of the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Independents, and Anabaptists of Great Britain, who are continually buffeting one another with the Scripture? To whom the same Argument might be alledged, though they do all unanimously acknowledge it to be the Rule.

[Pg 39]

3. Of Reason.And Thirdly, As to Reason, I shall not need to say much; for whence come all the Controversies, Contentions and Debates in the World, but because every Man thinks he follows right Reason? The Debates hence arising betwixt the old and late Philosophers.Hence of old, came the Jangles between the Stoicks, Platonists, Peripateticks, Pythagoreans, and Cynicks, as of late betwixt the Aristotelians, Cartesians, and other Naturalists: Can it be thence inferred, or will the Socinians, those great Reasoners, allow us to conclude, because many, and those very wise Men, have erred, by following, as they supposed, their Reason, and that with what Diligence, Care and Industry they could, to find out the Truth, that therefore no Man ought to make use of it at all, nor be positive in what he knows certainly to be Rational? And thus far as to Opinions; the same Uncertainty is no less incident unto those other Principles.

Tradition, Scripture, and Reason, made a Cover for Persecution and Murder.For what have the Papists pretended for their many Massacres, acted as well in France as elsewhere, but Tradition, Scripture, and Reason? Did they not say, That Reason persuaded them, Tradition allowed them, and Scripture commanded them, to Persecute, Destroy, and Burn Hereticks, such as denied this plain Scripture, Hoc est Corpus meum, This is my Body? And are not the Protestants assenting to this Bloodshed,[Pg 40] who assert the same Thing, and encourage them, by Burning and Banishing, while their Brethren are so treated for the same Cause? Are not the Islands of Great Britain and Ireland, yea, and all the Christian World, a lively Example hereof, which were divers Years together as a Theatre of Blood; where many lost their Lives, and Numbers of Families were utterly destroyed and ruined? For all which no other Cause was principally given, than the Precepts of the Scripture. If we then compare these Actings with those of Munster, we shall not find great Difference; for both affirmed and pretended they were called, and that it was lawful to Kill, Burn, and Destroy the Wicked. We must Kill all the Wicked, said those Anabaptists, that we, that are the Saints, may possess the Earth. We must Burn obstinate Hereticks, say the Papists, that the Holy Church of Rome may be purged of rotten Members, and may live in Peace. We must cut off Seducing Separatists, say the Prelatical Protestants, who trouble the Peace of the Church, and refuse the Divine Hierarchy, and Religious Ceremonies thereof. We must Kill, say the Calvinistick Presbyterians, the Prophane Malignants, who accuse the Holy Consistorial and Presbyterian Government, and seek to defend the Popish and Prelatick Hierarchy; as also those other Sectaries that trouble the Peace of our Church. What Difference I pray thee, Impartial Reader, seest thou betwixt these?

Object.If it be said, The Anabaptists went without, and against the Authority of the Magistrate; so did not the other;

Answ.I might easily Refute it, by alledging the mutual Testimonies of these Sects against one another. Examples of Popish Cruelties.The Behaviour of the Papists towards Henry the third and fourth of France; their Designs upon James the sixth in the Gunpowder Treason; as also their Principle of the Pope’s Power to depose Kings, for the Cause of Heresy, and to absolve their Subjects from their Oath, and give them to others, proves it against them.

Protestants Violences and Persecutions in Scotland, England, and Holland.And as to the Protestants, how much their Actions differ from those other above-mentioned, may be seen by the many Conspiracies and Tumults which they have been active in, both in Scotland and England,[Pg 41] and which they have acted within these Hundred Years, in divers Towns and Provinces of the Netherlands. Have they not oftentimes sought, not only from the Popish Magistrates, but even from those that had begun to Reform, or that had given them some Liberty of Exercising their Religion, that they might only be permitted, without Trouble or Hindrance, to Exercise their Religion, promising they would not hinder or molest the Papists in the Exercise of theirs? And yet did they not on the contrary, so soon as they had Power, trouble and abuse those Fellow-Citizens, and turn them out of the City, and, which is worse, even such, who together with them had forsaken the Popish Religion? Did they not these Things in many Places against the Mind of the Magistrates? Have they not publickly, with contumelious Speeches, assaulted their Magistrates, from whom they had but just before sought and obtained the free Exercise of their Religion? Representing them, so soon as they opposed themselves to their Hierarchy, as if they regarded neither God nor Religion? Have they not by violent Hands possessed themselves of the Popish Churches, so called, or by Force, against the Magistrates Mind, taken them away? Have they not turned out of their Office and Authority whole Councils of Magistrates, under Pretence that they were addicted to Popery? Which Popish Magistrates nevertheless they did but a little before acknowledge to be Ordained by God; affirming themselves obliged to yield them Obedience and Subjection, not only for Fear, but for Conscience Sake; to whom moreover the very Preachers and Overseers of the Reformed Church had willingly sworn Fidelity; and yet afterwards have they not said, That the People are bound to force a wicked Prince to the Observation of God’s Word? There are many other Instances of this Kind to be found in their Histories, not to mention many worse Things, which we know to have been acted in our Time, and which for Brevity’s Sake I pass by.

Lutheran Seditions against the Reformed Teachers, and Assault upon the Marquis of Brandenburg, &c. in Germany.I might say much of the Lutherans, whose tumultuous Actions against their Magistrates, not professing the Lutheran Profession, are testified of by several Historians worthy of Credit. Among others, I[Pg 42] shall propose only one Example to the Reader’s Consideration, which fell out at Berlin, in the Year 1615, “Where the seditious Multitude of the Lutheran Citizens, being stirred up by the daily Clamours of their Preachers, did not only with Violence break into the Houses of the reformed Teachers, overturn their Libraries, and spoil their Furniture; but also with reproachful Words, yea, and with Stones, assaulted the Marquis of Brandenburg, the Elector’s Brother, while he sought by smooth Words to quiet the Fury of the Multitude; they killed ten of his Guard, scarcely sparing himself, who at last by Flight escaped out of their Hands.”

All which sufficiently declares, that the Concurrence of the Magistrate doth not alter their Principles, but only their Method of Procedure. So that for my own Part, I see no Difference betwixt the Actings of those of Munster, and these others, (whereof the one pretended to be led by the Spirit, the other by Tradition, Scripture, and Reason) save this, that the former were rash, heady, and foolish, in their Proceedings, and therefore were the sooner brought to nothing, and so into Contempt and Derision: But the other, being more politick and wise in their Generation, held it out longer, and so have authorized their Wickedness more, with the seeming Authority of Law and Reason. But both their Actings being equally Evil, the Difference appears to me to be only like that which is between a simple silly Thief, that is easily catched, and hanged without any more ado; and a Company of resolute bold Robbers, who being better guarded, though their Offence be nothing less, yet by Violence do, to shun the Danger, force their Masters to give them good Terms.

From all which then it evidently follows, that they argue very ill, who despise and reject any Principle, because Men pretending to be led by it do evil; in case it be not the natural and consequential Tendency of that Principle to lead unto those Things that are evil.

Again, It doth follow from what is above asserted, that if the Spirit be to be rejected upon this Account, all those other Principles ought on the same Account to be rejected. And for my Part, as I[Pg 43] have never a Whit the lower Esteem of the blessed Testimony of the Holy Scriptures; nor do the less respect any solid Tradition, that is answerable and according to Truth; neither at all despise Reason, that noble and excellent Faculty of the Mind, because wicked Men have abused the Name of them, to cover their Wickedness, and deceive the Simple; Let none reject the Certainty of the unerring Spirit of God because of false Pretenders to it.so would I not have any reject or doubt the Certainty of that Unerring Spirit, which God hath given his Children, as that which can alone guide them into all Truth, because some have falsely pretended to it.

He that denies this Part of the Proposition, must needs affirm, that the Spirit of God neither can nor ever hath manifested itself to Man, without the Scripture, or a distinct Discussion of Reason; or that the Efficacy of this Supernatural Principle, working upon the Souls of Men, is less evident than Natural Principles in their common Operations; both which are false.

For, First, Through all the Scriptures we may observe, That the Manifestation and Revelation of God by his Spirit to the Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles, was Immediate and Objective, as is above proved; which they did not examine by any other Principle, but their own Evidence and Clearness.

The Self-Evidence of the Spirit.Secondly, To say that the Spirit of God has less Evidence upon the Mind of Man than Natural Principles have, is to have too mean and[Pg 44] too low Thoughts of it. How comes David to invite us, to taste and see that God is good, if this cannot be felt and tasted? This were enough to overturn the Faith and Assurance of all the Saints, both now and of old. How came Paul to be persuaded, that nothing could separate him from the Love of God, but by that Evidence and Clearness which the Spirit of God gave him? The Apostle John, who knew well wherein the Certainty of Faith consisted, judged it no ways absurd, without further Argument, to ascribe his Knowledge and Assurance, and that of all the Saints, hereunto in these Words, Hereby know we, that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit, 1 John iv. 13. And again, Ver. 6. It is the Spirit that beareth Witness, because the Spirit is Truth.

Observe the Reason brought by him, Because the Spirit is Truth; of whose Certainty and Infallibility I have heretofore spoken. The Spirit contradicts not the Scripture, nor right Reason.We then trust to and confide in this Spirit, because we know, and certainly believe, that it can only lead us aright, and never mislead us; and from this certain Confidence it is that we affirm, That no Revelation coming from it can ever contradict the Scripture’s Testimony, nor right Reason: Not as making this a more certain Rule to ourselves, but as condescending to such, who not discerning the Revelations of the Spirit, as they proceed purely from God, will try them by these Mediums. Yet those that have their Spiritual Senses, and can savour the Things of the Spirit, as it were in prima Instantia, i. e. at the first Blush, can discern them without, or before they apply them either to Scripture or Reason: Natural Demonstrations from Astronomy and Geometry.Just as a good Astronomer can calculate an Eclipse infallibly, by which he can conclude (if the Order of Nature continue, and some strange and unnatural Revolution intervene not) there will be an Eclipse of the Sun or Moon such a Day, and such an Hour; yet can he not persuade an ignorant Rustick of this, until he visibly see it. So also a Mathematician can infallibly know, by the Rules of Art, that the three Angles of a right Triangle are equal to two right Angles; yea, can know them more certainly than any Man by Measure. And some Geometrical Demonstrations are by all ac[Pg 45]knowledged to be infallible, which can be scarcely discerned or proved by the Senses; yet if a Geometer be at the Pains to certify some ignorant Man concerning the Certainty of his Art, by condescending to measure it, and make it obvious to his Senses, it will not thence follow, that that Measuring is so certain as the Demonstration itself; or that the Demonstration would be uncertain without it.

Immediate Revelation the Immoveable Foundation of all Christian Faith.That which all Professors of Christianity, of what Kind soever, are forced ultimately to recur unto, when pressed to the last; That for and because of which all other Foundations are recommended, and accounted worthy to be Believed, and without which they are granted to be of no Weight at all, must needs be the only most true, certain, and unmoveable Foundation of all Christian Faith.

But Inward, Immediate, Objective Revelation by the Spirit, is that which all Professors of Christianity, of what Kind soever, are forced ultimately to recur unto, &c.

Therefore, &c.

The Proposition is so evident, that it will not be denied: The Assumption shall be proved by Parts.

Papists Foundation, their Church and Tradition, Why?And First, As to the Papists, they place their Foundation in the Judgment of the Church and Tradition. If we press them to say, Why they believe as the Church doth? Their answer is, Because the Church is always led by the infallible Spirit. So here the Leading of the Spirit is the utmost Foundation. Again, if we ask them, Why we ought to trust Tradition? They answer, Because these Traditions were delivered us by the Doctors and Fathers of the Church; which Doctors and Fathers, by the Revelation of the Holy Ghost, commanded the Church to observe them. Here again all ends in the Revelation of the Spirit.

[Pg 46]

Protestants and Socinians make the Scriptures their Ground and Foundation, Why?And for the Protestants and Socinians, both which acknowledge the Scriptures to be the Foundation and Rule of their Faith; the one as subjectively influenced by the Spirit of God to use them; the other, as managing them with and by their own Reason; ask both, or either of them, Why they trust in the Scriptures, and take them to be their Rule? Their Answer is, Because we have in them the Mind of God delivered unto us by those to whom these Things were inwardly, immediately, and objectively Revealed by the Spirit of God; and not because this or that Man wrote them, but because the Spirit of God dictated them.

Christians by Name, and not by Nature, hold Revelation ceased, contrary to Scripture.It is strange then that Men should render that so uncertain and dangerous to follow, upon which alone the certain Ground and Foundation of their own Faith is built; or that they should shut themselves out from that Holy Fellowship with God, which only is enjoyed in the Spirit, in which we are commanded both to Walk and Live.

If any who read these Things find themselves moved, by the Strength of these Scripture-Arguments, to assent, and believe such Revelations necessary; and yet find themselves Strangers to them, which, as I observed in the Beginning, is the Cause that this is so much gainsaid and contradicted, let them know, that it is not because it is ceased to become the Privilege of every true Christian that they do not feel it, but rather because they are not so much Christians by Nature as by Name; and let such know, that the secret Light which shines in the Heart, and reproves Unrighteousness, is the small Beginning of the Revelation of God’s Spirit, which was first sent into the World to reprove it of Sin, John xvi. 8. And as by forsaking Iniquity, thou comest to be acquainted with that Heavenly Voice in thy Heart, thou shalt feel, as the Old Man, or the Natural Man, that savoureth not the Things of God’s Kingdom, is put off, with his evil and corrupt Affections and Lusts; I say, thou shalt feel the New Man, or the Spiritual Birth and Babe raised, which hath its Spiritual Senses, and can see, feel, taste, handle, and smell the Things of the Spirit; but till then the Knowledge of Things Spiritual is but as an Historical[Pg 47] Faith. Who wants his Sight sees not the Light.But as the Description of the Light of the Sun, or of curious Colours to a blind Man, who, though of the largest Capacity, cannot so well understand it by the most acute and lively Description, as a Child can by seeing them; so neither can the Natural Man, of the largest Capacity, by the best Words, even Scripture-words, so well understand the Mysteries of God’s Kingdom, as the least and weakest Child who tasteth them, by having them Revealed inwardly and objectively by the Spirit.

Wait then for this in the small Revelation of that pure Light, which first reveals Things more known; and as thou becomest fitted for it, thou shalt receive more and more, and by a Living Experience easily refute their Ignorance, who ask, How dost thou know that thou art actuated by the Spirit of God? Which will appear to thee a Question no less ridiculous, than to ask one whose Eyes are open, How he knows the Sun shines at Noon-day? And though this be the surest and most certain Way to answer all Objections; yet by what is above written it may appear, that the Mouths of all such Opposers as deny this Doctrine may be shut, by unquestionable and unanswerable Reasons.

[Pg 48]

PROPOSITION III.

Concerning the Scriptures.

From these Revelations of the Spirit of God to the Saints have proceeded the Scriptures of Truth, which contain,

I. A faithful Historical Account of the Actings of God’s People in divers Ages; with many singular and remarkable Providences attending them.

II. A Prophetical Account of several Things, whereof some are already past, and some yet to come.

III. A full and ample Account of all the chief Principles of the Doctrine of Christ, held forth in divers precious Declarations, Exhortations, and Sentences, which, by the moving of God’s Spirit, were at several Times, and upon sundry Occasions, spoken and written unto some Churches and their Pastors.

Nevertheless, because they are only a Declaration of the Fountain, and not the Fountain itself, therefore they are not to be esteemed the principal Ground of all Truth and Knowledge, nor yet the Adequate Primary Rule of Faith and Manners. Yet because they give a true and faithful Testimony of the first Foundation, they are and may be esteemed a Secondary Rule, subordinate to the Spirit, from which they have all their Excellency and Certainty: For, as by the inward Testimony of the Spirit we do alone truly know them, so they testify, That the Spirit is that Guide by which the Saints are led into all Truth; therefore, according to the Scriptures, the Spirit is the First and Principal Leader.[45] Seeing then that we do therefore receive and believe the Scriptures because they proceeded from the Spirit, so the very same Reason is the Spirit more Originally and Principally the Rule, according to the received Maxim in the Schools, Propter quod unumquodque est tale, illud ipsum est magis tale: That for which a Thing is such, that Thing itself is more such.

[Pg 49]

We confess indeed there wants not a Majesty in the Style, a Coherence in the Parts, a good Scope in the Whole; but seeing these Things are not discerned by the natural, but only by the spiritual Man, it is the Spirit of God that must give us that Belief of the Scriptures which may satisfy our Consciences; therefore some of the Chief among Protestants, both in their particular Writings and publick Confessions, are forced to acknowledge this.

Calvin’s Testimony that the Scripture certainly is from the Spirit.Hence Calvin, though he saith he is able to prove that, if there be a God in Heaven, these Writings have proceeded from him, yet he concludes another Knowledge to be necessary. Instit. Lib. 1. Cap. 7. Sect. 4.

“But if (saith he) we respect the Consciences, that they be not daily molested with Doubts, and hesitate not at every Scruple, it is requisite that this Persuasion which we speak of be taken higher than human Reason, Judgment, or Conjecture; to wit, from the[Pg 50] secret Testimony of the Spirit.” And again, “To those who ask, that we prove unto them, by Reason, that Moses and the Prophets were inspired of God to speak, I answer, That the Testimony of the Holy Spirit is more excellent than all Reason.” And again, “Let this remain a firm Truth, that he only whom the Holy Spirit hath persuaded, can repose himself on the Scripture with a true Certainty.” And lastly, “This then is a judgment which cannot be begotten but by an Heavenly Revelation, &c.”

The Confession of the French Churches.The same is also affirmed in the first publick Confession of the French Churches, published in the Year 1559. Art. 4. “We know these Books to be canonical, and the most certain Rule of our Faith, not so much by the common Accord and Consent of the Church, as by the Testimony and inward Persuasion of the Holy Spirit.”

Churches of Holland assert the same.Thus also in the 5th Article of the Confession of Faith, of the Churches of Holland, confirmed by the Synod of Dort. “We receive these Books only for holy and canonical,—not so much because the Church receives and approves them, as because the Spirit of God doth witness in our Hearts that they are of God.”

Westminster Confession the same.And lastly, The Divines, so called, at Westminster, who began to be afraid of, and guard against the Testimony of the Spirit, because they perceived a Dispensation beyond that which they were under beginning to dawn, and to eclipse them; yet could they not get by this, though they have laid it down neither so clearly, distinctly, nor honestly as they that went before. It is in these Words, Chap. 1. Sect. 5. “Nevertheless our full Persuasion and Assurance of the Infallible Truth thereof, is from the inward Work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our Hearts.”

By all which it appeareth how necessary it is to seek the Certainty of the Scriptures from the Spirit, and no where else. The infinite Janglings and endless Contests of those that seek their Authority elsewhere, do witness to the Truth hereof.

[Pg 51]

Apocrypha.[46]For the Ancients themselves, even of the first Centuries, were not agreed among themselves concerning them; while some of them rejected Books which we approve, and others of them approved those which some of us reject. It is not unknown to such as are in the least acquainted with Antiquity, what great Contests are concerning the Second Epistle of Peter, that of James, the Second and Third of John, and the Revelations, which many, even very ancient, deny to have been written by the beloved Disciple and Brother of James, but by another of that Name. What should then become of Christians, if they had not received that Spirit, and those spiritual Senses, by which they know how to discern the True from the False? It is the Privilege of Christ’s Sheep indeed that they hear his Voice, and refuse that of a Stranger; which Privilege being taken away, we are left a Prey to all Manner of Wolves.

That whereof the Certainty and Authority depends upon another, and which is received as Truth because of its proceeding from another, is not to be accounted the principal Ground and Origin of all Truth and Knowledge:

But the Scriptures Authority and Certainty depend upon the Spirit by which they were dictated; and the Reason why they were received as Truth is, because they proceeded from the Spirit:

Therefore they are not the principal Ground of Truth.

To confirm this Argument, I added the School Maxim, Propter quod unumquodque est tale, illud ipsum magis est tale. Which Maxim, though I confess it doth not hold universally in all Things, yet in this it doth and will very well hold, as by applying it, as we have above intimated, will appear.

Neither are they the primary Rule of Faith and Manners.The same Argument will hold as to the other Branch of the Proposition, That it is not the primary adequate Rule of Faith and Manners; thus:

That which is not the Rule of my Faith in believing the Scriptures themselves, is not the primary adequate Rule of Faith and Manners:

That the Spirit is the Rule.But the Scripture is not, nor can it be the Rule of that Faith by which I believe them, &c.

Therefore, &c.

But as to this Part, we shall produce divers Arguments hereafter. As to what is affirmed, that the Spirit, and not the Scriptures, is the Rule, it is largely handled in the former Proposition; the Sum whereof I shall subsume in one Argument, thus,

If by the Spirit we can only come to the true Knowledge of God; if by the Spirit we are to be led into all Truth, and so be taught of[Pg 53] all Things; then the Spirit, and not the Scriptures, is the Foundation and Ground of all Truth and Knowledge, and the primary Rule of Faith and Manners:

But the first is true: Therefore also the last.

Next, the very Nature of the Gospel itself declareth that the Scriptures cannot be the only and chief Rule of Christians, else there should be no Difference betwixt the Law and the Gospel; as from the Nature of the New Covenant, by divers Scriptures, described in the former Proposition, is proved.

Wherein the Law and Gospel differ.But besides these which are before mentioned, herein doth the Law and the Gospel differ, in that the Law, being outwardly written, brings under Condemnation, but hath not Life in it to save; whereas the Gospel, as it declares and makes manifest the Evil, so, being an inward powerful Thing, it gives Power also to obey, and deliver from the Evil. Hence it is called [Greek: Evangelian: Ευαγγελιον], which is glad Tidings. The Law or Letter, which is without us, Kills; but the Gospel, which is the inward spiritual Law, gives Life; for it consists not so much in Words as in Virtue. Wherefore such as come to know it, and be acquainted with it, come to feel greater Power over their Iniquities than all outward Laws or Rules can give them. Hence the Apostle concludes, Rom. vi. 14. Sin shall not have Dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under Grace. This Grace then that is inward, and not an outward Law, is to be the Rule of Christians. Hereunto the Apostle commends the Elders of the Church, saying, Acts xx. 32. And now, Brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an Inheritance among all them which are sanctified. He doth not commend them here to outward Laws or Writings, but to the Word of Grace, which is inward; even the spiritual Law, which makes free, as he elsewhere affirms, Rom. viii. 2. The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death. This spiritual Law is that which the Apostle declares he preached and directed People unto, which was not outward, as by Rom. x. 8. is manifest; where distinguishing it from[Pg 54] the Law, he saith, The Word is nigh thee, in thy Heart, and in thy Mouth; and this is the Word of Faith which we preach. From what is above said, I argue thus:

The principal Rule of Christians under the Gospel is not an outward Letter, nor Law outwardly written and delivered, but an inward spiritual Law, engraven in the Heart, the Law of the Spirit of Life, the Word that is nigh in the Heart and in the Mouth.

But the Letter of the Scripture is outward, of itself a dead Thing, a mere Declaration of good Things, but not the Things themselves:

The Scripture not the Rule.Therefore it is not, nor can be, the chief or principal Rule of Christians.

But in that there are numberless Things, with regard to their Circumstances, which particular Christians may be concerned in, for which there can be no particular Rule had in the Scriptures:

Therefore the Scriptures cannot be a Rule to them.

I shall give an Instance in two or three Particulars to prove this Proposition. It is not to be doubted but some Men are particularly called to some particular Services; their being not found in which, though the Act be no general positive Duty, yet in so far as it may be required of them, is a great Sin to omit; forasmuch as God is zealous of his Glory, and every Act of Disobedience to his Will manifested, is enough not only to hinder one greatly from that Comfort and inward Peace which otherwise he might have, but also bringeth Condemnation.

As for Instance, Some are called to the Ministry of the Word: Paul saith, There was a Necessity upon him to preach the Gospel, wo unto me, if I preach not.

If it be necessary that there be now Ministers of the Church, as well as then, then there is the same Necessity upon some, more than upon others, to occupy this Place; which Necessity, as it may be in[Pg 55]cumbent upon particular Persons, the Scripture neither doth nor can declare.

Object.If it be said, That the Qualifications of a Minister are found in the Scripture, and by applying these Qualifications to myself, I may know whether I be fit for such a Place or not:

Answ.I answer, The Qualifications of a Bishop, or Minister, as they are mentioned both in the Epistle to Timothy and Titus, are such as may be found in a private Christian; yea, which ought in some Measure to be in every true Christian: So that this giveth a Man no Certainty. Every Capacity to an Office giveth me not a sufficient Call to it.

Next again, By what Rule shall I judge if I be so qualified? How do I know that I am sober, meek, holy, harmless? Is it not the Testimony of the Spirit in my Conscience that must assure me hereof? And suppose that I was qualified and called, yet what Scripture-rule shall inform me, Whether it be my Duty to preach in this or that Place, in France or England, Holland or Germany? Whether I shall take up my Time in confirming the Faithful, reclaiming Hereticks, or converting Infidels, as also in writing Epistles to this or that Church?

The general Rules of the Scripture, viz. To be diligent in my Duty, to do all to the Glory of God, and for the Good of his Church, can give me no Light in this Thing. Seeing two different Things may both have a Respect to that Way, yet may I commit a great Error and Offence in doing the one, when I am called to the other. If Paul, when his Face was turned by the Lord toward Jerusalem, had gone back to Achaia, or Macedonia, he might have supposed he could have done God more acceptable Service in preaching and confirming the Churches, than in being shut up in Prison in Judea; but would God have been pleased herewith? Nay certainly. Obedience is better than Sacrifice; and it is not our doing that which is good simply that pleaseth God, but that Good which he willeth us to do. Every Member hath its particular Place in the Body, as the Apostle sheweth, 1 Cor. xii. If then, I being the Foot, should offer to exercise[Pg 56] the Office of the Hand; or being the Hand, that of the Tongue; my Service would be troublesome, and not acceptable; and instead of helping the Body, I should make a Schism in it. That which is good for one to do, may be sinful to another.So that that which is good for another to do, may be sinful to me: For as Masters will have their Servants to obey them, according to their good Pleasure, and not only in blindly doing that which may seem to them to tend to their Master’s Profit, whereby it may chance (the Master having Business both in the Field and in the House) that the Servant that knows not his Master’s Will may go to the Field, when it is the Mind of the Master he should stay and do the Business of the House, would not this Servant then deserve a Reproof, for not answering his Master’s Mind? And what Master is so sottish and careless, as, having many Servants, to leave them in such Disorder as not to assign each his particular Station, and not only the general Terms of doing that which is profitable? which would leave them in various Doubts, and certainly end in Confusion.

Shall we then dare to ascribe unto Christ, in the ordering of his Church and Servants, that which in Man might justly be accounted Disorder and Confusion? Diversities of Gifts.The Apostle sheweth this Distinction well, Rom. xii. 6, 7, 8. Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us; whether Prophecy, let us prophesy according to the Proportion of Faith; or Ministry, let us wait on our Ministring; or he that teacheth, on Teaching; or he that exhorteth, on Exhortation. Now what Scripture-rule sheweth me that I ought to exhort, rather than prophesy? or to minister, rather than teach? Surely none at all. Many more Difficulties of this Kind occur in the Life of a Christian.

Of Faith and Salvation can the Scripture assure thee?Moreover, that which of all Things is most needful for him to know, to wit, whether he really be in the Faith, and an Heir of Salvation, or not, the Scripture can give him no Certainty in, neither can it be a Rule to him. That this Knowledge is exceeding desirable and comfortable all do unanimously acknowledge; besides that it is especially commanded, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine yourselves whether ye be in the Faith, prove yourselves; know ye not your own selves, how[Pg 57] that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates? And 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give all Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure. Now I say, What Scripture-rule can assure me that I have true Faith? That my Calling and Election is sure?

If it be said, By comparing the Scripture-marks of true Faith with mine:

I demand, Wherewith shall I make this Observation? What shall ascertain me that I am not mistaken? It cannot be the Scripture: That is the Matter under Debate.

If it be said, My own Heart:

How unfit a Judge is it in its own Case? And how like to be partial, especially if it be yet unrenewed? Doth not the Scripture say, that it is deceitful above all Things? The Heart of Man deceitful.I find the Promises, I find the Threatenings in the Scripture; but who telleth me that the one belongs to me more than the other? The Scripture gives me a mere Declaration of these Things, but makes no Application; so that the Assumption must be of my own making, thus; as for Example: I find this Proposition in Scripture;

He that believes, shall be saved: Thence I draw the Assumption.

But I, Robert, believe:

Therefore, I shall be saved.

The Minor is of my own making, not expressed in the Scripture; and so a human Conclusion, not a divine Position; so that my Faith and Assurance here is not built upon a Scripture Proposition, but upon an human Principle; which, unless I be sure of elsewhere, the Scripture gives me no Certainty in the Matter.

Again, If I should pursue the Argument further, and seek a new Medium out of the Scripture, the same Difficulty would occur: Thus,

He that hath the true and certain Marks of true Faith, hath true Faith:

But I have those Marks:

Therefore I have true Faith.

For the Assumption is still here of my own making, and is not found in the Scriptures; and by Consequence the Conclusion can[Pg 58] be no better, since it still followeth the weaker Proposition. The inward Testimony of the Spirit the Seal of Scripture-Promises.This is indeed so pungent, that the best of Protestants, who plead for this Assurance, ascribe it to the inward Testimony of the Spirit, as Calvin, in that large Citation, quoted in the Former Proposition. So that, not to seek farther into the Writings of the primitive Protestants, which are full of such Expressions, even the Westminster Confession of Faith affirmeth, Chap. 18. Sect. 12. “This Certainty is not a bare Conjecture and probable Persuasion, grounded upon fallible Hope, but an infallible Assurance of Faith, founded upon the Divine Truth of the Promise of Salvation; the inward Evidences of these Graces, unto which these Promises are made; the Testimony of the Spirit of Adoption, witnessing to our Spirits that we are the Children of God; which Spirit is the Earnest of our Inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the Day of Redemption.”

Moreover, the Scripture itself, wherein we are so earnestly pressed to seek after this Assurance, doth not at all affirm itself a Rule sufficient to give it, but wholly ascribeth it to the Spirit, as Rom. viii. 16. The Spirit itself beareth Witness with our Spirit, that we are the Children of God. 1 John iv. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit; and Chap. v. 6. And it is the Spirit that beareth Witness, because the Spirit is Truth.

But Secondly, Though we were rid of this Difficulty, how many illiterate and yet good Men are there in the Church of God, who cannot read a Letter in their own Mother Tongue? Which Imperfection, though it be inconvenient, I cannot tell whether we may safely affirm it to be sinful. These can have no immediate Knowledge of the Rule of their Faith; so their Faith must needs depend upon the Credit of other Men’s Reading or Relating it unto them; where either the altering, adding, or omitting of a little Word may be a Foundation in the poor Hearer of a very dangerous Mistake, whereby he may either continue in some Iniquity ignorantly, or believe a Lie confidently. 2. Papists conceal the Second Commandment from the People.As for Example, The Papists in all their Catechisms, and publick Exercises of Examinations towards the People, have boldly cut away the Second Command, because it seems so expresly to strike against their Adoration and Use of Images; whereas many of these People, in whom by this Omission this false Opinion is fostered, are under a simple Impossibility, or at least a very great Difficulty, to be outwardly informed of this Abuse. But further; suppose all could read the Scriptures in their own Language; where is there one of a Thousand that hath that thorough Knowledge of the Original Languages, in which they are written, so as in that Respect immediately to receive the Benefit of them? 3. The Uncertainty of the Interpreters of the Scripture, and their Adulterating it.Must not all these here depend upon the Honesty and Faithfulness of the Interpreter? Which how uncertain it is for a Man to build his Faith upon, the many Corrections, Amendments, and various Essays, which even among Protestants have been used (whereof the latter have constantly blamed and corrected the former, as Guilty of Defects and[Pg 60] Errors) doth sufficiently declare. And that even the last Translators in the vulgar Languages need to be corrected (as I could prove at large, were it proper in this Place) learned Men do confess.

But last of all, there is no less Difficulty occurs even to those skilled in the Original Languages, who cannot so immediately receive the Mind of the Authors in these Writings, as that their Faith doth not at least obliquely depend upon the Honesty and Credit of the Transcribers, since the Original Copies are granted by all not to be now extant. Jerome Epist. 28. ad Lucin. p. 247.Of which Transcribers Jerome in his Time complained, saying, That they wrote not what they found, but what they understood. Epiph. in Anachor. Tom. Oper.And Epiphanius saith, That in the good and correct Copies of Luke it was written, that Christ Wept, and that Irenæus doth cite it; but that the Catholicks blotted it out, fearing lest Hereticks should have abused it. Other Fathers also declare, That whole Verses were taken out of Mark, because of the Manichees.

The various Readings of the Hebrew Character, &c.But further, the various Readings of the Hebrew Character by Reason of the Points, which some plead for, as coæval with the first Writings, which others, with no less Probability, alledge to be a later Invention; the Disagreement of divers Citations of Christ and the Apostles with those Passages in the Old Testament they appeal to; the great Controversy among the Fathers, whereof some highly approve the Greek Septuagint, decrying and rendering very doubtful the Hebrew Copy, as in many Places vitiated, and altered by the Jews; other some, and particularly Jerome, exalting the Certainty of the Hebrew, and rejecting, yea, even deriding the History of the Septuagint, which the Primitive Church chiefly made use of; and some Fathers that lived Centuries before him, affirmed to be a most certain Thing; and the many various Readings in divers Copies of the Greek, and the great Altercations among the Fathers of the first three Centuries, who had greater Opportunity to be better informed than we can now lay claim to, concerning the Books to be admitted or rejected, as is above observed; I say, all these and much more which might be alledged, puts the Minds even of the[Pg 61] Learned into infinite Doubts, Scruples, and inextricable Difficulties: Whence we may very safely conclude, that Jesus Christ, who promised to be always with his Children, to lead them into all Truth, to guard them against the Devices of the Enemy, and to establish their Faith upon an unmoveable Rock, left them not to be principally ruled by that, which was subject in itself to many Uncertainties: And therefore he gave them his Spirit as their principal Guide, which neither Moths nor Time can wear out, nor Transcribers nor Translators corrupt; which none are so young, none so illiterate, none in so remote a Place but they may come to be reached, and rightly informed by it.

Through and by the Clearness which that Spirit gives us, it is that we are only best rid of those Difficulties that occur to us concerning the Scriptures. The real and undoubted Experience whereof I myself have been a Witness of, with great Admiration of the Love of God to his Children in these latter Days: Wrong Translations of Scripture discerned in the Spirit by the Unlearned in Letters.For I have known some of my Friends who profess the same Faith with me, faithful Servants of the Most High God, and full of Divine Knowledge of his Truth, as it was immediately and inwardly revealed to them by the Spirit, from a true and living Experience, who not only were ignorant of the Greek and Hebrew, but even some of them could not read their own vulgar Language, who being pressed by their Adversaries with some Citations out of the English Translation, and finding them to disagree with the Manifestation of Truth in their own Hearts, have boldly affirmed the Spirit of God never said so, and that it was certainly wrong; for they did not believe that any of the holy Prophets or Apostles had ever written so; which when I on this Account seriously examined, I really found to be Errors and Corruptions of the Translators; who (as in most Translations) do not so much give us the genuine Signification of the Words, as strain them to express that which comes nearest to that Opinion and Notion they have of Truth. And this seemed to me to suit very well with that Saying of Augustine, Epist. 19. ad Hier. Tom. ii. Fol. 14. after he has[Pg 62] said, “That he gives only that Honour to those Books which are called Canonical, as to believe that the Authors thereof did in Writing not err,” he adds, “And if I shall meet with any Thing in these Writings that seemeth repugnant to Truth, I shall not doubt to say, that either the Volume is faulty or erroneous; that the Expounder hath not reached what was said; or that I have in no wise understood it.” So that he supposes that in the Transcription and Translation there may be Errors.

Answ.I answer; Not at all. The Proposition itself declares how much I esteem them; and provided that to the Spirit from which they came be but granted that Place the Scriptures themselves give it, I do freely concede to the Scriptures the second Place, even whatsoever they say of themselves; which the Apostle Paul chiefly mentions in two Places, Rom. xv. 4. Whatsoever Things were written aforetime, were written for our Learning, that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16, 17. The Holy Scriptures are able to make wise unto Salvation, through Faith which is in Jesus Christ. All Scripture given by Inspiration of God, is profitable for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness, that the Man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto every good Work.

For though God doth principally and chiefly lead us by his Spirit, yet he sometimes conveys his Comfort and Consolation to us through his Children, whom he raises up and inspires to speak or write a Word in Season, The Saints mutual Comfort is the same Spirit in all.whereby the Saints are made Instruments in the Hand of the Lord to strengthen and encourage one another, which doth also tend to perfect and make them wise unto Salvation; and such as are led by the Spirit cannot neglect, but do naturally love, and are wonderfully cherished by, that which proceedeth from the same Spirit in another; because such mutual Emanations of the heavenly Life tend to quicken the Mind, when at any Time it is overtaken with Heaviness. Peter himself declares this to have been the[Pg 63] End of his Writing, 2 Pet. i. 12, 13. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in Remembrance of these Things, though ye know them, and be established in the present Truth; yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this Tabernacle, to stir you up, by putting you in Remembrance.

God is Teacher of his People himself; and there is nothing more express, than that such as are under the New Covenant, need no Man to teach them: Yet it was a Fruit of Christ’s Ascension to send Teachers and Pastors for perfecting of the Saints. So that the same Work is ascribed to the Scriptures as to Teachers; the one to make the Man of God perfect, the other for the Perfection of the Saints.

As then Teachers are not to go before the teaching of God himself under the New Covenant, but to follow after it; neither are they to rob us of that great Privilege which Christ hath purchased unto us by his Blood; so neither is the Scripture to go before the teaching of the Spirit, or to rob us of it.

Answ. 2.Secondly, God hath seen meet that herein we should, The Scriptures a Looking-Glass.as in a Looking-Glass, see the Conditions and Experiences of the Saints of old; that finding our Experience answer to theirs, we might thereby be the more confirmed and comforted, and our Hope of obtaining the same End strengthened; that observing the Providences attending them, seeing the Snares they were liable to, and beholding their Deliverances, we may thereby be made wise unto Salvation, and seasonably reproved and instructed in Righteousness.

The Scriptures Work and Service.This is the great Work of the Scriptures, and their Service to us, that we may witness them fulfilled in us, and so discern the Stamp of God’s Spirit and Ways upon them, by the inward Acquaintance we have with the same Spirit and Work in our Hearts. The Prophecies of the Scriptures are also very comfortable and profitable unto us, as the same Spirit enlightens us to observe them fulfilled, and to be fulfilled; for in all this it is to be observed, that it is only the Spiritual Man that can make a right Use of them: They are able to make the Man of God perfect (so it is not the Natural Man) and whatsoever was written aforetime, was written for our Comfort, [our][Pg 64] that are the Believers, [our] that are the Saints; concerning such the Apostle speaks: For as for the others, the Apostle Peter plainly declares, that the Unstable and Unlearned wrest them to their own Destruction: These were they that were unlearned in the Divine and Heavenly Learning of the Spirit, not in Human and School Literature; in which we may safely presume that Peter himself, being a Fisherman, had no Skill; for it may with great Probability, yea Certainty, be affirmed, Logick.that he had no Knowledge of Aristotle’s Logick, which both Papists and Protestants now,[47] degenerating from the Simplicity of Truth, make the Handmaid of Divinity, as they call it, and a necessary Introduction to their carnal, natural, and human Ministry. By the infinite obscure Labours of which Kind of Men, intermixing their Heathenish Stuff, the Scripture is rendered at this Day of so little Service to the simple People: Whereof if Jerome complained in his Time, now twelve Hundred Years ago, Jerome Epist. 134. ad Cypr. Tom. 3. saying, It is wont to befal the most Part of learned Men, that it is harder to understand their Expositions, than the Things which they go about to expound: what may we say now, considering those great Heaps of Commentaries since, in Ages yet far more corrupted?

Thus far we have shewn both what we believe, and what we believe not, concerning the Holy Scriptures, hoping we have given them their due Place. But since they that will needs have them to be the only, certain, and principal Rule, want not some Shew of Arguments, even from the Scripture itself (though it no where calls itself so) by which they labour to prove their Doctrine; I shall briefly lay them down by Way of Objections, and answer them, before I make an End of this Matter.

Answ.To which I answer; That that is to beg the Thing in Question, and remains yet unproved. Nor do I know for what Reason we may not safely affirm this Law and Word to be Inward: But suppose it was Outward, it proves not the Case at all for them, neither makes it against us; for it may be confessed, without any Prejudice to our Cause, that the outward Law was more particularly to the Jews a Rule, and more principally than to us; seeing their Law was outward and literal, but ours, under the New Covenant (as hath been already said) is expresly affirmed to be Inward and Spiritual; so that this Scripture is so far from making against us, that it makes for us. To try all Things, by what?For if the Jews were directed to try all Things by their Law, which was without them, written in Tables of Stone; then if we will have[Pg 66] this Advice of the Prophet to reach us, we must make it hold parallel to that Dispensation of the Gospel which we are under: So that we are to try all Things, in the first Place, by that Word of Faith which is preached unto us, which the Apostle saith is in the Heart; and by that Law which God hath given us, which the Apostle saith also expresly is written and placed in the Mind.

Lastly, If we look to this Place according to the Greek Interpretation of the Septuagint, our Adversaries shall have nothing from thence to carp; yea, it will favour us much; for there it is said, that the Law is given us for an Help; which very well agrees with what is above asserted.

Obj. 2.Their second Objection is from John v. 39. Search the Scriptures, &c.

Here, say they, we are commanded, by Christ himself, to search the Scriptures.

Answ. 1.I answer, First, That the Scriptures ought to be searched, we do not at all deny; but are very willing to be tried by them, as hath been above declared: But the Question is, Whether they be the Only and Principal Rule? Which this is so far from proving, that it proveth the contrary; Search the Scripture, &c.for Christ checks them here for too high an Esteem of the Scriptures, and neglecting of him that was to be preferred before them, and to whom they bore Witness, as the following Words declare; For in them ye think ye have eternal Life, and they are they which testify of me: and ye will not come unto me, that ye might have Life. This shews, that while they thought they had Eternal Life in the Scriptures, they neglected to come unto Christ to have Life, of which the Scriptures bore witness. This answers well to our Purpose, since our Adversaries now do also exalt the Scriptures, and think to have Life in them; which is no more than to look upon them as the only principal Rule and Way to Life, and yet refuse to come unto the Spirit of which they testify, even the inward spiritual Law, which could give them Life: So that the Cause of this People’s Ignorance and Unbelief was not their Want of Respect to the Scriptures, which though they knew, and had an high Esteem of, yet Christ testifies in[Pg 67] the former Verses, that they had neither seen the Father, nor heard his Voice at any Time; neither had his Word abiding in them; which had they then had, then they had believed in the Son. Answ. 2.Moreover, that Place may be taken in the Indicative Mood, Ye search the Scriptures; which Interpretation the Greek Word will bear, and so Pasor translateth it: Which by the Reproof following, seemeth also to be the more genuine Interpretation, as Cyrillus long ago hath observed.

Answ. 1.Here, say they, the Bereans are commended for searching the Scriptures, and making them the Rule.

I answer; That the Scriptures either are the principal or only Rule, will not at all follow from this; neither will their searching the Scriptures, or being commended for it, infer any such Thing: For we recommend and approve the Use of them in that Respect as much as any; yet will it not follow, that we affirm them to be the principal and only Rule.

Answ. 2.Secondly, It is to be observed that these were the Jews of Berea, to whom these Scriptures, which were the Law and the Prophets, were more particularly a Rule; The Bereans searching the Scriptures, makes them not the only Rule to try Doctrines.and the Thing under Examination was, whether the Birth, Life, Works, and Sufferings of Christ, did answer to the Prophecies concerning him; so that it was most proper for them, being Jews, to examine the Apostle’s Doctrine by the Scriptures; seeing he pleaded it to be a fulfilling of them. It is said nevertheless, in the first Place, That they received the Word with Chearfulness; and in the second Place, They searched the Scriptures: Not that they searched the Scriptures, and then received the Word; for then could they not have prevailed to convert them, had they not first minded the Word abiding in them, which opened their Understandings; no more than the Scribes and Pharisees, who (as in the former Objection we observed) searched the Scriptures, and exalted them, and[Pg 68] yet remained in their Unbelief, because they had not the Word abiding in them.

Answ. 3.But Lastly, If this Commendation of the Jewish Bereans might infer that the Scriptures were the only and principal Rule to try the Apostle’s Doctrine by, what should have become of the Gentiles? How should they ever have come to have received the Faith of Christ, who neither knew the Scriptures, nor believed them? The Athenians instanced.We see in the End of the same Chapter, how the Apostle, preaching to the Athenians, took another Method, and directed them to somewhat of God within themselves, that they might feel after him. He did not go about to proselyte them to the Jewish Religion, and to the Belief of the Law and the Prophets, and from thence to prove the coming of Christ; nay, he took a nearer Way. Now certainly the principal and only Rule is not different; one to the Jews, and another to the Gentiles; but is Universal, reaching both: Though secondary and subordinate Rules and Means may be various, and diversly suited, according as the People they are used to are stated and circumstanced: Even so we see that the Apostle to the Athenians used a Testimony of one of their own Poets, which he judged would have Credit with them; and no doubt such Testimonies, whose Authors they esteemed, had more Weight with them than all the Sayings of Moses and the Prophets, whom they neither knew nor would have cared for. Now because the Apostle used the Testimony of a Poet to the Athenians, will it therefore follow, he made that the principal or only Rule to try his Doctrine by? So neither will it follow, that though he made use of the Scriptures to the Jews, as being a Principle already believed by them, to try his Doctrine, that from thence the Scriptures may be accounted the principal or only Rule.

Obj. 4.If the Scripture be not the adequate, principal, and only Rule, then it would follow that the Scripture is not complete, nor the Canon filled; that if Men be now immediately led and ruled by the Spirit, they may add new Scriptures[Pg 69] of equal Authority with the Old; whereas every one that adds is cursed: Yea, what Assurance have we, but at this Rate every one may bring in a new Gospel according to his Fancy?

Answ.The dangerous Consequences insinuated in this Objection were fully answered in the latter Part of the last Proposition, in what was said a little before, offering freely to disclaim all pretended Revelations contrary to the Scriptures.

Obj. 1.But if it be urged, That it is not enough to deny these Consequences, if they naturally follow from your Doctrine of Immediate Revelation, and denying the Scripture to be the only Rule:

Answ. 1.I answer; We have proved both these Doctrines to be true and necessary, according to the Scriptures themselves; and therefore to fasten evil Consequences upon them, which we make appear do not follow, is not to accuse us, but Christ and his Apostles, who preached them.

Answ. 2.But Secondly, We have shut the Door upon all such Doctrine in this very Position; affirming, That the Scriptures give a full and ample Testimony to all the principal Doctrines of the Christian Faith. For we do firmly believe that there is no other Gospel or Doctrine to be preached, but that which was delivered by the Apostles; and do freely subscribe to that Saying, [48]Let him that preacheth any other Gospel, than that which hath been already preached by the Apostles, and according to the Scriptures, be accursed.

A new Revelation is not a new Gospel.So we distinguish betwixt a Revelation of a new Gospel, and new Doctrines, and a new Revelation of the good old Gospel and Doctrines; the last we plead for, but the first we utterly deny. For we firmly believe, That no other Foundation can any Man lay, than that which is laid already. But that this Revelation is necessary we have already proved; and this Distinction doth sufficiently guard us against the Hazard insinuated in the Objection.

Books Canonical.As to the Scriptures being a filled Canon, I see no Necessity of believing it. And if these Men, that believe the Scriptures to be the only Rule, will be consistent with their own Doctrine, they must needs[Pg 70] be of my Judgment; seeing it is simply impossible to prove the Canon by the Scriptures. For it cannot be found in any Book of the Scriptures, that these Books, and just these, and no other, are Canonical, as all are forced to acknowledge; how can they then evite this Argument?

That which cannot be proved by Scripture is no necessary Article of Faith.

But the Canon of the Scripture; to wit, that there are so many Books precisely, neither more nor less, cannot be proved by Scripture:

Therefore, it is no necessary Article of Faith.

Obj. 2.If they should allege; That the admitting of any other Books to be now written by the same Spirit might infer the Admission of new Doctrines:

I deny that Consequence; for the Principal or Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Religion are contained in the tenth Part of the Scripture; but it will not follow thence that the Rest are impertinent, or useless. Books lost.If it should please God to bring to us any of those Books, which by the Injury of Time are lost, which are mentioned in the Scripture; as, The Prophecy of Enoch, the Book of Nathan, &c. or, the Third Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians; I see no Reason why we ought not to receive them, and place them with the Rest. That which displeaseth me is, that Men should first affirm that the Scripture is the only and principal Rule, and yet make that a great Article of Faith into which the Scripture can give us no Light.

As for Instance: How shall a Protestant prove by Scripture, to such as deny the Epistle of James to be authentick, that it ought to be received?

First, If he would say, Because it contradicts not the Rest, (besides that there is no Mention of it in any of the Rest) perhaps these Men think it doth contradict Paul in Relation to Faith and Works. But, if that should be granted, it would as well follow, that every Writer that contradicts not the Scripture, should be put into the Canon; and by this Means these Men fall into a greater Absurdity than they fix upon us: For thus they would equal every one the Writings of their own[Pg 71] Sect with the Scriptures; for I suppose they judge their own Confession of Faith doth not contradict the Scriptures: Will it therefore follow that it should be bound up with the Bible? And yet it seems impossible, according to their Principles, to bring any better Argument to prove the Epistle of James to be Authentick. Whether the Epistle of James be authentick, and how to know it?There is then this unavoidable Necessity to say, We know it by the same Spirit from which it was written; or otherwise to step back to Rome, and say, We know by Tradition that the Church hath declared it to be Canonical; and the Church is Infallible. Let them find a Mean, if they can. So that out of this Objection we shall draw an unanswerable Argument ad Hominem, to our Purpose.

That which cannot assure me concerning an Article of Faith necessary to be believed, is not the primary, adequate, only Rule of Faith, &c.

Therefore, &c.

I prove the Assumption thus:

That which cannot assure me concerning the Canon of the Scripture, to wit, that such Books are only to be admitted, and the Apocrypha excluded, cannot assure me of this:

Therefore, &c.

Obj. 3.And Lastly, As to these Words, Rev. xxii. 18. That if any Man shall add unto these Things, God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book; Answ.I desire they will shew me how it relates to any Thing else than to that particular Prophecy. It saith not, Now the Canon of the Scripture is filled up, no Man is to write more from the Spirit; yea, do not all confess that there have been Prophecies and true Prophets since? The Papists deny it not. And do not the Protestants affirm, that John Hus prophesied of the Reformation? Was he therefore cursed? Or did he therein Evil? I could give many other Examples, confessed by themselves. What it means to add to the Scriptures.But, moreover, the same was in Effect commanded long before, Prov. xxx. 6. Add thou not unto his Words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a Liar: Yet how many Books of the Prophets were written after? And the same was said by Moses, Deut. iv. 2. Ye shall[Pg 72] not add unto the Word which I command you; neither shall ye diminish aught from it. So that, though we should extend that of the Revelation beyond the particular Prophecy of that Book, it cannot be understood but of a new Gospel, or new Doctrines, or of restraining Man’s Spirit, that he mix not his Human Words with the Divine; and not of a new Revelation of the Old, as we have said before.

[Pg 73]

PROPOSITION IV.

Concerning the Condition of Man in the Fall.

All Adam’s Posterity, or Mankind, both Jews and Gentiles, as to the first Adam, or Earthly Man, is fallen, degenerated, and dead; deprived of the Sensation or Feeling of this Inward Testimony or Seed of God; [49]and is subject unto the Power, Nature, and Seed of the Serpent, which he soweth in Men’s Hearts, while they abide in this natural and corrupted Estate: From whence it comes, that not only their Words and Deeds, but all their Imaginations, are Evil perpetually in the Sight of God, as proceeding from this depraved and wicked Seed. Man therefore, as he is in this State, can know Nothing aright; yea, his Thoughts and Conceptions concerning God and Things Spiritual, until he be disjoined from this Evil Seed, and united to the Divine Light, are unprofitable both to himself and others. Hence are rejected the Socinian and Pelagian Errors, in exalting a Natural Light; as also of the Papists, and most Protestants, who affirm, That Man, without the true Grace of God, may be a true Minister of the Gospel. Nevertheless, this Seed is not imputed to Infants, until by Transgression they actually join themselves therewith; [50]for they are by Nature the Children of Wrath, who walk according to the Power of the Prince of the Air, the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience, having their Conversation in the Lusts of the Flesh, fulfilling the Desires of the Flesh, and of the Mind.

[Pg 74]

We come now to examine the State and Condition of Man as he stands in the Fall; what his Capacity and Power is; and how far he is able, as of himself, to advance in Relation to the Things of God. Of this we touched a little in the Beginning of the second Proposition; but the full, right, and thorough Understanding of it is of great Use and Service; because from the Ignorance and Altercations that have been about it, there have arisen great and dangerous Errors, both on the one Hand and on the other. While some do so far exalt the Light of Nature, or the Faculty of the Natural Man, as capable of himself, by Virtue of the inward Will, Faculty, Light and Power, that pertains to his Nature, to follow that which is good, and make real Progress towards Heaven. And of these are the Pelagians, and Semi-Pelagians of Old; and of late the Socinians, and divers others among the Papists. Others again will needs run into another Extreme, Augustine’s Zeal against Pelagius.(to whom Augustine, among the Ancients, first made Way in his declining Age, through the Heat of his Zeal against Pelagius) not only confessing Man uncapable of himself to do Good, and prone to Evil; but that in his very Mother’s Womb, and before he commits any actual Transgression, he is contaminate with a real Guilt, whereby he deserves eternal Death: In which Respect they are not afraid to affirm, That many poor Infants are Eternally Damned, and for ever endure the Torments of Hell. Therefore the God of Truth, having now again revealed his Truth (that good and even Way) by his own Spirit, hath taught us to avoid both these Extremes.

That then which our Proposition leads to treat of is,

I.First, What the Condition of Man is in the Fall; and how far uncapable to meddle in the Things of God.

II.And Secondly, That God doth not impute this Evil to Infants, until they actually join with it: That so, by Establishing the Truth, we may overturn the Errors on both Parts.

[Pg 75]

III.And, as for that Third Thing included in the Proposition itself concerning these Teachers which want the Grace of God, we shall refer that to the tenth Proposition, where the Matter is more particularly handled.

If then we may affirm, that Adam did not retain in his Nature (as belonging thereunto) any Will or Light capable to give him Knowledge in spiritual Things, then neither can his Posterity: For whatsoever real Good any Man doth, it proceedeth not from his Nature,[Pg 76] as he is Man, or the Son of Adam; but from the Seed of God in him, as a new Visitation of Life, in order to bring him out of this natural Condition: So that, though it be in him, yet it is not of him; and this the Lord himself witnessed, Gen. vi. 5. where it is said, he saw that every Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart was only evil continually: Which Words as they are very positive, so are they very comprehensive. Every Imagination of the natural Man is evil.Observe the Emphasis of them; First, There is every Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart; so that this admits of no Exception of any Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart. Secondly, Is only evil continually; it is neither in some Part evil continually, nor yet only evil at some Times; but both only evil, and always and continually evil; which certainly excludes any Good, as a proper Effect of Man’s Heart, naturally: For that which is only evil, and that always, cannot of its own Nature produce any good Thing. The Lord expressed this again a little after, Chap. viii. 21. The Imagination of Man’s Heart is evil from his Youth. Thus inferring how natural and proper it is unto him; from which I thus argue:

If the Thoughts of Man’s Heart be not only evil, but always evil; then are they, as they simply proceed from his Heart, neither good in Part, nor at any Time:

But the First is true: Therefore the Last.

Again,

If Man’s Thoughts be always and only evil, then are they altogether useless and ineffectual to him in the Things of God:

But the First is true: Therefore the Last.

The Heart of Man deceitful.Secondly, This appears clearly from that Saying of the Prophet Jeremiah, Chap. xvii. 9. The Heart is deceitful above all Things, and desperately wicked. For who can with any Colour of Reason imagine, that that which is so hath any Power of itself, or is in any wise fit, to lead a Man to Righteousness, whereunto it is of its own Nature directly opposite? This is as contrary to Reason, as it is impossible in Nature, that a Stone of its own Nature and proper Motion, should fly upwards: For as a Stone of its own Nature inclineth and is prone[Pg 77] to move downwards towards the Center, so the Heart of Man is naturally prone and inclined to Evil, some to one, and some to another. From this then I also thus argue:

That which is deceitful above all Things, and desperately wicked, is not fit, neither can it lead a Man aright in Things that are good and honest.

But the Heart of Man is such:

Therefore, &c.

[51]But the Apostle Paul describeth the Condition of Men in the Fall at large, taking it out of the Psalmist. There is none righteous, no not one; There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the Way, they are altogether become unprofitable; there is none that doth good, no not one. Man’s Estate in the Fall. Their Throat is an open Sepulchre, with their Tongues they have used Deceit, the Poison of Asps is under their Lips: Whose Mouths are full of Cursing and Bitterness. Their Feet are swift to shed Blood; Destruction and Misery are in their Ways: And the Way of Peace have they not known. There is no Fear of God before their Eyes. What more positive can be spoken? He seemeth to be particularly careful to avoid that any Good should be ascribed to the natural Man; he shews how he is polluted in all his Ways; he shews how he is void of Righteousness, of Understanding, of the Knowledge of God; how he is out of the Way, and in short unprofitable; than which nothing can be more fully said to confirm our Judgment: For if this be the Condition of the natural Man, or of the Man as he stands in the Fall, he is unfit to make one right Step to Heaven.

Object.If it be said, That is not spoken of the Condition of Man in general; but only of some Particulars, or at the least that it comprehends not all;

Answ.The Text sheweth the clear Contrary in the foregoing Verses, where the Apostle takes in himself, as he stood in his natural Condition. What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise; for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under Sin, as it is written: And so he goes on; by which it is manifest that he speaks of Mankind in general.

[Pg 78]

Object.If they object that which the same Apostle saith in the foregoing Chapter, Ver. 14. to wit, That the Gentiles do by Nature the Things contained in the Law, and so consequently do by Nature that which is good and acceptable in the Sight of God;

Answ. 1.I answer; This Nature must not, neither can be understood of Man’s own Nature, which is corrupt and fallen; but of the Spiritual Nature, which proceedeth from the Seed of God in Man, as it receiveth a new Visitation of God’s Love, and is quickened by it: Which clearly appears by the following Words, where he saith, By what Nature the Gentiles did do the Things of the Law.These not having a Law, (i. e. outwardly) are a Law unto themselves; which shews the Work of the Law written in their Hearts. These Acts of theirs then are an Effect of the Law written in their Hearts; but the Scripture declareth, that the Writing of the Law in the Heart is a Part, yea, and a great Part too, of the New Covenant Dispensation, and so no Consequence nor Part of Man’s Nature.

Answ. 2.Secondly, If this Nature here spoken of could be understood of Man’s own Nature, which he hath as he is a Man, then would the Apostle unavoidably contradict himself; since he elsewhere positively declares, The natural Man discerneth not, &c.That the natural Man discerneth not the Things of God, nor can. Now I hope the Law of God is among the Things of God, especially as it is written in the Heart. The Apostle, in the viith Chap. of the same Epistle, saith, Ver. 12. that the Law is, Holy, Just, and Good; and Ver. 14. the Law is Spiritual, but he is Carnal. Now in what Respect is he Carnal, but as he stands in the Fall unregenerate? Now what Inconsistency would here be, to say, That he is Carnal, and yet not so of his own Nature, seeing it is from his Nature that he is so denominated? We see the Apostle contra-distinguisheth the Law as Spiritual, from Man’s Nature as Carnal and Sinful. Wherefore, as Christ saith, [52]There can no Grapes be expected from Thorns, nor Figs of Thistles; so neither can the fulfilling of the Law, which is Spiritual, Holy, and Just, be expected from that Nature which is Corrupt, Fallen, and Unregenerate. Whence we conclude, with good Reason, that the Nature here spoken of, by which the Gentiles are said to[Pg 79] have done the Things contained in the Law, is not the common Nature of Men; The Gentiles Spiritual Nature in doing the Law.but that Spiritual Nature that ariseth from the Works of the righteous and Spiritual Law that is written in the Heart. I confess they of the other Extreme, when they are pressed with this Testimony by the Socinians and Pelagians, as well as by us when we use this Scripture, to shew them how some of the Heathens, by the Light of Christ in their Heart, came to be saved, are very far to seek; giving this Answer, That there were some Reliques of the heavenly Image left in Adam, by which the Heathens could do some good Things. Which, as it is in itself without Proof, so it contradicts their own Assertions elsewhere, and gives away their Cause. For if these Reliques were of Force to enable them to fulfil the righteous Law of God, it takes away the Necessity of Christ’s coming; or at least leaves them a Way to be saved without him; unless they will say (which is worst of all) That though they really fulfilled the righteous Law of God, yet God damned them, because of the Want of that particular Knowledge, while he himself with-held all Means of their coming to him from them; but of this hereafter.

Object.They say, The Greek Word [Greek: psychikos: ψυχικος] ought to be translated animal, and not natural; else, say they, it would have been [Greek: physikos: φυσικος]. From which they seek to infer, that it is only the Animal Man, and not the Rational, that is excluded here from discerning the Things of God. Which Shift, without disputing about the Word, is easily refuted; neither is it any wise consistent with the Scope of the Place. For

[Pg 80]

Answ. 1.The Animal Life is the same with Natural. First, The Animal Life is no other than that which Man hath in common with other living Creatures; for as he is a mere Man, he differs no otherwise from Beasts than by the Rational Property. Now the Apostle deduceth his Argument in the foregoing Verses from this Simile; That as the Things of a Man cannot be known but by the Spirit of a Man, so the Things of God no Man knoweth but by the Spirit of God. But I hope these Men will confess unto me, that the Things of a Man are not known by the Animal Spirit only, i. e. by that which he hath in common with the Beasts, but by the Rational; so that it must be the Rational that is here understood. Again, the Assumption shews clearly that the Apostle had no such Intent as these Men’s Gloss would make him have, viz. So the Things of God knoweth no Man, but the Spirit of God. According to their Judgment he should have said, The Things of God knoweth no Man by his Animal Spirit, but by his Rational Spirit: For to say, The Spirit of God, here spoken of, is no other than the Rational Spirit of Man, would border upon Blasphemy, since they are so often contra-distinguished. Again, going on, he saith not that they are Rationally, but Spiritually discerned.

Answ. 2.Secondly, The Apostle throughout this Chapter shews how the Wisdom of Man is unfit to judge of the Things of God, and ignorant of them. Now I ask these Men, whether a Man be called a Wise Man from his Animal Property, or from his Rational? The Rational Man in the Natural State excluded from discerning the Things of God.If from his Rational, then it is not only the Animal, but also the Rational, as he is yet in the Natural State, which the Apostle excludes here, and whom he contra-distinguisheth from the Spiritual, Ver. 15. But the Spiritual Man judgeth all Things. This cannot be said of any Man merely because Rational, or as he is a Man, seeing the Men of the greatest Reason, if we may so esteem Men, whom the Scripture calls Wise, as were the Greeks of Old, not only may be, but often are Enemies to the Kingdom of God; while both the Preaching of Christ is said to be Foolishness with the Wise Men of the World, and the Wisdom of the World is said to be Foolishness with God. Now whether it be any ways probable that either these Wise Men that are said to account the Gospel Foolishness, are[Pg 81] only so called with respect to their Animal Property, and not their Rational; or that the Wisdom that is Foolishness with God is not meant of the Rational, but only the Animal Property, any Rational Man, laying aside Interest, may easily judge.

Is it not strange then that Men should entertain an Opinion so absurd in itself, and so cruel and contrary to the Nature as well of God’s Mercy as Justice, concerning which the Scripture is altogether silent? But it is manifest that Man hath invented this Opinion out of Self-love, and from that bitter Root from which all Errors spring; The absolute Decree of Election springs from Self-love.for the most Part of Protestants that hold this, having, as they fancy, the Absolute Decree of Election to secure them and their Children, so as they cannot miss of Salvation, they make no Difficulty to send all others, both Old and Young, to Hell. For whereas Self-love, which is always apt to believe that which it desires, possesseth them with an Hope that their Part is secure, they are not solicitous how they leave their Neighbours, which are the far greater Part of Mankind, in these inextricable Difficulties. The Papists again use this Opinion as an Art to augment the Esteem of their Church, and Reverence of its Sacraments, seeing they pretend it is washed away by Baptism; only in this they appear to be a little more merciful, in that they send not these unbaptized Infants to Hell, but to a certain Limbus, concerning[Pg 82] which the Scriptures are as silent as of the other. This then is not only not authorized in the Scriptures, but contrary to the express Tenor of them. The Apostle saith plainly, Rom. iv. 15. Where no Law is, there is no Transgression. And again, v. 13. But Sin is not imputed, where there is no Law. To Infants there is no Law so no Transgression.Than which Testimonies there is nothing more positive; since to Infants there is no Law, seeing as such they are utterly uncapable of it; the Law cannot reach any but such as have in some Measure less or more the Exercise of their Understanding, which Infants have not. So that from thence I thus argue:

Sin is imputed to none, where there is no Law.

But to Infants there is no Law:

Therefore Sin is not imputed to them.

The Proposition is the Apostle’s own Words; the Assumption is thus proved:

Those who are under a Physical Impossibility of either hearing, knowing, or understanding any Law, where the Impossibility is not brought upon them by any Act of their own, but is according to the very Order of Nature appointed by God; to such there is no Law.

But Infants are under this Physical Impossibility:

Therefore, &c.

Secondly, What can be more positive than that of Ezek. xviii. 20. The Soul that sinneth, it shall die: The Son shall not bear the Father’s Iniquity? For the Prophet here first sheweth what is the Cause of Man’s Eternal Death, which he saith is his Sinning; and then, as if he purposed expresly to shut out such an Opinion, he assures us, The Son shall not bear the Father’s Iniquity. From which I thus argue:

Infants bear not Adam’s Transgression.If the Son bear not the Iniquity of his Father, or of his immediate Parents, far less shall he bear the Iniquity of Adam.

But the Son shall not bear the Iniquity of his Father:

Therefore, &c.

[Pg 83]

Obj. 1.First, They say, Adam was a publick Person, and therefore all Men sinned in him, as being in his Loins. And for this they allege that of Rom. v. 12. Wherefore as by one Man Sin entered into the World, and Death by Sin; and so Death passed upon all Men, for that all have sinned, &c. These last Words, say they, may be translated, In whom all have sinned.

Answ.To this I answer: That Adam is a publick Person is not denied; and that through him there is a Seed of Sin propagated to all Men, which in its own Nature is sinful, and inclines Men to Iniquity; yet it will not follow from thence, that Infants, who join not with this Seed, are guilty. As for these Words in the Romans, the Reason of the Guilt there alleged is, For that all have sinned. Now no Man is said to sin, unless he actually sin in his own Person; for the Greek Words [Greek: eph' ô: εφ ω] may very well relate to [Greek: thanatos: θανατος], which is the nearest Antecedent; so that they hold forth, how that Adam, by his Sin, gave an Entrance to Sin in the World; And so Death entered by Sin, [Greek: eph' ô: εφ ω] i. e. upon which [viz. Occasion] or, in which [viz. Death] all others have sinned; that is, actually in their own Persons; to wit, all that were capable of sinning: Of which Number that Infants could not be, the Apostle clearly shews by the following Verse, Sin is not imputed, where there is no Law: And since, as is above proved, there is no Law to Infants, they cannot be here included.

Obj. 2.Their Second Objection is from Psalm li. 5. Behold I was shapen in Iniquity, and in Sin did my Mother conceive me. Hence, they say, it appears that Infants from their Conception are guilty.

Answ. How they infer this Consequence, for my Part I see not. The Iniquity and Sin here appears to be far more ascribable to the Parents than to the Child. Conceived in Sin answered.It is said indeed, In Sin did my Mother conceive me; not my Mother did conceive me a Sinner. Besides that, so interpreted, contradicts expresly the Scripture before-mentioned in making Children guilty of the Sins of their immediate Parents, (for of Adam there is not here any Mention) contrary to the plain Words, The Son shall not bear the Father’s Iniquity.

[Pg 84]

Obj. 3.Thirdly, They object, That the Wages of Sin is Death; and that seeing Children are subject to Diseases and Death, therefore they must be guilty of Sin.

Answ.I answer; That these Things are a Consequence of the Fall, and of Adam’s Sin, is confessed; but that that infers necessarily a Guilt in all others that are subject to them is denied. Death the Wages of Sin answered.For though the Whole outward Creation suffered a Decay by Adam’s Fall, which groans under Vanity; according to which it is said in Job, That the Heavens are not clean in the Sight of God; yet will it not from thence follow, that the Herbs, Earth, and Trees are Sinners.

Next, Death, though a Consequent of the Fall, incident to Man’s earthly Nature, is not the Wages of Sin in the Saints, but rather a Sleep, by which they pass from Death to Life; which is so far from being troublesome and painful to them, as all real Punishments for Sin are, that the Apostle counts it Gain: To me, saith he, to die is Gain, Philip. i. 21.

Obj. 4.Some are so foolish as to make an Objection farther, saying, That if Adam’s Sin be not imputed to those who actually have not sinned, then it would follow that all Infants are saved.

Answ. But we are willing that this supposed Absurdity should be the Consequence of our Doctrine, rather than that which it seems our Adversaries reckon not absurd, though the undoubted and unavoidable Consequence of theirs, viz. That many Infants eternally perish, not for any Sin of their own, but only for Adam’s Iniquity; where we are willing to let the Controversy stop, commending both to the illuminated Understanding of the Christian Reader.

This Error of our Adversaries is both denied and refuted by Zuinglius, that eminent Founder of the Protestant Churches of Switzerland, in his Book De Baptismo, for which he is anathematized by the Council of Trent, in the Fifth Session. We shall only add this Information: That we confess then that a Seed of Sin is transmitted to all Men from Adam, although imputed to none, until by sinning they actually join with it; in which Seed he gave Occasion to all to sin, and it is[Pg 85] the Origin of all evil Actions and Thoughts in Men’s Hearts, [Greek: eph' ô: εφ ω] to wit, [Greek: thanatô: θανατω], as it is in Rom. v. i. e. In which Death all have sinned. For this Seed of Sin is frequently called Death in the Scripture, and the Body of Death; seeing indeed it is a Death to the Life of Righteousness and Holiness: Therefore its Seed and its Product is called the Old Man, the Old Adam, in which all Sin is; for which cause we use this Name to express this Sin, and not that of Original Sin; Original Sin no Scripture Phrase.of which Phrase the Scripture makes no Mention, and under which invented and unscriptural Barbarism this Notion of Imputed Sin to Infants took Place among Christians.

[Pg 86]

PROPOSITIONS V. & VI.

Concerning the Universal Redemption by Christ, and also the Saving and Spiritual Light, wherewith every Man is enlightened.

PROPOSITION V.

[54]God, out of his Infinite Love, who delighteth not in the Death of a Sinner, but that all should live and be saved, hath so loved the World, that he hath given his only Son a Light, that whosoever believeth in him shall be saved, John iii. 16. Who enlighteneth EVERY Man that cometh into the World, John i. 9. And maketh manifest all Things that are reproveable, Ephes. v. 13. And teacheth all Temperance, Righteousness, and Godliness; and this Light enlighteneth the Hearts of all, for a Time, in order to Salvation; and this is it which reproves the Sin of all Individuals, and would work out the Salvation of all, if not resisted. Nor is it less Universal than the Seed of Sin, being the Purchase of his Death, who tasted Death for every Man. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive, 1 Cor. xv. 22.

PROPOSITION VI.

According to which Principle, or Hypothesis, all the Objections against the Universality of Christ’s Death are easily solved; neither is it needful to recur to the Ministry of Angels, and those other Miraculous Means which they say God useth to manifest the Doctrine and History of Christ’s Passion unto such, who, living in Parts of the World where the outward Preaching of the Gospel is unknown, have well improved the first and common[Pg 87] Grace. For as hence it well follows, that some of the Old Philosophers might have been saved, so also may some, who by Providence are cast into those remote Parts of the World where the Knowledge of the History is wanting, be made Partakers of the Divine Mystery, if they receive, and resist not that Grace, [55]A Manifestation whereof is given to every Man to profit withal. This most certain Doctrine being then received, that there is an Evangelical and Saving Light and Grace in all, the Universality of the Love and Mercy of God towards Mankind, both in the Death of his Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Manifestation of the Light in the Heart, is established and confirmed, against all the Objections of such as deny it. Therefore [56]Christ hath tasted Death for every Man; not only for all Kinds of Men, as some vainly talk, but for every Man of all Kinds: The Benefit of whose Offering is not only extended to such who have the distinct outward Knowledge of his Death and Sufferings, as the same is declared in the Scriptures, but even unto those who are necessarily excluded from the Benefit of this Knowledge by some inevitable Accident; which Knowledge we willingly confess to be very Profitable and Comfortable, but not absolutely Needful unto such from whom God himself hath with-held it; yet they may be made Partakers of the Mystery of his Death, though ignorant of the History, if they suffer his Seed and Light, enlightening their Hearts, to take Place; in which Light Communion with the Father and the Son is enjoyed; so as of wicked Men to become holy, and Lovers of that Power, by whose inward and secret Touches they feel themselves turned from the Evil to the Good, and learn to do to others as they would be done by, in which Christ himself affirms all to be included. As They have then falsely and erroneously Taught, who have denied Christ to have died for all Men; so neither have They sufficiently taught the Truth, who affirming him to have died for all, have added the absolute Necessity of the[Pg 88] outward Knowledge thereof, in order to obtain its saving Effect. Among whom the Remonstrants of Holland have been chiefly wanting, and many other Assertors of Universal Redemption, in that they have not placed the Extent of this Salvation in that Divine and Evangelical Principle of Light and Life wherewith Christ hath enlightened every Man that cometh into the World; which is excellently and evidently held forth in these Scriptures, Gen. vi. 3. Deut. xxx. 14. John i. 7, 8, 9, 16. Rom. x. 8. Titus ii. 11.

Absolute Reprobation, that horrible and blasphemous Doctrine, described.Hitherto we have considered Man’s fallen, lost, corrupted, and degenerated Condition. Now it is fit to enquire, How and by what Means he may come to be freed out of this miserable and depraved Condition, which in these two Propositions is declared and demonstrated; which I thought meet to place together because of their Affinity, the one being as it were an Explanation of the other.

As for that Doctrine which these Propositions chiefly strike at, to wit, absolute Reprobation, according to which some are not afraid to assert, “That God, by an Eternal and Immutable Decree, hath Predestinated to Eternal Damnation the far greater Part of Mankind, not considered as made, much less as fallen, without any Respect to their Disobedience or Sin, but only for the demonstrating of the Glory of his Justice; and that for the bringing this about, he hath appointed these miserable Souls necessarily to walk in their wicked Ways, that so his Justice may lay hold on them: And that God doth therefore not only suffer them to be liable to this Misery in many Parts of the World, by with-holding from them the Preaching of the Gospel and the Knowledge of Christ, but even in those Places where the Gospel is preached, and Salvation by Christ is offered; whom though he publickly invite them, yet he justly condemns for Disobedience, albeit he hath with-held from them all Grace by which they could have laid hold of the Gospel, viz. Because he hath, by a secret Will unknown to all Men, ordained[Pg 89] and decreed (without any Respect had to their Obedience or Sin) that they shall not obey, and that the Offer of the Gospel shall never prove effectual for their Salvation, but only serve to aggravate and occasion their greater Condemnation.”

I say, as to this horrible and blasphemous Doctrine, our Cause is common with many others, who have both wisely and learnedly, according to Scripture, Reason, and Antiquity, refuted it. Seeing then that so much is said already and so well against this Doctrine, that little can be superadded, except what hath been said already, I shall be short in this Respect; yet, because it lies so in Opposition to my Way, I cannot let it altogether pass.

If these Sayings do not plainly and evidently import, that God is the Author of Sin, we must not then seek these Men’s Opinions from their Words, but some Way else. It seems as if they had assumed to themselves that monstrous and twofold Will they feigned of God; one by which they declare their Minds openly, and another more secret and hidden, which is quite contrary to the other. Nor doth it at all help them to say, That Man sins willingly, since that Willingness, Proclivity, and Propensity to Evil is, according to their Judgment, so necessarily imposed upon him, that he cannot but be willing, because God hath willed and decreed him to be so. Which shift is just as if I should take a Child uncapable to resist me, and throw it down from a great Precipice; the Weight of the Child’s Body indeed makes it go readily down, and the Violence of the Fall upon some Rock or Stone beats out its Brains and kills it. Now then, I pray, though the Body of the Child goes willingly down (for I suppose it as to its Mind uncapable of any Will) and the Weight of its Body, and not any immediate Stroke of my Hand, who perhaps am at a great Distance, makes it die, whether is the Child or I the proper Cause of its Death? Let any Man of Reason judge, if God’s Part be, with them, as great, yea, more immediate, in the Sins of Men, as by the Testimonies above brought doth appear, whether doth not this make him not only the Author of Sin, but more unjust than the unjustest of Men?

4. It makes the Gospel a Mock.Fourthly, It makes the Preaching of the Gospel a mere Mock and Illusion, if many of these, to whom it is preached, be by any irrevocable Decree excluded from being benefited by it; it wholly makes useless the Preaching of Faith and Repentance, and the whole Tenor of the Gospel-promises and Threatenings, as being all relative to a former Decree and Means before appointed to such; which, because they cannot fail, Man needs do nothing but wait for that irresistible Juncture, which will come, though it be but at the last Hour of his Life, if he be in the Decree of Election; and be his Diligence and Waiting what it can, he shall never attain it, if he belong to the Decree of Reprobation.

5. It makes the Coming of Christ an Act of Wrath.Fifthly, It makes the Coming of Christ, and his Propitiatory Sacrifice, which the Scripture affirms to have been the Fruit of God’s Love to the World, and transacted for the Sins and Salvation of all Men, to have been rather a Testimony of God’s Wrath to the World, and one of the greatest Judgments, and severest Acts of God’s Indignation towards Mankind, it being[Pg 93] only ordained to save a very few, and for the hardening, and augmenting the Condemnation of the far greater Number of Men, because they believe not truly in it; the Cause of which Unbelief again, as the Divines [so called] above assert, is the hidden Counsel of God: Certainly the Coming of Christ was never to them a Testimony of God’s Love, but rather of his implacable Wrath: And if the World may be taken for the far greater Number of such as live in it, God never loved the World, according to this Doctrine, but rather hated it greatly, in sending his Son to be crucified in it.

Having thus briefly removed this false Doctrine which stood in my Way, because they that are desirous may see it both learnedly and piously refuted by many others, I come to the Matter of our Proposition, which is, That God out of his infinite Love, who delighteth not in the Death of a Sinner, but that all should live and be saved, hath sent his only begotten Son into the World, that whosoever believeth in him might be saved; which also is again affirmed in the sixth Proposition, in these Words, Christ tasted Death for every Man.Christ then tasted Death for every Man, of all Kinds. Such is the Evidence of this Truth, delivered almost wholly in the express Words of Scripture, that it will not need much Probation. Also, because our Assertion herein is common with many others, who have both earnestly and soundly, according to the Scripture, pleaded for this universal Redemption, I shall be the more brief in it, that I may come to that which may seem more singularly and peculiarly ours.

Arg. 1.For whomsoever it is lawful to pray, to them Salvation is possible:

But it is lawful to pray for every individual Man in the whole World:

Therefore Salvation is possible unto them.

I prove the Major Proposition thus;

Arg. 2.No Man is bound to pray for that which is impossible to be attained:

But every Man is bound and commanded to pray for all Men:

Therefore it is not impossible to be obtained.

I prove also this Proposition further, thus;

Arg. 3.No Man is bound to pray, but in Faith:

But he that prayeth for that, which he judges simply impossible to be obtained, cannot pray in Faith:

Therefore, &c.

Again,

Arg. 4.That which God willeth is not impossible:

But God willeth all Men to be saved:

[Pg 98]

Therefore it is not impossible.

And Lastly;

Arg. 5.Those for whom our Saviour gave himself a Ransom, to such Salvation is possible:

But our Saviour gave himself a Ransom for all:

Therefore Salvation is possible.

Proof 3.Thirdly, This Doctrine is abundantly confirmed by that of the Apostle, 1 John ii. 1, 2. And if any Man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. And he is the Propitiation for our Sins; and not for ours only, but also for the Sins of the whole World. Adversaries comment on the Words the whole World. The Way which our Adversaries take to evite this Testimony, is most foolish and ridiculous: The [World] here, say they, is the World of Believers: For this Commentary we have nothing but their own Assertion, and so while it manifestly destroys the Text, may be justly rejected. For, First, let them shew me, if they can, in all the Scripture, where the [whole World] is taken for Believers only; I shall shew them where it is many Times taken for the quite Contrary; as, The World knows me not: The World receives me not, I am not of this World: Besides all these Scriptures, Psalm xvii. 14. Isai. xiii. 11. Mat. xviii. 7. John vii. 7. and viii. 26. and xii. 19. and xiv. 17. and xv. 18, 19. and xvii. 14. and xviii. 20. 1 Cor. i. 21. and ii. 12. and vi. 2. Gal. vi. 14.[Pg 100] James i. 27. 2 Pet. ii. 20. 1 John ii. 15. and iii. 1. and iv. 4, 5, and many more. Secondly, The Apostle in this very Place contra-distinguished the World from the Saints thus; And not for ours only, but for the Sins of the whole World: What means the Apostle by [Ours] here? Is not that the Sins of Believers? Was not he one of those Believers? And was not this an universal Epistle, written to all the Saints that then were? So that according to these Men’s Comment, there should be a very unnecessary and foolish Redundancy in the Apostle’s Words; as if he had said, He is a Propitiation not only for the Sins of all Believers, but for the Sins of all Believers: Is not this to make the Apostle’s Words void of good Sense? Let them shew us wherever there is such a Manner of speaking in all the Scripture, where any of the Penmen first name the Believers in Concreto with themselves, and then contra-distinguish them from some other whole World of Believers? That [whole World] if it be of Believers, must not be the World we live in. But we need no better Interpreter for the Apostle than himself, who uses the very same Expression and Phrase in the same Epistle, Ch. v. 19. saying, We know that we are of God, and the whole World lieth in Wickedness. There cannot be found in all the Scripture two Places which run more parallel; seeing in both the same Apostle, in the same Epistle to the same Persons, contra-distinguisheth himself, and the Saints to whom he writes, from the whole World; which, according to these Men’s Commentary, ought to be understood of Believers: As if John had said, We know particular Believers are of God; but the whole World of Believers lieth in Wickedness. What absurd wresting of Scripture were this? And yet it may be as well pleaded for as the other; for they differ not at all. Seeing then that the Apostle John tells us plainly, That Christ not only died for him, and for the Saints and Members of the Church of God, to whom he wrote, but for the whole World, let us then hold it for a certain and undoubted Truth, notwithstanding the Cavils of such as oppose.

[Pg 101]

This might also be proved from many more Scripture-Testimonies, if it were at this Season needful. All the Fathers, so called, and Doctors of the Church, for the first four Centuries, preached this Doctrine; according to which they boldly held forth the Gospel of Christ, and Efficacy of his Death; The Heathens invited to Salvation; none predestinated to Damnation.inviting and intreating the Heathens to come and be Partakers of the Benefits of it, shewing them how there was a Door open for them all to be saved through Jesus Christ; not telling them that God had predestinated any of them to Damnation, or had made Salvation impossible to them, by with-holding Power and Grace, necessary to believe, from them. But of many of their Sayings, which might be alleged, I shall only instance a few.

Proof 4. The Testimonies of the Doctors and Fathers of the first Church, that Christ died for all.Augustine on the xcvth Psalm saith, “The Blood of Christ is of so great Worth, that it is of no less Value than the whole World.” Prosper ad Gall. c. 9. “The Redeemer of the World gave his Blood for the World, and the World would not be Redeemed, because the Darkness did not receive the Light. He that saith, the Saviour was not crucified for the Redemption of the whole World, looks not to the Virtue of the Sacrament, but to the Part of Infidels; since the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Price of the whole World; from which Redemption they are Strangers, who either delighting in their Captivity would not be Redeemed, or after they were Redeemed returned to the same Servitude.”

The same Prosper, in his Answer to Vincentius’s first Objection: “Seeing therefore because of one common Nature and Cause in Truth, undertaken by our Lord, all are rightly said to be Redeemed, and nevertheless all are not brought out of Captivity; the Property of Redemption without doubt belongeth to those from whom the Prince of this World is shut out, and now are not Vessels of the Devil, but Members of Christ; whole Death was so bestowed upon Mankind, that it belonged to the Redemption of such who were not to be regenerated. But so, that that which was done by the Example of one for all, might, by a singular My[Pg 102]stery, be celebrated in every one. For the Cup of Immortality, which is made up of our Infirmity and the Divine Power, hath indeed that in it which may Profit all; but if it be not drank, it doth not heal.”

The Author de Vocat. Gentium, Lib. 11. Cap. 6. “There is no Cause to doubt but that our Lord Jesus Christ died for Sinners and wicked Men. And if there can be any found, who may be said not to be of this Number, Christ hath not died for all; he made himself a Redeemer for the whole World.”

Chrysostom on John i. “If he enlightens every Man coming into the World, how comes it that so many Men remain without Light? For all do not so much as acknowledge Christ. How then doth he enlighten every Man? He illuminates indeed so far as in him is; but if any of their own accord, closing the Eyes of their Mind, will not direct their Eyes unto the Beams of this Light,The Cause they remain in Darkness. the Cause that they remain in Darkness is not from the Nature of the Light, but through their own Malignity, who willingly have rendered themselves unworthy of so great a Gift. But why believed they not? Because they would not: Christ did his Part.”

The Arelatensian Synod, held about the Year 490, “Pronounced him accursed, who should say that Christ hath not died for all, or that he would not have all Men to be saved.”

Ambr. on Psalm cxviii. Serm. 8. “The mystical Sun of Righteousness is arisen to all; he came to all; he suffered for all; and rose again for all: And therefore he suffered, that he might take away the Sin of the World. But if any one believe not in Christ, he robs himself of this general Benefit,The Sun-Beams shut out, heat not. even as if one by closing the Windows should hold out the Sun-Beams. The Sun is not therefore not arisen to all, because such an one hath so robbed himself of its Heat: But the Sun keeps its Prerogative; it is such an one’s Imprudence that he shuts himself out from the common Benefit of the Light.”

[Pg 103]

The same Man, in his 11th Book of Cain and Abel, Cap. 13. saith, “Therefore he brought unto all the Means of Health, that whosoever should perish, may ascribe to himself the Causes of his Death, who would not be cured when he had the Remedy by which he might have escaped.”

Extremes fallen into by some, making God the Author of Sin.This gave Augustine, Prosper, and some others Occasion, labouring, in Opposition to these Opinions, to magnify the Grace of God, and paint out the Corruptions of Man’s Nature (as the Proverb is of those that seek to make straight a crooked Stick) to incline to the other Extreme. So also the Reformers, Luther and others, finding among other Errors the strange Expressions used by some of the Popish Scholasticks concerning Free-Will, and how much the Tendency of their Principles is to exalt Man’s Nature and lessen God’s Grace, having all those Sayings of Augustine and others for a Pattern, through the like Mistake run upon the same Extreme: Though afterwards the Lutherans, seeing how far Calvin and his Followers drove this Matter, (who, as a Man of subtle and profound judgment, foreseeing where it would land, resolved above-board to assert that God had decreed the Means as well as the End, and therefore had ordained Men to[Pg 104] sin, and excites them thereto, which he labours earnestly to defend) and that there was no avoiding the making of God the Author of Sin, thereby received Occasion to discern the Falsity of this Doctrine, and disclaimed it, as appears by the latter Writings of Melancthon, and the Mompelgartensian Conference, [65]where Lucas Osiander, one of the Collocutors, terms it Impious; calls it a making God the Author of Sin, and an horrid and horrible Blasphemy. Yet because none of those who have asserted this universal Redemption since the Reformation have given a clear, distinct, and satisfactory Testimony how it is communicated to all, and so have fallen short of fully declaring the Perfection of the Gospel Dispensation, others have been thereby the more strengthened in their Errors; which I shall illustrate by one singular Example.

The Arminians, and other Assertors of universal Grace, use this as a chief Argument.

That which every Man is bound to believe, is true:

But every Man is bound to believe that Christ died for him:

Therefore, &c.

Remonstrants Opinion strengthens the precise Decree of Reprobation.Of this Argument the other Party deny the Assumption, saying; That they who never heard of Christ, are not obliged to believe in him; and seeing the Remonstrants (as they are commonly called) do generally themselves acknowledge, that without the outward Knowledge of Christ there is no Salvation, that gives the other Party yet a stronger Argument for their precise Decree of Reprobation. For, say they, seeing we all see really, and in effect, that God hath with-held from many Generations, and yet from Nations, that Knowledge which is absolutely needful to Salvation, and so hath rendered it simply impossible unto them; Why may he not as well with-hold the Grace necessary to make a saving Application of that Knowledge, where it is preached? For there is no Ground to say, That this were Injustice in God, or Partiality, more than his leaving those others in utter Ignorance; the one being but a with-holding Grace to apprehend the Object of Faith, the other a withdrawing the Object itself. For answer to this, they are forced to draw a Conclusion from their former Hypothesis of Christ’s dying for all, and[Pg 105] God’s Mercy and Justice, saying, That if these Heathens, who live in those remote Places, where the outward Knowledge of Christ is not, did improve that common Knowledge they have, to whom the outward Creation is for an Object of Faith, by which they may gather that there is a God, then the Lord would by some Providence, either send an Angel to tell them of Christ, or convey the Scriptures to them, or bring them some Way an Opportunity to meet with such as might inform them. Which, as it gives always too much to the Power and Strength of Man’s Will and Nature, and favours a little of Socinianism and Pelagianism, or at least of Semi-Pelagianism, so, since it is only built upon probable Conjectures, neither hath it Evidence enough to convince any strongly tainted with the other Doctrine; nor yet doth it make the Equity and wonderful Harmony of God’s Mercy and Justice towards ALL so manifest to the Understanding. So that I have often observed, that these Assertors of Universal Grace did far more pithily and strongly overturn the false Doctrine of their Adversaries, than they did establish and confirm the Truth and Certainty of their own. None, by an irrevocable Decree, excluded from Salvation.And though they have Proof sufficient from the Holy Scriptures to confirm the Universality of Christ’s Death, and that none are precisely, by any irrevocable Decree, excluded from Salvation, yet I find when they are pressed in the Respects above-mentioned, to shew how God hath so far equally extended the Capacity to partake of the Benefit of Christ’s Death unto all, as to communicate unto them a sufficient Way of so doing, they are somewhat in a Strait, and are put more to give us their Conjectures from the Certainty of the former pre-supposed Truth, to wit, that because Christ hath certainly died for all, and God hath not rendered Salvation impossible to any, therefore there must be some Way or other by which they may be saved; which must be by improving some common Grace, or by gathering from the Works of Creation and Providence, than by really demonstrating, by convincing and spiritual Arguments, what that Way is.

[Pg 106]

Prop. II.A Measure of Light in all. Secondly, That for this End God hath communicated and given unto every Man a Measure of the Light of his own Son, a Measure of Grace, or a Measure of the Spirit, which the Scripture expresses by several Names, as sometimes of the Seed of the Kingdom, Mat. xiii. 18, 19. the Light that makes all Things manifest, Ephes. v. 13. the Word of God, Rom. x. 17. or Manifestation of the Spirit given to profit withal, 1 Cor. xii. 7. A Talent, Mat. xxv. 15. A little Leaven, Mat. xiii. 33. the Gospel preached in every Creature, Col. i. 23.

Prop. III.Thirdly, That God, in and by this Light and Seed, invites, calls, exhorts, and strives with every Man, in order to save him; God’s Salvation wrought by the Light in all.which, as it is received and not resisted, works the Salvation of all, even of those who are ignorant of the Death and Sufferings of Christ, and of Adam’s Fall, both by bringing them to a Sense of their own Misery, and to be Sharers in the Sufferings of Christ inwardly, and by making them Partakers of his Resurrection, in becoming Holy, Pure, and Righteous, and recovered out of their Sins. By which also are saved they that have the Knowledge of Christ outwardly, in that it opens their Under[Pg 108]standing rightly to use and apply the Things delivered in the Scriptures, and to receive the saving Use of them: But that this may be resisted and rejected in both, in which then God is said to be resisted and pressed down, and Christ to be again crucified, and put to open Shame in and among Men. And to those who thus resist and refuse him, he becomes their Condemnation.

Conseq. 1.First then, According to this Doctrine the Mercy of God is excellently well exhibited, in that none are necessarily shut out from Salvation; and his Justice is demonstrated, in that he condemns none but such to whom he really made offer of Salvation, affording them the Means sufficient thereunto.

Conseq. 2.Secondly, This Doctrine, if well weighed, will be found to be the Foundation of Christianity, Salvation, and Assurance.

Conseq. 3.Thirdly, It agrees and answers with the whole Tenor of the Gospel Promises and Threats, and with the Nature of the Ministry of Christ; according to which, the Gospel, Salvation, and Repentance are commanded to be preached to every Creature, without Respect of Nations, Kindred, Families or Tongues.

Conseq. 4.Fourthly, It magnifies and commends the Merits and Death of Christ, in that it not only accounts them sufficient to save all, but declares them to be brought so nigh unto all, as thereby to be put into the nearest Capacity of Salvation.

Conseq. 5.Fifthly, It exalts above all the Grace of God, to which it attributeth all Good, even the least and smallest Actions that are so; ascribing thereunto not only the first Beginnings and Motions of Good, but also the whole Conversion and Salvation of the Soul.

Conseq. 6.Sixthly, It contradicts, overturns, and enervates the false Doctrine of the Pelagians, Semi-Pelagians, Socinians, and others, who exalt the Light of Nature, the Liberty of Man’s Will, in that it wholly excludes the natural Man from having any Place or Portion in his own Salvation, by any acting, moving, or working of his own, until he be first quickened, raised up, and actuated by God’s Spirit.

[Pg 109]

Conseq. 7.Seventhly, As it makes the whole Salvation of Man solely and alone to depend upon God, so it makes his Condemnation wholly and in every Respect to be of himself, in that he refused and resisted somewhat that from God wrestled and strove in his Heart, and forces him to acknowledge God’s just judgment in rejecting and forsaking of him.

Conseq. 8.Eighthly, It takes away all Ground of Despair, in that it gives every one Cause of Hope and certain Assurance that they may be saved; neither doth feed any in Security, in that none are certain how soon their Day may expire: And therefore it is a constant Incitement and Provocation, and lively Encouragement to every Man, to forsake Evil, and close with that which is Good.

Conseq. 9.Ninthly, It wonderfully commends as well the Certainty of the Christian Religion among Infidels, as it manifests its own Verity to all, in that it is confirmed and established by the Experience of all Men; seeing there was never yet a Man found in any Place of the Earth, however barbarous and wild, but hath acknowledged that at some Time or other, less or more, he hath found somewhat in his Heart reproving him for some Things evil which he hath done, threatening a certain Horror if he continued in them, as also promising and communicating a certain Peace and Sweetness, as he has given Way to it, and not resisted it.

Conseq. 10.Tenthly, It wonderfully sheweth the excellent Wisdom of God, by which he hath made the Means of Salvation so universal and comprehensive, that it is not needful to recur to those miraculous and strange Ways; seeing, according to this most true Doctrine, the Gospel reacheth all, of whatsoever Condition, Age, or Nation.

Conseq. 11.Eleventhly, It is really and effectively, though not in so many Words, yet by Deeds, established and confirmed by all the Preachers, Promulgators, and Doctors of the Christian Religion that ever were, or now are, even by those that otherways in their Judgment oppose this Doctrine, in that they all, whatever they have been or are, or whatsoever People, Place, or Country they come to, do preach to the People, and to every Individual among them, that they may be saved; intreating and desiring[Pg 110] them to believe in Christ, who hath died for them. So that what they deny in the general, they acknowledge of every Particular; there being no Man to whom they do not preach in order to Salvation, telling him Jesus Christ calls and wills him to believe and be saved; and that if he refuse, he shall therefore be condemned, and that his Condemnation is of himself. Such is the Evidence and Virtue of Truth, that it constrains its Adversaries, even against their Wills, to plead for it.

Conseq. 12.Lastly, According to this Doctrine the former Argument used by the Arminians, and evited by the Calvinists, concerning every Man’s being bound to believe that Christ died for him, is, by altering the Assumption, rendered invincible; thus,

That which every Man is bound to believe, is true:

But every man is bound to believe that God is merciful unto him:

Therefore, &c.

This Assumption no Man can deny, seeing his Mercies are said to be over all his Works. And herein the Scripture every Way declares the Mercy of God to be, in that he invites and calls Sinners to Repentance, and hath opened a Way of Salvation for them: So that though those Men be not bound to believe the History of Christ’s Death and Passion who never came to know of it, yet they are bound to believe that God will be merciful to them, if they follow his Ways, and that he is merciful unto them, in that he reproves them for Evil, and encourages them to Good. Our Adversaries unmerciful Assertion of God.Neither ought any Man to believe that God is unmerciful to him, or that he hath from the Beginning, ordained him to come into the World that he might be left to his own evil Inclinations, and so do wickedly as a Means appointed by God to bring him to eternal Damnation; which, were it true, as our Adversaries affirm it to be of many Thousands, I see no Reason why a Man might not believe; for certainly a Man may believe the Truth.

As it manifestly appears from the Thing itself, that these good and excellent Consequences follow from the Belief of this Doctrine, so[Pg 111] from the Proof of them it will yet more evidently appear; to which before I come, it is requisite to speak somewhat concerning the State of the Controversy, which will bring great Light to the Matter: For from the not right understanding of a Matter under Debate, sometimes both Arguments on the one Hand, and Objections on the other, are brought, which do no Way hit the Case; and hereby also our Sense and Judgment therein will be more fully understood and opened.

But by this, as we do not at all intend to equal ourselves to that Holy Man the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary, in whom all the Fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily, That the Fulness of the Godhead dwells in Christ bodily, &c.so neither do we destroy the Reality of his present Existence, as some have falsely calumniated us. For though we affirm that Christ dwells in us, yet not immediately, but mediately as he is in that Seed which is in us; whereas he, to wit, the Eternal Word, which was with God, and was God, dwelt immediately in that Holy Man. He then is as the Head, and we as the Members; he the Vine, and we the Branches. Now as the Soul of Man dwells otherwise and in a far more immediate Manner in the Head and in the Heart than in the Hands or Legs, and as the Sap, Virtue, and Life of the Vine lodgeth far otherwise in the Stock and Root than in the Branches, so God dwelleth otherwise in the Man Jesus than in us. We also freely reject the Heresy of Apollinarius, who denied him to have any Soul, but said the Body was only actuated by the Godhead. As also the Error of Eutyches, who made the Manhood to be wholly swallowed up of the Godhead. Wherefore, as we believe he was a true and real Man, so we also believe that he continues so to be glorified in the Heavens in Soul and Body, by whom God shall judge the World, in the great and general Day of Judgment.

Next, We know it to be a Substance, because it subsists in the Hearts of wicked Men, even while they are in their Wickedness, as shall be hereafter proved more at large. Now no Accident can be in a Subject without it give the Subject its own Denomination; as where Whiteness is in a Subject, there the Subject is called White. The Degrees of its Operation in the Soul of Man.So we distinguish betwixt Holiness, as it is an Accident, which denominates Man so, as the Seed receives a Place in him, and betwixt the holy substantial Seed, which many Times lies in Man’s Heart as a naked Grain in the stony Ground. So also as we may distinguish betwixt Health and Medicine; Health cannot be in a Body without the Body be called Healthful, because Health is an Accident; but Medicine may be in a Body that is most unhealthful, for that it is a Substance. And as when a Medicine begins to work, the Body may in some Respect be called Healthful, and in some Respect Unhealthful, so we acknowledge as this divine Medicine receives Place in Man’s Heart, it may denominate him in some Part Holy and Good, though there remain yet a corrupted unmortified Part, or some Part of the evil Humours unpurged out; for where two contrary Accidents are in one Subject, as Health and Sickness in a Body, the Subject receives its Denomination from the Accident which prevails most. So many Men are called Saints, good and holy Men, and that truly, when this holy Seed hath wrought in them in a good Measure, and hath somewhat leavened them into its Nature, though they may be yet liable to many Infirmities and Weaknesses, yea, and to some Iniquities; for as the Seed of Sin and Ground of Corruption, yea, and the Capacity of yielding thereunto, and sometimes actually falling, doth not denominate a good and holy Man impious; so neither doth the Seed of[Pg 115] Righteousness in evil Men, and the Possibility of their becoming one with it, denominate them good or holy.

Quest. 5. How Christ is in all Men.But Fifthly, This brings us to another Question, to wit, Whether Christ be in all Men or no? Which sometimes hath been asked us, and Arguments brought against it; because indeed it is to be found in some of our Writings that Christ is in all Men; and we often are heard, in our publick Meetings and Declarations, to desire every Man to know and be acquainted with Christ in them, telling them that Christ is in them; it is fit therefore, for removing of all Mistakes, to say something in this Place concerning this Matter. We have said before, how that a divine, spiritual, and supernatural Light is in all Men; how that that divine supernatural Light or Seed is Vehiculum Dei; how that God and Christ dwelleth in it, and is never separated from it; also how that, as it is received and closed with in the Heart, Christ comes to be formed and brought forth: But we are far from ever having said, That Christ is thus formed in all Men, or in the Wicked: For that is a great Attainment, which the Apostle travailed that it might be brought forth in the Galatians. Neither is Christ in all Men by Way of Union, or indeed, to speak strictly, by Way of Inhabitation; because this Inhabitation, as it is generally taken, imports Union, or the Manner of Christ’s being in the Saints: As it is written, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, 2 Cor. vi. 16. But in regard, Christ is in all Men as in a Seed, yea, and that he never is nor can be separate from that holy pure Seed and Light which is in all Men; therefore may it be said in a larger Sense, that he is in all,[Pg 117] even as we observed before. The Scripture saith, Amos ii. 13. God is pressed down as a Cart under Sheaves, and Christ crucified in the Ungodly; though to speak properly and strictly, neither can God be pressed down, nor Christ, as God, be crucified. In this Respect then, as he is in the Seed which is in all Men, we have said Christ is in all Men, and have preached and directed all Men to Christ in them, Christ crucified in Man by Iniquities.who lies crucified in them by their Sins and Iniquities, that they may look upon him whom they have pierced, and repent: Whereby he that now lies as it were slain and buried in them, may come to be raised, and have Dominion in their Hearts over all. And thus also the Apostle Paul preached to the Corinthians and Galatians, 1 Cor. ii. 2. Christ crucified in them, [Greek: en hymin: εν ὑμιν], as the Greek hath it. This Jesus Christ was that which the Apostle desired to know in them, and make known unto them, that they might come to be sensible how they had thus been crucifying Christ, that so they might repent and be saved. And forasmuch as Christ is called that Light that enlightens every Man, the Light of the World, therefore the Light is taken for Christ, who truly is the Fountain of Light, and hath his Habitation in it for ever. Thus the Light of Christ is sometimes called Christ, i. e. that in which Christ is, and from which he is never separated.

Example of a Papist.So if a Papist eat Flesh in Lent, or be not diligent enough in Adoration of Saints and Images, or if he should contemn Images, his Conscience would smite him for it, because his Judgment is already blinded[Pg 120] with a false Belief concerning these Things: Whereas the Light of Christ never consented to any of those Abominations. Thus then Man’s natural Conscience is sufficiently distinguished from it; for Conscience followeth the Judgment, doth not inform it; but this Light, as it is received, removes the Blindness of the Judgment, opens the Understanding, and rectifies both the Judgment and Conscience. So we confess also, that Conscience is an excellent Thing, where it is rightly informed and enlightened: Wherefore some of us have fitly compared it to the Lanthorn, and the Light of Christ to a Candle: The natural Conscience compared to a Lanthorn, and the Light of Christ is a Candle.A Lanthorn is useful, when a clear Candle burns and shines in it; but otherwise of no Use. To the Light of Christ then in the Conscience, and not to Man’s natural Conscience, it is that we continually commend Men; this, not that, is it which we preach up, and direct People to, as to a most certain Guide unto Life eternal.

Lastly, This Light, Seed, &c. appears to be no Power or natural Faculty of Man’s Mind; because a Man that is in his Health can, when he pleases, stir up, move, and exercise the Faculties of his Soul; he is absolute Master of them; and except there be some natural Cause or Impediment in the Way, he can use them at his Pleasure: But this Light and Seed of God in Man he cannot move and stir up when he pleaseth; but it moves, blows, and strives with Man, as the Lord seeth meet. The Waiting upon the Movings of the Light and Grace.For though there be a Possibility of Salvation to every Man during the Day of his Visitation, yet cannot a Man, at any Time when he pleaseth, or hath some Sense of his Misery, stir up that Light and Grace, so as to procure to himself Tenderness of Heart; but he must wait for it: Which comes upon all at certain Times and Seasons, wherein it works powerfully upon the Soul, mightily tenders it, and breaks it; at which Time, if Man resist it not, but closes with it, he comes to know Salvation by it. Even as the Lake of Bethesda did not cure all those that washed in it, but such only as washed first after the Angel had moved upon the Waters; so God moves in Love to Mankind, in this Seed in his Heart, at some singular Times, setting his Sins in Order before him,[Pg 121] and seriously inviting him to Repentance, offering to him Remission of Sins and Salvation; which if Man accept of, he may be saved. Now there is no Man alive, and I am confident there shall be none to whom this Paper shall come, who, if they will deal faithfully and honestly with their own Hearts, will not be forced to acknowledge that they have been sensible of this in some Measure, less or more; which is a Thing that Man cannot bring upon himself with all his Pains and Industry. This then, O Man and Woman! is the Day of God’s gracious Visitation to thy Soul, which if thou resist not, thou shalt be happy for ever. This is the Day of the Lord, which, as Christ saith, [68]is like the Lightning, which shineth from the East unto the West; and the [69]Wind or Spirit, which blows upon the Heart, and no Man knows whither it goes, nor whence it comes.

To them then that ask us after this Manner, How do ye offer from the Pelagians and Arminians? For if two Men have equal sufficient Light and Grace, and the one be saved by it, and the other not; is it not because the one improves it, the other not? Is not then the Will of Man the Cause of the one’s Salvation beyond the other? The Light’s Operations in Order to Salvation.I say, to such we thus answer: That as the Grace and Light in all is sufficient to save all, and of its own Nature would save all; so it strives and wrestles with all in order to save them; he that resists its Striving, is the Cause of his own Condemnation; he that resists it not, it becomes his Salvation: So that in him that is saved, the working is of the Grace, and not of the Man; and it is a Passiveness rather than an Act; though afterwards, as Man is wrought upon, there is a Will raised in him, by which he comes to be a Co-worker with the Grace: For according to that of Augustine, He that made us without us, will not save us without us. So that[Pg 122] the first Step is not by Man’s working, but by his not contrary working. And we believe, that at these singular Seasons of every Man’s Visitation above-mentioned, as Man is wholly unable of himself to work with the Grace, neither can he move one Step out of the natural Condition, until the Grace lay hold upon him; so it is possible for him to be passive, and not to resist it, as it is possible for him to resist it. So we say, the Grace of God works in and upon Man’s Nature; which, though of itself wholly corrupted and defiled, and prone to Evil, yet is capable to be wrought upon by the Grace of God; even as Iron, though an hard and cold Metal of itself, may be warmed and softened by the Heat of the Fire, and Wax melted by the Sun. And as Iron or Wax, when removed from the Fire or Sun, returneth to its former Condition of Coldness and Hardness; so Man’s Heart, as it resists or retires from the Grace of God, returns to its former Condition again. I have often had the Manner of God’s working, in order to Salvation towards all Men, illustrated to my Mind by one or two clear Examples, which I shall here add for the Information of others.

The Example of a Diseased Man and the Physician.The first is, Of a Man heavily diseased; to whom I compare Man in his fallen and natural Condition. I suppose God, who is the great Physician, not only to give this Man Physick, after he hath used all the Industry he can for his own Health, by any Skill or Knowledge of his own; as those that say, If a Man improve his Reason or natural Faculties, God will superadd Grace; or, as others say, That he cometh and maketh Offer of a Remedy to this Man outwardly, leaving it to the Liberty of Man’s Will either to receive it or reject it. But He, even the Lord, this great Physician, cometh, and poureth the Remedy into his Mouth, and as it were layeth him in his Bed; so that if the sick Man be but passive, it will necessarily work the Effect: But if he be stubborn and untoward, and will needs rise up and go forth into the Cold, or eat such Fruits as are hurtful to him, while the Medicine should operate; then, though of its Nature it tendeth to cure him, yet it will prove destructive to him, because of those Obstructions which it meeteth with. Now as the Man that should thus undo himself would certainly[Pg 123] be the Cause of his own Death; so who will say, that, if cured, he owes not his Health wholly to the Physician, and not to any Deed of his own; seeing his Part was not any Action, but a Passiveness?

The Example of Men lying stupified in a dark Pit, and their Deliverer.The second Example is, Of divers Men lying in a dark Pit together, where all their Senses are so stupified, that they are scarce sensible of their own Misery. To this I compare Man in his natural, corrupt, fallen Condition. I suppose not that any of these Men, wrestling to deliver themselves, do thereby stir up or engage one able to deliver them to give them his Help, saying within himself, I see one of these Men willing to be delivered, and doing what in him lies, therefore he deserves to be assisted; as say the Socinians, Pelagians, and Semi-Pelagians. Neither do I suppose that this Deliverer comes to the Top of the Pit, and puts down a Ladder, desiring them that will to come up; and so puts them upon using their own Strength and Will to come up; as do the Jesuits and Arminians: Yet, as they say, such are not delivered without the Grace; seeing the Grace is that Ladder by which they were delivered. But I suppose that the Deliverer comes at certain Times, and fully discovers and informs them of the great Misery and Hazard they are in, if they continue in that noisome and pestiferous Place; yea, forces them to a certain Sense of their Misery (for the wickedest Men at Times are made sensible of their Misery by God’s Visitation) and not only so, but lays Hold upon them, and gives them a Pull, in order to lift them out of their Misery; which if they resist not will save them; only they may resist it. This being applied as the former, doth the same Way illustrate the Matter. Neither is the Grace of God frustrated, though the Effect of it be divers, according to its Object, being the Ministration of Mercy and Love in those that reject it not, but receive it, John i. 12. but the Ministration of Wrath and Condemnation in those that do reject it, John iii. 19. A Simile of the Sun’s melting and hardening Power.even as the Sun, by one Act or Operation, melteth and softeneth the Wax, and hardeneth the Clay. The Nature of the Sun is to cherish the Creation, and therefore the Living are refreshed by it, and the Flowers[Pg 124] send forth a good Savour, as it shines upon them, and the Fruits of the Trees are ripened; yet cast forth a dead Carcase, a Thing without Life, and the same Reflection of the Sun will cause it to stink, and putrify it; yet is not the Sun said thereby to be frustrated of its proper Effect. So every Man during the Day of his Visitation is shined upon by the Sun of Righteousness, and capable of being influenced by it, so as to send forth good Fruit, and a good Savour, and to be melted by it; but when he hath sinned out his Day, then the same Sun hardeneth him, as it doth the Clay, and makes his Wickedness more to appear and putrify, and send forth an evil Savour.

Thus both the Mercy and Justice of God are established, and the Will and Strength of Man are brought down and rejected; his Condemnation is made to be of himself, and his Salvation only to de[Pg 125]pend upon God. Also, by these Positions, two great Objections, which often are brought against this Doctrine, are well solved.

Object.The first is deduced from those Places of Scripture, wherein God seems precisely to have decreed and predestinated some to Salvation; and for that End, to have ordained certain Means, which fall not out to others; as in the Calling of Abraham, David, and others, and in the Conversion of Paul; for these being numbered among such to whom this Prevalency is given, the Objection is easily loosed.

Predestination to Salvation, and Pre-ordination to Destruction, answered.The second is drawn from those Places, wherein God seems to have ordained some wicked Persons to Destruction; and therefore to have obdured their Hearts to force them unto great Sins, and to have raised them up, that he might shew in them his Power, who, if they be numbered amongst those Men whose Day of Visitation is passed over, that Objection is also solved; as will more evidently appear to any One that will make a particular Application of those Things, which I at this Time, for Brevity’s Sake, thought meet to pass over.

Prop. I.Proved. The first Thing to be proved is, That God hath given to every Man a Day or Time of Visitation, wherein it is possible for him to be saved. If we can prove that there is a Day and Time given, in which those might have been saved that actually perish, the Matter is done: For none deny but those that are saved have a Day of Visitation. Proof I.This then appears by the Regrets and Complaints which the Spirit of God throughout the whole Scriptures makes, even to those that did perish; Those that perish, had a Day of Mercy offered them.sharply reproving them, for that they did not accept of, nor close with God’s Visitation and Offer of Mercy to them. Thus the Lord expresses himself then first of all to Cain, Gen. iv. 6, 7. Instances. 1. Cain.And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy Countenance fallen? If thou dost well, shalt thou not be accepted? If thou dost not well, Sin lieth at the Door. This was said to Cain before he slew his Brother Abel, when[Pg 126] the evil Seed began to tempt him, and work in his Heart; we see how God gave Warning to Cain in Season, and in the Day of his Visitation towards him, Acceptance and Remission if he did well: For this Interrogation, Shalt thou not be accepted? imports an Affirmative, Thou shalt be accepted, if thou dost well. So that if we may trust God Almighty, the Fountain of all Truth and Equity, it was possible in a Day, even for Cain to be accepted. Neither could God have proposed the doing of Good as a Condition, if he had not given Cain sufficient Strength, whereby he was capable to do Good. This the Lord himself also shews, even that he gave a Day of Visitation to the Old World, The Old World.Gen. vi. 3. And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive in Man; for so it ought to be translated. This manifestly implies, that his Spirit did strive with Man, and doth strive with him for a Season, which Season expiring, God ceaseth to strive with him, in order to save him: For the Spirit of God cannot be said to strive with Man after the Day of his Visitation is expired; seeing it naturally, and without any Resistance, works its Effect then, to wit, continually to judge and condemn him. From this Day of Visitation, that God hath given to every One, is it, that he is said to wait to be gracious, Isa. xxx. 18. God is Long-suffering, and long waiting to be gracious unto all.—And to be Long-suffering, Exod. xxxiv. 6. Numb. xiv. 18. Psal. lxxxvi. 15. Jer. xv. 15. Here the Prophet Jeremy, in his Prayer, lays hold upon the Long-suffering of God; and in his expostulating with God, he shuts out the Objection of our Adversaries in the 18th Verse; Why is my Pain perpetual, and my Wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? Wilt thou altogether be unto me as a Liar, and as Waters that fail? Whereas, according to our Adversaries Opinion, the Pain of the most Part of Men is perpetual, and their Wound altogether incurable; yea, the Offer of the Gospel, and of Salvation unto them, is as a Lie, and as Waters that fail, being never intended to be of any Effect unto them. The Apostle Peter says expresly, that this Long-suffering of God waited in the Days of Noah for those of the Old World, 1 Pet. iii. 20. which, being compared with that of Gen. vi. 3. before-mentioned, doth sufficiently hold forth our Proposition. And[Pg 127] that none may object that this Long-suffering or Striving of the Lord was not in order to save them, the same Apostle saith expresly, 2 Pet. iii. 15. In order to save them.That the Long-suffering of God is to be accounted Salvation; and with this Long-suffering, a little before in the 9th Verse, he couples, That God is not willing that any should perish. Where, taking him to be his own Interpreter (as he is most fit) he holdeth forth, That those to whom the Lord is Long-suffering, (which he declareth he was to the Wicked of the Old World, and is now to all, not willing that any should perish) they are to account this Long-suffering of God to them Salvation. Now, how or in what respect can they account it Salvation, if there be not so much as a Possibility of Salvation conveyed to them therein? For it were not Salvation to them, if they could not be saved by it. In this Matter Peter further refers to the Writings of Paul, holding forth this to have been the universal Doctrine. Where it is observable what he adds upon this Occasion, Some Things in Paul’s Epistles hard to be understood.how there are some Things in Paul’s Epistles hard to be understood, which the Unstable and Unlearned wrest to their own Destruction; insinuating plainly this of those Expressions in Paul’s Epistles, as Rom. ix. &c. which some, unlearned in spiritual Things, did make to contradict the Truth of God’s Long-suffering towards all, in which he willeth not any of them should perish, and in which they all may be saved. Would to God many had taken more Heed than they have done to this Advertisement! That Place of the Apostle Paul, which Peter seems here most particularly to hint at, doth much contribute also to clear the Matter, Rom. ii. 4. Despisest thou the Riches of his Goodness, and Forbearance, and Long-suffering, not knowing that the Goodness of God leadeth thee to Repentance? Paul speaketh here to the Unregenerate, and to the Wicked, who (in the following Verse he saith) Treasure up Wrath unto the Day of Wrath; and to such he commends the Riches of the Forbearance and Long-suffering of God; shewing that the Tendency of God’s Goodness leadeth to Repentance. How could it necessarily tend to lead them to Repentance, how could it be called Riches or Goodness to them, if there were not a[Pg 128] Time wherein they might repent by it, and come to be Sharers of the Riches exhibited in it? From all which I thus argue.

Arg.God’s Spirit strives in the Wicked. If God plead with the Wicked, from the Possibility of their being accepted; if God’s Spirit strive in them for a Season, in order to save them, who afterwards perish; if he wait to be gracious unto them; if he be Long-suffering towards them; and if this Long-suffering be Salvation to them while it endureth, during which Time God willeth them not to perish, but exhibiteth to them the Riches of his Goodness and Forbearance to lead them to Repentance; then there is a Day of Visitation wherein such might have been, or some such now may be saved, who have perished; and may perish, if they repent not:

But the first is true: Therefore also the last.

Proof 3.Lastly, That there is a Day of Visitation given to the Wicked, wherein they might have been saved, and which being expired, they are shut out from Salvation, Christ’s Lamentation over Jerusalem.appears evidently by Christ’s Lamentation over Jerusalem, expressed in three sundry Places, Matth. xxiii. 37. Luke xiii. 34. and xix. 41, 42. And when he was come near, he beheld the City, and wept over it, saying; If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy Day, the Things that belong to thy Peace; but now they are hid from thine Eyes! Than which nothing can be said more evident to prove our Doctrine. For, First, he insinuates that there was a Day wherein the Inhabitants of Jerusalem might have known those Things that belonged to their Peace. Secondly, That during that Day he was willing to have gathered them, even as an Hen gathereth her Chickens. A familiar Example, yet very significative in this Case; which shews that the Offer of Salvation made unto them was not in vain on his Part, but as really, and with as great Chearfulness and Willingness, as an Hen gathereth her Chickens. Such as is the Love and Care of the Hen toward her Brood, such is the Care of Christ to gather lost Men and Women, to redeem them out of their corrupt and degenerate State. Thirdly, That because they refused, the Things belonging to their Peace were hid from their Eyes. Why were they hid? Because ye would not suffer me to gather you; ye would not see those Things that were good for you, in the Season of God’s Love towards you; and therefore now, that Day being expired, ye cannot see them: And, for a farther judgment, God suffers you to be hardened in Unbelief.

God hardens, when.So it is, after real Offers of Mercy and Salvation rejected, that Men’s Hearts are hardened, and not before. Thus that Saying is verified,[Pg 130] To him that hath, shall be given; and from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath. This may seem a Riddle, yet it is according to this Doctrine easily solved. He hath not, because he hath lost the Season of using it, and so to him it is now as nothing; for Christ uses this Expression, Matth. xxv. 26. The one Talent was sufficient.upon the Occasion of the taking the one Talent from the slothful Servant, and giving it to him that was diligent; which Talent was no ways insufficient of itself, but of the same Nature with those given to the others; and therefore the Lord had Reason to exact the Profit of it proportionably, as well as from the rest: So, I say, it is after the rejecting of the Day of Visitation, that the Judgment of Obduration is inflicted upon Men and Women, as Christ pronounceth it upon the Jews out of Isa. vi. 9. which all the four Evangelists make Mention of, Matth. xiii. 14. Mark iv. 12. Luke viii. 10. John xii. 40. and last of all the Apostle Paul, after he had made Offer of the Gospel of Salvation to the Jews at Rome, pronounceth the same, Acts xxviii. 26. after that some believed not; Well spake the Holy Ghost, by Isaiah the Prophet, unto our Fathers, saying, Go unto this People, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive. For the Heart of this People is waxed gross, and their Ears are dull of hearing, and their Eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their Eyes, and hear with their Ears, and understand with their Hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them. So it appears, that God would have them to see, but they closed their Eyes; and therefore they are justly hardened. Cyril. Alex.Of this Matter Cyrillus Alexandrinus upon John, Lib. 6. Cap. 21. speaks well, answering to this Objection. But some may say, If Christ be come into the World, that those that see may be blinded, their Blindness is not imputed unto them; but it rather seems that Christ is the Cause of their Blindness, who saith, He is come into the World, that those that see may be blinded. But, saith he, they speak not rationally, who object these Things unto God, and are not afraid to call him the Author of Evil. For, as the sensible Sun is carried upon our Horizon, that it may communicate the Gift of its Clearness[Pg 131] unto all, and make its Light shine upon all; The Cause of Man’s remaining in Darkness, the closing of his Eyes.yet if any one close his Eye-lids, or willingly turn himself from the Sun, refusing the Benefit of its Light, he wants its Illumination, and remains in Darkness, not through the Defect of the Sun, but through his own Fault. So that the true Sun, who came to enlighten those that sat in Darkness, and in the Region of the Shadow of Death, visited the Earth for this Cause, that he might communicate unto all the Gift of Knowledge and Grace, and illuminate the inward Eyes of all by a spiritual Splendor: But many reject the Gift of this heavenly Light freely given to them, and have closed the Eyes of their Minds, lest so excellent an Illumination or Irradiation of the eternal Light should shine unto them. It is not then through Defect of the true Sun that they are blinded, but only through their own Iniquity and Hardness; for, as the wise Man saith, Wisdom ii. Their Wickedness hath blinded them.

From all which I thus argue:

The obstinate Jews had a Day.If there was a Day wherein the obstinate Jews might have known the Things that belonged to their Peace, which, because they rejected it, was hid from their Eyes; if there was a Time wherein Christ would have gathered them, who, because they refused, could not be gathered; then such as might have been saved do actually perish, that slighted the Day of God’s Visitation towards them, wherein they might have been converted and saved.

But the first is true: Therefore also the last.

Proof 1.First, From that of John i. 9. That was the true Light, which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World. The Light enlightening every Man, &c.—This Place doth so clearly favour us, that by some it is called the Quakers Text; for it doth evidently demonstrate our Assertion; so that it scarce needs either Consequence or Deduction, seeing itself is a Consequence of two Propositions[Pg 132] asserted in the former Verses, from which it followeth as a Conclusion in the very Terms of our Faith. The first of these Propositions is, The Life that is in him is the Light of Men: The second, The Light shineth in the Darkness; And from these two he infers, and He is the true Light, which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World.

Obs. 1.From whence I do in short observe, That this divine Apostle calls Christ the Light of Men, and giveth us this as one of the chief Properties, at least considerably and especially to be observed by us; seeing hereby, as he is the Light, and as we walk with him in that Light which he communicates to us, we come to have Fellowship and Communion with him; as the same Apostle saith elsewhere, 1 John i. 7. Secondly, That this Light shineth in Darkness, though the Darkness comprehend it not. —Not to a certain Number of Men, but every Man.Thirdly, That this true Light enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World. Where the Apostle, being directed by God’s Spirit, hath carefully avoided their Captiousness, that would have restricted this to any certain Number: Where every one is, there is none excluded. Next, should they be so obstinate, as sometimes they are, as to say that this [every Man] is only every one of the Elect; these Words following, every Man that cometh into the World, would obviate that Objection. So that it is plain there comes no Man into the World, whom Christ hath not enlightened in some Measure, and in whose dark Heart this Light doth not shine; though the Darkness comprehend it not, yet it shineth there; and the Nature thereof is to dispel the Darkness where Men shut not their Eyes upon it. The Light dispelling Darkness begets Faith.Now for what End this Light is given, is expressed, Ver. 7. where John is said to come for a Witness, to bear Witness to the Light, that all Men through it might believe; to wit, through the Light, [Greek: di autou: δι αυτου], which doth very well agree with [Greek: phôtos: φωτος], as being the nearest Antecedent, though most Translators have (to make it suit with their own Doctrine) made it relate to John, as if all Men were to believe through John. For which, as there is nothing directly in the Text, so it is contrary to the very Strain of the Context. For, seeing Christ hath lighted every Man with this Light, Is it not that they may come to believe[Pg 133] through it? All could not believe through John, because all Men could not know of John’s Testimony; whereas every Man being lighted by this, may come therethrough to believe. John shined not in Darkness; but this Light shineth in the Darkness, that having dispelled the Darkness, it may produce and beget Faith. And, Lastly, We must believe through that, and become Believers through that, by walking in which, Fellowship with God is known and enjoyed; but, as hath been above-observed, it is by walking in this Light that we have this Communion and Fellowship; not by walking in John, which were Nonsense. So that this Relative [Greek: di autou: δι αυτου], must needs be referred to the Light, whereof John bears Witness, that through that Light, wherewith Christ hath lighted every Man, all Men might come to believe. Seeing then this Light is the Light of Jesus Christ, and the Light through which Men come to believe, I think it needs not to be doubted, but that it is a supernatural, saving, and sufficient Light. The Light is supernatural, saving, and sufficient.If it were not supernatural, it could not be properly called the Light of Jesus; for though all Things be his, and of him, and from him; yet those Things which are common and peculiar to our Nature, as being a Part of it, we are not said in so special a Manner to have from Christ. Moreover, the Evangelist is holding out to us here the Office of Christ as Mediator, and the Benefits which from him as such do redound unto us.

Obser. 2.Secondly, It cannot be any of the natural Gifts or Faculties of our Soul, whereby we are said here to be enlightened, because this Light is said to shine in the Darkness, and cannot be comprehended by it. The Darkness is Man’s natural State and Condition.Now this Darkness is no other but Man’s natural Condition and State; in which natural State he can easily comprehend, and doth comprehend, those Things that are peculiar and common to him as such. That Man in his natural Condition is called Darkness, see Eph. v. 8. For ye were sometimes Darkness, but now are ye Light in the Lord. And in other Places, as Acts xxvi. 18. Col. i. 3. 1 Thess. v. 5. where the Condition of Man in his natural State, is termed Darkness: Therefore, I say, this Light cannot be any natural Property or[Pg 134] Faculty of Man’s Soul, but a supernatural Gift and Grace of Christ.

Obser. 3.Thirdly, It is sufficient and saving.

Arg. 1.That which is given, That all Men through it may believe, must needs be saving and sufficient: That, by walking in which, Fellowship with the Saints and the Blood of Christ, Which cleanseth from all Sin, is possessed, must be sufficient:

But such is the Light, 1 John i. 7.

Therefore, &c.

Moreover;

Arg. 2.That which we are commanded to believe in, That we may become the Children of the Light, must be a supernatural, sufficient and saving Principle:

But we are commanded to believe in this Light:

Therefore, &c.

The Proposition cannot be denied. The Assumption is Christ’s own Words, John xii. 36. While ye have the Light, believe in the Light, that ye may be the Children of the Light.

Object.To this they object, That by [Light] here is understood Christ’s outward Person, in whom he would have them believe.

Answ.That they ought to have believed in Christ, that is, that he was the Messiah that was to come, is not denied; Whether Christ’s outward Person was the Light?but how they evince that Christ intended that here, I see not: Nay, the Place itself shews the Contrary, by these Words, While ye have the Light; and by the Verse going before, Walk while ye have the Light, lest Darkness come upon you: Which Words import, That when that Light in which they were to believe was removed, then they should lose the Capacity or Season of believing. Now this could not be understood of Christ’s Person, else the Jews might have believed in him; and many did savingly believe in him, as all Christians do at this Day, when the Person, to wit, his bodily Presence, or outward Man, is far removed from them. The Light of Christ is not Christ’s outward Man or Person.So that this Light in which they were commanded to believe must be that inward spiritual Light that shines in their Hearts for a Season, even during the Day of Man’s Visitation; which,[Pg 135] while it continueth to call, invite, and exhort, Men are said to have it, and may believe in it; but when Men refuse to believe in it, and reject it, then it ceaseth to be a Light to shew them the Way; but leaves the Sense of their Unfaithfulness as a Sting in their Conscience, which is a Terror and Darkness unto them, and upon them, in which they cannot know where to go, neither can work any Ways profitably in order to their Salvation. And therefore to such rebellious Ones the Day of the Lord is said to be Darkness, and not Light, Amos v. 18.

From whence it appears, that though many receive not the Light, as many comprehend it not, nevertheless this saving Light shines in all, that it may save them. Cyrillus Alexandrinus upon John Lib. 1. Chap. II.Concerning which also Cyrillus Alexandrinus saith well, and defends our Principle: “With great Diligence and Watchfulness,” saith he, “doth the Apostle John endeavour to anticipate and prevent the vain Thoughts of Men: For there is here a wonderful Method of sublime Things, and overturning of Objections. He had just now called the Son the true Light, by whom he affirmed, That every Man coming into the World was enlightened; yea, that he was in the World, and the World was made by him. One may then object, If the Word of God be the Light, and if this Light enlighten the Hearts of Men, and suggest unto Men Piety and the Understanding of Things; if he was always in the World, and was the Creator or Builder of the World, why was he so long unknown unto the World? It seems rather to follow because he was unknown to the World, therefore the World was not enlightened by him, nor he totally Light. Lest any should so object, he divinely infers [and the World knew him not.] The Sun enlightens: But Man through Negligence buries Illumination.Let not the World,” saith he, “accuse the Word of God, and his eternal Light, but its own Weakness; for the Sun enlightens, but the Creature rejects the Grace that is given unto it, and abuseth the Sharpness of Understanding granted it, by which it might have naturally known God; and, as a Prodigal, hath turned its Sight to the Creatures, neglecting to go forward, and through[Pg 136] Laziness and Negligence buried the Illumination, and despised this Grace. Which that the Disciple of Paul might not do, he was commanded to watch; therefore it is to be imputed to their Wickedness, who are illuminated, and not unto the Light. For as albeit the Sun riseth upon all, yet he that is blind receiveth no Benefit thereby; none thence can justly accuse the Brightness of the Sun, but will ascribe the Cause of not seeing to the Blindness: So I judge it is to be understood of the only begotten Son of God; for he is the true Light, and sendeth forth his Brightness upon all; but the God of this World, as Paul saith, hath blinded the Minds of those that believe not, 2 Cor. iv. 4. that the Light of the Gospel shine not unto them. We say then, that Darkness is come upon Men, not because they are altogether deprived of Light, for Nature retaineth still the Strength of Understanding divinely given it, but because Man is dulled by an evil Habit, and become worse, and hath made the Measure of Grace, in some respect, to languish. When therefore the Like befalls Man, the Psalmist justly prays, crying, Open mine Eyes, that I may behold the wonderful Things of thy Law. For the Law was given that this Light might be kindled in us, the Blearedness of the Eyes of our Minds being wiped away, and the Blindness being removed which detained us in our former Ignorance. By these Words then, the World is accused as ungrateful and unsensible, not knowing its Author, nor bringing forth the good Fruit of the Illumination; that it may now seem to be said truly of all, which was of old said by the Prophet of the Jews, I expected that it should have brought forth Grapes, but it brought forth wild Grapes. For the good Fruit of the Illumination was the Knowledge of the Only Begotten, as a Cluster hanging from a fruitful Branch, &c.”

From which it appears Cyrillus believed, That a saving Illumination was given unto all. Grace no natural Gift.For as to what he speaks of Nature, he understands it not of the common Nature of Man by itself, but of that Nature which hath the Strength of Understanding divinely given[Pg 137] it: For he understands this universal Illumination to be of the same Kind with that Grace of which Paul makes Mention to Timothy, saying, Neglect not the Grace that is in thee. Now it is not to be believed, that Cyrillus was so ignorant as to judge that Grace to have been some natural Gift.

Let us then observe, That this Seed of the Kingdom, this saving, supernatural, and sufficient Word, was really sown in the stony, thorny Ground, and by the Way-side, where it did not profit, but became useless as to these Grounds: It was, I say, the same Seed that was sown in the good Ground. It is then the Fear of Persecution and Deceitfulness of Riches, as Christ himself interpreteth the Parable, which hindereth this Seed to grow in the Hearts of many: Not but that in its own Nature it is sufficient, being the same with that which groweth up and prospereth in the Hearts of those who receive it. So that, though all are not saved by it, yet there is a Seed of Salvation planted and sown in the Hearts of all by God, which would grow up and redeem the Soul, if it were not choked and hindered. Concerning this Parable, Victor Antiochenus, on Mark iv. as he is cited by Vossius, in his Pelagian History, Book 7. saith, “That our Lord Christ hath liberally sown the divine Seed of the Word, and proposed it to all, without Respect of Persons; and as he that soweth distinguisheth not betwixt Ground and Ground, but simply calleth in the Seed without Distinction, so our Saviour hath offered the Food of the divine Word so far as was his Part, although he was not ignorant what would become of many. Lastly,[Pg 138] He so behaved himself, as he might justly say, What should I have done that I have not done?” And to this answered the Parable of the Talents, Mat. xxv. he that had two Talents was accepted, as well as he that had five, because he used them to his Master’s Profit: And he that had one might have done so; his Talent was of the same Nature of the rest; it was as capable to have proportionably brought forth its Interest as the rest. And so though there be not a like Proportion of Grace given to all, to some five Talents, to some two Talents, and to some but one Talent; yet there is given to all that which is sufficient, and no more is required than according to that which is given: For unto whomsoever much is given, from him shall much be required, Luke xii. 48. He that had the two Talents was accepted for giving four, nothing less than he that gave the ten: So should he also that gave the one, if he had given two; and no doubt one was capable to have produced two, as well as five to have produced ten, or two four.

Clem. Alex.Clemens Alexandrinus saith, Lib. 2. Stromat. “The divine Word hath cried, calling all, knowing well those that will not obey; and yet, because it is in our Power either to obey or not to obey, that none may have a Pretext of Ignorance, it hath made a righteous Call, and requireth but that which is according to the Ability and Strength of every one.” The self-same, in his Warning to the Gentiles; “For as,” saith he, “that Heavenly Ambassador of the Lord, The Grace of God, that brings Salvation, hath appeared unto all, &c. This is, the new Song, Coming and Manifestation of the Word, which now shows itself in us, which was in the Beginning, and was first of all.” And again, “Hear therefore, ye that are afar off; hear, ye who are near; the Word is hid from none, the Light is common to all, and shineth to all. There is no Darkness in the Word; let us hasten to Salvation, to the new Birth, that we being many, may be gathered into the one alone Love.” The gathering unto the one and alone Love.Ibid. he saith, “That there is infused into all, but principally into those that are trained up in Doctrine, a certain divine Influence, [Greek: tis achorrhoia theia: τις αχορῥοια θεια].” And again, he speaks concerning the “innate Witness, worthy of Belief, which of itself doth plainly chuse that which is most honest.” And again he saith, “That it is not impossible to come unto the Truth, and lay Hold of it, seeing it is most near to us, in our own Houses, as the most wise Moses declareth, living in three Parts of us, viz. in our Hands, in our Mouths, and in our Hearts. This,” saith he, “is a most true Badge of the Truth, which is also fulfilled in three Things, namely, in Counsel, in Action, in Speaking.” And again he saith also[Pg 143] unto the unbelieving Nations, “Receive Christ, receive Light, receive Sight, to the End thou mayest rightly know both God and Man. The enlightening Word.The Word that hath enlightened us is more pleasant than Gold, and the Stone of great Value.” And again, he saith, “Let us receive the Light, that we may receive God; let us receive the Light, that we may be the Scholars of the Lord.” And again he saith to those Infidel Nations, “The heavenly Spirit helpeth thee; resist and flee Pleasure.” Again, Lib. 5. Strom. he saith, “God forbid that Man be not a Partaker of divine Acquaintance, [Greek: theias ennoias: θειας εννοιας], who in Genesis is said to be a Partaker of Inspiration.” And Pæd. Lib. 1. Cap. 3. “There is,” saith he, “some lovely and some desirable Thing in Man, which is called the In-breathing of God, [Greek: emphysêma Theou: εμφυσημα Θεου].” The same Man, Lib. 10. Strom. directeth Men unto the Light and Water in themselves, who have the Eye of the Soul darkened or dimmed through evil Education and Learning: Let them enter in unto their own domestic Light, or unto the Light which is in their own House, [Greek: pros to oikeion phôs badizetô: προς το οικειον φως βαδιζετω], unto the Truth, which manifests accurately and clearly these Things that have been written.

J. Martyr.Justin Martyr, in his first Apology, saith, “That the Word which was and is, is in all; even that very same Word which, through the Prophets, foretold Things to come.”

Auth. de Voc. Gent.The Writer of the Calling of the Gentiles saith, Lib. 1. Cap. 2. “We believe according to the same (viz. Scripture) and most religiously confess, that God was never wanting in Care to the Generality of Men; who, although he did lead, by particular Lessons, a People gathered to himself unto Godliness, yet he withdrew from no Nation of Men the Gifts of his own Goodness, that they might be convinced that they had received the Words of the Prophets, and legal Commands in Services and Testimonies of the first Principles.” Cap. 7. he saith, “That he believes that the Help of Grace hath been wholly withdrawn from no Man.” Lib. 2. Cap. 1. “Because, albeit Salvation is far from Sinners, yet there[Pg 144] is nothing void of the Presence and Virtue of his Salvation.” Cap. 2. “But seeing none of that People over whom was set both the Doctrines, were justified but through Grace by the Spirit of Faith, who can question but that they, who of whatsoever Nation, in whatsoever Times, could please God, were ordered by the Spirit of the Grace of God, which, although in fore Time it was more sparing and hid, yet denied itself to no Ages, being in Virtue one, in Quantity different, in Counsel unchangeable, in Operation multifarious.”

1 Part.Our Theme then hath two Parts; First, That those that have the Gospel and Christ outwardly preached unto them, are not saved but by the Working of the Grace and Light in their Hearts.

2 Part.Secondly, That by the Working and Operation of this, many have been, and some may be saved, to whom the Gospel hath never been outwardly preached, and who are utterly ignorant of the outward History of Christ.

[Pg 145]

1 Part. Proved.As to the first, though it be granted by most, yet because it is more in Words than Deeds (the more full discussing of which will occur in the next Proposition concerning Justification) I shall prove it in few Words. And first from the Words of Christ to Nicodemus, John iii. 3. Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a Man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. The New Birth (or Regeneration) cometh not by the outward Knowledge of Christ.Now this Birth cometh not by the outward Preaching of the Gospel, or Knowledge of Christ, or historical Faith in him; seeing many have that, and firmly believe it, who are never thus renewed. The Apostle Paul also goes so far, while he commends the Necessity and Excellency of this new Creation, as in a certain Respect to lay aside the outward Knowledge of Christ, or the Knowledge of him after the Flesh, in these Words, 2 Cor. v. 16, 17. Wherefore henceforth know we no Man after the Flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the Flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any Man be in Christ, he is a new Creature, old Things are passed away, behold all Things are become new. Whence it manifestly appears, that he makes the Knowledge of Christ after the Flesh but as it were the Rudiments which young Children learn, which after they are become better Scholars, are of less Use to them; because they have and possess the very Substance of those first Precepts in their Minds. As all Comparisons halt in some Part, so shall I not affirm this to hold in every Respect; yet so far will this hold, that as those that go no farther than the Rudiments are never to be accounted learned, and as they grow beyond these Things, so they have less Use of them, even so such as go no farther than the outward Knowledge of Christ shall never inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. But such as come to know this new Birth, to be in Christ indeed, to be a new Creature, to have Old Things passed away, and all Things become new, may safely say with the Apostle, Though we have known Christ after the Flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. But by the Work of Light and Grace in the Heart.Now this new Creature proceeds from the Work of this Light and Grace in the Heart: It is that Word which we speak of, that is sharp and piercing, that implanted Word, able to save the Soul, by which this Birth is begotten; and therefore[Pg 146] Christ has purchased unto us this holy Seed, that thereby this Birth might be brought forth in us, which is therefore also called the Manifestation of the Spirit, given to every one to profit withal; for it is written, that by one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body. And the Apostle Peter also ascribeth this Birth to the Seed and Word of God, which we have so much declared of, saying, 1 Pet. i. 23. Being born again, not of corruptible Seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. Though then this Seed be small in its Appearance, so that Christ compares it to a Grain of Mustard-seed, which is the least of all Seeds, Matth. xiii. 31, 32. and that it be hid in the earthly Part of Man’s Heart; yet therein is Life and Salvation towards the Sons of Men wrapped up, which comes to be revealed as they give Way to it. The Kingdom of God is in the Seed, in the Hearts of all Men.And in this Seed in the Hearts of all Men is the Kingdom of God, as in Capacity to be produced, or rather exhibited, according as it receives Depth, is nourished, and not choked: Hence Christ saith, that The Kingdom of God was in the very Pharisees, Luke xvii. 20, 21. who did oppose and resist him, and were justly accounted as Serpents, and a Generation of Vipers. Now the Kingdom of God could be no otherwise in them than in a Seed, even as the Thirty-fold and the Hundred-fold is wrapt up in a small Seed, lying in a barren Ground, which springs not forth because it wants Nourishment: And as the whole Body of a great Tree is wrapped up potentially in the Seed of the Tree, and so is brought forth in due Season; and as the Capacity of a Man or Woman is not only in a Child, but even in the very Embryo, even so the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, yea, Jesus Christ himself, Christ within, who is the Hope of Glory, and becometh Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption, is in every Man’s and Woman’s Heart, in that little incorruptible Seed, ready to be brought forth, as it is cherished and received in the Love of it. For there can be no Men worse than those rebellious and unbelieving Pharisees were; and yet this Kingdom was thus within them, and they were directed to look for it there: So it is neither lo here, nor lo there, in this or the other Observation, that this is[Pg 147] known, but as this Seed of God in the Heart is minded and entertained. And certainly hence it is, even because this Light, Seed, and Grace that appears in the Heart of Man is so little regarded, and so much overlooked, that so few know Christ brought forth in them. Calvinists, Papists, Arminians and Socinians Errors denying the Light to be saving.The one Sort, to wit, the Calvinists, they look upon Grace as an irresistible Power, and therefore neglect and despise this eternal Seed of the Kingdom in their Hearts, as a low, insufficient, useless Thing as to their Salvation. On the other Hand, the Papists, Arminians, and Socinians, they go about to set up their natural Power and Will with one Consent, denying that this little Seed, this small Appearance of the Light, is that supernatural saving Grace of God given to every Man to save him. And so upon them is verified that Saying of the Lord Jesus Christ, This is the Condemnation of the World, that Light is come into the World, but Men love Darkness rather than Light; the Reason is added, Because their Deeds are evil. All confess they feel this; but they will not have it to be of that Virtue. Some will have it to be Reason; some a natural Conscience; some, certain Reliques of God’s Image, that remained in Adam. So that Christ, as he met with Opposition from all Kinds of Professors in his outward Appearance, doth now also in his inward. The Meanness of Christ’s Appearance in the Flesh.It was the Meanness of his outward Man that made many despise him, saying, Is not this the Son of the Carpenter? Are not his Brethren and Sisters among us? Is not this a Galilean? And came there ever a Prophet out of Galilee? And such-like Reasonings. For they expected an outward Deliverer, who as a Prince should deliver them with great Ease from their Enemies, and not such a Messiah as should be crucified shamefully, and as it were lead them into many Sorrows, Troubles, and Afflictions. So the Meanness of this Appearance makes the crafty Jesuits, the pretended rational Socinians, and the learned Arminians, overlook it; desiring rather something that they might exercise their Subtilty, Reason, and Learning about, and use the Liberty of their own Wills. And the secure Calvinists, they would have a Christ to save them without any Trouble; to destroy all their Enemies for them without them, and nothing[Pg 148] or little within, and in the mean While to be at Ease to live in their Sins secure. The Nature of the Light.Whence, when all is well examined, the Cause is plain; it is Because their Deeds are Evil, that with one Consent they reject this Light: For it checks the wisest of them all, and the learnedest of them all; in Secret it reproves them; neither can all their Logick silence it, nor can the securest among them stop its Voice from crying, and reproving them within, for all their Confidence in the outward Knowledge of Christ, or of what he hath suffered outwardly for them. For, as hath been often said, In a Day it strives with all, wrestles with all; and it is the unmortified Nature, the first Nature, the old Adam, yet alive in the wisest, in the learnedest, in the most zealous for the outward Knowledge of Christ, that denies this, that despises it, that shuts it out, to their own Condemnation. They come all under this Description, Every one that doeth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his Deeds should be reproved, John iii. 20. So that it may be said, now, and we can say from a true and certain Experience, as it was of old, Psalm cxviii. 22. Mat. xxi. 42. Mark xii. 10. Luke xx. 17. Acts iv. 11. The Stone which the Builders of all Kinds have rejected, the same is become unto us the Head of the Corner. Glory to God for ever! who hath chosen us as First-fruits to himself in this Day, wherein he is arisen to plead with the Nations; and therefore hath sent us forth to preach this everlasting Gospel unto all, Christ nigh to all, the Light in all, the Seed sown in the Hearts of all, that Men may come and apply their Minds to it. And we rejoice that we have been made to lay down our Wisdom and Learning (such of us as have had some of it) and our carnal Reasoning, to learn of Jesus; and sit down at the Feet of Jesus in our Hearts, and hear him, who there makes all Things manifest, and reproves all Things by his Light, Ephes. v. 13. For many are wise and learned in the Notion, in the Letter of the Scripture, The Wise and Learned in the Notion, Crucifiers of Christ.as the Pharisees were, and can speak much of Christ, and plead strongly against Infidels, Turks, and Jews, and it may be also against some Heresies, who, in the mean Time, are crucifying Christ[Pg 149] in the small Appearance of his Seed in their Hearts. Oh! better were it to be stripped and naked of all, to account it as Dross and Dung, and become a Fool for Christ’s Sake, thus knowing him to teach thee in thy Heart, so as thou mayest witness him raised there, feel the Virtue of his Cross there, and say with the Apostle, I glory in nothing, save in the Cross of Christ, whereby I am crucified to the World, and the World unto me. This is better than to write thousands of Commentaries, and to preach many Sermons. And it is thus to preach Christ, and direct People to his pure Light in the Heart, that God hath raised us up, and for which the wise Men of this World account us Fools; None are saved by the Knowledge of the History, but by the Operation of the Light of Christ in the Mystery.because by the Operation of this Cross of Christ in our Hearts, we have denied our own Wisdom and Wills in many Things, and have forsaken the vain Worships, Fashions, and Customs of this World. For these divers Centuries the World hath been full of a dry, fruitless, and barren Knowledge of Christ, feeding upon the Husk, and neglecting the Kernel; following after the Shadow, but Strangers to the Substance. Hence the Devil matters not how much of that Knowledge abounds, provided he can but possess the Heart, and rule in the Will, crucify the Appearance of Christ there, and so keep the Seed of the Kingdom from taking Root. Contentions about outward Observations and Lo here’s.For he has led them abroad, lo here, and lo there, and has made them wrestle in a false Zeal so much one against another, contending for this outward Observation, and for the other outward Observation, seeking Christ in this and the other external Thing, as in Bread and Wine; contending one with another how he is there, while some will have him to be present therein this Way, and some the other Way; and some in Scriptures, in Books, in Societies, and Pilgrimages, and Merits. But some, confiding in an external barren Faith, think all is well, if they do but firmly believe that he died for their Sins past, present, and to come; while in the mean Time Christ lies crucified and slain, and is daily resisted and gainsayed in his Appearance in their Hearts. The Call of God to blinded Christendom.Thus, from a Sense of this Blindness and Ignorance that is come over Christendom,[Pg 150] it is that we are led and moved of the Lord so constantly and frequently to call all, invite all, intreat all, to turn to the Light in them, to mind the Light in them, to believe in Christ, as he is in them: And that in the Name, Power, and Authority of the Lord, not in School-arguments and Distinctions (for which many of the wise Men of this World account us Fools and Mad-men) we do charge and command them to lay aside their Wisdom, to come down out of that proud, airy, Brain-knowledge, and to stop that Mouth, how eloquent soever to the worldly Ear it may appear, and to be silent, and sit down as in the Dust, and to mind the Light of Christ in their own Consciences; which, if minded, they would find as a sharp two-edged Sword in their Hearts, and as a Fire and a Hammer, that would knock against and burn up all that carnal, gathered, natural Stuff, and make the stoutest of them all tremble, and become Quakers indeed: Which those that come not to feel now, and kiss not the Son while the Day lasteth, but harden their Hearts, will feel to be a certain Truth when it is too late. To conclude, as saith the Apostle, All ought to examine themselves, whether they be in the Faith indeed; and try their ownselves: For except Jesus Christ be in them, they are certainly Reprobates, 2 Cor. xiii. 5.

Arg.To whom the Gospel, the Power of God unto Salvation, is manifest, they may be saved, whatever outward Knowledge they want:

[Pg 151]

But this Gospel is preached in every Creature; in which is certainly comprehended many that have not the outward Knowledge:

Therefore of those many may be saved.

But to those Arguments, by which it hath been proved, That all Men have a Measure of saving Grace, I shall add one, and that very observable, not yet mentioned, viz. that excellent Saying of the Apostle Paul to Titus, Chap. ii. Ver. 11. The Grace of God, that brings Salvation, hath appeared to all Men; teaching us, That denying Ungodliness and worldly Lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present World: Than which there can be nothing more clear, it comprehending both the Parts of the Controversy. First, It testifies that it is no natural Principle or Light, but saith plainly, It brings Salvation. Secondly, It says not, that it hath appeared to a few, but unto all Men. The saving Grace of God teacheth the whole Duty of Man.The Fruit of it declares also how efficacious it is, seeing it comprehends the whole Duty of Man: It both teacheth us, first, to forsake Evil, to deny Ungodliness and worldly Lusts; and then it teacheth us our whole Duty. First, to live Soberly; that comprehends Temperance, Chastity, Meekness, and those Things that relate unto a Man’s self. Secondly, Righteously; that comprehends Equity, Justice, and Honesty, and those Things which relate to our Neighbours. And lastly, Godly; which comprehends Piety, Faithfulness, and Devotion, which are the Duties relating to God. So then there is nothing required of Man, or is needful to Man, which this Grace teacheth not. Yet I have heard a public Preacher (one of those that are accounted zealous Men) to evade the Strength of this Text, deny this Grace to be saving, and say, It was only intended of common Favours and Graces, such as is the Heat of the Fire, and outward Light of the Sun. Such is the Darkness and Ignorance of those that oppose the Truth; whereas the Text saith expresly, that it is saving. The Absurdities of our Adversaries Comment upon the Word All, denying Grace to be saving. Tit. 2. 11.Others, that cannot deny but it is saving, alledge, This [All] comprehends not every Individual, but only all Kinds: But is a bare Negation sufficient to overturn the Strength of a positive Assertion? If the Scriptures may be so abused, what so absurd, as may not be pleaded[Pg 152] for from them? Or what so manifest, as may not be denied? But we have no Reason to be staggered by their denying, so long as our Faith is found in express Terms of Scripture; they may as well seek to persuade us, that we do not intend that which we affirm (though we know the Contrary) as make us believe, that when the Apostle speaks forth our Doctrine in plain Words, yet he intends theirs, which is quite the Contrary. And indeed, can there be any Thing more absurd, than to say, where the Word is plainly [All] Few is only intended? For they will not have [All] taken here for the greater Number. Indeed, as the Case may be sometimes, by a Figure [All] may be taken, of two Numbers, for the greater Number; but let them shew us, if they can, either in Scripture, or profane or ecclesiastical Writings, that any Man that wrote Sense did ever use the Word [All] to express, of two Numbers, the lesser. Whereas they affirm, that the far lesser Number have received saving Grace; and yet will they have the Apostle, by [All] to have signified so. Though this might suffice, yet, to put it further beyond all Question, I shall instance another Saying of the same Apostle, that we may use him as his own Commentator, Rom. v. 18. Therefore as by the Offence of One, Judgment come upon all Men to Condemnation, even so by the Righteousness of One, the Free-gift came upon all Men unto Justification of Life. Here no Man of Reason, except he will be obstinately ignorant, will deny, but this similitive Particle [As] makes the [All] which goes before, and comes after, to be of one and the same Extent; or else let them shew one Example, either in Scripture, or elsewhere, among Men that speak proper Language, where it is otherwise. We must then either affirm that this Loss, which leads to Condemnation, hath not come upon all; or say, that this free Gift is come upon all by Christ. Whence I thus argue:

Arg.If all Men have received a Loss from Adam, which leads to Condemnation; then all Men have received a Gift from Christ, which leads to Justification:

But the first is true: Therefore also the last.

[Pg 153]

Even the Heathens may be saved by the Light.From all which it naturally follows, that all Men, even the Heathens, may be saved: For Christ was given as a Light to enlighten the Gentiles, Isa. xlix. 6. Now, to say that though they might have been saved, yet none were, is to judge too uncharitably. I see not what Reason can be alleged for it; yea, though it were granted, which never can be, that none of the Heathens were saved; it will not from thence follow, That they could not have been saved; or that none now in their Condition can be saved. For, A non esse ad non posse non datur sequela, i. e. That Consequence is false, that concludes a Thing cannot be, because it is not.

Obj.But if it be objected, which is the great Objection, That there is no Name under Heaven, by which Salvation is known, but by the Name Jesus:

Therefore they (not knowing this) cannot be saved.

Answ.I answer; Though they know it not outwardly, yet if they know it inwardly, by feeling the Virtues and Power of it, the Name Jesus indeed, which signifies a Saviour, to free them from Sin and Iniquity in their Hearts, they are saved by it: The literal Knowledge of Christ is not saving; but the real experimental.I confess there is no other Name to be saved by: But Salvation lieth not in the literal, but in the experimental Knowledge; albeit those that have the literal Knowledge are not saved by it, without this real experimental Knowledge: Yet those that have the real Knowledge may be saved without the external; as by the Arguments hereafter brought will more appear. For if the outward distinct Knowledge of him, by whose Means I receive Benefit, were necessary for me before I could reap any Fruit of it; then, by the Rule of Contraries, it would follow, that I could receive no Hurt, without I had also the distinct Knowledge of him that occasioned it; whereas Experience proves the Contrary. How many are injured by Adam’s Fall, that know nothing of there ever being such a Man in the World, or of his eating the forbidden Fruit? Why may they not then be saved by the Gift and Grace of Christ in them, making them righteous and holy, though they know not distinctly how that was purchased unto them by the Death and Sufferings[Pg 154] of Jesus that was crucified at Jerusalem; especially seeing God hath made that Knowledge simply impossible to them? As many Men are killed by Poison infused into their Meat, though they neither know what the Poison was, nor who infused it; so also on the other Hand, how many are cured of their Diseases by good Remedies, who know not how the Medicine is prepared, what the Ingredients are, nor oftentimes who made it? The like may also hold in spiritual Things, as we shall hereafter prove.

Obj. 1.If it be said, That these Children are the Children of believing Parents:

Answ.What then? They will not say that they transmit Grace to their Children. Do they not affirm, That the Children of believing Parents are guilty of original Sin, and deserve Death as well as others? How prove they that that makes up the Loss of all explicit Knowledge?

Obj. 2.If they say, Deaf People may be made sensible of the Gospel by Signs:

Answ.All the Signs cannot give them any explicit Knowledge of the History of the Death, Sufferings, and Resurrection of Christ. For what Signs can inform a deaf Man, That the Son of God took on him Man’s Nature, was born of a Virgin, and suffered under Pontius Pilate?

Obj. 3.And if they should further allege, That they are within the Bosom of the visible Church, and Partakers of the Sacraments:

[Pg 155]

Answ.All that gives no Certainty of Salvation; for, as the Protestants confess, they confer not Grace ex opere operato. And will they not acknowledge, that many are in the Bosom of the Church, who are visibly no Members of it? But if this Charity be extended towards such who are where the Gospel is preached, so that they may be judged capable of Salvation, because they are under a simple Impossibility of distinctly knowing the Means of Salvation; what Reason can be alleged why the like Charity may not be had to such, as though they can hear, yet are under a simple Impossibility of hearing, because it is not spoken unto them? A Chinese or Indian excusable for not knowing the History of the Death of Christ, &c.Is not a Man in China, or in India, as much to be excused for not knowing a Thing which he never heard of, as a deaf Man here, who cannot hear? For as the deaf Man is not to be blamed, because God hath been pleased to suffer him to lie under this Infirmity; so is the Chinese or the Indian as excusable, because God hath with-held from him the Opportunity of hearing. He that cannot hear a Thing, as being necessarily absent, and he that cannot hear it, as being naturally deaf, are to be placed in the same Category.

Answ. 2.Secondly, This manifestly appears by that Saying of Peter, Acts x. 34. Of a Truth I perceive that God is no Respecter of Persons; but in every Nation, he that feareth him, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted of him. Peter was before liable to that Mistake that the rest of the Jews were in; judging that all were unclean, except themselves, and that no Man could be saved, except they were proselyted to their Religion, and circumcised. But God shewed Peter otherwise in a Vision, and taught him to call nothing common or unclean; God regarded the Prayers of Cornelius, a Stranger to the Law.and therefore, seeing that God regarded the Prayers of Cornelius, who was a Stranger to the Law, and to Jesus Christ as to the outward, yet Peter saw that God had accepted him; and he is said to fear God before he had this outward Knowledge: Therefore Peter concludes that every one in every Nation, without respect of Persons, that feareth God and worketh Righteousness, is accepted of him. So he makes the Fear of God and the working of Righteousness, and not an outward historical[Pg 156] Knowledge, the Qualification: They then that have this, wherever they be, they are saved. Now we have already proved, that to every Man that Grace is given, whereby he may live godlily and righteously; and we see, that by this Grace Cornelius did so, and was accepted, and his Prayers came up for a Memorial before God before he had this outward Knowledge. From what Scripture did Job learn his excellent Knowledge?Also, Was not Job a perfect and upright Man, that feared God, and eschewed Evil? Who taught Job this? How knew Job Adam’s Fall? And from what Scripture learned he that excellent Knowledge he had, and that Faith, by which he knew his Redeemer lived? (For many make him as old as Moses). Was not this by an inward Grace in the Heart? Was it not that inward Grace that taught Job to eschew Evil, and to fear God? And was it not by the Workings thereof that he became a just and upright Man? How doth he reprove the Wickedness of Men, Chap. xxiv? And after he hath numbered up their Wickedness, doth he not condemn them, Ver. 13. for rebelling against this Light, for not knowing the Way thereof, nor abiding in the Paths thereof? It appears then Job believed that Men had a Light, and that because they rebelled against it, therefore they knew not its Ways, and abode not in its Paths; even as the Pharisees, who had the Scriptures, are said to err, not knowing the Scriptures. Job’s Friends; their excellent Sayings.And also Job’s Friends, though in some Things wrong; yet who taught them all those excellent Sayings and Knowledge which they had? Did not God give it them, in order to save them? or was it merely to condemn them? Who taught Elihu, That the Inspiration of the Almighty giveth Understanding; that the Spirit of God made him, and the Breath of the Almighty gave him Life? And did not the Lord accept a Sacrifice for them? And who dare say that they are damned? But further, the Apostle puts this Controversy out of Doubt; for, if we may believe his plain Assertions, he tells us, Rom. ii. That the Heathens did the Things contained in the Law. From whence I thus argue;

Arg.In every Nation he that feareth God, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted:

[Pg 157]

But many of the Heathens feared God, and wrought Righteousness:

Therefore they were accepted.

The Minor is proved from the Example of Cornelius: But I shall further prove it thus;

He that doth the Things contained in the Law, feareth God, and worketh Righteousness:

But the Heathens did the Things contained in the Law:

Therefore they feared God, and wrought Righteousness.

Can there be any Thing more clear? For if to do the Things contained in the Law, be not to fear God, and work Righteousness, then what can be said to do so, seeing the Apostle calls the Law Spiritual, Holy, Just, and Good? But this appears manifestly by another Medium, taken out of the same Chapter, Ver. 13. So that nothing can be more clear: The Words are, The Doers of the Law shall be justified. From which I thus argue, without adding any Word of my own;

Arg.The Doers of the Law shall be justified:

But the Gentiles do the Things contained in the Law:

The Gentiles justified doing the Law.All that know but a Conclusion, do easily see what follows from these express Words of the Apostle. And indeed, he through that whole Chapter labours, as if he were contending now with our Adversaries, to confirm this Doctrine, Ver. 9, 10, 11. Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul of Man that doth Evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no Respect of Persons with God. Where the Apostle clearly homologates, or confesses to the Sentence of Peter before-mentioned; and shews that Jew and Gentile, or as he himself explains in the following Verses, both they that have an outward Law and they that have none, when they do Good shall be justified. And to put us out of all Doubt, in the very following Verses he tells, That the Doers of the Law are justified; and that the Gentiles did the Law. So that except we think he spake not what he intended, we may safely conclude, that such Gentiles were justified, and did partake of that[Pg 158] Honour, Glory, and Peace, which comes upon every one that doth Good; even the Gentiles, that are without the Law, when they work Good; seeing with God there is no Respect of Persons. So as we see, that it is not the having the outward Knowledge that doth save, without the inward; so neither doth the Want of it, to such to whom God hath made it impossible, who have the inward, bring Condemnation. And many that have wanted the Outward, have had a Knowledge of this inwardly, by Virtue of that inward Grace and Light given to every Man, working in them, by which they forsook Iniquity, and became just and holy, as is above proved; Many wanting the History, were sensible of the Loss by Adam, and Salvation come by Christ in themselves.who, though they knew not the History of Adam’s Fall, yet were sensible in themselves of the Loss that came by it, feeling their Inclinations to sin, and the Body of Sin in them: And though they knew not the Coming of Christ, yet were sensible of that inward Power and Salvation which came by him, even before as well as since his Appearance in the Flesh. For I question whether these Men can prove, that all the Patriarchs and Fathers before Moses had a distinct Knowledge either of the one or the other, or that they knew the History of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and of Adam’s eating the forbidden Fruit; far less that Christ should be born of a Virgin, should be crucified, and treated in the Manner he was. For it is justly to be believed, that what Moses wrote of Adam, and of the first Times, was not by Tradition, but by Revelation; How little the Jews knew Christ, mistaking the Prophets.yea, we see that not only after the Writing of Moses, but even of David and all the Prophets, who prophesied so much of Christ, how little the Jews, that were expecting and wishing for the Messiah, could thereby discern him when he came, that they crucified him as a Blasphemer, not as a Messiah, by mistaking the Prophecies concerning him; for Peter saith expresly, Acts iii. 17. to the Jews, That both they and their Rulers did it through Ignorance. And Paul saith, 1 Cor. ii. 8. That had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. Yea, Mary herself, to whom the Angel had spoken, and who had laid up all the miraculous Things accompanying his Birth in her Heart, she did not understand[Pg 159] how, when he disputed with the Doctors in the Temple, that he was about his Father’s Business. And the Apostles that had believed him, conversed daily with him, and saw his Miracles, could not understand, neither believe those Things which related to his Death, Sufferings, and Resurrection, but were in a certain Respect stumbled at them.

Some called him an Holy Spirit, as Seneca, Epist. 41. who said, There is an holy Spirit in us, that treateth us as we treat him. Cicero calls it an Innate Light. Lactan. In Sect.Cicero calleth it an innate Light, in his Book De Republica, cited by Lactantius, 6 Instit. where he calls this Right Reason, given unto all, constant and eternal, calling unto Duty by commanding, and deterring from Deceit by forbidding. Adding, That it cannot be abrogated, neither can any be freed from it, neither by Senate or People; that it is one, eternal, and the same always to all Nations; so that there is not one at Rome, and another at Athens: Whoso obeys it not, must flee from himself, and in this is greatly tormented, although he should escape all other Punishments. Plotinus also calls him Light, saying, That as the Sun cannot be known but by its own Light, so God cannot be known but[Pg 160] with his own Light: And as the Eye cannot see the Sun but by receiving its Image, so Man cannot know God but by receiving his Image; and that it behoveth Man to come to Purity of Heart before he could know God; calling him also Wisdom, a name frequently given him in Scripture; see Prov. i. 20. to the End; and Prov. viii. 9, 34. where Wisdom is said to cry, intreat, and invite all to come unto her, and learn of her: And what is this Wisdom but Christ? Hence such as came among the Heathen, to forsake Evil and cleave to Righteousness, were called Philosophers, that is, Lovers of Wisdom. Philosophers whence so called?They knew this Wisdom was nigh unto them, and that The best Knowledge of God, and divine Mysteries, was by the Inspiration of the Wisdom of God. Phocylides.Phocylides affirmed, That the Word of the Wisdom of God was best. His Words in the Greek are, [Greek: Tês de Theopneustou sophias logos estin aristos: Της δε Θεοπνευσςου σοφιας λογος εστιν αριστος].

And much more of this Kind might be instanced, by which it appears they knew Christ; and by his working in them, were brought from Unrighteousness to Righteousness, and to love that Power by which they felt themselves redeemed; so that, as saith the Apostle, They shew the Work of the Law written in their Hearts, and did the Things contained in the Law; and therefore, as all Doers of the Law are, were no Doubt justified, and saved thus by the Power of Christ in them. And as this was the Judgment of the Apostle, so was it of the primitive Christians. Socrates a Christian, &c.Hence Justin Martyr stuck not to call Socrates a Christian, saying, That all such as lived according to the divine Word in them, which was in all Men, were Christians, such as Socrates and Heraclitus, and others among the Greeks, &c. That such as live with the Word, are Christians without Fear or Anxiety.

Clem. Alex.Clemens Alexandrinus saith, Apol. 2. Strom. Lib. 1. That this Wisdom or Philosophy was necessary to the Gentiles, and was their School-master to lead them unto Christ, by which of old the Greeks were justified.

Augustin. de Civ. Dei.Nor do I think, saith Augustine, in his Book of the City of God, Lib. 18. Cap. 47. that the Jews dare affirm that none belonged unto God but the Israelites. Lud. Vives.Upon which Place Ludovicus Vives saith, That thus the Gentiles, not having a Law, were a Law unto themselves; and the Light[Pg 161] of so living is the Gift of God, and proceeds from the Son; of whom it is written, that he enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World.

The Platonists saw the Word in the Beginning; which was Light.Augustine also testifies in his Confessions, Lib. 1. Cap. 9. That he had read in the Writings of the Platonists, though not in the very same Words, yet that which by many and multiplied Reasons did persuade, that in the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; this was in the Beginning with God, by which all Things were made, and without which nothing was made that was made: In him was Life, and the Life was the Light of Men: And the Light shined in the Darkness, and the Darkness did not comprehend it. And albeit the Soul gives Testimony concerning the Light, yet it is not the Light, but the Word of God; for God is the true Light, which enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World; and so repeats to Ver. 14. of John i. adding, These Things have I there read.

Hai Eben Yokdan.Yea, there is a Book translated out of the Arabick, which gives an Account of one Hai Eben Yokdan; who living in an Island alone, without Converse of Man, attained to such a profound Knowledge of God, as to have immediate Converse with him, and to affirm, That the best and most certain Knowledge of God is not that which is attained by Premises premised, and Conclusions deduced; The Supreme Intellect enjoyed by the Mind of Men.but that which is enjoyed by Conjunction of the Mind of Man with the Supreme Intellect, after the Mind is purified from its Corruptions, and is separated from all bodily Images, and is gathered into a profound Stillness.

Of this Light therefore Augustine speaks in his Confessions, Lib. 11. Cap. 9. In this Beginning, O God! thou madest the Heavens and the Earth, in thy Word, in thy Son, in thy Virtue, in thy Wisdom, wonderfully saying, and wonderfully doing. Who shall comprehend it? Who shall declare it? Augustine trembled at the In-shinings of the Light unto him, and why?What is that which shineth in unto me, and smites my Heart without Hurt, at which I both tremble, and am inflamed? I tremble, in so far as I am unlike unto it; and I am inflamed in so far as I am like unto it: It is Wisdom, Wisdom which shineth in unto me, and dispelleth my Cloud, which had again covered me, after I was departed from it, with Darkness and the Heap of my Punishments. And again he saith, Lib. 10. Cap. 27. It is too late that I have loved thee, O thou Beautifulness, so ancient and so new! Late have I loved thee, and behold thou wast within, and I was without, and there was seeking thee! Thou didst call, thou didst cry, thou didst break my Deafness, thou glancedst, thou didst shine, thou chasedst away my Darkness.

Buchanan testifying to the Light.Of this also our Countryman George Buchanan speaketh thus in his Book De Jure regni apud Scotos: Truly I understand no other Thing at present than that Light which is divinely infused into our Souls: For when God formed Man, he not only gave him Eyes to his Body, by which he might shun those Things that are hurtful to him, and follow those Things that are profitable; but also hath set before his Mind as it were a certain Light, by which he may discern Things that are vile from Things that are honest. Some call this Power Nature, others the Law of Nature; I truly judge it to be divine, and am persuaded that Nature and Wisdom never say different Things. Moreover God hath given us a Compend of the Law, which in few Words comprehends the Whole; to wit, that we should love him from our Hearts, and our Neighbours as ourselves. And of this Law all the Books of the holy Scriptures, which pertain to the forming of Manners, contain no other but an Explication.

[Pg 163]

Jew and Gentile, Scythian and Barbarian, Partakers of the Salvation of Christ.This is that universal evangelical Principle, in and by which this Salvation of Christ is exhibited to all Men, both Jew and Gentile, Scythian and Barbarian, of whatsoever Country or Kindred he be: And therefore God hath raised up unto himself, in this our Age, faithful Witnesses and Evangelists to preach again his everlasting Gospel, and to direct all, as well the high Professors, who boast of the Law and the Scriptures, and the outward Knowledge of Christ, as the Infidels and Heathens that know not him that Way, that they may all come to mind the Light in them, and know Christ in them, the just one, [Greek: ton Dichaion: τον Δικαιον], whom they have so long killed, and made merry over, and he hath not resisted, James v. 6. and give up their Sins, Iniquities, false Faith, Professions, and outside Righteousness, to be crucified by the Power of his Cross in them, so as they may know Christ within to be the Hope of Glory, and may come to walk in his Light and be saved, who is that true Light that enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World.

[Pg 164]

PROPOSITION VII.

Concerning Justification.

As many as resist not this Light, but receive the same, it becomes in them an holy, pure, and spiritual Birth, bringing forth Holiness, Righteousness, Purity, and all those other blessed Fruits which are acceptable to God: By which holy Birth, to wit, Jesus Christ formed within us, and working his Works in us, as we are sanctified, so are we justified in the Sight of God, according to the Apostle’s Words; But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God, 1 Cor. vi. 11. Therefore it is not by our Works wrought in our Will, nor yet by good Works considered as of themselves; but by Christ, who is both the Gift and the Giver, and the Cause producing the Effects in us; who, as he hath reconciled us while we were Enemies, doth also in his Wisdom save us and justify us after this Manner, as saith the same Apostle elsewhere; According to his Mercy he saved us, by the Washing of Regeneration, and the Renewing of the Holy Ghost, Tit. iii. 5.

Proof 2. Papist Indulgences.Secondly, This will yet more appear in the Matter of Indulgences, where Remission of all Sins, not only past but for Years to come, is annexed to the visiting such and such Churches and Reliques, saying such and such Prayers; so that the Person that so doth is presently cleared from the Guilt of his Sin, and justified and accepted in the Sight of God. As for Example: He that in the great Jubilee will go to Rome, and present himself before the Gate of Peter and Paul, and there receive the Pope’s Blessing; or he that will go a Pilgrimage to James’s Sepulchre in Spain, or to Mary of Loreto, is upon the Performance of those Things promised Forgiveness of Sins. Now if we ask them the Reason how such Things as are not morally good in themselves come to have Virtue? They have no other Answer but because of the Church and Pope’s Authority, who being the great Treasurer[Pg 167] of the Magazine of Christ’s Merits, lets them out upon such and such Conditions. Papists Mass, what it is?Thus also the Invention of saying Mass is made a chief Instrument of Justification; for in it they pretend to offer Christ daily to the Father a propitiatory Sacrifice for the Sins of the Living and Dead: So that a Man for Money can procure Christ thus to be offered for him when he pleases; by which Offering he is said to obtain Remission of Sins, and to stand justified in the Sight of God. From all which, and much more of this Nature which might be mentioned, it doth appear, that the Papists place their Justification, not so much in any Work of Holiness really brought forth in them, and real forsaking of Iniquity, as in the mere Performance of some Ceremonies, and a blind Belief which their Teachers have begotten in them, that the Church and the Pope having the absolute Dispensation of the Merits of Christ, have Power to make these Merits effectual for the Remission of Sins, and Justification of such as will perform those Ceremonies. This is the true and real Method of Justification taken by the Generality of the Church of Rome, and highly commended by their publick Preachers, especially the Monks, in their Sermons to the People, of which I myself have been an Ear and an Eye-witness; however some of their modern Writers have laboured to qualify it in their Controversies. Luther and the Protestants opposing the Pope’s Doctrine of Works, fell into the other Extreme, of no good Works necessary to Justification.This Doctrine Luther and the Protestants then had good Reason to deny and oppose; though many of them ran into another Extreme, so as to deny good Works to be necessary to Justification, and to preach up not only Remission of Sins, but Justification by Faith alone, without all Works, however good. So that Men do not obtain their Justification according as they are inwardly sanctified and renewed, but are justified merely by believing that Christ died for them; and so some may be perfectly justified, though they be lying in gross Wickedness; as appears by the Example of David, who they say was fully and perfectly justified while he was lying in the gross Sins of Murder and Adultery. As then the Protestants have sufficient Ground to quarrel and confute the Papists concerning those many Abuses in the Matter of Justification, shewing how the Doctrine of Christ [Pg 168] is thereby vitiated and overturned, and the Word at God made void by many and useless Traditions, the Law of God neglected, while foolish and needless Ceremonies are prized and followed, through a false Opinion of being justified by the Performance of them; and the Merits and Sufferings of Christ, which is the only Sacrifice appointed of God for Remission of Sins, derogated from, by the setting up of a daily Sacrifice never appointed by God, and chiefly devised out of Covetousness to get Money by; Papists Device to get Money.so the Protestants on the other Hand, by not rightly establishing and holding forth the Doctrine of Justification according as it is delivered in the holy Scriptures, have opened a Door for the Papists to accuse them, as if they were Neglecters of good Works, Enemies to Mortification and Holiness, such as esteem themselves justified while lying in great Sins: By which Kind of Accusations, for which too great Ground hath been given out of the Writings of some rigid Protestants, the Reformation hath been greatly defamed and hindered, and the Souls of many insnared. Whereas, whoever will narrowly look into the Matter, may observe these Debates to be more in Specie than in Genere, seeing both do upon the Matter land in one; and like two Men in a Circle, who though they go sundry Ways, yet meet at last; in the same Center.

Papists Belief of Justification meets in the same Center with the—For the Papists say, They obtain Remission of Sins, and are justified by the Merits of Christ, as the same are applied unto them in the Use of the Sacraments of the Church, and are dispensed in the Performance of such and such Ceremonies, Pilgrimages, Prayers, and Performances, though there be not any inward renewing of the Mind, nor knowing of Christ inwardly formed; yet they are remitted and made righteous ex opere operato, because of the Power and Authority accompanying the Sacraments and the Dispensers of them.

—Protestants Belief. So saith the Westminster Confession of Faith. Chap. 11. Sect. 1.The Protestants say, That they obtain Remission of Sins, and stand justified in the Sight of God by Virtue of the Merits and Sufferings of Christ, not by infusing Righteousness into them, but by pardoning their Sins, and by accounting and accepting their Persons as righteous, they resting on him and his[Pg 169] Righteousness by Faith; which Faith, the Act of believing, is not imputed unto them for Righteousness.

So the Justification of neither here is placed in any inward Renewing of the Mind, or by Virtue of any spiritual Birth, or Formation of Christ in them; but only by a bare Application of the Death and Sufferings of Christ outwardly performed for them: Whereof the one lays hold on a Faith resting upon them, and hoping to be justified by them alone; the other by the saying of some outward Prayers and Ceremonies, which they judge makes the Death of Christ effectual unto them. I except here, being unwilling to wrong any, what Things have been said as to the Necessity of inward Holiness, either by some modern Papists, or some modern Protestants, who, in so far as they have laboured after a Midst betwixt these two Extremes, have come near to the Truth, as by some Citations out of them hereafter to be mentioned will appear: Though this Doctrine hath not since the Apostasy, so far as ever I could observe, been so distinctly and evidently held forth according to the Scripture’s Testimony, as it hath pleased God to reveal it and preach it forth in this Day, by the Witnesses of his Truth whom he hath raised to that End; which Doctrine, though it be briefly held forth and comprehended in the Thesis itself, State of the Controversy.yet I shall a little more fully explain, and shew the State of the Controversy as it stands betwixt us and those that now oppose us.

[Pg 170]

Expl. 2.Christ giving himself a Sacrifice for us. Secondly, God manifested this Love towards us, in the sending of his beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ into the World, who gave himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling Savour; and having made Peace through the Blood of his Cross, that he might reconcile us unto himself, and by the Eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot unto God, and suffered for our Sins, the Just for the Unjust, that he might bring us unto God.

Expl. 3.Thirdly then, Forasmuch as all Men who have come to Man’s Estate (the Man Jesus only excepted) have sinned, therefore all have Need of this Saviour, to remove the Wrath of God from them due to their Offences; in this Respect he is truly said to have borne the Iniquities of us all in his Body on the Tree, and therefore is the only Mediator, having qualified the Wrath of God towards us; so that our former Sins stand not in our Way, being by Virtue of his most satisfactory Sacrifice removed and pardoned. To Remission of Sins.Neither do we think that Remission of Sins is to be expected, sought, or obtained any other Way, or by any Works or Sacrifice whatsoever; though, as has been said formerly, they may come to partake of this Remission that are ignorant of the History. The only Mediator betwixt God and Man.So then Christ by his Death and Sufferings hath reconciled us to God, even while we are Enemies; that is, he offers Reconciliation unto us; we are put into a Capacity of being reconciled; God is willing to forgive us our Iniquities, and to accept us, as is well expressed by the Apostle, 2 Cor. v. 19. God was in Christ, reconciling the World unto himself, not imputing their Trespasses unto them, and hath put in us the Word of Reconciliation. And therefore the Apostle, in the next Verses, intreats them in Christ’s Stead to be reconciled to God; intimating that the Wrath of God being removed by the Obedience of Christ Jesus, he is willing to be reconciled unto them, and ready to remit the Sins that are past, if they repent.

A twofold Redemption.We consider then our Redemption in a twofold Respect or State, both which in their own Nature are perfect, though in their Application[Pg 171] to us the one is not, nor can be, without Respect to the other.

I. The Redemption of Christ without us.The First is the Redemption performed and accomplished by Christ for us in his crucified Body without us: The other is the Redemption wrought by Christ in us, which no less properly is called and accounted a Redemption than the former. The first then is that whereby a Man, as he stands in the Fall, is put into a Capacity of Salvation, and hath conveyed unto him a Measure of that Power, Virtue, Spirit, Life, and Grace that was in Christ Jesus, which, as the free Gift of God, is able to counter-balance, overcome, and root out the evil Seed, wherewith we are naturally, as in the Fall, leavened.

II. The Redemption wrought by Christ in us.The Second is that whereby we witness and know this pure and perfect Redemption in ourselves, purifying, cleansing, and redeeming us from the Power of Corruption, and bringing us into Unity, Favour, and Friendship with God. By the first of these two, we that were lost in Adam, plunged into the bitter and corrupt Seed, unable of ourselves to do any good Thing, but naturally joined and united to Evil, forward and propense to all Iniquity, Servants and Slaves to the Power and Spirit of Darkness, are, notwithstanding all this, so far reconciled to God by the Death of his Son, while Enemies, that we are put into a Capacity of Salvation, having the glad Tidings of the Gospel of Peace offered unto us, and God is reconciled unto us in Christ, calls and invites us to himself, in which Respect we understand these Scriptures; [70]He slew the Enmity in himself. He loved us first; seeing us in our Blood, he said unto us, Live; he who did not sin his own self, bare our Sins in his own Body on the Tree; and he died for our Sin, the Just for the Unjust.

By the Second, we witness this Capacity brought into Act, whereby receiving and not resisting the Purchase of his Death, to wit, the Light, Spirit, and Grace of Christ revealed in us, we witness and possess a real, true, and inward Redemption from the Power and Prevalency of Sin, and so come to be truly and really redeemed, justified, and made righteous, and to a sensible Union and Friendship[Pg 172] with God.[71] Thus he died for us, that he might redeem us from all Iniquity; and thus we know him and the Power of his Resurrection, and the Fellowship of his Sufferings, being made conformable to his Death. This last follows the first in Order, and is a Consequence of it, proceeding from it, as an Effect from its Cause: So as none could have enjoyed the last, without the first had been, such being the Will of God; so also can none now partake of the first, but as he witnesseth the last. Wherefore as to us, they are both Causes of our Justification; the first the procuring Efficient, the other the formal Cause.

Expl. 4.Fourthly, We understand not by this Justification by Christ barely the good Works even wrought by the Spirit of Christ; for they, as Protestants truly affirm, are rather an Effect of Justification than the Cause of it; The Formation of Christ in us begets good Works.but we understand the Formation of Christ in us, Christ born and brought forth in us, from which good Works as naturally proceed as Fruit from a fruitful Tree. It is this inward Birth in us, bringing forth Righteousness and Holiness in us, that doth justify us; which having removed and done away the contrary Nature and Spirit that did bear Rule and bring Condemnation, now is in Dominion over all in our Hearts. Those then that come to know Christ thus formed in them, do enjoy him wholly and undivided, who is the LORD our RIGHTEOUSNESS, Jer. xxiii. 6. This is to be clothed with Christ, and to have put him on, whom God therefore truly accounteth righteous and just. This is so far from being the Doctrine of Papists, that as the Generality of them do not understand it, so the Learned among them oppose it, and dispute against it, and particularly Bellarmine. Thus then, as I may say, the formal Cause of Justification is not the Works, to speak properly, they being but an Effect of it; but this inward Birth, this Jesus brought forth in the Heart, who is the well-beloved, whom the Father cannot but accept, and all those who thus are sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus, and washed with it. By this also comes that Communication of the Goods of Christ unto us, by which we come to be made Partakers of the divine Nature, as faith Peter, 2 Pet. i. 4. and are made one with him, as the Branches with the Vine, and have a Title and[Pg 173] Right to what he hath done and suffered for us; Christ’s Obedience, Righteousness, Death and Sufferings are ours.so that his Obedience becomes ours, his Righteousness ours, his Death and Sufferings ours. And by this Nearness we come to have a Sense of his Sufferings, and to suffer with his Seed, that yet lies pressed and crucified in the Hearts of the Ungodly, and so travail with it, and for its Redemption, and for the Repentance of those Souls that in it are crucifying as yet the Lord of Glory. Even as the Apostle Paul, who by his Sufferings is said to fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ for his Body, which is the Church. Though this be a Mystery sealed up from all the wise Men that are yet ignorant of this Seed in themselves, and oppose it, nevertheless some Protestants speak of this justification by Christ inwardly put on, as shall hereafter be recited in its Place.

Expl. 5.Lastly, Though we place Remission of Sins in the Righteousness and Obedience of Christ performed by him in the Flesh, as to what pertains to the remote procuring Cause, and that we hold ourselves formally justified by Christ Jesus formed and brought forth in us, yet can we not, as some Protestants have unwarily done, exclude Works from Justification. Good Works are not excluded Justification.For though properly we be not justified for them, yet are we justified in them; and they are necessary, even as Causa sine quâ non, i. e. the Cause, without which none are justified. For the denying of this, as it is contrary to the Scripture’s Testimony, so it hath brought a great Scandal to the Protestant Religion, opened the Mouths of Papists, and made many too secure, while they have believed to be justified without good Works. Moreover, though it be not so safe to say they are meritorious, yet seeing they are rewarded, many of those called the Fathers have not spared to use the Word [Merit] which some of us have perhaps also done in a qualified Sense, but no-ways to infer the Popish Abuses above-mentioned. And lastly, if we had that Notion of good Works which most Protestants have, we could freely agree to make them not only not necessary, but reject them as hurtful, viz. That the best Works even of the Saints are defiled and polluted. For though we judge so of the best Works performed by Man, endeavouring a Conformity to the outward Law by his own Strength, and[Pg 174] in his own Will, yet we believe that such Works as naturally proceed from this spiritual Birth and Formation of Christ in us are pure and holy, even as the Root from which they come; and therefore God accepts them, justifies us in them, and rewards us for them of his own free Grace. The State of the Controversy being thus laid down, these following Positions do from hence arise in the next Place to be proved.

Posit. 2.Secondly, That it is by this inward Birth of Christ in Man that Man is made just, and therefore so accounted by God: Wherefore, to be plain, we are thereby, and not till that be brought forth in us, formally, if we must use that Word, justified in the Sight of God; because Justification is both more properly and frequently in Scripture taken in its proper Signification for making one just, and not reputing one merely such, and is all one with Sanctification.

Posit. 3.Thirdly, That since good Works as naturally follow from this Birth as Heat from Fire, therefore are they of absolute Necessity to Justification, as Causa sine quâ non, Good Works are Causa sine quâ non—of Justification.i. e. though not as the Cause for which, yet as that in which we are, and without which we cannot be justified. And though they be not meritorious, and draw no Debt upon God, yet he cannot but accept and reward them: For it is contrary to his Nature to deny his own, since they may be perfect in their Kind, as proceeding from a pure holy Birth and Root. Wherefore their Judgment is false and against the Truth that say, That the holiest Works of the Saints are defiled and sinful in the Sight of God: For these good Works are not the Works of the Law, excluded by the Apostle from Justification.

[Pg 175]

Proof II.Secondly, If God were perfectly reconciled with Men, and did esteem them just while they are actually unjust, and do continue in their Sins, then should God have no Controversy with them[72]; how comes he then so often to complain, and to expostulate so much throughout the whole Scripture with such as our Adversaries confess to be justified, telling them, That their Sins separate betwixt him and them? Isa. lix. 2. For where there is a perfect and full Reconciliation, there is no Separation. Yea, from this Doctrine it necessarily follows, either that such for whom Christ died, and whom he hath reconciled, never sin, or that when they do so, they are still reconciled, and their Sins make not the least Separation from God; yea, that they are justified in their Sins. From whence also would follow this abominable Consequence, that the good Works and greatest Sins of such are alike in the Sight of God, seeing neither the one serves[Pg 176] to justify them, nor the other to break their Reconciliation, which occasions great Security, and opens a Door to every lewd Practice.

Proof III.Thirdly, This would make void the whole practical Doctrine of the Gospel, and make Faith itself needless. For if Faith and Repentance, and the other Conditions called for throughout the Gospel, be a Qualification upon our Part necessary to be performed, then, before this be performed by us, we are either fully reconciled to God, or but in a Capacity of being reconciled to God, he being ready to reconcile and justify us as these Conditions are performed; which latter, if granted, is according to the Truth we profess. And if we are already perfectly reconciled and justified before these Conditions are performed (which Conditions are of that Nature that they cannot be performed at one Time, but are to be done all one’s Life-time) then can they not be said to be absolutely needful; which is contrary to the very express Testimony of Scripture, which is acknowledged by all Christians: [73]For without Faith it is impossible to please God. They that believe not are condemned already, because they believe not in the only begotten Son of God. Except ye repent, ye cannot be saved: For if ye live after the Flesh, ye shall die. And of those that were converted; [74]I will remove your Candlestick from you, unless ye repent. Should I mention all the Scriptures that positively and evidently prove this, I might transcribe much of all the doctrinal Part of the Bible. For since Christ said, It is finished, and did finish his Work sixteen hundred Years ago and upwards; A Door of Mercy opened by Christ, upon Repentance.if he so fully perfected Redemption then, and did actually reconcile every one that is to be saved, not simply opening a Door of Mercy for them, offering the Sacrifice of his Body, by which they may obtain Remission of their Sins when they repent, and communicating unto them a Measure of his Grace, by which they may see their Sins, and be able to repent; The Antinomians Opinion of Reconciliation and Justification.but really making them to be reputed as just, either before they believe, as say the Antinomians, or after they have assented to the Truth of the History of Christ, or are sprinkled with the Baptism of Water, while nevertheless they are actually unjust, so that no Part of their Redemption is[Pg 177] to be wrought by him now, as to their Reconciliation and Justification; then the whole doctrinal Part of the Bible is useless, and of no Profit: in vain were the Apostles sent forth to preach Repentance and Remission of Sins; and in vain do all the Preachers bestow their Labour, spend their Breath, and give forth Writings; yea, much more in vain do the People spend their Money which they give them for Preaching; seeing it is all but Actum agere, but a vain and ineffectual Essay, to do that which is already perfectly done without them.

Proof 4.But lastly, To pass by their human Labours, as not worth the Disputing whether they be needful or not, since (as we shall hereafter shew) themselves confess the best of them is sinful; this also makes void the present Intercession of Christ for Men. Christ’s daily making Intercession for us.What will become of that great Article of Faith, by which we affirm, That he sits at the right Hand of God, daily making Intercession for us; and for which End the Spirit itself maketh Intercession for us with Groanings which cannot be uttered? For Christ maketh not Intercession for those that are not in a Possibility of Salvation; that is absurd. Our Adversaries will not admit that he prayed for the World at all; and to pray for those that are already reconciled, and perfectly justified, is to no Purpose: To pray for Remission of Sins is yet more needless, if all be remitted, past, present, and to come. Indeed there is not any solid solving of this, but by acknowledging according to the Truth, That Christ by his Death removed the Wrath of God, so far as to obtain Remission of Sins for as many as receive that Grace and Light that he communicates unto them, and hath purchased for them by his Blood; which, as they believe in, they come to know Remission of Sins past, and Power to save them from Sin, and to wipe it away, so often as they may fall into it by Unwatchfulness or Weakness, if, applying themselves to this Grace, they truly repent; for to as many as receive him, he gives Power to become the Sons of God: So none are Sons, none are justified, none reconciled, until they thus receive him in that little Seed in their Hearts: And Life eternal is offered to those, who by patient Continuance in Well-doing, seek for Glory, Honour, and Immortality: For if[Pg 178] the righteous Man depart from his Righteousness, his Righteousness shall be remembered no more. And therefore on the other Part, none are longer Sons of God, and justified, than they patiently continue in Righteousness and Well-doing. And therefore Christ lives always making Intercession, during the Day of every Man’s Visitation, that they may be converted; And when Men are in some Measure converted, he makes Intercession that they may continue and go on, and not faint, nor go back again. Much more might be said to confirm this Truth; but I go on to take Notice of the common Objections against it, which are the Arguments made use of to propagate the Errors contrary to it.

Obj. 1.From hence they seek to infer, That Christ fully perfected the Work of Reconciliation while he was on Earth.

Answ.I answer; If by [Reconciliation] be understood the removing of Wrath, and the Purchase of that Grace by which we may come to be reconciled, we agree to it; but that that Place speaks no more, appears from the Place itself: For when the Apostle speaks in the perfect Time, saying, He hath reconciled us, he speaks of himself and the Saints; who having received the Grace of God purchased by Christ, were through Faith in him actually reconciled. The Difference between Reconciled to Christ, and Reconciling.But as to the World, he saith [reconciling] not [reconciled]; which Reconciling, though it denotes a Time somewhat past, yet it is by the imperfect Time, denoting that the Thing begun was not perfected. For this Work Christ began towards all in the Days of his Flesh, yea, and long before; for He was the Mediator from the Beginning, and the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World: But in his Flesh, after he had perfectly fulfilled the Law, and the Righteousness thereof, had rent the Veil, and made Way for the more clear and universal Revelation of the Gospel to all, both Jew and Gentile; he gave up himself a most satisfac[Pg 179]tory Sacrifice for Sin; which becomes effectual to as many as receive him in his inward Appearance, in his Light in the Heart. Again, this very Place sheweth that no other Reconciliation is intended, but the Opening of a Door of Mercy upon God’s Part, and a Removing of Wrath for Sins that are past; so as Men; notwithstanding their Sins, are stated in a Capacity of Salvation: For the Apostle, in the following Verse, saith, Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s Stead be ye reconciled to God. For if their Reconciliation had already been perfectly accomplished, what need any Intreating then to be reconciled? Ambassadors are not sent after a Peace already perfected, and Reconciliation made, to intreat for a Reconciliation; for that implies a manifest Contradiction.

Obj. 2.Secondly, They object, Ver. 21st of the same Chapter, For he hath made him to be Sin for us, who knew no Sin, that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him. From whence they argue, That as our Sin is imputed to Christ, who had no Sin; so Christ’s Righteousness is imputed to us, without our being righteous.

Answ.But this Interpretation is easily rejected; for though Christ bare our Sins, and suffered for us, and was among Men accounted a Sinner, and numbered among Transgressors; yet that God reputed him a Sinner, is no where proved. For it is said, [75]He was found before him holy, harmless, and undefiled, neither was there found any Guile in his Mouth. That we deserved these Things, and much more for our Sins, which he endured in Obedience to the Father; and according to his Counsel, is true; but that ever reputed him a Sinner, is denied: Men’s imputed Righteousness solidly Refuted.Neither did he ever die, that we should be reputed righteous, though no more really such than he was a Sinner, as hereafter appears. For indeed, if this Argument hold, it might be stretched to that Length, as to become very pleasing to wicked Men that love to abide in their Sins: For if we be made righteous, as Christ was made a Sinner, merely by Imputation; then as there was no Sin, not in the least in Christ, so it would follow, that there needed no more Righteousness, no more Holiness, no more inward Sanctification in us, than there was Sin in him. So then, by his[Pg 180] [being made Sin for us] must be understood his Suffering for our Sins, that we might be made Partakers of the Grace purchased by him; by the Workings whereof we are made the Righteousness of God in him. For that the Apostle understood here a being made really righteous, and not merely a being reputed such, appears by what follows, seeing in Ver. 14, 15, 16. of the following Chapter, he argues largely against any supposed Agreement of Light and Darkness, Righteousness and Unrighteousness; which must needs be admitted, if Men are to be reckoned ingrafted in Christ, and real Members of him, merely by an imputative Righteousness, wholly without them, while they themselves are actually unrighteous. And indeed it may be thought strange, how some Men have made this so fundamental an Article of their Faith, which is so contrary to the whole Strain of the Gospel: A Thing which Christ in none of all his Sermons and gracious Speeches ever willed any to rely upon; always recommending to us Works, as instrumental in our justification. And the more it is to be admired at, because that Sentence or Term (so frequently in their Mouths, and so often pressed by them, as the very Basis of their Hope and Confidence) to wit, Christ’s imputed Righteousness not found in all the Bible.The imputed Righteousness of Christ, is not to be found in all the Bible, at least as to my Observation. Thus have I passed through the first Part, and that the more briefly, because many, who assert this Justification by bare Imputation, do nevertheless confess, that even the Elect are not justified until they be converted; that is, not until this imputative Justification be applied to them by the Spirit.

[Pg 181]

Proof 1.First then, I prove this by that of the Apostle Paul, 1 Cor. vi. 11. Justified, i. e. being made Just really, not by Imputation.And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. First, This [justified] here understood, must needs be a being really made just, and not a being merely imputed such; else [sanctified] and [washed] might be reputed a being esteemed so, and not a being really so; and then it quite overturns the whole Intent of the Context. For the Apostle shewing them in the preceding Verses, how the Unrighteous cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, and descending to the several Species of Wickedness, subsumes, That they were sometimes such, but now are not any more such. Wherefore, as they are now washed and sanctified, so are they justified: For if this Justification were not real, then it might be alleged that the Corinthians had not forsaken these Evils; but, though they still continued in them, were notwithstanding justified: Which as in itself it is most absurd, so it very clearly overturneth the very Import and Intent of the Place; as if the Corinthians turning Christians had not wrought any real Change in them, but had only been a Belief of some barren Notions, which had wrought no Alteration in their Affections, Will, or Manner of Life. For my own Part, I neither see any Thing, nor could ever yet hear or read any Thing, that with any Colour of Reason did evince [Justified] in this Place to be understood any other ways than in its own proper and genuine Interpretation of being made just. The Derivation of the Word Justify considered, &c.And for the more clear understanding hereof, let it be considered, that this Word [justify] is derived either from the Substantive Justice, or the Adjective just: Both which Words import the Substantive, that true and real Virtue in the Soul, as it is in itself; to wit, it signifies really, and not suppositively, that excellent Quality expressed and understood among Men by the Word [Justice;] and the Adjective [just] as applied, signifies a Man or Woman who is just, that is, in whom this Quality of Justice is stated: For it would not only be great Impropriety, but also manifest Falsity, to call a Man just; merely by Supposition; especially if he were really unjust. Now this Word [justify][Pg 182] formed from Justice, or just, doth beyond all Question signify a making just; it being nothing else but a Composition of the Verb Facio, and the Adjective justus, which is nothing else than thus, justifico, i. e. justum facio, I make just, and [justified] of justus and fio, as justus fio, I become just, and justificatus, i. e. justus factus, I am made just. Thus also is it with Verbs of this Kind, as, sanctifico, from sanctus, holy, and facio; honorifico, from honor and facio; sacrifico, from sacer and facio: All which are still understood of the Subject really and truly endued with that Virtue and Quality from which the Verb is derived. Justified none are while they actually remain unjust.Therefore, as none are said to be sanctified that are really unholy, while they are such; so neither can any be truly said to be justified, while they actually remain unjust. Only this Verb justify hath, in a metaphorical and figurative Sense, been otherwise taken, to wit, in a Law Sense; as when a Man really guilty of a Crime is freed from the Punishment of his Sin, he is said to be justified; that is, put in the Place as if he were just. For this Use of the Word hath proceeded from that true Supposition, That none ought to be acquitted, but the Innocent. Hence also that Manner of speaking, I will justify such a Man, or I will justify this or that, is used from the Supposition that the Person and Thing is really justifiable: And where there is an Error and Abuse in the Matter, so far there is also in the Expression.

Paræus de Just. Cont. Bell. L. 2. C. 7. P. 469.This is so manifest and apparent, that Paræus, a chief Protestant, and a Calvinist also in his Opinion, acknowledges this; “We never at any Time said,” saith he, “nor thought, that the Righteousness of Christ was imputed to us, that by him we should be named formally just, and not be so, as we have divers Times already shewed; for that would no less soundly fight with right Reason, than if a guilty Man absolved in Judgment should say, That he himself was formally just by the Clemency of the judge granting him his Life.” Now is it not strange, that Men should be so facile in a Matter of so great Concernment, as to build the Stress of their Acceptance with God upon a mere borrowed and metaphorical Signification, to the excluding, or at least esteeming that not necessary, without[Pg 183] which the Scripture saith expresly, No Man shall ever see God? Holiness required; therefore good Works are.For if Holiness be requisite and necessary, of which this is said, then must good Works also; unless our Adversaries can shew us an holy Man without good Works. But, moreover, [justified] in this figurative Sense is used for approved; and indeed for the most Part, if not always in Scripture, when the Word [justify] is used, it is taken in the worst Part; that is, that as the Use of the Word that way is an Usurpation, so it is spoken of such as usurp the Thing to themselves, while it properly doth not belong unto them; as will appear to those that will be at the Pains to examine these Places. Exod. xxiii. 7. Job ix. 20. & xxvii. 5. Prov. xvii. 15. Isa. v. 23. Jer. iii. 11. Ezek. xvi. 51, 52. Luke x. 29. & xvi. 15. which are all spoken of Men justifying the Wicked, or of wicked Men justifying themselves; that is, approving themselves in their Wickedness. If it be at any Time in this Signification taken in good Part, it is very seldom, and that so obvious and plain by the Context, as leaves no Scruple. But the Question is not so much of the Use of the Word, where it is passingly or occasionally used, as where the very Doctrine of Justification is handled. Where indeed to mistake it, viz. in its proper Place, so as to content ourselves with an imaginary Justification, while God requires a real, is of most dangerous Consequence. For the Disquisition of which let it be considered, that in all these Places to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, and elsewhere, where the Apostle handles this Theme, the Word may be taken in its own proper Signification without any Absurdity. As, where it is often asserted in the above-mentioned Epistles to the Romans and Galatians, Justified, in its proper Signification.That a Man cannot be justified by the Law of Moses, nor by the Works of the Law; there is no Absurdity nor Danger in understanding it according to its own proper Signification, to wit, that a Man cannot be made just by the Law of Moses; seeing this so well agrees with that Saying of the same Apostle, That the Law makes nothing perfect. And also where it is said, We are justified by Faith, it may be very well understood of being made just; seeing it is also said, That Faith purifies the Heart; and no Doubt the pure in Heart are[Pg 184] just; and the Just live by Faith. Again, where it is said, We are justified by Grace, we are justified by Christ, we are justified by the Spirit; it is no ways absurd to understand it of being made just, seeing by his Spirit and Grace he doth make Men just. But to understand it universally the other Way, merely for Acceptance and Imputation, would infer great Absurdities, as may be proved at large; but because I judged it would be acknowledged, I forbear at present for Brevity’s Sake. But further, in the most weighty Places where this Word justify is used in Scripture, with an immediate Relation to the Doctrine of Justification, Justification signifies a making just.our Adversaries must needs acknowledge it to be understood of making just, and not barely in the legal Acceptation: As First, in that of 1 Cor. vi. 11. But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, as I before have proved; which also many Protestants are forced to acknowledge. Thysius Disp. de Just. Thes. 3.“Neither diffide we,” saith Thysius, “because of the most great and strict Connexion, that Justification doth sometimes seem also to comprehend Sanctification as a Consequence, as in Rom. viii. 30. Tit. iii. 7. 1 Cor. vi. 11. And such sometimes were ye, but ye are washed, &c.” Zanchius, having spoken concerning this Sense of Justification, adds, saying, Zanchius in C. P. 2. ad Eph. V. 4. Loc. de Just.“There is another Signification of the Word, viz. for a Man from unjust to be made just, even as sanctified signifies from unholy to be made holy: In which Signification the Apostle said, in the Place above-cited, And such were some of you, &c. that is, of unclean ye are made holy, and of unjust ye are made just by the Holy Spirit, for Christ’s Sake, in whom ye have believed. Of this Signification is that, Rev. xxii. 11. Let him that is just, be just still; that is, really from just become more just, even as from unjust he became just. And according to this Signification the Fathers, and especially Augustine, have interpreted this Word.” H. Bulling.Thus far he. H. Bullinger, on the same Place, 1 Cor. vi. speaketh thus; “By divers Words,” saith he, “the Apostle signifies the same Thing, when he saith, Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified.”

Proof 2.Secondly, In that excellent Saying of the Apostle, so much observed, Rom. viii. 30. Whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he[Pg 185] justified, them he also glorified: This is commonly called the Golden Chain, as being acknowledged to comprehend the Method and Order of Salvation. And therefore, if [Justified] were not understood here in its proper Signification of being made just, Sanctification would be excluded out of this Chain. And truly it is very worthy of Observation, that the Apostle, in this succinct and compendious Account, makes the Word [Justified] to comprehend all betwixt Calling and Glorifying; Righteousness, the only Medium by which from our Calling we pass to Glorification.thereby clearly insinuating, that the being really Righteous, is that only Medium by which from our Calling we pass to Glorification. Almost all do acknowledge the Word to be so taken in this Place; and not only so, but most of those who oppose are forced to acknowledge, that as this is the most proper, so the most common Signification of it: Thus divers famous Protestants acknowledge. D. Cham. Tom. 3. de Sanct. L. 10. P. 1.“We are not,” saith D. Chamierus, “such impertinent Esteemers of Words, as to be ignorant, nor yet such importunate Sophists, as to deny that the Words Justification and Sanctification do infer one another; yea, we know that the Saints are chiefly for this Reason so called, because that in Christ they have received Remission of Sins: And we read in the Revelations, Let him that is just, be just still; which cannot be understood, except of the Fruit of inherent Righteousness. Nor do we deny, but perhaps in other Places they may be promiscuously taken, especially by the Fathers.” Beza in C. 3. ad Tit. Ver. 7.“I take,” saith Beza, “the Name of Justification largely, so as it comprehends whatsoever we acquire from Christ, as well by Imputation, as by the Efficacy of the Spirit in sanctifying us. So likewise is the Word Justification taken, Rom. viii. 30.” Melanct. in Apol. Conf. Aug.Melancthon saith, “That to be justified by Faith, signifies in Scripture not only to be pronounced just, but also of unrighteous to be made righteous.” Also some chief Protestants, though not so clearly, yet in Part, hinted at our Doctrine, whereby we ascribe unto the Death of Christ Remission of Sins, and the Work of Justification unto the Grace of the Spirit acquired by his Death. Boræus, in Gen. C. 15. Credidit Abraham. Deo, P. 161.Martinus Boræus, explaining that Place of the Apostle, Rom. iv. 25. Who was given for our Sins, and rose again for our[Pg 186] Justification, saith: “There are two Things beheld in Christ, which are necessary to our Justification; the one is his Death, the other is his arising from the Dead. By his Death, the Sins of this World behoved to be expiated: By his Rising from the Dead, it pleased the same Goodness of God to give the Holy Spirit, whereby both the Gospel is believed, and the Righteousness, lost by the Fault of the first Adam, is restored.” And afterwards he saith; “The Apostle expresseth both Parts in these Words, Who was given for our Sins, &c. in his Death is beheld the Satisfaction for Sin; in his Resurrection, the Gift of the Holy Spirit, by which our Justification is perfected.” Idem Lib. 3. Reg. Cap. 9. V. 4. P. 681.And again, the same Man saith elsewhere; “Both these Kinds of Righteousness are therefore contained in Justification, neither can the one be separate from the other. So that in the Definition of Justification, the Merit of the Blood of Christ is included, both with the Remission of Sins, and with the Gift of the Holy Spirit of Justification and Regeneration.” Bucerus, in Rom. 4. ad Ver. 16.Martinus Bucerus saith; “Seeing by one Sin of Adam the World was lost, the Grace of Christ hath not only abolished that one Sin, and Death which came by it; but hath together taken away those infinite Sins, and also led into full Justification as many as are of Christ; so that God now not only remits unto them Adam’s Sin, and their own, but also gives them therewith the Spirit of a solid and perfect Righteousness, which renders us conform unto the Image of the First-begotten.” Righteousness, a Conformity to the Image of the First-begotten.And upon these Words [by Jesus Christ] he saith; “We always judge that the whole Benefit of Christ tends to this, that we might be strong through the Gift of Righteousness, being rightly and orderly adorned with all Virtue, that is, restored to the Image of God.” W. Forbes in Consider. Modest. de Just. Lib. 2. Sect. 8.And lastly, William Forbes our Countryman, Bishop of Edinburgh, saith; “Whensoever the Scripture makes Mention of the Justification before God, as speaketh Paul, and from him (besides others) Augustine, it appears that the Word [justify] necessarily signifies not only to pronounce just in a Law Sense, but also really and inherently to make just; because that God doth justify a wicked Man other[Pg 187]wise than earthly Judges. How God justifies the Wicked.For he, when he justifies a wicked or unjust Man, doth indeed pronounce him as these also do; but by pronouncing him just, because his Judgment is according to Truth, he also makes him really of unjust to become just.” And again, the same Man, upon the same Occasion, answering the more rigid Protestants, who say, That God first justifies, and then makes just; he adds: “But let them have a Care, lest by too great and empty Subtilty, unknown both to the Scriptures and the Fathers, they lessen and diminish the Weight and Dignity of so great and divine a Benefit, so much celebrated in the Scripture, to wit, Justification of the Wicked. For if to the formal Reason of Justification of the Ungodly doth not at all belong his Justification (so to speak) i. e. his being made righteous, then in the Justification of a Sinner, although he be justified, yet the Stain of Sin is not taken away, but remains the same in his Soul as before Justification: And so, notwithstanding the Benefit of Justification, he remains as before, unjust and a Sinner; and nothing is taken away, but the Guilt and Obligation to Pain, and the Offence and Enmity of God through Non-imputation. But both the Scriptures and Fathers do affirm, That in the Justification of a Sinner, their Sins are not only remitted, forgiven, covered, not imputed, but also taken away, blotted out, cleansed, washed, purged, and very far removed from us, as appears from many Places of the holy Scriptures.” The same Forbes shews us at length, in the following Chapter, That this was the confessed Judgment of the Fathers, out of the Writings of those who hold the contrary Opinion; some whereof, out of him, I shall note. Calv. Inst. L. 3. C. 11. Sect. 15.As, first, Calvin saith, “That the Judgment of Augustine, or at least his Manner of speaking, is not throughout to be received; who although he took from Man all Praise of Righteousness, and ascribed all to the Grace of God, yet he refers Grace to Sanctification, by which we are regenerate through the Spirit unto Newness of Life.” Chemnit. in Exam. Conc. Trid. de Just. P. 129.Chemnitius saith, “That they do not deny, but that the Fathers take the Word [justify] for[Pg 188] renewing, by which Works of Righteousness are wrought in us by the Spirit.” And P. 130. “I am not ignorant, that the Fathers indeed often use the Word [justify] in this Signification, to wit, of making just.” Zanchius in C. 2. ad Ep. Ver. 4. Loc. de Just. Thes. 13.Zanchius saith, “That the Fathers, and chiefly Augustine, interpret the Word [justify] according to this Signification, to wit, of making just; so that, according to them, to be justified was no other than of unjust to be made just, through the Grace of God for Christ.” He mentioneth more, but this may suffice to our Purpose.

Proof 2.Secondly, That it is by this Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the new Creation in us, that we are justified, doth evidently appear from that excellent Saying of the Apostle included in the Proposition itself, Tit. iii. 5. According to his Mercy he hath saved us, by the Washing of Regeneration, and Renewing of the Holy Ghost, &c. Now that whereby we are saved, that we are also no Doubt justified by; which Words are in this Respect synonymous. The immediate Cause of Justification is the inward Work of Regeneration.Here the Apostle clearly ascribes the immediate Cause of Justification to this inward Work of Regeneration, which is Jesus Christ revealed in the Soul, as being that which formally states us in a Capacity of being reconciled with God; the Washing or Regeneration being that inward Power and Virtue, whereby the Soul is cleansed, and clothed with the Righteousness of Christ, so as to be made fit to appear before God.

Proof 3.Thirdly, This Doctrine is manifest from 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine your own selves, whether ye be in the Faith; prove your own selves: Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates? First, It appears here how earnest the Apostle was that they should know Christ in them; so that he presses this Exhortation upon them, and inculcates it three Times. The Cause of Reprobation is Christ not known by inward Revelation.Secondly, He makes the Cause of Reprobation, or Not-justification, the Want of Christ thus revealed and known in the Soul: Whereby it necessarily follows, by the Rule of Contraries, where the Parity is alike (as in this Case it is evident) that, where Christ is inwardly known, there the Persons subjected to him[Pg 190] are approved and justified. For there can be nothing more plain than this, That if we must know Christ in us, except we be Reprobates, or unjustified Persons; if we know him in us, we are not Reprobates, and consequently justified ones. Like unto this is that other Saying of the same Apostle, Gal. iv. 19. My little Children, of whom I travail in Birth again, until Christ be formed in you; and therefore the Apostle terms this, Christ within, the Hope of Glory, Col. i. 27, 28. Now that which is the Hope of Glory, can be no other than that which we immediately and most nearly rely upon for our Justification, and that whereby we are really and truly made just. And as we do not hereby deny, but the original and fundamental Cause of our Justification is the Love of God manifested in the Appearance of Jesus Christ in the Flesh, Christ by his Death and Sufferings has opened a Way for our Reconciliation.who by his Life, Death, Sufferings, and Obedience, made a Way for our Reconciliation, and became a Sacrifice for the Remission of Sins that are past, and purchased unto us this Seed and Grace, from which this Birth arises, and in which Jesus Christ is inwardly received, formed, and brought forth in us, in his own pure and holy Image of Righteousness, by which our Souls live unto God, and are clothed with him, and have put him on, even as the Scripture speaks, Ephes. iv. 23, 24. Gal. iii. 27. we stand justified and saved in and by him, and by his Spirit and Grace, Rom. iii. 24. 1 Cor. vi. 11. Tit. iii. 7. So again, reciprocally, we are hereby made Partakers of the Fulness of his Merits, and his cleansing Blood is near, to wash away every Sin and Infirmity, and to heal all our Backslidings, as often as we turn towards him by unfeigned Repentance, and become renewed by his Spirit. Those then that find him thus raised, and ruling in them, have a true Ground of Hope to believe that they are justified by his Blood. But let not any deceive themselves, so as to foster themselves in a vain Hope and Confidence, that by the Death and Sufferings of Christ they are justified, so long as Sin lies at their Door, Gen. iv. 7. Iniquity prevails, and they remain yet unrenewed and unregenerate; lest it be said unto them, I know you not. Let that Saying of Christ be remembered,[Pg 191] Not every one that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter, but he that doth the Will of my Father, Matt. vii. 21. To which let these excellent Sayings of the beloved Disciple be added; Little Children, let no Man deceive you; he that doth Righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth Sin is of the Devil; because if our Heart condemn us, God is greater than our Heart, and knoweth all Things, 1 John iii. 7. & 20.

Many famous Protestants bear Witness to this inward Justification by Christ inwardly revealed and formed in Man. Boræus in Gen. P. 162.As M. Boræus: “In the Imputation,” saith he, “wherein Christ is ascribed and imputed to Believers for Righteousness, the Merit of his Blood, and the Holy Ghost given unto us by Virtue of his Merits, are equally included. The Testimonies of famous Protestants of inward Justification.And so it shall be confessed, That Christ is our Righteousness, as well from his Merit, Satisfaction, and Remission of Sins obtained by him, as from the Gifts of the Spirit of Righteousness. And if we do this, we shall consider the whole Christ proposed to us for our Salvation, and not any single Part of him.” The same Man, P. 169. “In our justification then Christ is considered, who breathes and lives in us, to wit, by his Spirit put on by us; concerning which putting on the Apostle saith, Ye have put on Christ.” And again, P. 171. “We endeavour to treat in Justification, not of Part of Christ, but him wholly, in so far as he is our Righteousness every Way.” And a little after: “As then blessed Paul, in our Justification, when he saith, Whom he justified, them he glorified, comprehends all Things which pertain to our being reconciled to God the Father, and our Renewing, which fits us for attaining unto Glory, such as Faith, Righteousness, Christ, and the Gift of Righteousness exhibited by him, whereby we are regenerated, to the fulfilling of the Justification which the Law requires; so we also will have all Things comprehended in this Cause, which are contained in the Recovery of Righteousness and Innocency.” And P. 181. “The Form,” saith he, “of our Justification is the divine Righteousness itself, by which we are formed just and good. This is Jesus Christ, who is esteemed our Righteousness, partly from the[Pg 192] Forgiveness of Sins, and partly from the Renewing and the Restoring of that Integrity, which was lost by the Fault of the first Adam: So that this new and heavenly Adam being put on by us, of which the Apostle saith, Ye have put on Christ, ye have put him on, I say, as the Form, so the Righteousness, Wisdom, and Life of God.” Inuncunas.So also affirmeth Claudius Albertus Inuncanus, see his Orat. Apodict. Lausaniæ Excus. 1587. Orat. 2. P. 86, 87. Zuinglius.Zuinglius also, in his Epistle to the Princes of Germany, as cited by Himelius, C. 7. P. 60. saith, “That the Sanctification of the Spirit is true Justification, which alone suffices to justify.” Estius.Estius upon 1 Cor. vi. 11. saith, “Lest Christian Righteousness should be thought to consist in the Washing alone, that is, in the Remission of Sins, he addeth the other Degree or Part, [but ye are sanctified] that is, ye have attained to Purity, so that ye are now truly holy before God. Lastly, Expressing the Sum of the Benefit received in one Word, which includes both the Parts, But ye are justified (the Apostle adds) in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, by his Merits, and in the Spirit of our God, that is, the Holy Spirit proceeding from God, and communicated to us by Christ.” R. Baxter.And lastly, Richard Baxter, a famous English Preacher, in his Book called Aphorisms of Justification, P. 80. saith, “That some ignorant Wretches gnash their Teeth at this Doctrine, as if it were flat Popery, not understanding the Nature of the Righteousness of the new Covenant; which is all out of Christ in ourselves, though wrought by the Power of the Spirit of Christ in us.”

Object.But if it be queried, Whether we have not said, or will not affirm, that a Man is justified by Works?

Answ.I answer; I hope none need, neither ought to take Offence, if in this Matter we use the plain Language of the holy Scripture,[Pg 193] which faith expresly in answer hereunto, James ii. 24. That Works are necessary to Justification.Ye see then how that by Works a Man is justified, and not by Faith only. I shall not offer to prove the Truth of this Saying, since what is said in this Chapter by the Apostle is sufficient to convince any Man that will read and believe it; I shall only from this derive this one Argument.

Arg.If no Man can be justified without Faith, and no Faith be living, nor yet available to Justification without Works, then Works are necessary to Justification:

But the first is true: Therefore also the last.

For this Truth is so apparent and evident in the Scriptures, that for the Proof of it we might transcribe most of the Precepts of the Gospel. I shall instance a few, which of themselves do so clearly assert the Thing in Question, that they need no Commentary, nor farther Demonstration. And then I shall answer the Objections made against this, which indeed are the Arguments used for the contrary Opinion, Heb. xii. 14. Without Holiness no Man shall see God. Matt. vii. 21. Not the Sayers, but the Doers are blessed.Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven. John xiii. 7. If ye know these Things, happy are ye if ye do them. 1 Cor. vii. 19. Circumcision is nothing, and Uncircumcision is nothing, but the Keeping of the Commandments of God. Rev. xxii. 14. Blessed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have Right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the Gates into the City: And many more that might be instanced. From all which I thus argue:

Arg.If those only can enter into the Kingdom that do the Will of the Father; if those be accounted only the wise Builders and happy that do the Sayings of Christ; if no Observations avail, but only the Keeping of the Commandments; and if they be blessed that do the Commandments, and thereby have Right to the Tree of Life, and Entrance through the Gates into the City; then Works are absolutely necessary to Salvation and Justification:

But the first is true: And therefore also the last.

[Pg 194]

The Consequence of the Antecedent is so clear and evident, that I think no Man of sound Reason will call for a Proof of it.

Answ.Answer; As to God we are indeed unprofitable, for he needeth nothing, God needeth nothing.neither can we add any Thing unto him: But as to ourselves, we are not unprofitable; else it might be said, that it is not profitable for a Man to keep God’s Commandments; which is most absurd, and would contradict Christ’s Doctrine throughout. Doth not Christ, Matt. v. through all those Beatitudes, pronounce Men blessed for their Purity, for their Meekness, for their Peaceableness, &c? And is not then that for which Christ pronounceth Men blessed, profitable unto them? Moreover, Matt. xxv. 21, 23. Those that had improved their Talents, were called good and faithful Servants.Doth not Christ pronounce the Men good and faithful Servants that improved their Talents? Was not their doing of that then profitable unto them? And Ver. 30. it is said of him that hid his Talent, and did not improve it, Cast ye the unprofitable Servant into utter Darkness. If then not improving of the Talent made the Man unprofitable, and he was therefore cast into utter Darkness, it will follow by the Rule of Contraries, so far at least that the Improving made the other profitable; seeing, if our Adversaries will allow us to believe Christ’s Words, this is made a Reason, and so at least a Cause instrumental of their Acceptance; Well done, good and faithful Servant, thou hast been faithful over a few Things, I will make thee Ruler over many Things; enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord.

Obj. 2.Secondly, They object those Sayings of the Apostle, where he excludes the Deeds of the Law from Justification; as first, Rom. iii. 20. Because by the Deeds of the Law there shall be no Flesh justified in his Sight. And Ver. 28. Therefore we conclude, that a Man is justified by Faith, without the Deeds of the Law.

Answ. 1..Answ. We have shewn already what Place we give to Works, even to the best of Works, in Justification; and how we ascribe its immediate[Pg 195] and formal Cause to the Worker brought forth in us, but not to the Works. But in answer to this Objection, I say, there is a great Difference betwixt the Works of the Law, and those of Grace, or of the Gospel. The Works of the Gospel or Grace distinguished from those of the Law.The first are excluded, the second not, but are necessary. The first are those which are performed in Man’s own Will, and by his Strength, in a Conformity to the outward Law and Letter; and therefore are Man’s own imperfect Works, or Works of the Law, which makes nothing perfect: And to this belong all the Ceremonies, Purifications, Washings, and Traditions of the Jews. The second are the Works of the Spirit of Grace in the Heart, wrought in Conformity to the inward and spiritual Law; which Works are not wrought in Man’s Will, nor by his Power and Ability, but in and by the Power and Spirit of Christ in us, and therefore are pure and perfect in their Kind (as shall hereafter be proved) and may be called Christ’s Works, for that he is the immediate Author and Worker of them: Such Works we affirm absolutely necessary to Justification, so that a Man cannot be justified without them; and all Faith without them is dead and useless, as the Apostle James saith. Now, that such a Distinction is to be admitted, and that the Works excluded by the Apostle in the Matter of Justification are of the first Kind, will appear, if we consider the Occasion of the Apostle’s mentioning this, as well here, as throughout his Epistle to the Galatians, where he speaks of this Matter and to this Purpose at large: Which was this, That whereas many of the Gentiles that were not of the Race or Seed of Abraham, as concerning the Flesh, were come to be converted to the Christian Faith, and to believe in him, some of those, that were of the Jewish Proselytes, thought to subject the faithful and believing Gentiles to the legal Ceremonies and Observations, as necessary to their Justification: The Occasion of the Apostle’s speaking of the Works of the Law, which are excluded.This gave the Apostle Paul Occasion at length, in his Epistle to the Romans, Galatians, and elsewhere, to shew the Use and Tendency of the Law, and of its Works, and to contra-distinguish them from the Faith of Christ, and the Righteousness thereof; shewing how the former was ceased and become ineffectual, the other re[Pg 196]maining, and yet necessary. And that the Works excluded by the Apostle are of this Kind of Works of the Law, appears by the whole Strain of his Epistle to the Galatians, Chap. i, ii, iii, and iv. For after, in Chap. iv. he upbraideth them for their Returning unto the Observation of Days and Times, and that, in the Beginning of Chap. v. he sheweth them their Folly, and the evil Consequence of adhering to the Ceremonies of Circumcision, then he adds, Ver. 6. For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision availeth, but Faith, which worketh by Love; and thus he concludes again, Chap. vi. Ver. 15. For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth, nor Uncircumcision, but a new Creature. From which Places appeareth that Distinction of Works before-mentioned, whereof the one is excluded, the other necessary to Justification. For the Apostle sheweth here, that Circumcision (which Word is often used to comprehend the whole Ceremonies and legal Performances of the Jews) is not necessary, nor doth avail. Here then are the Works which are excluded, by which no Man is justified; but Faith, which worketh by Love, but the new Creature, this is that which availeth, which is absolutely necessary: For Faith, that worketh by Love, cannot be without Works; for, as it is said in the same 5th Chapter, Ver. 22. Love is a Work of the Spirit; also the new Creature, if it avail and be necessary, cannot be without Works; seeing it is natural for it to bring forth Works of Righteousness. Again, that the Apostle no Ways intends to exclude such good Works appears, in that in the same Epistle he exhorts the Galatians to them, and holds forth the Usefulness and Necessity of them, and that very plainly, Chap. vi. Ver. 7, 8, 9. The Usefulness and Necessity of good Works.Be not deceived, saith he, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a Man soweth, that shall he also reap: For he that soweth to the Flesh, shall of the Flesh reap Corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting. And let us not be weary of Well-doing, for in due Season we shall reap, if we faint not: Doth it not hereby appear, how necessary the Apostle would have the Galatians know that he esteemed good Works to be? To wit, not the outward Ceremonies and Traditions of the Law, but the Fruits of the Spirit,[Pg 197] mentioned a little before; by which Spirit he would have them to be led, and walk in those good Works: As also, how much he ascribed to these good Works, by which he affirms Life everlasting is reaped. Now, that cannot be useless to Man’s Justification, which capacitates him to reap so rich an Harvest.

Answ. 2.But Lastly; For a full Answer to this Objection, and for the establishing of this Doctrine of good Works, I shall instance another Saying of the same Apostle Paul, which our Adversaries also in the Blindness of their Minds make use of against us; to wit, Tit. iii. 5. Justified not by our legal Performances, but the Fruit of the Spirit.Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done, but according to his Mercy he saved us, by the Washing of Regeneration, and Renewing of the Holy Ghost. It is generally granted by all, that [saved] is here all one as if it had been said [justified.] Now there are two Kinds of Works here mentioned: One by which we are not saved, that is, not justified; and another by which we are saved, or justified. The first, the Works of Righteousness which we have wrought, that is, which we in our first fallen Nature, by our own Strength, have wrought, our own legal Performances, and therefore may truly and properly be called ours, whatever specious Appearances they may have. And that it must needs and ought to be so understood, doth appear from the other Part, By the Washing of Regeneration, and Renewing of the Holy Ghost; seeing Regeneration is a Work, comprehensive of many good Works, even of all those which are called the Fruits of the Spirit.

Obj.Now in Case it should be objected, That these may also be called ours, because wrought in us, and also by us many Times as Instruments;

Answ.I answer; It is far otherwise than the former: For in the first we are yet alive in our own natural State, unrenewed, working of ourselves, seeking to save ourselves, by imitating and endeavouring a Conformity to the outward Letter of the Law; and so wrestling and striving in the Carnal Mind, that is Enmity to God, and in the cursed Will not yet subdued. But in this second we are crucified with Christ, we are become dead with him, have partaken of the Fellowship of his Sufferings, are made conformable to his Death; and our first Man, our old[Pg 198] Man with all his Deeds, as well the openly Wicked as the seemingly Righteous, our legal Endeavours and foolish Wrestlings, are all buried and nailed to the Cross of Christ; Not We, but Christ in us is the Worker of Righteousness.and so it is no more we, but Christ alive in us, the Worker in us. So that though it be we in a Sense, yet it is according to that of the Apostle to the same Galatians, Chap. ii. Ver. 20. I am crucified, yet nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: Not I, but the Grace of Christ in me. These Works are especially to be ascribed to the Spirit of Christ, and the Grace of God in us, as being immediately thereby acted and led in them, and enabled to perform them. And this Manner of Speech is not strained, but familiar to the Apostles, as appears, Gal. ii. 8. For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the Circumcision, the same was mighty in me, &c. Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do, &c. So that it appears by this Place, that since the Washing of Regeneration is necessary to Justification, and that Regeneration comprehends Works, Works are necessary; and that these Works of the Law that are excluded, are different from these that are necessary and admitted.

Answ. 1.That no impure Works are useful to Justification, is confessed; but that all the Works wrought in the Saints are such, is denied. And for Answer to this, the former Distinction will serve. We confess, that the first Sort of Works above-mentioned are impure; but not the second: Because the first are wrought in the unrenewed State, but not the other. And as for that of Isaiah, it must relate to the first[Pg 199] Kind; What Sort of Righteousness is as filthy Rags.for though he saith, All our Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags, yet that will not comprehend the Righteousness of Christ in us, but only that which we work of and by ourselves. For should we so conclude, then it would follow, that we should throw away all Holiness and Righteousness; since that which is as filthy Rags, and as a menstruous Garment, ought to be thrown away; yea, it would follow, that all the Fruits of the Spirit, mentioned, Gal. iv. were as filthy Rags; Whereas on the Contrary, some of the Works of the Saints are said to have a sweet Savour in the Nostrils of the Lord; are said to be an Ornament of great Price in the Sight of God; are said to prevail with him, and to be acceptable to him; which filthy Rags and a menstruous Garment cannot be. Yea, many famous Protestants have acknowledged, that this Place is not therefore so to be understood. Calvin and others their Sense concerning Isa. 64. 6. of our Righteousness.Calvin upon this Place saith, “That it is used to be cited by some, that they may prove there is so little Merit in our Works, that they are before God filthy and defiled: But this seems to me to be different from the Prophet’s Mind,” saith he, “seeing he speaks not here of all Mankind.” Musculus.Musculus upon this Place saith, “That it was usual for this People to presume much of their legal Righteousness, as if thereby they were made clean; nevertheless they had no more Cleanness than the unclean Garment of a Man. Others expound this Place concerning all the Righteousness of our Flesh; that Opinion indeed is true; yet I think that the Prophet did rather accommodate these Sayings to the Impurity of the People in legal Terms.” (Bertius) Epistolæ præfixæ dissert. ann.The Author (commonly supposed Bertius) speaking concerning the true Sense of the 7th Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, hath a Digression touching this of Isaiah, saying; “This Place is commonly corrupted by a pernicious Wresting; for it is still alleged, as if the Meaning thereof inferred the most excellent Works of the best Christians, &c.” Ja. Coret Apol. Impress. Paris, Ann. 1597 Page 78.James Coret, a French Minister in the Church of Basil, in his Apology concerning Justification against Alescales, saith; “Nevertheless concerning the Counsel of certain good Men, I must admonish the Reader, that it never came into our Minds to abuse[Pg 200] that Saying of Isa. lxiv. 6. against good Works, in which it is said, that all our Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags, as if he would have that which is good in our good Works, and proceedeth from the Holy Spirit, to be esteemed as a filthy and unclean Thing.”

Of the Merit and Reward of Works.But lastly, Because it is fit here to say something of the Merit and Reward of Works, I shall add something in this Place of our Sense and Belief concerning that Matter. We are far from thinking or believing, that Man merits any Thing by his Works from God, all being of Free Grace; and therefore do we, and always have denied that Popish Notion of Meritum ex condigno. Nevertheless we cannot[Pg 202] deny, but that God, out of his Infinite Goodness wherewith he hath loved Mankind, after he communicates to him his holy Grace and Spirit, doth, according to his own Will, recompence and reward the good Works of his Children; GOD rewards the good Works of his Children.and therefore this Merit of Congruity or Reward, in so far as the Scripture is plain and positive for it, we may not deny; neither wholly reject the Word, in so far as the Scripture makes use of it. For the same Greek [Greek: axion: αξιον], which signifies [Merit] is also in those Places where the Translators express it Worth, or worthy, as Mat. iii. 8. 1 Thess. ii. 12. 2 Thess. i. 5. 11. Concerning which R. Baxter saith, in the Book above-cited, P. 8. “But in a larger Sense, as Promise is an Obligation, and the Thing promised is said to be Debt, so the Performers of the Conditions are called Worthy, and that which they perform Merit; although properly all be of Grace, and not of Debt.” Also those, who are called the Fathers of the Church, frequently used this Word of Merit, whose Sayings concerning this Matter I think not needful to insert, because it is not doubted, but evident, that many Protestants are not averse from this Word, in the Sense that we use it. The Apology for the Augustan Confession, Art. 20. hath these Words; “We agree that Works are truly meritorious, not of Remission of Sins, or Justification; but they are meritorious of other Rewards corporal and spiritual, which are indeed as well in this Life, as after this Life.” And further, “Seeing Works are a certain fulfilling of the Law, they are rightly said to be meritorious; it is rightly said, that a Reward is due to them.”

Conference of Oldenburgh.In the Acts of the Conference of Oldenburgh, the electoral Divines, P. 110. & 265. say, “In this Sense our Churches also are not averse from the Word [Merit] used by the Fathers; neither therefore do they defend the Popish Doctrine of Merit.”

G. Vossius of the Word Merit.G. Vossius, in his Theological Thesis concerning the Merits of good Works, saith; “We have not adventured to condemn the Word [Merit] wholly, as being that which both many of the Ancients use, and also the reformed Churches have used in their Confes[Pg 203]sions. Now that God judgeth and accepteth Men according to their Works, is beyond Doubt to those that seriously will read and consider these Scriptures.” Matt.. xvi. 27. Rom.. ii. 6. 7. 10. 2 Cor. v. 10. James i. 25. Heb. x. 35. 1 Pet. i. 17. Rev. xxii. 12.

[Pg 204]

PROPOSITION VIII.

Concerning Perfection.

In whom this pure and holy Birth is fully brought forth, the Body of Death and Sin comes to be crucified and removed, and their Hearts united and subjected to the Truth; so as not to obey any Suggestions or Temptations of the Evil One, but to be free from actual sinning and transgressing of the Law of God, and in that Respect perfect: Yet doth this Perfection still admit of a Growth; and there remaineth always in some Part a Possibility of sinning, where the Mind doth not most diligently and watchfully attend unto the Lord.

II. The new Birth.Secondly, That we attribute it wholly to Man, as he is born again, renewed in his Mind, raised by Christ, knowing Christ alive, reigning and ruling in him, and guiding and leading him by his Spirit, and revealing in him the Law of the Spirit of Life; which not only manifests and reproves Sin, but also gives Power to come out of it.

III. Growth in Perfection.Thirdly, That by this we understand not such a Perfection as may not daily admit of a Growth, and consequently mean not as if we were to be as pure, holy, and perfect as God in his divine Attributes of Wisdom, Knowledge, and Purity; but only a Perfection proportionable and answerable to Man’s Measure, whereby we are kept from transgressing the Law of God, and enabled to answer what he requires of us; He that improved his Two Talents was nothing less acceptable than he with the five.even as he that improved his two Talents so as to make four of them, perfected his Work, and was so accepted of his Lord as to be called a good and faithful Servant, nothing less than he that made his five ten. Even as a little Gold is perfect Gold in its Kind, as well as a great Mass, and a Child hath a perfect Body as well as a Man, though it daily grow more and more. Thus Christ is said, Luke ii. 52. to have increased in Wisdom and Stature, and in Favour with God and Man; though before that Time he had never sinned, and was no Doubt perfect, in a true and proper Sense.

[Pg 206]

IV. Wiles of the Enemy.Fourthly, Though a Man may witness this for a Season, and therefore all ought to press after it; yet we do not affirm but those that have attained it in a Measure may, by the Wiles and Temptations of the Enemy, fall into Iniquity, and lose it sometimes, if they be not watchful, and do not diligently attend to that of God in the Heart. And we doubt not but many good and holy Men, who have arrived to everlasting Life, have had divers Ebbings and Flowings of this Kind; Every Sin weakens a Man in his spiritual Condition, but doth not destroy him altogether.for though every Sin weakens a Man in his spiritual Condition, yet it doth not so as to destroy him altogether, or render him uncapable of rising again.

V. Righteousness became natural.Lastly, Though I affirm, that after a Man hath arrived at such a State, in which he may be able not to sin, yet he may sin: Nevertheless, I will not affirm that a State is not attainable in this Life, in which to do Righteousness may be so natural to the regenerate Soul, that in the Stability of that Condition he cannot sin. Others may speak more certainly of this State, if they have arrived at it. With respect to myself, I speak modestly, because I ingenuously confess that I have not yet attained it; but I cannot deny that there is such a State, as it seems to be so clearly asserted by the Apostle, 1 John iii. 9. He that is born of God sinneth not, neither can he, because the Seed of God remaineth in him.

Part II.Sect. 1. The Controversy being thus stated, which will serve to obviate Objections, I shall proceed, First, to shew the Absurdity of that Doctrine that pleads for Sin for Term of Life, even in the Saints.

Sect. 2.Secondly, To prove this Doctrine of Perfection from many pregnant Testimonies of the Holy Scripture.

Sect. 3.And, Lastly, To answer the Arguments and Objections of our Opposers.

This Imperfection in the Saints either proceeds from God or from themselves: If it proceeds from them, it must be because they are short in improving or making use of the Power given them, whereby they are capable to obey; and so it is a Thing possible to them, as indeed it is by the Help of that Power: But this our Adversaries deny: They are then not to be blamed for their Imperfection and continuing in Sin, since it is not possible for them to do otherwise. If it be not of themselves, it must be of God, who hath not seen meet to allow them Grace in that Degree to produce that Effect: And what is this but to attribute to God the Height of Injustice, to make him require his Children to forsake Sin, and yet not to afford them sufficient Means for so doing? Who will give their Children a Stone instead of Bread?Surely this makes God more unrighteous than wicked Men, who if (as Christ saith) their Children require Bread of them, will not give them a Stone; or instead of a[Pg 209] Fish, a Serpent. But these Men confess we ought to seek of God Power to redeem us from Sin, and yet believe they are never to receive such a Power; such Prayers then cannot be in Faith, but are all vain. Is not this to make God as unjust to his Children as Pharaoh was to the Israelites, in requiring Brick and not giving them Straw? But blessed be God, he deals not so with those that truly trust in him, and wait upon him, as these Men vainly imagine; for such faithful Ones find of a Truth that his Grace is sufficient for them, and know how by his Power and Spirit to overcome the evil One.

Proof 2.The Possibility of it. Secondly, It is possible, because we receive the Gospel and Law thereof for that Effect; and it is expresly promised to us, as we are under Grace, as appears by these Scriptures, Rom. iv. 14. Sin shall not have Dominion over you; for ye are not under the Law, but under Grace:[Pg 214] And Rom. viii. 3. For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the Flesh, God sending his own Son, &c. that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, &c. The Difference of the Law and Gospel.For if this were not a Condition both requisite, necessary, and attainable under the Gospel, there were no Difference betwixt the Bringing in of a better Hope, and the Law which made nothing perfect; neither betwixt those which are under the Gospel, or who under the Law enjoyed and walked in the Life of the Gospel and mere Legalists. Whereas the Apostle, throughout the whole Sixth to the Romans, argues not only the Possibility but the Necessity of being free from Sin, from their being under the Gospel, and under Grace, and not under the Law; and therefore states himself and those to whom he wrote in that Condition in these Verses, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. and therefore in the 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18 Verses, he argues both the Possibility and Necessity of this Freedom from Sin almost in the same Manner we did a little before; and in the 22d he declares them in Measure to have attained this Condition in these Words, But now being made free from Sin, and become Servants to God, ye have your Fruit unto Holiness, and the End everlasting Life. Perfection and Freedom from Sin attained and made possible by the Gospel.And as this Perfection or Freedom from Sin is attained and made possible where the Gospel and inward Law of the Spirit is received and known, so the Ignorance hereof has been and is an Occasion of opposing this Truth. For Man not minding the Light or Law within his Heart, which not only discovers Sin, but leads out of it, and so being a Stranger to the new Life and Birth that is born of God, which naturally does his Will, and cannot of its own Nature transgress the Commandments of God, doth, I say, in his natural State look at the Commandments as they are without him in the Letter; The Letter kills, and maketh not alive.and finding himself reproved and convicted, is by the Letter killed, but not made alive. So Man, finding himself wounded, and not applying himself inwardly to that which can heal, labours in his own Will after a Conformity to the Law as it is without him, which he can never obtain, but finds the more he wrestles, the more he falleth short. So this is the Jew still in Effect, with his carnal Commandment, with the Law without, in the first Covenant[Pg 215] State, which makes not the Comers thereunto perfect, as pertaining to the Conscience, Heb. ix. 9. though they may have here a Notion of Christianity, and an external Faith in Christ. This has made them strain and wrest the Scriptures for an imputative Righteousness wholly without them, to cover their Impurities; and this hath made them imagine an Acceptance with God possible, though they suppose it impossible ever to obey Christ’s Commands. But alas! O deceived Souls! that will not avail in the Day wherein God will judge every Man according to his Work, whether good or bad. It will not save thee to say, it was necessary for thee to sin daily in Thought, Word, and Deed; for such as do so have certainly obeyed Unrighteousness: And what is provided for such but Tribulation and Anguish, Indignation and Wrath; even as Glory, Honour, and Peace, Immortality and eternal Life to such as have done Good, and patiently continued in Well-doing. So then, if thou desirest to know this Perfection and Freedom from Sin possible for thee, turn thy Mind to the Light and spiritual Law of Christ in the Heart, and suffer the Reproofs thereof; bear the Judgment and Indignation of God upon the unrighteous Part in thee as therein is revealed, which Christ hath made tolerable for thee, and so suffer Judgment in thee to be brought forth into Victory, and thus come to partake of the Fellowship of Christ’s Sufferings, and be made conformable unto his Death, How we partake of Christ’s Sufferings, and are made conformable unto his Death.that thou mayest feel thyself crucified with him to the World by the Power of his Cross in thee; so that that Life that sometimes was alive in thee to this World, and the Love and Lusts thereof, may die, and a new Life be raised, by which thou mayest live henceforward to God, and not to or for thyself; and with the Apostle thou mayest say, Gal. ii. 20. It is no more I, but Christ alive in me; and then thou wilt be a Christian indeed, and not in Name only, as too many are; then thou wilt know what it is to have put off the old Man with his Deeds, who indeed sins daily in Thought, Word, and Deed; and to have put on the new Man, that it renewed in Holiness, after the Image of him that hath created him, Ephes. iv. 24. and thou wilt witness thyself to be [78]God’s Workmanship, created[Pg 216] in Christ Jesus unto good Works, and so not to sin always. And to this new Man Christ’s Yoke is easy, and his Burden is light; though it be heavy to the old Adam; yea, the Commandments of God are not unto this Man grievous; for it is his Meat and Drink to be found fulfilling the Will of God.

Proof 3.Many have attained Perfection. Lastly, This Perfection or Freedom from Sin is possible, because many have attained it, according to the express Testimony of the Scripture; some before the Law, and some under the Law, through witnessing and partaking of the Benefit and Effect of the Gospel, and much more many under the Gospel. Enoch walked with God, and was perfect.As first, It is written of Enoch, Gen. v. 22, 24. that he walked with God, which no Man while sinning can; nor doth the Scripture record any Failing of his. It is said of Noah, Gen. vi. 9. and of Job i. 8. and of Zacharias and Elizabeth, Luke i. 6. that they were perfect; but under the Gospel, besides that of the Romans above-mentioned, see what the Apostle saith of many Saints in general, Ephes. ii. 4, 5, 6. But God, who is rich in Mercy, for his great Love wherewith he hath loved us, even when we were dead in Sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by Grace ye are saved; and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus &c. I judge while they were sitting in these heavenly Places, they could not be daily sinning in Thought, Word, and Deed; neither were all their Works which they did there as filthy Rags, or as a menstruous Garment. See what is further said to the Hebrews, xii. 22, 23. Spirits of just Men made perfect. And to conclude, let that of the Revelations, xiv. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. be considered, where though their being found without Fault be spoken in the present Time, yet it is not without Respect to their Innocency while upon Earth; and their being redeemed from among Men, and no Guile found in their Mouth, is expresly mentioned in the Time past. Sect III.But I shall proceed now, in the Third Place, to answer the Objections, which indeed are the Arguments of our Opposers.

Answ. 1.But is it not strange to see Men so blinded with Partiality? How many Scriptures tenfold more plain do they reject, and yet stick so tenaciously to this, that can receive so many Answers? As First, [If we say we have no Sin, &c.] will not import the Apostle himself to be included. If we say we have no Sin, &c. objected.Sometimes the Scripture useth this Manner of Expression when the Person speaking cannot be included; which Manner of Speech the Grammarians call Metaschematismus. Thus James iii. 9, 10. speaking of the Tongue, saith, Therewith bless we God, and therewith curse we Men; adding, These Things ought not so to be. Who from this will conclude that the Apostle was one of those Cursers? Answ. 2.But Secondly, This Objection hitteth not the Matter; he saith not, We sin daily in Thought, Word, and Deed; far less that the very good Works which God works in us by his Spirit are Sin: Yea, the very next Verse clearly shews, that upon Confession and Repentance we are not only forgiven, but also cleansed; He is faithful to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanse us from all Unrighteousness. Here is both a Forgiveness and Removing of the Guilt, and a Cleansing or Removing of the Filth; for to make Forgiveness and Cleansing to belong both to the Removing of the Guilt, as there is no Reason for it from the Text, so it were a most violent forcing of the Words, and would imply a needless Tautology. The Apostle having shewn how that not the Guilt only, but even the Filth also of Sin is removed, subsumes his Words in the Time past in the 10th Verse, If we say we have not sinned, we make him a Liar. Answ. 3.Thirdly, As Augustine well observed, in his Exposition upon the Epistle to the Galatians, It is one Thing not to sin, and another Thing not to have Sin. It is one Thing, not to sin, and another Thing not to have Sin.The Apostle’s Words are not, If we say we sin not, or commit not Sin daily, but if we say we have no Sin: And betwixt these two there is a manifest Difference; for in respect all have sinned, as we freely acknowledge, all may be said in a Sense to have Sin. Again, Sin may be taken for the Seed of Sin, which may be in those that are redeemed from actual Sinning; but as to the Temptations and Provocations[Pg 218] proceeding from it being resisted by the Servants of God, and not yielded to, they are the Devil’s Sin that tempteth, not the Man’s that is preserved. Answ. 4.Fourthly, This being considered, as also how positive and plain once and again the same Apostle is in that very Epistle, as in divers Places above cited, is it equal or rational to strain this one Place, presently after so qualified and subsumed in the Time past, to contradict not only other positive Expressions of his, but the whole Tendency of his Epistle, and of the rest of the holy Commands and Precepts of the Scripture?

Obj. 2.Secondly, Their second Objection is from two Places of Scripture, much of one Signification: The one is, 1 Kings viii. 46. For there is no Man that sinneth not. The other is, Eccles. vii. 20. For there is not a just Man upon Earth, that doeth Good, and sinneth not.

Answ.I answer, First, These affirm nothing of a daily and continual Sinning, so as never to be redeemed from it; but only that all have sinned, or that there is none that doth not sin, though not always, so as never to cease to sin; and in this lies the Question. Yea, in that Place of the Kings he speaks within two Verses of the returning of such with all their Souls and Hearts; which implies a Possibility of leaving off Sin. Diversity of Seasons and Dispensations respected.Secondly, There is a Respect to be had to the Seasons and Dispensations; for if it should be granted that in Solomon’s Time there were none that sinned not, it will not follow that there are none such now, or that it is a Thing not now attainable by the Grace of God under the Gospel: For A non esse ad non posse non valet sequela. And Lastly, This whole Objection hangs upon a false Interpretation; for the Hebrew Word [Hebrew: ycht': יחטא] may be read in the Potential Mood, thus, There is no Man who may not sin, as well as in the Indicative: So both the old Latin, Junius and Tremellius, and Vatablus have it; and the same Word is so used, Psalm cxix. 11. I have hid thy Word in my Heart, [Hebrew: lt'z l' 'cht' lk: לטעז לא אחטא לך׃] that is to say, That I may not sin against thee, in the Potential Mood, and not in the Indicative; which being more answerable to the universal Scope of the Scriptures, the Testimony of the Truth,[Pg 219] and the Sense almost of all Interpreters, doubtless ought to be so understood, and the other Interpretation rejected as spurious.

Obj. 3.Thirdly, They object some Expressions of the Apostle Paul, Rom. viii. 19. For the Good that I would, I do not; but the Evil which I would not, that I do. And Ver. 24. O wretched Man that I am! who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death?

Answ.I answer, This Place infers nothing, unless it were apparent that the Apostle here were speaking of his own Condition, and not rather in the Person of others, or what he himself had sometimes borne; which is frequent in Scripture, as in the Case of cursing, in James before mentioned. But there is nothing in the Text that doth clearly signify the Apostle to be speaking of himself, or of a Condition he was then under, or was always to be under; yea, on the Contrary, in the former Chapter, as afore is at large shewn, he declares, they were dead to Sin; demanding how such should yet live any longer therein? Paul personates the Wretched Man, to shew them the Redeemer.Secondly, It appears that the Apostle personated one not yet come to a spiritual Condition, in that he saith, Ver. 14. But I am carnal, sold under Sin. Now is it to be imagined, that the Apostle Paul, as to his own proper Condition, when he wrote that Epistle, was a carnal Man, who in Chap. i. testifies of himself, That he was separated to be an Apostle, capable to impart to the Romans spiritual Gifts; and Chap. viii. Ver. 2. That the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus had made him free from the Law of Sin and Death? So then he was not carnal. And seeing there are spiritual Men in this Life, as our Adversaries will not deny, and is intimated through the whole viiith Chapter to the Romans, it will not be denied but the Apostle was one of them: So then as his calling himself carnal in Chap. vii. cannot be understood of his own proper State, neither can the rest of what he speaks there of that Kind be so understood: Yea after, Ver. 24. where he makes that Exclamation, he adds in the next Verse, I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord; signifying that by him he witnessed Deliverance; and so goeth on, shewing how he had obtained it in the next Chapter, viz. viii. Ver. 35. Who shall[Pg 220] separate us from the Love of Christ? And Ver. 37. But in all these Things we are more than Conquerors: And in the last Verse, Nothing shall be able to separate us, &c. But wherever there is a continuing in Sin, there is a Separation in some Degree, seeing every Sin is contrary to God, and [Greek: anomia: ανομια], i. e. a Transgression of the Law, 1 John iii. 4. Whom Sin has conquered, he is no Conqueror.and whoever committeth the least Sin, is overcome of it, and so in that Respect is not a Conqueror, but conquered. This Condition then, which the Apostle plainly testified he with some others had obtained, could not consist with continual remaining and abiding in Sin.

Obj. 4.Fourthly, They object the Faults and Sins of several eminent Saints, as Noah, David, &c.

Answ.I answer, That doth not at all prove the Case: For the Question is not, Whether good Men may not fall into Sin, which is not denied; but whether it be not possible for them not to sin? Can they that sin, be never freed from Sin.It will not follow because these Men sinned, that therefore they were never free of Sin, but always sinned: For at this Rate of arguing, it might be urged, according to this Rule (Contrariorum par ratio, i. e. The Reason of Contraries is alike) that if, because a good Man hath sinned once or twice, he can never be free from Sin, but must always be daily and continually a Sinner all his Life long; then by the Rule of Contraries, if a wicked Man have done Good once or twice, he can never be free from Righteousness, but must always be a righteous Man all his Life-time: Which as it is most absurd in itself, so it is contrary to the plain Testimony of the Scripture, Ezek. xxxiii. 12. to 18.

Obj.Lastly, They object, That if Perfection or Freedom from Sin be attainable, this will render Mortification of Sin useless, and make the Blood of Christ of no Service to us, neither need we any more pray for Forgiveness of Sins.

Answ.I answer, I had almost omitted this Objection, because of the manifest Absurdity of it: For can Mortification of Sin be useless, where the End of it is obtained? Seeing there is no attaining of this[Pg 221] Perfection but by Mortification. Who fights and not in Hopes to overcome his Foe?Doth the Hope and Belief of overcoming render the Fight unnecessary? Let rational Men judge which hath most Sense in it, to say as our Adversaries do, It is necessary that we fight and wrestle, but we must never think of overcoming, we must resolve still to be overcome; or to say, Let us fight, because we may overcome? Whether do such as believe they may be cleansed by it, or those that believe they can never be cleansed by it, render the Blood of Christ most effectual? If two Men were both grievously diseased, and applied themselves to a Physician for Remedy, which of those do most commend the Physician and his Cure, he that believeth he may be cured by him, and as he feels himself cured, confesseth that he is so, and so can say this is a skilful Physician, this is a good Medicine, behold I am made whole by it; or he that never is cured, nor ever believes that he can so long as he lives? Praying for Forgiveness of Sins.As for praying for Forgiveness, we deny it not; for that all have sinned, and therefore all need to pray that their Sins past may be blotted out, and that they may be daily preserved from sinning. And if hoping or believing to be made free from Sin hinders praying for Forgiveness of Sin, it would follow by the same Inference that Men ought not to forsake Murder, Adultery, or any of these gross Evils, seeing the more Men are sinful, the more plentiful Occasion there would be of asking Forgiveness of Sin, and the more Work for Mortification. But the Apostle had sufficiently refuted such sin-pleasing Cavils in these Words, Rom. vi. 1, 2. Shall we continue in Sin that Grace may abound? God forbid.

But Lastly, It may be easily answered, by a Retortion to those that press this from the Words of the Lord’s Prayer, forgive us our Debts, that this militates no less against perfect Justification than against perfect Sanctification: For if all the Saints, the least as well as the greatest, be perfectly justified in that very Hour wherein they are converted, as our Adversaries will have it, then they have Remission of Sins long before they die. May it not then be said to them, What Need have ye to pray for Remission of Sin, who[Pg 222] are already justified, whose Sins are long ago forgiven, both past and to come?

[Pg 224]

PROPOSITION IX.

Concerning Perseverance, and the Possibility of Falling from Grace.

Although this Gift and inward Grace of God be sufficient to work out Salvation, yet in those in whom it is resisted it both may and doth become their Condemnation. Moreover they in whose Hearts it hath wrought in Part to purify and sanctify them in order to their further Perfection, may, by Disobedience, fall from it, turn it to Wantonness, Jude 4. make Shipwreck of Faith, 1 Tim. i. 19. and after having tasted the heavenly Gift, and been made Partakers of the Holy Ghost, again fall away, Heb. vi. 4, 5, 6. yet such an Increase and Stability in the Truth may in this Life be attained, from which there can be no total Apostasy.

Arg. 1.If Men may turn the Grace of God into Wantonness, then they must once have had it:

But the First is true: Therefore also the Second.

Arg. 2.If Men may make Shipwreck of Faith, they must once have had it; Neither could they ever have had true Faith without the Grace of God:

But the First is true: Therefore also the Last.

Arg. 3.If Men may have tasted of the heavenly Gift, and been made Partakers of the Holy Spirit, and afterwards fall away, they must needs have known in Measure the Operation of God’s saving Grace and Spirit, without which no Man could taste the heavenly Gift, nor yet partake of the Holy Spirit:

But the First is true: Therefore also the Last.

II. The Doctrine of Election and Reprobation is inconsistent with Preaching, and daily Exhortation.Secondly, Seeing the contrary Doctrine is built upon this false Hypothesis, That Grace is not given for Salvation to any, but to a certain elect Number, which cannot lose it, and that all the rest of Mankind, by an absolute Decree, are debarred from Grace and Salvation; that being destroyed, this falls to the Ground. Now as that Doctrine of theirs is wholly inconsistent with the daily Practice of those that preach it, in that they exhort People to believe and be saved, while in the mean Time, if they belong to the Decree of Reprobation, it is simply impossible for them so to do; and if to the Decree of Election, it is needless, seeing it is as impossible to them to miss of it, as hath been before demonstrated. So also in this Matter of Perseverance, their Practice and Principle are no less inconsistent and contradictory. For while they daily exhort People to be faithful to the End, shewing them if they continue not, they shall be cut off, and fall short of the Reward; which is very true, but no less inconsistent with that Doctrine that affirms there is no Hazard, because no Possibility of de[Pg 226]parting from the least Measure of true Grace; which if true, it is to no Purpose to beseech them to stand, to whom God hath made it impossible to fall. I shall not longer insist upon the Probation of this, seeing what is said may suffice to answer my Design; and that the Thing is also abundantly proved by many of the same Judgment. That this was the Doctrine of the primitive Protestants thence appears, that the Augustine Confession condemns it as an Error of the Anabaptists, to say, That they who once are justified, cannot lose the Holy Spirit. Many such like Sayings are to be found in the common Places of Philip Melancthon. The Opinion of the Fathers concerning falling from Grace.Vossius, in his Pelagian History, Lib. 6. testifies, That this was the common Opinion of the Fathers. In the Confirmation of the twelfth Thesis, Page 587. he hath these Words: “That this which we have said was the common Sentiment of Antiquity, those at present can only deny, who otherwise perhaps are Men not unlearned, but nevertheless in Antiquity altogether Strangers, &c.” These Things thus observed, I come to the Objections of our Opposers.

Answ.A good and evil Conscience. This Objection is very weak, and apparently contrary to the Text, 1 Tim. i. 19. where the Apostle addeth to Faith a good Conscience, by way of Complaint; whereas if their Faith had been only seeming and hypocritical, the Men had been better without it than with it; neither had they been worthy of Blame for losing that which in itself was Evil. But the Apostle expresly adds [and of a good Conscience,] which shews it was real; neither can it be supposed that Men could truly attain a good Conscience without the Operation of God’s saving Grace; far less that a good Conscience doth consist with a seeming false and hypocritical Faith. Again, these Places of the Apostle being spoken by way of Regret, clearly import that these Attainments they had fallen from were good and real, not false and deceitful, else he would not have regretted their falling from them; and so he saith positively, They tasted of the heavenly Gift, and were[Pg 227] made Partakers of the Holy Ghost, &c. not that they seemed to be so, which sheweth this Objection is very frivolous.

Obj. 2.Secondly, They allege, Phil. i. 6. Being confident of this very Thing, that he which hath begun a good Work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ, &c. and 1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation.

Answ.These Scriptures, as they do not affirm any Thing positively contrary to us, so they cannot be understood otherwise than as the Condition is performed upon our Part, Salvation is proposed upon certain Conditions by us to be performed.seeing Salvation is no otherways proposed there but upon certain necessary Conditions to be performed by us, as hath been above proved, and as our Adversaries also acknowledge, as Rom. viii. 13. For if ye live after the Flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the Deeds of the Body, ye shall live. And Heb. iii. 14. We are made Partakers of Christ, if we hold the Beginning of our Confidence stedfast unto the End. For if these Places of the Scripture upon which they build their Objections were to be admitted without these Conditions, it would manifestly overturn the whole Tenor of their Exhortations throughout all their Writings. Some other Objections there are of the same Nature, which are solved by the same Answers, which also, because largely treated of by others, I omit, to come to that Testimony of the Truth which is more especially ours in this Matter, and is contained in the latter Part of the Proposition in these Words: Yet such an Increase and Stability in the Truth may in this Life be attained, from which there cannot be a total Apostasy.

II. A Condition attainable in this Life, from which there is no Falling away. But Secondly, It appears such a Condition is attainable, because we are exhorted to it; and, as hath been proved before, the Scripture never proposeth to us Things impossible. Such an Exhortation we have from the Apostle, 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure. And though there be a Condition here proposed, yet since we have already proved that it is possible to fulfil this Condition, then also the Promise annexed thereunto may be attained. And since, where Assurance is wanting, there is still a Place left for Doubtings and Despairs, if we should affirm it never attainable, then should there never be a Place known by the Saints in this World, wherein they might be free of Doubting and Despair; which as it is most absurd in itself, so it is contrary to the manifest Experience of Thousands.

III. A certain Assurance and Establishment given of God to many of his Saints and Children.Thirdly, God hath given to many of his Saints and Children, and is ready to give unto all, a full and certain Assurance that they are his, and that no Power shall be able to pluck them out of his[Pg 230] Hand. But this Assurance would be no Assurance, if those who are so assured were not established and confirmed beyond all Doubt and Hesitation: If so, then surely there is no Possibility for such to miss of that which God hath assured them of. And that there is such Assurance attainable in this Life, the Scripture abundantly declareth, both in general and as to particular Persons. As first, Rev. iii. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall go no more out, &c. which containeth a general Promise unto all. Hence the Apostle speaks of some that are sealed, 2 Cor. i. 22. Who hath also sealed us, and given the Earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts: Wherefore the Spirit so sealing is called the Earnest or Pledge of our Inheritance, Ephes. i. 13. In whom ye were sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. And therefore the Apostle Paul, not only in that of the Romans above noted, declareth himself to have attained that Condition, but 2 Tim. iv. 7. he affirmeth in these Words, I have fought a good Fight, &c. which also many good Men have and do witness. And therefore as there can be nothing more evident than that which the manifest Experience of this Time sheweth, and therein is found agreeable to the Experience of former Times, so we see there have been both of old and of late that have turned the Grace of God into Wantonness, and have fallen from their Faith and Integrity; thence we may safely conclude such a Falling away possible. We also see that some of old and of late have attained a certain Assurance, some Time before they departed, that they should inherit eternal Life, and have accordingly died in that good Hope, of and concerning whom the Spirit of God testified that they are saved. Wherefore we all see such a State is attainable in this Life, from which there is not a Falling away: For seeing the Spirit of God did so testify, it was not possible that they should perish, concerning whom he who cannot lie thus bare Witness.

[Pg 231]

PROPOSITION X.

Concerning the Ministry.

As by the Light or Gift of God all true Knowledge in Things spiritual is received and revealed, so by the same, as it is manifested and received in the Heart, by the Strength and Power thereof, every true Minister of the Gospel is ordained, prepared, and supplied in the Work of the Ministry; and by the Leading, Moving, and Drawing hereof ought every Evangelist and Christian Pastor to be led and ordered in his Labour and Work of the Gospel, both as to the Place where, as to the Persons to whom, and as to the Time wherein he is to minister. Moreover they who have this Authority may and ought to preach the Gospel, though without human Commission or Literature; as on the other Hand, they who want the Authority of this divine Gift, however learned, or authorized by the Commission of Men and Churches, are to be esteemed but as Deceivers, and not true Ministers of the Gospel. The Gospel to be preached freely. Mat. 10. 8.Also they who have received this holy and unspotted Gift, as they have freely received it, so are they freely to give it, without Hire or Bargaining, far less to use it as a Trade to get Money by: Yet God hath called any one from their Employment or Trades, by which they acquire their Livelihood, it may be lawful for such, according to the Liberty which they feel given them in the Lord, to receive such Temporals (to wit, what may be needful for them for Meat and Clothing) as are given them freely and cordially by those to whom they have communicated Spirituals.

I.The Etymology of the Word [Greek: ekklêsia: εκκλησια] (the Church) and Signification of it. The Church then, according to the grammatical Signification of the Word, as it is used in the holy Scripture, signifies an Assembly or Gathering of many into one Place; for the Substantive [Greek: ekklêsia: εκκλησια] comes from the Word [Greek: ekkaleô: εκκαλεω] I call out of, and originally from [Greek: kaleô: καλεω] I call; and indeed, as this is the grammatical Sense of the Word, so also it is the real and proper Signification of the Thing, the Church being no other Thing but the Society, Gathering, or Company of such as God hath[Pg 233] called out of the World, and worldly Spirit, to walk in his Light and Life. The Church then so defined is to be considered as it comprehends all that are thus called and gathered truly by God, both such as are yet in this inferior World, and such as having already laid down the earthly Tabernacle, are passed into their heavenly Mansions, which together do make up the one Catholick Church, concerning which there is so much Controversy. No Salvation without the Church.Out of which Church we freely acknowledge there can be no Salvation; because under this Church and its Denomination are comprehended all, and as many, of whatsoever Nation, Kindred, Tongue, or People they be, though outwardly Strangers, and remote from those who profess Christ and Christianity in Words, and have the Benefit of the Scriptures, as become obedient to the holy Light and Testimony of God in their Hearts, so as to become sanctified by it, and cleansed from the Evils of their Ways. What the Church is.For this is the Universal or Catholick Spirit, by which many are called from all the four Corners of the Earth, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: By this the secret Life and Virtue of Jesus is conveyed into many that are afar off, even as by the Blood that runs into the Veins and Arteries of the natural Body the Life is conveyed from the Head and Heart unto the extreme Parts. Turks and Jews may become Members of this Church.There may be Members therefore of this Catholick Church both among Heathens, Turks, Jews, and all the several Sorts of Christians, Men and Women of Integrity and Simplicity of Heart, who though blinded in some Things in their Understanding, and perhaps burdened with the Superstitions and Formality of the several Sects in which they are ingrossed, yet being upright in their Hearts before the Lord, chiefly aiming and labouring to be delivered from Iniquity, and loving to follow Righteousness, are by the secret Touches of this holy Light in their Souls enlivened and quickened, thereby secretly united to God, and therethrough become true Members of this Catholick Church. Now the Church in this Respect hath been in Being in all Generations; for God never wanted some such Witnesses for him, though many Times slighted, and not much observed by this[Pg 234] World; and therefore this Church, though still in Being, hath been oftentimes as it were invisible, in that it hath not come under the Observations of the Men of this World, being, as saith the Scripture, Jer. iii. 14. One of a City, and two of a Family. And yet though the Church thus considered may be as it were hid from wicked Men, as not then gathered into a visible Fellowship, yea, and not observed even by some that are Members of it, yet may there notwithstanding many belong to it; as when Elias complained he was left alone, 1 Kings xix. 18. God answered unto him, I have reserved to myself seven thousand Men, who have not bowed their Knees to the Image of Baal; whence the Apostle argues, Rom. xi. the Being of a Remnant in his Day.

The outward Profession of the Members of the true Church.To be a Member of a particular Church of Christ, as this inward Work is indispensibly necessary, so is also the outward Profession of, and Belief in, Jesus Christ, and those holy Truths delivered by his Spirit in the Scriptures; seeing the Testimony of the Spirit recorded in the Scriptures, doth answer the Testimony of the same Spirit in the Heart, even as Face answereth Face in a Glass. Hence it follows, that the inward Work of Holiness, and forsaking Iniquity, is necessary in every Respect to the being a Member in the Church of Christ; and that the outward Profession is necessary to be a Member of a particular gathered Church, but not to the being a Member of the Catholick Church; yet it is absolutely necessary, where God affords the Opportunity of knowing it: And the outward Testimony is to be believed, where it is presented and revealed; the Sum whereof hath upon other Occasions been already proved.

The Decay of the Church.For the particular Churches of Christ, gathered in the Apostles Days, soon after beginning to decay as to the inward Life, came to be overgrown with several Errors, and the Hearts of the Professors of Christianity to be leavened with the old Spirit and Conversation of the World. Yet it pleased God for some Centuries to preserve that Life in many, whom he emboldened with Zeal to stand and suffer for his Name through the ten Persecutions: But these being over, the Meekness, Gentleness, Love, Long-suffering, Goodness, and Temperance of Christianity began to be lost. When Men became Christians by Birth, and not by Conversion, Christianity came to be lost.For after that the Princes of the Earth came to take upon them that Profession, and that it ceased to be a Reproach to be a Christian, but rather became a Means to Preferment; Men became such by Birth and Education, and not by Conversion and Renovation of Spirit: Then there was none so vile, none so wicked, none so profane, who became not a Member of the Church. And the Teachers and Pastors thereof becoming the Companions of Princes, and so being enriched by their Benevolence, and getting vast Treasures and Estates, became puffed up, and as it were drunken with the vain Pomp and Glory of this World: And so marshalled themselves in manifold Orders and Degrees; not without innumerable Contests and Altercations who should have the [79]Precedency. So the Virtue, Life, Substance, and Kernel of Christian Religion came to be lost, and nothing remained but a Shadow and Image; which dead Image, or Carcase of Christianity (to make it take the better with the superstitious Multitude of Heathens that were engrossed in it, not by any inward Conversion of their Hearts, or by becoming less wicked or superstitious, but by a little Change in the Object of their Superstition) not having the inward Ornament and Life of the Spirit, became decked with many outward and visible Orders, and beautified with the Gold, Silver, precious Stones,[Pg 237] and the other splendid Ornaments of this perishing World: So that this was no more to be accounted the Christian Religion, and Christian Church, notwithstanding the outward Profession, than the dead Body of a Man is to be accounted a living Man; which, however cunningly embalmed, and adorned with ever so much Gold or Silver, or most precious Stones, or sweet Ointments, is but a dead Body still, without Sense, Life, or Motion. In the Church of Rome are no less Superstitions and Ceremonies introduced, than were either among Jews or Heathens.For that Apostate Church of Rome has introduced no fewer Ceremonies and Superstitions into the Christian Profession, than were either among Jews or Heathens; and that there is and hath been as much, yea, and more Pride, Covetousness, Uncleanness, Luxury, Fornication, Profaneness and Atheism among her Teachers and chief Bishops, than ever was among any Sort of People, none need doubt, that have read their own Authors, to wit, Platina and others.

Whether, and what Difference there is betwixt the Protestants and Papists in Superstitions.Now, though Protestants have reformed from her in some of the most gross Points and absurd Doctrines relating to the Church and Ministry, yet (which is to be regretted) they have only lopt off the Branches, but retain and plead earnestly for the same Root, from which these Abuses have sprung. So that even among them, though all that Mass of Superstition, Ceremonies, and Orders be not again established, yet the same Pride, Covetousness and Sensuality is found to have overspread and leavened their Churches and Ministry, and the Life, Power and Virtue of true Religion is lost among them; and the very same Death, Barrenness, Dryness and Emptiness, is found in their Ministry. So that in Effect they differ from Papists but in Form and some Ceremonies; being with them apostatised from the Life and Power the true Primitive Church and her Pastors were in: So that of both it may be said truly (without Breach of Charity) that having only a Form of Godliness (and many of them not so much as that) they are Deniers of, yea, Enemies to, the Power of it. And this proceeds not simply from their not walking answerably to their own Principles, and so degenerating that Way, which also is true; but, which is worse, their laying down to themselves, and adhering[Pg 238] to certain Principles, which naturally, as a cursed Root, bring forth these bitter Fruits: These therefore shall afterwards be examined and refuted, as the contrary Positions of Truth in the Proposition are explained and proved.

For as to the Nature and Constitution of a Church[80] (abstract from their Disputes concerning its constant Visibility, Infallibility, and the Primacy of the Church of Rome) the Protestants, as in Practice, so in Principles, differ not from Papists; The Protestant Church how they become Members thereof.for they engross within the Compass of their Church whole Nations, making their Infants Members of it, by sprinkling a little Water upon them; so that there is none so wicked or profane who is not a Fellow-member; no Evidence of Holiness being required to constitute a Member of the Church. Nay, look through the Protestant Nations, and there will no Difference appear in the Lives of the Generality of the One, more than of the Other; he, who ruleth in the Children of Disobedience, reigning in both: Christianity chiefly consists in the Renewing of the Heart.So that the Reformation, through this Defect, is only in holding some less gross Errors in the Notion, but not in having the Heart reformed and renewed, in which mainly the Life of Christianity consisteth.