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Christian-Quaker and his divine testimony
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Genre
Controversial Treatise
Date
1674
Full Title
The Christian-Quaker, and his divine testimony vindicated by Scripture, Reason and Authorities; against The Injurious Attempts, that have been lately made by several Adversaries, with Manifest Design to render him Odiously Inconsistent with Christianity and Civil Society. In II. Parts. The first more General, by William Penn. The second more particular, by George Whitehead.
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Wing P1266
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The original format is folio.
The original contains new paragraphas are introduced by indentation,contains footnotes,contains elements such as italics,contains comments and references,
CHAP. V.
The Second Question stated: Particularly what is meant by Light.
It is a Principle that discovers the State of Man, and leads to Blessedness.
THE second Question runs thus: What is that LIGHT
which leadeth to Salvation? and if he pleaseth to give
me Leave, I will add to this Question, How doth it
Lead to Salvation?
By Light I understand not the frequent Metaphorical Use of
the Word; as when Christ said Ye are the Lights of the World;
or as the Apostle speaks, Now are you Light in the Lord; neither
the meer Spirit or Reason of Man; but, that Glorious
Sun of Righteousness, and Heavenly Luminary of the Intellectual or
Invisible World, represented of all Outward Resemblances,
most exactly by the Great Sun of this Sensible and Visible
World, that as his natural Light ariseth upon all, and gives
Light to all, about the Affairs of this Life; so that Divine
Light arises upon all, and gives Light to all, that will receive
it, about the Concerns of the other Life: Such a Light I
mean by That Light which inlightneth every man coming
into the World, and that leadeth those that obey it to Eternal
Salvation; The Scripture sayes no less, John 1. In the
Word-God was Life, and that (very) Life was the Light of Men,
that inlightneth every man, &c. But to demonstrate it the most
obviously that I can, to the lowest Capacities, I shall evidence
the Nature and Virtue of this Light by the Holy Effects
of it, which is the HOW, or the WHICH WAY it leadeth to
Salvation: This is so necessary in order to explicate the other,
that as the Tree is known by its Fruits, so the True Saviour,
by his Salvation. If then I can make it appear, that the
Light, as obey'd in all its Discoveries and Requirings, is sufficient
to Salvation, the Debate wil end, and T. Hicks must
yield to the Efficacy of the Light within.
I shall then by the Properties of the Light, prove it Saving:
In order to which I shall begin with the first Step towards
Salvation, namely, A Sight of the Cause of Damnation; and
from whom this most necessary Beginning must be taken,
viz. The Light within; which I thus prove by Scripture.
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CHAP VI.
That the Light Within manifests Sin; yea, all Sin. That Apostacy,
or Sin in any, is no Argument against the Light, but rather for
it. That the Additional Services of the Jews show No Imperfection
in the Light, but the People, whose Minds were abroad.
If Insufficiency against the Light should be admitted of, because of
Rebellion and Wickedness in Men, the same would be objected against
the Scriptures, which overthrows our Adversary's Assertion concerning
their Sufficiency.
THE Light, with which Christ inlightens all Men,
manifests Sin, as these Words import; for every
one that doth Evil hateth the Light, neither
cometh to the Light, lest his Deeds should be Reproved:
Implying, That if they would have brought their Deeds
to the Light, the Light would have detected them, and tryed
them. To which the Apostle Paul bears express Testimony,
in his Epistle to the Ephesians, That whatsoever is
Reproveable is made Manifest by the Light; where the Universality
of the Apostle's Assertion shows, that nothing
that is Reproveable, is, or can be excluded from the
Search or Knowledge of this Light; which takes in as well
Thoughts, as Words and Deeds. So that nothing being
Reproveable, which the Light doth not first Manifest:
How obvious is it to every Understanding, that if our
Adversary believeth all Men to have committed Sin,
and so, as that they know it (which is Reproveable) the
Light must needs have been, and be in all Men, in order to
such Manifestation and Conviction. It is as much as if the
Apostle had said, Sin is that which Damns all Men; now
it could not Damn, if it were not Reproveable, and it could
never be Reproveable, if the Light did not Manifest and
Condemn it as such. So that our Adversaries affirming
the Light not to be Sufficient to Discern all Sin, is a flat Repugnancy,
and a down-right giving of the Lye to the Apostle;
For says the Apostle, All things that are Reproveable,
are made Manifest by the Light. But sayes Tho. Hicks, All
things that are Reproveable, are not made Manifest by the Light.
Sober Reader, dwell here a while, and after a little paws
tell me, Who deals most Unworthily with the Apostle and the Holy
Scriptures of Truth, T. Hicks or the Quakers?
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Obj. But T. Hicks objects, with some others,
If there be that Light in all Men, how comes it, that
all Men are not Convicted of their Disobedience and
Duty, as the Heathens of old, and many Infidels at
this day? Did the Light in Saul reprove him for Persecuting
the Church?
I Answer, That this no way impugnes the Light, although
it greatly aggravates their Evil that so Rebell'd against it.
But that there were Heathens, who became a Law unto
themselves, through that Light they had, by which they
did the things contained in the Law, and were preferred far before
the Circumcision that kept not the Law: The Apostle Paul himself
is very express in that known Passage to the Romans.
Nor are other Histories silent, but loud in their acknowledgment
of very Divine Attainments, which, by this
Light several Famous Gentiles arrived at; and for their
Belief of One Eternal Being, his Communication of Divine
Light to Men, and of an Immortality, with their Strickt Conformity
thereto, are left upon Record. by Credible Historians;
and their Praises not a little added to by after
Ages, even of those called Christians too. Such are Reputed,
Pythagoras, Timæus, Solon, Bias, Chilon, Anaxagoras,
Socrates, Plato, Antistbenes, Xenocrates, Zeno, Antipater,
Seneca, Epictetus, and others.
But what if Jews and Gentiles at any time did Apostatize,
and particularly? What if Saul persecuted the Church
of God, putting Disobedience for Duty, Murder for Service?
Will it follow, that the Light was Insufficient? By no
means; but rather that Saul was Rebellious, Stiff-necked,
Resisting the Holy Ghost; as did his Fathers, so did
he; and thus much the Words themselves show; for
he kickt against the Pricks. Then it seems there were
Pricks; And where were they, if not in his Conscience?
And what were they, if not the Light of Christ
within him, which Manifests Evil, and Reproves the Deeds
thereof: otherwise called the Son of God, that to the
Galatians he said, It had pleased God to reveal in him? though
Paul knew him not, nor his Voice of a long time; his Eye
being darkened, and Ear stopt by the God of this
World, who had crept into the Outward Forms of Religion,
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then, as now, and in that employ'd many Emissaries
to decry that Pure, Heavenly and Invisible Life of Truth and
Righteousness, which was then, and is now begotten in
the Hearts of many, to the ending of the Idolatries
of the Gentiles, and Formality and Outward Services of
both Jews and Carnal Christians.
And I affirm in the Name of God, and with the Reason
of a Man, That it is most preposterously absurd, for any to
charge the Rebellion of Men, to be Insufficiency in the Light:
For if men are Wicked, not because they will not be
better; but because they neither see nor know, nor are
able to do better; How Heavy, how Black, and how Blasphemous
a Character doth the Consequence of these Mens Opinion
fasten upon the Righteous God of Heaven and
Earth; since it supposes him, Not to have given either Inwardly
or Outwardly unto Men Means sufficient to do that which
he requires from them; and for the not doing of which,
they are to be sentenced to Eternal Misery. But I confess,
How deep soever this may stick with Impartial Spirits,
I almost despair of entering our Adversaries, whose Souls
are pinch'd up within the narrow Compass of a most
Detestable Kind of Predestination, making the Eternal God,
as Partial as themselves, like some Ancients, That because
they could not Resemble God, they would make such Gods
as might Resemble them.
I say, what else can be the tendency of this kind of
Doctrine against the Sufficiency of the Light Within, then
that the Gift of God is not Perfect, or able, because Men don't
Obey it: and that the Talent God has given to all, is
therefore Insufficient for the End for which it was given, because
Man hides it in a Napkin?
Again, Let them tell me, Would it be a good Argument,
that if the same Corn should be sown in a Fertile
and Barren Soile, that growing in one, and not in the
other, the Fault should be in the Seed, and not rather in the
Ground?
Who knows not, how Tradition and Custom have
eaten out much of Conviction, blinded the World, and
that it is through Lusts and Pleasures become stupified,
as to the Invisible Things of God. Alas! there had never
been so much Need of many Exteriour Dispensations
and Appearances in reference to Religion, so much
preferred by the Professors of this Day, had not Mens
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Minds been departed from the Inward Light and Life
of Righteousness; so that they being abroad, God was
pleased to meet them there with some External Manifestations,
yet so, as to turn them home again to their first Love,
to that Light and Life, which was given of God, as the
Way to Eternal Salvation: Nor could any of those
cleanse, as concerning the Conscience; wherefore God
still, by his Servants and Prophets, admonished and
warned the People of Old, To Put Away the Evil of their
Doings, and to Wash themselves, and to Cleanse themselves;
for that all their Exactness in Outward Services, was otherwise but
as the Cutting off a Dog's Neck, a Sacrifice equally pleasing:
wherefore the Abrogation of all Outward Dispensations,
and Reducing Man to his first State of Inward
Light and Righteousness, is called in Scripture, The
Times of Refreshment, and of the Restitution of all things.
In short, Though there have been External Observations,
and Ordinances in the World, by God's appointment;
either to prevent the Jews from the Outward
splendid Worship of the Idolatrous Gentiles, that he might retain
a Peculiar Soveraignity over them; or to show forth unto
them a more Hidden and Invisible Glory; this remains sure
forever, That Light there was, and that the Ancients saw
their Sins by it, and that there could be no Acceptance with God,
but as they walk'd up to it, and were taught to put away the Evil
of their Doings by it; suitable to that Notable Passage,
The Path of the Just is a shining Light, that shines clearer and
clearer unto the Perfect Day. What was this Day, but compleat
Salvation? Can there be any Imperfection or Darkness
in the Day? Surely no. What if their Light was
not so large? Was it not therefore Saving? Yes surely.
But as where much is given, much is required; so where
little is given, but little is required. If the Light was
not so Gloriously manifested before the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ in the Flesh, less was then required at that time,
then since; yet it follows not, that there was Two Lights,
or that the Light was not Saving before the Visible Appearance of
Christ, to as many as lived in an Holy Conformity to it.
And if it be agreed, that Blindness in Men can be
no Argument against the Light of the Sun; neither is the
Light Insufficient, because the People of any Nation remain Blind
through their Vain Customs: Nay, should any such Doctrine
be admitted, what would become of our Adversary's Opinion,
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That the Light of Scripture is Sufficient of it self to give
Men the Knowledge of God? For if those People, who have
the Scriptures, do not so Know, Believe and Obey God,
as T. Hicks says, they ought to do; will it not follow
upon his Principles, that the Defect is not in such, as if
they were Ignorant and Rebellious, but in the Scriptures? Certainly
the Consequence will hold as well against the Scriptures,
as the Light: If then such wrong the Scriptures,
who so dispute, Let T. Hicks, I intreat him, endeavour to
Right the Light, and not longer maintain a Position, that
being admitted, would equally overturn his Notion of the Scriptures,
without Belief of the Light Within.
CHAP. VII.
Another Objection against the Lights Sufficiency to manifest what ought to
be done, though it were able to discover what should be avoided. It is
answerd. The Lights not telling man all it knows, or man may know in
time to come, is no Argument to prove it knows not all things. Men know
more than they do, let them first Obey what they know, and then what
is convenient will be further Reveal'd. It is proved from the
Reason of Contraries; because it shows what ought not to be done:
From Scripture at large, that it does instruct what to do; And that
there is Vertue in it to the Salvation of all that Believe and Obey it.
That there is no Essential Difference between the Seed, Light, Word,
Spirit, Life, Truth, Power, Vnction, Bread, Water, Flesh and
Blood; onely so denominated from the various Manifestations,
Operations, and Effects of one and the same Divine Principle.
BUt there is a Second Objection; That there
seems to be a manifest Insufficiency in the Light:
For, though several things are Revealed by it, yet several
necessary matters are not, nor cannot; So that though it
should manifest all that is Reproveable, yet cannot it Discover
all that is Necessary to be either Believed or Done.
I Answer, this is but a peece of the former Objection
already considered; I perceive the Pinch lies here; that
because Men do not Do what they should, or don't Know all that may
be Necessary to be known, therefore the Light is insufficient.
The first will be answer'd by what I have already said; the
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Reason being the same for the Sufficiency of the Light, against
such as charge it with Defect, because they do not do
what they should, as against those who so impeach it, because they do
those things which they should not. As for not knowing all that
is to be known, I deny it utterly, For things are necessary
in reference to their proper times; That may be requisit to morrow
which is not to day. It is fit for Children to learn to read,
yet it is most necessary, that they should begin to spell first. If
a School-Master should be charg'd with Insufficiency, because
he tells not little Children, all that he knows, as soon as
he initiates them in the first Principles of Learning, he would
think himself unreasonably dealt with. What must we
then conclude, but that the Master may be very capable,
were his Scholar so? that if the Scholar observe and obey his
Master, he will increase in his Learning, that the Defect of the
Scholar should not be laid upon his Master; that to tell or amuse
him about things unsuitable to his present Capacity, were
the ready Way to overcharge and wholy Spoile him: And Consequently
that the Tutor, not telling his Pupil, all that is fit to
be known, at once, implyes no Defect in, or Ignorance of those things
in the Tutor; which to apply Scripturally, in short thus:
If you do my Will, you shall know (more)of my Doctrine; I have
yet many things to say, but you are not able to bear them now. In
short, If for a Man to say that the Light of the Gospel (for
so T. Hicks thinks Pauls was) to be charg'd with Insufficiency,
because it discover'd not to every Believer, all those ineffable
things, revealed to the Apostle, would be both False and
Antichristian; to what an Extremity doth Tho. Hicks's Zeal
lead him in his passionate Endeavours against the blessed
Light of the Son of God as he is the Inlightner of Mankind,
who charges it with Insufficiency, because it Reveals not to every
Individual, in every Age, what HE shall ever know it self, or
shall be known in future times. The Light then is not Insufficient,
though it tell not all at one time, which may be
a Duty to the End of the World; especially in extraordinary
Cases, whilst it informs me, or any Man, of Daily
Duty. Yea, the Light is Sufficient in Point of Discovery,
whilst it shews unto any Person something more, then
they do, and which they ought to perform. If T. Hicks
will say, and can prove, that he is come to the Upshot of the
Light's Teachings, that he has Learnt whatever it is possible for
the Light of Christ to Teach him, and yet is able to make appear,
that there is some thing further wanting, he will
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prove himself not only above Men, but God also, who is
the Fountain of all Light; that searcheth the Hearts, and tryeth
the Reins of Men by the Inshinings of his manifesting Light, and
which, as obey'd, leads to God, who is the Fulness of all
Light and Life: But indeed, this Light is the Savour of
Death (the Wages of Sin) to all that Rebel against it, and
the Savour of Life to those only, who are Obedient to it; For,
Such shall not walk in Darkness, but have the Light of Life.
But, whilst he pleads against a Sin-less State, and shows so
Sin-full an One in his Scribes, let him cover his Face for
Shame, for all his Attempts against the Lights Sufficiency;
for in that State he shall never know the Life and Vertue
of the Light.
To conclude, If the Light be allowed to Manifest all
things that are Reproveable, then by the just Reason of Contraries,
should it be Sufficient to Discover all things that are Approveable,
with respect to Man's Faith, Salvation and Duty. If the
Light tells it is Evil, not to Believe in God, it follows,
that to Believe in God, is according to that Light Within.
And if it Reproves T. Hicks for being Passionate, it consequently
Teacheth him, that he ought to be Patient: If the Light
Condemns Theft, it necessarily Instructeth to Honesty: If it
Reprove me for doing my own Will, it implies I ought to do
his Will to whom I ow all: and if it Reproves for Sin, it Instructeth
to Holiness, without which none shall see God. In
short, If it Manifest Reproveable Things to be such, at
the same time It Condemns them, and Teacheth Things quite
Contrary; The Unfruitful Works of Darkness are judg'd by
the Light, that the Holy Fruits of the Light may appear: Ye
were Darkness, but now are ye Light in the Lord; and The
Reproof of Instruction is the Way of Life. He that comes out
of the Reproved Darkness, walks in the Approved Light; and
who so answers the Holy Reproof, unto Such is Sealed up
THE INSTRUCTION OF THE WAY OF LIFE.
And this brings me to the third Property of the Light,
with respect to Men; and that is, It doth not only Manifest
and Condemn Sin, and discover and incline to Purity; but
as adhered to (or rather that Principle which is this Light)
it is able, in Point of Power and Efficacy to Redeem from Sin, and
Lead to a State of Highest Felicity. I am the Light of the World,
(said Jesus himself) he that follows me shall not walk in Darkness,
but shall have the Light of Life. In which it is very
evident, that, The same Light, which Manifests Darkness, Redeems
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from it, unto a State of Light and Life: that is to say,
Those who confidently believe in Christ, as he manifests
himself a Light, to condemn Sin in every mans Flesh
(whom he hath therefore illuminated)and obediently
follow the Holy Requirings, and yield to the Heavenly
Discoveries of that Blessed Appearance, relinquishing
the Pleasures of Sin, which last but for a season, and taking
up the daily Cross; such shall most assuredly find
that Divine Principle, which in reference to the Dark State
of Men, and the Discerning and Conviction it brings, is
rightly denominated Light, to have also Power and Efficacy, to
Save from that which it manifests and condemns, and to
bring unto that Glory, which it gives a true Revelation
of: For, that same Word of God, who is called the true
Light that inlighteneth all Mankind, is also the Life, Power, Wisdom
and Righteousness of the Father, in whom are hid all the
Treasures of Wisdom, and unto whom all Power both in Heaven
and in Earth are committed, who is Heir of all things: who also
said, While ye have the Light(for their Day of Visitation
was almost over) or, as some Translations more
truly have it, While you have a little Light IN YOU,
believe, or walk in it.) believe in the Light, that ye may
be Children of the Light: Again, I am come a Light into the
World, that whosoever believes in me should not abide in Darkness:
So that a Sincere Faith in, and Obedience to the Light of
Christ, as it shines in the Heart, whereby to give the
Living and Experimental Knowledge of the Glory of
God unto the Creature, is the Way to be Redeemed
from Darkness, and to be made a Child of Light; or
that there is Power and Vertue Sufficient in the Light, to Ransom
the Souls of such as diligently adhere to it, from under the Power
of Darkness. For as the true Knowledge of God is Life
Eternal, so, whatever may be known of God is manifested within,
which Manifestation cannot properly be without the
Light, whose peculiar Property it is to Discover, Reveal or Manifest
the Mind and Will of God to Mankind; as saith the Apostle,
For whatsoever doth make Manifest is Light. In him was
Life, and that Life was the Light of all Men: But not therefore
the Life of all Men, Spiritually and Unitedly considered;
That was the peculiar Priviledge of those who Believ'd
in it, and walkt up to it. There is a great Difference,
not in the Principle, but in its Appearance to Man, as
Life, and Light. Such as believe in it; IT, What? the
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Word-God, who is that true Light, as he appears to Discover
or Illuminate the Heart and Conscience, do really
know and enjoy a new Nature, Spirit and Life; And
in that Sense it may be said, As the Life became the Light,
so the Light became the Life again. Who so follows me shall
not walk in Darkness, but have the Light of Life. Not,
that there is a Difference, or so much as a Descent in
Kind from Life to Light; only in Operation with respect
to Man: For as it is the very Life of the Word, in
the Word, it is the Light of Men: and so much it is,
let them reject the Vertue of it, if they will; But as
it is received, and believed in, It begets Life, Motion, Heat,
and every Divine Qualification, suitable to the State of the
New Birth. And thus the Life of the Word, which is in
common the Light, becomes the Life of every such Particular,
by communicating to, or ingenerating Life in the
Soul; so that no more he lives, but Christ (the Word-God,
whom he hath now put on, and who is become his
very Life, as well as Light) that dwelleth in him.
Let not Men then in their Dark Imaginations, with
their Rob'd Knowledge from the Letter of the Scriptures
themselves, contend against the Sufficiency of what they
obey not; neither have seriously tryed the Power, Vertue,
and Efficacy of it, which brings Salvation to as many as are
turned to it, and abide in it.
And indeed, so express are the Scriptures in Defence
of the Sufficiency, and Necessity of the Light to Salvation,
that it seems to have been the great Intendment of
our Lord Jesus Christ in delegating his Disciples, to preach
his Everlasting Gospel, viz. That they might open the Eyes of
People, and turn them from Darkness to the Light, and from the
Power of Satan unto God, that they might receive Remission of
Sins, and an Inheritance among them that are Sanctified through
Faith, that is in Me; who, ME? that am both the Light of the
World, and the Power of God unto Salvation. Now certainly,
the Eyes that were then blind, were not the Natural,
but Spiritual Eyes of Men(and such must the Darkness
and Light be also) blinded by the God of this World,
who raigned in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience:
No Wonder then if the Light was not comprehended of
the Darkness, and that blind People did not see the Light;
but it plainly proves, That Light there was, though not seen.
Now the Work of the Powerful Ministry of the Apostles
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was, To open the Blind or Dark Eye, which the God of the
World had blinded, and then to turn them from that Darkness, to
the Light; the Darkness was within, so must the Light have
been; since the Illumination was there necessary, where
the Darkness had been predominant; Consequently, The Way to
be Translated from Satan's Power to God, to have Remission of
Sins, and an Inheritance with them that are Sanctified, is, to be
turned from the Darkness in the Heart, unto the Marvelous Light
(that had long shined uncomprehended) to wit, the GOSPEL,
which is called both the Light and Power of God.
The same Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans, is more
express concerning the holy Nature and Efficacy of the
Light to Salvation, when he thus exhorts them; The Night
is far spent, the Day is at hand; Let us therefore cast off the Works
of Darkness, and put on the Armour of Light: Let us walk honestly
as in the Day, not in Rioting and Drunkenness, not in Chambring
and Wantonness, not in Strife and Envy; but put ye on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the Flesh, to fulfill the Lusts
thereof. From whence I shall briefly remark three Things,
greatly to our Purpose, and the Truths Defence in this
Matter.
1. That there is an absolute Opposition, betwixt Light and
Darkness; as Darkness can only Vail the Light, from the
Understandings of Men; So Light only can Discover and Dispel
that Darkness. Or thus, That the Light Manifests and Condemns
the Works of Darkness; for, what Communion hath Light with
Darkness.
2. That in the Light there is ARMOUR, which being put
on, is able to Conquer the Darkness, and Secure the
Soul, from the evil of it; otherwise it would be very
strange, that the Apostle should exhort the People to put
it on.
3. That putting on the Armour of the Light, and putting
on the Lord Jesus Christ (the Light of the World) are
Synonimous, or one and the same thing; for it is for one
and the same End, as may be observed from the Words,
Let us put on the Armour of Light, and walk Honestly, as in the
Day, not in Rioting and Drunkenness, not in Chambring and
Wantonness, not in Strife and Envying.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for
the Flesh, to fulfil the Lusts thereof.
I hope then, Neither will it be disallow'd, that Christ
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is that Light, with which Men are Inlightned, (but more of
that anon) nor is that Light, Men are exhorted to Obey,
a Naked and Insufficient, but a Searching, Expelling, Powerful
and Arming Light, against Darkness, and all its Unfruitful
Works, and consequently SAVING.
Thus the Beloved Disciple testifies very emphatically,
in his first Epistle, where he gives us a Relation of the Apostolical
Mission: This then is the Message which we have
heard of him, and declare unto you; That God is Light, and in
him is no Darkness at all; if we say, we have Fellowship with
him, and walk in Darkness, we Lye, and do not the Truth; But if
we walk in the Light, as he is in the Light, we have Fellowship
one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth
us from all Sin.
Here is a brief Stating of the whole Great Case of Salvation:
(1.) What God is; Light. (2.) Who can have no
Fellowship with him; such as walk in Darkness (that is Sin.)
(3.) Who have Fellowship with him; such as walk in the
Light, as he is Light. (4.) the Reason why, is given; because
such as walk in the Light, are there sure experimentally
to feel the Vertue of Christ's Blood, to cleanse them from all Unrighteousness;
Where observe, that the Light's leading out
of Darkness, that is, Unrighteousness, is the same with the
Blood of Jesus Christ cleansing from all Sin; Sin and Darkness,
and to be cleansed from the one, and to be translated from the other,
is equivalent; otherwise, a Man might be delivered from
Darkness, and walk in the Light, and not be cleansed from
Sin, which is that Darkness; a thing Absurd and Impossible: In
short, they go together.
By this 'tis evident, that the Light being walkt in, doth
directly lead to God, and Fellowship with him, who is the
Saving Light and Health of all Nations; and consequently,
that the Light leads to Eternal Salvation.
Many are the Denominations that are given in Scripture
to one and the same Being, or Condition; Christ is called, The
Word, the Light, the Saviour, Emmanuel, a Rock, a Door, a Vine, a
Shepherd, &c. A State of Sin is sometimes called, Darkness,
Death, Disobedience, Barrenness, Rebellion, Stiff-neckedness,
Eating of Sowr Grapes; And Wicked Men, Bryars,
Thorns, Thistles, Tares, Dead Trees, Wolves, Goats, &c. On
the contrary, a State of Conversion, is sometimes expressed,
by such words, as, Purged, Refined, Washed, Cleansed,
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Sanctified, Justified, Led by the Spirit, Baptized by one Spirit
into one Body, Regenerated, Redeemed, Saved, Bought with a
Price, &c. And Persons so qualified, The Children of God,
Children of Light, Heirs of Glory, Lambs, Sheep, Wheat; And
that by which they became or continued thus, Light, Spirit,
Fire, Sword, Hammer, Power, Grace, Seed, Truth, Way, Life,
Blood, Water, Bread, Word, Unction, that leadeth into all
Truth; All which respectively, is but one and the same
in Nature: That is, Sin or a Sinful State is so variously denominated
from the divers Operations and Discoveries of the Nature of
it in Wicked Men.