Some Gospel Truths Opened, Part 4
The next thing that I am to pro… is this; Namely, That by … Jesus Christ, the sonne of th… Virgin, the World was made And here I shall be brief, …ving touched on it alrea… Only I shall lay down some… the Scriptures, that hold for this to be a truth, and sop… to the next things that I…tend to speak of.
ANd therefore in the f… place, see Heb. 1. 1, 2. wh… the Apostle is speaking of … Sonne of God, which So… was borne of the Virgin M… according to these Script… mentioned before, Matth. 18, to 23. Luke 2. Matth. 3. … where God himself saith, T… is my beloved fonne, &c. T… Sonne of God, saith the Ap… stle, by whom God hath spoken to us, by him also he made the Worlds. And Col. 1. the Apostle speaking of the deliverance of the Saints, saith, Who hath delivered you front the power of darknesse, and translated you into the Kingdome of his dear Sonne, in whom we have Redemption through his blood, even the forgivenesse of sinnes. And is that all? No, but He is (also) the image of the invisible God, ver. 15. The first born of every Creature. And in ver. 16, 17. By him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be Thrones, or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers: all things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Also Heb. 1. 10. it is thus written of this Sonne of God, Christ Jesus the sonne of Mary, And then Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the Earth, and the Heavens are the work of thy hands. And again, John 1. and the first nine verses, the Evangelist or Apostle, speaking of the Son, saith, In the beginning was the Word, which Word was the Son, Rev. 19. 12, 13. This Word or Son was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men; And the light shined in the darknesse, and the darknesse comprehended it not. But in the ninth verse of this first Chapter of Joh. it is written, That was the true light, which lighteth every one that cometh into the world. Now seeing the Lord hath brought me thus farre; and because the Quakers by wresting this Scripture, do not onelyonly split themselves upon it, but endeavor also to split others, I shall therefore, before I proceed any further' speak a few words to it; and they are these that follow.
The Apostle in these nine first Verses, or most of them, is speaking of the Divinity, or Godhead of the Sonne of Mary, and shewing that he made the World: Now in this ninth verse he speaketh of Man as he is in his comming into the world, and not as he is a regenerate person. Now every man, as he comes into the world, receives a light from Christ as he is God, which light is the Conscience, that some call Christ, though falsly. This Light, or Conscience, will shew a man that there is a God, and that this God is Eternal, Rom. 1. 20. This light doth discover this Eternal God, by his works in the world; for saith the Scripture before named, The invis…ble things of him (meaning God) from the Creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; even his eternal power and Godhead. This light also will reprove of sinne, or convince of, and make manifest sins against the Law of this Eternal God: So, that man, before he is regenerate, is able by that light to know that sins against the Law, are sins against God, as is manifested in the unconverted Pharisees, who, (as Christ told them) had neither the love of God, nor the word of God abiding in them, John 5. 38, 42. yet knew sins against the Law to be sins; for they were offended at a woman for committing adultery, which act was forbidden, Mat. 5. 27, 28. by the Law; and ti… said also, they were convicted of sinne by their own consciences, John 8. 7, 8, 9, 10.
Again, the Apostle writing to the Corinthians, and admoni…hing them to walk orderly, 1 Cor. 11. 14. turnes them to nature it selfe, saying, Doth not even Nature it self teach you &c. This Light surely is that wherewith Christ as he is God, hath enlightned every man that commeth into the world, which doth convince of sins against the law of God. Therefore, as the Apostle saith, Rom. 1. 20. They are left without excuse. That is, they have their own conscience that doth shew them there is a God; and that this God is to be served and obeyed: and the neglect of this will be sure to damn them, though the obedience to the Law will not save them because they are not able to make a full recompence to God for the sins that are past; neither are they able for the time to come, to yield a fall, con…in… al, and compleat obedience …o the law of this Alm… … finite, and Etern…l … as many as are of … of … for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to doe them. *If works would do it, what need as there of Faith? But it is evident that works will not …ve, becau… there must be … in the blo…d of Jesus the Son of Mary.But that no man is justified by the works of the law, it is evident: For the just shall live by faith, Gal. 3. 10, 11.
But now, though Christ, as he is God, doth give a light to every one that cometh into the world, which light is the conscience (as they themselves confesse) yet it doth not therefore follow that this conscience is the spirit of Christ, or the work of grace, wrought in the heart of any man whatsoever; for every one hath conscience, yet every one hath not the spirit of Christ: For Jude speaks of a company of men in his days, who had not the spirit of Christ, Jude 19. These be they who separate themselves, (saith he) sensual, having not the spirit. Yea, Heathens, Turks, Jewes, Pagans, Atheists, have that also that doth convince of sinne, and yet are so farre from having the spirit of Christ in them, that it is their great delight to serve their lusts, this world, their sinnes; whereas the Apostle saith plainly, If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sinne, but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake. So that those who are alive to their sinnes,Rom. 8. 10 have not the spirit of Christ. Nay, let me tell you, the very Devils themselves,Jude 6. who were thrown from their first state for sinne, 2 Pet. 2. 4. have such a taste of their horrible sins, that when they did but suppose that Jesus was come to put an end to their tyrannical dealing with the world, and to bring them to judgement for their sinnes (to which they know they shall be brought) it made them cry out, Art thou com… to torment us before Mat. 8. 26.the time? James doth also signifie thus much to us, where he saith, The Devils also believe, and tremble, James 2. 19. Which beliefe of theirs is not a believing in Christ to save them; for they know he did not take hold on their Nature, Heb. 2. but they do beleeve that Christ will come to their everlasting torment; and the belief of this doth make these proud Spirits to tremble.
Again, Man at his coming into the world hath this conscience given him, which doth convince of sinne, John 1. 9. John 8. 9. yet man as he commeth into the world, hath not the spirit of Christ in him; for that must be received afterward, by the preaching of the word, which is preached by the Ministers and servants of Jesus Christ. This is Gods usual way to communicate of his spirit into the hearts of his Elect; and this is … in so many words, where (Peter preaching to a certaine number, the Scrpture saith, While Peter yet spake these words, the holy Ghost, o… holy Spirit, fell on all those that heard the Word, And again, in Galat. 3. verse 2. & 5. compared together, Received ye the spirit by the works of the Law. (saith the Apostle) or by the hearing of Faith? or the Gospel, which is the word of faith preached by us? Which Spirit, as Christ saith, the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, n…ither knoweth him, though his children shall have fellowship with him, to the great comfort of their owne souls, John 14. 16, 17.
But now, this mercilesse butcherer of men, the Devil, that he might be sure to make the soule fall short of glory, if possible, endeavours to perswade the soule, that its state is good; that it hath the spirit of Christ in it; and for a proofe of the same, saith he, turne thy mind inward, and listen within, and see if there be not that within thee that doth convince of sin: Now the poor soule, finding this to be so, all on haste (if it be willing to professe) through ignorance of the Gospel, Claps in with these motions of in own conscience, which doth command to abstain from this evil, and to practice that good; which if neglected, will accuse and torment for the same neglect of others, (Rom. 2. 15) both now and hereafter.
Now the soule seeing that there is something within that convinceth of sinne, doth all on a sudden close with that▪ supposing it is the spirit of Christ, and so through this mistake is carried away with the teachings and convictions of its owne Conscience (being misinformed by the Devil) unto the works of the law; under which, though it work all its d…ys, and labour with might and maine, yet it never will be able to appease the wrath of God, nor get from under the curse of the Law, nor get from under the guilt of one sinful thought the right way, which is to be done by believing what another man hath done by himselfe,Rom. 5. 15. Heb. 1. 2, 3. without us on the crosse, without the gates of Jerusalem. See for this, 1 Pet. 2. 24. Heb. 13. 12. The one saith he bare our sins in his own body on the tree; the other saith it was done without the gate.
And thus the poor soule is most horribly carried away headlong, and thrown down violently under the curse of the Law, under which it is held all its dayes, if God of his meer mercy prevent not; and at the end of its life doth fall into the very belly of Hell.
Again, that the Devil might be sure to carry on his design, he now begins to counterfeit the work of grace: Hence he is very subtil, and doth transforme himselfe into an Angel of light, 2 Cor. 11. 14. Now he makes the soule beleeve that he is its friend, and that he is a Gospel-Minister; and if the soule will but be led by what shall be made known unto it by the light (or conscience) within, it shall not need to fear, but it shall do well.
Now he counterfeits the new Birth, perswading them that it is wrought by following the light that they brought into the …world with them. Now he begins also to make them run through difficulties; and now like Baals Priests, they must lance themselves with knives, &c. Now they must wear no hatbands; now they must live with bread and water; now they must give heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of Devils, which bids them abstaine from marriage, and commands them to abstain from meates, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving, of them which love and know the truth, as in 1 Tim. 4. 1, 2, 3. Now they must not speak, except their spirit moves them, (I doe not say the spirit of Christ) though when it moves, they will speak such sad blasphemies, and vent such horrible Doctrines, that it makes me wonder to see the patience of God, in that he doth not command, either the ground to open her mouth, and swallow them up, or else suffer the Devil to fetch them away alive, to the astonishment of the whole world.
Object. But you will say, Doth not the Scripture say that it is the spirit of Christ that doth make manifest or convince of sin? John 16. 8.
Answ. Yes, it doth so. But for the better understanding of this place, I shall lay downe this; namely, That there are two things spoken of in the Scriptures, which doe manifest sin, or convince of sin.
First, the Law, as saith the Apostle, Rom. 3. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight, viz. Gods sight: For by the Law is the knowledge of sin.
2. The Spirit of Christ doth make manifest, or reprove of sinne, as it is written, John 16. 8. 9. And when he (the Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sinne, of righteousnesse, and of judgement; of sin, because they believe not on me, saith the Son of Mary, which is Christ.
Now, the Law doth sometimes by its own power manifest sin without the spirit of Christ;Mat. 27. 3, 4, 5. He hanged himselfe immediately after. as in the case of Judas who was convinced of the sin of marther, which made made him cry out, I have sinned; yet at that time he was so farre from having the spirit of Christ in him, that he was most violently possessed of the Devil, Luke 22. 3, 4.
Again, Sometimes the spirit of Christ takes the Law, and doth effectually convince of sin, of righteousnesse, and judgment to come.
Quaer. But you will say, How should I know whether I am convinced by the Law alone, or that the Law is set home eff…ctually by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus upon my Conscience?
Answ. Unto this I answer. First, when the Law doth convince by its own power, without the help of the spirit of Christ, it doth only convince of sins against the Law; as of swearing, lying, stealing, murdering, adultery, covetousness, and the like. I say it doth only make manifest sins against the Law, pronouncing an horrible curse*Gal. 3. 10 against thee, if thou fulfill it not, and so leaves thee; but it gives thee no strength to fulfill it compleatly, and continually, (which thou must do, if tho… wilt be saved thereby) Now thy own strenth being insufficient for these things, having lost it in Adam, thou art a breaker of the Law. Here the Law finds thee in the Sins, and condemns thee for thy sins: but gives thee no power to come wholly out of them: neither doth it shew thee thy right Saviour, to save thee from them*For a proo… here of take the carriage of the Pharisees towards our Saviour, who while they trusted in Moses, crucified Jesus, … Cor. 2. 8. (which is the son of the Virgin Mary, the Man Christ Jesus) but commands thee upon pai… of eternal d…mnation to continue in all things that are written in the book of the Law to do them, Gal. 3. 10. And therefore if thou hast been convinced of no other Sins, but wh…t are against the Law, for all thy convictions and horrour of Conscience, thou mayest be but a Natural…man at the best, and so unde… …he curse, Gal. 3. 10.
But,Objection perhaps thou wilt say, I am not only convinced of my sins against the law, I have also some power against my sins so that I do in some considerable measure, abstain from those things that are forbidden in the Law.
This thou mayest have, and do, as thou thinkest perfectly, as those blinde Pharises called Quakers, do think that they also do, and yet be but a natural man: And therefore I pray consider that place in Rom. 2. 14. the Apostle there speaks on this wise, concerning the Gentiles obedience to the law, For when the Gentiles which have not the law, do by N…ture the things contained in the law, these having not the law are a law unto themselves; which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts. Which work of the law, Christ as he is God, hath enlightned every one withall, that cometh into the world, Joh. 1. 19. which as the Quakers say, doth convince of Sin, yet of no other than sins against the Law: and therefore must needs be all one light, or law; for the law is light, Prov. 6. 23. and gives the knowledge of Sin, Rom. 3. 20. And therefore as I said before, so say I now again, If thy convictions are not other then for the sins against the Law, though thy obedience be the strictest that ever was wrought by any man (except the Lord Jesus, the son of Mary) thou art at the best but under the Law, and so consequently under the Curse, and under the wrath of God, Gal. 3. 10. Joh. 3. 36. whether thou believest it or not.
But now the second thing,Answ. 2. how thou shouldest know, whether the Spirit of Christ doth effectually set home the law upon thy Conscience, or not; And therefore to speak directly to it; If the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, doth set home the Law effectually; then the same Spirit of Christ shewes thee more sin then the Sinnes against the Law. For first it shews thee, That all thy righteousnesse is but as filthy-rags, Isa. 64. 6. Thou seest, all thy praying, meditation, hearing, reading, almes-deeds, fasting, reformation, and whatsoever else thou hast done, doest, or canst doe being an unbeliever, deserves at the hands of God his curse, and condemnation, and that for ever: And therefore thou art so far from trusting to it that in some measure thou even loathest it, and art ashamed of it, as being a thing abominable, both in Gods sight, and thine own.*Phil. 3. 8. Thou countest thy own performances, when at best, and thine own righteousnesse, a bed too short to stretch thy selfe upon; and a covering 109 narrow to wrap thy selfe in, Isa. 28. 20.
And these things thou seest not overly, or slightly, and as at a great distance, but realy, and seriously, and the sense of them sticks close unto thee. Secondly, it shews thee that thou hast no faith in the man Christ Jesus by nature, and that though thou hadst no other sins, yet thou art in a perishing state because o… unbelief, according to that 16. of John v. 9. of Sin, because they believe not on me. If therefore thou hast been convinced arigh… by the Spirit, thou hast seen that thou hadst no faith in Christ the Sonne of Mary, the Sonne of God, before conversion. It shews thee also, that thou canst not believe in thine owne strength, though thou wouldst never so willingly, yea though thou wouldst give all the world (if thou hadst it) to believe,Because, faith is the gift of God, Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. thou couldst not. In the next place It will shew thee, that if thou doest not believe in the Man Christ Jesus, And that with the faith of the operation of God, *Col. 2. 12.thou wilt surely perish, and that without remedy. Also it shews thee that if thou hast not that righteousnesse, which the Man Christ Jesus accomplished in his own person for sinners, I say if thou be not clo thed with that, in stead of thine owne, thou art gone for ever and therefore saith Christ, (speaking of the Spirit) when he is come, he shall reprove the world of Sir, and of righteousness too, That is, The Spirit shall convince men and women of the sufficiencie, of that righteousness that Christ in his humane nature hath fulfilled: So that they need not run to the law for righteousness; for Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse, to every one that believeth, Rom. 10. 4. Again, if the Spirit of Jesus set eth home the Law upon thy conscience, thou wilt freely confesse, that although the law curseth, & condemneth thee for thy sins, and gives thee no power either to fulfill it, or to come out of thy sins: yet God is just in giving that law, And the Law is …oly, and the Commandment hol, and just, and good, Rom. 7. 12. Lastly, it also convinceth of Judgement to come; He (viz. the Spirit) shall reprove the world of Sin, of Righteousnesse, yea, and of Judgement too. *Acts 24. 25.Then doth the soul see, that that very Man, that was borne of the Virgin Mary, crucified upon the crosse without the gates of Jerusalem, shall so come againe; even …hat same Jesus, in like manner, Acts 1. 11as he was seen to go up from his Disciples. Yea, they that are thus convinced by the Spirit of Christ, know that God hath appointed a day, in which he will Judge the world in righteousnesse by that Man whom he hath ordained,Act. 17. 31 which is the Man Christ Jesus: for it is he that is ordained of God to be the Judge of quicke and dead, Acts 10. 42.
And now, O man, or woman, who ever thou art, that art savingly convinced by the Spirit of Christ, thou hast such an endless desire after the Lord Jesus Christ, that thou canst not be satisfied or con…ent with any thing below the blood of the sonne of God to purge thy conscience withall; even that blood that was shed without the gates,Heb. 9. 14. Heb. 13. 12. Also thou canst not be at quiet, till thou doest see by true faith, that the righteousnesse of the son of Mary is imputed unto thee, and put upon thee, Rom. 3. 21, 22, 23. Then also thou canst not be at quiet, till thou hast power over thy lusts and corruptions, till thou hast brought them into Subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then thou wilt never think that thou hast enough faith. No, thou wilt be often crying out, Lord, give me more precious faith, John 16. 5, 7.Lord, more faith in thy righteousnesse, 1 Tim. 2. 5.more faith in thy blood and death, more faith in thy resurrection: And Lord, Heb. 7. 24, 25.more faith in this, that thou art now at the right hand of thy Father in thy humane Nat…r, making intercession for me a …iserable sinner. And then O poor Soul, if thou comme…h but hither, thou wilt never have an itch…ng eare after another Gospel. Nay, thou wilt say, If a Preshyter, or Anabap…st, or Independent or Ranter, Gal. 1. 8.or Qu… ker, or Papist, or Pope, or an Angel from heaven preach anyother Gospel, let him be accu…s…d, again, and again. And thus have I briefly shewed you, First, how Christ,Rom. 1. 20. as he is God, doth enlighten every man that comes into the world. Secondly, what this light will doe, vi… shew them that there is a God by the things that are made; and that this God must be worshipped Thirdly, I have shewed you the difference between that light, and the Spirit of Christ the Saviour. Fourthly, I have also shewed you how you should know the one from the other, by their several effects. As first, the first light convinces of sins, but of none other then sins against the Law; neither doth it shew the soul a Saviour, or deliver (for that is the work of the Spirit) from the curse vvherevvith it doth curse it:Joh. 6. 44. But I shevved you,Joh. 16. 24 that vvhen the Spirit of Christ comes, and vvorkes effectually, it doth not only shevv men their sinnes against the Lavv; but also shevvs them their lost condition, if they believe not in the righteousness, blood, death, resurrection, and intercession of Jesus Christ the Son of Mary, the Son of God. And thus much I thought necessary to be spoken at this time,Mat. 3. 17. touching the nature of Conviction.Heb. 1. 9.