Truth Held Forth and Maintained, Part 1 · Chapter 1
CHAPTER I. Concerning the Light of Gods quickening Spirit by Jeſus Chriſt.
THe Light of Chriſt is the Power of God, by which the Righteous have been preſerved in all Ages, from Abel to Noah, Abraham, Iſaac, Jacob, Joſeph, and Moſes, in whoſe day the Lord wrought wonderful great D… liverances, by the Power of his Light, figured in the … by Day, and in the Pillar of Fire by Night, by which was Iſrael's Deliverances from their Enemies, which periſhed in the midſt of Darkneſs, Exod. 13.21. Now Iſrael in that day wer commanded To remain ſtill in their Minds, and not to walk after their own Luſt …nd Evil wayes; in which ſtate of …dience to the Li…h… they came to witneſs great Deliverances; but when Iſrael, through their Diſobedience, fe… back in their Minds, from the Light and Power of Gods Spirit, having their Minds turned by the Power of the Enemy, to look back after the Fleſh Pots of Aegypt, them remained Death, by which they ſlighted the Lords Mercy, deſpiſing his Gift inwardly, as they deſpiſed the … outwardly, and ſaving, That their Souls … …read, Numb. 21.6. for which cauſe of Diſobedience, the Lord ſent firey Serpents, whereof the People became wounded and many dyed in that ſtate; then the Lord in reader Mercy towards the penitent preſerved a number, that had not ſinned unto Death, whoſe Redemption was wrought through the Power of God, by lifting up the bra…en …pent in the bewildered ſtate, that whoſoever, in … to the Light of Gods Power, come to be… the … …erpent, received …; which was a true … Gods … full…led in this Goſpel Day … Chriſt, … divine Light is to be liſted up above all other things in the heart of man, even as they were to look to him by Faith, a… he was to be outwardly lifted up on the … their ſins, dye and riſe again; for as Moſes …ted up the … Serpeat in the Wilderneſs, even ſo maſt the S… of … be lifted up, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not pe…, but have …terna… Life, John 3.14, 15. And this is that L…g…t which hath been the Path of the Juſt in all Ag…, by which the holy men of God were enlighte…ed to ſee the Glory of God to come, in ſending his Son Jeſus Chriſt to be a Light to the whole world, that as many as believed in him might be ſaved; for they that believe in Chriſt believe in the Light, as he is Light, which redeems the Soul and keeps it alive unto God; by which the Soul comes to be redeemed from the Stings of the old …erpent, the Power of the Devil, whoſe Power the Light makes maniſeſt, and by Obedience to the Light the Soul receives p…er from God, which ſets up the Light above all other Lope in the heart of man which muſt be overcome by the Power of Gods Spirit, which is Light and Liſe, before the Soul … receive any aſſurance of God in Chriſt; for he that loveth any thing more than Chriſt is not found worthy to receive him, Mat. to. 27, 38, 39. for where the heart is ſet in the love of a… thing, more than to love the Light, the Soul of that man remains in the broad way, where the venomous Ser…ents …e which draw the heart and mind from the Love of God in…o a ſtate of ſinning againſt the Gi… of his div…e Light, which is the Gift of his Spirit, purchaſed by the death and Reſurre… of his Son, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt which ſome know no mo… of than to call the gift of Gods divine Light in the hearts o… …, A Stinking Vapour from Hell, and The Reliques of … which they have ſaid, are the Checks of a Natura… …, which words have proceeded from the Mouthes of … Prieſt, in New England, which are no leſs than … Words, by them, in whom no go…d ſeed can take … for their Diſchedience is againſt the Light, for which the light is their Condemnation, John 3.19, 20. for the … Chriſt is the Power of God, by which the Righte… is have been preſerved in all …ges, which the faithful …, to the ſaving of their Souls, in this day; for the light of Chriſt is the Gift of God, and the Gift of God by …, Chriſt is …ernal Life to them that believe; for it is the Seed of the Kingdom ſown in the hearts of the faithful, who witneſs their Life in Chriſt the hope of Glory in whom is the ſu…hing of things paſt, wherein the faithful Servants of God …ed and dyed in the holy Faith of Gods Promiſes, … Chriſt ſhould … me in the fullneſs of time, for a Light … the whole World… according to the Prophecy of Iſ…, … 58 8. Then ſhall thy Light break forth as the M…r…ing, and thine Health ſhall ſpring forth ſpeedly, and thy Righteouſneſs ſhall go before; the Glory of the Lord ſhall be thy Reward. Which …th manife…, that the Prophet fore-ſaw Chriſt to come, the Covenant or Light, and Promiſe of God to the G…ike, of which Steek we are, who have received a meaſure of Gods Spirit, which is of the divine Light and Nature of Chriſt, the true S…ed of his Kingdom, which by meaſure hath been ſown in the Hearts of all the Sons and Daughters of Ad…, To open their blind Eyes, to bring out the Priſoner out of the Priſon Houſe, I…a. 42.6, 7. which is that which the Prophet declared of Chriſt, the Foundation of Life, in whoſe Light the faithful ſee Light. Pſal. 36, 9. Here David ſaw God in Chriſt, who was to …, and in that day was a Rule to light D…vid in his duplicate page duplicate page … goings and Incomings, by which he received the heavenly …ehes or Gods Love, to the ſaving …f his Soul, which is the Portion of all the faithful, who receive Chriſt in the love of his Light, which is no leſs than Life Eternal to all them that believe in his Name; for his Name is Light, and this Light hath been preached to every Creature under the Heavens, Col. 1.23. which is that Light which John was ſent to preach, Chriſt the true Light, that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World, John 1.9. and this Light opened their Underſtandings to know the Scriptures, Luke 24 15, to 29. for Obe…ence to the Light of Chriſt brings into the Knowledge of … by which there comes to be a right underſtanding of what i… contained in the holy Scriptures; for by the Spirit of God in Chriſt were the holy men of God enlightned, and gave forth the holy Scriptures, as they were moved by the holy Ghoſt.
Now mind, That of this Light hath every man received a …ſure in his heart, it being the Seed of the Kingdom, and …geth forth Fruit in good Ground, Mat. 13.4, 5, 6, 7, 8. … not in all other Grounds, which ſignifie dark unclean ſtoney and hard Hearts, in which the Seed hath been ſown, but only thrives and brings forth Fruit acceptable to God in the good Ground, that is, the honeſt faithful Heart, which yeilds Obedience unto that which the giſt of Gods divine Light requires, it being the Lords Talent, Mat. 25. wherein we find Chriſt did declare, concerning the Work of his Kingdont, by the Parable of the ten Virgins, and ſloathful Servant, both having received the Seed of the Kingdom, the Lords Talent, which is a Gift of his divine Light & Spirit of Truth, which had they been faithful thereunto, Salvation had not been wanting; for when men receive of the Lords heavenly Gift of divine Light, be it more or leſs, yet through faithful Obedience it is ſufficient for their Salvation; for whether more or leſs, yet the Lord requires his own with profit, and where much is given, much alſo is required; but he that is not faith…ul in that which is little, ſhall neuer be made Ruler of that which is greater, but that which he ha…h po…mpr…ved ſhall be taken away, and given to him that hath improved the Gift of God for the Hon…nur of his holy Name… and comfort of mans own Soul, Mat. 25 28, 29. which is ma…er of great concern, for all to be w…le, an diligent in the Work of the Lord; for the diligent gain Heaven…. Riches when the ſloathful are ſent emp…y away, which will be the Portion of all the … that are found living in a careleſs ſtate, ſpending their time in that which brings diſhonour to the Name of the Lord, and ſorrow to the Soul o…h…m that ſo liveth; for the Light of the Wicked ſhall b… put out and the Sparks of his Fire ſhall not ſh…ne, and the Light ſhall be Darbneſs in his Tabernacle, and h… Candle ſhall be put out with him Job 18.5, 6. but in the faithful ſhall the Light ſhine, which begets the heart and mind into good Works, that glorifie God their Father which is in Heaven.
Now the Light of Gods Spirit in the Son of his Love, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is that Light …hich the Lords People, called Quakers, profeſs to be the Rule of their Life whoſe Life is the light of men, John 1.4. and this light hath been a Rule to the faithful in all Ages, Pſal. 27 1. The Lord is my Light and Salvation, and he ſhall bring forth thy Right…ouſheſ… the light, and thy Judgments as the noon day. In this the Righteous rejoyce, and give Thanks at the remembrance of his Holineſs. Here Light is ſown for the Righteous, and Gladneſs for the Ʋpright in Heart, Pſal. 97.11, 12. And again, he ſpeaketh of Chriſt to be the Light, For with thee is the Fountain of Life, in th… …ight ſhall we ſee Light, Pſal. 36.9. O ſend out thy Light and … Truth; let them bring me unto thy holy Hill, and thy Tabernacle, Pſal 43.3. And the Spirit in the Bropher ſaith, Ariſe, ſhine, for thy Light is come, and the Glory of the Lord is riſen upon thee, Iſa. 60.1. And the Gentile ſhall come to thy Light, and the Kings to the Brightneſs of thy R…ſing, verſ 3. And many more inſtances from the holy Prophets Writings may be produced to that effect; but theſe are ſufficient to prove Chriſt the Everlaſting Foundation of L…fe and Light, in whom the faithful of God in all Ages have built their Faith, in the Light of God in Chriſt, which gave them …ull aſſurance in the ſame Faith, That God in his due time would enlarge his Covenant of Light to all Nat…ons, by ſending h… Son Jeſus Chriſt, who hath appeared in the liken…ſs of ſinful fleſh to take away ſin in the fl…ſh by p… forming the Will of God the Father, to full…r Death in a Body of F…ſh, for the Redemption of all men; and this is Jeſus which ſhall ſave his People from their ſins, Mat. 1.21. By which it is evident, That the Work o… God by Jeſus Chriſt, is to ſave People from their ſins. Then what is the ſtate of ſuch man who profeſs themſelves to be the Miniſters of Chriſt, and teach People of an imperfect ſtate, never to be free from ſin in this Life? (concerning which at preſen… ſhall omit, leaving it in order for another Head, in which God willing) I ſhall clear by ſufficient Teſtimony of holy Sempture Proof, and at preſent proceed in Vind…cation of the Light againſt the Lyes, by which evil minded men reproa… the People of God, and diſhonour his holy Truth, in which the ſaithful live (each according to his meaſu…e of Light and … Spirit of Grace, Light & Life by Je…ds Chriſt, which leadeth them to acknowledge God the Father, Word and Spirit, Chriſt the Word, Life and Light, and the holy Ghoſt, which … the Soirit of God the Father … Jeſus Chriſt the Son, and Lord of Life and Light, which was conceived by the holy Ghoſt and brought forth by the Virgin Mary, betrayed by Judis, ſuffered under Pontius Pilate, roſe again the third day, aſeen led into Heaven, where now he ſits in all Righteouſneſs and Holineſs with God the Father, in full Power, Maieſty and Dominion, being God over all, and in all for evermore, whom the World hath in great diſpute, and many Controverſies have riſen, to the deſtroying of many Thouſands of Peoples lives, when that it is plain, That Chriſt came not to d…ſtroy men… lives, but to ſave and make alive, leaving this Example. That Wheat and Tares ſhould grow together until the Harveſt leſt in gathering the Tares, they root up alſo the Wheat with them. Mat. 13 28 29 30. from which ſaving Chriſt proceeds to another Parable, comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a grain of Muſtard-ſ…ed, being account…d the leaſt of all Grain Seeds, which being grown up, it becom…th the greateſt among H…rbs, and b…cometh a Tree that the B…rds of th… Air come to lodge in the Branches thereof, Mat. 13.31, 32. and in the 33 ver…. Chriſt likens the Kingdom unto leven hid in three meaſures of Mea… until the whole was leavened. Theſe things were ſpoke in Parables, that the Saying of the Prophet might be fullfilled, in the …ttering things which have been kept ſecret from the Foundation of the World, which now is manifeſt by the Light, through the Death and Reſurrection of Chriſt Jeſus, and alſo left upon Record in the holy Scriptures of Truth, that in the light of the Lord God, People may learn, and come to u… derſtand, that Peoples periſhing is not altogether for want of Knowledge, but for want of Obedience to that meaſure of Light which they have received; for he that is faithful in that which is little, is made Ruler over more; for as the Grain of Muſtard Seed hath the Light been …own in the hearts of many, which have received as one Talent, and in others who have received more; ſo that where much is given, much is required; and where more or leſs, if it light on good ground, it becomes the greateſt among Herbs in the Lords Garden, and bringeth forth Fruit abundantly, to the Praiſe and Honour of Gods holy Name; alſo, the little Leaven had in three meaſures of Meal, implyes the whole man, till the whole becomes leavened into a new lump of the heavenly Nature of Gods Kingdom in Chriſt Jeſus, which as men come into a true Chriſtian ſtate of Obedience to the Gift of Gods divine Light, & quickening Word or his Spirit, which hath been handed …orth through the Death and Reſurrection of the Lord of Life and Light, they (through Obedience) may come to witneſs Eternal Life by Jeſus Chriſt. Which things, one would think, are ſufficient to incourage all to yeeld their Obedience to the g…t of Gods divine Light; for there is not a Thought of the Heart, nor an In…ent of the Mind, but the Light makes it manifeſt, which to obey is …, and to diſobey is Death; for to be carnally minded is Death, but to be ſpiritually minded is life and peace; Rom. ….6. For while men …emain in obedience to the Light, they are ſpiritually minded, in which ſtate they are …ervants to Righ…ouſneſs, but while men are in Diſobedience to the Light, it is accounted before the …ord as Rebellion, which is as the … Witchcraft; for it is the Willing and Obed…ent that ſhall … the good Land; which … only extends to the Chriſt of … to the L…ght, who walk in the right as … …dallght and …n Chriſt the … and Light, hav… they Feth…ſh p…one with anoth…, and the Blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſ… … from their ſins, 1 John 1 7 for Chriſt is the Light … the …oeld and he that followeth Chriſt ſhall not walk in Dark… … have the Light of Life, Joh. 8.12. Now … this …, it … the D…obed…ent, whoſe Eyes are bl…nde… … of … … Gor. 4.4. Awake, thou that ſleepeſt in ſin, and Chriſt will give thee Light; for all things that are reproveable in the he…t of man, are reproved by the Light, for whatſoever doth make manifeſt is Light, Ephe. 5.13, 1…. by which it is manifeſt that mans condemnation is of himſelf, in that he will not be faithful to the Gift of Gods divine Light, becauſe his deeds are evil; for every man that doth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, leſt his Deeds ſhould be reprovea, Joh. 3.19, 20. but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light, that his …e…ds may be manifeſt that they are wrought in God, cap. 3.21. for God in Chriſt is the Fountain and Well ſpring of all Life and Light, in whom the …aithful of God ſhall for evermore remain, in the holy City of heavenly Jeruſalem, where there is no need of Sun, Moon nor Stars to ſhine in it, for the Glory of God righteth it, and Chriſt the Lamb of God, is the Light thereof, and the Nation of them that have been Obedient to the Light of Gods Gift, by Jeſus Chriſt ſhall be ſaved, and ſhall walk in the Light of it, Rev. 21.23, 24. So the God and Father of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is God of all Life and Light, and the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Light, which all men in meaſure have received, that they may yeild their Obedience to the Requirings of it, that by it their Underſtandings may come to be more & more enlarged towards the Lord of Life and Light that by him, through the Power of his Spirit of Grace, they may come throughly to ſee and perceive, to hear and underſtand the things of God, treaſured up in …hriſt for all them that love the appearance of his …ight in their own hearts, which is the gift of his Spirit of …race, which in meaſure all men have received, and it preaches Life and Salvation to all that are found in faithful obedience to it, but it preaches Condemnation, Wo and Miſery to all that live in a known Life of Diſobedience to it; which ſtate of ſo living, is no leſs than to …rucifie the Lord of Life afreſh, and to trample under foot all that ever Chriſt hath done and ſuffered for the Redemption of the Soul of that Man or Woman which is found in a known ſtate of Diſobedience to the Gift of Gods Spirit of Truth, which is that Gift of his divine Light, which will not looſe it, honour, either by the Salvation or Condemnation of all Mankind, even as their Obedience or Diſobedience hath been in this Life, accordingly will be their Reward in the Life to come, which is matter for all to conſider, before the Spirit of God hath leſt ſtriving, and the Day of Gods Grace be over with them that periſh through a Life of known Diſobedience to the Gift of Gods divine Light, which came by Jeſus Chriſt, who is the Author and Finiſher of his own Work, in them that believe.