The True Light Shining in Darkness, Title page 1 – To the reader
THE True Light Shining in Darkness, And dispelling the Mists of Errour arising from the Darkness of Man's heart, &c. promoted by the Prince of Darkness against the Truth of God; in the matter of our JUSTIFICATION: Shewing, That by the deeds of the Law, or Man's own Righteous…ess, no flesh can, or shall be justified in the sight of God.
The First Part.
By THO. TAYLOR, the meanest and unworthiest of the Servants and Ministers of Jesus Christ; and now Pastor to a small Congregational Church in Cambridge.
Rom. 1.21, 22.
Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkned; professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
LONDON, Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside. 1693.
TO THE READER
WHoever thou art, that Readest this small Treatise upon so great a Subject as the matter of mans Justification, before God know that thou art concerned to consider seriously and weigh well in thy mind what is here written, without prejudice; forasmuch as thou art the man, to whom this word is sent, either for the informing and undeceiving thee in this matter, if thou be'st deceived. Or for the confirming thee in the truth and strengthning thy Faith in Christ. If thou be'st already by the teachings of Gods holy Spirit, one that knowest him that is true, and ar… in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ, 1 Joh. 5.20. And we know the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true: and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal Life. And it is immediately added: Little Children, keep your selves from Idols. And though there be many Idols in mans heart; yet this is one of the greatest, and most dangerous, and hardest to be departed from; a mans own righteousness, if it be, but as it were, by the works of the Law: And as we know that an Idol is nothing but the Image and Likeness of that which it is not: So verily; this, (mans own righteousness) is nothing; a meer Imagination of Mans own heart exalted against God: which is not, nor cannot be in Gods sight, and so it should be in thine: Abominable to thee, and abhorred by thee, as it is to him, Job 15.14, 15, 16. What is man, that he should be clean? And he which is born of a Woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteh no trust in his Saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water? And 9.30, 31. If I wash my self with Snow-water, and make my hands never so clean; yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own cloaths shall abhor me. And Luke 16.15. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justifie your selves before men; but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongs… men, is abomination in the sight of God Read therefore this small Treatise, pray t… God that thou mayest read it without preju…dice. To help thee so to do, as much as in me lieth, I declare unto thee three things, namely,
1. That I am not ingaged in Spirit, worldly interest or design with any party now engaged, disputing and contending one against other about these matters; further than for the truths sake, and so far as the truth of the Gospel obligeth me to defend and bear witness to the same, as it may be found to lodge and dwell on the one side or on the other, in any part of it: And perhaps it will sufficiently appear that I am not of that party, that may boast much of this Doctrine which is most true in it self: and yet did not give proof and assurance of hope, that themselves are sincere and sound in the Faith of Christ. The Doctrine may be true in its self, and yet their Faith in the receiving of it be but a dead and a vain Faith; which will never save them, as James 2.17, 18, 19, 20. Even so Faith, if it hath not Works, is dead being alone, Yea, a man may say, Thou hast Faith, and I have Works; shew me thy Faith without thy Works, and I will shew thee my Faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou dost well: The Devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man that Faith without Works is dead? And ungodly men still; though boasting of the Grace of God in works, yet denying indeed the only Lord God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; by turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, Jud. 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
And too many such Professors we have now, (who in Spirit and Practice, Course of Life and Conversation practically deny, what they verbally profess) as they had there, Tit. 1.15, 16. Unto the pure all things are pure: But unto them that are defiled, and unbelieving, is nothing pure; but even their mind and Consci…nce is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. But let not this offend thee, for truth is truth still, and will be for ever, Hebrews 13.7, 8. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose Faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever, Phil. 3.17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Brethren be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so, as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose God is their Belly: And whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things) For our conversation is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashon'd like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
2. Here thou wilt find no carnal weapons, as Oratory, enticing words of mans wisdom, excellency of speech; fierie, if not perverse, disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth. No reasonings after the Flesh and the Wisdom of the World, which cometh to naught: But evidence and demonstration of the Spirit, with power, 2 Cor. 10.3, 4, 5. For though we walk in the Flesh, ((i. e. in the body;) we do not war after the Flesh: i. e. after the carnal mind, which is corrupt and weak.) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 1 Cor. 2.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech, or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech, and my preaching was not with enticing words of mens wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your Faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this World, or of the Princes of this World that come to nought.
3. That the great truth herein declared, opened, demonstrated and applyed; is not mine, nor of mine own; but is the truth of God in Christ Jesus, ministred by the Spirit to the holy Prophets of old, and witnessed by them, who spake not of themselves, but as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. 1.21. For the Prophecy came not in the old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. And declared in the fulness of time by the Son of God, who came from the bosom of the Father, John 1.18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. And John 3.31, 32, 33, 34. He that cometh from above, is above all: he that is of the earth, is earthly, and speaketh of the Earth: he that cometh from Heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal, that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: For God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. And also witnessed by the Holy Apostles chosen of God to that end. Upon which testimony of the holy Prophets and Apostles as the Foundation, Christ himself being the Chief or Head-corner stone, the whole Church of God is built, Ephes. 2.20. And are built upon the foudation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself be-the chief Corner-stone; so that he that refuseth, despiseth and rejecteth this truth in the ministry of us poor, weak, earthen vessels, despiseth not man but God, as Luke 10.16. He that heareth you, heareth me: and he that despiseth you, despiseth me: and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me. And 1 Thes. 4.8. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. Therefore thou art obliged to pay all honour, reverence, obedience and subjection to truth, because it is Gods truth and not mans; and to receive the word, because it is Gods word and not ours; And to receive the Word as it is indeed the word of God and not as the word of Man, is the mystery of effectual or saving Faith: Whereby the Faith of Gods Elect is distinguished from the common and temporary Faith of Hypocrites and temporary professors, 1 Thes. 2.13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. Therefore whatever infirmities thou seest or may see in us, and whatever temptations in our fles…, weaknesses, wants, necessities, emptine…s, nothingness; let not the the word of God be refused or despised: But receive it as if Christ himself was present on Earth in human shape to speak to thee, with his own mouth, Gal. 4.13, 14, 15, 16. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my Flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an Angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness you speak of? for I bear you record, that if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Therefore ask thy heart this question? is this the truth of God or no? If thy heart answereth, No: I do not like it, nor the persons that preach it: Then to the Law and to the testimony; to the holy Prophets and Apostles and to Christ himself; Whose testimonies are all distinctly recorded: and then ask thy heart this question again: Darest thou with a stiff neck and uncircumcised heart always resist the Holy Ghost; as thy Fathers did, so dost thou dare to do; Acts 7.51, Ye stiff necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your Fathers did, so do ye. If thou shouldest dare to refuse all the Prophets and Apostles who spake on earth, yet there is one more, who speaketh from Heaven, even the Son of God himself, and darest thou refuse him also? Heb. 12.25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven: Consider therefore in thy heart; that whatever we are or may be esteemed to be, who are the poor Ministers of Christ; yet though we be nothing, let the Holy Prophets and Apostles be esteemed as something: for they shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel, Mat. 19.28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones, judging the twelve Tribes of Israel. And the true Church of the living Ged which is cloathed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, doth wear them, as a Crown of twelve Stars upon her head: And wilt thou trample them under thy feet? Rev. 12.1. And there appeared a great wonder in Heaven, a Woman cloathed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars: But however though we be nothing, yet let the Son of God, Jesus Christ himself be something! For verily God the Father thinks him to be something: When he hath given him a name that is above every name, that is in Heaven, and that is on the Earth: That every Knee shall bowe and every Tongue confess to him; as Phil. 2.9, 10, 11, 12. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every Knee shall bowe, of things in Heaven, or things in Earth, and things under the Earth; And that every Tongue shall confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more in my absence; work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling. And verily he shall appear to be something at the great day when he shall come to judge the World, and before him shall be gathered all Nations, as Matth. 25.31, 32, 33, 34. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the Holy Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goats: And he shall set the Sheep on his right hand, but the Goats on his left. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the World. And thou thy self also must appear before his judgment seat, 2 Cor. 5.10, 11. For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whither it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also, are made manifest in your Consciences. And Rev. 6.15, 16, 17. And the Kings of the Earth, and the Great men, and the Rich men, and the Chief Captains, and the Mighty men, and every Bond-man, and every Free-man hid themselves in the Dens, and in the Rocks of the Mountains; And said to the Mountains and Rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? And Rev. 20.12, 13, 14, 15. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: And another book was opened, which is the book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the Sea gave up the dead which were in it; and Death and Hell delivered up the dead which were in them: And they were judged every man according to their works. And Death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire: This is the second Death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life, was cast into the Lake of Fire. And this day will come as a Thief in the night, 2 Pet. 3.10. But the day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the night; in the which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the Earth also with the works that are therein shall be burnt up. And Rev. 22.11, 12. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: And he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: And he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: And he that is holy, let him be be holy still. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Well then Reader, whoever thou art; know that the word Kingdom is good Seed, and the Sower is the Son of man, Matth. 13.37. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed, is the Son of man, We are but his under Servants, to minister from him this good seed, and our great Lord is able to bless the seed sown though we be nothing, as 1 Cor. 3.5, 6, 7, 8. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but Ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered: but God gave the increase. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth: But God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth, and he that watereth, are on…: And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour. With 2 Cor. 9.10. Now he that ministreth seed to the sower, doth minister bread for your food, and multiply the seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness. And the ground into which we must sow this seed is the heart, tho' thro' the ear, Matth. 13.9. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. The good ground is the good and honest Heart: The Lord make thine such; and then there will be good fruit brought forth with patience and to perfections, though in different measures and degrees, as, Matth. 13.23. But he that received seed into the good ground, is he that heareth the Word, and understandeth it, which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth some an hundred-fold, some fifty, some thirty. Luke 8.15. But that on the good ground, are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. To thy salvation and God's glory which the Lord grant unto thee: And pray for us his poor Ministers and Servants, and particularly for the meanest and most unworthy of them all,
thy Servant for Christs sake in the Work of the Gospel, Tho. Taylor.