The Quakers Wisdom Descendeth not from Above, Question 1
QUESTION 1. Concerning the Light of Christ.
THO.
Darſon ſaith, the Lights mentioned, viz. natural and ſupernatural are two, and though all have the one, yet but few have the other.
G. W.
Anſ. The life of Chriſt is the Light of men, and that is not natural, but ſpiritual, and thou might as well count the Life of Chriſt natural, as count it (the Light) ſo.
T. D.
Reply 1. The diſtinction of natural or ſupernatural or ſpiritual Light we have, Rom 1.17, 20. Where the revelation of righteouſneſſe in the Goſpel is oppoſed to the knowledge of the God-head, which men attain to by the Creation, Ch 2.14 The Gentiles are ſaid by nature to do the things con…ained in the Law, and are ſaid to be a Law to themſelves; when yet withal 'tis affirmed that they had not the Law (viz. revealed) or the Oracles of God, for they were committed to the Jews only at that time, ch. 3.2. 2. And to that ſilly Argument, that I might count the life of Chriſt natural, as well as the light, I anſw…r, that there is a life of Chriſt natural, (viz. whereof Chriſt is the author as God) as well as ſpiritual (whereof he is the author, as God-man) John 1.3. All things were made by him, with all their qualities and properties, and whatſoever goes to the making them what they are, wh…ch ſo far as it intends life, may be explained by Acts 17.25. He (God) giveth to all life and breath. Or if there be not ſuch a n…ural life, then Plants, Bruits, and all Man…nd have a ſpiritual life (an abſurdity to groſſe to lodge in the brain of any other man, but a Qua…er.)
T. D
charged R.H. with ſaying the true Light hath not co…e over and comprehended thee.
G W.
Anſ. That's falſe, he ſaid no ſuch thing, for the Light hath comprehended thee, but thou art not come into it, nor haſt comprehended it
T. D.
Reply. My credit will go further than thine, G W. R. H did ſay as was related, but perhaps he meant as thou ſaieſt, that I was not come over to c…mprehend the true Light.
Tho. D.
charged us with conſenting that the knowledge o… the Goſpel is vouchſafed to every man.
G.W.
Anſ. No ſuch thing d…d we conſent to, but that there were ſome in darkneſſe, ſo that their ignorance of the Goſpel does not argue that they had not that light in them, that was able o b…ing them to know the Goſpel but rather that they diſobeyed the l…ght of God in them, and liked not to retain God in their k owledge.
T.D.
Reply. My words are, If you meaning be that the Goſpel is vouchſafed by Chriſt to every man, I expect your proof: And R. H. by ſilence conſented tha… that was their meaning, Quak…rs Folly, p. 2. If your mean…ng be that all men have th… Lig…t of the Goſpel w…thin them, only all do not obey it, 'tis contrary to the Scripture. Eph. 5.8. H oppoſes the ſtate of darkneſſe in wh…ch they were, to their preſent ſtate of light; or if you… meaning be (for the words are doubtful) that all men have a ſpiritual capacity to underſtand the Goſpel when preached to them that's falſe, as appears by 1 Cor. 2 14 The na…ural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit o… God, nei…her can he know them, &c. no more than the blind eye can diſcern a viſible Object.
T. D.
brought Pſal. 147.19, 20. and that by the ſtatutes and judgments are meant the ſupernatural light or knowledge of the Goſpel.
G.W.
Anſ. That makes for what I ſaid, for that may be ſhewed to a people which they know not: And this Prieſt hath confuted himſelf, for if theſe ſtatutes were the knowl…dge of the Goſpel, Why did I…rael not know them who had them?
T.D.
Reply. If the Intent of the phraſe, ſhewing, be no more than that the Goſpel was preached, yet even that the Gentiles wanted at that time. The light of the Goſpel did not ſhine to them (as we may ſuppoſe the Sun might do, if all the world were bl…nd) He hath not dealt ſo with any Nation, (i. e. not ſhewed them as to Iſrael) Pſal 147 20. To the Queſtion, Why Iſrael did not know the Statutes, who had them? I anſwer, Ignorance of them is not here attributed to the Jews, but to any other Nation except them. The Relative they hath for the Antecedent any Nation, not Jacob and Iſrael.
T.D.
ſaith, Rom. 2.15. is ſpoken of natural light oppoſed to the knowledge of the Jews.
G. w.
Anſ. 'Tis ſpoken of the work of the Law, which Law was written in their hearts, and this Law was ſpiritual, and not a natural light.
T.D.
Reply. Seeing you do not underſtand the difference between the Law, and work of the Law in the heart, I'le teach you: By the Law in the hea…t, is meant an inward and ſpiritual conformity thereunto, which is called the Law, as the impreſſion of the Seal upon a Letter or Bond, is called the Seal; which conformity lies in theſe, among other things; viz A conſent to the Law that it is good, Rom. 7.1…. A read…n ſſe to obedi…nce, Heb. 10.9. And a bringing into captivity …very thou…ht to the obedience of Chriſt, as the Apoſtles exp ſſion is, 2 Cor. 10.5. But by the work of the Law is m…ant, the knowl…dge of ſin, which is by the Law, Rom. 3 20 And the eff…cts of th…t knowl dge in Con c… nce, viz. a t…ſtimony to t…eir obedience or diſob…dienc… tog…ther w th approbation or cenſure, Rom. 2 15 And hough the Law b… ſpiri ual, yet the work of it in the Gentiles is but natural, v. 14. The Gentiles do by nature (ma…k the exp eſſeneſſe of the phraſe) the things co…ned in the Law.
T. D.
Chriſt was not to be a light to the Gentiles till his coming in the fleſh.
G.W.
Anſ. What then was Chriſts preſence in the fleſh among all the Gentiles whom he did enl…ght n? What darkneſſe is this? Seeing h…s outgoing h…ve b …n from of old. And what became of all th… G ntiles that died before the daies of Chriſt in the Fleſh? Were they condemned becauſe they had no light of Chriſt given them, or becauſe they diſobeyed the light which th…y had?
T. D.
Reply. 1. Till the time of Ch…iſt in the …ſh, the Goſpel was not preached to the G…ntile-world; but I did not ſay (as you …mply) that Ch…ſt did preach it in his own perſon to them: Chriſt did honour the Miniſtry of the Apoſtles above his own, by the larger extent of their Commiſſion. As for Chriſts outgoings from of old, that paſſage taken out of M cah 5 2. intends Chriſts eternal ge…e…ation and e…rnal deſignation to the Office of Mediator, not any knowledge of Ch iſt vouchſafed throughout all ages to the whole world. To your laſt Queſtion I anſwer, that the Gentiles before Chriſt periſhed for diſobeying the L…ght th…y had, Rom. 2.12. But yet their ignorance of Chriſt was the occaſion of their condemnation for that diſobedience, Acts 4.12. Neither is there ſalv…tion in any o her, for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men, wher…by we muſt be ſaved. Thei… diſobeying that light d d damn them, but their obed…ence to it could not have ſaved them without Chriſt, and Chr ſt ſaves n…ne but thoſe who know him.
[What followes in p. 11, 12, 13, 14. of G W. Books, is nothing but what hath b n anſwered in Qu. Folly, and therefore I ſhall omit them]