Opinion, THe same Body that is now the Habitation of the Soul and Spirit, shall rise again, and enter with the Soul united into E­verlasting Joy or Torment.

Answer, The Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Just and Unjust in the Day of Judgment, and their future Estate in Joy or Torment, was alwayes asserted by us in Scorn called Qua­kers; though wickedly insinuated and divulged to the contrary by our Opposers: And this whole Nation may be convinced by our [Page 9]Conscientious Suffering for bearing witness to the Truth we have received, that we believe a Future Estate: Else, why should we suffer to keep our Consciences void of Offence? If we were of the number of those, then might we say, Let's eat and drink, and take our fill of Pleasure in the things of this World to day, for to morrow we shall dye; And let us run down with the Stream of the Times we live in, and be Men Pleasers, and so preserve our selves from Suffering: But our Conversation hath not been on this man­ner, but quite the contrary; and impartial People may see, that it is great Ignorance, if not Wickedness and Emnity imour Ene­mies, both Professors & Prophane, to endeavour to father and fasten such a Doctrine upon us: But we pitty their Blindness, knowing that it is the Work of that old Adversary, the Devil (which rules in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience) on purpose to make us odious and hateful to the People, who have a gross Tra­ditional Faith concerning the Resurrection, as of other Truths of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Now the Mystery of Godliness is great, and the Mystery of Iniquity is great also; and they are reveal'd to the Babes and Suck­lings, and hid from the Wise and Prudent of this World, the Wit and Cunning of men finds it not out, neither can the Wisdom of the World comprehend it; the Busie, High-minded, Puffed up, Contentious Corinthians would be prying into things not made known to them by the Spirit of the Lord; but Paul, the aged, dealt wisely and gravely with them, giving them many sharp Re­proofs for their high Conceits; telling them, 1 Cor. 4.3, 18. He could not speak to them as unto Spiritual Men, but as unto Carnal; and could not minister Strong Meat to them, but Milk; having Envyings, Strife and Divisions among them; he concludes they were Carnal, and walkt as men, wise and puft up in their own conceits: But saith he to them, If any among you seem to be wise in this World, let him be a Fool that he may be wise, for the Wisdom of this World is Foolishness with God, &c. 1 Cor. 3. And in most of his Epistle he reprehends them for their Failings and Errors.

Now some among them broached this Error also, That there was no Resurrection of the Dead: Many weighty Arguments he urges to [Page 10]convince them of their gross Ignorance (1 Cor. 15.) If there be no Resurrection of the Dead, then is not Christ risen; so on to the 19th verse, where he also saith, If in this Life only we have Hope, we are of all men most miserable, &c. For since by Man came Death, so by Man came also the Resurrection: In Adam all dye, in Christ shall all be made alive (he that reads let him understand) Some also among them might, after they were convinc'd by his Ar­guments, enquire, how the Dead were raised, and with what Body come they forth? To such he saith, O Fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it dye; and that which thou sowest, thou sow­est not that Body that shall be, &c. to the end of the Chapter.

And now, if the curious Enquirers of this Age would know fur­ther, and presume above what is written out of the Sense and Knowledge of the Holy Spirit, which moved Holy Men to write, they are to be answered with Judgment and sharp Reproof; for the puffed up Spirit and busie Mind, which aspires to know much before-hand, leads men to neglect the doing that good which they already know; therefore it was very well said by Geo. Whitchead, (when the Dispute was like to continue about the Resurrection) That it would be more profitable and necessary for People to hear a Discourse that may tend to inform them, how they may be fitted and prepared to be one of that number which shall rise in the Re­surrection to enjoy Everlasting Felicity, and to avoid the contrary; and not at present to contend about the Sameness of the Body that shall rise, and what Matter and Form it shall have, and how and when the Soul and Body shall meet, and be united, and how they shall be entertained in Heaven, &c. About these things the vain Thoughts and Imaginations of men are many; and some that count themselves able to teach others, are as ignorant of the Resurrection as Nicodemus was of the New Birth: And this busie Mind, and un­subjected Spirit, which learns not at the Feet of Jesus, has great Conceits and Imaginations what God hath done of old, in Genera­tions past, and what he is able to do Thousands of Years to come; but is ignorant and unacquainted with his Power at present, be­lieves little of his Power and Ability in their own Particulars in this present time, wherein they are to know him by his Mighty Power to raise them out of the Grave of Sin, and give them Victory [Page 11]over it, and so to witness their part in the first Resurrection: This is of more absolute Necessity then to enquire, what manner of Bo­dies God will raise in the Last Day, and how he will provide and entertain the Soul and Body in Heaven when time shall be no more.

They that know God do believe in him, and can trust him, and do resign up their Bodies, Souls and Spirits, into his Hand in this World, and in that which is to come also; and have no doubt but he will provide well for them, if they persevere in well doing to the end.

Opinion. It may be in the great Day of Judgment God may receive the Heathen to Glory; but it is more then they know whether he will or no: For those People that have not the Scrip­tures among them in common, have no Knowledge of their fu­ture Estate.

Answ. What God will do with the Heathen, it seems thou knowest not, but art in thy Thoughts, or may bees about it: They that walk in the Light, in which God dwells, know more of his Mind; However, thou mayst read in the Holy Scriptures of God's Love and Care for the Heathen, in giving his Son a Cove­nant of Light to enlighten the Gentiles, and to be his Salvation to the Ends of the Earth; and that he will give him the Heathen for his Inheritance, and the ends of the Earth for his Possession: And as some Heathen or Gentiles of old, who had not an outward Law, condemned the Jews by their Righteous Conversation, by vertue of God's inward Law in their Hearts; so many called Heathen now, will rise up in Judgment against titular Christians: And it will be more tollerable or easie in the Day of Judgment for such Gentiles then for those.

And thou sayest, Where the Scriptures are not among People, they have no Knowledge of their future Escate.

In this thou speaks but a Conceit or Divination of thy own Brain, shewing thy Ignorance of the Fountain of all true Knowledge; for there was Knowledge among men necessary to Salvation before the Scripture was written; and from this Knowledge the Scriptures [Page 12]proceeded; men were Holy before the Scriptures were written; men feared God before the Scriptures were written; and the Se­crets of God were with them that fear'd him; and surely they knew him before they feared him: And some talked and walked with God before the Scriptures were writ: Abraham was a Friend of God, and saw Christ's Day, and this is Eternal Life; so such knew their future Estate; for Eternal Life includes a future Estate: And God is the same, and Christ is the same; and as he hath revea­led himself before the Scriptures were; so he is as able, ready, and willing to reveal himself, now the Scriptures are, and where the Scriptures are not, and when they shall be no more; for they were not from Eternity, neither will they continue to Eternity: And those that had the Scriptures in former Ages, and wanted the true Knowledge of God, which was before the Scriptures were, knew neither the Scriptures nor the Power of God, nor their own Estates at that time, nor their future Estates, but were ignorant of both; yet could boast of the Scriptures, as thou and many do now, and call themselves Children of Abraham; and say, that God was their Father; though he of whom the Scriptures testified (whom they knew not) told them, They were of their Father the Devil, whose Works they did.

So thou and all may see, that the Scriptures did not give them a true Knowledge of their present nor future Estate, though 'tis said, they read them every Sabbath Day, and were as conversant in them as many Sects in Christendom are now, and thought to have Eter­nal Life in them, and cryed them up and magnified them, while they cryed him down, and crucified him of whom they bore wit­ness, and from whom they proceeded.

So 'tis very evident, that the true Knowledge, Fear and Secrets of God were with men before the Scriptures were writ; and when they were writ, men that had them were void of the Understan­ding or true Knowledge of them: as it hath been, so it may be, and is now; men may talk much of the Scriptures with their Tongues, and carry the Bible in their Pockets, and yet the Devil may rule in their Hearts.

And People that have not the Scriptures, nor never heard of them, may be nearer the Kingdom of Heaven then some that have them; as some Heathen, who had not Moses's Law, did by Nature [Page 13]the things contained in the Law, which was the Effect of the Law written in their Hearts, this hath been, is, and may be: For we say and affirm, That God affords to all men a Day of Visitation, and puts them into a Possibility of being saved; else, how would he be clear when he judgeth?

Opinion. All the Light in men could never teach them, dis­cover or reveal unto them, That Christ was born of a Vir­gin, and that he suffered, &c. It may tell them, that Blas­phemy and Drankenness, &c. is Sin; but could never tell that God would save them.

Answ. These are Thoughts and Imaginations of thy own Head. and shew thy Ignorance and Unbelief of the Light of God and Christ in men, and the Operation of it in those that do believe, love and walk in it (and indeed no other knows the Efficacious Pow­er and Vertue of it to their Salvation, though they may and shall to their Condemnation) for was it not the Light of God in men, that shewed them, that Christ was to be born of a Virgin, and that told some the very place, where also, long before the time; and why may not the same Light shew things that are past, as well as things to come? To whom this Light did not reveal him when he came, they could not know him, but took him to be the Carpenter's Son, and some said one thing, and some another of him: though they had the written Prophecies in the Holy Scriptures concerning him; yet they were as ignorant of him (as he was the Christ of God) as the very Heathen that never saw the Scriptures; and Christ plainly told them, That they neither knew him nor his Father.

And it was by the Light of God and Spirit of Revelation in that day, and not by the Scriptures, that any came to the true Know­ledge of him; Flesh and Blood did not reveal him: Many that talked and walked, eat and drank with him, and saw his Mighty Works and Miracles, did not see him, nor know him, nor the Power of his Father, which wrought in him; And this the Holy Scriptures, whom we dearly own and honour in their Places, bear full witness to; and the same is now. He that can receive it, let him.

And the same Light which convinceth People that Blasphemy and Drunkenness is Sin, is no less, nor no other, then the Spirit of Truth, which Christ promised to send, which should convince the World of Sin, Righteousness and Judgment; and this is the Con­demnation of the World, in whom this Light shineth, appeareth and convinceth, that they do not love this Light, nor believe in this Light, nor bring their Deeds unto it; so they never know it lead them to their Saviour, from whence it comes; and so know not that the Reproofs of a Friend are better then the Kisses of an Enemy; or that that which convinceth, reproveth, smiteth, woundeth and killeth, is the same, or one with him, which con­verteth, reformeth, healeth, bindeth up and maketh alive: So through Unbelief and Disobedience man brings Destruction upon himself, and God and Christ is clear of the Blood of all Men.

Opinion. I do deny that every man is lighted with the Light of Christ: for the Scripture saith, That many are in Dark­ness, and stumble, because there is no Light in them.

Answ. Thy Denyal or Unbelief is contrary to the Testimony of the Evangelical Apostle John, who said, That Christ is the true Light, which lighteth every man coming into the World, Joh. 1.9. A plainer Proof, if Scripture will serve, need not be sought for. Another like it is, The Grace of God which brings Salvation, hath appear'd to all men; the true Christians were taught by it; others walked despightfully to the Spirit of Grace, and turned from it into W [...]ntonness. Also, A Manife­station of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal; One Talent at least is given to improve, though Thousands answer not the End of the Lord, who is the Giver thereof: Life and Death, Good and Evil is set before all men; and the Lord is present and ready with his Wisdom and Power, to enable men to chuse Life and Good, and to eschew Death and Evil.

But how men are said to be Darkness, and to walk in it, not­withstanding, the True Light shines in them, is a Mystery to the cunning Wit of men, which cannot comprehend the Possibility thereof, and are ready to cry out, If all are lighted with the Light of Christ, which is in it self a saving Light, then why are not all men saved? If all have a measure of this Light in them, how can [Page 15]any be said to be Darkness? And if this Light in it self be sufficient to lead to the true Teacher, what need hath Christ to send forth a Mi­nistry? and what's the End of your Preaching, and Printing of Books, &c. if all men have a Light sufficient in them? This hath been the Cry of the Spirit of this World, which savours not the Things of God.

Now such Ministers which Christ sent and sends forth, were and are sent to open the Eyes of the Gentiles, and to turn their Minds from the Darkness to the Light, and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God, that they might receive Forgiveness of Sin, and Inheritance among the Saints, &c.

They had Eyes before, though shut; and Light before, though their Minds were not turned to it, nor exercised by it, but by the Darkness, and by the Power of Satan; and so walking in this Darkness, they stumbled; and Mankind being in this State, joyn­ed to the Power of Satan and to Darkness, is called Darkness, notwithstanding the Light shines in it (as the holy Scriptures fully evidence.)

Now this Darkness and Power of Satan was and is inward, within People; and this Light and Power of God was also inward, & with­in People: For it would be very absurd and ridiculous to imagine, that Christ's Ministers were sent to turn the Minds of People from outward Darkness to an outward Light; the Darkness and Pow­er of Satan was spiritual and inward, and the Light and Power of God was spiritual and inward, and the pure Mind they were to stir up, was within People.

Now though they walked in Darkness, and sat in the Region and Shadow of Death, and saw no Light, by Reason that the Eye was shut and the Mind turned another Way: though it was nigh, they did not see it, so as to have the Benefit of it, or to believe in it, because the Clouds of Error, Ignorance and Unbelief, were so thick and gross in them, that though the light shined so far in them, as to convince and reprove them for Evil; yet they could not com­prehend it, or believe in it as a Light, in that State; but rather ac­counted Light Darkness, and Darkness Light (as many in this Age do.)

Now when this Light shined out of Darkness, and dispersed [Page 16]the Clouds and gross Fogs that were before their Understandings, by means of Christ's Ministry, then begun the Work of Regene­ration; then they became as new-born Babes, desiring the sincere Milk of the Word; then the Work of Christ's Ministers was, as Fathers to cherish them and feed them with Food convenient, and as it were lead them by the Hand till they grew strong Men, &c. And to effect this, they travelled among them, from City to City and from one Country to another, to confirm them and establish them in the Light, Power and holy Truth, or Gospel of Christ Je­sus, which their Minds were turned to.

And this is the Work and End of Christ's Ministry now, which we are made Partakers of; And this is the End we have in wri­ting, printing and preaching: for though all have one Talent at least; yet Exhortation is needed, that Improvement may be made according to the Ability given; and that Men receive the Grace and Love that [...]s tendered, and make use of the Means given and ap­pointed of God to lead to Salvation: and this was, and is the Work of the Ministry, even to perswade Men to be reconciled to God, who is Light, and dwells in the Light, and is not far from every one, as a Light ready to lead them out of the Paths of Darkness, though till their Minds are turned from the Darkness, to which they are joyned, and in which they walk and dwell, they cannot see him.

Opinion. That the Light which lighteth every man is not the Light of Christ; yet it is a Divine Light.

This is a Piece of Ignorance and Contradiction not of the east Magnitude: It is common with the Builders of Mystery Babylon grosly to err and mistake, and be confused in their Language [and the clamorous Woman pulls down her House with her own hands] What! Grant that every man is lighted with a Divine Light, but not with the Light of Christ? How many sorts of Divine Light are there? Is not the Light of Christ Divine? What thou mayst form as a cunning Artificer, by way of Argument to prove this Nice, Carnal, Corrupt Distinction, will prove like a Castle built in the Air, or vain Imagination, and fall upon the Head of him that builds [Page 17]it; For the whole Current of the Scriptures comprehends things under two Heads, Good and Evil, Light and Darkness, Life and Death, Heavenly and Earthly, Spiritual and Natural, Old and New, Holy and Polluted, Divine Nature, Sinful and Corrupt Nature, &c. Now Divine Nature is the same with Divine Light, Holy, Heavenly, Pure and Spiritual: And it was by this Nature the Gen­tiles did those things contained in the Law, &c. they did them not by the corrupt Nature; for that leads all that are in it further into Transgression, and Breach of all the Law of God; and as that is given way unto, razeth out and demolisheth the Law in the Heart. And how J. I. can set forth a Divine, Holy, Heavenly, Spiritu­al Light, wherewith men are lighted, and shew that this Divine Light is not the Light of Christ, I judge is a Mystery to himself unknown; for I cannot find, neither in the Scripture, nor among Holy Men, a President for the like Doctrine; so for ought I know he may be called the Father of this Vain Conceit or Notion.

Opinion. There is a Natural Light in all men, which may shew them Sin, and this Natural Light is Divine; for every Gift of God is perfect; therefore Divine.

Ans. This Conceit or Opinion differs not much from the former; only in this thou acknowledgest that this Light wherewith every man is lighted, is able to shew or convince men, that Sin is Sin: now what that is that makes manifest and convinceth of Sin, the Scriptures bear witne [...]s in that of John, Chap. 16. That which convinceth the World of Sin, &c. is the Saints Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth; it hath many Names in the Holy Scriptures, but is one thing: So this Light, which is Divine, Holy, Heavenly and Spiritual, is one with the Spirit of Truth in Nature and Ope­ration, and is the Gift of God to all men, though some rebel a­gainst it; and hath Power in it, not only to shew and convince of Sin, but to destroy Sin, and convert to God those that love its Ap­pearance and turn at its Reproof. I perceive thou hast read, That every Gift of God is Perfect, and that the Light is the Gift of God, therefore Perfect and Divine; thou hadst better know it so, and [Page 18]prove it by the Experience of its Vertue and Operation in thy self, then by a Syllogism; then thou mightest be a true Witness of its Divine Perfectio; till then however I will take thy Argument for as good a Proof as thou canst give, that the Light is Perfect and Divine.

Opinion. Men may sin out all Sense of Sin, and become Darkness, and have no Light in them.

Answ. Men through long Custom of sinning may have their Hearts hardened to that Degree that they may be compared to a Stone; and to a Deaf Adder, which will not hear the Voice of the Charmer, &c. And men may be so ignorant of the Law and Mind of God (even while they profess him) that they may think they do him good Service, while they are serving the Devil and doing his Work (yet there is Means of Redemption, and a Possibility of Deliverance appointed of God out of this State; and the sto­ny Heart may be it be made soft, and become changed into a Heart of Flesh, and the deaf Ear and Eye may be unstopped, and the ignorant unsensible spirit removed and done away) and this State is upon men while the Light shines in Darkness, which Darkness they are, and cannot comprehend it, &c.

But now, after the Light comes to shine out of Darkness, and men come to receive it, and for a time to walk in it, and to be so enlightened by it as that they may in some measure know God, and Jesus Christ, which he hath sent, which is Eternal Life, and may taste of the Power of the World to come, and witness a Translati­on from Death to Life, and from Darkness to Light, and a clean­sing from the Pollutions of the World, over which their Faith in Christ had given them Victory, and their House may be swept and garnished, &c. yet after all this, they may fall into a worse Estate then that above mentioned, out of which they may never come to witness Redemption nor Deliverance; seeing after they knew God, they did not like to retain the Knowledge of him, nor to Glorifie him as God; And seeing they make shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience, and turn like the Dog and Swine to the Mire and Vomit again, and crucifie to themselves the Son of God a­fresh, and for want of Watchfulness let seven worse Devils enter, [Page 19]the latter end of such will be worse then their beginning: And its such that are compared to Trees twice dead, plucked up by the Roots; and their Consciences are said to be seared as with a hot I­ron, &c. for such its said, there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin: this Estate is lamentable, and little short of the utmost Hell; seeing the Spirit of God hath ceased striving with such for their Salvation, and that which they hate will be their Condemnation.

And there is none that ever did or shall sin themselves into such a state of Hardness and Unsensibleness, as that they shall not feel the Reward of Sin sooner or later; neither shall they escape the Biting or Gnawing of that Worm that never dyes, nor the Anguish of that Fire which the Breath of the Lord kindles; if the Wicked, that hate the Light, could dwell in such Darkness, where the Light could not find them, or if they could destroy this Gnawing Worm, and extinguish or put out this Fire which the Breath of God kindles, then should their Sensibleness of Pain and Anguish for Sin be at an end; but as they cannot do the one, so they cannot escape the other. The Wages of Sin is Death; even a dy­ing Death, a sensible Death, where the Gnawing Worm will be felt, and the Wicked shall be able to lift up their Eyes in Hell, as Dives did (when he saw Lazarus in Abraham's Bosom) and cry for Help in the Sence of their Torment when it is too late, the Gulf being fixed, &c.

Opinion. The Sun may shine, and some men may shut their Eyes, and will not see it; and some are blind, and cannot see it: Are they therefore enlightned by it? So likewise, &c.

Answ, The Strength of this Opinion of thine by way of Si­miles I take to be thus; That though the Sun doth shine, yet some are not willing, and some are not able to see the Light of it, and so are not or will not be lighted by it; and from hence wouldst con­clude (notwithstanding thy former Concession, viz. That every man is lighted with a Divine Light) That some men have no Light in them, nor are not in a Capacity to receive Benefit by the Light be­cause blind; And others will not come out of the dark C [...]lls of the Earth, where they have taken up their Habitation, to behold it.

Now the Scriptures bear witness, That the Seers or Prophets saw Christ, the Gift of God, to be the Light of the Gentiles, and to be his Salvation to the Ends of the Earth; and there was and is a Call to all the Ends of the Earth, to look unto him and be saved; and the Gentiles and Ends of the Earth looking unto him, have had, have, and may have Salvation by him: And the Lord desires not nor wills not the Death of him that dyes, nor the Blindness of him that is blind; but would have all men walk in the Light, and come to the Knowledge of his Truth and be saved: He bids or com­mands no men to Hear, See or Walk, when he hath not given them Ears, Eyes and Ability so to do: He calls to all men every where to Repent; and he hath afforded them Light and Grace suf­ficient to enable them so to do, if they would believe in it and o­bey it: He shuts no man's Eyes, neither is he the Author of any man's Blindness, Wilfulness and Stubbornness: It's man's own Sin that separates man from his Maker; and blinds his Eye, and streng­thens his Will, that he cannot and will not see the Light when it shines in him, so as to be saved by it, and to walk in it; though he hath in this blind sinful State so much Sight, Sense and Knowledge of it, as to feel its Reproofs and Convictions (John 3.20.) So e­very one that doth Evil hates the Light, and cometh not to it, lest his Deeds should be reproved; yet the Light cometh to such, and follows such, and finds them out, as it did Adam in the beginning. And none can be said to hate that which they have not, nor never had no Sense nor Knowledge of, nor be justly reprehended for not loving it, and not coming to it, and not bringing their Deeds to it, if they have not Ability, or are not in a Capacity so to do.

Therefore thy comparing Natural things with Spiritual will not hold true every way, nor thy Conclusions therefrom: Some indeed are said to stop their Ears, and to close their Eyes, and to stumble and grope like blind men for the Wall, yet God is not the Author of this, neither did he make Mankind in this Estate; but this is come upon him through his own Transgression and Disobedience to the Law, which is Light, which was before Books or an outward Law was writ­ten, which while he obeyed and walked in, he enjoyed the Presence of God who gave it, and lived in the Light of his Countenance; but when he transgressed, he dyed as to that Enjoyment (though [Page 21]be lieved and remained in the Body as a man) and here began Man­kind to hate the Light, and to walk in Darkness, and to endea­vour to hide himself for Fear, and to cover his own Nakedness with the Works of his own Pands: Now was laid the Foundati­on of all Self-Will, Self Works, Self Righteousness, Self-know­ledge and Imagination; from this Foundation Christ, the Lamb of God, was slain (he that reads let him understand.) And Man­kind in this Estate is accounted Dead, [...]eaf, Blind and Naked, because that Life, Eye, Ear, and Covering be hath, is of his own or­dering and making; and he is truly Dead, whill be thinks he Lives; [...]eaf and Blind, while he thinks he Hears and Sees; and Naked n [...]twithstanding his Invented Artificial Coverings: And Darkness he may truly be called, notwithstanding there is a Light that shineth in him in this Dead, Dark and Blind Estate, where­with also he is lighted in some sheastre, and by it may see his lost Estate.

And Mankind in Transgression may hear the Voice of God now, as Adam did in the beginning, but how men do hear the Voice of God while Shiners; and how they are afraid of his Appearance or Presence; and how Light shines in Darkness, though Darkness comprehends it not; and how men are lighted with a saving Light of Christ, and yet walk in Darkness, and are not saved by it; and how the Word is as Milk and Honey, and Bread to ome, and as a Hammer Fire and Sword to others, is a Mystery to the carnal Mind, though plain to the Children of Light, and evidently declared in the Holy Scriptures.

For the same Light which is the Condemnation of the World (whom it lighteth) which it hates, and believes not in, is the Sal­vation of those that believe, leve and walk in it. Now that which leads men to do the Will of Christ, gives them the Knowledge of his Doctrine, and reveals his Secrets to them; but the Wi [...]e and Prudent in the selfish [...]ensual Widem, which believes not in the Light of Christ, wherewith every man is lighted, remains igno­rant thereof.

Opinion. I will stick by the present Translation of the New Testament, which was effected by Twenty or Thirty Lear­ned Wise Men, by the King's Authority; and if I understood Greek never so well, it would be unmannerly to contradict them.

Answ. Surely if thou hadst been so mannerly, and so full of Reverence and Respect to Learned Wise Men, who were counte­nanced with the National Authority when thou first tookest up thy Religion, or turned Baptist (and thereby contradicted the O­pinions and Meanings of more then Twenty or Thirty Wise Lear­ned Men, who in their Wisdoms had setled Church-Government and Doctrine, as they thought, according to the Scriptures) thou wouldst never have adventured to question their Work, though thou knewest better things: I judge thou hadst more sincerity, Zeal and Knowledge then, and less of this kind of Mannerliness, when thou didst judge they erred in their Meanings put upon the Scrip­tures translated, though they were reputed Learned and Wise. And why may not the Translators commit an Error also, and be short in giving every Word its sull Signification, according to the Mind of the Spirit from whence it came, though the King's Authority be with them? Doth the Knowledge of Naturel Tongues make men Insallible? May not a Peter and John, who know not a Let­ter, know the Mind of the Spirit in the Scriptures? or understand them better then the Scribes, Pharisees and Hypoerites?

Indeed Jeremiah, I must tell thee, This Mannerliness would have kept thee out of thy Religion; and will now, if thou follow it, lead thee to out-live it, or to differ nothing from those thou comest out from, but in Name and Profession only.

Opinion. The Light that is come into the World was de­signed of God to enlighten every man; but Thousands are not enlightened by it.

Answ. Its something that thou grantest so much Truth, viz. [Page 23]That God designed all men a Benefit by the Light, though Thou­sands receive it not: 'Tis true, the Love of God is Universal; and his Call is to all men every where to Repent; and his Gospel, which Paul was a Minister of (Coll. 1.23.) was and is preached in every Creature under Heaven; his Sun shines and his Rain falls upon the Just and Unjust: But many, though they hear his Call, Re­pent not; and though the Gospel be sounded in their Ear, obey it not; and the Wicked may become like a Parched Heath, that knows not when Good comes, though the Dew of Heaven de­scend upon it, and the Seed of the Kingdom be sown in it, yet it grows not to Perfection: The Seed is sown in Bad Ground, as well as in Good; and Christ is as truly the Light of the World, as he is the Light of the Saints, who are chosen out of the World: the Difference is in its Operation; it reproves and condemns the World, because its Deeds are Evil; and it justifies and consolates the Saints, who believe in it, and walk in it, &c.

Now how it can be said, that every man is lighted or enlighten­ed with the Light of Christ, notwithstanding they remain Dark­ness, seems a Riddle and Paradox to the Learned and Unlearned, Professors and Prophane: And if that Scripture which saith, The Light shined in the Darkness, and the Darkness comprchended it not, cannot be understood, I cannot speak plainer to this Spirit that stumbles at the Light; For if Light shineth in a People, who were and are Darkness, how can it be said that that People are not en­lightened by it, though they love the Darkness rather, and so chuse Death and Darkness, and refuse Life and Light: And how can it be said, That Mankind makes a Choice, except he hath some Knowledge of both? So, which he joyneth to, and walketh in, that he becomes a Child of, whether of Darkness or Light? And the Condemnation of those who hate the Light, and love the Dark­ness, will be just, and God and Christ will be clear in the Day of his Judgment.

Opinion. George Whitehead and William Gibson are not enlightened with the Light of Christ; though I grant, that there is a Light in every man, which is Divine, yet not the Light of Christ.

Aas. If J. Ives did believe in the Light, & were obedient to the Light of Christ, wherewith he himself is lighted, he would be of ano­ther Mind, but this sore Evil is very nigh him, to conclud [...], as the Jews did of Christ in another Case, If this Man were of God he would keep the Sabbath (Joh. 9.16.) So it seems to be in this Mans Mind, to con­clude, that these Men are not enlightned with the Light of Christ, because they are not Baptist [...], as he is, and are not one with his Pro­fession and Fellowship: for it is the Nature and Property of every Sect, to mea [...]ure and judge all by their own narrow Spirits and No­tions; the Righteous met with this Mea ure and Judgment in all Ages, from Ab [...]l to Zacharias, and from Zacharias to John the Divine, and down to this Age. M [...]ltitude of Examples might be pro­duced, and a Cloud of Witnesses found throughout the holy Scrip­tures to witness to this Thing.

But G. W. and W. G. are not only men come into the World, and therefore lighted with the Light of Christ, according to the Testimony of John (the greatest Prophet that was born of a Wo­man) but also are Men chosen out of the World, to bear Witness to the true Light, and have turned the Minds of many from Dark­ness to the true Light, in which they walk, and dwell, and are Children of: Therefore thy Opinion or Conceit is judged to be the Off-spring of that Darkness in which thou dwellest, notwith­standing thou talkst of Light, and supposest thy self to be a Child of it; but see whether the Spirit of God, or the Manifestation of it in thee bears Witne's to thy Spirit, that thou art indeed what thou thinkest and professest thy self to be: This Counsel, if by thee taken can do thee no Harm. As to the latter part of this Notion, I have spoken to it already.

Opinion. I d [...]ny that the Light of God is one with the Light of Christ; the Father and Son are Relatives, but not one; the Light of the Father, Son and Spirit are Divine, but not one.

If thou hadst the Mind of Christ, as the primitive Christians had, thou wouldst not speak after this manner: Christ's Testimony was, (John 14.9, 10, 11.) That he and his Father were one (And what sig­nifies thy Denyal?) And that the Father was in him, and he in the Father. And John's witnesseth (John 1.) That the World was made [Page 25]by him, and without him was nothing made that was made: And he was in the Beginning with the Father from Everlasting; glorified with the Father before the World began; manifested in the fulness of time in a prepared Body; but was before it, and seen and prophesied of by the Evangelical Prophet Isaiah to be the Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the E­manuel, God with us. In these Scriptures their Names are one, their Work one, their Nature one; then how comes their Light to be two, and yet both Di [...]ine? And they are such Relatives as differ more in Manifestation and Despensation, then in Light, Life, Nature and Being; but these things are too high for thee; for what thou know­est of them is Natural and Traditional, and hadst thou Acquaintance with a Measure of the same Spirit of Prophecy which was in Is [...]iah, thou wouldst be ashamed of thy nice and carnal Distinctions; yet the least in the Kingdom is greater then he.

Opinion. That which is Divine in God, becomes Natural when given to men.

Answ. I know not but thou mayst be called the Father of this Whin sey or Vain Conceit. Whisher will the Deceitfulness of thy foolish Heart carry thee? 'Tis strong Delusion indeed to believe Lyes so contrary to Scripture and Right Reason. Where didst thou learn, that the Gifts of God, which are Perfect, Divine and Spiri­tual, become Natural when given to Men? I suppose by men thou meanst not all men, but wicked men, and not the righteous; that would be gross and absurd indeed; so I am willing to take thy Notion by the best End: But what Scripture is thy Rule for this? Did the Talent the Sloathful Man had given him change its Na­ture and Property by being ty'd up and hid in the Earth? Did his Good Spirit, which he gave to those that rebell'd against it, become Natural? Doth the Light, which is the Gift of God, and Spiritu­al, which shineth in Darkness, become Natural or Darkness in it self, or alter its Nature and Property? Doth the Spirit of Truth, which Christ sends to Comfort his Disciples, and to convince and reprove the World for Sin, change its Nature from being the Spirit of Truth, because sent and given into the World? Surely thou mayst see it a vain Imagination of thy own Head, that neither the Scriptures [Page 26](thy pretended Rule) nor thy own Experience can justifie: For that holy Manifestation of the Spirit in thee, which searcheth thy Heart, and tryeth thy Reins, and consenteth not to thy vain Thoughts, idle Words and sinful Actions, is the Gift of God to thee, and is perfect, pure, divine and spiritual, and hath kept its Nature pure and uncorrupt, and will remain so, as a Witness for God against thee, if thou joyn not to it, and become one with it, and so be born of it: This is the Word of Truth to thee, whether thou wilt receive it or no.

Opinion. Some in the World are without Christ; there­fore some in the World are without the Light of Christ.

Answ. This is answered already in what goes before, yet a few words more: Christ is said to stand at the Door of mens Hearts and Knock; Is not the Door of men's Hearts within them? And if he stands there, he is not far off them; yet they not opening to him, are said, and that truly, to be without him, and in the World; and they do not know that Christ is in them, therefore they are Reprobates: Yet in this state of being without Christ in the World, in Darkness and Reprobation, the true Light shineth, as hath been already signified at large; and the Darkness is so far enlightened by it, as that the Worker of Iniquity cannot hide himself.

And though some are without God in the World, yet God is not so far without them, but that he searcheth their Hearts, and tryeth their Reins, and sheweth unto man his Thoughts, and God & Christ is in the World; but this is the Misery of the World, that it knows him not. Blessed are those that believe in the Light, which revea­leth him, and leads to the Knowledge of him, in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge; to whom be Glory forever, Amen.