True old light exalted above pretended new light, or, Treatise of Jesus Christ as He is the light which enlightens every one that comes into the world : against the sense both of the Quakers, Arminians, and other assertors of universal grace, whose light is proved to be darkness / delivered in nine sermons, by John Tombes, B.D., and commended to publick view by Mr. Richard Baxter.

Christ the Light. (Book 1)

SERM. I. (Book 1)

Joh. 1. 9.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Sect. 1. Of the Evangelists scope, method, the reading and meaning of Joh. 1. 9.

THe Gospel of John, the longest liver of the Apostles (as Hierome termes him in his Catalogue of Ecclesiastick Writers) was written last of the four, and, as the matter gives us occasion to conceive, to supply the things omitted by the rest, and so might be termed the Paralipomena, or things left, as the Greeks term the Book by the Hebrews termed the words of daies, by us, the Chronicles or Records of times. That it was written in opposition to the new fancies or haeresies of Ebien, Cerinthus, and other fanatiques, is intimated by Iraeneus lib. 3. adv. haer. c. 1. 11. and others. Against whom he opposeth the Antiquity, Divinity, and Operation of Christ in certain Aphorismes, set down in the first 5 verses. And then to distinguish him from John the Baptist, he declareth 1. Johns Mission, ver. 6. 2. His businesse, ver. 7. 3. His inferiority to Christ, ver. 8. 4. Christs preeminence above him, ver. 9. which words are spoken of Christ Jesus, whom John terms the Word, ver. 1. who is said to be flesh, and to dwell among us, ver. 14. of whom John testified, ver. 15 to have been his Ancient; and, whether they are the words of John Baptist, as is conceived, or the Evangelist, as seems most probable, they shew his excellency above John Baptist, who was denied to be the light, though he were that he might bear witnesse of the light. Heinsius ex∣ercit. sacr. l. 4. c. 1. seems to conceive, that the pointing being altered, the words might be read thus; He was not that light, but that he might bear witnesse of the light he was, (referring 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ver. 9. to the end of ver. 8.) The true light which in∣lightneth every man coming into the world, was in this world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not, ver. 9, 10. But the supplement of Beza, [this man] or as our Translators hath it, That was the true light, is better and more agreeable to Johns phrase. But then there is another doubt, whether it should be read thus; That was the true light coming into the world, which inlighten∣eth

every man, by a trajection: Or as ours read, as the words are placed, That was the true light, which inlighteneth every man which cometh into the world. Gro∣tius after Cyril, Augustin, and some others likes the former as best, because Joh. 3. 19. and 12. 46. where he speaks of himself as light, he so expresseth himself as coming into the world as light, and so he would have the sense to be of his coming into the world, not by his birth, but appearing as a Teacher; as when it is said, Joh. 6. 14. This is truly the Prophet coming into the world. But 1. such trajection being without necessity, and so disordering the words, 2. The phrase in these, and John 18. 37. being as fitly interpreted of birth, as of ap∣pearing as a Teacher, I rather choose the reading of our Translators. But then there is some doubt about the meaning, what is the light with which, and how he inlightens every man coming into the world. Two waies he may be said to inlighten, and accordingly two sorts of light may be meant, and two waies may the words be expounded. There is a natural light of reason and understanding, which every person coming into the world hath, though not all in the same measure in the exercise, by reason of the different temper and state of the body which the soul dwells in: And this light is conceived to be meant, ver. 4. where it is said, that the life of Christ was the light of men, which expressing what was, when all things were made by him, and without him was nothing made that was made; It can be well understood of no other light then natural reason by the creation of Christ; and to this sense, it seems to make that ver. 10. it follows after ver. 9. Which inlightneth every man coming into the world, the world was made by him. And then the sense is this; That or this person of whom John was to witnesse, was the true or excellent light, which or who inlighteth with natural reason and understanding, every man coming into the world by natural birth, as being made by him. This sense is followed by the most of Protestant Commentators I meet with, and seems to be genuine. The other sort of light is spiritual light expressed thus, 2 Cor. 4. 6. The inlightning of of the knowledge of the glory of God in the person or face of Jesus Christ. And this sort of light is from Christs preaching and Spirit, and is meane ver. 5. where it is said, The light shineth in darknesse, and the darknesse comprehended it not. And of this light Christ is the cause, as the Prophet of his Church, Luk. 1. 79. Joh. 3. 19. & 8. 12, &c. And thus is Christ said to inlighten every man; that is, every man that is inlightened, hath his light from Christ: as when it is said, Psal. 145, 14. The Lord upboldeth all that fall, that is, all fallen persons that are up∣held: or he lighteth every man, that is, all sorts of men, as Col. 1. 28. every man, is meant all sorts or Nations of men. And these I confesse are good sen∣ses: yet methinks, the addition [Who cometh into the world] doth intimate, that this inlightning is of every man that is born. 2. At his birth, and so is to be extended to every person of humane nature, and the natural light he hath at birth; which I have chosen to handle, that I may clear the mistake of those who are termed Quakers, who have this text almost perpetually in their speeches and writings, insomuch that in the Catechism of G. F. that is, George Fox, a prime leader of them, this text is almost in every answer to the Que∣stions there propounded, repeated: And it is the common speech of them, and almost all their preaching, Look to the light within thee. My intent is, therefore to consider what that light is, which is in each person, and to shew that it is not sufficient to be a mans guide without the holy Scripture, and therefore that

erroneously they make it Christ and direct men to follow it universally as their rule. To this end, I shall consider, 1. How Christ is light. 2. How he is the true light. 3. How he lighteth. 4. How men come into the world. 5. How farre every man is inlightned that comes into the world with natural light. 6. How all spiritual light is derived from Christ, and in what sense Christ may be said to inlighten every man with it.

Sect. 2. Christ is the Light, the term Light is explained.

The first thing to be considered, is, That the Word, that is Jesus Christ is Light. Thus he saith of himself, Joh. 12. 26. That he was come a light into the world. And Simeon said of him, Luk. 2. 32. That he was a light for the lightning of the Gentiles. To conceive of this point, two things will be to be explained; 1. What is ascribed to Christ by this Appellation of Light. 2. In respect of what nature he is thus termed.

To resolve the former, it is to be considered that the term Light is sometimes applied to lucid bodies, as the fire is termed the light, Mark. 14. 54. where Pe∣ter is to be warmed, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, at the light; that is, the fire. And so Candles are termed lights, Act. 16. 29. as it's usual with us also in our common speech. And thus God is said to have made two great lights, Gen. 1. 16. the Sun and the Moon. Sometime for the quality of light, which is a visive quality, 1. In the lucid body chiefly, as the light of the Sun, Rev. 22. 5. 2. From it in the aire or middle body by which it is carried to the eye, as the light in the aire which shone round about Paul, Act. 26. 13. 3. In the eye by which the objects to be seen are discerned, in which respect the eye is termed the light of the body, Luke 11. 34. Now of all qualities there is none more amiable or desirable. Eccl. 11. 7. Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing to behold the Sun. By reason of whose beauty most Nations, who knew not the true God, did imagin the Sun to be God, and accordingly did adore it, and sacrifice to it, which Job disclaimed, Job 31. 26, 27, 28. If I beheld the Sun when it shined, or the Moon walking in bright∣nesse, and mine heart hath been secretly inticed, and my mouth hath kissed my hand, this also were an iniquity to be punished by the Judge: for I should have denied the God that is above. By reason of its light, warmth and other influence, the Sun is magnified by writers, as seeing, and hearing all things, as the common Pa∣rent of all sublunary bodies; insomuch that the Peripatetick Philosophy makes the Sun with man, to generate man. The Holy Ghost foretelling the coming of the Messiah, Mal. 4. 2. terms him The Sun of Righteousnesse. And Zacharias speaking of Christ, Luk. 1. 78, 79. saith, Through the bowels of mercy of our God, in which the day-spring or Sun-rising from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darknesse, and in the shadow of death. So that what excellency the Sun hath in respect of its light, is to be conceived of Christ in a spiritual way, but in a higher degree; and whatever excellency the light signifies in the Metaphor, is more truly verified of him then any Angels of light, or Chil∣dren of light among men.

Sect. 3. Christ is Light as the Prince of life.

1. By [Light] is oft in Scripture signified life: Psal. 36. 9. For with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light shall we see light. And even in this Gospel saith Christ, John 8. 12. I am the light of the world, he that followeth me, shall not

walk in darknesse, but shall have the light of life. And John 1. 4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. Job. 33. 28. He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. Ver. 30. To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. Psal. 49. 19. The soul shall go to the generation of his fathers, they shall never see light. Psal. 13. 3. Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. Hence to sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death, are conjoyned, Mat. 4. 16. Luk. 1. 79. In respect therefore of life in Christ, and communicated by him, he is rightly termed the light Now that he hath life in himself at his disposal, is affirmed by him, Joh. 5. 21. As the Father raiseth the dead and quickneth, so also the Son quickneth whom he will. Ver. 26. For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he also given to the Son to have life in himself. Joh. 14 6. Jesus saith to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father but by me. Joh. 11. 25. Jesus saith unto her, I am the re∣surection and the life. 1 Joh. 5. 11. And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son: who is termed the Word of life, 1 Joh. 1. 1. That eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifest unto us. Ver. 2. The Prince or Author of life, Act 3. 15. The last Adam was made a quickning Spi∣rit, 1 Cor. 15. 45. which being spoken of the resurrection of the body, it ap∣pears that he is the light in respect of natural life, as well as spiritual, at the first creation, as well as at the future resurrection. As it is certain that some sort of living creatures are produced by the Sun, so it is certain that the Son of God is the Prince of life, who hath life in himself, and imparts it to other living beings; and in this respect is justly termed the Light.

Sect. 4. Christ is Light as the Lord of glory.

2. By Light is oft meant glory and majesty. There is one glory of the Sun, another of the Moon, and another of the Stars, for one Star differeth from another in glory, that is light, 1 Cor. 15. 41. The light which made the face of Moses shine, Exod. 34. 29. is termed 2 Cor 3. 7. the glory of his countenance, and the shining of Christ at his transfiguration, Mat. 17. 2. is termed glory, 2 Pet 1. 17. and thus Christ is Light, that is full of glory and majesty, the Lord of glory, 1 Cor. 2. 8. Even on earth John saith, Chap. 1. 14. And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father. And doubtless however in Christs outward shape there appeared no more then ordinary, or rather less then or∣dinary splendour; yet in his preaching there was such glory as made the people astonished, for he taught them as one having authority, Mar. 1. 22. In his Miracles there was glory, so as that Vers. 27. they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And Joh. 2. 11. This beginning of Miracles did Jesus in Cana of Gaiilee, and manifested forth his glory, and his Disciples believed on him, And Vers. 15. When he made a scourge of small cords, he drove out the sellers of Oxen, Sheep, and Doves, and changers of mony, all out of the Temple, and overthrew their tables, and powred out their money; and when Officers were sent to apprehend him, they re∣turned answer, Joh. 7. 46. Never man spake like this man. He commanded Lazarus to come forth out of the grave, and he came forth, Joh. 11. 43, 44. He rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm, Mat. 8. 26. These and many more things which appeared in him and were done by him, mani∣fested

that he was indeed Light, that is a person of splendour, glory, and Ma∣jesty, notwithstanding his emptying himself in the forme of a servant Phil. 2. 7.

Sect. 5. Christ is Light, as cause of peace and joy.

3. By Light is oft meant peace, Isa. 45. 7. I form the light and create dark∣ness, is expressed in the next words, I make peace and create evil, Jer. 13. 16. While ye look for light, that is peace. In like manner Light is put for joy, as Psal. 97. 11. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart, Prov. 15. 30. The light of the eyes rejoyceth the heart, Isa. 60. 20. The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the dayes of thy mourning shall be ended. Darkness takes away mirth, but the appearing of the day brings joy: The Sun is that which chears all things by its light, and so doth Christ dispell storms, makes peace, and begets joy. Whence he is stiled the Prince of peace, Isa. 9. 6. our peace, Eph. 2. 14. Peace I leave with you, saith Christ, my peace give I unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you: Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid, Joh. 14. 27. These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation: But be of good chear, I have overcome the world, Joh. 16. 33. That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full, 1 Joh. 1. 3, 4. As from the Sun all the light, serenity, and sweetness of the air, whereby the spirits of men are refreshed, the mem∣bers warmed, the whole body cheared, is derived; so from Christ are all the pleasant apprehensions of peace with God, all the joyfull tast of his favour, all the quickening hopes of heaven, which a Christian soul partakes of.

Sect. 6. Christ is Light in respect of his purity and wisdome.

4. By Light is meant holiness, purity, or clearness: Nothing more free from defilement then light; all the jakes and dunghills and filthy lakes in the world cannot pollute the light of the Sun, and therefore it is fit to resemble holiness. And accordingly God is said to be Light, 1 Joh. 1. 5. that is pure, as it is said, Chap 3. 3. And thus the Lord Christ is Light, being annointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows, as loving righteousness and hating ini∣quity, Psal. 45. 7. Heb. 1. 9. He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, 1 Pet. 2. 22. He could challenge his most prying adversaries, Joh. 8. 46. Which of you convinceth me of sin?

5. By Light is meant wisdome: Light is a discovering quality, Eph. 5. 13. All things that are discovered are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Light pierceth through the most narrow chinks into the lowest holes: and so doth wisdome find out the most hidden things through small hints. Daniel is said to have light, and understanding, and wis∣dome found in him, in that he was able to interpret dreams, and shew hard senten∣ces, and dissolve doubts, Dan. 5. 11, 12. But beyond all, the Lord Christ was light: the Spirit of the Lord did rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdome and under∣standing, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord, Isa. 11. 2. In him are hid all the treasures of wisdome and know∣ledge, Col. 2. 3. No man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man

the Father save the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him, Mat. 11. 27. Jesus knew all men, neither needed he that any should testifie of man, for he knew what was in man, Joh. 2. 24, 25. He knew the thoughts of the Seribes, Mat. 9. 4. He knew Judas would betray him, afore Judas had conceived the treason, Joh. 6. 70, 71. He opened the secret counsels of God, foretold the future trou∣bles of the Jews, persecutions of his Disciples, his own death and resurrecti∣on, the preaching of the Gospel, and gathering of his Church over the world, which are accomplished, and the resurrection of the dead at his return to the final judgement, which will be undoubtedly brought to pass in the day of the Lord: So that of him it is true which we read, Dan. 2. 22. He revealeth the deep and secret things, he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Sect. 7. Christ is Light in respect of truth and grace.

6. By Light is meant truth, Isa. 8. 20. To the Law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them: that is no truth in them, or no comfort to them, say others. He that doth the truth, saith Christ. cometh to the light, Joh. 3. 21. Light and truth are either the same, or very like, and helpfull to each other, Psal. 43. 3. Oh send out thy light and thy truth. Now light well agrees to Christ under this notion, sith he is the way, the truth, and the life, Joh. 14. 6. All his words were words of truth, his Gospel the Gospel of truth, Jam. 1. 18. Col. 1. 5. If ye continue in my Word, saith Christ, Joh. 8. 31, 32. then are ye my Disciples indeed. And ye shall knew the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

7. By Light, favour, and grace, and goodness, and love are meant, Numb. 6. 35. Job 29. 3 Psal. 4. 7. Prov. 16. 15. In the light of the Kings countenance is life, and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. Lightsomeness in the face, is a sign of goodness and love in the heart; as on the other side, a lowring grim visage is a sign of a tyrannical and imperious spirit. Light is the most diffusive and communicative of all qualities, and so fitly resembles grace and love. And so it is said of Christ, Psal. 45. 2. Thou art fairer then the children of men: Grace is powred into thy lips, therefore God hath blessed thee for ever, Cant. 5. 16. His mouth is most sweet; yea he is altogether lovely, 1 Pet. 2. 3. If ye have tasted how gracious the Lord is, Luk. 4. 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath aneinted me to preach the Gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken∣hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of fight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are braised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And the eyes of all them that were in the Synagegue, were fastened on him: And he began to say unto them, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears: And all bare him witness, and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, Vers. 22. All his words, looks, deeds (except when he had to do with proud hypocrites, and incurably wicked persons) did evidence a dove-like spirit, harmeless, compassionate, kinde, patient, full of love and goodness. He went about like the Sun doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil, Act. 10. 38. And therefore in this respect is to be termed the Light by excel∣lency. The Word dwelt among us full of grace and truth. Of his fulness we have all received grace for grace. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, John 1. 14. 16, 17.

2. This attribute of light is given to Christ, both in respect of his divine nature, in respect of which it is said, Joh. 1. 4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men, and in respect of his humane, concerning which it is said, Joh. 9. 5. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world: Which I shall shew when I speak of his enlightening.

Sect. 8. The Application in a double Use to see the estate of men without Christ, and to draw our eyes to him.

For present we may hence infer, 1. That they who are unacquainted with Christ, are in darkness: Ye were once darkness saith the Apostle, Eph. 5. 8. minding them of their estate antecedent to their being in Christ. A man without Christ preached and believed, is like a person in darkness. 1. He is in respect of his estate as a man in the dark, in that he cannot discern his own condition, how unclean he is, what danger is near him, what way to avoid it, what help to use. He that is out of Christ, and sees not by his light, dis∣cerns not the filth of sin, nor the keeneness of Gods anger, nor how to re∣move the one, or to asswage the other. 2. A man without the light of Christ, doth neither know God truly, nor his precepts or counsel, and so knows not how to address himself to God. nor how to observe Gods eye on him, nor what gifts he tenders to him, nor what directions he gives him.

3. A man without Christ his light, is like the Syrians, who were led to Sa∣maria when they imagined they were in Dothan. It's easie for Satan or any deceiver to lead them hell-ward, when they pretend to direct them heaven∣ward: Any cheat, any errour or delusion may be put on him, that wants Christ to be his light. 4. He that wants light from Christ, is as he that walks in the dark, one while he stumbles here, another time he wanders there: If he be in the way, yet it is more then he knows, and therefore is uncer∣tain whether it be best to go forward, or backward, or stand still. How full of uncertainty have been the most witty Philosophers, the most skillfull Rab∣bins, the most acute Papists in their way, following their own reason, or tradition of men! How miserably do they stumble and fall, and hurt their souls! How sadly do they wander out of the way, when they think they are in it! 5. Want of light from Christ, leaves men in fears and perplexities what shall befall them. The light of Christ secures the soul, assures its hap∣piness; but he that knows not the way of Christ, nor whereto it tends, is a∣fraid of death and judgement to come, is doubtfull whether he have any in∣terest in God, fears the mention of Hell, of the Devil, of the coming of Christ, turnes Quaker at the sight of an armed man, whines like Adrian the Empe∣rour, when his soul was departing. 6. A man without the light of Christ, can do no spiritual work as he should. As he that is in the dark, can neither thresh corn, nor make his clothes, nor plow, nor sowe, nor do other necessary usefull works: So it is with him that's not enlightened by Christ; he can neither pray, nor praise God, nor do any other holy work, or manage any business that pertains to Gods glory, and Christs kingdome. A dark Dungeon is a miserable place to live in, and no less, or rather a thousand times more miserable is it, to be excluded from the light of Christ.

2. If Christ be light, then should our eyes be towards him. Light is at∣tractive of our eyes: It is a pleasant thing to behold the Sun, it is that which

Infidels adore as God. Should not we magnifie the Lord Jesus as the Sun of Righteousnesse? Should not our eyes and our hearts be drawn after him? Sould not our souls adore him? He is the Son of his Fathers love, Col. 1. 14. and should he not be of ours? The Church, the Spouse of Christ saith, he is all desires, Cant. 5. 16. and so doth every soul that knows him. He is the high∣est born Prince, of great Majesty, of most noble disposition, of most loving nature, of incomprehensible beauty, of superlative power, of largest Empire, of most ample riches; there's not the thing to be named which is desirablé, which is not Christs. Oh then, that we could fall in love with Christ, long af∣ter him, remember him with delight, hearken after all the tokens of his ap∣pearing, inquire into his walking places! Shall people travell far, throng much, be at much cost to see a gracious Queen? Shall besotted Papists, take a long and dangerous pilgrimage, to see Christs pretended Vicar, though sometimes a most horrible monster, more like the Devil then Christ, and shall not our hearts travell after Christ, and converse with him? Sure no excuse will be taken, sith there can be no reason alledged for it, for those that dote on men and wo∣men, and gold, and pearles, and yet forget Christ; are inamoured on pi∣ctures, and neglect the living beauty of Heaven, the Lord of Glory. Be wise therefore, O ye Princes and people of the world, kiss the Son, worship, love, rejoyce in, wait on, follow the Image of the invisible God, the Heir of all things, in comparison of whom, let all sublunary beauties be as dirt, and all the precious things of the earth be as dung to you.