Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

FOr a Conclusion of this defence against the Quakers, I hold it expe∣dient to speak something briefly concerning the Light which is in eve∣ry Man. And I have given some hints above, how Robert Ruckhil hath altered the Phrase, by his frequent use of this, The Holy Spirit, instead of their old term, The Light in every Man. But these two must be distin∣guished: for a Man may have, or be a partaker of that Light which is in every Man, which reproveth much Evil, and directs to much Good: And yet the same Man may be sensual at the same time, having not the Spirit: * 1.1 For the Gift of the Holy Spirit, as it is promised in the Gospel, is not received but through Faith, Gal. 3. — That the Blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that they might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith. Nor do I mean the multifarious Spirits by which Men are actuated, when I speak of the Light in every Man, as R. R. rudely would interpret me; but I speak of that one common Principle of Wisdom, Ju∣stice and Purity, which God hath endowed Mankind with, which in re∣gard of its curious measures I call the Spirits of Men, every Man having his proper portion thereof; for the which he must be accountable, as he hath improved or abused it, to the honour or dishonour of Almighty God. But yet, I say, this Light in every Man ought to be subservient to the Light of the Holy Spirit revealed by or in the Holy Scriptures. And to make this better appear, I will here insert what I have published before in this behalf.

Because every Truth ought to have its just estimation, and the design of our precedent Discourses, being not to oppose any Light which God hath ordained for Man's direction; Whether that which is common

to all (ordinarily) at all times, by some called the Light within, or that which hath been manifested at sundry times, and divers man∣ners; it shall not be inexpedient here to propose some few things:

And,

1. It is certain (and not denied by the Baptized Churches) that God Almighty hath endowed Mankind with a Principle of Light, Under∣standing, or Judgment, to lead Men to the consideration and observation of things good and honest among themselves; and to contemplate the Divine Goodness it self, from the consideration of his wonderful Works, and to render to him the honour of his Mercies, &c.

For as there is a certain Relation between the Creator, and a rational Creature; even thence arises a necessity of Obedience on the Creature's part. Whereupon it behoveth that he know him, and in general, what is his Will whom he is to serve; and this is the great Work of the Law written in the heart of Man, Rom. 2.

2. But it is certainly in the liberty of the Creator, (who hath the fulness of Wisdom in himself) to give further, what particular disco∣veries of himself, and of his Will he pleaseth, or thinks most meet to communicate, beyond the extent of that common Principle of Light which he hath imparted to Mankind. And indeed thus he did from the beginning, when by a positive Law he forbad Adam to eat of one Tree in the Garden, which otherwise could have brought no inconveni∣ence, sith it was good for Food. And therefore the forbidden Fruit was not Sin, as some of the Quakers have vainly told me; and some have writ as erroneously.

3. That there is in the Godhead the distinction of Father, Son, and Spirit; and that Man's Salvation must depend upon the Death of the Son of God; that he to that end should be born of a Woman, even the blessed Virgin, Mary by Name; that he should arise from the Dead, and ascend the Heavens; or, that he shall come again to raise the Dead, and Judg the World, are things wholly beyond the reach of the Universal Principle of Light in Man, and only known to Man by particular Reve∣lation from the Omnipotent God; who revealed these things to the Pro∣phets, confirmed them by his Son, and hath witnessed the same by the Apostles.

4. That the Oeconomie, Order, or Government of the Church should vary, viz. Be of one Form in the Old World, of another from Abra∣ham till Christ; of a third, from Christ to the end of the World; are things of which the common Principle of Light in Man fails to give any account: only the Wisdom and good Pleasure of the Creator, is the ground and cause of this Alteration, to which the Light of Man's Un∣derstanding must be subordinate.

5. That Abraham must cut off the Fore-skin, and his Posterity ob∣serve the same for a Law, under pain of being cut off from the People of God, is no way perceivable by the Principle of Light in Man, but may rather seem repugnant to it, only God must not be disputed in any of his Commands, but Man with all the Light in him, must yield to his most wise Commandments.

6. That the Saviour of the World should come to be baptized of John in Jordan, and that it should become all his Disciples to follow him in the same Act of Obedience; that Israel must commemorate their Deliverance out of Egypt by the Paschal Observation; and Christians their Deliverance from Sin and Satan, by the Bread and Cup in the Lord's Table, &c. are such things as no Principle of Light, common to all Men, does dictate: But he only, who without controul, might and did command Abraham to offer his own Son for a Sacrifice, required these things, and ought to be obeyed, when and in what he requi∣reth.

7. The sum of all is this, The Universal Principle of Understand∣ing, Light, or Judgment in Man, is capable of Improvements; and it is only improved, by how much it is subordinate to the Will of God, as well in the lesser as the greater things of his Appointment. And there∣fore the Quakers undeniably opposing themselves against many things required to be observed by Christians, as positive Laws of God, made known by Jesus Christ, concerning Man's Redemption, and the Order of the Church of Christ, are not obedient to, nor sincere favourers of the Light within; but are under the Spirit of Darkness and Error in such their opposition; and do vainly boast, to speak and act as moved there∣unto by the Authority of Christ, and his Holy Spirit in them, when yet the Authority of Christ is full against them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Jud. Epist.