OF THE LIGHT WITHIN, WHAT IT IS, AND THE VIRTUE AND BENEFIT OF IT TO MAN
editPerversion: The Quakers hold that the natural light in the conscience of every man is sufficient to save all that follows it, and so they overthrow salvation by Christ. . .A mighty error indeed. if it were true.
Principle: But it is at best a great mistake: for their belief and assertion is that Christ, Who is the Word that was with God, and was God, and is so forever, has enlightened every man with His own Light, as He is that True Light. And that such as follow the leadings of that Light, with which He enlightens the understandings and consciences of men, shall not walk in darkness, that is in evil and ignorance of God, but shall have the Light of Life, that is, be in a holy and living state or condition toward God—a state of acceptance and salvation, which is from sin here as well as from wrath here after, for which Christ was given of God. So that they assert the Light of Christ to be sufficient to save, that is, to convince of sin, lead out of it, and quicken the soul in the ways of holiness, and not a natural light. This Light is something else than the bare understanding man has as a rational creature, since as such, man cannot be a light to himself, but has only the capacity of seeing by means of the Light which Christ the Word enlightens him. As the sun in the firmament is the light of our bodies, so the Light of the Divine Word is the sun of our souls, and they that walk in it will by it be led to blessedness.
Perversion 2: The Quakers hold, that the Light within them is God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit; so that every Quaker has whole God, Christ and Holy Spirit in him, which is gross blasphemy.
Principle: This is also a mistaking of their belief. They never said that every divine illumination, or manifestation of Christ in the hearts of men, was whole God, Christ, or the Spirit, which might render them guilty of that gross and blasphemous absurdity some would fasten upon them But that God, Who is Light, or the Word Christ, Who is Light, styled the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, and the quickening Spirit, Who is God over all, blessed forever, has enlightened mankind with a measure of saving Light, Who said, "I am the Light of the world; and they that follow me shall not abide in darkness, but have the Light of Life." So that the illumination is from God, or Christ the Divine Word; but not, therefore, that whole God or Christ is in every man anymore than the whole sun or air is in every house or chamber.
Perversion 3: By the Quaker's doctrine every man must be saved, for every man, they say, is savingly enlightened.
Principle: Not so. For though the Light or grace of God has and does more or less appear to all men, and brings salvation to as many as are taught by it to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world, yet it no way follows that men must obey. God tenders saving light or grace to all, and by it calls all, and strives and pleads with all, according to the measure and manifestation of it; but if they will not hearken, He is clear of their blood. His Light is saving that lights them, but it cannot be said to save them, while they rebel against it. In short, though men are lightened or visited with a saving Light or grace, yet the Quakers never concluded, nor can it be rightly concluded from their testimony, that such men must necessarily be saved, whether they obey or rebel.
Perversion 4: By the Quaker's Light or Spirit, they may be moved to any wickedness because they say such as are so led have the Light within them.
Principle: This never was their doctrine, nor is it consequent of it. For though they hold that all have Light, they never said that all obeyed it, or that evil men, as such, and in such things, were led by it. Much less could the Light be chargeable with the sins of those who refuse to be led by it. For herein they know the Spirit of God and the motions of it from the spirit of this world and its fruits: that the Spirit of God condemns all ungodliness and moves and inclines to purity, mercy. righteousness. which are of God.
God's Spirit makes people free from sin, and brings all that regard the convictions and motions of it into a sense and sorrow for sin, and so into a state of reformation, without which all profession of religion is mere formality. Man's sin and destruction are of himself, but his help is in God alone, through Jesus Christ, our blessed Sacrifice and Sanctifier.