Lastly, the Quakers talk altogether of the light within; which, being as they say, common to all men, can be no other then natural conscience: this is the candle of the Lord, and much magnified by Heathen Philosophers; this is every mans Daemon, saith one: nay, it is the God in us, saith another. And it is so in such a sense as Moses was a God to Pharaoh, preaching the will of God to him; and for non-obedience, urging him with dreadful plagues: For it magisterially dictates the will of God, even in the Monarchs of the world; and in case they rebel, it hath inward stings and scorpions for them. Quid aliud voces animam quàm Deum in humano corpore hospitantem, saith Seneca. Were a Quaker to English it, he would go near to do it thus, The light within is God manifest in the flesh, for in plain terms he will call it Christ, as if the candle could become a Sun of Righteousness. In the mean time the devil hath a fetch, under the praises of inward light, to explode the Scriptures: But we must remember, that Conscience which is above man, is yet below God; and though it be a light and a rule, yet it must truckle under the greater light ⟨p. 68⟩and rule in the Scriptures. Take conscience before conversion, it is clouded and overshadowed with the Fall, dark and blind in spiritual things; and shall the blind lead the blind, till both fall into the ditch? must it not go & be new-lighted at the Scripture? Take heed unto the word as unto a light shining in a dark place, saith St. Peter, 2 Pet. 1.19. The heart of man is but a dark place, till the divine word shine into it; it is intoxicated with the love of sin, and by it, as the devils Opium, it sleeps at the top of the mast, in the ocean of lowdangers, and must it not be roused up? ought not the silver trumpet of the word to be sounded in its ears, to prevent an eternal sleep, and awaken it unto righteousness? should it not go and wash in the pure streams of free-grace, and redeeming blood in the Gospel? it may be it is infected with errors, and by these Satan hath taken sanctuary in the intellectual tower, and utters his own dictates as from God; and must it be left in such a case? should not Satan and all his lying wares be cast out by the word and spirit? but because conscience is now at the worst, take it after conversion, are there then no relics of darkness which call for more light?
Lastly, the Quakers talk altogether of the light within; which, being as they say, common to all men, can be no other then natural conscience: this is the candle of the Lord, and much magnified by Heathen Philosophers; this is every mans Daemon, saith one: nay, it is the God in us, saith another. And it is so in such a sense as Moses was a God to Pharaoh, preaching the will of God to him; and for non-obedience, urging him with dreadful plagues: For it magisterially dictates the will of God, even in the Monarchs of the world; and in case they rebel, it hath inward stings and scorpions for them. Quid aliud voces animam quàm Deum in humano corpore hospitantem, saith Seneca. Were a Quaker to English it, he would go near to do it thus, The light within is God manifest in the flesh, for in plain terms he will call it Christ, as if the candle could becom a Sun of Righteousness. In the mean time the devil hath a fetch, under the praises of inward light, to explode the Scriptures: But we must remember, that Conscience which is above man, is yet below God; and though it be a light and a rule, yet it must truckle under the greater light ⟨p. 68⟩and rule in the Scriptures. Take conscience before conversion, it is clouded and overshadowed with the Fall, dark and blind in spiritual things; and shall the blind lead the blind, till both fall into the ditch? must it not go & be new-lighted at the Scripture? Take heed unto the word as unto a light shining in a dark place, saith St. Peter, 2 Pet. 1.19. The heart of man is but a dark place, till the divine word shine into it; it is intoxicated with the love of sin, and by it, as the devils Opium, it sleeps at the top of the mast, in the ocean of lowdangers, and must it not be rouzed up? ought not the silver trumpet of the word to be sounded in its ears, to prevent an eternal sleep, and awaken it unto righteousness? should it not go and wash in the pure streams of free-grace, and redeeming blood in the Gospel? it may be it is infected with errors, and by these Satan hath taken sanctuary in the intellectual tower, and utters his own dictates as from God; and must it be left in such a case? should not Satan and all his lying wares be cast out by the word and spirit? but because conscience is now at the worst, take it after conversion, are there then no reliques of darkness which call for more light?
