does only to particular Perfons, whom our Church, in Conformity with the Scriptures, calls the Elect People of God, that is, fuch as believe in Chrift, and are baptized. Thefe alone are qualified to receive fuch Illumination of the Spirit; for which Reafon it was, that Baptifm is by the Apoftle called Enlightening, becaufe then it was, that fuch Illumination was given by the Spirit. And this appeared in fo evident a Manner in the primitive Times, as made Baptism and Enlightening become Synonymous Terms, and Words of the fame Importance. See Heb. vi. 4. See alfo Chap. x. 32. where the fame Word [lov] is rendered illuminated

and to let us fee that fuch Illumination, or Enlightening was the immediate Gift of the Holy Ghost, in Baptifm and Confirmation, how often does the facred Hiftory inform us, of Perfons Speaking with other Tongues, and prophesying, after they

22, 23. if attentively confidered. After mentioning the Eye, as the Organ whereby all fenfible Light is convey'd to the Body, he thence takes an Occafion to mention The Light IN us, to wit, Reafon, which is the Light of the Mind that if This be Darkness, that is, be exftinguifhed by moral Corruptions, how great is THE [not that, as we render it] Darkness! namely, the natural Darkness and Ignorance of our Paffions, &c. which can receive no Light and Guidance but from our Reason.

were

were baptized, and had the Hands of the Apostles upon them. See Acts xix. &c.

laid

THIS fhort Account, fets the whole OEconomy of our Redemption in fuch a Light; as likewife the particular Parts and Offices which the ever-blessed Trinity bears therein, as will, it is humbly hoped, convince the Quakers, that, altho' it be true, what they fay in general of the Spirit, and Light within, yet that it is morally impoffible THEY fhould be poffeffed of it, while they not only neglect, but profeffedly reject the only proper and effectual Means for receiving it. We undoubtedly have the Proper Means, and We ufe them; but, to our Shame it mult be owned, that it doth not appear by our Lives, that we have any fuch Light, or any fuch Sign or Gift of the Holy Ghoft. Yea, fuch Strangers are we grown to this bleffed Privilege, that instead of ftirring up the Gift that is in us, and was received by Baptifm, and Impofition of Hands, there is fcarce One in a Thoufand, who fo much as pretends to have it, or even knows what it means: as if like thofe Twelve Difciples St. Paul met at Ephefis, they had not fo much as heard, whether there be any Holy Ghost. Yea, instead of endeavouring in the Spirit of Charity, to convince Gainfayers by proper Arguments, or the more perfuafive Rhetorick of a burning and Shining Light in their

Lives

Lives and Conversations, they banter and ridicule all Pretenfions to the Holy Spirit, as an idle Fancy, and mere Enthusiasm.

Secondly, ANOTHER Thing which feems to caft Duft in the Eyes of both Parties, is, too general and indistinct a Notion of the Nature of Faith; and this alfo is beft explained by the Doctrine of the Spiritual Life; that Mafter-Key, and beft Interpreter of the Scriptures, the fureft Guide, and only Standard of Faith in all Religious Disputes. --but as fuccinctly as poffible.

FAITH, is two-fold; Firft, Hiftorical. This, in Matters of Religion, is an honeft and fincere Affent to the feveral Facts related in Scripture, concerning the Creation of the World, the Fall

*We are told by our Lord, that the Words he fpake were Spirit and Life (John, vi. 63.) that the Oracles, of God are lively, or rather, Living Oracles, (Acts vii. 38.) [Acgía (arra] and a Fiery, or fpiritual Law. (Deut. xxxiii. 2.) We are alfo commanded, to speak as thefe Oracles. (1 Pet. iv. 11.) Whoever therefore does fo, muft needs come nearest to the Standard of Truth, for he speaks and thinks as Chrift did, who is Truth itself, and gave us thofe Oracles. And none can do this, but by Means of the Spiritual Life; Spiritual Things being only spiritually difcerned. 1 Cor. ii. 14.

of

of Man, the Flood, the Prophecies, &c. the Birth, the Life, the Sayings, the Sufferings and Refurrection of Chrift, &c. that he fent his Apoftles to convert the World, appointed Baptifm, as the Method of making Chriftians, or admitting Believers into his Church; and that he fhall come again at the Last Day to judge the World. These Things, and fuch others, which are recorded in the Scriptures, are the objects of Hiftorical Faith; and thefe Things every Man of competent Understanding, and Mind unprejudiced by vicious Habits and Passions, may very eafily apprehend by the mere Light of Reafon, that Light, which, as we faid, is given us by the Logos or Son of God, to light every Man, that will but open his Eyes, and does not love Darkness rather than Light, because his Deeds are evil. This Faith therefore is alfo called a Rational or Speculative and Moral Faith; and fuch a Faith as this, may, and indeed muft, precede, and go before Baptism; and as Mr. Smith has fufficiently prov'd, "does not "stand in need of any immediate Light from the "Spirit." But this Faith, if it proceed no further than a mere Act of Believing, is not fufficient to Salvation. It' points out the Way indeed,

Author of Prefervative against Quakerifm.

[d]

and

and bews us the Saviour, as the Baptift did to his Difciples, Behold the Lamb of God; but does not unite us to him, fo as to make us his Members, the Children of God, and the Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven; in a Word, it does not confer on us the Spiritual Life; docs not make us Chriftians, and Partakers of the Holy Ghoft: This is only done by,

2. A faving Faith. As the former precedes Baptifm, and duly entitles the Believer thereto, this faving or efficacious Faith is the Confequence and Effect of that Ordinance. By Baptifm our Souls being reviv'd, and made Living Souls, as was faid of Adam, when God breathed into him the Breath of Life (that is the Holy Ghoft); fo our Faith, that before was barely fpeculative, and a kind of dead Faith (fuch as even Devils are allowed to have, and tremble) is by the Holy Spirit quick'ned and made a living Faith. The peculiar Attribute of the Spirit is, the Giver of Life; and as at the Creation, by moving on the Face of the deep, he communicated a Principle of Life and Motion, to the feveral Species of Creatures, fo now by a like Energy communicated to the Waters of Baptifm, he gives a lively and faving Efficacy to our Faith.

To