An Apology for the True Christian Divinity. Robert Barclay

but that which is kindled within us, by an heavenly Warmth in our Hearts. And again: There is a Knowing of the Truth, as it is in Jesus, as it is in a Christ-like Nature; as it is in that sweet, mild, humble, and loving Spirit of Jesus, which spreads itself, like a Morning Sun, upon the Souls of good Men, full of Light and Life. It profits little to know Christ himself after the Flesh; but he gives his Spirit to good Men, that searcheth the deep things of God. And again: It is but a thin airy Knowledge, that is got by mere Speculation, which is ushered in by Syllogisms and Demonstrations; but that which springs forth from true Goodness, is [Greek: theioteron ti pasês hypodeixeôs: θειοτερον τι πασης ὑποδειξεως] (as Origen speaketh) It brings such a Divine Light into the Soul, as is more clear and convincing than any Demonstration.”

      §. III.

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      Apostasy and a false Knowledge introduced.That this certain and undoubted Method of the true Knowledge of God hath been brought out of use, hath been none of the least Devices of the Devil, to secure Mankind to his Kingdom. For after the Light and Glory of the Christian Religion had prevailed over a great Part of the World, and dispelled the thick Mists of the Heathenish Doctrine of the Plurality of Gods, he that knew there was no Probability of deluding the World any longer that Way, did then puff Man up with a false Knowledge of the true God; setting him on work to seek God the wrong Way, and persuading him to be content with such a Knowledge as was of his own acquiring, and not of God’s teaching. And this Device hath proved the more successful, because accommodated to the natural and corrupt Spirit and Temper of Man, who above all Things affects to exalt himself; in which Exaltation, as God is greatly dishonoured, so therein the Devil hath his End; who is not anxious how much God is acknowledged in Words, provided himself be but always served; he matters not how great and high Speculations the Natural Man entertains of God, so long as he serves his own Lusts and Passions, and is obedient to his evil Suggestions and Temptations. Christianity is become an Art, acquired by human Science and Industry.Thus Christianity is become as it were an Art, acquired by human Science and Industry; like any other Art or Science; and Men have not only assumed the Name of Christians, but even have procured themselves to be esteemed as Masters of Christianity, by certain Artificial Tricks, though altogether Strangers to the Spirit and Life of Jesus. But if we make a right Definition of a Christian, according to the Scripture, That he is one who hath the Spirit and is led by it, how many Christians, yea, and of these great Masters and Doctors of Christianity, so accounted, shall we justly divest of that Noble Title?

      By Revelation is the true Knowledge of God.If those therefore who have all the other Means of Knowledge, and are sufficiently Learned therein, whether it be the Letter of the Scripture, the Traditions of Churches, or the Works of Creation and Providence, whence they are able to deduce strong and undeniable Arguments (which may be true in themselves) are not yet to be esteemed Christians, according to the certain and infallible Definition above-mentioned; and if the inward and immediate Revelation of God’s Spirit in the Heart, in such as have been altogether ignorant of some, and but very little skilled in others, of these Means of attaining Knowledge, hath brought them to Salvation; then it will necessarily and evidently follow, that Inward and Immediate Revelation is the only sure and certain Way to attain the true and saving Knowledge of God.

      But the first is true: Therefore the last.

      Now as this Argument doth very strongly conclude for this Way of Knowledge, and against such as deny it; so in this Respect it is the more to be regarded, as the Propositions, from which it is deduced, are so clear, that our very Adversaries cannot deny them. For as to the first, it is acknowledged, that many Learned Men may be, and have been, damned. And as to the second, who will deny but many illiterate Men may be, and are, saved? Abel, Seth, Noah, &c. instanced.Nor dare any affirm, that none come to the Knowledge of God and Salvation by the inward Revelation of the Spirit, without these other outward Means; unless they be also so bold as to exclude Abel, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Job, and all the holy Patriarchs from true Knowledge and Salvation.

      §. IV.

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      I would however not be understood as if hereby I excluded those other Means of Knowledge from any Use or Service to Man; it is far from me so to judge, as concerning the Scriptures, in the next Proposition, will more plainly appear. The Question is not, what may be profitable or helpful, but what is absolutely necessary. Many Things may contribute to further a Work, which yet are not the main Thing that makes the Work go on.

      The Sum then of what is said amounts to this, That where the true Inward Knowledge of God is, through the Revelation of his Spirit, there is all; neither is there an absolute Necessity of any other. But where the best, highest, and most profound Knowledge is, without this there is nothing, as to the obtaining the great End of Salvation. This Truth is very effectually confirmed by the first Part of the Proposition itself, which in few Words comprehendeth divers unquestionable Arguments, which I shall in brief subsume.

      I.First, That there is no Knowledge of the Father but by the Son.

      II.Secondly, That there is no Knowledge of the Son, but by the Spirit.

      

      III.Thirdly, That by the Spirit God hath always revealed himself to his Children.

      IV.Fourthly, That these Revelations were the formal Object of the Saints’ Faith.

      V.And Lastly, That the same continueth to be the Object of the Saints’ Faith to this Day.

      Of each of these I shall speak a little particularly, and then proceed to the latter Part.

      §. V.

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      Assert. I. Proved.As to the first, viz. That there is no Knowledge of the Father but by the Son, it will easily be proved, being founded upon the plain Words of Scripture, and is therefore a fit Medium from whence to deduce the rest of our Assertions.

For the infinite and most wise God, who is the Foundation, Root and Spring of all Operation, hath wrought all Things by his Eternal Word and Son. [40]This is that Word that was in the Beginning with God, and was God, by whom all Things were made, and without whom was not any Thing made that was made, [41]This is that Jesus Christ, by whom God created all Things, by whom, and for whom, all Things were created, that are in Heaven and in Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be Thrones, or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers, Col. i. 16. Who therefore is called, The first-born of every Creature, Col. i. 15. As then that infinite and incomprehensible Fountain of Life and Motion operateth in the Creatures by his own Eternal Word and Power; so no Creature has Access again unto him but in and by the Son, according to his own express Words, No Man knoweth the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him, Mat. xi. 27. Luke x. 22. And again, he himself saith, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: No Man cometh unto the Father but by me, John xiv. 6.

[40] John 1. 1, 2, 3.

[41] Eph. 3. 9.

      Hence he is fitly called, The Mediator betwixt God and Man: For having been with God from all Eternity, being himself God, and also in Time partaking of the Nature of Man; through him is the Goodness and Love of God conveyed to Mankind, and by him again Man receiveth and partaketh of these Mercies.