LETTER VII.

ON THE SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY PLEADED FOR THE "INWARD LIGHT."

RESPECTED FRIENDS,

THE Confusion in Robert Barclay's mind, by which, so very strangely, he has been led to confound and blend together, in his statements and illustrations, doctrines so palpably distinct as those of justification and sanctification, may be traced, without difficulty, as I have formerly hinted, to the predominant influence of his views of the "inward light,"which, in his case, as in that of many more, only

-led to bewilder, and dazzled to blind."

-That light, we have seen, consists not in the knowledge of any thing that is externally revealed, or that comes to the mind of its possessor through any extraneous channel. It is a principle within, common to all that are born into the world; yet not inherited or bestowed by nature, but the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the fruit of Christ's mediation. Now, what I

wish you particularly to notice at present is, that according to the representations of your standard writers, this light is at once, and equally, the law and the Gospel. It is the discovery and rule of duty; and it is the means of salvation. Here lies, to no inconsiderable extent, its deceptive influence on the subject before us. It is the law, or rule of duty; and by it, therefore, must be "the knowledge of sin :”and yet, although this is the very reason assigned by the apostle why the law cannot justify, this light is saving light. It imparts no knowledge of the Saviour revealed in the Gospel testimony,-no knowledge of "the truth as it is in Jesus:"—and yet,— although it is solely "the knowledge of the only true God and of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent" that is "life eternal," this light is saving light;-light by which all men are put into a capacity of salvation.— How, then, does it save? Seeing it reveals nothing respecting any ground of pardon or acceptance with God, beyond what exists in the sinner's own bosom, it is no difficult matter to perceive the infallible tendency; leading precisely to the result apparent in the confused conceptions of Barclay. How can it save in any other way, than by some supposed operation in the sinner's mind and heart? And if so, then there is evidently no room left for justification,-(in the proper forensic sense of the term, as meaning pardon, acquittal, acceptance before God,)—on the

ground of a righteousness extraneous to himself; but it comes, inevitably, to be confounded with personal righteousness, or sanctification. The "inward light" is conceived to impart the knowledge of duty, together with a certain favourable disposition towards it, a kind of constraining divine influence to what is good,-which may, however, be resisted :—and, according to Barclay, it is by conformity to this knowledge, by following this disposition, by yielding to this influence, that sinful men are justified. Now it is by ascribing justification to this personal influence in the sinner's own mind, that Barclay, almost of necessity, identifies it with sanctification.

Allow me to illustrate my meaning, and confirm my charge, by a quotation, which will, at the same time; serve as a specimen of his general principles of exposition on such subjects." This saving spiritual light is "the gospel, which the apostle says expressly is preach"ed in every creature under heaven, even that very "Gospel of which Paul was made a minister, Col. i. "23. For the Gospel is not a mere declaration of "good things, being the power of God unto salva"tion to all those that believe, Rom. i. 16. Though "the outward declaration of the Gospel be taken "sometimes for the Gospel, yet it is but figuratively, "and by a metonymy. For, to speak properly, the Gospel is this inward power and life which preach"eth glad tidings in the hearts of all men, offering

"salvation unto them, and seeking to redeem them "from their iniquities; and therefore it is said to be 66 preached in every creature which is under heaven: "whereas there are many thousands of men and

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women to whom the outward Gospel was never "preached. Therefore the apostle Paul, Rom. i. "" where he says 'the Gospel is the power of God "unto salvation,' adds, that therein is revealed the

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righteousness of God from faith to faith;' and also "the wrath of God' against such as 'hold the truth "in unrighteousness:' for this reason, saith he, because that which may be known of God is mani"fest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. "Now that which may be known of God is known

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by the Gospel, which was manifest in them. For "those of whom the apostle speaks had no outward

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gospel preached to them; so that it was by the "inward manifestation of the knowledge of God in "them, which is indeed the Gospel preached in man, "that the righteousness of God is revealed from "faith to faith; that is, it reveals to the soul that "which is just, good, and righteous; and that, as "the soul receiveth it and believes, righteousness 66 comes more and more to be revealed, from one "degree of faith unto another. For though, as the

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following verse saith, the outward creation declares "the power of God; yet that which may be known "of God is manifest within; by which inward mani

“festation we are made capable to see and discern “the eternal power and Godhead in the outward cre"ation; so, were it not for this inward principle, we “could no more understand the invisible things of "God by the outward visible creation, than a blind

man can see and discern the variety of shapes and “colours, or judge of the beauty of the outward "creation." *

I do not remember if, within the compass of a single page, I have ever met with a more extraordinary tissue of blunders and inconsistencies. You must allow me to state and expose them, seriatim; as this may furnish us with principles, such as will facilitate the discussion of other passages of Scripture besides those here introduced.—Observe, then—

1. “This saving spiritual light is the Gospel"“even that very gospel of which Paul was made a “minister.”—If so, it must testify of Jesus: for the Gospel of which Paul was made a minister, which he had it in commission to preach, and which he "did preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom," was "the testimony of Jesus." He "determined not to know any thing among his hearers, save Jesus Christ and him crucified." It was a testimony of facts and principles. If, therefore, the inward light be “the very gospel whereof Paul was

# Apology, pages 167, 168.