cannot continue in his word and so no Disciples nor friends and so being not found in the old way no rest for their soules but the Lord God would have all men obey him and have respect to all his Commandments and the Lord Jesus is the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Therefore he gives them that do believe power to walk up in all his Ordinances Thirdly They that do repent believe are ready to do all that the Lord commands by his Son who speaks in these last times to all men and so hearing the voice of Christ are his sheep Act 10.33 John 10. from the 4. to the 17. so have Christ which is the substance in whom all the promises are yea and amen 2 Cor. 1.20 therefore the adminstration of Ordinances and all is theirs 1 Cor. 3.22 as aforesaid Fourthly John the dipper did no miracle yet all that he spake was true John 10 41. and therefore the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves being not baptised of him so it is plain that it was a very great evil in any to refuse his Baptisme though he wrought no miracle so even so they that preach the truth according to the word are not to be rejected but received though they work no miracle for the Scriptures speaking to us is as much if not more as if a voyce from heaven spoke to us as it appears if you mind what Peter saith 2 Pet. 1.18 19. which sheweth that they heard a voyce from heaven declaring Jesus to be the Son of God and yet that we have a more sure word of the Prophets to the which we shall do well if we take heed yea we are to mind and keep the commandments of the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour even unto the last dayes when there shall be mockers which will walk after their lusts and say where is the promise of his coming and so forth Chap 3.2 3 4. From all which it is clear and plain that the Prophets and Apostles speaking in the Scriptures the commandments of the Lord are to be abeyed as if a voyce from heaven spoke to us and if we do not we sin very greivously though their be no miracles for the Apostles writing the commandments of the Lord it gives us sufficient authority for to administer Ordinances as aforesaid Fifthly Moses Law being written they that returned from the captivity of Babylon walked up in it though there was no miracle Ezra 2.63 Chap. 3.4 Neh. 8.14 No not any Preist that stood up with Vrim and Thummim neither had they extraordinary Prophets for they had not Haggai nor Zechariah when they began to build the Temple as it appeareth in the 4 of Ezra compared with the 5. ver 1 2. and Hag. 1.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Zech. 1.1 So then the law written by Moses gave full authority he being but a servant Muth more Thrists Law being written he being a Son and heire of all things we being heirs with him as we walk up after the new Covenant the everlasting Gospel Rom. 8.17 Gal. 4.30 Rev. 14.6 Sixtly Beleevers in Christ holding out the Doctrine of Christ have all power to preach and to administer Ordinances yea they only are sent of Christ for John saith 2 Epistle 9.10 That he that bringeth not the Doctrine of Christ ought not be received into the house as a teacher sent of God and that he that abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God and so he directech the elect Lady and her Children how they shall know who are sent of God and they were such as did bring the Doctrine of Christ and that they which did not or do not bring the Doctrine of Christ are not sent of God so then it is not miracles alone that doth prove men to be sent of God but the Doctrine they bring proves it it is not miracles proves it for Antichrist shall work miracles 2 Thes 2.9 Rev. 13.13 14. Chap. 16.14 So then it followeth that they which bring the Doctrine of Christ are sent by Christ so as to preach and to administer the Ordinances of Christ whether they work Miracles or no they preaching the truth their Doctrine is to be received for the Samaritans beleeved when the woman of Samaria declared Christ to them Jo. 4.39 and Jesus upbraided his Disciples for their unbeleif when they beleeved not them that declared him risen from the dead Mark 16.14 And Paul rejoyceth that Christ was preached though out of envy Phil. 1.15 18. And the Scriptures are written that men might beleeve Jo. 20.31 So men beleeving as it is written they speak 2 Cor. 4.13 For no man lighteth a candle and putteth it under a bushel but on a candlestick so turning men to righteousness they shall shine as the starrs for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 If any should say the Scriptures are not the word of the Lord J say that I need not to bring arguments to prove it to be the word of the Lord for the Prophesies that foretel things to come therein God will bring to pass so as men may be convinced of the truth of it So having shewed you the matter of a Church and what a Church or congregation of Christ is as namely such as walk up in the Doctrine or Commandments of Christ in singleness of heart in fellowship in breaking of bread in prayers Act. 2.41 42. And that none ought to have communion in breaking of Bread but such as own every Principle in the Doctrine of Christ Now the next Ordinance of Christ is Breaking of Bread Now the manner of Breaking Bread is first to take Bread and to bless it in the name of the Lord and then to break it and also the Wine in the next place and bless it also and then the Congregation are to divide it among them eating and drinking of it moderately as a Supper at even or about the even having communion together discerning the Lords body for the time we are not to bind it down to an hour but it is to answer as unto a supper 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25 26. Secondly We are to bless the Wine before we eat the Bread in my understanding because the Bread being blessed distinct apart from the Cup before we eate up the Bread sets out Christs Body broken and his Blood shed before our eyes in the sign but if we eat up the Bread before we bless the Cup then we eat up the Body of Christ in the sign before we have the Cup or Blood in the sign for it is not the Cup of the new Testament untill it is blessed for it is sanctified by the word of God and set apart by Prayer yea if we eat up the Bread before we blesse the Cup we divide Christ in our feeding upon the Bread before we have the Cup therefore we ought to blesse the Bread and break it and then blesse the Cup and then
eat and drink of it eying Christ as his Body being broken and his Bloud being shed for our sins also take notice that the order of words doth not prove that the Bread must be eaten before the Cup is blessed for Paul speaks of the Cup first 1 Cor. 10.16 and Mark saith that when Christ had blessed the cup he gave it to them and they all drank of it before he noteth that Christ declared what it signified chap. 14.23 24. But it doth not follow in reason that they did drink all of it before he gave them to understand what the Wine being set apart signified so it doth not follow though Christ did blesse the Bread and gave it to his Disciples and bid them eat that they did eat before he blest the Cup but rather the Bread being blessed be blessed the Cup also that they might eat of that Breád and drink of that Cup discerning the Lords Body broken and his Bloud shed for remission of sins 1 Cor. 11.26 28. Moreover it ought to be a Supper with moderation because it is said to be a Supper and a Feast 1 Cor. 5.7 8. Ch. 11.20 and there is nothing in all the Scripture that is said to be a Supper if there be any eating at all that is lesse then an eating to satisfaction with moderation Secondly There is perfect satisfaction in Jesus the Saviour therefore to eat to refreshment is the more lively and full Object But it was not a Supper when Christ set it apart for it was eaten after the Passover Answ The Lord took them off from eating the Passover before they had done for the Scripture saith As they were eating he took bread and brake it and so the Paschal Lamb and the Bread and Wine together made their Supper for the two signes the Paschal Lamb and the Bread and Wine one holding out Christ to be slain the other Christ as slain meet Christ the substance being there but when Christ was slain the Passover was abolished no more to be kept the Ordinance of Bread and Wine which is called the Lords Supper only remaineth and is to be a Supper as aforesaid for so it holdeth out the substance Jesus excellently but let every man eat so much of this Bread and drink of this Cup as it may be most helpful unto him to discern the Lords Body broken and his Bloud shed for his sins and the benefits that come and shall come thereby but let every man take heed in the fear of God that they do not eat and drink too much as the Corinthians did better it would be for to eat and drink too little Also mind That there is only Bread and Wine to be eaten at the Lords Supper and no feast of other food for that which Christ and his Disciples did eat before the Bread and Wine was the Passover Lamb as the Scripture saith Mat. 26.18 19. Mar. 14.12 16. Lu. 22.13 15. and Paul maketh mention only of Bread and Wine in the 10. and 11. of the 1 Cor. and for the love feast that some talk of to be kept before they eat the Bread and drink the Wine there is no such thing written in the Scripture but there is a feast of charity spoken of Jude 12. which is that feast that Christ commands to call the poor the maimed the lame the blind let him that is able do this singular thing for Christ saith he shall be blessed for the poor cannot recompence him but he shall be recompenced at the Resurrection of the Just Also mind well That it is Bread and Wine after it is blessed not changed into the Body and Bloud of Christ as the Papists hold though it be said after it is blessed This is my Body which was broken for you and my Bloud which was shed for remission of sins it is so said because in a figure or shaddow it holdeth forth Christs Body broken and his Bloud shed for remission of sins and so the Passover Lamb did hold out the Lords passing over the first-born of Israel yet is called the Lords Passover it putting them in mind of the same Exod. 12.21 27. and also the Apostle saith it is Bread and Wine after it is blessed 1 Cor. 11.27 28. therefore not the reall Body and Blood of Christ So let a man examine himself whether he discern the Lords Body offered up as a Sacrifice for sin to make an Attonement for him and that he be in love and peace with all men so that in believing he may eat his Flesh and drink his Bloud so as that there may be a communion in one body Christ being the Head and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. Moreover for the better being of the Congregations of Christ the Lord Christ hath appointed and given Overseers and gifted men and they are first Apostles or Messengers and Prophets and Evangelists and Pastors and Teachers for the Lord Jesus did ascend on high and gave gifts unto men for the gathering together of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edification of the body of Christ till we all meet together in the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man and unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.8 9 10 11 12 13. 1 Cor. 12.28 And for the word Apostle it being Englished is Messenger for so the word holdeth forth and so it may be translated and is so 2 Cor. 8.23 they are to be chosen by the Congregation out of the Congregation for so was Matthias chosen Acts 1.23 24 25 26. And the Spirit commanded the Church of Antioch with the Prophets to separate Saul and Barnabas and send them forth Acts 13.1 2 3. And that was the will and way of God for after that in Chap. 14.4 14. they are both called Apostles and not before and so the Church are to choose Messengers still for the gathering the Church and establishing of the same so that they are to go forth to preach the Gospel that all may know God in Christ and own the truth as it is in Jesus Also it appeareth that Messengers or Apostles are to be in the Church till Christ comes from that in Rev. 18.20 and Ephes 4.10 11 12 13. That in Rev. the 18. sheweth that there shall be Apostles to rejoyce at the overthrow of Babylon or the Whore and that will be a little before the coming of Christ and that in Eph. 4. sheweth that they are for the gathering together of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edification of the Body of Christ till we all meet together in the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man and untill the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ Until the coming of Christ in person Therefore Messengers are to be till Christ come Again If Pastors and Teachers are to abide in the Church then Messengers
seed of Abraham are cast out and so not admitted as members of the new Testament or Church of Christ meerly as such upon which account John the Baptist put back the Pharisees from his Baptisme as not fit members for the Church of Christ upon their plea of having Abraham to their Father Mat. 3.9 how lame weak frothy carnall and confused a thing is it to receive little children into the Church by Baptisme upon the plea that they are the seed of Believers What! all the fleshly seed of Abraham the father of the faithful cast out and yet labour to receive in the fleshly seed of Abrahams children be ashamed hereof O ye Priests for the Lord will not hold them guiltless that makes void his Commandements by their own traditions But more to this elsewhere Mat. 15.6 Now to return The sum of all is as the Apostle saith the Bond-woman and her son that is to say the first Covenant and its children is cast out ever since the death and resurrection of Christ so henceforth know we no man after the flesh 2 Cor. 5.16 because the son of the Bond-woman Ishmael after the flesh shall not be heir with Isaac the son of the free-woman that is to say with the children of the New Covenant or new Testament wherefore it remaineth in the next place to consider what the new Covenant is and who are the children thereof since they only are heirs according to promise The New Covenant or New Testament is in the strictest sence that which is written in the 31 of Jer. 33 34. vers and Heb. 8.10 11 12. And in the largest sence the Gospel the glad-tydings way and ordinances thereof as 't is written in the books of the new Testament whereof Paul was a Minister 2 Cor. 3.6 Mat. 26.28 Heb. 9.16 17 18. Now the Children of the New Covenant are penitent believing obedient men and women such as are born again not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God John 1.13 New creatures and these are the children of Abraham after the spirit and heirs according to promise John 8.39 Gal. 4.29 2 Cor. 5.17 And with them considered such God makes or enters into Covenant giving them his spirit and so puts his Laws in their minds and writes them in their hearts and so he is a God unto them and they only are his people Heb. 8.10 And so they need not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord for all shall know him from the least to the greatest of them verse 11. But mistake not though all the children of the New Covenant need not to teach one another so as to know the Lord yet they ought to build up one another in the knowledge of the Lord Jude 20. having received gifts from the Lord they are to teach one another to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord exhorting one another and so much the more as they see the day of Christ approaching so by using of their gifts they come to be established and go on to perfection Heb. 5.12 14. and 10.25 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4.8 11 12. Moreover the Lord will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will he remember no more so that they may have free accesse to him through Christ he being sacrificed for them so that there is no need of a sacrifice as there was under the old Testament for then there was a continual sacrificing and so a remembrance of sin every year and so the comers thereunto could not be made perfect for it was not possible that the blood of Buls and Goats should take away sins Heb. 10.1 2 3 4. But Christ being come by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified so he takes away the first Covenant that he might establish the Second that the children of the second Covenant might stand before God and die not having a new and living way which he hath consecrated or made through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all and so they come before the Lord with boldness yea enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus and having an High Preist over the house of God draw neer with a true heart in full assurance of faith having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their body washed in pure water Heb 10.9 10 19 20 21 22. So then the children of the New Covenant have free accesse to God worshipping of him in spirit and in truth acceptably without any sacrifice as after the Law or old Administration that being abolished and done away 2 Cor. 3.11 13. so sin is not remembred and so they shall be eternally saved if they hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering to the end but if they sin wilfully there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins but a Certaine fearfull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries he that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment suppose yee shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foot the son of God and hath counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despight unto the Spirit of grace verse 23 26 27 28. Furthermore the Ministers of the new Testament are not by a fleshly line as the Preists of the old Testament were the sons of Aaron born by Generation Exod. 29.9 Numb 16.40 But they are made Ministers of the new Covenant meerly by gifts given from God as appeareth Eph. 4 8 11. where the Apostle sheweth that the Lord Jesus ascended up on high and gave gifts to men he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the gathering together of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edification of the body of Christ till we all meet together in the unity of the faith and knowledge of the son of God unto a perfect man and unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ vers 12 13. So then it is cleer from hence that all the Ministers or Preachers of the new Testament are to preach or teach by gifts given from God for they have gifts given for the work of the Ministry and that in all ages till Christ comes for all the saints cannot meet together in the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man not untill Christ his coming therefore the whole work of the Ministry is to be performed by men gifted of God in all ages and not by men of a fleshly generation line or by any humane learned Arts for that is contrary to the new Covenant for all her children are taught of the Lord. And this will further appear because as the Apostle sheweth the world by wisdome knew not God 1 Cor. 1.21
Nor if all the humane arts in the world did not teach the knowledge of God it followeth that all humane Arts cannot inable a man to preach or declare the Gospel the unsearchable riches that is in Christ and so Paul though learned ignorantly persecutes the Church of Christ but by grace given him he was made able to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph. 3.7 8. Again Jesus rejoyced in Spirit and gives thanks to his Father that he had hid the things of the Gospel or new Covenant from the wise and prudent or learned and revealed them to Babes Luke 10.21 And Paul saith The things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.11 And the Prophet Isaiah saith That the vision of all is become as a book that is sealed So that the learned and unlearned cannot read it Isa 29.11 12. From all which it plaineth appeareth that all Ministers of the new Covenant are made able for the work of the Ministery through the spirit grace and gift of God for the spiritual man judgeth all things even the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 15. And so God hath not chosen the mighty men or things of the world which are highly esteemed among men but chuseth the poor foolish weak base despised things things that are not to bring to nought things that are That no flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1.27 28. Luk. 16.15 So then mark well and see the vast disproportion between the Old Covenant and the New the Old was of works do and live long so they doing it Justification would have been of dept Rom. 4.4 but the New is Believe and live eternally So Justification is by faith that it might be by grace Rom. 4.16 The Old Covenant is litteral and killeth because all have broken it but the new Covenant is spiritual and giveth life in Christ through beleeving 2 Cor. 3.6 the Old was written in Tables of Stone the New writeth the law of God in the heart the sons and daughters of the Old Covenant were Abrahams seed after the flesh the sons and daughters of the new Covenant are the seed of Abraham after the spirit new borne new creatures God according to the Old Covenant did know and chuse the family of Abraham after the flesh above all the families of the earth Amos 3.1 2. Psal 147.19 20. but now according to the new Covenant he knoweth no man after the flesh 2 Cor. 5 16. but every man of any Nation that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him Act. 10.35 whether he be Jew or Gentile The children of the old Covenant being after the flesh by generation there was need to teach them to know the Lord but the Children of the new Covenant need not to be taught to know the Lord for they all know the Lord from the least to the greatest of them as it hath been shewed The old Covenant or law though just holy and good yet weak through the flesh having no strength to Justifie the Children thereof God finding fault with them because they had broken the Covenant there was a place found for the new Covenant established upon better promises so through Jesus the High Priest and Mediatour of it the Children thereof are Justified see Rom. 8.2 3 4. Heb. 8.6 7 8. The Sacrifices of the old covenant were carnal fleshly the bloud of Buls and Goats and so could not make the comers thereunto perfect so there was a Remembrance of sin every year but the sacrifice of the new Covenant is the Lord from Heaven the man Christ his Blood being the blood of the new Covenant being shed for remission of sins Math. 26.28 and so perfects for ever them that are sanctified which are the children of the new Covenant so that their sin is remembred no more as it hath been shewed before Heb. 10.12 14. the High Priest of the old Covenant was after the order of Aaron by generation after a fleshly line and so many were made Priests because they were not suffered to continue by the reason of death but Jesus the High Priest of the new Covenant is after the order of Melchizedec comes not to it by a fleshly line after the order of Aaron as the Preists of the Law did as touching his Office of the Preist-hood he is without father or mother without kindred and hath neither beginning of dayes nor end of life but remaineth a Prieft for ever after the order of Melchizedec So he is able also perfectly to save them that come to God by him as the children of the new Covenant do seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Heb. 7.3 6 11 13 14 16 21 24 25. The Children of the old Covenant had blessings and promises after this manner That the Lord would set them on high above all the Nations of the earth blessed in the city and in the field blessed in the fruit of the body flocks of sheep and heards of cattel and deliverance from their enemies and long life in the land of Canaan withall the riches thereof Deut. 28. The blessings of the new Covenant are after this manner deliverence from the evil of temptation 1 Cor. 10.13 Led into all truth so as they experience that comfort peace and joy that their names are written in the book of life witnessed by the holy spirit all things working together for good no condemnation for they walk not after the flesh but after the spirit the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come even eternal life so as to reign in glory So then all may see that they that go about to be justified by the Law Written upon tables of stone or the Law of sacrifices are fallen from grace for if righteousness be by the Law then Christ died in vain Gal. 2.21 and 5.4 But Christ died not in vain but God is just and the Justifier of him only that beleeveth in Jesus having that faith that worketh by love Rom. 3.26 for such only are the sons and daughters of the New Covenant Also hence it clearly appeareth how the Church of Rome is Mystery Babylon the great the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth she became so by bringing in a generational fleshly seed where Abrahams seed after the flesh is cast out so she goes a whoring in bringing in a false carnal seed instead of a true spiritual seed she bringeth in children into her Church by baptizing them as she calleth it and so the matter of her Church is meerly carnal and her ministry by humane learning and not by gifts given from Christ and yet talks of spiritual matter confounding the Old Covenant with the New and making the commandments of God of none effect by her many inventions and so national Churches that sprinkle their infants bring in a false fleshly seed and are her daughters and so she is truly said to be Mystery Babylon or Confusion the mother
of harlots so she going a whoring after her own inventions she hath made all Nations drunk with the wine of the wrath of herfornication Rev. 2.5 and so according to that in Isa 24.5 The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof because they have transgressed the lawes changed the ordinance broken the everlasting covenant and therefore she shall be destroyed Rev. 17.16 And the curse of the Lord God Almighty will devour the earth Isa 24.6 19 20. wrath shall come upon the Gentile nations to the uttermost as it did upon the Jewes yea the Lord will make a full end of the Gentile nations Jer. 30.11 O that men would lay these things to heart and hear and obey the Lord according to the Gospel walking up orderly according to the new Testament in all things in sincerity of heart that they might escape the things that shall come to passe and to stand in Judgement before the Son of man Luke 21.36 And that ye may be sons and daughters of God according to the New Testament in order and so stand before the Lord with acceptance observe well that the first Principle of the doctrine of Christ is Repentance from dead works Heb. 6.1 For the Gospel is to be preached to all as it hath been shewed before that men may repent of all their dead works now repentance is a change of the mind from all that which is evill to all that which is good it hath in it a hearty sorrow for sin and a confession of sin and therefore John the Baptist preaching Repentance they came confessing their sins Math. 3. Repentance is such a thing as changes the man from an evil conversation to that which is very good and also from all false whorish wayes of Worship to the pure Worship of God it hath in it these seven things As first it bringeth forth a continual care as not to commit evil nor to omit good yea a readiness to every good work secondly clearing the matter of fact if it be in wrong done to any man by a wise just restitution if able Luke 19.8 and by doing so no more what ever sin it be confessing it to God with brokenness of heart turning from it Thirdly an inward indignation against all sin Fourthly the sear of God which teacheth a man to depart siom evil and to have a singular respect to all the Commandements of the Lord so as to do them Fiftly a vehement hungring thirsting desire after Righteousness Sixtly a zealous continuing in every good work Seventhly a holy revenge in bringing the body under subjection by fasting esteeming the Commandements of the Lord more then necessary food 2 Cor. 7.11 And so it is repentance or a change of the whole Man from dead works for the wages of sin is death Furthermore that men may do works acceptably in the sight of God the next Principle or teaching of Christ unseparably joyned with Repentance is Faith towards God and that is to beleeve that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that dilligently seek him and that Christ died for our sins and that he was buryed and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and that the blood of Christ is the Blood of the New Testament Shed for the remission of sins and that there is everlasting life and a most glorious Kingdome for all them that beleeve and walk according to the Gospel or New Testament and so Faith is the substance or ground of things which are hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 6.1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4.1 John 2.4 6. yea this faith is of a purifying nature for every one that hath this hope purifyeth himself as Chirst is pure Chap. 3.3 Acts 15.9 The next Principle of the Doctrine of Christ is the Doctrine of Baptismes it is said to be Baptismes because there is a Baptisme of afflictions in a comparative sence in the which Chirstians are dipped into so as the waves goes over them yet are raised out of it by the Lord it is not every affliction but some great affliction and yet this is common to Christians Mat. 20.22 23. Luke 12.50 Psal 42.7 John 16.33 There is also Baptisme or Dipping in Water which is the one Baptisme in a litterall sence which all Believers ought to practice I say it is Dipping in Water because the word in the Greek holds forth a washing by dipping and not sprinkling for it cannot be shewed in the Lexicons as the learned confesse and John Baptised in the River of Jordan Mark 1.5 and Christ when he was Baptized came up out of the water of the river of Jordan Mat. 3.13.16 and Philip and the Eunuch went down both into the water and he baptized him in the water Acts 8.38 39. Baptisme in Water holdeth forth in a likeness a buriall with Christ Rom. 6.3 4. All which declareth that Baptisme is Dipping the whole person in Water and this learned Perkins freely conffesseth in his Golden Chaine Furthermore penitent Men and Women are the only Subjects of Baptisme and not Infants That such as professe faith as aforesaid are to be Baptized and not Infants will appeare because the Lord commands his servants to Go teach all Nations Baptizing them that learn the Gospel so as to believe the same but Infants cannot learn the Gospel by teaching for they know neither good nor evil Deut. 1.39 Therefore it is not lawful to Baptize them That Christ commands such to be Baptized as believe through teaching or preaching is evident from Mat. 28.19 in these words Go and teach all Nations Baptizing them c. That is Them of the Nations that believe for they might not Baptize unbelieving Jewes nor heathens therefore Mark saith being the same with that of Matthew That Christ commands the Gospel to be preached to every creature and He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved so then the Gospel is to be preached to all for this end that all may believe but all do not but they that hear so as to believe the Gospel are to be Baptized and no other are in the Commission or Commandenent of Christ for baptisme it is plain so then they that Baptize Infants do that which they have no Law of Christ for nay it is against the Law of Christ because they cannot beleeve through preaching and so they have not faith for there is but one faith and that comes by hearing Ephes 4.5 Rom. 10.14.17 Object But some say That Infants are apart of the Nations and Nations are to be baptized therefore Infants Answ So are unbeleeving Jewes and Heathens part of the Nations yet are not to be Baptized and so it is plain that Nations are not to be Baptized as such but beleeving men and women as hath been shewed before therefore not Infants Object But some men say That Infants do beleeve from that Scripture Mat. 18. in these words But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which beleeve in
lively set it forth for the corn doth not bring forth except it die that is be changed for so the word die holds it forth so the natural body cannot be made a spiritual body except it die or be changed and so God giveth it another body as it pleaseth him for he maketh that natural body a spiritual body and so it puts on immortality at the resurrection day and so the same flesh and blood as it is a corruptible body cannot inherit the kingdome of God as the Apostle saith flesh and bloud cannot inherit the kingdome of God but that corruptible body of flesh shall be an incorruptible body of flesh for it shall be flesh and bones after the Resurrection for Christs body was so after he was risen Luke 24.39 So then it is the same body that dyeth that shall be raised only it shall be made incorruptible and in all perfection for this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Cor. 15.53 So it cannot dye nor go down to death any more and therefore when it riseth from the grave or the dead it triumpheth over death and the grave as it appeareth at large 1 Cor. 15. from vers 35. to 57. And to this agreeth very sweetly that in Hosea 13.14 I will ransome them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death O death I will be thy death O grave I will be thy destruction repentance shall be hid from mine eyes God is not as man that he should repent he will make good his promise his name is Jehovah making good his promises note also I pray that in Isa 25.8 He will swallow up death in victory and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from all the earth for the Lord hath spoken it Thirdly regeneration or the knowledge of God in the highest degree that can be attained on this side the grave is no where in Scripture called a Resurrection therefore I conclude that that is no Resurrection and that this is good reasoning it appeareth plainly Heb. 1.8 and if we note the Scripture we may see this only is a resurrection which is the rising from the grave or from the dead after the breath is departed because Job saith that he shall See God in his flesh and them very eyes and no other shall behold him for him Job 19.25 26. Note that he saith he shall see God in his flesh which sheweth that the same flesh shall rise again and be made incorrupti ble yea immortall and then shall see Godface to face yea in his glory Rev. 22.4 Fourthly that the dead shall rise at the comming of Christ is shewn by many examples we read of in the Scriptures how the dead were raised 1 Kings 17. Elijah raised the widdowes Son and in 2 Kings 4. Elisha raised the Shunamites child from the dead and chap. 32.21 Math. 27.52 53. The graves were opened and bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city appeared unto many note the bodies of the Saints arose therefore the bodies of the children of God shall rife from the dead and so the Lord Jesus raised Lazarus his body from the grave when he had been dead four dayes Jo. 11.39 44. Act. 9.37 41. Peter raised Tabitha so then the dead were raised in the time of the law and by Christ and his Apostles to the glory of God which teacheth us that it is not a thing incredible that God should raise again the dead yea seeing Christ the first fruits is raised afterward they that are Christs at his coming 1 Cor. 15.23 Fifthly Christ proves the resurrection by that which was written by Moses after Abraham Isaac and Jacob was dead that God was a God to them though they were dead yet God is not a God to the dead but to the living for all live unto him therefore Abraham Isaac and Jacob must rise again Luke 20.37 38. so many shall come from the East West North and South and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdome of God Luk. 13.28 29. so if the Scriptures be true the dead must rise but heaven and earth must pass away but not one jot or tittle of his word shall not faile Mat. 5.18 Ch. 24.39 Therefore the resurrection is certaine and a blessed truth Sixtly that the just and unjust shall rise from the dead is plain in that Christ saith John the 5.28 29. Marvaile not at this for the hour shall come in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voyce and they shall come forth that have done good unto the resurrection of life but they that have done evil unto the resurrectiof condemnation And Paul makes it the great Article of his faith when he was accused of the Jewes Act. 24.14 freely confessing unto the Governour that after the way which they call heresie so worshiped he the God of his Fathers beleeving all things which are witten in the law and the Prophets and had hope towards God that the resurrection of the dead which they themselves look for also shall be both of just and unjust and so I conclude the just mans body shall be raised from the grave or be changed and the unjust also The next Principle of the Doctrine of Christ is the Eternal Judgment and that is this That every man shall be judged according to his works done in the flesh be they good or evil Math. 16.27 for the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then shall he give to every man according to his deeds Mat. 25.31 32. When the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall seperate them one from another as a shepheard seperateth the Sheep from the Goats For we must all appear before the judgment Seat of Christ that every man may receive the things which are done in his body according to that he hath done whether they be good or evil So that the Saints must give an account of all that they have done at the day of Judgment after they are raised from the dead or changed being made immortal For God will bring every work unto judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or evil Eccl. 12.14 And to this Christ speaks very fully Mat. 12.26 That of every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account at the day of judgment For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned So Paul saith We shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 so that God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel Rom. 2.16 but Saints sins
of blasphemy which had seven heads and ten hornes Rev. 17.3 Now note that five of them heads or kings were fallen when John wrote the Revelation and the sixt was then in being vers 9 10. Now this Woman the Harlot was to sit upon the sixt head and hath so done a long time and so the beast that had seven Heads carrieth her beareth her up forthe Magistrates have supported her all along understand also that the fixt Head of the Beast hath reigned ever since the writing of the Revelation but now is partly strong and partly broken that the sixt Head is not fallen is plain if you note well for the seventh Head when he cometh he must continue a short space now that head of the Roman Monarthy which is in being hath continued long even from before the birth of Christ for Rome was governed by Emperours before the birth of Christ Lnke 2.1 and the imperial power standeth yet though it be translated into Germany therefore the Imperial Head cannot be the seventh Head because that hath continued long and that the seventh Head continueth but a short space note Rev. 17.10 Five are fallen and one is and another is not yet come and when he cometh he must continue a short space Also mark well that the power of the Pope and his Clergy cannot be the seventh Head for they have continued long Secondly the Whore cannot be any of the Heads of the Beast because she sits upon and is carried by the Beast that hath seven Heads and ten Horns so she causeth the Beast to serve her and maketh the Beasts and the Kings of the earth slaves to her to do her will so then the sixt Head of the Roman power is not fallen though it be in part and the seventh Head is now arising which will take away the sixth and doth will and must give some liberty to preach the Gospel and to administer the Ordinances in the old way thereof and so the Lord God will bring things to pass for not one jot or tittle of his word shall fail and so in the rising and reign of the seventh Head and the ten Hornes the Angel shall flie in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth and to every Nation and kindred and tongue and people saying with a loud voyce fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come and worship him that made heaven and earth the Sea and the fountaines of waters Rev. 14.6 7. So the Gospel and the way thereof being preached the Nations will be enlightned and so God will put it into the hearts of the ten Hornes or Kings to hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire Rev. 17.12 16. So through the preaching of the Gospel in the pure way thereof the great Whore of Babylon falleth and so the hour of her judgment is come and to this agreeth that in Rev. 14.6 7 8. which sheweth that after the Gospel is preached to the Nations then shall follow another Angel saying it is fallen it is fallen Babylon the great City for she made all Nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication ver 8. Much more might be spoken to this but let this suffice as touching what the Whore is and her fall the manner how and by whome In the next place note diligently what the spirit of Antichrist is and who have that spirit now John in his first Epistle Chap. 4. And ver 3. doth declare what the spirit of Antichrist is namely every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that he should come and even now already is in the world Also understand that John did not intend the heathen that never did beleeve nor the unbelieving Jewes which never did acknowledge Christ come in the flesh but those have the spirit of Antichrist that went out from the Church of Christ Chap. 2.18 19. John sheweth them that it is the last time and as you have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time They went out From us c. So that the spirit of Antichrist is that spirit that is found in them that have been enlightned and have known the truth and go out from the Church of Christ and in a mystery deny Christ come in the flesh and so Paul speaketh of the Antichrist or Man of Sin 2 Thes 2.7 saith The Mystery of iniquity doth already work c. and Peter speaking to the Saints saith in his 2 Epistle 2.1 there shall be false teachers among you who Privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that Bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction So the spirit of Antichrist denyes Christ come in the flesh secretly and they that have this spirit say Christ is come in their flesh and so say the light within them is Chuist when at the best it is but the light of nature and in many the spirit of errour their light being become darkness being delivered up to strong delusion to believe lyes thinking they have Christ in them when it is a spirit of errour and so pervert the sence of the Scriptures declaring the Annointing and the Annointed to be all one teaching up the spirit of Christ apart from the Body of Christ to be the Christ or rather the spirit of error in them to be the Christ come in their flesh so in a very deceivable secret way deny Christcome in the flesh in saying he is the Christ that is within them which is an evil spirit so applying the Scriptures that speak of the spirit of Christ dwelling in men to be that evil spirit in them so declaring that spirit of errour in them apart from the body or flesh of Christ to be the Christ so deny Christ come in the flesh but note well what the Scriptures of truth saith they declare that Jesus Christ was slain Act. 2.22 23. Chap. 3.15 Chap. 4.10 in Chap. 5.30 Peter who was full of the holy Ghost saith the God of our fathers hath Raised up Jesus whom ye flew and hanged on a tree Paul saith to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.3 4. First of all I delivered unto you that which I received how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was Bursed that he Arose the third day according to the Scriptures So it is plain that the spirit apart from the body or flesh of Christ is not the Christ therefore again note what Paul saith 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one God one meditatour between God man which is the Man Christ Jesus and Heb. 10.10 sheweth that the Hebrewes were sanctified by the offering of the body of
Jesus Christ ver 19.20 Seeing therefore brethren that by the Blood of Jesus we may be bold to enter into the holiest by the new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is his Flesh So that Jesus that was Baptised of John in the River Jordan was anointed with the oyl of gladness above his fellowes Mat. 3.13 16. Psal 45.7 So Jesus the Saviour is the annointed of God for he gave him not his Spirit by measure John 3.34 and so the spirit of the Lord did rest and abide upon the Man Christ Jesus Isa 11.2 John 1.32 So then the spirit of God or of Christ apart from the Body of Christ is not the Christ Therefore most abominable is that which men say that that which is in them is Christ when it is a spirit of errour and so men may see how through this Mystery of iniquity men come to say they are Christ for consider if the spirit in some man be the Christ what hindreth him to say he is Christ and therefore some one presumes to say he is Christ Let no man mistake me for I say that the spirit of God doth dwell in the Saints that Christ doth dwell in their hearts by faith but note that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 So the just live by faith and look for the Son of God from heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus who delivereth us from the wrath to come But to return so as to shew yet further who hath the spirit of Antichrist they are such as race out the Ordinances of Christ which came in being when Christ came in the flesh which plainly declare Christ come in the flesh dead and risen again as baptisme of Water and Breaking of Bread which doth declare the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 Rom. 6.34 Col. 2.12 Now there are a sort of men which say to know or acknowledge Christ in the practice of those Ordinances is formal and sleshly low and carnal and so reject the counsel of God and will not be Baptised and so not walking up in the Ordinances that did come in being when Christ came in the flesh and do so excellently declare him come in the flesh and are to continue untill Christ come from heaven and change our vile bodies and make them like his most glorious body Phil. 3.20 21. I say those that do slight and reject those Ordinances and say they are formal and will not practice them have the spirit of Antichrist do deny Christ come in the flesh because they will not practice those Ordinances that declare Christ come in the flesh yea more fully then the Whore for she hath a shew and so a remembrance of the Ordinances though she have changed the subject the manner as aforesaid but These root out the very being of them as much as in them lieth and so deny Christ come in the flesh so are discovered to have the spirit of Antichrist Also those that have been en lightened and have believed the Resurrection of the body and also the eternal Judgment and then come to question it and deny it and say the Judgment day is come have the spirit of Antichrist for Christ being put to death in the flesh and rising again from the dead so bringeth in the Resurrection of the Bodies of all men then cometh in the eternal Judgment according to that in Act. 17.30 31. He hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he hath appointed whereof he hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead so as by man came death by man came also the Resurrection of the dead For as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive but every man in his own order the first fruits is Christs afterward they that are of Christ at his coming 1 Cor. 15.21 22 23. So Christ being come in the flesh the Man Christ Saviour died and rose again and so comes in the Resurrection and no otherwise therefore they that have been enlightned in the Resurrection the eternal Judgment and come to say they are in the Resurrection or that it is past already and so deny the Resurrection of the body deny Christ come in the flesh and so have the spirit of Antichrist and therefore John writing to the Saints warning them that they take beed of the Antichristian spirit that they be not deceived exhorteth them thus Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning if that which you have heard from the beginning shall remaine in you yea also shall continue in the Son and in the Father 1 John 2.24 read also for this purpose the whole Chapt. Now that which they heard from the beginning was the beginning word of Christ according to that of Paul 1 Cor. 15.3 4. which he delivered first of all to the Corinthians That Christ Died for our sins according to the Scriptures c. and the first Principles of the word of God which is the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ to wit Repentance from dead works and of Faith towards God the Doctrine of Baptismes and of Laying on of Hands and of the Resurrection of the dead and of eternal Judgment Heb. 5.12 Chap 6.1 2. Now these Principles of the teachings of Christ came in being by and through Christ being manifest in flesh his death and Resurrection as hath been shewed before therefore whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God for he denies Christ come in the flesh and so he hath the spirit of Antichrist 2 John 6.7 8 9 10 11. and so there was many that had the spirit of Antichrist in the Apostle Johns time and so many Antichrists they are said to be Antichrists because they have the spirit of the Man of Sin the Antichrist 1 John 2.18 Chap. 4.2 3. But the Antichrist the Man of Sin shall be possessed will the Spirit of the Devil above his fellows and so is said to be The Antichrist The Man of Sin And so having in part declared what is the Spirit of Antichrist and who hath that Spirit I come now to the fourth thing which is That Antichrist will be a single person And for the proof of this first consider how the Antichrist is set out in Scripture in the singular number not in the plural as the Man of Sin 2 Thes 2.3 not men and Isa 14.16 Is this the Man that made the earth to tremble and did shake the Kingdomes the Son of the morning and Son of perdition not sons the vile Person not Persons Dan. 11.21 Isa 24.12 there fell a great Star from Heaven not Stars Object This in Isa 14. was fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel of Chaldee Answ That cannot be for after this power that is there