the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of his glory then in that day but whether in the beginning or in the middle or the end I leave to every man to think as he seeth cause all Nations shall be gathered before him this may be in beginning and middle and end throughout this great Day of the Lord and he shall separate them and set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left And when he doth that then he proceedeth to the last and final Judgement which Judgement is not by his Saints as the former judging and ruling was but by himself only and as the Resurrection of the Just at first was Christ his own work alone so the Resurrection of the Unjust and this final Judgement Rev. 20 11-15 is also now The compassing the Camp of the Saints fire coming down from Heaven and consuming the Enemies the time of Satan's last loosing and his being taken and cast into the Lake of Fire and then the Resurrection of the wicked and also their Judgement according to their works who knows what time these things will take What God as God may suddenly do I meddle not with but what God in Christ and so what the Son of Man will do according to the capacities of Men however enlarged by him in judging with as one may say opening the Books setting Mens sins in order before them producing witnesses and passing the sentence upon every one I dare not determine in what space of time this one thing shall be done but how long or short soever although joyful to the Saints yet all this with all that went before it from Satan's last loosing to his being cast into the Lake of Fire and the Resurrection of the wicked it is all after the thousand yeers of the Saints raigning and judging however the thousand yeers be taken and all this time Christ as Man raigneth and judgeth and his Saints are with him and so it is a long time and the Resurrection of the wicked and the final Judgement past then Christ delivereth up the Kingdom to his Father and then is the mystery of God wholly finished and time shall be no more all will be Eternity then the Kingdom continueth still for ever to Eternity only the Davidical Regiment of it is delivered up to the Father and all ruling as Men all differences of Men in ruling or ruled ceaseth yea Christ himself as Man and David's Son and his whole Body of Saints as Men yea he as a Monarch and they as Rulers or ruled are all subject wholly to the Divine Nature God being All in All the Man Christ remaining 2 Cor. 15.28 and God in him the Saints remaining and God in them the Kingdom remaining and God in all God is in all yea All in all he is in them all Wisdom Power Righteousness Truth Love Joy Glory Everlasting Life and Joy God is All and All in all yea so full so glorious and everlasting Joy that all former things are so forgot as if this had ever been yea without beginning and as if all that can be to Eternity were comprehended in present and so will be to Eternity without end the joy of the Lord in which he is in which all the Saints are it being their joy also they are now both filled and compassed with it in them they in it they now enjoy to the full that prayed for to which the first Fruits in the Day of Grace and the Harvest in the Davidical Regiment had its tendency Eph. 3.17 18 19. even to be filled with all the fulness of God yea if it may be born I suppose one might in a true sense say That of all the Saints and every of the Saints according to every of their capacities which by the Divine Nature possessing them will then be unconceivably great which is said of the Man Christ That as all the fulness of the Godhead even the Father Son and Holy Ghost in the Divine Essence Love Goodness Power Truth Glory c. dwells in him bodily so the fulness of the Godhead of Father Son and Holy Spirit in their Love Joy Goodness Power Wisdom c. dwells in them bodily then shews it self and operates in and through their Bodies so as never before only with this exception The Man Christ is one Person in the Son of God and so God-Man yea that very Person is very God though as Man he have yielded up the Government to God yet as God he governs still but none of the Saints are one Person with the Son of God and so not God governing but filled with God I desire to express it only as by Scripture I may We believing in him now live by Faith and enjoy all and walk in and by Faith Hope and Love but in the Davidical Kingdom we shall not live by Faith but by Sight 2 Cor. 5.7 1 Cor. 13.8 13. Rom. 8.24 25. 1 Joh. 3.2 4.7 12. 1 Cor. 15.28 and so there will be no Exercise of Faith nor yet of Hope we seeing as we are seen and none hopeth for that which he seeth and yet the habits of Faith and Hope abide till the Kingdom become wholly Divine but Charity is most in Exercise but when God is become All in all then Faith and Hope and all Desires are streamed into Charity and Charity abideth ever God is Charity and God and so Charity is All in them and in them all his delight in them and their rejoycing in him Oh unconceiveable Life Joy Happiness without any intermission for ever and ever But what manner of Glory this shall be is not yet revealed nor will be till Christ be upon the Throne of David that the whole mystery of God be opened Therefore I desire no farther to pry into it but only as it is revealed that so it shall be and that I desire to believe and for the manner of it let it alone till the Day declare it And this is all I will till farther occasion given me say of the Kingdom of Christ he comes to take and so likewise of the Ends of his second and glorious coming which yet is enough to make Believers long and wait for his coming the Time whereof is next to be spoken of CHAP. 19. Of the third Poynt The Time of the next coming of Christ FOr the Time of the coming again of Christ I shall also say what I finde for as for the precise hour or day natural or prophetical it were presumption in me so to enquire as to think before-hand certainly to know it seeing our Saviour Christ himself hath told even his own Disciples that enquired after it Ye know not when the time is not only when the end of the Day Mar. 13.32 33 34 35. the last and final Judgement shall be but not the beginning of the Day when the Master of the House cometh whether at even or at midnight or at cock-crowing or at morning If
from above being all the Fruits of Free-Grace The Love of God shining through them all and the Spirit of God breathing in them all they that are through the Promise displayed in displaying born of the Promise displayed Joh. 3.3 5 6. Gal. 4.29 Joh. 1.13 to the Hope of the Promise confirmed in him displayed which is Christ the Son of God and the Fountain of Spirit and Life they are rightly said to be born from above of Water and of Spirit and so of God and that so born of the Spirit is spiritual and they are in every respect of the Promise truely called The Children of the Promise being born of the Promise through the Promise Rom 9 8 9 Gal. 3.23 26 28 29 30 31. 1 Pet. 2.5 9 10. to the hope of the Promise and so both called and are The Children of the Promise of the Free-Woman and these all these and none but these are the Seed and counted for the Seed and so the Apostle Peter avoucheth them also These were before this another Seed even Enemies the Seed of fallen Adam for whom Christ underwent the Curse and he himself is the promised Seed in which blessing is for others even as he came of Man and in Man's Nature died and rose offered the Sacrifice made the Atonement and is filled with the Spirit of Life even the spiritual Man not the first but the second publick Man so the promised Seed that in being so made known sinners may come in to him and receive pardon and renewing and upon that account may in Union with him become of the same Seed And these so one in and with him by Faith are The Seed God's elect Seed and surely God hath no Elect among the Sons of Men but this Seed yea none but these counted for the Seed Therefore for any Seed or Elect to be counted for the Seed before the consideration yea Acceptance and Vertue of the Death and Sactifice of Christ for him to die and offer Sacrifice for and then in due time to call those that were God's Elect Seed before to be born again is such a Dream that it is a marvel any waking Men should be taken with it and not rather hold fast to the Scripture-Language That those that are born of the Free-Woman The Children of the Promise are the Seed and counted for the Seed III. This will also with that Discovery of the same in the Purposes help us to understand those places Psal 69.28 Rev. 3.5 22.19 about which so many through unbelief of the Gospel puzzle themselves for The Promises of God of the first and second Branches to Mankinde fallen to sinners which also opens the Purposes of God as ordered in his Counsel for saving sinners both declared in the Testimony of Christ in the Gospel according to Purpose Promise Testimony of God holding forth Mercy Forgiveness and Life to Mankinde sinners that they might repent believe and receive it In all which it appears That in the Gospel there is a Book declared which may be and truly is called The Book of the Living The Book of Life Psa 69 28. Rev. 3.5 22.19 Rom. 5.6 8 10. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 1 Tim. 2.6 1 Tim. 1.15 Joh. 6.51 33. Rom. 5.18 14.9 2.4 Ioh. 1.9 29. 3.17 1.4 Gen. 6.3 Eccles 9.4 out of which Men may be blotted yea their Name blotted out of it and their part taken out of it and so they were once written therein by these Names Men sinners ungodly unjust Enemies lost Ones because Christ died for such and came to save such and there are Declarations of Mercy Promises for such He gave his Flesh for the Life of the World giveth life unto the World which yet is nowhere called eternal life though that they might come to that and as by his own Righteousness in one Sacrifice-Offering Life was unto all in him as in the publick Man so God hath given them all over into his dispose so God also useth means toward them to lead them to Repentance that they might be saved Whence also the Life in Christ is called the Light of Men and so while he continueth in means to strive with them and they be still joyned to all the living there is hope and while they remain thus though no-better yet if not no worse they are yet written among the living and their Names as Men sinners lost Ones Psal 69.28 Rev. 13.8 Ezek. 13.9 Luk. 10.20 Heb. 12.23 Joh. 1.12 13. 3.1 5. Eph. 1.5 Rom. 8.28 2 Cor. 5.17 are yet in this Book of life though yet they are not written with the Righteous they are not written in the choice sense in The Book of Life of the Lamb not written in Heaven in the secret and Congregation of the Righteous for none are so written in this Book but the Congregation of the first-born the Believers on Christ that are born of God of Water and the Spirit whose Names are Faithful in Christ Lovers of God and Christ and one another new Creatures Saints Brethren to Christ and one another Sons of God by Faith Overcomers of the World c. which Names were never yet on these other And when the Promises of the first Head are held forth and the Promises of the second Head in some measure performed to these and they then persist resisting and opposing till they be reprobated and given up Rom. 11.8 9 10 11 23. with Psa 69.22 27 28. 109.1 5. then begin they to be blotted out of the Book of the Living or that Book of Life in which Mankinde as sinners are written and yet by corrections and renewed strife there may be a recovery but if against that also they still persist in their Rebellion till wholly given up and reprobated then are they wholly blotted out and shall not be recovered to be written with the Righteous and the Names upon them then are Reprobates Sons of Perdition that willingly reward him Evil for Good and Hatred for Love The Seed of the Serpent The Children of the Devil set with full Purpose to do his Will which Names neither are nor ever were in the Book of Life in the first or second sense 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Eph. 5.1 Gal. 5 1â— 20. Rev. 13. â— nay in the second sense of the Book of Life Unbelievers Unrighteous Adulterers Fornicators Wantons Thieves Murderers Lyars Blasphemers and Worshippers of the Beast and such-like with those Names never were are or shall be written in the Book of the Life of the Lamb among the Righteous but onely the Names forementioned of new Creatures Rev. 2.11 3.1 Luk. 10.20 Phil. 4.3 1 Thes 1.3 4 5 6. 1 Pet. 3 7. Psa 3.29 c. and the Promises are to such as overcome they shall not be hurt of the second Death nor their Names blotted out of the Book of Life and such may rejoyce that their Names are written in Heaven yea and discern their Brethrens Names there written
3.24 4.25 28. Rom. 1.1 2 3 they know also That what the Scripture saith the Holy Ghost saith the same o Gal. 3.8 Heb. 3.7 and what the Holy Ghost hath once said and testified as true in Christ he never altereth that Testimony but breatheth in it still and so where-ever written that remaineth Truth which proves this Objection vain Object 2 You understand not our meaning for we do believe in and magnifie Christ and the Scripture as much as you do but we have Christ and the Scripture within us and we believe that and speak that from inward and experimental Knowledge and the infallible Spirit and that we speak is the Minde of God but you believe in and magnifie a Christ without you and so believe and speak of and from the Scripture that is without you and so the true Sense and Mind of God which is infallible and from Christ and the Scripture within is to you a Parable and all you hold and believe is but fleshly and fallible Answ Here is still the former boasting and self-witnessing and self-exalting though with more discovery of Vanity Blasphemy and Pride or Atheism than the former as will appear to all that know who we mean by Christ and what we mean by Scripture For 1. By Christ in whom we believe we mean not An Imagination or Frame but the second publick Man the spiritual Man who not only out of us but before we in our Persons were and without any Motion or In-being in us did himself take our Nature being conceived by and born of a Woman a Virgin that was of the natural Seed and Lineal Descent of David and Abraham and Adam and so took a personal Body of his own in which he bore our sins on the Tree and was made a Curse and died for us and overcame Death and shook off all Mortality without seeing corruption in that Body in which being buried he rose again and appeared to and conversed with his Disciples and then in their sight departed from them out of this World in that risen Body and so ascended into Heaven and offered himself a sacrifice to God and sate down on his right Hand and in that now glorified Body remaineth in Heaven a great High Priest appearing before God ever-living to intercede for us This is The Christ our Saviour not to come to take flesh nor so coming nor so in us he hath done that already he was to do in his own Body for us and can die no more but is alive for evermore immeasurably filled with Spirit to send forth to us The right knowing of him is the original and right way of knowing all things and right knowing and worshipping of God is in the Confession of him thus to be already come in the flesh 1 John 4.3 and that Spirit that denieth this is the Spirit of Antichrist and he that denieth that This Jesus is The Christ he is Antichrist 1 Joh. 2.22 23. and denieth the Father and the Son And whoever believeth in This Jesus receiveth of his Spirit which imprinteth his Word and frameth his Minde in his Heart enriching him with his Consolations and so by Word Col. 1.25 26 27 and Spirit and Riches of Grace and not in bodily presence is Christ in Believers and in so being in them he is to them the Hope of Glory But whoever believeth not in this Christ without them and receiveth not the Efficacies and Frames within from the excellency of the knowledge of and Belief in him without so as he that is without in bodily presence is within by spiritual presence but come to undervalue him as without them and magnifie something within them All that within is but meer delusion which the ensuing Discourse will further shew so that the voice of this Objection being so strange the sheep will not hear it 2. And as for the Scripture we mean not by Scripture Ink and Paper nor Letters of A B C c. nor Syllables and particular Words nor Writing or Printing or a Book bound up in Leaves or rolled in Parchment But that we mean by Scripture is not the writing but the thing written not barely the words but the thing sounded forth and imported to us in the words And so the Almighty God that is Eternal without Beginning before all Things and without End Omnipotent Omniscient Infinite and Immutable the Creator of all things and his onely Son that was in the Beginning and from Eternity with him by whom he made all things and whom he sent forth made of a Woman and so Man the essential Word and the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son the infallible Spirit that witnesseth the Minde of God This one God Three in One and this Minde made known to Men the Manifestation and making it known is the Instrumental Word of God whether inspired spoken or written And of this God and his Minde it is as so made known that we mean and when it is once by his Command and Inspiration written and put on record for us to make known his Minde to us Prov. 22.20 21 as now it is then is all this called Scripture and so when God had once by his Spirit preached the Gospel to Abraham this being after written by Moses is since called Scripture Now it was not Moses his Writing that did fore-see and preach nor the Book or Letters or Words written therein but the Spirit in that Testimony did fore-see and preach which being Written and left on Record is therefore called Scripture Gal. 3.8 And when the Holy Ghost had in and by David said to the People To day if you will hear my voice harden not your hearts This being once written and left on Record for Generations following Psal 95.7 the Holy Ghost is said where-ever that Scripture is given still to say it And to those to whom no probability that that particular Word was inspired into every of them Heb. 3.7 which was so given to Israel and Joshua Deut. 13.6 8. yet it being after written and left upon Record for his peoples use it 's said to them many Generations after Heb. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee yea that which God spake to Moses in the Bush our Saviour it being written Exod. 3.6 said to the corrupt and erroneous Sadduces Have not you read that which was spoken by God to you saying Mat. 22.31 32 I am the God c. And so the Spirit in the Apostles teacheth us That whatsoever things were written aforetime Rom. 15.4 were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope Surely this written aforetime so long before we were was written without us yea without even those of us to whom that sentence was written and therefore written without in Leaves that they might have recourse to it and learn it and love it and so have it
within which true Believers then had and now have that for their good Phil. 31. 1 Joh. 1.3 4. 5.13 2.20 26 27. written without by the Holy Spirit in believing putting it in their Minde and Heart written within and yet the same and more encreased within by use of that without and so that both without and within fenceth us against Seducers And this gracious God in Christ with his gracious Minde as made known and written is that we call Scripture be it written or printed over and over in Hebrew Greek Latine English or any Language be it in Paper or Parchment in Tables Rolls or Books This not the Writing but the Thing written we mean by Scripture And now God hath been so gracious to cause the great things of his Law to be written to us and then called Scripture shall we because of the meanness of a Scribe the homeliness of the Letter and commonness of the Books in which it is conveyed to us contemn and despise it and call it Letter Ink and Paper and Scripture without us and so count it as a strange thing surely then this will be charged on us as a great sin Hos 8.12 Joh. 12.47 48. and a rejecting of his Word and that Word without us despised by us and therefore not within us shall yet judge us at the last day As for any other Scripture within us then this Testimony of Christ and God's gracious Minde in him that is written in the Scripture that is without us we desire not but to have this written without to be enlightned to our hearts and in understanding believing loving or retaining the same to have it by the same Spirit that first testified it to be testified and written in our heart within us so as our hearts be framed into the same Minde and design with God and Christ so we desire it more and more written within Gen. 8.21 Jer. 17.9 But wheresoever this Testimony of Christ that is written without is slighted and that is not it within Prov. 28.26 Isa 8.20 as is said All within is filthy and deceitful and he is a fool that trusteth his own heart or a Spirit of falshood when God hath given us so good a Law and Testimony to resort unto Object 3 Whatever it be that is written yet the Letter is dead and killeth and it is the Spirit that quickeneth Answ This is partly if not fully answered in the former Answer yet I shall consider the words as used in 2 Cor. 3.5 6. Our sufficiency is of God who also hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life Now all that is objected against the liveliness and plainness of the Gospel in this place lieth in these two words Letter and Spirit which if right understood according to Scripture-Language and import clears all and shews the Objection forceless Consider it 1. By Letter is not here meant A B C c. opposed to a blank without such Letters or to a breath without a Sound the word Letter is not so used in any Doctrine of Law or Gospel nor yet by Letter is meant Syllables and Words written and read over and spoken opposed to some secret and insensible conveyance of the Minde to the inward Spirit Scripture doth not so use the word Letter nor yet is by Letter here meant the outward sound of the words in Ministration of them by reading speaking or receiving them in hearing and understanding them according to the outward import of the words But by Letter is evident to be meant the Thing it self that was written in the Law of works to be done under a penalty and the so doing of it and so the Apostle in reproof of the Jewish Zealots that boasted much of their keeping the Law used the word Letter Rom. 2.17 24. to signifie the Law of Works Circumcision being that outward Covenant in which all that came to be of Abraham's Family were obliged to wait on God in use of all Ordinances given though Circumcision was before Moses Gal. 3.4 and so not of Moses yet when God gave the Law to Moses and by Moses to the People then Circumcision did still oblige all the circumcised to observe all the Ordinances given them by Moses called the Law and none but the circumcised had Liberty to have Fellowship with them in the use of those Ordinances whence all that people Exod. 12.48 Ephes 2.11 12. Rom. 15.8 Eph. 2.11 Gal. 5.6 11. 6.15 which did so worship God were called The Circumcision and all the outward Duties in that outward Worship and Ceremony together in one called Circumcision And this outward Circumcision is plainly said to be that of the Letter Rom. 2.27 29. and opposed to that of the Spirit whence also it is opposed to Faith in Christ according to the Gospel which Grace given and received freeth us from the Bondage of that Law Rom. 7.6 that we may serve in newness of Spirit and not in the oldness of the Letter Rom. 8.2 In which sense the Gospel that is the Law of the Spirit is opposed to this Law of Works called The Law of Sin and Death And it is before shewn That this Law was given to discover Sin and sentence to death that Men might be driven to Christ and so its End was to Life but to Life in a killing way Death by this Law and Life in Christ for whom it fitted and to whom it led Now consider That as the Apostle saith not The Letter of the New Testament whose very outward Sound is of Life but The Letter so it was not a dead Letter that killed or could kill it was not Words writ read spoken or heard only but the Things imported therein Rom. 2.17 18 19. 9.31 32. 10.1 2 3. Phil. 3.2 3 7. John 5.45 understood and minded that did discover to them their Duty and move them to set on the Performance yet when they did this to get Righteousness and be Righteous in they went wrong and their Works were but dead Works their conceited Life thereby a Deceit and they still Dead though trusting in the Letter or those Duties doing still swerving from the end for which the Law or Letter was given this was Confidence in the Flesh For God's end in giving that Letter or Law Gal. 2.21 was not to make them Righteous by it but to discover sin and sentence them to death that so they might be enlivened by Christ in respect of which gracious end of God and the Tendency of the Letter or Law thereto it is affirmed in the Ministration To have been glorious and also profitable Rom. 7.7 13. 2 Cor. 3 7. Rom. 2.25 if so observed for so it ministred sin in discovery of it and death in the sentence and so killeth that in that way they might be brought to Life not by
himself plainly a Mat. 4. 12. Mar. 3. John 3.14 18. and after to those that in seeing did not see and in hearing did not hear but hardened their hearts he therefore spake to them in Parables b Mat. 13.13 And we know in Scripture are many Types Parables and Metaphors which were not clearly and fully opened till Christ entered the Heavens in our Nature and offered the acceptable Sacrifice and sent forth the Holy Ghost c Heb. 9.8 Joh. 7.39 2.22 14.26 And these Parables were all uttered before that Ascension of his and yet he also opened all these Parables to his Disciples d Mat. 13.20 51. Mar. 4.14 34. Luke 8. yea and all that Moses and the Prophets spake concerning himself he opened to them e Luk. 24.27 47 and promised them and according to his promise gave them his holy Spirit to teach them all things he had said to them f John 14.26 Act. 2. having charged them Mat. 10.27 What I tell you in darkness speak ye in the light and what ye hear in the ear that preach ye upon the house top And this given as a Reason to them That the Knowledge given them was as a Light set on a Candlestick that it may give Light to all that are in the House that they which enter in may see the Light g Mat. 5.14 15. Luke 8.10 16. And the Apostles have professed to have fulfilled this charge and to have used great plainness of Speech both in Preaching and Writing declaring no Fable nor using any cloak or veil to hide their meaning as is fore-shewed Chap. 1 2. And it were folly in us to be cheated and with-drawn from believing their sayings of the Testimony of Christ to be plain and true according to their own import If any reply The Revelation of Jesus Christ given to his Apostle John is very dark and obscure and that was since the Ascension of Christ I answer Our Unbelief makes many things therein more dark to us than otherwise they would be and yet the Testimony of Christ and the sayings thereof that are needful to be known and believed of all that would have Eternal Life are very plain there also and have their own plain import as in other places none denying and that in which so much obscurity appears to us is in Visions and Prophecies of his providential dealing with his Church and with the Enemies of his Church and so of things to come pass before and till his own coming again of which in Understanding and Belief of the Testimony of Christ and Acquaintance with the Scripture we may understand as much as is needful for us And in the encrease of that Knowledge and as things draw nigh to be fulfilled know more still whence there is Blessing to be met with in reading and hearing that Book Rev. 1.3 and keeping the things written therein But our Discourse being of the plain sayings of the Gospel and Testimony of Christ by which all the other sayings in the Scripture are to be understood and therefore those sayings not obscure and so these Objections of no force against it Object 2 Peter saith That in Paul 's Epistles which were written after Christ his Ascension are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction Therefore many of the sayings of Christ in the Gospel are hard and obscure Answer The Truth of Peter's sayings 2 Pet. 3.16 gives no colour for this objecting inference For Peter 1. He saith not That any sayings in Paul's Epistles are hard to be understood or That the manner of his Writing is hard to be understood but some things in those sayings are hard to be understood Now this is clearly and commonly known that a saying may be plain and clearly understood and yet something in that saying above our knowledge and not easily understood as before it was known to the Eunuch That Christ was come in the flesh and that Jesus was the Christ he in reading Isa 53.7 understood what the saying was and believed it true but there was one thing hard in it to him and that was of whom the Prophet spake without knowledge of which he counted himself not to understand and in knowledge of that one thing all the rest was clear and useful to him Act. 8.30 34 35. And now that is cleared to us and so all sayings yet still in sayings known even some thing known therein to be if it be of a thing to come may be hard to be understood what it is h 1 Joh. 2.2 3. Col. 3.3 4. 2. He saith not That all Paul's Epistles or any one of his Epistles or his sayings or all the things in his sayings or in any of them but onely some things some certain things in them this with a limitation also to these things that is the things of which Peter had been forespeaking in this Chapter about the second coming of Christ the Dissolution and Restauration of all things the new Heaven and the new Earth and God's Patience in waiting so long for Men's Repentance before he bring all this to pass i 2 Pet. 3.3 12 13 14 15. of which things Paul spake to the Hebrews k Heb. 2.5 8. 12.26 27. and often in his other Epistles l Rom. 8.19 23. 1 Cor. 1 6 15. 2 Cor. 5.1.10 Gal 3.19 Eph. 1.14 4.13 Phil. 2.10 11. 3.20 21. Col. 1.20 3 4. â— Thes 3.13 4 14 18. 5 2. 2 Thes 1 7 10. 1 Tim 6.14 15. 2 Tim. 2.12 4.8 Tit. 2.13 And so he speaks not of the beginning of the Gospel of Christ or of things here to be enjoyed but of those things hoped for and of them he saith not The main or all things but Some things are hard to be understood which firms our Belief of the sayings and serves to humble us and quicken up our attention that in Believing we with patience may wait for that time in which we shall know clearly 1 John 3.2 And the more we minde the Testimony the more we shall know now which we could not if the sayings were dark but they are a Light and so affirmed by Peter to be 2 Pet. 1.19 3. He faith not That those sayings or that the hardness of some things in those sayings did lead or cause any to erre much less that they erred in believing them true according to their plain import for had they so done and waited on Christ in that Testimony to teach them they had not erred but in due season should have understood even those things as much as was needful and useful for them to know m Joh. 8.31 32 1 Joh. 2.20 27 28. Prov. 8 9. But those hard things beyond their conception they not liking the plain import of the sayings in which they were and so not believing it to be so having
his Word which with an Emphasis and because of the slowness of Men to believe Psal 119.160 is said to be true and for ever and from the beginning and it is rightly called The Word of the Beginning of Christ and The Beginning of his Word because it is 1. The Discoverer of Jesus Christ as the beginning of the new Creation Luk. 24.26 44 46 47. Col. 1.15 c. and so of those things which he was first to do and hath first done in his own Body in offering his Oblation to God and of the things effected thereby of which he is the beginning and by which he is furnished to compleat and will compleat the new Creation as hath been said 2. This that which was first discovered and preached in Paradise Gen. 3.15 12.3 22.18 Joh. 1.1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9. 1 Joh. 2.1 2 3. before the Covenant made with Abraham yea this also first preached to Abraham before the Covenant made with him and confirmed to him after and was preached by Moses and all the Prophets after of which the Spirit in the Evangelists saith In the beginning was the word c. And that which was from the beginning c. 3. This is by the appointment of Christ the first thing to be made known and preached to any and all people Joh. 3.14 15 16 17. Mar. 1.14 15. 1 Cor. 15.3 4 2 Cor. 5.19 20. Act. 2 3 c. and the first to be believed and received that Men may be saved and even this was so first and constantly preached by the Apostles and by Believers first received 4. The History of these things by one Evangelist called Mat. 1.1 Mar. 1.1 Luk. 1.1 2 3 4. The Book of the Generation of Christ Is by another called expresly The beginning of the Gospel of Christ And by another said To be written that we might know the certainty of those things which were declared concerning Jesus Christ by them which from the beginning of Christ's ministration were eye-Witnesses and Ministers of him Yea a fourth addeth Writ for this end Joh. 20.31 that we might believe that Jesus of whom they wrote That died and rose again and ascended into Heaven and offered up the acceptacle Sacrifice to God and now sitteth at the right hand of God is the Christ the Son of God and that believing we might have life through his Name 5. This Doctrine of the Oblation of Christ Gal. 3 1. Rom. 10.8 9. 4.24 25. Psa 119.130 Joh. 3.16 1 Ioh. 4.9 10. Tit. 3.4 5 6. Rom. 5.8 10. Phil. 3.7 8 9. 1 Joh. 2.20 21 27 28. is the entrance into the full Knowledge of Christ and the Enjoyment of the forming of Christ in the Heart it hath the precedency and first entrance into the Minde Heart of those that are drawn to believe aright and in its coming it gives Light and Understanding even to the simple yea the Love of God to Mankinde is therein made known and seen so as by the Divine Force that is in it it draweth the Heart to God and takes it off from other things and so uniteth and conformeth it to Christ and so affordeth it understanding for knowing all that follows in both the other Branches of the Testimony And for all these Causes and in all these Respects it is rightly called The Word of the Beginning of Christ and The Beginning of his Word And yet there is one Cause more for which it may be so called 6. Because it is the great Oracle of God in the holy of holies whence all the Oracles of God proceed Heb. 5.12 6.1 2. by which also the first Principles of the Doctrine of Christ are framed in the Heart of Believers Jesus Christ by vertue of his Oblation is the Mercy-Seat Propitiatory and Oracle in beholding and minding of whom as he hath made Peace by his Death and Oblation and received Spirit and Power as hath been shewn these Oracles are taught us by it viz. I. Rom. 8.3 Gal. 2.21 Heb. 9.22 10.4.7 Psal 40.7 8. 49.7 8. That all Mankinde was through the first Adam lost and are through his fall and from him sinners in themselves their Nature and Ways vile their Righteousness and Works vain their Desert Death and nothing able to help and deliver them but the Blood Death and Sacrifice of the Son of God II. Joh. 1.14 Rom. 4.25 1 Pet. 2.24 1 Tim 2.6 Heb. 10. 9.14 That this Son of God took Man's Nature and became a perfect and publick Man and in that Body of his did die for our sins and rise for our justification and offered up himself a Sacrifice to God for Men and made Peace and obtained eternal Redemption III. Heb. 10.10 12. 8 1. Mat. 17.5 28.18 Rom. 14.9 That God hath so accepted his Sacrifice that he is well pleased in him and hath set him on his right Hand and released all Mankinde over to him and given all Power and Authority into his Hands and made him Lord of all IV. 1 Joh. 2.2 4.14 Joh. 19. 3.14 15 16 17. That by vertue of his Oblation offered and the Father's acceptance of it he is the Propitiation for the sins of the whole World the Saviour of the World and the Enlightner of every one that cometh into the World so as whoever through that Light extended by him believeth on him shall not perish but have everlasting life V. Isa 42.1 2. Act. 3.22 23 24. 26.17 18. Joh. 3.6 That it is the good will of God in Christ toward Men and that the means he useth is to that end That they should hearken to his Son and so believe in him and receive life from him and live to him VI. Joh. 5.28 29. Rom. 2.16 14.9 12. 2 Cor. 5.10 That in his time he will raise all Men and judge them according to the Gospel as they have yeilded and obeyed or persisted in Rebellion and Disobedience to the Light in the means he hath extended unto them for that end that they might have repented All these Oracles come forth from the Oblation of Christ known and believed Heb. 5.12 6.1 2 4 5. and these Oracles minded and believed do teach to and frame in the Heart those first Principles of Repentance from dead Works and Faith towards God c. accompanied with those operations of the Holy Ghost's and tastes of the Heavenly Gift c. mentioned Heb. 6. therefore this Doctrine of the Oblation well called The Word of the Beginning of Christ and also this Testimony of the Oblation of christ Secondly is called The Vision of All that which is the choise of all that God hath discovered Isa 29.11 Rom. 1.5 16.26 Jude 3. and his Prophets have seen and declared in which all Men are concerned and which is needful for all Men and to be declared as true to them for the Obedience of Faith whence also
right doing of his commands for the end of the Law for Righteousness is Christ 3. Concerning the Kingdom that God will judge his people Deut. 32.36 43 33.26 27 28 29. and avenge the Blood of his Servants and appear in his excellency for their help And then Israel shall dwell in safety alone and a fountain of Jacob upon a Land of Corn and Wine also his Heavens shall drop down dew Happy thou Oh Israel who is like unto thee Oh people saved by the Lord c. Now the Revelation of Christ thus far come forth in the three Branches of the Testimony of him the means and instruments approved of God for making all this known that Men might discern and believe and enjoy the benefit of this Grace of God and come to enjoy the Hope given that and those fore-approved from the beginning remain so still Deut. 32.7 8. 6.6 7. 11.18 19. Exod. 26.11 Deut. 2 4 5.15 4.31 32. 5.1 2 3 4 21. Gal. 3.19 Lev. Numb Deut. 2. Cor. 3.11 13. that is the Report by the Elders of the Gospel fore-given the Fathers teaching the Children and Neighbours one another and all to consider the works of Creation and Providence and to remember the Covenant made with their Fathers and God his remembrance thereof and now farther to remember and heed the Covenant that God hath made with them which he did not make with their Fathers that they may minde and observe the ends and uses of it that so in obedience to God they obey their Mediator and Law-giver and Prophet Moses and attend the Ministration of their Priests and Levites and observe and do all the Statutes and Ordinances appertaining to them about the Tabernacle Altar Sacrifices and Purifications till the Truth of all came to be fulfilled in Christ in whom the Truth remains for ever But now as the Revelation was more full and the Ordinances and Observances more than before so God in Christ for this Revelation of him chose some more peculiar instruments for this Business also to teach and lead the people to the right knowledge and observance of all this that they might enjoy the benefit and these chosen Instruments were Moses to be the Law-giver and Mediator and Prophet to begin and set all in order to and for them as the Record is plain he did and how he was furnished with neer familiarity with God and inspiration of his Spirit and Minde and enabled to know and write both all this Revelation and Law and all that was meet to be known from the Beginning of the Creation and with what wonders God confirmed all his Doctrine is to be seen in those five Books writ by him in which Luk. 16.29 31. though his Person was taken away yet he in that Prophecy Narration and Law and Instruction for Faith and Observance continued with them in all Ages till Christ came Aaron and his Sons and the Levites to help and so the Priests and Levites for ministring about the holy things in Sacrifices Incense-Burning Atonement-making Purifications Numb 8.1 7. Deu. 33.8 9 10 11. and such-like Temple-Services for themselves and for the People and also to teach the People the Laws thereof And these were not onely chosen but furnished also even with spiritual blessings of Pardon Purity Deut. 10.8 21.5 1 Chron. 23.13 Eph. 1.3 2. Heb. 9.13 18 23. Psa 51.7 and Consolation for themselves and others to bless in his Name yet were they not so blessed with spiritual Blessings in spiritual things in heavenly places so spiritually to dispense blessing as the first Trusters in Christ after his Resurrection were but the spiritual Blessings they were blessed with to dispense was in material things in earthy places which of themselves did reach but to the purifying of the Flesh And the spiritual Blessings were received in looking up through these to Jesus that as then was to come to fulfil the Truth typed but material and earthy things to minister with they had and so were furnished there-with having a material Tabernacle or Temple a material Altar and Mercy-Seat Laver Incense Sacrifices Purifications Order of Priests and Levites yet were not these all in one as the spiritual things the first Trusters in Christ had but each distinct from other Eph. 1.3 their Temple was not their Altar nor their Altar their Laver nor any of these the Mercy-seat nor any of these the Sacrifices nor the Incense nor any of these the Purifications nor yet were any of these the Priests but the Priests to minister these they all distinct each by it self not the other and for the furtherance of Faith and Obedience they had some Prophets And these writings of Moses with their Prophets and these instructions of the Fathers Elders and godly Ones all Israel and all that fear God are ever to attend to And all this Temple-Worship in Sacrifices and Purifications and Observances in attending the Ministration of the Priests and Levites according to the Mosaical Institution were all Israel to attend and observe till Christ came and offered up the acceptable Sacrifice Heb. 10.1 9. Ier. 31.32 Heb. 8.8 9. and in that attention blessing was to be met with and God would be an Husband to them but if they despised would not regard them and in these things they were preferred before all other Nations And though this was an abasement to the Gentiles till Christ his first coming for their slighting and abuse of all the means so long continued to them and a taking down of their pride yet was it not an exclusion of them wholly from Eternal Salvation for if according to the Demonstrations of the goodness of God in the Light and means he afforded to them Act. 10.34 35. Rom. 2.6 7 8 16. they or any of them though the light and means were small in comparison of these did repent believe and so fear God such were accepted and should be eternally saved yet did these means given to Israel exclude all other Nations from fellowship in the Commonwealth of Israel Eph. 2.11 and so from having a right and open profession of God in his true outward worship and enjoyment of such instructives and ready means to come to Christ and so to God by him unless any submitted themselves to come in to them and be circumcised which was free for any Nation to do Exod. 12.48 49 and so they should be one with them of the same Family and Nation have the same Law and the same Priviledges Psa 147.19 20. Rom. 3.2 9.4 Rom. 2.13 17 29. 9.6 7 8. 3.9 so that great were the Priviledges of Israel above all Nations for the means vouchsafed to them to know and enjoy God and his Name put on them and his presence with them so as to them was given the Word Statutes and Oracles of God to them pertained the Adoption the Glory the Covenants the giving of the Law
his own Will and so in respect of this wise and heavenly Order in his Counsel for the manner and way of his Purpose taking effect we shall finde different effects and different sorts of Men also on whom it hath different effects that is to say First for the manner and way of his Purpose taking effect on Men for their good it is by discovery of his Love to Mankinde to sinners enemies in discovering his Grace in and through his Son that died for sinners Isa 45.21 22. 55.1 4 6. and in that Discovery in some measure opening their blinde eyes or understanding to see or understand his graciousness and so calling and moving them to behold what he discovereth and hear what he saith assuring them that in beholding him as discovered and as understanding is given them to discern Joh. 25.3 Prov. 1.22 23. Joh. 1.9 5.25.34 and so attending him he will save them and so bring them in to believe and so out of darkness into his marvellous light and this the first proceed for his Purpose to take place for saving Men out of their sinfulness and according to his Purpose he proceeds so far with all Men in some measure at one season or other Secondly When he hath so far proceeded with Men in discovery of his graciousness through Christ and so far opened their eyes or understanding that they begin to discern and he calls or moves them to behold and turn then such as in hearing do hear and in seeing do see and in that motion and strength of his extended in this call do according as by that enabled turn and believe he will save enlive renew and change Isa 45.22 Joh. 5.25 2 Cor. 3.18 Rom. 5.8 10. 1 Pet. 2.6 7. Phil. 3.7 8. Psa 73.23 24 25. Col. 3.11 2 Thes 2.13 14. 1 Pet. 1 2. Eph. 1.11 Rom. 9.11 and farther enlighten and confirm in Faith and Confidence and so enamour them more with Christ and he shall appear and become more precious to their Hearts so as for the well-pleasedness they finde in him they count all things loss for Christ and are willing to be deprived of them to win him he being all in all to them And through the Grace thus believed and the Sanctification of the Spirit he chuseth them into Union and Fellowship with Christ and so to Conformity to him and to Eternal Salvation this being the Order of his work who worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own will we may be sure such was his Counsel for the manner of his purpose taking effect or standing according to the Election of Grace But such Joh. 3.19 20 21 1 Pet. 2.7 8. Mat. 13.11 15. Act. 28.26 27. Luk. 2.34 Isa 8.14 as when this light cometh and Grace therein extended so as light and hearing is given and heart moved do not then in hearing hear and in seeing see but take offence because of some discovery of evil and reproof and condemnation of something by them highly esteemed and dearly beloved which reproof this Light and Grace worketh in its convincements and so do hard en their hearts close their eyes shun the light love darkness rather being unperswadeable and so willingly disobedient and refuse to turn at his reproof these he gives up to blindness and hardness so as the more brightly the gracious minde of God in Christ is discovered the more such stumble and take offence of which we have a notable example Joh. 6.27 28 60 66. Rom. 11.23 Jer. 6.16 17 30. Ezek. 24.13 14. Prov. 1.24 32. Rom. 1.21.23 28. 1 Pet. 2 7 8. John 6. And this being the manner of God's working yea so as if by his chastisements for such follies and his renewed strifes they are not humbled to return but persist in their former willing rebellion he reprobateth them to Eternal Damnation we may be sure such was his Counsel in the Order of his Purpose and so we see two divers and contrary effects of the Purpose made known Thirdly For the different sorts of Men under different considerations that were according to this wise and holy order in the Counsel of God's will the objects on whom the several effects of his purpose made known should take place they appear to be the Sons of Adam he and his natural Race diversly considered and not in one and the same consideration but in respect of the diversity of effects diversly considered either simply as such or else though such yet under another consideration and that either as better then such simply considered or as worse then such onely 1. For his Purpose of finding out a ransome making an Atonement preparing a Sacrifice and accepting it so as to remove the enmity that was in the mid-way 1 Tim. 2.6 2 Cor. 5.14 Rom. 5.6 8. 1 Pet. 3.18 Isa 53.5 6. 1 Cor. 15.3 Gal. 1.4 and opening a door for Mankinde to come in to him the objects or subjects of this Purpose and those for whom it is efficacious with God so as he hath given all into the dispose of the Sacrificer are Adam and all his natural Race as fallen as sinners ungodly enemies to God simply as such and in no better or worse consideration but as such men all men sinful unjust and ungodly men And so for our sins he suffered 2. For his purpose of discovery and making known his Grace and Goodness through Christ in and by means extended and the efficacy thereof for opening the eyes of the blinde and the ears of the deaf and moving at their hearts and so calling them and striving with them affording such help to them that they might turn at his reproof and so believe and live The objects or subjects of this purpose and those on whom these effects so far shall be produced are Adam and all his natural Race even all Mankinde as in sin ignorance and bondage c. yet these in some better consideration then meerly as Adam's sons and fallen in him under the power of the Law and Sin and Death and the Devil namely considered as a Ransom is given 1 Tim. 2.6 7. Psa 68.18 Isa 42.1 2 7 8. 61.1 2 3. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 20 21. 1 Tim. 1.15 a Sacrifice offered Peace made and Redemption wrought for them though not yet applied to them nor they knowing or enjoying any of the choice benefits thereof for Jesus Christ by vertue of his Oblation being ascended hath received Spirit in the Man and for Men with Power and Authority to preach the Gospel and extend Gifts even to the Rebellious Psa 96.28 Rom. 5.18 Joh. 6.51 Eccles 9.4 that the Lord God might dwell among them And on this ground they are called and in this respect also they are said To be written in the Book of Life though not yet written among the Righteous And while they remain such and no worse then such there is yet hope for them 3. For his Purpose of Election to Union and Fellowship
with his Son Christ and so to conformity in holiness Son-like Priviledges and Eternal Life the Objects or Subjects of this Purpose are still in this Life and till Death the Sons of Adam and his natural Race Isa 28.16 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5 6 9. Joh. 3.16 but they are not onely so but much better not onely in respect of a ransome given and made known but al-also in respect of a new Birth begun in them they being such and so beheld and considered as those that through the efficacy of Grace discovered and opening their eyes are in beholding him drawn unfeignedly to believe in him in which being spiritually in him they are by the Election of Grace rooted in united more to Christ and so chosen and owned in Christ and conformed in some measure to him and have the beginnings of Eternal Life 4. For his Purpose of blotting out of the Book of Life and not writing among the Righteous but reprobating and giving up to Satan and so to Eternal Damnation the objects or subjects of this Purpose and those on whom its efficacy shall take place are also of the natural Race of Adam and such also as were bought by Christ into his dispose but not onely or simply such but a great deal worse then as coming from Adam and fallen in him Mat. 13.13 Psa 81.11 Prov. 1.24 31. Joh. 3.20 Job 24.13 24. Mat. 13.13 14 15. Act. 28.27 2 Cor. 36.15 16. by reason of their wilful contumely against him that bought them being such and those and so beheld as will not see when their eyes are opened will none of Christ when and as offered will not turn at his reproof though he call and stretch out his hand to help them hate and rebel against the light close their eyes and stop their ears and harden their hearts when he hath opened and moved and wilfully persist so doing against means light and warnings till there be no remedy These and none but such Rev. 3.5 Rom. 11.23 are the subjects of this Purpose and those on whom it will take place Psal 69.21 28. 109.1 8. Act. 1.16 20. Exod. 32.32 33. Rev. 22.19 Jude 4. So that though the Sons of Adam as fallen be the very objects or subjects of the Purpose of God for whom he gave his Son to become Man and so to die and rise and offer Sacrifice and by vertue thereof through him to extend means and light in the means that they might turn at his reproof and in turning believe and in believing not perish but have Everlasting Life yet his Purposes of chusing in Christ and conferring Everlasting Life and of reprobating to eternal destruction any of the Sons of Adam fallen was not as they were simply so considered either as fallen onely or onely as they were also bought and means extended to them but in another consideration as they were beheld and found to become of another seed either of the Woman Rom. 9.8 Gal. 3.16 29. 1 Pet. 2.9 of Abraham of Christ through belief and receit of Grace which all and none but the Children of the promise are they the elect or by rebelling against Light and Grace become of the Seed of the Serpent of the wicked one 1 Joh. 3.10 12. Joh. 8.44 which none are but those that wilfully against light and warning do and will do his will And between these two Seeds God hath put enmity so as the one is an a bomination to the other yea Gen. 3.15 Pro. 29.27 Jude 3 4. this Seed of the Serpent were forewritten of old at the beginning and so fore-ordained to this contention condemnation or judgement to be the triers and troublers of the Saints and receive judgement accordingly against whose wickedness the Saints are to contend and for the Faith These Cautions minded according as given us in the Scripture we shall finde that all the Purposes of God agree with the whole Testimony of Christ in the Gospel concerning his Oblation Intercession and coming again and all the Covenants of God and all his Promises and all his Threatnings none clashing or jarring with other but all agreeing in one and though there be not first and last and one thing after another in God's Counsels Foreknowledge or Purpose yet as in the counsel in his Purpose he hath preferred something before other and ordered one thing for another and appointed to bring forth something before another as the natural Man before the spiritual so to our thoughts and conception and in being for our knowledge and use there is something before and something after another according to God's order for us to observe And thus understood I will now proceed to view these Purposes CHAP. 3. Of the Purposes of God concerning the second publick Man Jesus Christ the Redeemer AS in all other the Counsels and Works of God The Word the Person of the Son of God Prov. 8.22 Col. 1.17 18. is in his Purpose to have the pre-eminence so in this he is the prime and first in this high Purpose of God even concerning Mankinde fallen and so concerning him 1. His Will and Purpose was That he should do his Will in taking away transgressions and destroying the works of the Devil and for that cause to give him a Body that having the Nature of Man he might be a perfect Man and so Emmanuel God with us in our Nature for us even he for there was no other with or in him to lay aside such Glory or to descend and to be made flesh in a supernatural way See Part 1. ch 13. none in and with him that might joyn with him in this business This was peculiar to him and him onely and none with him This is express and plain in the Testimony of Christ himself by his Spirit both in the Prophets and Apostles Psal 40.7 8. Heb. 10.7 Deut. 18.15 18 19. Act. 3.22 23 24. 7.37 Joh. 5.39 46. Rom. 1.2 3 4 5. 16.25 26. 1 Joh. 3.5 8. In the volume of the book or role it is written of me that I should do thy will Which as it is written in the Role or Book of the Scriptures that testifie of Christ yea even in Gen. 3.15 though not in so cleer a Revelation of the mystery as after he had offered up the acceptable Sacrifice so there is nothing written therein of him but what was in the Bosome Will and Counsel of God before as appears in comparing Heb. 10.7 with Psal 40.7 8. where onely the same saying is plainly written and that also in the same words In the volume of the book it is written c. which seems to carry us farther then any Prophets forewritten even including the Book of his Counsels and Purposes 1 Pet. 1.20 according to that of Peter's saying of Christ Who was verily ordained before the foundation of the world And so it follows Psal 40.8 I delight to do thy will O my God yea thy Law is in the middest