himself 7. And in our assemblies wher Gods presēce is ought our holines fear and obedience most to shine al evil things most be shunned wher by reasō of our near cōjunction cōmunion the cōtagion of syn may spread over al. For there all ar one loaf one body because we ar al partakers of one bread And if the wicked partake with vs neyther we nor the holy things can sanctifie thē but contrariwise they defile vs and every thing they touch as the law saith whatsoever the vnclean person toucheth shal be vnclean and the person that toucheth him shal be vnclean And this touching figured our fellowship togither in the Church as the Apostle sheweth by this the prophet Haggai convinced the people of Israel to be vnclean in Gods sight they and al their works and sacrifices Wherfore streight lawes were given to that nation as wel preists as people evē vpō payn of death that none in his vncleannes should touch the holy thinges of the church for that was not onely a defiling of the things themselves but of Gods name also For avoiding wherof the Priests were to teach the people how to discerne between holy and profane clean and vnclean Which if they did and took away the precious frō the vile then were they as Gods mouth otherwise when they put no difference between holy and profane they broke Gods law defiled his holy things for which cause he powred out his indignation vpon them And now that al Christians ar made Priests vnto God even a kingly priesthood to reign vpō earth hav the power of Christ to judge al that are within the church cast out the wicked from among them they ought to reteyn and vse their power to execute the judgement that is written and as the priests of old to keep Gods lawes and statutes in al his assemblies or els to depart frō among them 8. For if any church or people violate Gods covenant by synning against him one against another and if their ears be vncircumcised that they cannot harken to admonition nor be ashamed when they hav committed abomination but despising the word walk stubbornly with God wil not be reclaymed thē they that were yesterday Gods people ar risen vp for an enimy he wil walk stubbornly in anger against thē his sowle wil abhorr them he wil bring their sanctuary to nought and wil not smel the savour of their sweet odours the incense of their prayers is an abominatiō vnto him he hateth he abhorreth their feast dayes and wil not smel in their solemne assemblies both them and the howse which he had hallowed for his name wil he cast out of his sight and remove the candlestick out of his place the Lord of hosts that planted thē pronounceth a plague against them he wil take his kingdome from them give it to a nation which shall bring forth the fruits therof and their habitation shall be left vnto them desolate He will do vnto them as he threatneth by his prophet For the wickednes of their inventions I wil cast them ou◠of my honse I wil love them no more againe my God will cast them away because they did not obey him For rebellion is as the syn of witch craft and transgression is wickednes and idolatrie seing they have cast away the word of the Lord therfore he casteth away thē the curse is powred vpon them and the oth that is written in the Law For God proclaymeth Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant which I cōmanded your fathers saying obey my voyce and do according to all these things which I cōmand you so shall ye be my people and I wil be your God And his servants answer and say Amen ô Lord. Thus the curse devoureth the land of that Assemblie or people and the inhabitants therof ar desolate for that they trāsgressed the lawes chāged the ordinances brake the everlasting covenāt then the Lord sweareth and sayth I abhorr the excellencie of Iaakob and hate his pallaces 9. Then they that cried out against their abominations ar marked and saved from destruction a book of remembrance is written before the Lord for them that fear him and think on his name they shal be vnto him for a flock and he wil spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him they shal discern between the righteou◠and the wicked vnto them shal the sun of righteousnes arise with health vnder his wings and they shall tread down the wicked as dust vnder the soles of their feet Thus the redeemer wil come vnto thē that turn from iniquitie in Iaakob he wil leav in the mids of it an humble and poor people and they shal trust in his name and the remnant of Israel shall do no iniquitie nor speak lies And over them will the Lord reioyce with joy he wil quiet himself in his love even with joy wil he rejoyce over them The Lord preserveth al them that love him but he wil destroy al the wicked Psalm 145. 20. CHAPT XXIIII Of the communion that one church hath with an other HAving spoken of the Saincts communion in their several Congregations wherin they are distinct bodies and owe special duty and care one toward another it remayneth that something be sayd of the cōmunion between Church and church For though they be disjoyned in place yet ar they vnited in hart and spirit so as they generally are but one body or church vnder one head Christ caled in one hope of their vocation by one God and Father of al and must endeavour to keep the vnity of the spirit in the bond of peace 2. When Christ sent forth his Apostles into the world he gave them one and the same commission for preaching the Gospel in al nations and teaching them to observ whatsoever he had commanded who thervpon preached one cōmune fayth a covenant Gospel everlasting for every tongue and people and exhorted them earnestly to contend for that faith once given to the Saincts And as the faith was one so was ther one rule or canon for al Gods Israel to walk by the same officers in al churches the same ordinances decrees the same wayes taught by the Apostles every where in every Church and al other forbidden so peace was set by God in al churches of the Saincts 3. And as the church generally considered is the mother of al the faithful so the particular churches ar sisters ech to other and ther is a brotherhood of the Saints throughout the world they being al one in Christ Iesus the
him his labour his revenues ar vnto syn he himself lieth dead in syns the sowl of God doth hate him Therfore his eyes shal fayl his refuge shal perish and his hope be exspiration of sowl for he offreth the sacrifice of fools and knoweth not that he doth evil he is reprobate concerning faith abominable and vnto every good work reprobate 9. The reward of syn vnto man from the iust hand of God is fearful vengeance curse and death begun in this world to be fulfilled in the next His vengeance and curse God inflicteth sometime by his own powrful hand vpon the bodies and sowles of sinners sometime he vseth his creatures to torment them yea often he vexeth one man by an other and even by himself For man in himself hath confusion and is ashamed of his own body and members his reason wil and affections ar often at warr one with another his concupiscences fight within him rankerous envie fretteth and consumeth him carking covetousnes pierceth him through with many sorrowes his own inordinate lusts doe vex and make him sick and lean generally his whol life he leadeth in vanitie and vexation of spirit al his dayes ar sorrowes his travail grief his hart taketh not rest in the night for he is like the raging sea that cannot rest whose waters cast vp mire and dirt ther is no peace vnto him Again he is often troubled in minde for his misdeeds guiltie fears do torment his conscience and he is condemned of his own hart dispayring of al help mercy at Gods hand wher vpon men dread oft-tymes wher no dread is and the sound of a leaf shaken doth chase them away they flee as from a sword and fall no man pursuing them a sound of fear is in their ears that in their prosperitie the destroyer shal come vpon them neyther beleev they to return out of darknes So that in this miserie lothing longer life some lay violent hands on their own bodies and murder themselves And man to man doth all manner mischief and outrage that they are as beasts vnto themselves by reproching blaspheming robbing defyling captiving and murdering one an other both secretly and openly not sparing their own brethren wives children or dearest freinds in their savage wrath hatred and crueltie The Lord moreover afflicteth their bodies with many greevous and noysom sicknesses their bowels ar inwardly tormented with payns their ioynts and lims with aches silthy leprosies sores and botches do vex and deform them burning pestilent fevers do afflict consume them neyther is ther any part or member from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot which is not smitten wounded even the mind and vnderstanding with phrensie and madnes and the bodies somtime devoured with lice and vermin whiles they ar yet alive 10. The creatures all ar executioners of Gods iust iudgments vpon wicked men The heavens somtyme with-hold their dewes and rayn and become like brasse somtime they send down stormie tempests with haylstones and fyre and other evil influences to destroy the earth the inhabitants fruits therof The Sun smiteth them by day the moon by night the stars from their bulwarks fight against them The earth eyther yieldeth not her fruit but is like yron or bringeth forth thorns and thistles and venemous weeds yea somtimes openeth her mouth and swalloweth men vp alive Honger and famine do afflictt them that for want of food they ar enforced to eat the flesh of their own children The wild beasts prey vpon devour them even the smallest and vilest creatures as frogs flies lice and the like ar ministers of wrath and vengeance vpon the disobedient The syre breaketh out burneth them with their substance the water overfloweth drowneth them The Angels of the Lord do pursue scatter and destroy them And the Divils vnto whom wretched men yield homage obedience do tyrannize over their goods their bodies and their â—owls tearing and tormenting them casting them into fyre and into water depriving them of reason sence and speech having them also in horrible bondage vnder syn working effectually in them and holding them as in a snare vnto their own wil. So that the benefits of God towards them wicked men do abuse to further licâ—nciousnes and presumption by his punishments also they are not bettered but increase impiety as it is written Men blasthemed the name of God which hath power over these plagues and they repented not to give him glory they blasphemed the God of heaven for their payns and for their sores and repented not of their works 11. Therfore after a few evil dayes on earth which also for his sins aâ— shortned the man being broken decayed and worn out with miseries is caused at last to goe to the King of fears death feazeth vpon him and separateth the sowl from the body neyther can any man redeem his brother or giv his ransom to God that he may liv stil for ever and not see the grave but terrours take him away as waters a tempest stealeth him away by night God casteth vpon him his plagues spareth not though he would fayn slee out of his haÌ„d as a whirlwind that passeth so is the wicked no more For his spirit departeth he returneth to his earth then his thoughts perish his form bewty consumeth as he himself so his Name also shal â—ot His sowl being fetcht away from the body wherin it lived and joyed but a litle while in the momentany plesures of sin is brought to the prisoÌ„ of hel wher al daÌ„ned ghosts fearfully exspect their final doom at the great day of God when the sowles being again ioyned with their carkesses which the Lord wil rayse out of the dust the seas and death and hell having delivered vp the dead which were in them they shal be iudged every maÌ„ according to their works done in the body the books shal be opened and all things brought to light that were hid in darknes the counsels of the harts made manifest the heavens shal declare mans wickednes and the earth shal rise vp against him account shal be given of every evil work and idle word and God wil render to these sinners indignation and wrath they shal be cast into the fyrie lake prepared for the Divil and his Angels with theÌ„ be tormented in those eternal flames being for ever separated from the presence of the Lord from the glorie of his power from his comfort life and light Death shal feed vpon them the fyre that is not blowen shall devour them Then shal be weeping wayling and gnashing of teeth with too late repentance and
places wher they become yet is it most lively seen in their Assemblie and there he is very terrible For this cause did his people love the habitation of his house desired to dwel there al their dayes that they might be hold his bewtie and being absent from it their sowles thirsted for God saving when shal we come and appear before the presence of God for they knew his promise which had sayd In every place where I shal put the remembrance of my name I wil come vnto thee blesse thee they knew God was in the mids of his sanctuary it should not be moved he would help it very early But of this holy societie more is to be spoken particularly in another place CHAP. XII Of the Communion that we have with Iesus Christ our Mediatour IEsus Christ being God manifested in the flesh is given of the Father to be the onely mediatour between him and vs and he hath given him power to execute judgmēt in that he is the son of Man He is the head of the body of the Church in him all the buylding coupled togither groweth vnto an holy Temple in the Lord and we all are built togither in him to be the habitation of God by the Spirit he is the way the truth the life no man cometh to the Father but by him And of him and his mediation this Oracle was spoken of old to the Saincts that their Noble-ruler should be of thēselves their Governour Christ should proceed from the mids of them God would cause him to drawe neer and approach vnto himself when he should ascend and sit at his right hand to make intercession for vs for who is he els that warranteth his hart to come vnto me sayth the Lord And ye shal be my people and I wil be your God 2. As we are made the people and portion of God by Christ brought by him vnto the fellowship and glorie of his Father so is there a special fellowship and cōmunion that we have with Christ being caled therevnto of the Father as it is written God is faithful by whom ye are called vnto the communion of his Son Iesus Christ our Lord. And that this hath alwayes been the chief end and scope of God in al his Oracles since the world began to draw men vnto Christ so vnto himself is before shewed 3. The summe of the grace given vs through communion with our Lord Iesus is cōprised in those words of the Apostle saying that Christ is of God made vnto vs Wisdom and Iustice and Sanctification and Redemption These things he is vnto vs by vertue of his Mediatorship which consisteth in the three functions or offices of Prophecie Priesthood Kingdome committed vnto him by the Father For frō the in most holy place and from the bosom of the Father is he come to declare God vnto vs he is a Prophet raysed vp of the Lord to speak vnto vs al that he cōmanded him and him are we willed for to hear the yles are to wayt for his Law And as he being worthy obteyned to open the book that is in the right hand of him that sitteth on the throne to loose the seven seales thereof because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ar hid in him so having made knowen to vs al things that he heard of his Father having declared and stil declaring his Name by his word and spirit he is the Power of God and the wisdom of God vnto vs. And the things which he hath declared are two 1 the Law to shew vs our syn and the evils due for the same 2 the Gospel to shew vs our righteousnes by grace from God with the blessings that flow therfrō He also being our great high priest or sacrificer hath taken away our syns and al the evils accompanying them hath redeemed vs from the Curse of the Law finished wickednes sealed vp sins made reconciliatiō for iniquitie brought the gift of righteousnes or Iustice so by his obedience we ar made just grace shal reigne by justice vnto eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord whose blood doth also purge our consciences from dead works to serv the Living God and by the same hath he sanctified his people and contineweth a Priest for ever and is both our Iustice Sanctification Finally this our redemtion from evil and restauration vnto happines he conserveth maynteyneth by his mighty power frō al enemies whō hee hath subdued vnder his owne feet wil also subdue vnder ours and is therfore named our King whom al kings shal worship al nations shal serv who wil redeem our sowles from deceit violence wil giv vs also the redemption of our bodie and cause our last enimy Death to be swallowed vp in victorie so wil be our ful Redemptiō for ever ever at his appearing with glorie in the day of Redemptiō 4. More particularly touching his Prophesie and our communion with him therin as God gave him for a witnes to the people for a Prince and a Commander vnto them so shewed he himself to be a faithful and true witnesse in that he spake to the world the things which he had heard of the Father This he did in his own person whiles he walked with mē teaching the true meaning and end of al his Fathers Law and vrging the syncere keeping of it in Love freeing it also from the false glosses and leaven of the Pharisees and cutting down their traditions for the Lord to this end had made his mouth like a sharp sword that by the breath of his lips he might slay the wicked He also taught the glad tidings of the Gospel vnto the poor therby healing the broken harted preaching deliverance to the captives recovering of sight to the blind and the acceptable yere of the Lord that whosoever should hear his word and beleev in him that sent him should hav everlasting life and not come into condemnation but was passed from death vnto life So he hid not his Fathers righteousnes within his hart but declared his truth and his salvation he conceled not his mercy and his truth from the great congregation but preached peace and comfort to his people For God had given him a tongue of the Learned that he might know to minister a word in time to him that is weary grace was powred in his lips and they they were like lillies dropping down pure myrrh and his mouth was sweet things 5. As in his own person so did he by others publish the will of his Father vsing hereto the ministerie both of men and Angels He gave and stil giveth the gifts of ministery vnto many men above al other he furnished his
glory of God al precious ornaments of his Spirit And so greatly doth the King delight in her bewty that the words which were spoken to the first woman Evah how her desire should be vnto her husband are now on the other hand as touching the affection of love applied by the Spowse vnto him whom her sowl loveth I am my welbeloveds and his desire is towards me 28. From all that which is before spoken of the Cōmunion that God hath caled vs vnto with his Son it followeth that whatsoever justice and holines was in Christ manifested in the flesh eyther by nature or by actiō the same is made ours by grace and imputation as on the contrary whatsoever syn vnrighteousnes is in vs by nature or action the same is made his by imputation and by him is healed and taken away that it can not be we now should perish if we hold fast our faith and confidence of rejoycing vnto the end Whatsoever troubles sorrowes or tentations syn onely excepted do befall vs in this life the like have befalle◠vnto him were by him overcome and shal from vs as already they are from him be done away Finally whatsoever freedom liberty Christ as mā in ordinarie estate had on earth cōversing amōg men◠the like hath he given dayly giveth confirmeth vnto Christiās whither we respect the spiritual law of God or the politick lawes of men and civil states For he it is that liveth in vs himself is ours and we are his graffed into his death and resurrection to eternal life he hath given his glory vnto Israel even the glory that the Father gav him hath he given vs that we may be one as the Father and he ar one he in vs and God in him wher he is ther shal we also be to behold his glory though for the present we walk by faith and not by sight and it doth not yet appear what we shal be The cōsideration of which riches of his grace may cause vs to say with the prophet how great is his goodnes how great is his bewtie And we may conclude with the last word of Moses the man of God Blessed art thou o Israel who is like vnto thee o people saved by the Lord the shield of thine help and which is the sword of thy glorie therfore thine enimies shal be in subjectiō to thee thow shalt tread vpon their high places CHAP. XIII Of our Communion with the holy Ghost ALthough the fellowship that we have with the holy Ghost who is one with the Father and the Son may much be discerned by that which is before spoken of God of Christ yet because the scripture speaketh many things of the work of Gods Spirit in vs and particularly of the Cōmunion of the Holy Ghost with vs it wil be for the good and comfort of the Saincts to consider the graces and benefits that do come vnto them by this cōmunion also in particular 2. And this the rather for that the Spirit is the Comforter that other Comforter or Advocate which the Father at Christs request doth give vnto vs for to abide with vs for ever and chear vs in the absence of our Lord Iesus from vs who is gone vnto his Father and ours that we should not be left as orphans on earth destitute of help and comfort amids our many trials and tribulations 3. Very great is the grace admirable the strength and consolation which this Comforter giveth to the Saincts as the example of the Apostles themselves doth confirm who al the while that Christ was with them in this world though he ceased not to teach inform thē to comfort and embolden them to reprove and blame them as there was occasion yet were they weak and faint in faith fearfull of their enimies forgetful of Christs promises without vnderstanding of his mysteries and overcaried many wayes with their own infirmities But when he had sent down vpon them the promise of his Father endued them with power from on high baptising them with the holy Ghost then began they to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them vtterance the wonderful works of God shewed great boldnes in preaching the word with great power witnessed the resurrection of the Lord Iesus and many signes and wonders were shewed by their hands and they ceased not to teach and preach Iesus Christ amongst many troubles rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name 4. Neyther vnto them alone was the holy Ghost given though the abundance of his graces was powred most plentifully vpon them but al that in those dayes or before or synce do beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ ar sealed also with the same spirit of promise furnished in some mesure with the gifts of the same Which grace the Lord himself proclaymed in that last and great day of the Feast of Tabernacles saying He that beleeveth in me as sayth the scripture out of his bel'y shal flow rivers of water of life speaking this of the Spirit which they that beleeved in him should receiv for if any man have not the Spirit of Christ the same is not his 5. As ther is but one God and Father of al and one Lord Jesus Christ so is ther but one and the same Spirit although for the diversities of gifts which that Spirit distributeth among the Saincts the scripture sometime speaketh as of seven Spirits which ar before the throne of God seven being a ful and perfect number and signifying Many and these seven Spirits be the seven hornes seven eyes that is the manifold and absolute power providence of the Lamb Christ Iesus of whom it was prophesied that the Spirit of the Lord should rest vpon him the Spirit of wisdom and Vnderstanding the Spirit of counsel of strength the Spirit of knowledge of the fear of the Lord of whō also it was witnessed God giveth him not the Spirit by mesure 6. The Spirit as he was at first creator of the world with the Father the Son garnished the heavēs so is he stil the finger of God that worketh effectually al his actions creating the creatures renewing the face of the earth And generally as God speaketh vnto men outwardly by the ministery of his word so sendeth he also inwardly motions of his Spirit against which many struggle to their just judgement In the old world Gods spirit strove in man as his word was preached by Noah but they sayd vnto God Depart from vs wherfore they were wrinckled before the time and the flood was powred out vpō their foundation Whē Israel came out of Aegypt the Lord sent before them Moses Aaron Miriam to guyd
that Gods servants ar ful of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of judgement and of strength to declare vnto the people their traÌ„gression and their syn an example wherof we may see in Saul who being full of the Holy Ghost set his eyes vpon Elymas the sorcerer and sayd O ful of al subtilty al mischief child of the Divil enimy of all righteousnes wilt thou not ceâ—se to pervert the straight wayes of the Lord Now therefore behold the hand of the Lord is vpon thee thou shalt be blind and not see the Sun for a season And this courage the Sainctes have even before Princes and potentates of 〈◊〉 earth 〈◊〉 â—ay be 〈◊〉 in Zechâ—â—â—ah son of Iehojada who being cloâ—â—ed with the Spirit and rebuking the transgressions of the people was therefore stoned with stones at the comandement of the king For the Hâ—ly Ghost teacheth them in that â—owr what they ought to say wherefore they are to take no thought how or what to answer but resting vpon the ayd of Gods Spirit do boldly say â— wil speak of thy testimonies Lord before kings and wil not be ashamed 14 But in the Saincts themselves the Spirit is most mighty in operation for the subduing and sanctifying of their affections and confirmation of their sowles and spirits in the love favour of God For whereas before time some of them were fornicators idolaters theves covetous extortioners or given to other like vices they 〈◊〉 washed they a 〈◊〉 they ar â—ustified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of God And wheras while they were fleshly having not the Spiriâ— they walked after the flesh and favouâ—ed the things tâ—â—â— of could not â—lease God but were subject vnto death now hee that raysed vp Christ from the Dead doth also quicken their mortal bodies because that his Spirit dwelleth in them and so is fulfilled that which in figure God sayd of old vnto Israel Ye shal know that I am the Lord when I have opened your graves ô my people and brought you vp out of your sepulchres and shal put my Spirit in you ye shal live Who then living in the Spirit do also walk in the Spirit and by it do mortify the deeds of the body not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh which they have crucified but bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit which are love joy peace long suffring gentlenes goodnes faith meeknes teÌ„perance for when the Spirit is powred vpon them from above then the wildernes becometh a fruitful feild aâ— sayth the Prophet 15. And God which hath promiseâ— to powr water vpon the thirstie â— stoods vpon the drie ground tâ— powr his Spirit vpon the seed â— his Church and his blessing vpoâ— their buds wil not onely give the Holy Ghost to them that desiâ— him but also continew his gifts â— graces for the assurance of theâ— harts so that they shall not labouâ— in vayn nor bring forth in fear because they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord their buds with them The love of God is shed abroad in their harts by the Holy Ghost which is giveÌ„ vnto them and by him are they sealed vnto the day of redemption the same Spirit beareth witnesse with their spirits that they are the Sonnes of God and hereby they know that they dwel in God and he in them because he hath given them of his Spirit which is as a pawn or earnest in their harts whereby they do not onely behold the glory of the Lord with open face but are changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. And this Spirit which they have received is not the Spirit of bondage to fear again as at the giving of the Law and looking vpon Moses face but is the Spirit of adoption-of-children whereby they cry Abba Father even the Spirit of his Son Christ which God hath sent into their harts because they also are sons and the blessing of AbrahaÌ„ is come vpoÌ„ them through Christ Iesus So Gods good Spirit leadeth them vnto the Lanâ— of righteousnes and this is a parâ— of his covenant with them thaâ— his Spirit which is upon them anâ— his words which hee hath put iâ— their mouth shal not depart out â— the mouth of them or their seâ—â— or their seeds seed for ever Neithâ— wil he hide his face any more froâ— theÌ„ because he hath powred out his spirit upoÌ„ the hense of Israel as he hatâ— promised by his Prophet From aâ— which proceedeth vnto the Sainâ— vnspeakable peace comfort joy which they find and feel both â— the receiving of the word as the Apostle sayth ye received the worâ— in much affliction with joy of the holy Ghost in the obedience theâ— vnto in the kingdoÌ„ of God which is righteousnes and peace and joy in the holy Ghost 16. Amongst other benefits which the Spirit affordeth this is one special that it helpeth the Saincts infirmities in prayer who â—ls know not what to pray as they â—ught but the Spirit it self maketh request for them with sighs which cannot be expressed the request which he maketh is according to â—he wil of God who sercheth the â—arts and knoweth what the meaning of the Spirit is 17. But that the Saincts be not deceaved and led astray from the truth by any motion suggestion vision revelation or other means whatsoever as from the Spirit of the Lord our Saviour hath given vs a rule to discern the work of his Spirit from the delusion of Satan which is this that his Spirit speaketh not of himself but whatsoever he heareth he speaketh that he glorifieth Christ for he receiveth of Christs al things that the Father hath at Christs and sheweth it vnto Christians Therfore is he the Spirit of truth and leadeth into altruth because he teacheth nothing but according to the word of God which word is truth And by that word must al spirits be tried by it may be discerned the Spirit of truth from the Spirit of error and Iosua though he were ful of the Spirit oâ— wisdome yet was charged of God to attend vnto the book of the Law for his direction to obserâ—â— and doe according to al that was written therin 18. Finally the Spirit of God hath generally in all things wrought much and mightily in and by the Saincts With this was Bezaleel filled in wisdome and in vnderstanding in knowledg in al workmanship to find out curious works for the Lords Tabernacle with this were the seventy Ancients furnished for the goverment of Israel prophesied With the wisdom of this Spirit was Iosua full after that Moses had put his hands vpon him given him of his glory when he ordeyned him to be his successor in
words are plesant as the hony cōb sweetnes to y◠sowl health to the bones which causeth thē to desire that they may dwel in his howse al their dayes to behold his bewty and alwayes they say Let the Bewty of the Lord our God be vpon vs. His other staff Bands conserveth the brotherhood of his people wherby they ar lincked togither in love labouring to be al of one mind one suffring with an other loving as brethren living growing togither as one tree or staff in his hand This brotherhood the Saincts are al exhorted to love and endevour to keep the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace being clothed with the bowels of mercies kindnes humblenes of mind meeknes long-suffring forbearing forgiving one an other even as Christ forgave them and above al these things having Love which is the bond of perfectnes 10. Sometimes God bringeth vnto his faith and church the governours great men of the earth whose authoritie and scepters are a great help to the conservation of true religion and outward peace of his people by their defence of the just and punishment of evil-doers These notwithstanding their high places yet are to have no haughty harts nor lofty eyes but behave themselves and compose their sowles like weyned childrē learning dayly from the ministerie and book of God to fear the Lord to keep al the words of his law that their harts be not lifted vp above their brethren They are with them to begin end the publick worship of God they may not take of the peoples inheritance nor thrust them out of their possession they are to conteyn as wel themselves as their subjects in the obedience of Christ to be foster fathers and nourses of the church vnto which they have brought their glorie and their honour expecting a better and an eternal glory with al Saincts in the kingdome of God For there is a covenant between them and their subjects that they wil be the Lords people yea thēselves are the foremost to make it to order al things in their kingdomes according to Gods word As that good king Iosiah in the assemblie of al his people both great and smal first covenanted himself to walk after the Lord and to keep his cōmandements his testimonies and his statutes with al his hart and with al his sowl that he would accomplish the words of the covenant written in Gods book and then caused al that were found in Ierusalem and Benajamin to stand to the same 11. But because in times of worldly peace many wil presse to enter into the church for cōpany favour or fashion sake which otherwise would never regard the same being profane idolatrous or irreligious the children of this world therfore care must be had that no such vnclean wicked persons be accepted For though the gates be open that the righteous nation which keepeth the faith may enter in yet seing it is sayd that the way shal be caled holy the polluted shal not passe by it that Ierusalem shal be holy no strangers shal goe through her nor a Canaanite be any more in the howse of the Lord of hosts ther must be seen in them the seed and foundation of religion before they be received namely repentāce fiō dead works faith towards God For this was the voyce of the crier that proclaymed the kingdom of heaven which they that obeyed wer baptised vnto remission of syns the residue were rejected as a viperous generation the same thing also Christ made the beginning and groundwork of his kingdome saying Repent and beleev the Gospel Vntil therfore such willingly receiv and confesse the truth renouncing their former evil wayes promising submissiō meeknes obediēce in the faith of the Gospel vntil the wolf have learned to dwel in peace with the lamb the leopard to lie with the kidd the bear to feed with the kow and the Lion to eat straw like the bullock we may not admitt them into communiō with vs for what part hath the beleever with the vnbeleever but refuse their proffered and pretended service as the fathers of Israel answered the like intruders It is not for you for vs joyntly to build an howse vnto our God but we our selves togither wil build it vnto the Lord God of Israel And as there were porters in the fowr winds or quarters of Gods ancient howse evē porters set that none that was vnclean in any thing should enter in and diligent watch and ward was kept at the gates of Ierusalem for fear of enemies so in this new and Christian Ierusalem though the gates therof be never shutt yet is ther such watch to be kept that no no vnclean thing may enter into it neyther whatsoever worketh abominatiō or lies but they which a◠written in the Lambs book of life 12. The Saincts being thus gathered as a people that shal dwe◠by themselves and not be reckne◠among the nations for that the ar chosen out of the world separated from the same and being builded as a citie compact togither in it self and growing vp in Christ the chief corner stone vnto an holie Temple in the Lord are made the habitation of God by the spirit and do dwel alone in safetie in a land of wheat and wine also their heavens do drop the deaw For the graces of God by his word and spirit are as a river of water of life clear as chrystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the lamb whose streames make glad this citie of God and moisten the trees planted in this gardein Yea God himself dwelleth here is in the middes of it therefore it shal not be moved As the good husbandman he purgeth every fruitful branch in this vine that it may bring forth more fruit for this his vineyard is before himself not let out to others he keepeth it watereth it every moment least any assayl it he keepeth it night day from injurie of enemies making the barres of the gates strong and in it self he setteth peace and this not in one but in al the churches of the Saincts amids whom he walketh visiting and knowing theyr works and all their wayes which churches though they be many in number yet are they one in vnitie To them al he hath given one faith order and canon to be kept for ever vnto the worlds end to every of them a like power and grace And as he guided his ancient Israel the twelv tribes by day in the pillar of a clowd by night in a pillar of fyre to giv them light that they might goe both by day night so hath he created according to his promise vpon every place