the time that God had appointed in the which he should come The second thing that I will through the strength of Christ prove is this that he that was of the Virgin is he that is the Saviour And first I shall lay down this for a truth That it is not any Spirit only by and of it selâ—e without it doe take the nature of man that can be a Saviour of man from eternal veâ—gâ—nce Or thus That 〈◊〉 will be a Saviour of man must in the nature of man satisâ—â—e and appeasâ— the justice and wrath of God and the arguments that I doe bring to â—rove it by are these 1. Because it was man that had offended and â—ustice required that man must give the satisfaction And therefore when he that should be the Saviour was come he tooke upon him the forme of a Servant and was made in the likeness of men Phil. 2. 7. And in Heb. 2. 14. Because the children were partakers of flesh and blond he also himself likewise took part of the same to what end that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Dwell And is that all No but also that he might deliver them who through feare of death were all their life time subject to bondage The second argument is this because if a Spirit only could have made satisfaction for the fin of mankind and have subdued Satan for man without the nature of man either there had been weaknesse in God when he made that promise to fallen Adam That the seed of the woman should break the serpents head for there had been no need of and so no room for that promise or else God having made it would have appeared unfaithful in not fulfilling his promise by redeeming the world without it 3. If a Spirit only could have made satisfaction and so have saved man then Christ needed not to have come into the world and to have been borne of a woman Gal. 4. 4. but in that he must come into the world and must be borne of a woman it is cleer that without this he could not have been a Saviour for he was made of a woman made under the law to this end that he might redeem them that were under the law Implying No subjection to this viz. the taking of the nature of Man no redemption from the curse of the law But Christ hath delivered from the curse of the law all that believe in his name being in their Nature made a curse for them And this is the reason why the fallen Angels are not recovered from their damnable estate because he did not take hold of their nature For he tooke not on him the nature of Angels but he tooke on him the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. Now then seeing this is the very truth of God I shall next prove that Jesus that was born of the virgin to be the Saviour And first I shall prove it by comparing some places of the old and new Testament together and by some arguments drawn from the Scriptures And first see Gen. 3. 15. where he is called the seed of the woman saying I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed and so was Jesus Gal. 4. 4. where it is said God senâ— forth his son made of a woman or borne of a woman 2. This woman must be a virgin Isa. 7. 14. where it is said a virgin shall conceive and beare a Sonne and shall call his name Emanuel And Jesus is he that was the fulfilling of this Scripture Matth. 1. 22 23. Now all thus was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet saying Behâ—ld a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emanuel 3. The Saviour must be of the Tribe of Judah And this Jacob prophecied of on his death-bed saying Judah thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise or honour thâ—â—â— hand shall be on the 〈◊〉 of thine enemies thy fathers children shall bow down before thâ—e And again Mic. 5. 2. But thou Beâ—hlehem Ephratah though thou be little among the thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall he come that is to be ruler in Israel Jesus 〈◊〉 of the tribe of Judah and that will cleerly appeare iâ— you read Mat. 1. Maâ—theâ— he begins first with Abraham v. 2. and thence to Judah v. 3. from Judah to Dâ—â—xâ—d ver 6. From David to Zorobabel v 13. then to Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary of whom was borne Jesus ver 16. Now Mary was one of the same house also and for this conâ—ider Jesus came from the loynes of David see Maâ— 1. but that he could not doe if Mâ—â— had not been of the seed 〈◊〉 â—â—vid For Christ came 〈…〉 not from him for 〈…〉 her not till shee had brought forth her first born Mat. 1. 25. Again the Angel told her that he was the Son of David saying And the Lord God will give unto him the throne of his father David Luke 1. 32. And againe The Jews knew this very well or else they would have been sure to have laid it open before all the world for they sought by all meanes to disown him And though they did through the divellishnesse of their unbeliefe disown him yet could they find no such thing as to question the right of his birth from Mary If it had been to be done they would no doubt haue done it they did not want malice to whet them on neither did they want meanes so far as might helpe forward their malice without manifest and apparent injury For they had exact Registers or records of their genealogies so that if they had had any colour for it they would sure have denyed him to have been the Son of David There was reasoning concerning him when he was with them Joh. 7. and I do believe part of it was about the generation of which he came And this was so commonly knowne that the blind man that sat by the way side could cry out Jesus thou Some of David have mercy on me thou Sonne of David have mercy on me Luke 18. 38 39. It was so common that he came from the loines of his Father David according to the flesh that it was not so much as once questioned And when Herod demanded Mat. 2. 4 5 6. of the chiefe Priests and Scibes of the people where Christ should be borne they said unto him in Bethlehem of Judea for thus it is written by the Prophet And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judea art not the least among the Princes of Judah for out of thee shall câ—me a Governour that shall rule my people Israel For out of thee Mark that if Mary had not been of Judah Christ had not come out of Judah But Christ came out of Judah therefore Mary is also a daughter of Judah and this is evident as saith the
Tim. 3. 16. God was manifested in the flesh and 1 Joh. 1. 14. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth And in Heb. 1. 14. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he that is God Heb. 1. 8. also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he must destroy him that had the power of death that is the Divell Now as he was thus true God and true man so he became our redeemer and Saviour Compare the first and second chapters to the Heb. together and you may cleerly see that this is a glorious truth that he who is the first and the last Rev. 1. 17 18. and â— 8. humbled himselfe and made himselfe of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of men And was this all No he humbled himself unto death even the death of the crosse Phil. 2. 7 8. compared with Revel 1. 17 18. and Rev. 2. 8. with Gal. 1. 4. Now after this Christ of God true God and true man had wrought out eternal redempâ—ion for us poore miserable sinners Heb. 9. 14. compared with 1 Tim. 1. 15. I say after he had done this he ascended up into heaven and there ever lives to make intercession for us Now this Christ having thus compleatly wrought out our Salvation sends his Disciples abroad to preach the same to poore sinners Acts 2. and 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. 1 Cor. 1. 17. and so many as were ordained to eternal life when they heard the word or the Gospell preached by the Apostles which Gospell was this Christ 1 Cor. 1. 17. compared with ver 23. I say so many as were ordained 〈◊〉 eternal life when they hearâ— the word the Holy Ghost oâ— Spirit of Christ fell upâ—â— them Acts 10. 44. compareâ— with Acts 13. 48. which diâ— lead them into the Redemption and glorious things that the Lord Jesus had laid up and prepared for them Joh. 16. 13. 14 15. 1 Cor. 2. 9. Which Spirit was the earnest of their inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory Eph. 1. 13. 14. This earnest of their inheritance was a glorious encouragment to them that had it to hope for the glory that was revealed at the appearing of Jesus Christ which is the meaning of that place in Col. 1. 27. And that will be seen clearly if we truly compare it with Eph. 1. 13 4. before cited Now this Spirit which sometimes is called the Spirit of Christ 2 Cor. 13. 5. This spirit I say being given to all those that were ordained to eternal life it must neâ—ds follow that those that had not this Spirit but did live and die without it were not ordained to eternal life and so were none of Christs but were reprobates Rom. 8. 9. for the Spirit of Christ is the distinguishing Character betwixt a believer and an unbeliever he that hath it and is led by it is a child of God Rom. â— 14. but he that hath it not is none of Christs So then the Answer that I give to the question is this The Spirit of Christ that is given to believers is the Earnest or hope of that Inheritance that Christ hath already purchased and is now preparing for so many as he hath given or shall give this holy Spirit unto And for the proofe hereof Read Eph. 1. 13 14. In whom saith the Scripture ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gâ—spel of your Salvation 〈◊〉 whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance which inheritance is the eternal redemption that was purchased by Christ for poor sinners Heb. 9. 14. untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glorie Againe Gal. 5. 5. for ye through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith And Col. 1. 27. the Apostle speaking of this great mystery saith To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mysterie among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory which glory was then revealed to the Saints no otherwise then by faith as the Apostle saith We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5. 2. Which hope is begotten by the Spirits shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts ver 5. which hope is not yet seen that is not yet actually enjoyed for we are saved by hope but hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for But if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it Rom. 8. 24 25. And as I say the cause of believers hope is this Christ or the Spirit of Christ in them the hope of glory And indeed he may well hope for glory to come who hath already an earnest thereof given him of God and that earnest no less than the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Rom. 8. 16 17. But now this Spirit which is the Cause of a believers hope all men have not Jude 19. Eph. 2. 12. Rom. 8. 9. Jo. 14. 16 17. Therefore what a sad doctrine is that which saith follow the light that Christ hath enlightnâ—d every man withall which commeth into the world which light is the Conscience * that convinceth of Sinnes against the Law and that you may see cleerly if you mind that Scripture Jo. 8. 9. which saith that the Pharises which had neither the love of God nor yet his word abiding in them Jo. 5. 38 43. when they had heard Christ speaking thus to them He that is without sin among you c. being convicted by their own Consciences went out one by one beginning at the eldest even to the least But the Divell that he might be sure not to miss of his design labours by all meanes to render the Scriptures also odious and low telling them of the Scriptures within which Christ never taught nor yet his Disciples But they being given up of God to a reprobate minde have given themselves over rather to follow the suggestions of the Divel then the holy Scriptures which God hath commanded us to betake our selves to Isa. 8. 20. compared with Jo. 5. 39. which Scripture is called the sword of the Spirit Eph. 6 17. which weapon our Lord Jesus himselfe held up to overcome the Divell withall Mat. 4. 4 7 10. Luke 4. 4. 8. 12. But this designe as I told you the Divell carries on by pretending to shew them a more excellent way which they may attaine to if they be but wise and follow what is made knowne to them from the light within them But Reader that thou mayest be able to escape the snare of this cunning hunter I shall lay thee downe some few directions which if
the one and the way to escape the other Now if the Lord shall do thee any good by what I have spoken I hope it will be a meanes to stir me up to thank the Lord that ever he did use such a sinner as I am in the worke of his Gospell And here I shall close up what I have said destring thee 〈◊〉 thou be a Christian to pray for him who desires to continue Thy Servant in the Lord Jesus Christ though less then the least of all Saints JOHN BUNYAN For as much as many have taken in hand to set forth their several judgements concerning the Son of the Virgin Mary the Lord Jesus Christ and some of those many having most grosly erred from the simplicity of his Gospel it seemed good to me having had some knowledge of these things to write a few words to the end if the Lord will souls might not be so horribly deluded by those several corrupt principles that are gone into the world concerning him NOw that there is such a thing as a Christ I shall not spend much time in proving of only I shall shew you that he was first promised to the Fathers and afterward expected by their children But before I doe that I shall speak a few words concerning Gods fore-ordaining and purposing that a Christ the Saviour should be and that before the world began Now God in his own wisedom and counsel knowing what would come to passe as if it were already done Rom. 4. 17. He knowing that man would break his commandements and so throw himselfe under eternal destruction did in his own purpose fore-ordain such a thing as the rise of him that should fall and that by a Saviour Eph. 1. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him meaning the Saviour before the foundation of the world That is God seeing that we would transgresse and break his commandement did before chuse some of those that would fall and give them to him that should afterward purchase them actually though in the account of God his blood was shed before the world was Rev. 13. 8. I say in the account of God his son was slain that is according to Gods purpose and conclusion which he purposed in himself before the world was as it is written 2 Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the world began As also in 1 Pet. 1. 20. where the Apostle speaking of Christ and the redemption purchased by him for sinners saith of him Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last dayes for you who by â—â—m doe believe in God that raised him from the dead God having thus purposed in himselfe that he would save some of them that by transgression had destroyed themselves did with the everlasting son of his love make an agreement or bargain that upon such and such terms he would give him a company of such poor soules as had by transgression fallen from their own innocency and uprightnesse into those wicked inventions that they themselves had sought out Eccles. 7. 29. The agreement also how this should be was made before the foundation of the world was laid Tit. 1. 2. The Apostle speaking of the promise or covenant made between God and the Saviour for that is his meaning saith on this wise In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye promised before the world began Now this promise or covenant was made with none but with the son of God the Saviour And it must needs be so for there was none with God before the world began but he by whom hee made the world as in Prov. 8. from v. 22. to v. 31. which was and is the Sonne of his love This Covenant or Bargain had these conditions in it First that the Saviour should take upon him flesh and blood the same nature that the sonnes of men were partakers of sinne onely excepted Heb. 2. 14. Heb. 4. 15. And this was the will or agreement that God had made with him And therefore when he speaks of doing the will of God Heb. 10. 5. he saith a body hast thou prepared me as according to thy promise Gen. 3. 15. which I was to take of a woman and in it I am come to do thy will O God as it is written of me in the volume of thy Book v. 7. 2. The Saviour was to bring everlasting righteousnesse to justifie sinners withal Dan. 9. 24 25. The Messias or Saviour shal bring in everlasting righteousnesse and put an end to iniquity as it is there written To make an end of sins and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousnesse This I say was to be brought into the world by the Saviour according to the covenant or agreement that was between God and Christ before the world began which God that cannot lye promised at that time Tit. 1. 2. 3. He was to accomplish thâ—â— everlasting righteousnesse by spilling his most precious blood according to the terms of the covenant or bargain and therefore when God would shew his people what the agreement was that he and the Saviour had made even before the Covenant was accomplished and sealed actually See for this Zach. 9. where he is speaking of him that should be the Saviour v. 11. And as for thee also meaning the Saviour by the blood of thy Covenant or as some render it whose Covenant is by blood which is all to one purpose I meaning God have sent forth the Prisoners out of the pit wherein there was no water The meaning is this As for thee also seeing the covenant or bargain that was made between me and thee before the world was is accomplished in my account as if it were actually and really done with all the conditions that were agreed upon by me and thee I have therefore according to that agreement that was on my part sent forth the prisoners and those that were under the curse of my Law out of the pit wherein there is no water seeing thou also hast compleatly fulfilled in my account whatsoever was on thy part to be done according to our agreement And thus is that place to be understood in John 17. â— I pray for them I pray not 〈◊〉 the world but for thâ—se thâ— thou hast given me which I coâ—venanted with thee for thiâ— they were and thou gavest thâ— me but on such and such coâ—â—ditions as are before mentioned Zach. 9. And again Acâ—cording as he hath chosen us 〈◊〉 him that is in Christ beâ—â—â— the foundation of the world thâ— we should be holy and withâ—â— blame before him in love Noâ— seeing this was thus concludâ— upon by those that did 〈◊〉 well to the soules and 〈◊〉 of poore sinners after 〈◊〉 world was made by them aâ— after they had said Let â— make man after our own imâ—â—â— after
is come the second time they that are in their graves shall arise and come forth of their graves as I said before in which they have laine according to that in Job 5. 28. Where Christ saith Marvell not at this for the houre is comming in the which all that are in the graves shall heare his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evill unto the resurrection of damnation You will say Are these graves spoken of here the graves that are made in the earth yea that they are and for a further proof of the same look into Dan. 12. 2 Daniel there speaking of the same thing saith And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall arise or awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt or damnation I shall not stand here to dispute any distinctions of the resurrections only prove that the dead shall arise and that is a clear truth from the Scriptures Acts 10. 42. Rev. 20 11 12 13 14. and 1 Thes. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 52. the dead shall be raised 2. He shall call all men and women to an account for all their close sinful thoughts words and actions then will the secrets of all hearts be made manifest Then shall all thy adulterous and theevish and covetous idolatrous and blasphemous thoughts be laid open according to that saying Their consciences also bearing them witness and their thoughts the mean time or while accusing or else excusing one another Rom. 2. 15. But when why in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ ver 16. see also 1 Cor. 4. 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time what time is that why when the Lord comes what will he do He will bring to light the hidden things of darknesâ—â— that is all those cunning close hidden wickednesses that thou in thy life time hast committed yea he will make manifest the counsels of the heart that is the most hidden and secret things that are contrived and plotted by the sons of men Then shal all the midnight whoremongers be laid open with all their sins Then thou it may be who hast committed such sins as thou wouldst not have thy Neighbour thy father thy wife thy husband or any one else know of for thousands then thou shalt have them all laid open even upon the house tops Luke 12. 1 2 3. Then thou that hatest Gods children his waies his word his spirit then thou that makest a mock at Jesus of Nazareth his second coming then thou that livest in open prophaness or secret hypocrisie then I say will be such a time of reckoning for you as never was since the world began then you that shall die in your siâ—s will cry to the mountains fall on us and cover us from the face of him that sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb which Lamb is the man Christ Jesus Joh. 1. 19. And ah my friends if the very looks of God be so terrible what will his blows be think you Then if all thy idle words shall be accounted for as it is written But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement Mat. 12. 36. and also all thy filthy actions shall be then regarded in such sort as thou shalt receive a just recompence for them And know saith the Scripture that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement Eccles. 11. 9. Then Thou that are an unbeliever shalt be sure to fall under the judgement for all thy sins first thou must give account Secondly thou must fall in the judgement Oh my friends there are hot daies acoming for all those that are found out of the Lord Jesus Behold saith Malachi the daies come that shall burn as an oven and all the proud yea all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hoasts and it shall leave them neither root nor branch The day of judgement will burn like an oven and all that have not the righteousness of Christ upon them shall be as stubble Ah friends put a red hot oven and stubble together and what work will theâ—e be even the one will burn and destroy the other 3. When Christ doth come the second time another end of his coming will be to purge out all things that offend in his Kingdom Mat. 13. 41 42. Then shall the son of man send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that doe iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth There are many things that doe offend in his Kingdom now namely the lukewarm professor he doth offend first the Lord secondly his people But then thou lukewarm offending professor shalt offend the Church of God no more Secondly the loose professors do also offend God Christ and his Church First he scandals the Gospel by his loose walking and naughty carriages Secondly he doth make the world blaspheme the name of God by the same Thirdly he grieves the hearts of Gods people Phil. 3. 18. But know that thou also shalt be taken away from offending any more God Christ and his Saints and thou shalt have weeping and gnashing of teeth for thy thus offending Mat. 18. 6. 7. 4 Another end of Christs second coming is to cut of all the ignorant persons that are in the world There is a generation of poor souls that do think to be excused for their ignorance Alas saith one I am a poor ignorant man or woman and therefore I hope that the Lord will have mercy upon me We cannot say others do as such and such and will the Lord condemn us And thus poor souls as they are in the broad way to destruction least they should misse of the way to hell do swallow down by clusters that which will poyson them body and soul for ever and ever But you will say What will not the Lord have mercy on ignorant soules Ans. Not on those who live and die in their ignorance He himselfe hath said Esay 27. 11. Because it is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Again Paul also in that 2 Thes. 1. 8. saith that when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the world he doth come to take vengeance on all them that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ. But ye will say who are those ignorant persons that shall find no favour at that day or how doth the ignorance discover it selfe I shall only mention three or four sorts of men and leave thee to the Scriptures which if thou read them diligently will
clearly to be the truth of God Also that this Son of God which is the true God as well as the Son of Mary did bear our sins in his own body on the tree 1 Pet. 2. 24. and did spill his own blood which is also the blood of God Acts 20. 28. that he died and was laid in Josephs Sepulchre Joh. 19. 38 39 40 41. and rose again the third day Acts 10. 40. that very man Luk. 24. v. 39 40 41 42 43 44. and ascended up into heaven in a cloud Acts 1. 9 10. and 11. and there ever lives to make intercession for us that very man Heb. 7. 24 25. Heb. 8. 3 Heb. 10. 12. And in the last place If thou art a Christian then thou lookest for that very Jesus againe whom the Jewes did crucifie John 19. whom God raised again as it is 1 Thes. 1. 10. I say thou lookest thou waitest thou hastenest after the comming of this Lord Jesus which doth deliver thee from the wrath to come 2 Pet. 3. 10 11 12. Heb. 9. 26 â—7 28. 1 Thes. 1. 10. Yea thou knowest that this very man shall so come in like manner as his disciples did see him go into heaven which was a verâ— man Luke 24. 30. compared with ver 50. 51. of the same chapter Yea in a cloud he went away from his disciples and in the clouds he shall come again Rev. 1. 7. to judge all that are in their graves Joh. 5. 28 29. Dan. 12. 2. and shall receive all that looke for and love his second comming to himself Heb. 9. 27. 28. And they shall be for ever with him 1 Thes. 4. 16. 17. But the wicked shall be cast into eternal damnation Mat. 25. 46. These things I say if thou be a Christian indeed thou believest and ownest and the faith of them doth purifie thy heart 1 Joh. 3. 3. and wean thee from this world and the things thereof and if it is not from this principle that is if thy obedience do not flow from this faith which is the faith of Gods elect as I have proved at large thy obedience thy zeal thy self-denial thy holiness righteousness yea all that thou canst doe is but sin in the sight of the great God of heaven and earth For all true sanctification comes through the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the operation of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 6. 11. But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God And in Cant. 1. 3. Thy Name is as an oâ—niment poured forth therefore doe the virgins love thee Well then seeing this is a truth of so great concernment I beseech you seeke to be throughly rooted into it by faith And that thou maiest so be examine thy heart yea beg of God to help thee to examine it and to throw out all that fancy that thou takest in stead of faith Also throw away all thy own wisedome yea thy own righteousnesse also and conie to God in the Name of the Son of Mary which is the Son of God and beg faith of him true faith the faith of the operation of God such a faith as he gives to his own elect which will shew thee cleerly of these things so that thoâ—r shalt not deceive thy selfe with a fancy of them and the advantages will be many 1. It will comfort thy heart against persecutions temptations and cross providences as also James saith to his persecuted brethren Be patient my brethren saith be stablish your hearts for the comming of the Lord drawes nigh James 5. 8. 2 It will through grace wean thy heart and affections abundantly from this world and the things therein Who is he that overcomes the world saith John but â—e that believes that Jesus is the Son of God 1 Joh. 5. 5. who is he also that purifies his heart but he that looketh for the second comeing of Christ from heaven as in 1 John 3. 3. compared with 2 Pet. 3. 10 11. to judge the world 3. Hereby thou wilt be able to Judge of all doctrines whatsoever though they come never so nigh the truth yet if they be not indeed the very truth thou wilt find them and their doctrine lyars Rev. 2. 2. and 1 Cor. 2. 15. 4. If thou beest throughly set down in this doctrine even in the faith of this doctrine which I have held forth unto thee thou wilt not be taken with any other doctrine whatsoever What is the reason I pray you that there are so many giddy-headed professors in these daies that do stagger to and fro like a company of drunkards but this They were never se led in the doctrine of the Father and the Son They were never enabled to believe that that child that was born of the virgin Mary was the mighty God Is. 9 6. No saith Christ he that is built upon this rock meaning the faith of himselfe which is to believe that the Son of Mary is the Christ of God Mat. 16. 16. the gates of hell shall not prevaile against him v. 18. 5. The faith of this doctrine will make thee labour in the work of God in the world Oh how it will liven thy heart in the work of the Lord especially if thou livest in the faith of thy interest in Christ it will make thee labour to be found watching when thy Lord shall returne from the wedding that when he doth come thou maiest open to him immediately Luke 12. 35. 36. Now seeing the comming of the Lord Jesus Christ is so nigh even at the doors what doth this speak to all sorts of people under heaven but this first to see whither they have oyl in their lamps or not that is to search and see whither the spirit of the man Christ Jesus be in them or no for he that hath not the spirit of Christ in him is none of Châ—ists Rom 89 Thou that hast not the spirit of Christ in thee why at that day let thy profession be what it will he wiâ—l say to thee depart I know you not Mat. 25. and if so then thy latter end will be worse then thy beginning as in 2 Pet. 2. 20. 2. Then what will become of all the prophane ignorant scoffers self-righteous proud bastard-professors in the world If the children of God shall scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear 1 Pet. 4 18. 3. Then what will become of all those that creep into the society of God people without a wedding garment on why it will be said unto them Friends how came you hither take them and bind them hand and foot and cast them into utter darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of tâ—eth Mat. 22 11 12 13. 4. Then what will become of all those that mock at the second coming of the Man Christ as do the Ranters Quakere Drunkards and the like why read their doom in Mat. 24. 50 51.
Answ. First from that Scripture in Luke 24. 37 38 39 40. where Christ himselfe after â—he was crucified appeared to his Disciples who having seen him supposed they had seen a Spirit But he said Why are ye troubled and why doe thoughts arise in your hearts behold my hand and my feet that it is I my selfe and doe not think you see a spirit handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have This he spake after he was crucified Luke 23. 33. and buried v. 53. and rose againe from the dead chap. 24. 6 7. Many other Scriptures could I give for the proof hereof as Acts 10. 39 40 41 42. And Acts 13. 28 29 30 31. 1 Thess. 1. 10. only read Acts 2. 29 30 31. where the Apostle proveth the same bringing in the words of the Prophet David for a testimony thereof saying He being a Prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loynes according to the flesh he would raise up Christ to sit on his Throne saith he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was not left in hell neither his flesh did see corruption Mark it his flesh did see no corruption v. 31. But if he had not risen againe his flesh had seen corruption But he rose again from the dead that very man that very body for his flesh did see no corruption Q. Why did he rise againe from the dead with that very body Answ. 1. Because it was not possible he should be holden of death 2. Because in his humane nature he suffered for sin and if he had not recovered himselfe from that very curse even from under death and all other things that lay on him which he had through the sins of his children subjected himselfe unto he had not overcome sin hell death the law and the devil but had been overcome by them and if so then had not redemption been obtained for sinners for it was at his resurrection from the dead that God said unto him Thou art my sonne this day have I begotten thee As saith the Apostle And we declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise made unto the Fathers God had fulfilled the same unto us their children in that he hath raised up Jesus again as it is written in the second Psal. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thâ—e Acts 13 30 31 32 33 34 35. And it is this namely the resurrection of that man from the dead that doth give us ground of hope as in 1 Pet. 1. 3. where he saith He hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from 〈◊〉 dead 3. Because God intends to redeem the bodies of his Saints out of their graves in which they have lien many a yeare John 5. 28 29. Rom. 8. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 52. and to possesse them with his own glory and when this comes to passe then shall that Scripture be fulfilled that saith He shall change our viâ—â— body that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body according to the working of his mighty power whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3. 21. And he hath given us assurance thereof in that he hath raised up Jesus our Lord again from the dead Acts 17. 31. Q. But doe you think that these our bodies that we doe carry about with us in this world after that they are dead and buried and rotten shall rise again out of those graves into which they are laid when the Scripture saith flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Answ. Flesh in Scripture is taken more wayes then one as first it is taken for the workes of the law where the Apostle saith Received ye the spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of faith Are ye so foolish having begun in the spirit are ye made perfect by the flesh By flesh here he meanes the Law as is clear if you compare Gal. 3. v. 2. 3. with v. 10 11. 12. Again sometimes flesh is taken for sinnes Rom. 8. 1. 5. And sometimes is is taken for the bodies of the Saints * as subject to distempers to pain sicknesse corruptions to death by reason of sinne * 2 Cor. 4. 11. 2 Cor. 7. 5. Now the Apostle in that place where he saith flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of Heaven or of God his meaning is sinful flesh and blood or the sin with any imperfection that is in the bodies of the Saints shall not inherit the Kingdome and that you shall find to be the mind of the holy Ghost if you read with understanding the latter end of the same verse where he saith Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption That is sin or any imperfection of the body shall not inherit eternal life for saith he in ver 53. This corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality Mark here I pray you though he saith flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God yet he saith this corruptible must put on incorrution For the Trump shall blow and the dead shall be raised as Christ saith they that are in the graves shall hear his voiâ—e John 5. 28. and shall come forth of their graves incorruptible 1 Cor. 15. 52. and shall all appeare before the judgement-seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 10. Rev. 12. 1â— 13. See also that Scripture Phil. 3. 20. 21 where the Apostle saith He waited for Christ the Saviour from Heaven And what shall he doe when he comes Why He shall change our vile body Mark it it must be our vile body that must be changed But if it be changed then how can it be the same Not the same in respect of sinne or bodily infirmities but the very same in respect of substance For saith he it is our vile body that must be changed And it the very same it shall be fashioned like to his glorious body And if you ask how is it possible that this should be done he answers according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. 21. Q. But do you think this is certain methinks the Scriptures semingly hold forth so much yet I cannot believe it for it is contrary to all reason A. Truly the Scriptures do not only hold forth so much seemingly but they do most really and plainly hold out these things to all those that have received the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. For it is it and it alone that can reveal these things For no man knows the things of God but the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2. 11. Now if thou wouldst know these things thou must first receive the spirit of the son of God without which thou canst not know so much as one of the fundamental truths of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Q. But there
is true and given me from heaven by the father of Mercies through the Son of the virgin Mary Mat. 1. 21. who is the way to the father of Mercies Joh. 14. 6. who is able to save to the utâ—â—rmost all that come to the father by him Heb. 7. 25. Because he that very man with that very body wherwith he was crucified is ascended into heaven Acts 1 9 10. 11. and there ever lives to make intercession for them that come to God by him This is the rock sinner upon which if thou be built the gates of Hell nor Ranter Quaker sin law death no nor the Divel himself shall ever be able to prevail against thee Mat. 16. 16 17. 18. And here I leave thee to the wisdome of the great God who if he hath chosen thee in his Son and brought thee to him and hath made thee by faith to lay hold on him thou needst not fear the divel with his siftings snares wiles and fiery darts wherewith he doth destroy thousands but mayest with the Apostle if thou live in the power and life of the love of God towards thee cry out I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate thee from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. And now Reader if thou be a true Christian I am sure that these be the things that appearto be the glorious substantial truths to thy soul and thou doest not care for that comfort that doth not make this Man the Son of the virgin precious to thy soul 1 Pet. 2. 7. for thou knowest that it is he that hath deliver'd thee from the wrath to come 1 Thes. 1. 10. Bâ—t as for you that are disobedient except you mend your manners you will stumble and fall backwards and be broken and snared and taken Isa. 28. 13. and wonder and perish because you believe not A few words more and so I shall have done and they are words of counsel to thee Have a care thou receive not every Christ that is profered to thee though it may appear very excellenâ— to thy foolish heart For under the name Christ are men deceived as it is written many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shal deceive many Mat. 24. 5. But have a care that thou receive that Christ that was borne without thee fulfilled the Law in his humane nature without thee spilt his blood without thee is risen againe and ascended without thee and maketh intercession without thee And that he that very man that was borne of the Virgin will come againe in the clouds without thee And this truth must thou receive by that Spirit that he hath promised to send and give to them that aske him And that shall dwell in thy heart and shall shew thee what the Son of Mary the virgin the Son of Man the Son of God the true God hath in his body done for thy soule Joh. 16. 13 14. And if thou receive him in truth then though thou doe not boast nor brag of thy holiness as those painted hypocrites called Quakers do yet thou wilt do more worke for God in one hour then they even all of them can do in all then life time Take my counsel and the Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon thy soul and body Farewel Some Questions to the Quakers Or a few quaeries to those who are possessed with a spirit of delusion in this generation Be ready alwaies to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you 1 Pet. 3. 15. And I beseech you do it in sincerity 1. IF thou sayest that every one hath a measure of the spirit of Jesus Christ within him why say the Scriptures that some are sensual having not the spirit Jude 19. And when Christ tells his Disciples of sending them the spirit he also saith The world can not receive it Joh. 14 17. 2. What is the Church of God redeemed by from the curse of the law Is it by something that is done within them or by something done without them If thou answer it is redeemed from the curse of the law by something that worketh in them Then I ask why did the man Christ Jesus hang upon the Cross on mount Calvary without the gates of Jerusalem for the sins of his people And why do the Scriptures say that through this man is preached to us the forgiveness of sins That is through his blood Eph. 1. 7. which was shed without the gates of Jerusalem Heb. 13. 12. 3. What Scripture have you to prove that Christ is or was crucified within you dead within you risen within you ascended within you 4. Is that very man that was crucified on mount Calâ—aâ—y between two thieves whose name is Jesus the son of Mary I say is he the very Christ of God yea or no 5. Is that very man with that very body within you yea or no 6. Was that Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary a real man of flesh and bones after his resurrection from the dead out of Josephs Sepulcher yea or no for the Scripture saith he was as in Luke 24. 39. If so then did that man that said handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have I say did that man go away from his Disciples and not into them in his body as these Scriptures declare Luke 24. 39 40. compared with v. 50. 51. also Acts 1. 9 10 11 or did he with that body of flâ—sh go into his disciple as some fond dreamers think 7. Hath that Christ that was with God the father before the world was no other body but his Church If you say no as it is your wonted course Then again I ask you what that was in which he did bear the sins of his children If you answer It was in his own body on the tree for so saith the Scripture 1 Pet. 2. 24. Then I ask you further whither that body in which he did bear our sins which is also called his own body was or is the Church of God yea or no again if you say he hath no body but the Church the Saints Then I ask what that was that was taken down from the Cross and laid into Josephs Sepulcher Luke 23. 51. 52. Now I know that as Christ is the head of his Church so the Church is the body of the head which is Christ. But as Christ is the Mediatour between God and men I say as he is Mediator so he is a man 1 Tim. 2. 5. and absent from his Saints in the world as is clear 2 Cor. 5. 6. Therefore as he is a Mediator and a man so he hath a body that is absent from his Church which body is descended from his