born of the flesh is flesh but afterwards they are made Spirit For that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Joh. 3. And except a man be born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven which is the first Resurrection And again Christians must first die as all Flesh must do and afterwards must live as all Spirits must do And as the Soul is alwaies Spirit but not fully sanctified nor fully glorified till after the Bodie 's Resurrection so the Flesh is alwaies Flesh but yet made spiritual by Regeneration but not fully Spiritual till the full Regeneration of Glory after death which is the second Resurrection For thiis Mortal must put on Immortality and this Corruptible must put on Incorruption and this Earth must put on Heaven and this Flesh must put on Spirit and this Terrestrial must be made Coelestial for as we have born the Image of the Earthly so we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly There are Natural Bodies and there are Spiritual Bodies but first that which is Natural and then that which is Spiritual So without Death Temporal we cannot be prepared for Life Eternal For except we fall we cannot rise and except we rise from the Earth we cannot ascend into Heaven and except we ascend into Heaven we cannot enter into the Inheritance of Glory SECTION I. Christ's Ascension Christ therefore after his death and burial ascended in his own Person far above all Heavens that he might as a King Priest and Prophet fully execute the Will of his Father and our Father which is in Heaven Now he that ascended Eph. 4.9 what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth And he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things or more truly that he might fulfil all things that is by a Plenary Administration and discharging all the Gifts and Legacies devised by God For when he ascended up on high Eph. 4.8 he led Captivity captive and gave gifts unto men And for the preparation of his Church Militant that they may be Triumphant He from thence gave some to be Apostles Spirit 's Mission Eph 4.11 12. and some to be Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Now to do these things is to execute and fulfil the Will of God Wherefore it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the sins of the People For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Forasmuch then as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood Heb. 2.14 he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the Transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the Promise i. e. the Promised Possession of Eternal Inheritance This Doctrine was taught by Christ himself Joh. 16.7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you And after his death he said Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day Luk. 24.46 And that Repentance and Remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Thus Christ died for the Testification Coroll Confirmation and Execution of the New Testament and consequently for the Remission of sins Mortification Justification Sanctification Resurrection and Glorification of all the Scripti haeredes whose Names are written in the Book of Life The CONTENTS Spiritual Lively In force for ever Literal Deadly Abrogated for ever Consequences Cautions Instructions Exhortations TITLE VII Of the Testaments compared THis last and greatest and best Disposition of God's Grace to all the World called the New Testament that we may yet the better understand let us compare it with the former and lower way of God's Disposition to the Jews only called the Old Testament as it was established by the Law given upon Mount Sinai in these two points The New Testament is Spiritual lively and in force for ever The Old Testament is Literal deadly and abrogated for ever SECTION I. Spiritual I. The New Testament is Spiritual lively and in force for ever 1. Spiritual 1. Because it is perfect agreeing to the Spirit of God which the other was not being imperfect and Carnal 2. Because it conveyeth Spiritual gifts and graces plentifully which the other did not 3. Because it was written by the Spirit in the Tables of the heart whereas the other was only in Tables of Stone Lively 2. Lively 1. Because it creates the life of Grace and Glory In force for ever 3. In force for ever Because it is God's last Will and ratified by the Death of Christ and therefore unalterable SECTION II. Literal II. The Old Testament is Literal deadly and abrogated for ever 1. Literal Because Carnal rigorous weak rude and beggarly as Rudiments and the lowest principles of Morality and Ritual worship 2. Deadly Deadly Because working nothing but wrath and death making sin appear to be exceeding sinful and affording no Remedy against it 3 Abrogated for ever Abrogated for ever Because ordained only for a time as being shadowy and typical of Substances to come The Law made nothing perfect Heb. 7.19 but the coming in of a better Hope did The Gospel is the only true Service with which God is well pleased For God is a Spirit Joh. 4.24 and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth God will now be served in the newness of the Spirit Ro. 7.6 not in the oldness of the Letter Say not in thine heart Ro. 7.6 Who shall ascend into Heaven to bring Christ down from thence or who shall descend into the Deep to bring Christ again from the dead For the word is nigh unto thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart Ro. 10.6 The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and Life Joh. 6.63 It is the Spirit that quickneth the Flesh profiteth nothing The Law of the Spirit of Life hath made
descends to an Heir by Nature and Law An inheritance of Feudum falls to an Heir as to his Ancestors by Grace and Faith SECT V. Church Militant 1. The state of the Church Militant is the state of a Feudal Kingdom Where Christ is the Liege Lord and the Faithful are his Subjects 1 Cor. 15.25 Christ must Rule till he hath put all his enemies under his feet and when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him and deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father that God may be all in all In the mean while the Faithful hold their Right by fighting against the World the Flesh and the Devil A Tenure devisable temporal on Earth The Kingdom of Grace is Feudum SECT VI. Church Triumphant 2. The state of the Church Triumphant is the state of an Allodial Kingdom where all are Kings A Tenure indefeasible eternal in heaven No longer faith but fruition Subjects all Kings Fear not little flock it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdom A kingdom of Saints O thou King of Saints A kingdom of Priests The kingdom of Glory is Allodium God hath made Christ both Lord and King over all his Church and all power is given unto him both in Heaven and Earth At his Name every knee must bow both of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth Let all the Angels of God worship him Let the Kings of the earth kiss the Son and fall down at his feet Christs Kingdom is in Fee from his Father The Church holds in Fee under Christ All things are theirs and they are Christs and Christ is Gods and God is all in all SECT VII Tenure of heaven Conditional The Tenures of the Church much resembles the Tenures of the World which are conditional 1. Upon Investiture of Homage by oath 2. Upon Tenure by faith and love 3. Upon payment of the Canon or Reserve of Rent for acknowledgment of the Lords propriety 4. Upon Melioration or Jure Emphyteuseos 5. Upon service in Peace or War as the Lord shall require 6 Upon Renovation or renewing the right of Succession All which exactly correspond with 1. Baptism an investiture of Homage vowed and promised 2. Faith or Covenant with God performed 3. Obedience or Rent of acknowledgment of our Selves and our Estates to Gods service and the Poors good 4. Improvement of our Talent by trade and employment in bettering our Spiritual estate 5. Constant service to our great Lord in all conditions whensoever he shall require 6. Renewing our Oath Homage Faith and Allegiance in the holy Eucharist There is a Knights Tenure when the Lord requires the presence of his Tenant to serve him in warfare and battel abroad There is a Soccage Tenure when the Lord commandeth the presence of his Tenant to attend at the plough and other husbandry at home There is a Rent of Mony and a rent of Works and a rent of Love SECT VIII The best Tenures are those that hold immediately of God Holding of God As 1. The Crown Lands that hold of God for the service of Rule 2. The Church Lands which hold of God for the service of Worship So both Crown and Altar hold of God So no man hath any direct Estate in and from himself but as Sons of God we have an Inheritance in Gavel kind after the custom of the old Germans that made all Children alike So we all inherit together only mans Children have but each a part of the inheritance but Gods have the whole to every one Res Domanii as they speak uniuntur Dominio alienari non possunt The Lords own proper Estate which he hath reserved to himself is united to the Lordship it self and cannot be alienated from it because none are absolute Lords but he So Gods properties of Omniscience Omnipotence Omnipresence Honour Worship c. cannot be given to another besides Christ who is not another but one with his Father and his Father with him The nature of Man aspires to be as God sole and absolute in their persons and estates as Kings Gods to themselves They that maintain their own Righteousness and Blessedness to be due to them by their own merits to depend upon none but their own worth would be such This was the old temptation Ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil But the Tenure of Feuds teaches us humility to depend upon God for all to be nothing in our selves and to have nothing but what we have received of Grace altogether not of Debt therefore no Allodium no boasting in the case The littleness and nothingness of the Creature advances the greatness and allness of the Creatour It is our honour to honour God our righteousness to acknowledge Gods righteousness our riches to acknowledge Gods riches our wisdom to acknowledge Gods wisdom and so God and Christ are made unto us all our righteousness riches and wisdom a Tenure of Grace I judge it the greatest badge of Soveraignty and Principality for the supream Monarch to be the sole Lord and Proprietary of all the Land and People therein as well as the sole Commander of all And surely this Absolute Dominion is most like unto God Absolute Dominion and though those men which we call Barbarians brought this form of Rule and Right into the world yet we are not to despise it but look upon it as from God and the greatest resemblance of Gods Power and Love and the subjection of his Creatures that ever was SECT IX A middle Government it was between the tyranny of the East Feuds a middle Government and the popularity of the West and better than both In this the Prince is most like unto God and his Subjects to the Saints for if Subjects should have Land in Allodium and owe no service for it they should be no longer Subjects but quasi Princes But now they are Subjects and Beneficiaries and their service is freedom and honourable only let Kings look to their Power that they be no Tyrants as God is not but Fathers as God is and let Subjects look to their service that they be no Rebels as the Saints are not but Children as the Saints are This is the constitution of Christs Church and Kingdom 1. They are all Souldiers so they must not be idle nor fearful but all must watch and be ready upon all occasions to fight against the World the Flesh and the Devil 2. They must all love their Lord Captain and King and be at his call 3. They must all love one another and help one another as they fight together and are partakers of the same grace together and aim at the same glory SECT X. Christ sole Judge Of this Church and Kingdom Christ is the Head and Judge As all things so all power and all judgment are Christs Christ is the Judge of the faith and
Christ's Mediation to bring us to God Cross to be gloried in Cross outward and inward Effect of Cross-crucifixion Procured by outward cross Philosophy Christianity Christ the Sacrifice and Priest Christians true Sacrifices and Priests Decrees Christ's doing and suffering our doing and suffering Corollaries Christ a Priest Christ quickened by his eternal spirit Christ a Prophet Christ a King p. 224 APPENDIX OR Application to the Clergy and Laity Title 1. Of the Clergie's Calling Word Sacraments Gospel-spirit p. 243 Title 2. Of the Clergie's Doctrine Precepts Promises Conditions p. 244 Title 3. Of the Clergie's Persons p. 246 Title 4. Of the Clergie's Study Law Law-terms p. 247 Title 5. Of the Laitie's Calling p. 251 Title 6. Of the Laitie's Doctrine ibid. Title 5. Of the Laitie's Persons p. 252 Title 8. Of the Genius of the Gospel Joy Fear Decrees Gospel dispensations Worship spiritual Ceremonies Difference of Mosaick and Christian Rites Church of Rome Perfection of Christianity Spiritual perfection Ritual worship abolished No other Rites to be superinduced No Rites ever pleased God Greater perfections in the Christian Religion Prayer and other duties are Relativi Juris p. 254 THE CONTENTS OF THE Second Volume of the Estate of God The First Book Of Rights Title 1. Of Things TRansition Testament Things Method God's Donation Things to be had Things to be done Free-will Right p. 287 Title 2. Of Persons Personality Forfeiture Freedom Falling Recovery p. 293 Title 3. Of Rights Transition Right Definition Instances Independency Indifferency Liberality Creation Donation Declaration Faction Reception Justification Private right Publick right Justice Rights to God Rights to body and soul Rights to wife Rights to children Rights to estate and honour Rights not to be violated Day of Judgment Shame To be right To make right To bestow right To have right To do right Collections Rather hurt self than others Moral honesty not doubted of Vse Reason Reason of Nature Equity of Conscience Tricks in law Severity of old in the Church Man's judgment Relations Friendship Possibility of law Fates Justice in God and Man Wrong none Truth evident Caution p. 295 Title 4. Of Actions Transition Intention Execution Free-will Imperfection Willingness Implicit faith Social actions Jussion p. 316 The Second Book Of Titles Title 1. Of a Sinner Transition Vnjust legally Vnjust morally Vnjust jurally Oppressed Blemished Distressed Tainted p. 322 Title 2. Of Original sin Rom. 5.12 explained Recapitulation Accounting Adam's will not ours Levi's paying of Tithes All mortal in Adam Righteous in Christ Immortal in Christ Every Individuum acts for it self Sinner legal Sinner moral Sinner jural Psal 51.6 explained Ephes 2.3 explained Soul a spirit Good most common Good lovely v. lib. 7. Tit. 3.2 Vol. Argumenta Laciniata p. 326 Title 3. Of a Just man Just Just legally Just morally Just jurally Right Accounting God righteous 349 The Third Book Of Justification Title 1. Of the Name of Justification The term Justifie Accounting Synonyma Bondage Freedom Burden Corporation Other names p. 357 Title 2. Of the form of Justification Imputation Logick Logistick Christ's Righteousness p. 364 Title 3. Of the Matter of Justification Right Corporation Impunity Liberty Provision Protection Audience Alliance Resurrection Jurisdiction Glory Rights of Christ Expectation Supplication Possession p. 371 Title 4. Of the Title of Justification Free grace Titles Birth Purchase Desert Favour Condemnation Gifts Impunity Election Glory Boasting Will of the Receiver Will of the Donor Free grace begins at God's will Free grace makes the Title stronger Free grace makes for God's grace and glory Justification is the best state of love All Rights are from Grace Donation Election Promise God justifieth Christ justifieth The wrong title Law Allegory of the two Covenants Ishmael and Isaac Hagar and Sarah Law a Covenant of bondage Gospel a Covenant of liberty Jacob and Esau Works p. 380 Title 5. Of the Continuance of Justification Relapse a revolt from God Breach of one Party disobligeth the other Mutability of Justification Kingdom of God Natural man Spiritual man Forfeiture Example of Israelites p. 398 Title 6. Of the Tenure of Justification Transition Works James 2.18 explained Works of love p. 405 Title 7. Faith Notions of Faith Credence Trust Promise given Promise taken Re-promise Courage Hope Covenant Faith in Christ Christ the conveyer of faith Christ the author of faith Declaring God's will Proving God's will Testament ad pias Causas Physical operation Moral operation Saving faith Means of faith A new heart 409 The Fourth Book Of Sanctification Title 1. Of the Spirit Transition Spirit the first Agent Hidden man Outward man Natural man Supernatural inspiration Penal and grievous Beneficial and gracious Holy spirit Spiritual man p. 421 Title 2. Of Conscience Definition Seat Vnderstanding Will Memory Reflection p. 424 Title 3. Of the disposition of Conscience To direct To urge To register To testifie To accuse Before the action In the action After the action p. 425 Title 4. Of the indisposition of Conscience Suspension of the offices of Conscience In good men In evil men Ignorance Learning Riches Poverty Self-love Idleness Prejudice Companions God 's not regarding Cross sins Success Satisfaction Want of a spiritual Clergy p. 431 Title 5. Of the restitution of Conscience Believe Conscience Not believe Conscience Self-examination Forsake sin Confess sin Collections p. 440 Title 6. Of a New Creature Transition Old man Old leaven Natural man Carnal mind New man New lump Spiritual mind New birth First resurrection Old creation Concurrency of God and man p. 444 Title 7. Of the Flesh and Spirit Transition Sensual and Spiritual life Mind and will of Flesh and Spirit Life in man threefold Spiritual senses and passions Life of Faith Corollaries Conclusion p. 450 The Fifth Book Of Assurance Title 1. Of the Nature of Assurance Transition Promises Publick Faith Spirit Waiting p. 455 Title 2. Of the Grounds of Assurance Matter of Fact Matter of Right Matter of Witness Spirit of Assurance Ability Sealed Earnest p. 460 Title 3. Of the Kinds of Assurance Names Species p. 465 Title 4. Of the Abuse of Assurance Doctrine of Masses Of no Salvation without the Pale of the Church Of lying still in sin Imputed Righteousness Collections Cautions Obstructions Rules Election p. 468 The Sixth Book Of Tenures Title 1. Of Allodium Transition Estates Allodium Lordship Model from the Goths Etymology Crown Lands Caution Apology p. 476 Title 2. Of Feudum Name Definition Promise Investiture Felony p. 481 The Seventh Book Of Christ's Church and Kingdom Title 1. Of a Feudal Kingdom Transition Feudal Customes Feudal Kingdoms best Goths and Vandals Goths honest Goths endowed the Church first with Lands and Lordships Jus Feudale Manners of Goths Resemblances of a Feudal Kingdom Blessedness Cursedness Church Militant Church Triumphant Tenure of Heaven conditional Holding of God Absolute dominion Feuds a middle government Christ sole Judge Customes in a Feudal kingdom Excellency of a Feudal government Collections Parables run not on all four Tenure of
confirm Testament 1. To confirm a Deed of Testament made by the Eternal God 2. To expiate all Sin and Misery But it must be offered first I and so it will very shortly it must not lie long here you may be sure This Blood must quickly be carried to Heaven never to be spilt more but offered up for an Attonement before the Mercy-Seat of God for ever 'T will be but three daies and this Flesh and Blood shall live again and after fourty daies it will ascend into the Temple of God This Blood will consecrate and dedicate that place for our flesh and blood to enter into This Blood will be a new and living way to the Mercy-Seat of God for us to have free recourse unto at all times in this life for Grace sufficient to help us in the time of all our need This Blood will cry aloud for Mercy and speak better things than the Blood of Abel which was for Revenge But it must be offered first and it will be accepted No Sacrifice can be complete till it be offered First slain then laid on the Altar then offered up in part or in whole so was Christ first slain then offered up to God Well then I will be as good as my word I will mourn and fast and pray a while but I must not think that this will do my business Sackcloth Ashes Hard lodging and fare Whippings Pilgrimages Reliques Watching Fasting Alms and Oblations c. make a great shew and pomp of Devotion and some of them are good as they may be used But I must have a settled eye upon the Power of Godliness and not upon the Form only I must take heed what I do in the Service of my God lest I offer the Sacrifice of Fools In a word I must look to my heart in all my outward actions It will not serve my turn to read hear or see the history of my Saviour's Passion or Resurrection written preached and acted or represented in Books Sermons and Scenes and for me thereupon to hang down my head like a Bull-rush and grow sad upon it for a day or two I must think of an every daies duty of dying daily and of mortifying and crucifying my self all my life long not by Whipping c. but by Self-denial and cutting off my Right hand or my Right eye or whatsoever is near or dear unto me Self-examination Reformation Zeal Faith Love Hope and such Spiritual duties must be my work all the daies of my life For Bodily exercise profiteth little or nothing but Godliness and a New Creature What a fool was Simon Stylites that lived so long standing between two Walls and Dominius Loricatus that gave himself 540000 stripes in one Lent I look upon my Saviour's Crucifixion as do the Literalists and formal Devotionists but Sursum corda is a good hint to me I must look higher The History I believe but the Mystery and Power of his Death I look after It satisfies not me at all if I had been born and laid in a Manger and crucified and slain with Christ if I had been his Brother and suckt the breasts of his Mother it would not have profited me at all except I did believe the Word of God and keep it for then I should be his Brother Sister and Mother indeed If I had been so happy as to have known him in and after the flesh so as to eat and drink with him and see his Miracles and hear his Doctrine and cast out Devils and heal Diseases as he did in his Name yet from henceforth I will know him no more after that but after a better fashion His Sufferings and Death are past and gone from hence now I know him as he liveth in the power of an endless life All the scandal of the Cross is taken away though he was crucified through weakness yet he liveth by the power of God Break my heart no more with grief and hardships of the outward Cross but let me love and love again and delight my self in the inward Cross whereby the World is crucified unto me and I unto the World Then stay me with Flagons comfort me with Apples when I am sick of Love I look upon the Love of God in making and confirming his Promises to me in Christ I make my Covenant with my God to forsake the World the Flesh and the Devil This is the state of Grace this is to be in Christ and a New Creature I have looked down to Christ's Sufferings on Earth but now I will look up more to his glorious Actings in Heaven viz. His Sacerdotal entrance his solemn oblation of Himself his Session at the Right hand of God his Intercession his Kingdom over all in protecting his Church and bringing all his Enemies under his feet his spiritual Scepter and Kingdom in our Hearts beating down all the strong holds of Sin and Satan No need therefore of Crosses Pictures Whips Thorns Nails Reliques c. These may work for a while being in sight upon the outward Man to move admiration and sorrow but no constant Faith and fixed Hope and Love as do the virtue of his Resurrection and the fellowship of his Sufferings which is the true Power of Godliness that brings comfort to the end and in the end and to all Eternity The Flesh I bear it record takes a kind of pleasure in grieving pitying and beholding the shadows of these things but the Spirit of Faith goes higher and rejoyceth in the evidence and demonstrations of the Substances themselves The Letter and Form alone profiteth little it is the Spirit and Faith that must give the true Life Christ saith Except we eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of the Son of God we have no Life abiding in us because his Flesh is meat indeed and his Blood is drink indeed but withal he tells us That these words which he speaketh are Spirit and Life Call we therefore in the last place and hold there to the True work of a Christian To crucifie a Lust to kill a Sin to die to sin to rise from Sin and live to Righteousness I whine not at the Passion I weep not for him but I weep for my self and mortifie my Members which are upon the Earth I remember Christ's death and take the Sacrament upon it as the only Memorial that Christ hath ordained I believe and bear in mind the history of the Passion but my main care is to conform thereunto The Mystery is more to me than the History the Spirit than the Letter The Letter is low the Spirit is high Carnal Devotion is in Images and Reliques but Spiritual Devotion is in Mortification and Self-denial The one is the form the other is the power of Godliness We preach and live too low in the bare History in verbal Masses in superstitious Rites These are some of them very good when contained within their own spheres but alwaies very low and mean and never come up to the height
the Magistrate Thus it becometh us to contend earnestly for the Faith which was once delivered to the Saints and not to quarrel about such matters but to fulfil all Righteousness I have said all this to satisfie if it might be all Parties concerning the spiritual service and perfection of the Gospel and especially to convince the Fanaticks that the Church of England is neither Jewish nor Heathenish nor Popish but the purest Reformed Church in the world for the Antiquity of its Doctrine and Discipline for the paucity easiness significancy and decency of its Ceremonies avoiding all Superstition as much as possibly she can as you have an account given in the Prefaces before the last book of Common Prayer to the intent that all Separatists might be perswaded to conform having no just cause of scandal given them to crie out against us as they do for Carnal Preaching and Worship We call Heaven and Earth to witness we have done all we can but still they are not pleased If we pipe unto them they will not dance and if we mourn unto them they will not weep We must leave them till they be of a better mind As for us and our Churches we will strive to worship God with our Spirits and with our Bodies also We will pray with the Spirit and we will pray with a Form also we will sing with the lifting up of the Spirit and we will sing with the lifting up of our voices also Eph. 5.19 Speaking to our selves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. We desire to be filled with the knowledg of his Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding Col. 1.9 that we might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work and encreasing in the knowledg of God That our hearts might be comforted Col. 2.2 3. being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the Mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledg The last Reason for spiritual Service Prayer and other duties are Relativi Juris which I shall conclude withal to Reas V rivet all the rest is this Prayer Praise Hearing Fasting Meditating Alms are no Ceremonies but are clothed with them as Offices But yet even these Holy Duties are but Relativi Juris much more are their Rites that is Duties not to conclude upon but to use for a farther end But Self-denial Crucifying the Flesh Putting on the New Man Cutting of the Right Arm Plucking out the Right Eye Sincerity Love Dying to Sin Rising to Righteousness these are done for themselves and have no other end So that when we are come thus far we have no farther to go in the way of Holiness I mean These Duties have their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Aristotle speaks of Sapience they have their end in themselves And other Duties together with their Rites attending them are Means Spiritual for the Spiritual Ends of Sanctification to the Heavenly Ends of Eternal Glory Amen The End of the First Volume The NATURE of the Two Testaments OR The DISPOSITION of the WILL and ESTATE Of God to Mankind For HOLINESS and HAPPINESS By JESUS CHRIST Concerning things to be done by Men AND Concerning things to be had of God Contained in his two great Testaments The LAW and the GOSPEL Demonstrating the high Spirit and State of the GOSPEL above the LAW The Second Volume Of the ESTATE of GOD Concerning things to be had of God By ROBERT DIXON D. D. Prebendary of Rochester LONDON Printed by T. R. for the Author MDCLXXVI TO THE READER I Have travelled through the large Field of the Disposition of God's Will by way of Testament and Covenant in the Law and Gospel dispensed by the Mediation of Moses and Christ concerning his Laws and Commandments I am now coming to treat of the Disposition of the Estate and Inheritance of God by way of Testament and Covenant in the Law and the Gospel dispensed by the same Mediation of Moses and Christ concerning Blessedness and the Rights Titles and Tenures thereof This will be the ground of Future Enlargements upon Faith and Justification Liberty and Assurance of this Divine Estate thereby In which if as before I use many Jural Notions according to the State of Law I hope the Learned will not take offence I am sure the best learned in the Laws will not I may not of right be denied my liberty of expressing my self as well as others and if they like not my Notions I may be even with them and not like theirs But some body may like them and if the wiser sort do it sufficeth But let not the Newness prejudice the Trueness of my Rational Sentiments Discovery Here is no New Truth but a new way of Discovery of the Old Truth and it may be hereafter found to be a better way for peace and quietness than hitherto hath been used no disparagement to the improvements of our Learned Antecessors Enlargements there are in all Arts and Sciences in Ages far remote from the first which is no disrespect at all to the first Inventors and Founders of them It is pleaded by some that nothing can be said but what hath been said already I would gladly understand upon what sober and rational account such a saying can proceed from any wise considering man or who can say unto the Almighty with reverence to the unsearchable riches either of his Wisdom or Grace hitherto thou hast glorified thy self in giving wisdom and understanding unto the Sons of Men but farther thou canst not or wilt not go thy Treasures are exhausted or thou wilt not open them any further God's wisdom is inexhaustible and his Grace is not sparing to communicate it more and more It may be that some New Veins of Golden Oar are found out which ancient and learned Indagators could not come at and our new men being too confident that all was done to their hand and lazy withal never looked after And this is the cause why so many excellent men have raised the Line of Evangelical knowledg among us so little above what was delivered unto us by our first Reformers Such are become guilty of doing little else with that talent of Gospel-light which God gave them at first as a stock to set up and trade withal for him but only to put it in a Napkin not adding a hair's breadth to their Stature in the knowledg of Christ Hereby falling into that ignoble Principle to believe as the Church believes and take all upon Trust Is there any greater Slavery than that of the Mind Slavery to be imposed upon to believe and do all that is magisterially dictated Must I have no Judgment nor Will left for my self but another perhaps more ignorant and wicked must understand and choose for me
signifies Fraud Deceit or Imposture When the Servant deceives his Lord and breaks his Oath by doing those things which he ought not to do and leaving undone those things which he ought to have done Unless a just fear shall intervene and then he is to be excused This causes a Forfeiture and is called Refutatio Feudi Many sorts of Felonies may be committed 1. Against the Life of his Lord. 2. Against his Fame and Honour 3. Against his Wife or Children or Kindred 4. By denying Service 5. By deteriorating his Fee c. 2. Apertura Feudi i. e. by default of Issue of him to whom the first Fee was given escheating to the Lord. Customs prevail in Fees Maximè dominatur in Feudalibus consuetudo Customs introduced by long continued use among men may be taken away by long continued desuetude or disuse or contrary use The Feudal Customs sprang from the Northern Goths and Vandals into the Southern Kingdoms invaded by them who settled most in Lombardy where now for want of a King the Law labours hard for execution more than in France or England c. where it is very copious ingenious and profitable The Seventh BOOK OF CHRIST'S Church and Kingdom The CONTENTS Transition Feudal Customes Feudal Kingdoms best Goths and Vandals Goths honest Goths endowed the Church first with Lands and Lordships Jus Feudale Manners of Goths Resemblances of a Feudal Kingdom Blessedness Cursedness Church Militant Church Triumphant Tenure of Heaven conditional Holding of God Absolute Dominion Feuds a middle Government Christ sole Judge Customes in a Feudal Kingdom Excellency of a Feudal Government Collections Parables run not on all four Tenure of Fealty the best Absolute Election and Reprobation TITLE I. Of a Feudal Kingdom AND now I would learn of any man that is wise and free to judge Transition if any Government under heaven did ever more resemble the Government of God and of Christ and his Church and Kingdom than this Feudal Government does In which SECT I. 1. The King hath all the Lands in his own dominion Feudal Customes 2. Some he keeps in his proper Demain as his Crown-Lands to maintain his state and greatness and the charge of his rule and governance and all other Lands hold of him and his Crown 3. Some he gives to the Church as the Lombards first did when they became Christians and so the Clergy first became Lords and by them were constituted one of the three Estates which was more than ever Constantine did or any other Christians 4. Some he gives to his Marquesses Dukes Earls Barons c. 5. The King hath all the Legislative Power in himself incommunicable 6. The King hath all the Jurisdiction which he communicates to his Magistrates Lords and Judges Valvasones Valvasini of several degrees All these are Feudataries 7. Those that had no Fees called Censiti were the old Natives living in Villages confined to till the ground The Feudataries were called Tenants the rest Residents or Resients as our Law calls them No Tenure makes more for the honour and safety of the Prince or for the liberty and security of the Subject than this does No Subject can say I am of my self I thank no man for my Lands I am beholding to no man for all must thank the King The Subject holds by the grace of the King and the King only by the grace of God Princes and Subjects of old Jure Romano were obliged to each other for the Common good but not in so strict a tye as this is which they learned by the Examples of the Longobardian Kings the first creatours of Dependance by Law in granting out their Lands to their Subjects in Fee The old Romans and Greeks had something like unto this way but not the same as Alexander and Caesar who let the marches of their conquered Kingdoms Capitaneis Ducibus calling those Lands Limotrophi given to them only at first afterward to them and their heirs upon this account of policy Dicentes illos attentiùs militaturos si etiam sua jura defenderent Souldiers would fight with more courage in the defence of their own Rights I know not by what instinct for I cannot tell how the Lombards in the latter times of the World should meerly stumble upon it this Tenure came into the World but I am sure when it did come it did much good therein and was entertained by those Nations that counted themselves far more wise and learned and pious than they SECT II. Feudal Kingdom the best It may be without wrong to any other Institution the Longobardick Rule was the best that ever was or will be in the World 1. One King and Lord of all 2. One Faith and Obedience in all 3. The King the Common Father 4. The Subjects all his adopted Children 5. The Estate all the Fathers for propriety all the Childrens for profit 6. For Order very comely all the Members depending all alike upon the same Head 7. For Strength they fortifie one another and all are strengthned by their Head and their Head by them 8. For Peace they cannot fight one against another nor all of them against their King nor their King against them The Subjects lose all if they stir in the least to make any disturbance They cannot invade each other for each hath his lot 9. For Love they must love their Lord and their Lord them and they one another or they are all nothing 10. For Plenty they all labour to enrich themselves and so the whole No Taxes or odious burthens they enrich not their Lord at all for all is his already yet they have their benefits to themselves but the honour only and dominion is his 11. For Dependence they cannot be without their Lord nor their Lord without them They subsist by him he by them 12. For Obedience they come and go at the Princes beck they do all he commands them 13. For Covenant the King is in Covenant with his Subjects and his Subjects with him 14. For Honour the King honours the Subjects and the Subjects him 15. For Justice no robbery or oppression of the King or Subject in all this Kingdom Every one enjoys his own Fee the same things to be had of the King the same duties to be done by the Subjects 16. For War Omnia Feuda ad Militiae subventionem expeditionem inventa sunt All Fees are invented for help and expedition of Warfare SECT II. This rare Invention and form of Government deserves thanks and praise and hath it from understanding men Goths and Vandals Witness the reception of their Customes and adding others in imitation of them by the wisest Nations of the World and amongst them our own is not a little beholding to them whose fundamental frame of Monarchy was contrived from those that had it derived unto them from the Goths and Vandals for such were the Normans and Saxons from whom we and our Feudal Laws do spring though the fountain
unwritten unrevealed to private Souls The hearts of such great ones are in the hands of God and he teaches them Worldly Policy Self-pleasing Self-interest Pride Revenge c. must have no place here O that they that wear Crowns and Miters were wise that they would consider their vast Charge and remember their later end that they might not do amiss SECT XVI And what shall we poor Subjects do but stand aloof off and admire and obey Touch not mine anointed and do my Prophets no harm Violate not the Persons nor the Rights nor the Estates of Princes or Priests God is in them he feels the hurts and revenges them The Powers that be are ordained of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Procul ô procul ite prophani Swell not O Rulers for God in Sacred or Civil matters Illustrious is your calling Mutuato splendetis lumine but your Glory borrow'd Ye are gods but ye must die like Men. Use both Swords as equally as gently as 't is possible O! how blessed shall ye be of God and Men for Justice Equity Mercy Piety to the Souls Bodies and Estates of the Dear Saints and Subjects of the King of Heaven and Earth And as on Earth so in Heaven your glory shall outshine all others SECT XVII 1. Thus Christ only as Mediator King Priest and Prophet Corollaries hath and holds his Office and Power of God immediately 2. The Church is a Corporation and Kingdom that hath and holds only of Christ their only Head and King and Prophet and High-Priest in Fee 3. The Keyes and Supreme Powers of the World have and hold immediately under Christ in Fee 4. The Priests and Ministers of Christ have and hold immediately from Christ in Fee 5. The Clergy and Laity owe subjection immediately to Kings and Supreme Powers under Christ 5. Ergo Kings only are Christ's Vicegerents and Vicars upon Earth to whom all Clergy and Laity are bound to be subject for Christ's sake and for Conscience sake and for the peace and welfare both of Church and State That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty My Kingdom saith Christ is not of this World And there was a strife among them which of them should be accounted the greatest Luc. 22.25 c. and he said unto them The Kings of the Gentiles Exercise Lordship over them and they that exercise Authority upon them are called Benefactors But ye shall not be so but he that is the greatest among you let him be as the younger and he that is Chief as he that doth serve Jesus called them unto him and said Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them and they that are great exercise Authority upon them But it shall not be so among you Matth. 20.25 c. but whosoever will be great among you let him be your minister And whosoever will be the chief among you let him be your servant Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his Life a Ransom for many Ergo The true right justifying to the Estate of Blessedness of God in Christ is Faith and the true Tenure to hold this Blessed Estate of God in Christ is Holiness Feudum is Grace Ergo Allodium is Glory Quod erat demonstrandum The CONTENTS Transition Catholick Church Scriptures Collections TITLE III. Of the Laws of Christ's Kingdom Transition CHRIST hath the sole power of Legislation and Jurisdiction in his Church and Kingdom the Ministers of Christ are Ambassadors under him to declare his will and pleasure not to exercise Lordship over God's Inheritance Est in universis servientibus non dominium sed ministerium He that is greatest amongst you sayes Christ let him be the least and servant unto all A Judicatory power is granted unto Regal Vassals as Lords in fee over their inferior Vassals to exercise not for themselves but for their Supreme Lords in peace or war For otherwise they are all Vassals and par in parem non habet imperium Still 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Legislative power is reserved to Kings They may have a kind of delegated power to make By-Laws consonant to the High Law of Christ and some laudable Customs in the Church are Quasi-Laws or By-Laws as in other Societies but they must be significant charitable easie and few SECT I. Catholick Church The Catholick Church is a faithful witness of the Truth committed to her charge and a record of all those necessary Truths but properly makes no Laws that is a prerogative reserved to the King Besides the Spiritual Laws of Christ I know not what Laws of Faith can be added And besides the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper I know not what Rites can be added for Worship only for decency and order and those few ambulatory pro re nata tempore loco populo according to the occasion time place and People with great Wisedom Charity Moderation and Christian Liberty They talk highly of the Laws of the Church the Laws of Christ given to his Church I know other Laws I do not know properly so called Let me know what Church must be the Catholick and how can the Catholick Church meet and if they could what power to make Laws Hath not Christ made sufficient Laws already In a Feudal Kingdom there are Principum placita the Rescripts of Princes but not Senatusconsulta nor Plebiscita nor Responsa Prudentum All are Pragmatical Sanctions The Prince rules all neither hath Christ any Deputy or Vice-gerent Man or Men upon Earth to rule with him or for him in his Church whereof he is the only Head But Princes under him are bound to be nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to his Church to defend the Faith they are to be wise and learn this knowledg to kiss the Son lest he be angry and so they perish if his wrath be kindled yea but a little And he hath sent his Ambassadors and Ministers under him to serve in his Gospel by the power of his own Spirit to be subject to Princes SECT II. The Scriptures only are God's Will and his Laws Scriptures in them are his Precepts and Promises and the rule of his Worship which are the true intrinsecal and acceptable Service of God If any thing else be commanded it is extrinsecal and only for decent order and so to be esteem'd and used cum favore The Laws of a Spiritual and Military Kingdom as Christs is are Spiritual The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but Spiritual and mighty for the casting down of the Spiritual and strong holds of Principalities and Powers and Spiritual wickedness in high places And all Christians or Souldiers take the Sacrament or Military Oath in Baptism to be true to their General to fight under the Banner of Christ against the World the Flesh and the Devil to their lives end This is the good
born but been like the untimely fruit of a Woman that never saw the Sun How shall God provoke us to Reason with him upon this point Whether his waies be not equal and our waies inequal We have reason from God though his Reason be infinitely above ours We may not reply against God but we may modestly plead for God We may not dispute with God but we may think honourably of him And though we cannot understand the Reasons of his workings yet we can understand That as his waies are often secret so they are alwaies just and that the Judg of the World must needs do right Well I have done upon this Point I may have leave to think still though I have promised to speak no more Yet I have not promised to forbear speaking reverently of God that he is infinitely gracious just and holy above all that I or all the World are ever able to imagine or express And let fierce Men say what they please I and all the World may safely trust to the Mercy of God which will never fail them if they do not abuse it and through the tender compassions of the Most High they shall be sure never to miscarry Let such miserable Comforters go whither they will O my Soul I charge thee never to enter into their secrets in this Thing and into their counsels let not mine Honour be united The CONTENTS Transition God covenanted with Christ conditionally Christ hath all Power Christ's new way of Conquest Covenant of Grace Christ shares with Christians Covenant of Grace with all men Parties of a Covenant must be certainly known Appellative Names in Covenants Publick stipulation Obligation free Conditions of Covenants must be certainly known All Covenants are conditional Absolute Decree Collections Power Sacred TITLE II. Of Christ's Feudal Kingdom Transition GOD the Father in the Scriptures is declared to be the absolute Lord of the kingdom of the whole World by right of Creation Christ the Son of God in the Scriptures is declared to be the conditional Lord of the kingdom of his Church and by right of Redemption SECT I. God covenanted with Christ conditionally God covenanted with Christ as Mediator of the New Testament that he should be the Heir of all things 1. The Condition on Christs part was his Humiliation by suffering of shame sorrow a Curse and death For so it was written of him in the Volume of the book that he should fulfil the will of God and Lo saith he I am content to do it So when the bitter Cup was given him to drink after a dispute he concludes nevertheless not my will but thy will be done Again his Condition was to glorifie God as Gods was to glorifie him Father glorifie thou me as I have glorified thee It behoved Christ to have suffered and so to enter into his glory For though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered He saith elsewhere wist you not that I must go about my Fathers business I come not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me It is my meat and drink to do my Fathers will Thus Christ in the daies of his flesh was in the condition of a Servant and had not where to lay his head though he was Heir of all things yet could not be seized on the Inheritance till the Condition was performed on his part 2. The Condition on Gods part was his Exaltation Being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death Phil. 2.8 c. even the death of the Cross wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow both of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth This is the mighty power which he wrought in Christ Eph. 1.10 c. when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places c. When he had by himself purged our sins he sate down at the right hand of the Majesty on high being made so much better than the Angels as he hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they Heb. 1.3 c. For unto which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee And again I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son And again When he bringeth in the First begotten into the World he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him But unto the Son he saith Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever a Scepter of Righteousness is the Scepter of thy kingdom Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity Ro. 14.9 c. therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows For to this end Christ both died and rose again that he might be Lord both of quick and dead The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son Math. 28. All Power is given unto me both in heaven and earth Go ye therefore c. Before his Resurrection Christ had no authority to execute no not in Israel where he was born King of the Jews he was despised and rejected there but after his Resurrection God gave him the Heathen for his Inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession Before when they sought to make him a King he refused and hid himself When requested but to divide an Inheritance he refused saying Who made me a Judge or a Divider among you Then was he subject to the Powers of the Earth now a King of Kings and Lord of Lords whose kingdom ruleth over all And although most Kings do not submit their Powers unto him Christ hath all Power yet he hath power over them and will make them submit whether they will or no when he shall have brought down all Rule and all Authority and Power and shall put all things in subjection under his feet And this they shall know and feel in that day when they shall look upon him whom they have pierced and shall call to the Hills to cover them and to the Mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the wrath of him that sitteth upon the Throne And when he shall say Where are those mine enemies that would not that I should rule over them bring them hither and slay them before me Then shall he bruise them with a rod of iron and break them in pieces like a Potters vessel Psal 2. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be ye learned ye that are Judges of the earth kiss the Son lest he be angry yea but a little but blessed are all they that put their trust in him Thus Christ by his Sufferings hath purchased Rule over all the World but more especially over his Church A Scepter of Righteousness he useth for