Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	faith_n	good_a	timothy_n	1,872	5	11.8568	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41067	A touch-stone, or, A perfect tryal by the Scriptures, of all the priests, bishops, and ministers, who have called themselves, the ministers of the Gospel whose time and day hath been in the last ages past, or rather in the night of apostacy : they are tried and weighed by the Scriptures of truth, and are found out of the life and power of the scriptures, and out of the spirit and doctrine of them that gave them forth, and quite contrary to their principle and practice, both Papists and Protestants : unto which is annexed, Womens speaking justified, &c.	Fox, Margaret Askew Fell, 1614-1702.	1667 (1667)	Wing F639; ESTC R7178	82,431	96

we are all partakers of that one Bread 1 Cor. 10. Here is no speaking of Remembrance but the real partaking of the one Bread this is the living Bread that is come down from Heaven Christ saith I am the living Bread that came down from Heaven if any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever and the Bread that I give you is my Flesh that I will give for the Life of the World The Jews wondered at this and said Will this man give us his Flesh to eat Jesus said As the Living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father So he that eateth me shall live by me and except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you But this is not except you eat Bread and drink Wine ye have no Life in you for Christ saith My Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed John 6. These things said Jesus in the Synagogue as he Taught And many of his Disciples when they heard this said It was a hard saying who can hear it But Christ saith unto them It is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profitteth nothing The Words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life And so it is the Spirit that is the Living Bread and those that live in the Spirit and feed in the Spirit and meet in the Spirit they eat the Flesh of Christ and drink his Blood and this Spiritual Bread was that which the Apostles broke and they that continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship in breaking of Bread and in Prayers it is said They continued daily with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house Acts 2. And this Bread was that living Bread that Christ said came down from Heaven And when the Disciples met together on the First day of the week to break Bread Paul preached unto them until midnight surely this was Living Bread else it could not have been the Communion of the Body of Christ 1 Cor. 10. And this was a Mystery which Swearers and Drunkards know not and therefore they set up that which is outward and temporal as the Apostle saith because they are blind of the Spiritual Eye and so as the Apostle saith That which can be seen is Temporal but that which cannot be seen is Eternal 1 Cor. 14. 18. But this is hid from their eyes and thus much for this Particular which they call the Sacrament of the Lords Supper They have also several other vain Practices which they have no Example in Scripture for as praying over the Dead and for the Dead which the Apostle exhorted from when he writ to the Thessalonians he saith But I would not have you ignorant Brethren concerning them which are asleep that ye sorrow not even as others which have not Hope for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again so they also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thes 4. Here is nothing of praying for them nor over them after they are dead but they manifest by their prayers that they have not a true Hope nor Belief in Christ Jesus who is risen from the dead And become the First-fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15. The like may be said also of their Churching women and Marrying people with Rings but it appeareth that the main end of these Practices are to get money of people for they have no Example in the Scriptures that the people were married with a Priest neither in the Old-Testament nor New ye do not read that Abraham and Sarah were married with a Priest and Isaac took Rebecca to wife and Laban gave Jacob Leah and Rachel but not by a Priest The Apostle saith Marriage is honorable and the bed undefiled but he doth not say that they should be married by a Priest or with a Ring But it is manifested that this Generation of Priests that have set up such Imaginations and Inventions as these are the same that the Apostle prophesied of unto his Son Timothy that good and true Bishop where he saith Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some should depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking Lyes in hypocrisie having their Consciences seared with a hot Iron forbidding to Marry and commanding to abstain from Meats 1 Tim. 4. Now let the Reader but seriously read this Chapter and consider whether these be not they both Papists and Protestants who marry people as before mentioned and yet forbid to marry all that will not marry according to their way and will though the Apostle saith They may marry whom they will only in the Lord 1 Cor. 7. 39. Yet if they be not married with a Priest and according to their way they account it no Marriage And thus they run themselves quite off from the Scriptures as bad as they that never heard of them for though they profess them in words they are utterly and quite out of them in their Practices And that they abstain from Meats and cause people so to do this is well known to be their common practice all which the Apostle saith Are the Doctrines of Devils and so here I have found them in their practice and I will leave them These with many more frivolous things which might be mentioned as their keeping of Idle dayes and causing people to do so but what hath been said before may give people a sight of their practices that they are quite contrary and opposite to the Rule of the Scriptures And thus much for the Fifth Head which is their Practice The Sixth is their Maintenance and this is as contrary to the Scriptures of Truth as any of the rest They profess themselves to be Christians and Gospel-Ministers and yet will not be content with Gospel-Maintenance but their Gospel is dead and so cold that they preach to People that it will not quicken them out of their dead and natural estate and therefore they dare not trust themselves upon their maintenance nor cast themselves upon the freedom or liberality of the people And so when the Power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus was lost and the Revelation of Jesus by which the Apostles preached then when the Apostacy came in those that got up into the Popes Chair took upon them to find out a way whereby they might compel people to maintain them however they maintained themselves and so they started back from Christs Rule and his Apostles and stept into the Imitation of some part of the Levitical Priesthood under the Law which best suited their own ends And that being made ready to their hands they soon go● it set up and established by a Law and then those that were Christians and stood to the Principles and Faith of Christianity who knew that the Priesthood was changed and the Law also and could not pay them Tythes then they were ready prepared for

burdens grievous to be born But this is contrary to Christ and his Apostles Doctrine and Example as hath been shewed already Moreover the Apostle Paul when he writeth his second Epistle to the Corinthins chap. 1. and relateth the sufferings and hardships that they had passed through how that they had the sentence of death in themselves he saith Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us in God who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts not that we have dominion over your Faith but are helpers of your joy for by Faith ye stand Here the Apostle did not bind them and limit them nor called them to Courts to keep them under oppression and penalty in those things that were contary to their Faith and Principles this was contrary to Pauls practice for when he called the Elders of the Church of Ephesus unto him he said unto them Ye know that from the first day that I came unto you after what manner I have been with you at all seasons serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befel me and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publickly and from house to house testifying both to Jews and Greeks Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ And when he goes on mentioning his sufferings he saith None of these things move me neither count I my self dear unto my self so that I may finish my course with joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God for I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God Take heed therefore unto your selves and to the whole Flock of God whereof the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers and feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Acts 20. Here the Apostle gives them no Commission to oppress or bondage those that they were Overseers over but to feed them and to watch over them For saith he after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter among you not sparing the Flock Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things therefore watch and remember c. This hath been fulfilled and largly manifested Wolves and Devourers have had a large time since that day Also the Apostle Peter saith thus The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder and a Witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over Gods heritage but being examples to the Flock and when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5. Here is a perfect Example and Rule for all the Overseers of the Church of God Moreover when the Apostle writes unto his Son Timothy he saith That the end of the Commandment is Charity out of a Pure Heart and a good Conscience and Faith unfeigned Also he exhorts him First of all that supplications prayers and intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty and so he goes on exhorting this Bishop but never biddeth him set up Courts nor be a Lord over Gods Heritage for he saith This is a true saying If any man desireth the Office of a Bishop he desireth a good work a Bishop must be blameless the Husband of one Wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach I believe our Bishops are wanting here because they Hire and Imploy so many petty Teachers under them but he goes on Not given to wine no striker not greedy of filthy lucre but patient not a brawler not covetons now our Laws and Courts signifie the contrary of this not a Novice lest being lifted up with Pride he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil Moreover he must have a good report of those that are without holding the mystery of Faith in a pure Conscience So the Apostle goeth on exhorting the Bishops and Deacons that they may know how to behave themselves in the House of God which is the Church of the Living God the Ground and Pillar of Truth 1 Tim. 2 3 chap. So he goes on exhorting them what to Teach and Preach and how to order the Church in the 4th and 5th chapters concerning the Elders Elder-men and Elder-women Younger-men and Younger-women as also Servants he directeth him how to go by way of Exhortation to them all and saith If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsom words even the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness he is proud knowing nothing doting about Questions So he goeth on dehorting them from those things But thou O man of God saith he flee these things and follow after righteousness godliness faith love and patience meekness fight the good fight of Faith lay hold on Eternal Life whereunto thou art called and hast professed a good profession before many Witnesses I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession that thou keep this Commandment without spot unrebukeable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ O Timothy keep that which is committed unto thy Trust chap. 6. Here is a weighty and a hard Charge laid upon Timothy the then Bishop and Overseer of the Church but here is nothing of making of Laws and setting up Courts and oppressing people and keeping them in Bondage and Slavery for when he writeth his Second Epistle to Timothy he saith My dearly beloved Son Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice and I am perswaded that in thee also Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the Gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands for God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound minde That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us This thou knowest that all they which were in Asia be turned away from me yet he doth not bid him Arraign them nor call them up to Courts nor Cite them nor Excommunicate them nor cast them into Prison but he exhorts him to be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus and he layeth down how he should teach the people and commit

his bait and it is much if they cast not themselves down for it is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ for his Exhortation was That they should take the low●st Seat that it might be said unto them Friend Go up higher but they have not taken that way But they have several Objections or Colours for what they do with which they do a little blind some ignorant people which is an easie matter to do While the Blind lead the Blind saith Christ they both go into the Ditch One thing they alledge for Tythes is That Melchisedec took Tythes when Abraham paid them Gen. 14. when Abraham returned from the slaughter of the Kings and this the Apostle cleareth himself in Heb. 7. and taketh away the objection of all that can be said for Tythes For first of all as for Melchisedec King of Salem Priest of the Most High God who met Abraham in his return from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him to whom also Abraham gave the tenth part of all c. Here the Apostle describes Melchisedec being without descent having neither beginning of dayes nor end of life So that our Tythe-Takers in these last days cannot claim them by this Order for they are not without descent for the furthest they can claim was Levi and hundreds of them have ended their dayes and their dayes are come to an end Besides the Apostle saith that this Melchisedec was greater then Abraham and Abraham had the Promise of God and the Oath of God passed unto him and unto his Seed which the Apostle saith is Christ Gal. 3. But the Apostle saith He was made like unto the Son of God and remaineth a Priest continually Now consider saith he how great this man was unto whom even the Patriarch Abraham gave the Tythe of the Spoils and verily they who are of the Sons of Levi who receive the Office of the Priesthood have a Commandment to take Tythes of the People that are of their Brethren though they came out of the Loins of Abraham but he whose descent is not counted from them received Tythes of Abraham and blessed him that had the Promises and without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better So if our Tythe-Takers can say they are better then Abraham then they may claim Tythes from Melchisedec but if they say nay but they will claim them from the Tribe of Levi then they must own themselves to be of the Levitical Priesthood and they must take Tythes of none but their Brethren the Jews For so the Apostle saith That the Priesthood had a Commandment to take Tythes according to the Law that is of their Brethren Hebr. 7. 5. And he saith further If therefore perfection were by the Levitical Priesthood for ●●der it the people received the Law what further need was there that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec and not after the order of Aaron But the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the Law For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another Tribe of which no man gave attendance at the Altar For it is evident our Lord sprang of Judah of which Tribe Moses spake nothing coucerning the Priesthood And it is more evident that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another Priest who is not made after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the power of an Endless Life For he testifieth Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec For there is verily a disanulling of the Commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof For the Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better Hope did by which we draw nigh unto God Hebr. 7. Here the Apostle testifieth clearly of the overturning and changing of the Priesthood of Levi and the disanulling of the Law by which they took Tythes because that made nothing perfect And for this other Priest that remaineth for ever Who purgeth and purifieth the Conscience from dead Works to serve the Living God for the witnessing of this Everlasting High-Priest being come hath many suffered and do suffer by this Generation of Tythe-taking Priests who are neither according to Law nor Gospel and though they take the Apostles words here and it may be may read them to the people yet do they act quite contrary to the Apostles Testimony here and to all his practices that he practised while he was upon Earth And so we that have a Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ our Everlasting High-Priest that he is come we cannot deny his Testimony in paying Priests Tythes which was paid under the Levitical Priesthood before he came now we have another Priest that remaineth continually who is not made by a Law of a Carnal Commandment as they all are but by another Law Even the Law of the Spirit of Life which maketh us free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. But they set up Laws against us and make us suffer by their Laws and by their Courts and when we cannot Swear cast us into Prison But the Apostle taught his Son Timothy otherwise when He besought him to abide still at Ephesus that he might charge some of them that they preach no other Doctrine neither give head to Fables and endless Genealogies which minister Questions rather then Godly Edifying which is in Faith Now the end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart and of a good Conscience and Faith unfained from which some having swerved have turned again aside into Jangling desiring to be Teachers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm But we know that the Law is good if a man use it lawfully Knowing this that the Law is not made for a Righteous man but for the Lawless and Disobedient for the Ungodly and for Sinners for Unholy and Prophane for Murtherers of Fathers and Murtherers of Mothers for Man-slayers for Whoremongers for them that defile themselves with mankind for Men-stealers for Lyars for Perjured Persons and if there be any thing further that is contrary to Sound Doctrine 1 Tim. 1. Surely these late Bishops have learned another Lesson then this Bishop Timothy did for they execute their Law against the Harmless and the Innocent and such as abide in Sound Doctrine and those that bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit which is Love Peace Long suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such the Apostle saith there is no Law Gal. 5. And yet these are they that are made the object of their Laws and are kept under the Scourge of the Laws in these dayes and this disorder is because our Leaders and Teachers have caused the people to err from the Faith and from the Truth But to come to the particular which is concerning Ministers Maintenance where they object and say The Apostle alloweth them a maintenance by what he holds forth 1 Cor. 9. where he saith Have not we

nor yet Herod and they accused him vehemently Luke 23. Matth. 26. The chief Priests and Elders sought false witness against Jesus to put him to death and when they found false Witnesses that witnessed against him Jesus said nothing And the high Priest arose and said Answerest thou nothing And he said I adjure thee by the Living God that thou tell us if thou be the Christ Jesus said unto him Thou hast said it Hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power Then the high Priest rent his clothes and said He hath spoken Blasphemy And when the morning was come all the chief Priests and Elders took counsel to put him to death and when they had led him away they delivered him to Pontius Pilate Matth. 27. Mark 15. And when Pilate asked of them Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews But the chief Priests moved the people that he should rather release Barabbas And Pilate said What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews and they cried Crucifie him crucifie him Now Ananias sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high Priest and he asked him of his Disciples and of his Doctrine Jesus answered Why askest thou me ask them that heard me And one of the Officers struck Jesus with the palm of his hand and said Answerest thou the high Priest so And Jesus said If I have spoken evil bear witness of the evil if well Why smitest thou me Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas the high Priest into the Hall of Judgment and Pilate went unto them and said Take ye him and judge him according to your Law the Jews therefore said unto him It is not lawfull for us to put a man to death John 18. But they looked upon it lawfull to accuse him falsely and vehemently to accuse him and to cry out Crucifie him crucifie him and to desire Barrabbas that was found in an Insurrection and a Murtherer to be released and to cry that Christ the Lamb of God might be Crucified also after the same manner did they with the Apostles And those Scribes and Elders that caught Stephen and brought him and set up False Witnesses to witness against him the high Priest with the Councel said Are these things so And after Stephen opened his mouth and spake unto them and opened through the Scriptures and when they heard those things that Stephen spake from the Scriptures They gnashed on him with their teeth Acts 7. And as Peter and John spake unto the people the Priests and Captain of the Temple and the Sadduces came upon them and then Ananias the high Priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of the Kindred of the high Priest were gathered together to take counsel against Peter and John after they had wrought the Miracle upon the Impotent man and when they could find nothing against them they threatned them and let them go Acts 4. And what ado made they with Paul for all he was one of their own Nation and made his Defence before them and called them Men and Brethren and Fathers and spake unto them in the Hebrew Tongue and told them how the Lord had converted him As also the high Priests doth bear me witness and all the Elders from whom also I received Letters unto the Brethren and went to Damascus to bring them which were there in Prison to Jerusalem to be punished Acts 22. Paul that had been one of their Servants and had acted in the same way with them in Persecution after he was converted to the Christian Faith he received no more favour from them than others for afterwards when Paul was brought before the Council to be Examined wherefore he was so accused And Paul earnestly beholding the Council said Men and Brethren I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day And the high Priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth Then said Paul God shall smite thee thou whited wall and they that stood by said Revilest thou Gods high Priest Then said Paul I wist not Brethren that he was the high Priest for it is written Thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy People Paul acknowledged and confessed his Transgression of that Law where it is said Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Ruler of thy People Exod. 22. 28. But David saith I have said ye are Gods but ye shall die like men And so it appeareth by this high Priest for he was far from executing of his duty where he sate to judge according to the Law when he commanded to smite the Prisoner contrary to the Law and afterwards gave consent to the People to bind themselves in an Oath to murther Paul but were prevented by the chief Chaptain and Souldiers Acts 23. And after five dayes Ananias the high Priest descended with the Elders who enformed the Governor against Paul and said We have found this man a pestilent fellow a mover of sedition among the Jews throughout the whole world a Ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens with much more And when Felix heard their Accusations of him he deferred the examination of him Acts 24. Likewise when Festus was come into the Province then the high Priest and the chief of the Jews informed him also against Paul and desired favour against him and besought him that he would send for him to Jerusalem lying in wait by the way to kill him but Festus answered That Paul should be kept at Cesarea Acts 25. By these places with much more that the Scripture maketh mention of we may see the cruelty and bloody-mindedness of ●hese high Priests that were then Rulers of the Nation of the People of the Jews under the Roman Monarchy for they were always worse in cruelty against the Christians then the Heathens and joyned with the Kings and incensed them what they could against the Christians as is manifested for they joyned with that Herod and Pilate that crucified Christ Also when King Herod heard that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judah he gathered the chief Priests and all the Scribes of the People together to demand of them where he was to be born intending to kill him but the Lord prevented him who in his Rage slew all the young children Also Herod the King that killed James the Brother of John with the Sword and because that he saw it pleased the Jews he proceeded further and took Peter and cast him into Prison and when Prayer was made to the Lord for Peter and that the Lord delivered him out of Prison there was no small stir among the Souldiers what was become of Peter And when Herod had sought him but found him not he commanded that the Keepers of the Pison should be put to death But when this Herod was arrayed in Royal Apparel upon his Throne the Lord smote him by his Angel

Wherefore I beseech you be ye Followers of me For this cause I have sent unto you Timotheus who is my beloved Son and faithfull in the Lord who shall bring you into remembrance of my Wayes which be in Christ as I teach every where in every Church 1 Cor. 4. And again when the Apostle Exhorteth the Philippians in his Epistle To let nothing be done through Strife or Vain-glory but in lowliness of Mind let each esteem other better then themselves Look not every man to his own things but every man also to the things of others And so he goes on opening the Mystery of the Sufferings of Christ But he saith I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you that I also may be of good comfort when I know your State for I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your State for all seek their own not the things that are Jesus Christs but ye know the proof of him that as a Son with a Father he hath served me in the Gospel him therefore I send unto you c. Phil. 2. And again when he writeth to the Thessalonians he saith We sent Timotheus our Brother and Minister of God and our Fellow Labourer in the Gospel of Christ to Establish you and Comfort you concerning your Faith 1 Thess 3. Thus ye see that this Timotheus who was the Bishop and Overseer of the Church of God in the Apostles dayes was a Faithfull Labourer and Minister of Christ Jesus and much trusted in and approved of by the Apostle for he laboured with him in the Gospel as a Son laboureth with his Father And it is strange that the Bishops that have been in these later Ages should call themselves by that name since they have both derogated from their Doctrine and Principles and added what their own dark minds and inventions would invent for in that they have erected unto themselves a supremacy and a superiority above others which they have practised and Lorded over peoples Faith and Consciences for many hundreds of years together under which many thousands have groaned and suffered even until death and shedding of their blood and in all these things they have quite contradicted Christ Jesus his Doctrine Practice and Example as also all his holy Apostles after him for he and they were alwayes sufferers as hath been shewed already and as we shall shew hereafter But they were never Oppressors nor layers of Yoaks and Burdens upon the Consciences of Men and People but they alwayes preached Liberty and Freedom to others though they suffered themselves and there was their Cross that they took up when they followed Christ And so those Church-Governors as they call themselves that have been Blood-shedders that have been Oppressors and Persecutors they have no Example neither from Christ nor none of his Apostles and so let the Blood that they have shed for so many hundreds of years return upon their own heads Let Babylons Merchants have blood to drink for they are worthy for they have been made drunk with the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus so the Cup that they have given to others let them have it double for they learned none of this from Christ nor from any of his Apostles For Christ when he sent his Messengers and they entred into a Village of the Samaritans and they received him not because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem and when his Disciples James and John saw this they said Lord wilt thou that we command fire from Heaven and consume them even as Elias did But he turned and rebuked them and said Ye know not of what manner of spirits ye are of for the Son of Man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them Luke 9. 55 56. And to save mens lives he laid down his own Life and shed his own pretious Blood as he saith himself He hath laid down his Life for his Sheep and they shall never perish Yea he hath laid down his Life for his enemies For the Apostle saith Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good and edification For even Christ pleased not himself but as it is written The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me Wherefore receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God Rom. 15. And again the Apostle saith All things are in God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ and hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation to wit That God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation Now then we are Embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. Here is no violence nor cruelty used neither bondages nor snares laid upon mens Consciences for the Apostle saith Give no offence in any thing that the Ministry be not blamed but in all things approving our selves as the Ministers of God In much Patience in Afflictions in Necessities in Distresses in Stripes and Imprisonments in Tumults in Labours in Watchings in Fastings by Pureness by Knowledge by Long-suffering by Kindness by the Holy Ghost by Love unfeigned by the Word of Truth by the Power of God by the Armour of Righteousness on the Right Hand and on the Left by Honour and Dishonour by Evil-report and Good-report as Deceivers and yet True as Vnknown and yet Well-known as Dying and behold we Live as Chastened and not Killed as Sorrowful and yet alwayes Rejoycing as Poor and yet making many Rich as having Nothing yet possessing All things 2 Cor. 6. Here is a Ministry of God indeed which is quite opposite and contrary to what hath been set up and practised in the Christian world Also read 2 Cor. 11. and likewise in Chap. 4. the Apostle saith Therefore seeing we have this Ministry as we have received mercy we faint not For if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them And this Gospel hath been hid all this time of darkness for the god of the World hath blinded the minds of all that have not believed in the Light of the glorious Gospel and so they have been lost from it and kept from it by the Ministers of darkness who have preached the divination of their own brain and not from the Light of the Lord. But the Apostle saith We preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your servants for Jesus sake these are not Lord-Bishops nor Pope-Holiness for saith he God who commanded light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in

the face of Jesus Christ For we have this Treasury in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us For we are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed always bearing about in our body the dying of our Lord Jesus Christ that the Life of Christ might be manifested in our body for we who live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh so that death worketh in us but life in you Thus the Apostles laboured in the work of the Ministry even under cruel sufferings which Gospel it may well be said hath been hid for the Gospel that hath been preached since the Apostacy hath laid Oppressions and Sufferings upon others and they themselves have Ruled and Lorded over Peoples Consciences but the Apostle Paul said I Paul am made a Minister of the Gospel that is preached to every Creature under heaven now rejoyce in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his Bodies sake which is the Church whereof I am made a Minister according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfil the Word of God Col. 1. But this Ministry and Ministration hath been lost and the Church for which the Apostle suffered hath been in the Wilderness and if there was any small Appearance or Testimony of Jesus Christ in any such have suffered Oppressions and Hardships and much Detriment from such as were the Professed Ministry So these Scriptures with many more which might be mentioned shew the contrariety between the Ministers of the Gospel in the Apostles Dayes and the Professed Ministry that hath been since the Apostles Dayes in the Apostacy And as the Supremacy and Superiority hath been contrary to the Apostles Way and Manner and Order in laying Oppressions and Burthens upon the People so also they have been contrary and opposite to Christ and the Apostles Doctrine Practice and Example in not preaching Liberty and Freedom to the Spirits in Prison for Christ Jesus who is the Anointing of God Preacheth Glad Tidings to the Poor Liberty to Captives his Commission that he gave to his Disciples was to Preach the Gospel to all Nations to every Creature And he said to those that believed in him If ye continue in the Truth the Truth will make you free John 8. And the Apostle confesseth That the Law of the Spirit of Life had made him free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. And the Apostle saith when he was speaking of the Ministration of the Law and the Gospel When Moses is read the Vail is over the Heart Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord the Vail shall be taken away Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3. And so this is that Substance the Apostle Preacheth from and Preached to the Spirit of the Lord that takes away the Vail and giveth Liberty and Redeemeth from under the Power of Darkness and from the Bondage of Corruption and therefore they did not set themselves to Rule over mens Faith or to lord over their Consciences but they endeavour still to be made manifest unto every ones Conscience in the sight of God But we have saith the Apostle Renounced the hidden things of Dishonesty not walking in Craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully but by Manifestation of the Truth commending our selves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4. Knowing therefore the Terrours of the Lord we perswade men but we are made manifest unto God and I trust also are made manifest in your Consciences So here the Apostle preached to Gods Witness in Peoples Consciences and that answered to them again and they were made manifest to that and therefore did the Apostle John say That they needed not any man to Teach them but as the same Anointing teacheth them which is Truth and is no Lye And so this is unlimited neither doth the Apostle limit this when they were gathered into the Eternal Spirit and all drank into one Spirit and all baptized into one Body by one Spirit he told them they might all prophesie one by one and that though they were many Members yet they were one Bread and one Body and every Member of the Body had its several Office the Head did not say to the Feet I have no need of you Now concerning Spiritual Gifts Brethren I would not have you ignorant there are diversity of Gifts but the same Spirit and there are differences of Administrations but the same Lord and there are diversities of Operations but the same God which worketh all in all but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal For to one is given by the same Spirit the Word of Wisdom to another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit to another Faith by the same Spirit to another the Gift of Healing by the same Spirit to another the working of Miracles by the same Spirit to another Prophesie to another Discerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of Tongues to another interpretation of Tongues But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will For as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ For by one Spirit we are all Baptised into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit for the Body is not one Member but many 1 Cor. 12. And so the Apostle goes on to the end of the Chapter discoursing of the several Gifts all given by one Spirit So here is no binding nor limiting nor Supremacy one over another not to sit Judges one of another but every one to wait in their several Gifts of the Spirit given unto them to profit withal For I say saith the Apostle through the Grace of God given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly then he ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of Faith For as we are many Members in one Body and all Members have not the same Office so we being mary are one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given us whether Prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of Faith or Ministy let us wait in our ministring or he that teacheth on Teaching or he that exhorteth on Exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth Mercy with chearfulness let Love be be