made clean when shall it once be Jeremy 13.27 How shall I give thee up Ephraim How shall I deliver thee Israel As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye for why will ye die oh House of Israel Ezek. 33.11 And now O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah Judge I pray you betwixt me and my Vinyard what could have been done more to my Vinyard that I have not done in it Jsa 5.3.4 But when he looked that it should bring forth Grapes it brought forth wild Grapes As also Israel in the wilderness Wherefore he was greived with that generation and at length sware in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest because of Vnbelief Heb. 3.10 11 19. Now that the Father the Son and the holy Spirit in the Prophets should utter such deep desires and large professions for the welfare of a People with weeping and great lamentations upon their neglect of that which should have been for their welfare Psal 69.22 Also confirming his desires by the immutable Oath of himself and yet notwithstanding know them even from the first altogether uncapable of happiness and well-being and that for want of that grace which himself is the only giver of That God I say whose Attributes of love and mercy are met together with truth and righteousness and kisseth each other Psal 85.10 should thus declare himself is altogether incredible for if he sent not his Son to die for them there is no other Name given under heaven whereby they might be saved Act. 4.11 12. The sence of these things being much upon my heart leads me forth yet further to question with you viz. How the wise God the Father could grieve forty years long for a Peoples unbelief if there was no Salvation for them to believe in And how Christ the Son of God could marvel at the Peoples Unbelief if he tasted not death for them whereby they might believe Mar. 6.6 And how the holy Spirit the gift of God could strive with men for their good if Christ in whom is all good was not intended for them The Father the Son and the Spirit according to the Scriptures of truth in all ages plainly declareth That he would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2.4 in order to which he exercised much long-patience sending his servants calling upon them and beseeching them to be reconciled unto himself 2 Cor. 5.20 And so God preparing all things ready for them and using a sufficiency of means whereby they might come and receive it according to the Parable that is to say might believe and eternally be saved Joh. 1.7 Jo. 3.17.2 Thes 2.10 they not coming they not beleeving the God of love in wisdome greiveth for them and upon good grounds sweareth in wrath they shall not enter into his rest Mark well A man 's not doing impossibilities or not beleeving on that which is not is no sober mans wonder cause of grief or ground of wrath Wherefore all these things being considered together with the many more Scriptures that speak to this purpose as also many Scriptures bearing plain Testimony that Christ died for all 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9.2 Cor. 5.15.1 Joh. 2.2 Rom 3.22 And not so much as one Scripture that saith he died but for some therefore with wise and holy Peter I conclude that the Lord God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 and be saved through Christ the Saviour who gave himself a ransome for all to be testified in due time Therefore let all men fear how they testifie against it Object If Christ died for all how is it then that all are not saved Answ Bear with me I pray you if I speak somewhat large to this Question for I know that there is something in the understanding of those that ask this question as the ground thereof which is a great hindrance to the understanding of this glorious truth of Gods love unto all men namely that Adams sin brought him and all his posterity into a state of eternal condemnation in Hell which whosoever beleiveth cannot easily understand how Christ should die for all men say they if he died for all to free them from eternal punishment in hell and Christ dye not in vain then say they How can it be but that all must be saved First consider your mistake touching Adams sin for 't is plain that his sin brought but the first death and the companions thereof as fear shame sickness eating bread in the sweat of the face c. together with the ground cursed for his sake and not eternal torments in Hell which saith the Scripture is the second death Rev. 20.14 First because the second death or eternal torment in Hell was neither threatned to come upon him before his fall Gen. 2.17 neither is it in the least signifyed in the sentence against him after his fall Gen. 3.17.18.19 but rather this Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return this death therefore being only spoken of which is the first death let no man presume above what is written Secondly observe the sence of the Apostle Paul touching this Particular who saith That by one man to wit Adam sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5.12 Now in that he saith that the death which came by Adam passed upon all it followes with much plainness that he understood it to be only the first death that entred into the world by Adams sin because the second death or eternal torment in Hell had not passed upon all and so he could not mean the second death for he right well knew yea and all men do know it had not passed upon Abraham Isaac and Jacob with many others that might be mentioned no nor never shall In vain will it be for any to go about to evade the force of this text by conceiving that it is the desert of eternal death which passed upon all forasmuch as the Apostle in much plainness saith That death passed upon all men not only deserved death but death it self passed also upon them as their desert Thirdly remember and well consider that it is granted on all hands that Adams sin from the beginning did and now doth bring men down to the dust or first death and also well consider that it is as generally beleived that the second death or Hell torments is an eternal fence of misery both upon the soul and body or an eternal horrible dying and never being dead both which being considered you may easily see that if God did intend Hell torment to be the portion of Adams sin either you must imagine that God did purpose and decree and so accordingly declare to Adam that if he sinned he should
of harlots so she going a whoring after her own inventions she hath made all Nations drunk with the wine of the wrath of herfornication Rev. 2.5 and so according to that in Isa 24.5 The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof because they have transgressed the lawes changed the ordinance broken the everlasting covenant and therefore she shall be destroyed Rev. 17.16 And the curse of the Lord God Almighty will devour the earth Isa 24.6 19 20. wrath shall come upon the Gentile nations to the uttermost as it did upon the Jewes yea the Lord will make a full end of the Gentile nations Jer. 30.11 O that men would lay these things to heart and hear and obey the Lord according to the Gospel walking up orderly according to the new Testament in all things in sincerity of heart that they might escape the things that shall come to passe and to stand in Judgement before the Son of man Luke 21.36 And that ye may be sons and daughters of God according to the New Testament in order and so stand before the Lord with acceptance observe well that the first Principle of the doctrine of Christ is Repentance from dead works Heb. 6.1 For the Gospel is to be preached to all as it hath been shewed before that men may repent of all their dead works now repentance is a change of the mind from all that which is evill to all that which is good it hath in it a hearty sorrow for sin and a confession of sin and therefore John the Baptist preaching Repentance they came confessing their sins Math. 3. Repentance is such a thing as changes the man from an evil conversation to that which is very good and also from all false whorish wayes of Worship to the pure Worship of God it hath in it these seven things As first it bringeth forth a continual care as not to commit evil nor to omit good yea a readiness to every good work secondly clearing the matter of fact if it be in wrong done to any man by a wise just restitution if able Luke 19.8 and by doing so no more what ever sin it be confessing it to God with brokenness of heart turning from it Thirdly an inward indignation against all sin Fourthly the sear of God which teacheth a man to depart siom evil and to have a singular respect to all the Commandements of the Lord so as to do them Fiftly a vehement hungring thirsting desire after Righteousness Sixtly a zealous continuing in every good work Seventhly a holy revenge in bringing the body under subjection by fasting esteeming the Commandements of the Lord more then necessary food 2 Cor. 7.11 And so it is repentance or a change of the whole Man from dead works for the wages of sin is death Furthermore that men may do works acceptably in the sight of God the next Principle or teaching of Christ unseparably joyned with Repentance is Faith towards God and that is to beleeve that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that dilligently seek him and that Christ died for our sins and that he was buryed and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and that the blood of Christ is the Blood of the New Testament Shed for the remission of sins and that there is everlasting life and a most glorious Kingdome for all them that beleeve and walk according to the Gospel or New Testament and so Faith is the substance or ground of things which are hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 6.1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4.1 John 2.4 6. yea this faith is of a purifying nature for every one that hath this hope purifyeth himself as Chirst is pure Chap. 3.3 Acts 15.9 The next Principle of the Doctrine of Christ is the Doctrine of Baptismes it is said to be Baptismes because there is a Baptisme of afflictions in a comparative sence in the which Chirstians are dipped into so as the waves goes over them yet are raised out of it by the Lord it is not every affliction but some great affliction and yet this is common to Christians Mat. 20.22 23. Luke 12.50 Psal 42.7 John 16.33 There is also Baptisme or Dipping in Water which is the one Baptisme in a litterall sence which all Believers ought to practice I say it is Dipping in Water because the word in the Greek holds forth a washing by dipping and not sprinkling for it cannot be shewed in the Lexicons as the learned confesse and John Baptised in the River of Jordan Mark 1.5 and Christ when he was Baptized came up out of the water of the river of Jordan Mat. 3.13.16 and Philip and the Eunuch went down both into the water and he baptized him in the water Acts 8.38 39. Baptisme in Water holdeth forth in a likeness a buriall with Christ Rom. 6.3 4. All which declareth that Baptisme is Dipping the whole person in Water and this learned Perkins freely conffesseth in his Golden Chaine Furthermore penitent Men and Women are the only Subjects of Baptisme and not Infants That such as professe faith as aforesaid are to be Baptized and not Infants will appeare because the Lord commands his servants to Go teach all Nations Baptizing them that learn the Gospel so as to believe the same but Infants cannot learn the Gospel by teaching for they know neither good nor evil Deut. 1.39 Therefore it is not lawful to Baptize them That Christ commands such to be Baptized as believe through teaching or preaching is evident from Mat. 28.19 in these words Go and teach all Nations Baptizing them c. That is Them of the Nations that believe for they might not Baptize unbelieving Jewes nor heathens therefore Mark saith being the same with that of Matthew That Christ commands the Gospel to be preached to every creature and He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved so then the Gospel is to be preached to all for this end that all may believe but all do not but they that hear so as to believe the Gospel are to be Baptized and no other are in the Commission or Commandenent of Christ for baptisme it is plain so then they that Baptize Infants do that which they have no Law of Christ for nay it is against the Law of Christ because they cannot beleeve through preaching and so they have not faith for there is but one faith and that comes by hearing Ephes 4.5 Rom. 10.14.17 Object But some say That Infants are apart of the Nations and Nations are to be baptized therefore Infants Answ So are unbeleeving Jewes and Heathens part of the Nations yet are not to be Baptized and so it is plain that Nations are not to be Baptized as such but beleeving men and women as hath been shewed before therefore not Infants Object But some men say That Infants do beleeve from that Scripture Mat. 18. in these words But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which beleeve in
for a time return to the dust and afterwards be raised up again from the dust and so cast into Hell torments which is the second death which imagination is very strange and besides it presupposeth a Resurrection without Christ or else you must imagine that God intended in his saying to Adam Thou shalt die that his soul should go into hell torment the second death and his body to the dust the first death which Dagon-like Image shamefully falls before the Ark of truth First because it renders the coming of Christ the greatest of Gods gifts to man-kind who come not to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saved Iohn 3.17 I say it renders the coming of Christ to be the only cause of a horrible Judgement without the least mixture of mercy upon the bodies of those men whose souls were cast into hell for Adams sin that is to say Christ by his coming raises their bodies from the grave where they were without the fence of any misery and casts them without any cause into everlasting torments Secondly the imagination falls upon the account of Pauls words Rom. 5.12 shewing that that death which came by that one man Adams sin passed upon all wherefore it cannot be meant an eternal death upon the souls of men for that passed not upon the souls of the holy Fathers as aforesaid And thus you may see that neither of these imaginations can stand either according to Scripture or Reason and therefore the truth only remains before you as clearly proved by these considerations namely That Adams sin brought but the first death as hath been shewed and that mens loving darkness rather then the light is the cause of a second death and this may not be rejected because Christ himself saith This is the condemnation Iohn 3.19 Fourthly that Adams sin brought but the first death as aforesaid also appeareth from the Apostles words 1 Cor. 15.21 22. wherein is plainly held forth that Christ will bring all men to a resurrection from that death which comes upon all men by the first Adams sin wherefore it cannot possibly be the second death which he speaks of as brought by Adam for then it supposes all men brought to a resurrection from the second death or Hell torment and so preaches general salvation which is folly to conceive so then with the Prophet I conclude that the Son shall not die eternally for the iniquity of the Father But the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him that is to say upon him alone and not his child so as to bring it to eternal life And the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him that is upon him alone and not his child so as to bring it to eternall death Ezek. 18.20 Well then by this time 't is necessary to mind again our Question namely That if Christ died for all men How is it that all are not saved First by what hath been said you may see in what state man was in by his first Transgression even out of Gods favour and in a state of misery condemned to the first death But God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to taste death for every man Heb. 2.9 Rom. 5.18 and so destroyes him that hath the power of death that is the devil And thus there is purchased by Christ a resurrection for all men from the first death with the gift of God which is eternal life and hence it is that children dying in Infancy cannot be condemned at the last day for of such is the kingdome of God Mat. 19.14 But now men having a being here through Christ come to rebell against God and going out of the way so as there is none righteous no not one Rom. 3.12 they become the children of wrath but such is the love of God that he followes the creature with mercy commanding the Gospel to be preached to every creature which Gospel men not believing the wrath of God abideth on them John 3.36 the light of eternal life and remission of sins in Jesus is held forth but men loves darkness rather then light the prize of glory is put into their hands but they like fooles have no heart to it and so whereas the Objector asketh how it is that all are not saved if Christ dyed for all the answer is in Christs words This is thecondemnation John 3.19 that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evill Thus I judge that the seeming show of the objection vanisheth and that the truth remaineth in its power and plainness namely That Christ died for all men and so setteth all men in a way in which they may come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved The truth of which will appear if you shall take a view of the Scriptures speaking of the Generations from the beginning as first in the very day that Adam fell Christ was promised by God saying The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head and it is said of Abell That by faith he offered a more excellent sacrifice then Cain Heb. 11.4 Shewing plainly that Abell was enlightened touching the promised seed to wit Christ the true Sacrifice in whom he believing his sacrifice became more acceptable then that of Cain also it is said of Enoch that by faith he was translated that he should not see death and before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God and not only so but himself being enlightned touching Christ we find that he Prophesieth also of the coming of Christ with his faints to Judgement Jude 14. And so he was a preacher of the Gospel to others in his and following Generations In like manner we find Noah declared to be a preacher of Righteousness and by Faith preparedan Ark whereby he Condemned the World and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith 1 Pet. 3.18 19 20. 2 Pet. 2.5 Heb. 11.7 All which shewes that Noah was such an eminent light in his Generation that the whole world then in being was so taught and instructed by him he being a Preacher of Righteousness as that they being disobedient thereunto are said thereby to be condemned Also we find very cleerly that the Gospel was Preached to Abraham saying In thee shall all Nations be blessed Gal. 3.8 And afterwards unto his seed the children of Israel in the wilderness as appeareth Heb. 4.2 Among which people God shewed such mighty and wonderful power in saving and delivering them and destroying their enemies as that thereby he declared to all the World that he was Israels God and approved of their Faith and Worship as to instance some of many The Angel smote of the Campe of the Assyrians an hundred four score and five thousand 2 King 19.35 Also God delivering Shadrach Meshach and Abednigo from the fiery Furnace as also Daniel being delivered from the Lions den decrees were made that Every
Jesus Christ ver 19.20 Seeing therefore brethren that by the Blood of Jesus we may be bold to enter into the holiest by the new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is his Flesh So that Jesus that was Baptised of John in the River Jordan was anointed with the oyl of gladness above his fellowes Mat. 3.13 16. Psal 45.7 So Jesus the Saviour is the annointed of God for he gave him not his Spirit by measure John 3.34 and so the spirit of the Lord did rest and abide upon the Man Christ Jesus Isa 11.2 John 1.32 So then the spirit of God or of Christ apart from the Body of Christ is not the Christ Therefore most abominable is that which men say that that which is in them is Christ when it is a spirit of errour and so men may see how through this Mystery of iniquity men come to say they are Christ for consider if the spirit in some man be the Christ what hindreth him to say he is Christ and therefore some one presumes to say he is Christ Let no man mistake me for I say that the spirit of God doth dwell in the Saints that Christ doth dwell in their hearts by faith but note that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 So the just live by faith and look for the Son of God from heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus who delivereth us from the wrath to come But to return so as to shew yet further who hath the spirit of Antichrist they are such as race out the Ordinances of Christ which came in being when Christ came in the flesh which plainly declare Christ come in the flesh dead and risen again as baptisme of Water and Breaking of Bread which doth declare the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 Rom. 6.34 Col. 2.12 Now there are a sort of men which say to know or acknowledge Christ in the practice of those Ordinances is formal and sleshly low and carnal and so reject the counsel of God and will not be Baptised and so not walking up in the Ordinances that did come in being when Christ came in the flesh and do so excellently declare him come in the flesh and are to continue untill Christ come from heaven and change our vile bodies and make them like his most glorious body Phil. 3.20 21. I say those that do slight and reject those Ordinances and say they are formal and will not practice them have the spirit of Antichrist do deny Christ come in the flesh because they will not practice those Ordinances that declare Christ come in the flesh yea more fully then the Whore for she hath a shew and so a remembrance of the Ordinances though she have changed the subject the manner as aforesaid but These root out the very being of them as much as in them lieth and so deny Christ come in the flesh so are discovered to have the spirit of Antichrist Also those that have been en lightened and have believed the Resurrection of the body and also the eternal Judgment and then come to question it and deny it and say the Judgment day is come have the spirit of Antichrist for Christ being put to death in the flesh and rising again from the dead so bringeth in the Resurrection of the Bodies of all men then cometh in the eternal Judgment according to that in Act. 17.30 31. He hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he hath appointed whereof he hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead so as by man came death by man came also the Resurrection of the dead For as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive but every man in his own order the first fruits is Christs afterward they that are of Christ at his coming 1 Cor. 15.21 22 23. So Christ being come in the flesh the Man Christ Saviour died and rose again and so comes in the Resurrection and no otherwise therefore they that have been enlightned in the Resurrection the eternal Judgment and come to say they are in the Resurrection or that it is past already and so deny the Resurrection of the body deny Christ come in the flesh and so have the spirit of Antichrist and therefore John writing to the Saints warning them that they take beed of the Antichristian spirit that they be not deceived exhorteth them thus Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning if that which you have heard from the beginning shall remaine in you yea also shall continue in the Son and in the Father 1 John 2.24 read also for this purpose the whole Chapt. Now that which they heard from the beginning was the beginning word of Christ according to that of Paul 1 Cor. 15.3 4. which he delivered first of all to the Corinthians That Christ Died for our sins according to the Scriptures c. and the first Principles of the word of God which is the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ to wit Repentance from dead works and of Faith towards God the Doctrine of Baptismes and of Laying on of Hands and of the Resurrection of the dead and of eternal Judgment Heb. 5.12 Chap 6.1 2. Now these Principles of the teachings of Christ came in being by and through Christ being manifest in flesh his death and Resurrection as hath been shewed before therefore whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God for he denies Christ come in the flesh and so he hath the spirit of Antichrist 2 John 6.7 8 9 10 11. and so there was many that had the spirit of Antichrist in the Apostle Johns time and so many Antichrists they are said to be Antichrists because they have the spirit of the Man of Sin the Antichrist 1 John 2.18 Chap. 4.2 3. But the Antichrist the Man of Sin shall be possessed will the Spirit of the Devil above his fellows and so is said to be The Antichrist The Man of Sin And so having in part declared what is the Spirit of Antichrist and who hath that Spirit I come now to the fourth thing which is That Antichrist will be a single person And for the proof of this first consider how the Antichrist is set out in Scripture in the singular number not in the plural as the Man of Sin 2 Thes 2.3 not men and Isa 14.16 Is this the Man that made the earth to tremble and did shake the Kingdomes the Son of the morning and Son of perdition not sons the vile Person not Persons Dan. 11.21 Isa 24.12 there fell a great Star from Heaven not Stars Object This in Isa 14. was fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel of Chaldee Answ That cannot be for after this power that is there
THE WHOLE FAITH OF MAN Being the Gospel declared in plainness as it is in JESUS and the way thereof of old confirmed by divers Signs Wonders Miracles and Gifts of the holy Ghost In thirty six Heads setting out Mans way work from the day of his Conversion to the day of his Dissolution and what therein is both to be believed and practised The Second Edition much Enlarged By WILL. JEFFERY who hath for years been a poor Labourer in Christs Vineyard So likewise ye when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you say We are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Luke 17.10 London Printed by G. Dawson for Francis Smith in Flying-Horse Court in Fleet-street near Chancery lane end and Stephen Dagnal of Alisbury 1659. TO The Christian READER Loving Reader THis work presented to thy view read I pray with diligence and care imploying thy whole understanding to observe what 〈◊〉 written herein whether it be according to the Scriptures of truth and finding it so lay it up in thy heart and bring it forth in Conversation and in Worship and that thou mayest so do mark well the Scriptures that are brought for the proof of that which is said and for the right understanding of the Scriptures note these five things First who it is that speaketh Secondly the ground or cause of the Word spoken Thirdly what is spoken Fourthly the time when Fifthly to whom it speaketh And labour to understand Prophecies whether they be fulfilled or no and mistake not so as to think that Parables or Comparisons in Scripture prove nothing for they do excellently prove things if rightly understood for the Parable of the unjust Iudge and the Widdow Luk. 18. v. 1. proveth that men ought alwayes to pray and not to faint and that in Rev. 16.15 which saith that Christ will come as a thiefe proveth that Christ will come suddenly and that day of the Lord shall come upon ungodly men unawares yea as a snare shall it take them 2 Thes 5.23 but it doth not prove that Christ will come unrighteously as a thief for that connot be So Parables and Comparisons in the Scriptures prove excellently the things for which they are brought but beware of using them beyond their line and also note that a Commandment or Precept only gives ground to duty for where no Law is there is no transgression mistake not for the manner of the performance of the duty is not alwayes in all things laid down in the Commandment so the primitive examples of the People of God for the manner of the performance of duty is very safe and where there is no example of the People of God in the Scriptures for the manner as aforesaid take heed that the duty be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14.40 James 5.14 But stand in awe in the fear of God and beware that you add not to the Commandment nor diminish therefrom in the performance of duty for he that shall presume to speak a word in the name of the Lord which he hath not commanded him shall die Deut. 18.20 Pro. 30.6 Revel 22.18 19. Mind also that according to the Law and the Prophets and New Testament are to hear Christ in all things yea to give more heed to Christ then Israel was to Moses Heb. 2.1 2. Chap. 12.25 and to labour to understand what the first Testament is and who were the children hereof and what is the new Testament and who are the children thereof and let no man that believeth and is added to the Church according to the Scripture content himself in a child like state but labour with all diligence to come to mans stature being strong in Christ 1 Epistle of John 2.13 14. For in these last dayes will come in all deceiveableness of unrighteousness and so many will fall away the age groweth ripe many run to and fro and knowledge is increased therefore labour to understand the Mysteries of the Scripture walk up purely in all that thou knowest for they shall be revealed and fulfilled in these latter dayes yea whosoever thou art observe more what is declared it being truth then the manner of the declaring it be not offended at the plainness or poverty of the man that speaketh he speaking as the Oracles of God For God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise I have studied brevity for many reasons therefore heed well what is spoken and so have thy heart open for truth but closed up against all errour and try all spirits by the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament For if they speak not According to the Law and Testamony it is because there is no light in them Isai 8.20 And so read this Book with a single eye for it very highly concerns thy eternal life for for this end was it written that men might know the good old way of the Gospel and walk therein and so find rest for their souls and that God might have all the Glory and this is the sincere desire of him that is ready to serve thee with all his might in he strength of the Lord in the work of his Generation William Ieffery A TABLE OF The principal Matters spoken to or handled in this Book 1. THe Gospel what it is Page 1 2. That the Gospel is to be preached to all Men. Page 2 3. That Christ dyed for all Men. Page 4 4. That God through Christs death in the ministration of the Gospel sets all men in a way to come to the knowledge of the truth and be eternally saved Page 6 5. How Men in all ages were set in that way Page 9 6. What Adams sin brought upon all the sans of Men. Page 13 7. How Christ redeemed all Men from the first death and all the guilt or punishment of Adams sin Page 18 8. That all Infants dying in Infancie shall be saved Page 17 9. The great cause of condemnation and what it is Page 21 10. How Men are given up to blinded eyes and hardned hearts and wherefore Page 30 11. How Gods Decree takes hold of Men to condemnation Page 27 12. Gods Decree concerning Election to salvation Page 32 13. Why none but Beleevers are chosen to salvation and yet foreseen faith not the cause Page 33 14. The first Testament what it is in the strictest sence and what it is in the largest and who were the children thereof and how is it cast out and its children and the difference between the Law of Faith and the Law of Works and a word of the abolishing of the seventh day Sabbath Page 35 15. What the second Testament in the strictest fence and what in the largest and who are the children thereof and who the Ministers thereof and the vast disproportion between the first Testament and the Second Page 42 16. What Repentance is and what Faith is and the nature thereof Page 52 17. That Bilievers onely are the
lively set it forth for the corn doth not bring forth except it die that is be changed for so the word die holds it forth so the natural body cannot be made a spiritual body except it die or be changed and so God giveth it another body as it pleaseth him for he maketh that natural body a spiritual body and so it puts on immortality at the resurrection day and so the same flesh and blood as it is a corruptible body cannot inherit the kingdome of God as the Apostle saith flesh and bloud cannot inherit the kingdome of God but that corruptible body of flesh shall be an incorruptible body of flesh for it shall be flesh and bones after the Resurrection for Christs body was so after he was risen Luke 24.39 So then it is the same body that dyeth that shall be raised only it shall be made incorruptible and in all perfection for this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Cor. 15.53 So it cannot dye nor go down to death any more and therefore when it riseth from the grave or the dead it triumpheth over death and the grave as it appeareth at large 1 Cor. 15. from vers 35. to 57. And to this agreeth very sweetly that in Hosea 13.14 I will ransome them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death O death I will be thy death O grave I will be thy destruction repentance shall be hid from mine eyes God is not as man that he should repent he will make good his promise his name is Jehovah making good his promises note also I pray that in Isa 25.8 He will swallow up death in victory and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from all the earth for the Lord hath spoken it Thirdly regeneration or the knowledge of God in the highest degree that can be attained on this side the grave is no where in Scripture called a Resurrection therefore I conclude that that is no Resurrection and that this is good reasoning it appeareth plainly Heb. 1.8 and if we note the Scripture we may see this only is a resurrection which is the rising from the grave or from the dead after the breath is departed because Job saith that he shall See God in his flesh and them very eyes and no other shall behold him for him Job 19.25 26. Note that he saith he shall see God in his flesh which sheweth that the same flesh shall rise again and be made incorrupti ble yea immortall and then shall see Godface to face yea in his glory Rev. 22.4 Fourthly that the dead shall rise at the comming of Christ is shewn by many examples we read of in the Scriptures how the dead were raised 1 Kings 17. Elijah raised the widdowes Son and in 2 Kings 4. Elisha raised the Shunamites child from the dead and chap. 32.21 Math. 27.52 53. The graves were opened and bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city appeared unto many note the bodies of the Saints arose therefore the bodies of the children of God shall rife from the dead and so the Lord Jesus raised Lazarus his body from the grave when he had been dead four dayes Jo. 11.39 44. Act. 9.37 41. Peter raised Tabitha so then the dead were raised in the time of the law and by Christ and his Apostles to the glory of God which teacheth us that it is not a thing incredible that God should raise again the dead yea seeing Christ the first fruits is raised afterward they that are Christs at his coming 1 Cor. 15.23 Fifthly Christ proves the resurrection by that which was written by Moses after Abraham Isaac and Jacob was dead that God was a God to them though they were dead yet God is not a God to the dead but to the living for all live unto him therefore Abraham Isaac and Jacob must rise again Luke 20.37 38. so many shall come from the East West North and South and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdome of God Luk. 13.28 29. so if the Scriptures be true the dead must rise but heaven and earth must pass away but not one jot or tittle of his word shall not faile Mat. 5.18 Ch. 24.39 Therefore the resurrection is certaine and a blessed truth Sixtly that the just and unjust shall rise from the dead is plain in that Christ saith John the 5.28 29. Marvaile not at this for the hour shall come in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voyce and they shall come forth that have done good unto the resurrection of life but they that have done evil unto the resurrectiof condemnation And Paul makes it the great Article of his faith when he was accused of the Jewes Act. 24.14 freely confessing unto the Governour that after the way which they call heresie so worshiped he the God of his Fathers beleeving all things which are witten in the law and the Prophets and had hope towards God that the resurrection of the dead which they themselves look for also shall be both of just and unjust and so I conclude the just mans body shall be raised from the grave or be changed and the unjust also The next Principle of the Doctrine of Christ is the Eternal Judgment and that is this That every man shall be judged according to his works done in the flesh be they good or evil Math. 16.27 for the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then shall he give to every man according to his deeds Mat. 25.31 32. When the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall seperate them one from another as a shepheard seperateth the Sheep from the Goats For we must all appear before the judgment Seat of Christ that every man may receive the things which are done in his body according to that he hath done whether they be good or evil So that the Saints must give an account of all that they have done at the day of Judgment after they are raised from the dead or changed being made immortal For God will bring every work unto judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or evil Eccl. 12.14 And to this Christ speaks very fully Mat. 12.26 That of every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account at the day of judgment For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned So Paul saith We shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 so that God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel Rom. 2.16 but Saints sins
shall not be mentioned so as to condemnation but shall be blotted out at that good day that day of refreshing Act. 3.19 So that through Christ which is the substance of the Scape-goat the Saints sins shall be seperated from them and so they shall be presented before the father without spot or wriukle or any such thing holy and without blame Eph. 5.27 and so Paul saith to the Saints at Rome That every one of us shall give account of himself to God Rom. 14.12 and so the discovery of their good and bad works they being brought to judgment will exceedingly set out the love goodness mercy and compassion of the Lord God in forgiving the debt or payment for Christs sake his faithfulness justice and righteousness in making good his promise in rewarding them according to their works for he will not forget their work and labour of love This Doctrine doth teach the children of God to walk very circumspectly redeeming the time applying their hearts to wisdome cleansing themselves from all filthyness of flesh and spirit prefecting holyness in the fear of God and to abound in love one towards another and towards all men adding to faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness Charity or love For that faith which worketh by love is availeable to Justification Gal. 5.6 and the duties done in love only will avail in the day of judgment 1 Cor. 13. Therefore let us have respect to all the Commandements of the Lord for in keeping of them in love there is great reward yea let us cloath our selves with righteousness as with a garment reaching after that which is before following hard towards the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus giving up themselves to watch and pray that so they may stand compleat in all the will of God So then they that die in the Lord or are found in him at his coming shall receive eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord for the gift of God is eternal life Rom. 6.23 and also eternal death will be the portion of them that obey not the Gospel Mat. 26.46 2 Thes 1.8 9. yea they that are not found written in the book of life shall be cast into the lake of fire Rev. 20.15 and this is the eternal judgment for it is unrevokable and this shall be when Christ cometh in his own person and not before that very person that was peirced with a spear yea that very person that dyed and rose again from the dead the third day which the Apostles did see and handle yea he was seen of five hundred brethren at once and many if not all did see him aseend into Heaven Act. 1.11 Zach. 12.10 Luk 24.39 40. Jo. 20.27 and so the Apostle Paul possitively asserts from the word of the Lord that the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with a voyce of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first yea if you read from the 13 verse of that Chapter to the end you will see that the same Jesus that died and rose again from the dead shall descend from Heaven and all the Saints shall be raised and they that be alive at his coming shall be changed and shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the ayre and so shall be ever with the Lord and so shall be made perfect altogether Heb. 11.40 Object But it is said by some that it is not the person that shall be judged and cast into torments or hell but sin or the lust of the flesh and the tempter which is Satan and therefore they bring that in Revel 20. Death and hell is cast into the lake of fire not men say they but sin Answ It is unjust men as they do consist of soul body and spirit that shall be judged and cast into the lake of fire and there shall be tormented for ever and ever for their sin 1. Because soul body and spirit may be blamed at the coming of Christ 1 Thes 5.23 and they that are then blamed and set at the left hand of Christ as goats are cursed and delivered over to everlasting torments Math. 25.41 45 46. 2. Because the fearful and unbeleeving and whoremongers and Idolaters and murtherers sorcerers and all that loveth or maketh a lie shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21.8 and Ch. 22.15 it is not the sin or the lie but the sinner and the liar so it is the man that lusteth and so committeth sin and repenteth not he shall be punished for ever for that is the second death and so death is cast into the lake of fire for the second death or everlasting punishment for sin is to be in the lake of fire Rev. 20.14 And for hell the grave and hell in the Scripture is taken for all one as it appeareth ver 13. So the earth shall be in the lake of fire or a great part of it when God causeth the elements to run together again 2 Pet. 3.10 and the Divel which is the tempter shall be cast into the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet or man of sin shall be in torments for evermore Revel 14.11 and 20.10 These Principles or foundations Peices or Pillars upon which wisdome builds her house Prov. 9.1 are the Doctrine or commandement of Christ and are laid down upon Jesus Christ the cheife Corner stone Ephes 2.20 Heb. 6.2 And there is no man or woman that can be judged or lookt upon as a Christian in order according to the Scriptures nor to be received into communion with the Church except he beleeve and practise this Doctrine mistake me not there may be some that walk up to their light and neglect not to know more that may be precious in the sight of God but we are to look to the order of the new Testament and to walk accordingly doing all things decently and in order 1 Cor. 14.40 Therefore no man ought to be received into communion in a Church state but those that do own and practise all the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ as aforesaid And that this ought to be so first consider that all that began to be Christians owned all this beginning Doctrine of Christ Heb. 6.1 and therefore they are called the first Principles of the Word of God and milk for Babes Heb. 5.12 13. or the word of the beginning of Christ and so the beginning of a Christian man and the three thousand which gladly received the word were baptised Act. 2.41 42. that is dipped in water and continued in the Apostles Doctrine which is the Doctrine of Christ Secondly As they under the Law of Sacrifices were to walk up in all the Law which did hold out Christ to come in the flesh doing all the commandements
to beget familiarity and love one with another it being done decently and in order Also as James saith Is any among you afflicted let him pray is any merry let him sing is any sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray for him and anoint him with oyl in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sin it shall be forgiven him Acknowledge your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed for the prayer of a righteous man availeth much if it be fervent James 5.13 14 15 16 17 18. Mar. 6.13 You may see there is faith required in the actors in this Ordinance and agreement and then the Lord will make good his promise for he is faithful and cannot deny himself Also Prayer with Fasting is a duty for the whole Church Isa 58. Luk. 5.33 35. Act. 14.23 especially for every Saint in private entering into the Closet or some secret place that he be not seen of men Mat. 6.5 6 16 17 18. Let every child of God be often in this duty 2 Cor. 6.5 he will profit very much thereby they that neglect this duty will not stand or very hardly stand in these last times the Lord put all his people upon this duty that we may be able through grace to stand before the Son of Man Luk. 21.36 Also the way to deal with Members of the Church if they sin against God is as followeth First if it be a private trespass he that trespasseth is to be told of it as in Mat. 18.15 And if he repent he is to be forgiven Luk. 17.3 for we ought to be like our heavenly Father and if he hear not he that is trespassed against is to call 〈◊〉 with him one or two more as in Mat. 〈◊〉 16. But if he hear not then tell it to the Church and if he hear the Church she is also to forgive him 2 Cor. 2.7 but if he refuse to hear the Church let him be unto the Church as a Heathen man and a Publican Also note he that sinneth privately is speedily to be brought to the Church the next Church meeting after he hath sinned if possible First because we are not to suffer sin upon our brother but plainly to rebuke him Levit. 19.17 Secondly because he may not pray that doth not confess his sin and be reconciled to his Brother for if he bring his gift to the Altar Christ and remember that his brother hath ought against him let him not offer it but first be reconciled to his Brother Math. 5.23 24. Heb. 13.10 Further I say he must be brought to the Church the next meeting for else the Church will have communion with him that lieth in his sin and he will be in fault that brings him not orderly to the Church Also they that sin openly are to be rebuked before all that others also may fear 1 Tim. 5.20 And so Paul blamed Peter before all men Gal. 2.11 14. And he that is admonished by the Church and doth not hear the Church is to be delivered to Satan and so to withdraw from him yea not to have so much company as to eat common food and so the Apostle exhorts and commandeth the Corinthians to deliver the Fornicator that had his Fathers wife And if any man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or Idolater or Railer or a Drunkard or an Extortioner with such a one eat not 1 Cor. 5.3 10 11. And so he commands the Thessalonians in the name of the Lord Jesus to withdraw from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the instructions which they received of him and if any man obey not their sayings that they should note him by letter and have no Company with him that he may be ashamed yet count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a Brother 2 Thes 3.6 14 15. So it is plain that they that sin and will not hear the Church when they are brought before them so as to confesse their sin and turn from it yea to make restitution if they be able if they hear not the Church is to deliver to Satan or to withdraw from him or them and then to admonish him two or three times solemnly and in the fear of God not counting him as an enemy but admonishing him as a brother with all long suffering and if he then neglect to hear the Church she is to reject him and to let him be as a Heathen man and a Publican and a man being so rejected or so cut off I do not see how he can repent yea I am very much perswaded that he will never repent I say the Church must admonish two or three times before she do reject or cut off because she ought to be like her heavenly father merciful as he is meriful and long suffering Again he that is an Heretick ought to have the first and second admonition before he is rejected therefore all other ought to have two or three admonitions before any are rejected or cut off Titus 3.10 Also I say that the man that is under dealing being three times wisely and seriously admonished by the Church and rejected I do not see how he can repent First because whatsoever the Church binds on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever they loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven now a man being once alive through believing and then through sin become as a heathen and a Publican or as a dead man and so bound how can he live again except a man twice dead may live again Jude 12. Secondly No man cutteth a naturall member from a natural body except it be rotten and so endanger the whole body even so also in the spirituall body the Church is to cut off them that will endanger the whole body so as to carry them to hell Mat. 18.8 9. So a member of a natural body being cut off cannot be set on again so when a Church hath rejected or cut off a member how can it be received in again Thirdly If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha had in execration yea excommunicate to death 1 Cor. 16.22 or as some translation reads it that the meaning of the word may be this let him be accurssed even to the coming of the Lord that is to say to his deaths day even for ever now he that loves not the Lord is he that keepeth not his commandments or his sayings John 14.15 23. and he that sinneth and will not hear the Church being so often admonished as the Lord hath appointed in his word doth not keep the saying of Christ and so loves not the Lord therefore is to be rejected or excommunicated unto death till the Lord come so according to that in Prov. 29.1 he that being often reproved hardneth his neck
Head being in part taken away and the seventh Head arising he giving some liberty of conscience the Gospel is preached and truth appears and many receive the knowledg of it and obey it and many fall away from it and so the spirit of Antichrist ariseth and so the seventh Head of the Roman Beast shall take away the sixth Head and shall continue a short space Rev. 17.10 and so the ten Horns also shall arise in one hour with the beast that was and is not even he is the Eighth and is of the Seventh vers 11 12. and so is the little Horn that Daniel speaks of Dan. 7.11 24 25. and the last power or Beast the Antichrist the Man of Sin and so the seventh Head and ten Horns or Kings giving liberty the servants of God sends forth the truth as it is in Jesus ministring in the Gospel glad tidings of the Kingdome to the Nations men come to know the truth and so are enlightened with it and so many may come to shine as Stars and yet fall away as the Antichrist or man of sin himself will be some notable man shining as a Star for a time yet afterward falling from the truth according to that in Rev. 8.10 11. The third Angel sounded and there fell a great Star from Heaven burning as it were a lamp and it fell upon the third part of the rivers and upon the fountains of waters and the name of the Star is called Wormwood and the third part of the waters became Worm-wood and many men dyed of the waters because they were made bitter So the man of Sin falls from the truth or true Church as a great Star from Heaven burning like a Lamp through Satans transforming himself as into an Angel of light and so falls upon the rivers and fountains of waters so that he maketh them bitter so the sweet promises of the Gospel and the way of Christ in which men shall be made partakers of the waters of life and so made glad in the City of God are so made bitter like Wormwood changing the taste of them so that many men die of those waters according to that of Jude 12. Twice dead plucked up by the roots and thus he causeth men to fall so that the third part of the Sun is smitten and the third part of the Moon and the third part of the Stars so as the third part of them is darkned and the day shone not for a third part of it nor the night likewise Rev. 8.12 The Sun is hear compared to the Church because the Church or Saints through Christ are said to be the light of the world Mat. 5.14 and so Jacob who is called Israel according to Josephs dream is compared to the Sun Gen. 37.9 10. The Moon I take to be the world or the Whore the false Church which hath her light from the true Church as the Moon hath her light from the Sun the Stars are the eminent teachers in the Churches Rev. 1.20 and this in the eight chapter before spoken of is an allegory because the waters are said to become Wormwood and yet men drink of them which cannot be if they were made Wormwood therefore it is Allegorical that the word of the Gospel in the ministration of the Prophets is compared to water look Ezek. 34.18 19. Isa 55.1 Rev. 22.17 So then a many of the Church will fall from the faith and the Stars the Elders or chief teachers also and many of the World or false Church that shall be enlightened and will not obey shall be darkned and so shall lose that light they have and so shall be given up to gross darkness and so after a great falling away from the truth So the man of Sin the Antichrist is revealed and getteth the power and rule by flatteries after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness and So opposeth exalteth himself above all that is called God or is worshiped so that He as God sitteth in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God Dan. 11.21 2 Thes 2.3 4 9 10. And so I come to the sixth Particular which is Some of the great things that the man of Sin willdo with his false Prophet Which in the first place take what Daniel saith of him setting him out by a little Horne Chap. 7.8 11 24 25. he saith That he shall subdue three Kings and he shall speak Great words against the most high and shall wear out the Saints of the most high and think to change times and lawés and they shall be given into his hand untill a time and times and the deviding of times And so he shall reign in full power three years and a half for time is taken for one year times for two years and half a time for half a year as in Dan. 4.25 some translation reads for seven times seven years and so the woman Cloathed with the Sun that flies from him into the wilderness and is there three years and a half Rev. 12.1 14. so he shall presecute the Saints of the most high ver 11 17. and the false prophet causeh the first beast whose deadly wound was healed to be worshipped and he doth great wonders so that he maketh fire to come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he shall have power to do in the sight of the beast saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword did live had power to give life or breath to the image of the beast that the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed and he causeth all both small and great rich and poor free and bond to give a mark in their right hands or in their foreheads and that no man might buy or sell save he that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name Rev. 13.11 to 18. So the Beast that hath a wound with a sword that is the seventh Head is slain to death yet he having another which is of the seventh and is the eighth and so liveth and so it is the Beast that was and is not and yet is and so the false Prophet shall by miracles cause the world to worship the Beast the man of sin the Antichrist as God sitting in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God 2 Thes 2.4 and cause as many as will not worship the beast or his image to be killed and so the fallen Star before mentioned which is the Beast the Antichrist ascendeth out of the bottomless pit the key of the bottomless pit being given him he openeth the bottomless pit and then ariseth a smoak out of the pit as the smoak