breaking of bread was the communion of his Body so the Church then must needs be but the dead body of the Lord but now in Babylon we are not onely the dead body but dry bones And as death appeared in their worships so in their walking in the world they were dead to it and the world dead crucfied to them Gal. 2.20 2 Cor. 4.10 for they always bare in their body the dying of the Lord Iesus which made them wait for the resurrection of the dead that the life of Iesus might be manifest in their mortal flesh in which when the life of Jesus appears then the body is said to be raised this is the resurrection of the dead Paul had not attained to the redemption of the Body which Paul waited for Rom. 8.23 Phil. 3.11 And not onely for himself but he waited when all the Saints should rise with him in the Body for then the Body of the Lord the dead Body of Christ is raised out of Babylon Now Brethren we all in these dayes are not onely his dead Body as the legal and Gospel-Churches were but we are the dead Body in Babylon yea we are dry bones very dry not onely dead but long dead for many hundred of years the Churches have been so ever since the Apostacie which Apostacie is now manifestly revealed in the Churches I say we are dry bones not onely the dead body as Gospel-Churches were who had the flesh of Christ on them and the Spirit of Christ in them I mean the manifestation of the Spirit in manifold Gifts for that was the Spirit which Jesus gave when he was glorified which we have not and therefore are dry Bones Againe we have no flesh not the flesh of Christ on us I mean his crucified flesh for that the Gospel-Churches had and glorifyed in it but the Cross is a thing now we cannot abide to bear as if we had tasted the delicacies of the Whore Rom. 5.3 Gal. 6.14 we with our Churches must bear rule in Commonwealths and Kingdomes yea though Christs Kingdome was not of this world John 18.3 6. yet the best of us fancy a reigne of Christ on earth for a thousand years and the Saints to reigne with him in an earthly manner and outward observation with rest and peace and power Luk. 17.20 21. and plenty this was not the flesh of Christ Thirdly I shewed we have not the flesh of Christ in us not the Faith of the Son of God nor that love in the Spirit nor so much as Scripture for any of our Gospel-Ordinances as I have and shall prove with God another time Fourthly we are dry Bones very dry indeed if our Faith be dead and no Gospel-Faith nor yet any knowledge so much as of the Ordinances we live in for which of the Churches conceive all this while that Baptism and Breaking of bread did hold forth nothing else even to Gospel-Saints but the dead body of the Lord which they also were indeed But we as I said are dry bones further from life then they because we think we are alive when we are not onely dead but dry bones yea very dry indeed that we know not our life at all 1 Pet. 1.3 Ezek. 37.11 compare Ezek. 37.3 Yea we are so dead and dry we have neither Faith nor Love nor yet any lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead the fruit of whose resurrection we look not for till many hundred years hence at the last day when we are dead and gone and turned to dust or dry bones Esa 26.29 whereas we consider not we are dry bones already and dwell in the dust this day I do not condemn you brethren for this that your hope is not lively that you look not for your resurrection from Babylon for you are but dry bones the whole house of Israel was so and they say our bones are dryed our hope is lost and we are cut off for our parts Ezek. 37.11 that is it may be other generations may see the glory talked to be in the last times but we are cut off for our parts our children may possess it but for our parts we have no hopes to enjoy it or in this life to be raised out of our graves But Oh my people saith God I will open your graves and cause you to come out of your graves and bring you to the land of Israel v. 12. Pray brethren consider God will not onely open your graves that you may know you are dead and dry bones but he will cause you whether you will or no to come out of your graves of forms and flesh and bring you to the land of Israel to live in the Spirit to see your life in the Lord alone that your life may be no more hid with Christ in God but that Christ who is your life shall appear in you and your life may appear to be in God The greatest work that God hath to do with you this day is to make you see you are dead that 's the end why he does dash and divide you disquiet and destroy all your comforts for I know you are shaking already and 't is a mercy to you that God will disquiet the Inhabitants of Babylon Jer. 50.34 that you shall have no rest till you return to his land even to the Lord that lives within you and loves you as his own Son though the Body be dead for then when dead the beloved of your Father was in perfect union with him as well as when he was living in the flesh and doing wonders in the Spirit Oh brethren see your selves at last the dead body of the Lord for then you shall arise and live Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body they shall arise awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust that 's dry bones Isai 26.19 This cannot be meant of the last resurrection when all shall rise for here some shall not rise v. 14. but you brethren shall rise when as soon as you are become the dead body of the Lord for so the words are read Thy dead men shall live my dead body they shall arise that is when we see our selves the dead body of the Lord we rise and live immediately in the midst of death and sing in the dust yea though dry bones and in the lowest estate of flesh we can comfortably wait for the Spirit and for the comming of the Lord in us that by the same Spirit which raised his dead body we the dead body of the Lord may be raised up together with him Truly brethren the living God knows that all I have written or shall is not intended by me to trouble your walkings but to give our rest in the Lord alone at last not meerly to throw down your Churches or for your fall but to raise you up that we all may live together with Christ in God Farewell Yours William Erbery FINIS A Call
A Call to the Churches OR A Packet of Letters To the PASTORS of WALES Presented To the Baptized Teachers there WITH A Postscript of a Welsh Dispute By WILL. ERBERY What shall one then answer the Messengers of the Nation That the Lord hath founded Zion and the poor of his peoâ—le shall repair unto it Isa 14.32 The first shall say to Zion Behold them and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tydings For I beheld and there was no man amongst them and there was no Counsellor that when I asked of them could answer me a word Isai 41.27 28 29. Printed at London 1653. TO The Baptized Churches IN SOUTH WALES Dear Brethren WHat I have written to the Independant Pastors in Wales that I present to the Baptized Churches there that in the first Letter of Mr. Floyd you may see a man in the Clouds come with me to his A.B.C. after all his teachings not knowing what God is where when or how he is above all through all in all and all of him c. yet in this Cloud coming forth from the North he begins to see the Lord in the Aire Ezek. 1.4 Rev. 1.7 and meets him there yea in this confusion he beholds Christ in him crucified in his flesh whose inward flesh and former spiritual attainments in life light knowledge c. being so slain so dead so dark so confounded that he knows not what he is nor where he goes and yet he is going into the internal eternal spirit as a blind man not seeing any thing of Men Saints Isa 42.16 Officers Ordinances Isa 40.16.17 29 30 31. Spirits Churches c. though there he be and one of the best yet now he is nothing God appearing in him to be all in all There you may finde him following the intern spirit of the inward Heaven Isa 30.20 .. Mich. 7.8 dropping downe in the Nights and in darkness the Lord a light unto him for that 's the great mystery of Godliness when God is so manifest in our flesh Isa 40.5 6. that he makes our flesh and the goodliness thereof to wither unto nothing that his glory may be revealed in us and he to be All in All. That being being blind to self Isa 29.18 Isa 26.19 we see all things in God being deaf to men we hear God alone in the death of pure flesh we live perfectly in the Spirit thus we live in death have light in darkness c. or the Lord only is both life and light unto us we nothing God being All in All. All this you mâ—y behold in this honest man acquainted at last with the heaveâ—ly nature walking up to the Angelical world and with drawing himself into the inner world the more spiritual chamber to converse with the inhabitants there c. looking downe on the son of man as a vanity a glance a branch yea a shadow yet an off-spring of the eternal root where the least child of God like the little little twig co-saps with the other branches of highest growth in the most high God or glory that is in us All this I have hinted to you that you may as I say see a man in the Clouds where yet he meets with the Lord in the Ayre on which though now the last vial full of wrath is poured forth Rev. 16.17 yet there all the Saints shall meet at last in love and be ever together with the Lord 1 Thes 4.17 who hath already taken up some and that Saint before in whose Spirit you may read those secret and spiritual discoveries of God those high and hidden mysteries of Heaven which are not yet in common revealed to the Churches Isa 19.18 who scarce understand the language of Canaan nor the Contents of those lines If any of you doe I desire your answer to him for I cannot in paper and ink though all his be written in my heart by the Spirit and Himself in me I have many things to say unto you which yet you cannot bear but you must because 't is a burden which the Lord layes on you and a burden which the Prophets have foretold upon your gathered Churches even their confusion and fall though some of you may rise at last with all the scattered Saints The first onely I would now convince you that you and I with all the Saints this day are still in Babylon both gathered Churches and scattered Saints Ezek. 37.11 16. like those two sticks in divided Societies as I have often told you and those dry bones the whole house of Israel even all the people of God are declared to be by the Prophet who yet foretels their first resurrection nor rising from their graves of forms and flesh but as none can see God but the blind nor hear him but the deaf so none can rise but the dead and the dead in Christ rise first while those who live in Forms in the flesh of Christ who are the rest of the dead shall not live nor be raised till the end of the thousand years Rev. 25. compared with Isa 26.14 The Prophet Isaiah there shews the cause of their not rising Isa 26.13 other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us and that is not only Lord Bishops but other ruling Elders beside what the Lord ordained other Ordinances in the Church which never came to his minde as I shall prove in particular with God another time there being no Gospel-Order nor Ordinance nor Office in any of your Churches this day Yea I proved it plain at Bridgend that you are not in a capacity to baptize or be baptized there being no true Administrator nor a man sent of God with power from on high to baptize First because you have not the faith of the Gospol Secondly you are fallen from your first love therefore the Apostacy is compleat and perfect and appears most visible in your Churches How have you the faith of the Gospel since the Gospel is a Mystery which none of you know having not that manifestation of the Spirit whereby 't was made known at first to the Apostles and Primitive Saints and by them to the world Eph. 3.5 Col 1.27.29 Yea one of your own Pastors or Teachers coming purposely to oppose at Lantrishant where I was speaking of the common salvation as Jude calls it tells the people that this was not Gospel What then I pray you why fâ—ith he Mr Days of Kelligaâ—e the Gospel is that written in the four Evangelists Then said I Our Father which art in Heaven is Gospel No that 's prayer but the Gospel to be preached saith he is Math. 7.14 Straight is the Gate and narrow is the Way that leadeth to life and few there be that finde it for so 't is written in the Gospel of Saint Matthew Sure this was not Gospel and glad tydings to all people that so few should be saved and yet I could shew in the Spirit the Gospel of
Iames James 1.5 6. how then are they who pray most the greatest fools both Papists and Protestants then is not the wisest man as a wave of the Sea when the Sea is over the whole earth Isa 4.11 and the best are in the waters Truly we are all sick let us send then to the Elders of the Church and see if they have the prayer of faith to heal us or heal themselves from the stroke of their wound Isa 30.26 Jer. 30.17 Who among all the gathered Churches can hold forth a Gospel-faith to the scattered Saints who of all their Gospel-Ministers can go forth freely to the world Col. 24.15 1 Pet. 1.12 where is the Power from on high or holy Spirit sent downe from heaven for that work Yea where 's the Spirit of Faith in any of their Believers Gospel-believers were all of one heart and one soul because but one body Act. 2.44 Act. 4.32 c. ours are all divided believers then had all things common c. our Churches and Christians are all for self-interests and to seek their own This is not love as I shall shew anon nor faith indeed which works by love All have not faith saith the Apostle in those Gospel-times no man has a Gospel-faith in these times of the Apostacy and being of the Saints in Babylons captivity Yet this is the confusion that hath ever followed the Churches to this day to take up the Apostles words and writings and to apply that to our selves which was possible to those times and proper only to primitive Saints and Churches where that power was which is now wanting to all the world Thus the Baptists now take up the Apostles call and commission which was never given them by Christ much less by the Spirit afterward Again like the Angel of darkness or Devil cutting off part of Gods word they still tell their Proselytes Mat. 3.6 Mat. 28.19 Go teach and Baptize c. whereas 't is written Go Teach all Nations and Baptize c. Thirdly 't was not directed to the Disciples but to the Apostles upon this ground and the Eleven are mentioned by Matthew and Mark Mat. 28.16 Mark 16.14 for every Disciple had not that power from on high to Teach all Nations Fourthly Who can shew unto us that he is sent of God to Baptize seeing none baptized but either the Apostles or such who had a manifestation of the Spirit to confirm their call Act. 8.6 Act. 9.17 as Philip and Ananias Lastly 'T were well if they would not onely chuse their members by a confession of faith but catechise them and themselves first in the doctrine of Faith For the mystery of Faith was more then men imagine and it may be more then Paul wrote to the Romans and Churches of Galatia Rom 4.2 for both it seems had gone so far back to the Law to begin in the Spirit and end in the flesh that the Apostle goes no farther then a Legal Faith Gal. 3.3 for Faith as justifying was no more and Faith on the promise was no higher then their Faith under the Law as is proved in the dispute hereafter Gospel-Faith was wholly exercised in our union with God in Christ and Christ in us which Paul rather points at in himself then teacheth the Church unless what he hints to some spiritual Saints therein Gal. 2.20 who had the anointing in them teaching them all things that they needed not any man should teach them 1 John 2.27 Therefore as Christ never heard any man preach so neither did the Apostles hear one anothers preachings or sit at a Sermon as our Gospel-preachers do This I onely speak by the way at present and another thing that the Apostles never preach'd a common place of the nature of Faith or repentance to bring people to repeat and believe but so preached Christ to all that they might believe and repent Gospel-Faith properly was this in knowing our followship with the Father and the Son in the Spirit to know our union with God in Christ and Christ so in us that we are in one with the Father as He in the same love and life in God with him John 14.19 Iohn 17.1 20 21 22 23. now the mystery of God even the Father and of Christ was not manifest to any under the Law nor to Abraham himself who though he saw the day of Christ yet 't was a far off Joh. 8.56 Heb. 11.13 for so the Fathers saluted the promises whose Faith was on the promise or power of God in performing the same and so it s justified Rom. 4.14 to 21. but the justifying faith of Christians was on Christ dying and raised up verse 24.25 though Abraham in a typical mystery believed on Christ dead and raised in his son sacrificed and slain in purpose verse 17. and raised in a figure Heb. 11.19 But as Christ was a mystery so his death and resurrection was a mystery also that none but the Apostles could manifest it by the Spirit which being not given to any one living the Faith which comes by hearing is no higher then theirs under the Law to justify and to save yea we know by experience the best Preachers when they would raise men to believe pitch them on the promise not on that power from on high or promise of the Father which they that believed on Christ did receive and by which the first Preachers of the Gospel brought men to believe But take faith in the lowest acceptance for justifying Faith was but of a legal temper which the Church of Rome beginning to fall from the Apostle is faine to set before them the faith of Abraham and David c to whom the mystery of Christ and of the Gospel being not yet manifested by the Spirit Rom. 3.13 Rom. 4.3 6. as to the Apostles and primitive Saints that Faith of theirs was but suitable to a legal estate I say take Faith in the lowest acceptance as justifying before God and men as working by love where is it when there is no love among you neither to other Churches or Saints differing from you nor to your own Churces who differ in doctrine as I said before much less love to all Saints The Sword doubled Col. 1.4 Tit. 9.3 2.4 to those scattered ones who cannot come to any of your Church-wayes as for love to all men 't is a thing you look not after though this be a higher degree of love then brotherly kindness or love to the brethren 1 Thes 3.12 2 Pet. 1.7 compared But alas the brotherhood is broken Zach. 11.6 9 14. vers there is not love to the brethren among you not onely love unfeigned but love out of a pure heart fervently is not to be found for the love of the best is but cold God knows not that fervent unfeigned that is without Hypocrisie 1 Pet. 1. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh how far are believers from that love the Apostle
the same This I only speak to shew the Ignorance or inconsiderate proceeds of our Gospel-preachers who know not what they say nor the way they go nor the work they do nor the word they speak nor the Gospel which they pretend to preach unto the world But because I now write to the baptized Churches I would convince them also of this that they are not the true nor can baptize in truth having not a Gospel yet manifest among them I say not manifest for there may be a seed of it in them as also was in legal Saints I will not minde you of those two Scriptures mentioned in the following dispute John 7.38 39. and John 14.12 nor yet a third proof Mark 16.16 17. Hee that believeth and is baptixed shall be saved and these signs shall follow them that believe c. Those signes did follow Gospel-believers 1 Cor. 1.7 1 Cor. 12.7 compare at least every Gospel Church of believers in whose members as that faith was manifested so especially in the Ministers or Elders who by laying on of hands on the sick and by prayer of faith could save the sick from death The Oyle then used being not a physical receipt or chirurgical salve nor yet an empty Ceremony but a signe of the Spirits presence in the Church and power in the Elder to heal the body as well as the soul James 5.14 15. I will not mention that other laying on of the Presbytery or Eldership in ordaining by a gift of the Spirit ever given thereby 1 Tim. 4.14 2 Tim. 1.6 compare as with God I shall shew hereafter onely now 't is clear there is no Gospel-faith in all the Churches this day Know then that in the Churches of Christ there was both the gift of Faith and the grace of Faith the one in some Church-members as well as in Ministers 1 Cor. 12.9 the other was common to all believers though some that were carnal then in Gospel-Churches had but a legal faith because carnal 2 Cor. 3.1 Heb. 5.12 13. compare As for Gospel-faith suitable to that present state of the Spirit and spiritual Saints it was though not differing yet diverse from the legal faith of Gods people under the Law true faith was ever the same for substance but not for manifestation as the Gospel is everlasting and Christ the same to day yesterday and for ever But as Christ was onely vayled in the Law and revealed in the Gospel so the Gospel and Christ Jesus were both Mysteries hid since the world began from the Sons of men yea from the sons of God-under the Law Rom. 16.25 Eph. 3.5 Col. 1.26 compare This Mystery was not manifest till to the Apostles and primitive Saints by the Spirit Eph. 3.5 That Spirit was not given before yea the Spirit was not at all as the Greek there reads John 7.39 And so that Spirit is not now not the Baptisme of the Spirit which the Apostles themselves had not John 20.22 Act. 1.5 compare while Christ was with them in flesh and though after his resurrection he breathed the Spirit on them yet they were not baptized with the Spirit till afterward Before which given they could not go forth to Teach all Nations and Baptize in a Gospel-way Act. 1.4 Therefore Gospel-Believers could not be before the Baptisme of the Spirit that is the pouring forth the gifts thereof on the Church Act. 2.33 44. 1 Cor. 12.7 9. compared Besides as the object of a Gospel-faith was a mystery that 's Christ in us the hope of glory John 4.20 Col. 1.27 Gal. 1.15 and 2.20 compare 1 Cor. 2.2 7 10 12 13. vers compare the Son of God revealed in us living in us and dying in us and we crucified with him for both Christ and him crucified also was a mystery as the Gospel the object of that faith so this Gospel-faith was a mystery likewise the mystery of Faith in a pure conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 But the object of a Legal faith was no mystery but a plain promise or God in covenant not God in Christ for this the Apostles themselves knew not in the dayes of his flesh Yee believe in God saith he believe also in me c. Legal Saints believed on God not on Christ for Christ was a mystery not yet manifest or to believe on God by Christ is that which believing Christians this day know not nor consider For what 's this why first 't is to know Christ in the Father and the Father in him and he in us and we in him John 14.20 Secondly to know Christ as the way to the Father for us vers 6.7 how so he that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me and he that seeth me seeth him that sent me that 's the Father in me Iohn 12.44 45. Iohn 14.9 compared What 's that 't is thus to me he that sees God in Christ and the Father in him Emanuel God with us that 's Christ Mat. 1.23 Eph. 3.19 John 17.23 compare may as well see God even the Father in himself for Christ is in us and we in Christ that is God in our flesh as in Christs for Christ and we are perfect in one one with the Father thus he is the way to the Father and thus by him as the way we believe on God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory that our faith and hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1.23 So that in truth to believe on Christ is not to believe on Christ but on the Father in him God in his flesh and in ours also for our faith does tend and end in God yet through him and by him as I said before So that here 's the misbeliefe of Churches this day their faith is onely on God as the Iews or only on Christ as deceived Christians not on God and Christ or on God by Christ And by this it appears there has not been in the Churches a Gospel-faith at least formally for vertually there might be in some but formally and effectually there has not been a Gospel-faith in the Saints these 1400 years for what sign has followed any that believed who could ever shew the Gift of Faith when the grace of Faith was scarce known what mountain or mighty thing has been done Mark 6.17 Mat. 17.20 Mat. 21.21 compare Josh 6.13 or done away and removed meerly by Faith for an outward force and strength of man has alwaies attended great acts in latter times but where 's the fall of Iericho's walls by rams-horns or Gideons conquest by broken pitchers and lights held up in his hand Oh this new light believers are afraid of Judg. 7.20 or to hear the sound of a Trumpet All things saith Christ what soever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive it that is Matth. 21.22 asking in faith nothing wavering c. though the man want wisdom yet he shall have it liberally given him of God saith
thy faith by thy works and as faith works by love James 2.8 so the labour of love cannot possible be hid but 't will appear to all but in you it doth not therefore the first appearance of the Apostacie or falling away of the Churches was in leaving their first love Rev. 2.4 for as the seven Churches of Asia were types of the Apostolique Churches enclining to an Apostacy so Ephesus the first is charged with this Rev. 3.26 that she was fallen from her first love as Laodicea the last being the Type of these last Churches is commended for nothing but condemned altogether for want of zeal or fervent love though the Baptisme of the Spirit and of fire was that especially wanting in that Church and in all this day who are not hot nor have any Spiritual gift at all yea nor any grace of the Gospel as I shewed before For this cause Christ fore-told that at his comming Because iniquity should abound Matth. 24.12 the love of many would wax cold Noting first that iniquity would abound in the Churches as to be carnal covetous unclean proud and peevish without faith or love Secondly men looking upon Churches in this condition would have but cold love unto them whose love is so cold one to another But thirdly here 's the height of love the love of such who are saved from the Apostacy to love those in whom iniquity abounds to love the Churches though iniquity abounds among them 1 Cor. 13.7 for love believes all things and hopes all things believes the best of all and hopes they will be better But yet there is one mark of love I have not mentioned that 's Christs love not in word and in tongue but in deed and in truth pray what 's that 'T is 1 John 3.16 Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our life for our brethren Here 's first a Mystery that men know not how God did lay down his life for the death of the man Christ all conceive but how that man was nothing but God manifest in flesh and how God shed his blood crucifying that flesh to himself is the Mystery of Christ and him crucified not known to the Churches but because God laid down his life for us we ought to lay down our life for the brethren Heer 's love to the brotherhood and mark it this love is commanded as well as baptisme we ought so to love the brethren as to dye for them Oh that my dear baptized brethren could once dye to their own life their living in the world according to Ordinances Col. 2.20 Ordinances that shall be proved with God not to be of a Gospel-appointment or power will you not die to these if it be proved unto you that having not the baptisme of the Spirit and of fire in your Church you have no power to baptize with water I mean in a Gospel way Secondly that there is no true Administrator sent of God to baptize Thirdly that Water-baptisme was not by dipping but by washing the Disciples feet called Believers going down to the waters up to the Ankles Oh that you could dye to your own life to flesh and blood to that reason and understanding of yours raised on the traditions of men Yea that ye could dye to your own credit content comforts truly 't will not be to your credit to disown and lay down your Principles and practice of dipping so long continued I know you have much content and comfort in your performances and gathered Churches while many scattered Saints are mourning over your Formes and their own flesh yea to the flesh of Christ being dead unto them Ioh. 16 7. as the Disciples did at the departure of Christ when that pure flesh of his must suffer withering and weakness and his flesh be taken from them they had sorrow of heart while the world did rejoyce that is Ioh. 16.20 Rev. 11.10 compare Heb. 9.1 while the Church of the Jewes which was but a worldly Sanctuary were rejoycing in their Ordinances in their Temple and Church-fellowship So many scattered Saints are weeping and full of sorrow in their bewildernessed state in the want of the solemn Assembly because it cannot be yea Zeph. 3.18 by the waters of Babylon they sit down and weep while you are dipping in them and while others are merry with singing of Psalmes your brethrens Harps are hanged upon the Willowes Psal 137.1 2. on fruitless trees because they cannot sing one of the songs of of Zion they being in a strange land not in the life of God alone but living still in Babylon in flesh and self in which they feel themselves imbondaged We your brethren are not alive but dead in Babylon as dry bones there we lye even your brethren And will ye not yet dye for us have ye not that love as to give your lives for your brethren Truly if you did live indeed you would give your lives but because you are dead you cannot do it The Church of Sardis had a name that she lived and was dead you have the name of a Church of Church in order of Gospel-ordinances but are they not all dead Forms are not your fellowships divided also This shews you are dead as the dry bones in Babylon because you are so divided as those two sticks so your best Societies are even Judah and Israel Independants and Baptized Churches For as I shewed before the Gospel-Churches were but one Body had but one Baptisme there was the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace but now not onely the staff beauty but the staff bands that 's the brother hood is broken between Judah and Israel Zach. 11.10 14. So now beloved whether you will dye or no for your brethren you are but the dead Body and yet you are the dead body of the Lord Ezek. 37.12 Isa 26.29 compare that 's your comfort and mine that you shall rise at last Onely know at present that you are but the dead Body so indeed the Church under the Law was under a Ministery of death and so the Gospel-Churches were Dead also 2 Cor. 3.7 Col. 3.3 for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God More life was manifest in the Gospel then under the Law their life being not in Ordinances as the legal Church but their life was in Christ 1 Cor. 13.9 12. verse and with Christ in God but because they knew God but in part saw but in a Glass darkly because their life was hidden from them therefore they were said to be dead still and so the Gospel-Churches were but the dead bodie then Yea their Gospel-Ordinances indeed were but to death they held forth nothing but the death of Christ Rom. 6.3 1 Cor. 11.26 as in baptisme they were baptized into his death in breaking of bread they shewed forth the Lords death and as the