if ye believe the gracious word and Salvation in the obedience of his service of love and put your trust in the power of God l Joh. 5. ye shall surely live and not abide dead for the saving from death m Joh. 11. is the Resurrection and eternall life 16. Though ye find your selves even damned in the hell and taken captive of sin and devill yet fear not but believe n Psal 18.23.33.116 ye shall be delivered and saved from thence 17. For the belief and hope towards the Salvation and the love to righteousnesse in the grace of God neither can nor may abide in the sinne death devill or hell but they must prevail vanquish and bring to nought or destroy all that is not of God 18. Therefore have neither the o Mat. 16. gates of hell nor the bands of the devill nor the p Rom. 8. pangs of death nor the strength of sin nor the lusts of the world nor the mind of the flesh any power over such believers either to hold or to raign over them q 1 Cor. 15. but they bring them all under them to a victory 19. But if at any time through the slendernesse of our understanding we be plucked away from our good mind or be after the nature of the Serpent r Gen. 3. Sap. 2. 2 Cor. 11. beguiled by the wisdom of the flesh and thereby through weaknesse full and be made so senselesse that we cannot discern the life from the death yea become so feeble and faint-hearted that we have scarcely any desire at all to the good but do daily Å¿ Rom. 7. suffer and feel the sting of death yet let us not therefore be dismayed nor despair in mind but rather so much the more cheer up our selves in the belief and through the serviceable word of truth take unto us a new stomack and fresh courage again to a stouter going forwards keep so much the sharper watch and still have diligent regard on the thing that may annoy us to the entrance of the life whereby we may through the belief and obedience of the Word t Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5. keep of and vanquish it every whit and so with a good will have our passage towards God in the spirit untill the love abide firm in us and that we have such a free heart and mind as may be subject to nothing but to the high Majesty of the living Godhead only 20. Now to come hereunto we must renounce our selves and all created visible things not only outwardly after the flesh but quite and clean inwardly with the heart according to the spirit and so give over our selves obediently under the service of love unto the God of life and his gracious word u Rom. 6.8 to a dying in the spirit from every thing whereunto our will and mind according to the flesh or outward fashion is tyed and keep our selves diligently from all holy appearances and worldly fashions that so then x 1 Pet. 1. in the obeying of the gracious word and his service of love our inward mind for to come to a submitted being may be made tender soft and lowly and we in like manner with humble hearts find our selves y Psal 57. ready to do the Lords will a Rom. 6. the end whereof is eternall life It is true 21. Which way to the life few do b Mat. 7. find because it is unknown c Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 1.2 and hidden unto all understandings of the flesh and unto all wise ones of the world and her Scripture learned 22. Who is there now rightly inclined to the life and peace but those that indure all deadly things dissention and whatsoever cometh upon them thereby untill it d Rom. 6.8 2 Cor. 4. wholly vanish and come to nought in them and which have the life and peace alwaies before their eyes and do pray with great fervency unto God in the spirit that he will be their povver and strength 23. After this manner ought vve vvith humble hearts to be minded in every thing that cometh upon us against the good for the evill must by the good be e Rom 12. overcomed in patience 24. Yet not out of our vvorks or ovvn povver f Rom. 3 4. Eph. 2. O no but through the belief in affiance towards God and so abiding Gods leisure in his work we are daily to pray unto God in the spirit that he will destroy and take avvay or root out the evill out of our hearts and choose and set up the good again therein 25. Hereunto are we to g 1 Pet. 5. humble our hearts before God in his service of love that we may find such healthfull grace before his eyes in the coming of Jesu Christ who now to the Salvation of all those that hope in Christ h 2 Pet. 3. and long for his coming cometh to a righteous judgement over the world with equity 26. Oh hereof there is surely much written shewed and testified were it but observed and understood aright but there is great negligence and much misunderstanding among the children of men for we find many lamentable errours not only in the erring world but also in those that perswade themselves to be wise and to love the good 27. Awake once O thou precious man and consider that the eternall God i Ezek. 18. 1 Tim. 2. 2 Pet. 3. hath no pleasure in such unprofitable living as is mixed with contrariety unto God 28. But if so be O ye children of men ye have pleasure in the destruction according to the course of the blind world and do k Sap. 2. Rom. 1. Eph. 4. 2 Pet. 3. Iude. 1. delight in the strange life of the ungodly being go on thus boldly in the same and do shew no l Rom. 2. upright obedience to the word m Mat. 3. Lu. 3.13 nor amendment from sinne then hardly think also that ye are certainly minded n Joh. 8. against God even like the devill himself and incorporated with the child of perdition or of the devill that extolleth himself in the desire of his errours by means of the pleasure or reward of unrighteousnesse against God and against all that men vvorship God in saying in his heart or essentiall mind that he himself is the Lord o 2 Thes 2. and exalteth himself in like manner in the hearts of the unbelieving and disobedient men to a ruling above God and above the godly nature and so setting himself in the Temple of God that is in mans heart p Dan. 8.9.12 Mat. 24. he utterly laieth wast the House of the Lord and in like manner worketh in the man a secret wickednesse which is not soon to be perceived 29. Truly who so with the desires of their souls do cleave unto this pernicious nature they are very abominable in their doings for there is none of them that doth good no not one 30. Their best vertue
price or Crown of everlasting life is not like a Crown of the Kings of this world d 1 Cor. 9. which many of them stand for and is of many greatly desired and yet there is no more but one that obtaineth it and becometh King 3. But according to the calling of God we may all obtain e 4 Esd 2. Sap. 5. Kingly Crowns and be endowed with one manner fulnesse of divine treasures and be all Priests f 1 Pet. 2. Apo. 1.5 and Kings according to the promises 4. Hereunto we are all called to one g Ioh. 17. and in one no man exempted h Gal. 3. the Gentiles as well as the Jews the Commons of the people as well as the Magistrates the sinners as well as the righteous the poor as vvell as the rich the simple as well as the wise the wives as well as the husbands the children as well as the parents i Eph. 6. Col. 3. the bond as well as the free the servants as well as the masters and the handmaids as well as the Mistresses k Act. 10. Rom. 2.10 Gal. 2. God is no respecter of persons for all those that turn them to God and love his Righteousnesse are acceptable unto him 5. Doubtlesse it is now made known unto many of us that vve have all in our understanding been utterly estranged and l Rom. 1. Eph. 4. darkened from the knowledge of our calling and have cleaved to the m 1 Tim. 4. spirits of errour vvalking in the death and not in the light of life likevvise in sundry divisions and not in the unity of our calling 6. Neverthelesse that God vvhich is rich of mercy n Ezek. 18. 1 Tim. 2. 2 Pet. 3. and vvould not that we should perish letteth us now see through the ministration of his gracious word and through his bountifull and kind love the waies of our blindnesse o Esa 59. Sap. 5. and the deadly darknesses of our misunderstanding pulling us to the light of his clearness to the intent that all vve which are estranged from God and dead because of sin might through the love of God the Father and through the ministration of his gracious Word be renewed again for to quicken us again p Rom. 6.8 2 Cor. 4. Phil. 3. in Jesu Christ out of the death of sinne into the true unity of our vocation to wit in this day of the coming of Jesu Christ in his glory for had not the same Jesus Christ been with the Amighty for a remnant q Esa 1. we had all in our estrangeing been as Sodoma and Gomorra and must needs all in like manner have perished 7. Sith God therefore doth now shew on us such love that he profereth his grace unto us through the coming of his Christ when as we in our estranging from his good being were openly his r Rom. 1. Eph. 2. Col. 1.2 enemies and that he remembreth not our ignorance to revenge on us such things but out of the bountifull grace of his love is inclined to help us and by the ministration of his gracious word to reach us the hand for to pluck us to himself again in his love let us then also make much of such a Å¿ 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 1.2 grace that through the bountifull grace of his love we may in this horrible time be reconciled unto him and not be punished with the wicked world The rather for that there hath been enough before hand shewed us of the horrible t Esa 13. Ier. 20.25 Mat. 24. destruction of the wicked world and of all damned men in the last daies wherein few shall remain or be saved but not by the Lords fault for God desireth instantly to draw us all to his salvation 8. But because there are many now adaies that u 2 Thes 1. 2 Pet. 3. believe not God in his promises but count him a lier and x 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 12. do not regard the time of his grace neither will be saved but have much more desire and will to the iniquity y Eph. 4. 2 Pet. 2. Iuda 1. and to all uncleannesse therefore also in this day z Rom. 2. cometh the wrath of God upon those children of unbelief and they shall not be able to escape the horrible and fearfull destruction 9. Therefore let every one convert him from the errors of his blindnesse a Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5. and arm himself in the belief and stand fast in the hope b Ia. 4. against the wicked that maketh it self up against Gods righteousnesse the which must be indured with patience for c Rom. 5.8 Patience bringeth forth in us a firmnesse or a persevering in the hope and hope suffereth us not to be ashamed but prepareth for us the peace with God in the love 10. But though now and then it pinch somewhat hard to shew patience yet have confidence d Apo. 2.3 and keep still what ye have turn not back in any case 11. Though happily you think that it falleth heavy find your selves impotent or weak and the waies dark desolate unpathed very long e 4 Esd 7. Mat. 7. Luk. 13. small or narrow the hills seem high to get over and the gates very strait to go thorow yet doubt not therefore ye beloved give no regard to the unbelief that saith it is impossible but contrariwise with belief and hope enter ye in for the beliefe is strong and mighty f Mat. 17.21 Luk. 17. she removeth mountains out of their places vanquisheth the enemies g Heb. 11. and is a certain assurance of that which is hoped for 12. Look then what ye out of belief and according to the truth do desire in God to obtain that love ye with vvhole heart for the love vvhich in her service holdeth the heart fast with earnest love is yet stronger then the belief h 1 Cor. 13. and goeth far beyond it all and not regarding any difficulty she overcometh it all for the things sake which she loveth for the love maketh that light which appeareth heavy and bringeth life out of that which seemeth to be death 13. Therefore the love is not wearied with any thing for that which a man loveth is precious in his sight and he esteemeth it of great value i Rom. 8. moreover he regardeth neither losse nor trouble to get or to come by that vvhich he loveth best 14. And therefore men are to k 1 Cor. 14. Col. 3. seek for the most best that they may obtain the same and not to respect any of those things that would oppose themselves or be hindersome there-against for who so seeketh not obtaineth not vvho so tasteth not of the sowre shall not partake of the sweet 15. If any man fall let him rise again if ye be hurt or wounded believe so shall ye be made whole yea though ye were already dead or were as dead in your minds yet
to their Knowledge For as soon as they read or hear the same they suppose by and by that thet have rightly apprehended and well understood them not first minding to enter in to obtain and to live in that which they bear witnesse of whereas yet the service of our writing tendeth hereunto even that mens hearts as is there set forth should be prepared to the same 35. For men strike up no alarm in the host to the intent to make the people unlusty to the battell nor yet that they should but know the exercise of the warr or judge of the Alarm-stroak but that with good courage they should prepare themselves to the battell or fight Thereby every one that hath courage to fight doth then make himself ready to incounter with his enemies and to root out his adversary or to subdue him 36. But alas I find it with many otherwise in that alarm by which the man is called to the spirituall i Eph. 6. fight to the vanquishing of his enemies which inwardly in him are killers and murderers of his soul 37. Therefore it is very true that the children of this world are much k Luk. 16. wiser in their dealing as concerning the flesh then the children of the Kingdom are in that which concerneth the spirit 38. What availeth I pray you an alarm made if men prepare them not to the battell for many are perswaded that this is no time of fighting and that there shall be no need thereof supposing because of their unbelief that nothing shall come of it and lay their hands behind on the back or put them up in the bosome Their heads are giddy as if their hearts were utterly unlusty or dismaid to the fight 39. If one should seek for men of warre where I pray you should he find them Are they not for the most part gone back l Levit. 26. Jer. 48. and become faint hearted as women 40. If they do but once suffer harm and be wounded or forced by any evill defamation or assault of the wicked to sustain any molestation or reproach then are they persvvaded that the cause is altogether nought and so running again after their case they suffer themselves to be ruled by women m Esa 3. their enemy to raign over them and in like manner make truth n Esa 28. with death and a league with hell retain peace with the sin and accuser and become of one mind with the world supposing that then all shall be well moreover they make an appointment or conclusion with themselves that they will no more trouble themselves with the doctrine of the Family of Love nor yet vvith the battell thinking Let them run that will 41. For to resist the evill to break and subdue the wicked heart and evil thoughts and to suffer much distresse contempt and reproach for the same liketh them not they will none of that Howbeit we are alwaies to fight against the evill and to keep good watch continually we are alwaies to think night and day upon the vertue of the godly life alwaies to long and to hunger and thirst after it alvvaies to speak and to treat thereof with such as do so labour thereafter and yet then of many sorts of people and letter-learned to be despised and reproached 42. Because of this toil and for the shame and reproaches cause which meeteth them and because they love not the righteousnesse of the godly life with the heart they let the matter passe saying out of unbelief I cannot further it I hold me still or unoccupied about it let the Lord work it I will commit it unto him Supposing when they thus passe on according to their imagination or do live after the fashion of the world and with an o Rom. 2. unrepenting heart towards God do hold peace with the blasphemers and strivers against the truth of Christ and his love that then God will make it to be well with them 43. Deceive not your selves ye dearly beloved the saying is very right p Act. 16. Eph. 3. Gol. 1. that the Lord worketh it and that he will also cause it to go well with us q Phil. 1.2 and prepare us after his will and pleasure howbeit not without us nor yet without the obedience of the requiring of the service of his holy and gracious word and of his love and whilest that we turne us away in such a sort from him and from the Ministers of his word and do refuse him r Luk. 17. but it is done inwardly in us under the obedience of the requiring of his gracious word and service of love so as we stand subject unto him with good will therein and be of one mind with him against the ungodly being that God may so in us magnifie his holy name Å¿ 2 Reg. 7. and be called t Ier. 10. a God of Hosts a u Esa 47. God of Israel or a God of such a one as beareth dominion with God over his enemies 44. After this manner is God a Lord of his Army He is only the Lord but we the instrument of his hands 45. Out of such an understanding under the obedience of the Law of the Lord did the Kingly Prophet David eftsoons apprehend a zealous stoutnesse even as in divers manners we read in his Psalms how valiantly and couragiously he setteth himself on Gods part against his enemies as well in fighting with good courage as also sometimes in praying and making supplication that God might be his helper 46. After the same manner ought it also to go with us inwardly in our hearts under the obedience of the love x 2 Cor. 3. for no man can do any thing of himself how stout strong or wise soever he be unlesse God be with him who strengthneth him whom under the obedience of the Word and his love he findeth to be of good will and that prayeth unto him for his help 47. If then any man be weak finding himself infirm yet to the battell the same is not y Eccl. 2. rejected nor despised no nor any one that hath been in errour so that they do but trust in God and be good of will do abide in the faith and so in processe of time do increase in strength and be not unwilling in the word of the Lord. 48. Therefore Oye little and sorrowfull hearts z Esa 35.41 be not dismaid but be confident in hope the Lord will not suffer you to be a Esa 54. put to shame Therefore be of good courage 49. Though that the battell come unto you and that ye be despised by the unbelievers of the gracious word and by the blasphemers of the love of God and of the holy spirit of Jesus Christ and that moreover b Mat. 5. 1 Pet. 2.3 all evill be lyingly spoken of you yet be not therefore dismaid 50. For the God of Israel is c Esa 51. our comfort and he the same
God will be our redeemer and our King wherefore have your refuge only on him to the intent ye may not fear your adversary in the fight For truly this fight is godly and amiable 51. Men curse nor swear not there they do not there kill nor destroy any d Eph. 6. save only that opposite being against God for it is no outward battell or war 52. They use there no outward e Esa 2. Mic. 4. swords or spears they seek there to destroy no flesh of men but it is a fight of the crosse and patience f Rom. 6. to the subduing of the sin 53. This fight is also no disputation bravvling nor wrangling for the knowledges sake of the Scriptures It is likewise no contention with men howsoever the most part of factious men which do every faction in particular call themselves the right Christians have even to this day so used it and do also yet still bravvle g 1 Cor. 3. Jam. 3. contend and strive one against another and that with a secret hatred and envy who should be best wisest and holiest and how to have right and equity every one in his conceiving whereby they intangle themselves every way one with another 54. But such brawling and discord do not I hold for any Christian-like fight seeing men do thereby forsake the love therefore such a fight doth nothing further towards the life nor towards the upright understanding of the divine wisdome 55. Moreover all those which stand minded to such a kind of outward fight brawling wrangling railing have never rightly perceived nor understood h Eph. 7. the inward fight For inasmuch as they know not the vertue of the love nor that whereout she proceedeth therefore do they account the battell of the righteous spirit which through the crosse in the spirit of wel-vvilling hearts carrieth forth the fight against death sin devill and hell for an ignorance and foolishnesse because they do no more esteem of such a chosen Salvation as is brought forth after the manner of men and which the man hath his glorying in then of the righteous spirit of love and life which God himself bringeth forth for i Esa 60. a true light and salvation of men after his godly nature and manner the k Esa 42.48 glorying whereof belongeth only unto God and to himself he also keepeth it 56. Wherefore seeing God hath considered that all mans wisdome is vain and that men by their wisdome know not Gods work in his wisdome nor his Salvation through his Christ l 1 Cor. 1. it hath therefore pleased God through foolish preaching under the obedience of the love of Christ to save the world that is to say all those that believe in him that he might catch the wise m Esa 29. 1 Corâ— 3â— in their wisdome the crafty in their subtilty and craftinesse and the letter-learned in their knowledge of the Scripture thereby making known unto them n Psal 94. 1 Cor. 3. how vain and void of understanding they are in the purpose of God and hovv that by all wisdome and prudency and by all their learnednesse in the letter they have not known any thing of o Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 2. Gods vvisdome at all wherethrough the Almighty God is magnified and by which it is known that his foolishnesse is much wiser then all the wisdome of the world or prudence of mans vvit 57. Novv vvhosoever believeth the same but on the contrary party is yet so selfvvise that he giveth no ear at all nor is inclined to the love or to our communion through the loves service vvherein Gods purpose is knovvn or understood the same man surely shall not understand the mind of God nor yet his secret p Kom 8. 1 Cor. 2. for it is unpossible to understand the vvisdome of God vvithout obeying of the love CHAP. XII 1. It is meet that every one submit himself to the appeared grace 2. The new day 3. Patience towards the unbelievers 4. Wherein the upright understanding is to be found 5. The worldly wise find it not but will rest upon their owne wisdome 13. An exhortation to cleave to the truth without bondage to outward things 15. What the perfect righteousnesse is 19. And how we ought to cleave thereunto and to esteem of the outward things so far as they are profitable and no further 21. And that not for their owne sakes but for the Ordinances sake 22. How to behave our selves towards all men wives children servants 26. He exhorteth to give our minds to a lovely behaviour towards all 32. Not to regard any thing that may cause dissention but to set our chief respect upon the inward and not upon the outward 43. The upright life is the same that the Fathers lived in 45. Whereunto also the Gentiles were called by the Gospell 46. He requireth all people to take heed to their calling 50. And to turn away from the self-minded thoughts that do tempt and intice us 51. Our union with God in the spirit is the stone that is disallowed of men 55. The Glasse of Righteousnesse serveth to try our selves by 56. The man is diversly perverted How H. N. passed forth under the love in his humane nature and how God received him unto grace 61. His little regard to the outward 63. Yet not despising it because it is profitable to train up the man in his youngnesse 65. Men ought to esteem the greatest more then the least and to put difference in the Age of the Disciples 66. That teacher which is not entred nor hath not accomplished the Righteousnesse in the love is both himself and also his hearers far from the truth 67. The Priesthood out of Levi is good in his right use but the Priesthood of Messias is yet more excellent 71. Why he pointeth not to the outward FOrasmuch then as through the a 1 Cor. 8. revealing of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the resurrection of the dead there is out of grace such an holy office or service of the love to a renevving of the vvorld novv in the last time come unto us and according to the secret counsell and vvill of God committed unto us in upright righteousnesse and holinesse to be ministred therefore it vvere very meet that every one vvhich is avvakened thereby should submit himself thereunto and give ear unto us in the same service to the obeying of the love in the spirit that every mans eyes might be made bright and become clearer and clearer to b Act. 7. behold vvith a clear sight of their eyes Gods Kingdom of heaven the vvhich novv manifesteth it self unto us and cometh unto us under the obedience of the love and likevvise vvith the same do appear and come unto us livingly and gloriously all Gods c 1 Cor. 15. Saints vvhich in times past died and fell asleep in God 2. Behold this manifestation or appearing of Gods Kingdome of heaven
many people have partly through the sundry partiall instigations of men risen up before our said service been intangled and darkned in that understanding and that therefore they could not rightly know the truth in her degree but did oftentimes stumble fall and and suffer harme yet all ye that love the Truth with us and have likewise fallen in the same learne Prudence now thereby and turn again b Esa 55 Jer. 3. Ezek. 18. into the way of righteousness Refresh your selves in the beleef with a new cheere and so through the service of the holy Word be ye renewed in your vnderstanding under the obedience of the Love 41. Under the same service give eare to the Elders of the holy understanding c Deut. 11. and follow not the Will or Councell of your own mind but d Eccl. 6. with the Elders under the service of the Love follow the minde and e Pro. 1. Eccl. 16. Councell of the Wisdom and alwaies keep your selves with the Elders in the family of Love f 1 Thes 5. Heb. 13. to the concord and to the multiplying in the good and of the peaceable Kingdom in all Love 42. Become not wavering in any wise But in case ye stumble or fall yet rise again and think that it is sometimes better that a child do in his good willingnes commit an error or that a thing be done of him yet unperfectly than that he should remaine brutish or untaught Be not afraid g Matt. 25. Luk. 19. like the unfaithfull Servant that buried his Masters Talent which was not very well taken at his hands 43. Men may finde divers that will take very great heed to themselves least they should be deceived or beguiled and so will stay onely upon themselves But because they so staying upon themselves give no heed to the grace under the obedience of the Love therefore remain they such as they are and come not at any time to the light of life or day of Love but abide still in the Captivity of the blindnesse because they know not her blindnesse or bands of her darknesses wherewith they are bound 44. Some others will in their unregenerate estate and deprivation account themselves free and will not be subject unto any thing neither to the Scripture nor to any Teaching nor yet to the Service of Love and therefore in that sort do never come to the h Ioh. 8. Rom. 6. Freedom of the children of God 45. For in asmuch as they have not perceived nor observed in the sight of their understanding the bondage of i Ioh. 8. Rom. 6. 2 Pet. 2. sin nor her dominion thereforr remain they unproved and unexperienced neither do they sigh nor k Jer. 8. complaine for the yoak of sin which hath taken them Captive and do know nothing at all either of the Bondage or of the Freedom nor yet that they are so utterly deprived or estranged from God and his Christ as they are 46. Now men may also finde divers that are altogether light-hearted and clearlyminded and so in the range of their misunderstanding have taken unto them l Esa 59. a false light or conceited knowledge These according to their naturall understanding are well at quiet their hearts are not once grieved for their mis-doings any more They have also no regard either of sin or of Grace they fear no Condemnation nor hope for Salvation or for any Redemption 47. When it goeth well with them but in their creature and in their Occupation or Trade then are they content and say God be praised we are in very goodcase we are rid of all intanglement of heart we now get our living godly and credibly and toyle not our selves with any thing 48. But alas howsoever the godly nature or the Image of God m Heb. 6. be troden down in them and constrained dayly to suffer the death of the Crosse for their sins that passe they not once for 49. Because they will not suffer with the godly nature n 1 Pet. 4. or Christ against the sinne they desire even nothing else but according to the o Phil. 3. flesh to sit still in ease and look what in this behalfe crosseth them that reckon they to be utterly evill and unright and and so wax wanton or lustfull in the flesh and licencious or light-minded in their Spirit following still p Sap. 2. Rom. 1. Eph. 4. that which liketh them after the property of ignorant fooles and despise the godly Councell of the Elders as also the wisdom and unity under the obedience of the Love 50. These are surely in very bad case although they think not so For q Esa 5. they have no consideration on the work of the Lord nor on the work of the Devill nor any regard unto that that shall perish nor desire to that which shall continue This verily is a lamentable misery the Lord keep us from such a Plague 51. Again some may be found which do endure much straightnes in dying from sin for to receive the Promises which are made thereunto according to the Scriptures and that they might so become honourable Saints and be also respected therefore Yea they regard no affliction so as they may receive or get that and thus they fall into a choosing applying to themselves the honour of the Promises 52. And therefore when according to their desire they have gotten all that honour then perswade they themselves yea it is already certaine that they have greatly merited because they have suffered so much strived and vanquished so valiantly and have so much knowledge do assume unto them that they are then holy and that God on the other side is indebted unto them of all the Promises and of the Blessing mentioned in the Scripture being well assured hereof that it doth of right and equity appertaine unto them 53 Now because they have chosen to themselves such an opinion they suppose that the Scripture witnesseth of them as the people of God and that likewise in regard of their holiness the honour of Gods Promises belongeth unto them They hold also so greatly of themselves that they know themselves to be worthy of all the high stile of the holy Titles that men do give them also all the services that men shew unto them they boldly arrogate unto themselves and a great deale more 54. For in their own eyes they are the most understandingest and the most best or holiest yea they are so exceeding proud upon their own knowledge and righteousnesse as if there were no God any where else save onely with them according to the knowledge of their cogitations and as though that the true God had utterly excluded all others his creatures 55. Oh! What an abominable thing is it to assume and feine to ones self such a spirituall conceit For thereout is able to spring great abomination and wickednesse such as is much worse then any fact of open sinners 56. For
Rom. 6. Death of the Crosse for the Sinnes cause 7. Nevertheles if any man be baptized inwardly in the death of Christ and e Rom. 6. Col. 2. with his like Death be until his burying planted into him the same ariseth also with Christ and liveth For then inwardly is Gods Kingdom of Heaven even in him and not specially here or there as among these or among those but the Kingdom of God is here and there among these and among those namely in every one in us Howbeit unknown to many as is already said 8. Now if the Kingdom of God be within us and that we as the Scripture saith f John 7. beleeve in Christ then ought we after the Councel of the Wisdom and of the holy understanding to seeke it inwardly there for even thither shall it come and so be found inwardly within us 9. But who so seeketh it only at the hands of another and doth not attend the coming thereof inwardly according to the direction of the holy word and service of love the same shall in no wise find it 10. For this cause men are not in the seeking of the Kingdom of God to despise the Councel and Service of the holy word which under the obedience of the Love teacheth and directeth rightly to the same but with lowly hearts to give good eare thereunto 11. Therefore believe the truth and follow the Councel of the Scriptures g Mat. 7 seeke and ye shall find c. h Mat. 18 Turn you about and become as little Children and not subtile cunning i Prov. 3. Rom. 12. or wise in your own selves For who so receiveth not the Kingdom of God k Mar. 10 Luke 18 as a Child he shall not enter therein 12. Wherefore it is all to no purpose to set ones mind upon any thing that is above in the Heaven or that is beneath under the earth either what people this or that is or where hence Christ shall come or not or with what outward appearance the Kingdom of God cometh 13. For behold if ye find not the Kingdom of God and his Righteousnes l Lu. 17. inwardly in your soules and the forme of Christ in his glory appeared not in your m 2 Cor. 4. Gal. 4. inwardnes then shall ye be constrained to misse or be without the Kingdom of God and Christ n John 6. and shall likewise not eat the bread from Heaven with Christ o Lu. 14. in the Kingdom of God his Almighty Father 14. Therefore seek it where it is to be found and take right regard whether it cometh hunger and thirst ye after it Nevertheles hast you not after it out of your own chusing through mis-understanding but go ye p Psal 84. from one vertue to another 15. Posses ye your q Lu. 21. soules with patience have regard on the coming of Christ contend not any more r 1 Tim. 6 2 Tim. 2. Tit. 3. and strive no longer with flesh and blood 16. Let it once suffice that ye have contended and wrangled for the Scriptures cause rather now endeavour you in obeying of the requiring of the service of love Å¿ Jam. 1. to receive or put on the gracious word of the Lord in your hearts and labor ye t Eph. 4. for the unity of the love For in such a sort shall the Kingdom of God come 17. Now when you have thus received or put on the serviceable gracious word of the Lord the true Christ after the flesh in your hearts or inwardnes then apply your selves therewithal in your inwardnes to the good being which the gracious word of the Lord requireth in his service for to overcome in like manner with Christ every thing that is against him to the intent his enemies v Psal 110. for a foot-stoole may be laid under his feet 18. And when you exercise your selves herein be ye likewise baptized in the death of Christ that is in his patience x Rom. 6. Col. 2. and with his like death or patience be ye planted into him and so y Eph. 6. overcome ye through the belief with the like crosse or patience of Christ the sin death flesh and the world Devill and Hell and all sensuality which ariseth out of your own wisdom of the flesh and be ye likewise in your inward man z Rom. 12 Eph. 4. renewed unto righteousnes a 2 Cor. 4 Phil. 3. in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Lo thus doth the Scripture teach us if it were but rightly understood 19. When we are now passed through this b Col. 1. and have through the death of Christ even until his Resurrection overcomed all those deadly things then have we peace c Rom. 5. Eph. 2. with God the Father and stand firm in the love which is the end or fulsilling of all the spiritual Testimonies And therein is comprehended the perfection 20. Not that we come hereunto out of our own strength But when with lowly hearts we d Esa 55 turn us obediently to God and the service of his gracious word then doth God also offer himself unto us and out of his Calling in the spirit allureth or draweth he us unto himself justifying us through the belief in e Col. 1. Heb. 9. Apo. 7 the blood of Jesus Christ and maketh us cleane from our sins and giveth us the everlasting life 21. This is verily the word of Faith f Act. 2.3 4 5 7 8. c. Rom. 10. 1 Pet. 1. which was published by the Apostles through Christ for a Righteousnes unto us g 2 Cor. 11. Gal. 1. Phil. 1. Whosoever therefore preacheth any other Christ or preacheth Christ any other way publisheth any other Gospel or publisheth the Gospel upon any other fashion or ground or believeth any otherwise or buildeth upon any other foundation h 1 Cor. 3 than God hath from the beginning through his Prophets and Apostles required and willed the same man remaineth i Gal. 1. execrable or accursed according to the mencion of the Scriptures 22. For k 1 Cor. 3 no other Foundation may there be laid than the same that is laid which is Iesus Christ who from everlasting was and is and abideth for ever Through whom God made all whatsoever is any thing and l Heb. 1. he beareth up all things by the power of his might and maketh the clensing of our sins through himself Unto him as a Father of all be Land Honour and Praise for evermore Amen 23. These and such like things was I partly of necessity moved to rehearse unto you ye dearly beloved to the intent you might consider them aright and understand the diversity of every thing that concerneth the Salvation of men 24. Furthermore see that ye humbly with meditation to God apply your selves out of the inclination of love to read or to heare the Glasse of Righteousnes and consider or mark the life which is
notwithstanding o Ezek. 47. a bottomles Sea which all Rivers do run into And whatsoever can be uttered concerning the Righteousnes were it even by so great multitudes of Bookes as is the sand by the Sea-side it is every whit comprehended or grounded in the very same 42. Who so liveth therein or in the obedience of the same life the gracious word p Prov. 4 loveth the same life and with a lowly and humble heart applieth himself obediently thereunto q Ecl. 39 such a one shall become wise in the hidden wisdom of God For the obeying of the requiring of the service of the gracious word of the Lord and of the Law of his Statutes and Ordinances r Psal 119. doth make the man wiser than all his chosen Masters or Teachers and in that manner commeth he to the holy understanding of the godly wisdom 43. Hereunto let us be minded from the heart ye dearly beloved and regard ye the kind mercy of God shewed on us out of his love For such a perseverance or clearnes of the healthful or safe-making Beeing is shewed unto us worthy in open sight hath in these last dayes given us to know his requiring in our spirit and understanding to a right distinguishing of life Å¿ Deut. 30 Jer. 21. Eccl. 15 and death to the intent that we who are yet in peril of death do suffer grief heavines for the sins cause should conceive hope towards such an healthful life and rejoyce us in the Godlines 44. Therefore let no man be t 2 Cor. 6 Heb. 12. negligent in such an appeared Grace but every one give God the Honour and so sigh over his wretchednes that he may be reformed of his errors 45. O ye Children of men ye that have named your selves before the time or much too soone with the name of Christ or with the name of Israel Lay away from you your vain boasting v Mat. 3. Luke 3. Act. 2. repent and amend you and betake your selves to the love and her service that ye may be saved 46. Do not think in your hearts that ye yet remaining without the gracious word and his service of love do nevertheles stand sure in Gods Covenant or that ye may not have transgressed nor forsaken the Covenant of your God 47. Think not also that ye are before God howsoever after your conceit ye have hallowed your selves any worthier than all other Heathen are which are without you For truly ye are subject with them all unto vanity misunderstanding and destruction and alike covered under the darknesses not knowing what wayes ye all walk For your own righteousnes is strange and unknown before the God of Israel inasmuch as the same is not his life of righteousnes nor yet his Statutes and Ordinances 48. Therefore ye which live and walk without the Doctrine and Service of the gracious word are even altogether touching the inward man one manner of people with all Heathen although outwardly ye have sundry several sorts of good Services or Ceremonies but truly they are to no advantage or unity unto you but to all controversie and division they are not to the life but much rather to a death and destroying one of another CHAP. XXIII 1. Whether the Christians and their Ceremonies have any preferment or not 6. They have been blinded as well as the Jews were in times past 7. So as there was no difference between them and other people 8. Every one hath made a chosen Righteousnesse to himselfe 10. But now the godly knowledge is revealed out of the Love And men ought to regard it else to be found of no value 15. Not the outward Christianity but the inward man is the thing that God esteemeth 20. But almost all turne them to the earthly things 22. He leaveth every one free but touching himselfe he will hold him alwayes to the good life 25. The godlinesse shall surely come forth but who shall be partakers of it is known to the Lord. 27. Hee exhorteth to Vnity and Peace c. 31. And requesteth that none will be offended at his Writings 33. If any man have gifts let him not be proud thereof but ascribe all unto God NOw some might here demand whether the Christian Ceremonies be nothing at all furthersome or whether they omitting all other ceremonies have not in them some advantage towards the life For if the Christian ceremonies had no benefit in them then to what end are the Christian ceremonies And what preferment then have the Christians by them Or to what purpose beare they the Name of Christ 2. Truly as we have also shewed before the Christians and their ceremonies have in their right quality and use much advantage for unto the Christians is committed the ministration of the gracious Word of the Lord and the revealing of the everlasting life and to this end are the Christian Ceremonies given them that all those which beleeve in Christ the gracious Word of the Lord should have a firme or sure confidence on the revealing of that same life 2 Cor. 4. 2 Cor. 11. Gal. 3. the which is with the Christian Services and Ceremonies promised for to come unto them to an everlasting light and beholding of the naked clearnesse of God through the uncovered face of Christ 1 Cor. 13 2 Cor. 3. For thus with the same Services and Ceremonies are the promises of Salvation to come committed to the Christians Rom. 9.11.15 Eph. 2. or to the Christian communalty They are also the children of the Testament of the holy Fathers Acts 3. through the Belief and that in all respects after the same manner as the Iewes are the children of the Testament in the promises of their Fathers out of whom are born the Iewes as heires and not as thereunto called Gen. 17. Which promises were committed unto them in or with the Circumcision which the God of Heaven ordained for an everlasting covenant between Himselfe and Abraham and his Seed Namely that the God of their Fathers according to the promises and according to the same covenant is even their God and remaineth a God of their seed for ever 4. Which Iewes howsoever they are as Branches broken off from their right Stock are also grafted upon no strange Stock Rom. 11. nor yet set or built upon any strange foundation but upon the foundation of the Promises and Stock of their Fathers to which salvation the Gentiles are through the Beliefe called out of Grace as fellow-heires of the same promises in Israel for to serve the living God Eph. 2.3 5. Lo these promises made to the Fathers to the salvation of the Gentiles are committed to the Christians in Beliefe and the Christian ceremonies are witnesses of the truth of the same 6. Howbeit forasmuch as such a holy Beliefe and service of Ceremonies to such a salvation as was evangelized in the preaching of the Apostles of Christ hath ceased and by the