are reserved in chaines of darknesse to the blacknesse of the darknesse of that day He that beleeveth shall be saved but he that beleeveth not he shall be damned 3. The true Gospel laies the maine cause of our salvation next to the work of God the father on the obedience on righteousnesse Rem 1.17 Rom. 3.25 Rom. 5. Es 53. Heb. 10. on the sufferings on the death on the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ his soule presented unto God as an offering a sacrifice a propitiation for our sinnes making satisfaction to divine justice bearing the wrath of God which was due unto us for our sinnes He was made sinne for us 2 Cor. 5. ult though he knew no sinne our sinne was imputed unto him that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him that his Righteousnesse might be Imputed unto us for our Righteousnesse Rom. 9.6 thus the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation as it reveales this righteousnesse of Christ imputed to us from faith to faith the gospel places the maine cause of our salvation not in any thing within us but without us not as righteousnesse though wrought in us by the power of God but a righteousnesse without us in the person of the Sonne of God Rom. 5. that was made flesh and dwelt among us There is no other saving name but this you are saved by the merits alone of that pretious blood Acts 20. that very corporal blood of the man crucified at Jerusalem as ye call him 1 Pet. 1.17 4. Rom. 3.25 Mark 16.16 That 's the true gospel which holds out the true application of these merits of Christ unto us in beleeving by faith which holds out the true faith as carrying in it these few particulars 1. True gospel faith saving faith hath this for its generall argument it sets its seale to all Scripture truth 1 Ino 4.2.3 Ino 1.1 à free and a powerfull assent to the whole doctrine of the gospel particularly that the man at Jerusalem as they call him was and is the Sonne of God God blessed for ever 2. That he is true man God-man Immanuell Es 7. Mat. 1. these two natures meet in one person one told me not long since that he that had two natures in one person was Antichrist 3. That he is our Mediator sufficient 1 Tim. 2.5 only mediator surety betweene God and us 4. That he lived died rose againe ascended Sits in glory shall visibly come againe judge the World and whatever else the Scripture speaks of him 5. Heb. 10. That his death was à sacrifice for sin That it is his imputative righteousnesse by which we are justified on the account of which our sins are pardoned our soules accepted saved c. 6. Ino 6. 1 Cor. 15. That there is a life a salvation to corne a judgement a resurrection of the body I know not how any man can be saved that denies any of these I am sure he that professedly blasphemes any one of all these so living and so dying he shall not he that beleeveth not shall be damned Mar. 16.16 Take heed bow ye depart from the faith least ye depart from salvation with it If you be saved by Christs righteousnes mediation you must beleeve all these truths and more 2. Rom. 3.25 True gospel faith carries the soule of it selfe and from of any thing else and applies it by a clinging and a cleaving of the soule unto Christ above fo Salvation It casts the soule upon that person hi offices his righteousnesse the merits o◠his death and sufferings and there expects Salvation and no where else like a shipwrackt creature that catches at a planke and on that layes hold to come to shore Not one falne soule shall come alive to shore that ever heard of Christ and the Gospell but this way Faith casts the soule on Christ the sonne of God the sonne of Mary and if there be no salvation in this crucified Christ 't will be content to perish in those floods of guilt and flames of wrath to all eternity 1 Cor. 2.2 it knowes no other it will have none else Christ and none but Christ for me 3. Rom. 6. That 's the true faith which purifies the heart and transformes the soule into the likenesse of this death of Christ to dye to sin to live to righteousnesse there is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and they are such as walke not after the flesh but after the spirit as have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Faith derives a power from the death of Christ to kill us to sinne and sin to us there is the likenesse of his death brought home unto us and wrought within us but this is not as Familists would have that death of Christ by which we are saved and have our sinnes pardoned our persons justified this is the consequent the fruit of that Such Gospel and such faith as leads unto Licentiousnesse that is a false Gospel an accursed Gospel and such Preachers are cursed Preachers so living and so dying Heb. 12. ye shall never see God without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. You see the true Gospell you may hereby know the false they that deny that deny that Christ his righteousnesse reproach his blood his death that deny those Gospell truths they that preach not this faith take this from me but not from me take it from God himselfe their Gosples they are false accursed Gospells and such preachers they are false and cursed Preachers they are so to God they should be so to you and that 's the next poynt with which I end Other Gospels and Gospel-pretending-preachers besides the true the old the everlasting they are accursed Gospels accursed gospel perverters God so lookes upon them and so should all good men An accursed thing what 's that It 's a thing most abominable detestable to be abhorred by all that come a neare it like the accursed things that were under the law accursed Deut. 2.26 2. An accursed thing such as these gospels is such as render every person thing it touches or comes neere unto accursed Josh 6.18 you know what it was with Achan the accursed thing rendred him accursed and some of this fell upon the whole campe and accursed gospel is the plague of the person that preaches it that heares it to entertaines it the plague of the place to which it comes and where such like are unlesse detested abhorred look't upon both as to their persons and doctrines as accursed by all that know them O what a curse goes with false gospel what delusions Rom. 1. 2 Thes 2.11 what a reprobate minde what horrid wickednesses bring they with them leave once Christ his truth and gospel and entertaine a legion of uncleane Divels nay more even the best of such if there be any that belong to God as some there be what
a spot get they I never knew any one yet though I have known many of this generation that ever came of roundly to the waies of truth to a Crucified Christ Some may escape but it 's an hard matter if they die not in these sinnes read Heb. 6.4 what hopes there are of such and 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. I cannot note it now it is a dreadfull word to me Oh what a curse goes there along with false gospels many of them professe to returne to waies of truth and some may write their recantations but lord shew mercy to them they have that abiding on them which denotes a curse a plague in error 3. An accursed gospel in gospel sence binds over to the curse indeed the wrath of God everlasting burnings the very bottomeles gulfe of hell 2 Pet. 2.1 if Christs blood dont sprinkle them as 't is rare if ever they are damned for ever I le speak it boldly as their doome such as wilfully blaspheame the name of Christ and turne apostates from him damnation is theirs there is no hope for them see a most dreadfull Scripture 10 of the Heb. and then judge whether this be true in the beginning you have Christ in his death and blood preacht to remission of sinne as we have now preacht it in the 26 you see the sentence on Apostates if we sinne wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth the truth that is in Jesus there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin I tremble to read this Scripture and to think of their forlorne condition there 's no hope no helpe but a certaine fearfull looking for of judgement a certaine ô there 's the dreadfull word as God is true these shall not live but dye read the 28s of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant a vaine thing or an unholy a common thing and hath done despight unto the spirit of grace once enlightning him and working somewhat on him still shining in the Scripture to him but rejected by him We know him that hath said vengeance belongeth unto me I will recompence saith the Lord. it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God Let me close up all with this exhortation which the Apostle in these words gave unto his people you see what the true Gospel is what false gospels are ô be perswaded to sacrifice your soules upon this Gospel and forall other gospels who ever bring them whether we our selves who have preacht this true Gospel unto you and which you have received I say whoever whether we our selves or others nay an Angell himselfe from heaven should he by infallible demonstrations make it out unto you that he came from the throne of God beleeve them not abhorre them their doctrines their persons and such Preachers looke upon them as upon the plague as upon the Divel himselfe they are accursed touch not with them their doctrines their principles Ioh. ep 2. least you be partakers of their sins and partakers of their plagues I beseech you in the bowel of the Lord Jesus Christ as ye love his person prize his righteousnesse expect salvation by him as you look that his blood his death his mediation his intercession should save your immortall soules keep and hold to this his Gospel let none deceive you let the truths of Christ the least of which is worth your soules the blood of Christ the ordinance of Christ the works of Christ the waies of Christ be pretious to you ô tender his name that he may tender yours stick close and cleave to him that he may cleave and stick close to you his gospel is the true Gospel the power of God to save y our soules though we or an Angel from heaven should preach any other gospel unto you then this which we have Preached and you received What I said before I say againe and not I but the Holy-ghost himselfe men may say we speak in passion and we rage and raile but God himselfe saies it and the Apostle by the inspiration of the blessed Spirit speakes it let them be accursed AMEN Animadversions on Mr COPPS Sermon at BURFORD Wherein is cleared the doctrine of the Gospel in generall in speciall the Person of Christ His Righteousnesse His union presence with us Scriptures harmony Gods purity c. WHen I had done Mr Coppe began he first Prayed and after Preached as for his Prayer I shall not meddle with it I heard but little of it and of what I heard I knew not what to make some told me he began as Aristotle ended Thou being of beings with another new-coyn'd appellation unlimited Almightinesse I referre these points to that God that heard it As for his Sermon it contained two parts the first had most relation to what I had spoken in my exhortation The second concern'd the text in Esay 40. ult Who gave Jacob to the spoyle and Israell to the robbers did not I the Lord. In these two was much to be observed I shall briefely note the chiefest in it As for the former part of his discourse which referd to mine something in it concerned my selfe and otherwhat the matter For what concern'd my selfe there was a hint of Vsurpation Ans My preaching there and then was not from usurpation I was called to it by God Mark 16. 2 Tim. 4.11 it s a generall Gospel warrant Goe preach the Gospel to every creature wee le take in the Apostles limitation in another generall Let every thing be done in decency and in order to apply it I found a people there to heare I had a word from God to Preach time and season suited with it for order had I known the Minister I would have craved his leave I had it after in the mean time though through a mistake I took it for Mr Osburnes turne on whom I would presume it made no stirre as farre as I conceite 't was done with decency and in order I was no Stage player I blesse God his presence was in mine eye his feare upon mine heart my matter was Evangelicall my method cleare and plaine I know not an exotick terme which Scripture does not use or the peoplet Mat heard it understand I thank God my desire was to observe the forme of wholsome words I wish others had done so too T was said some preacht they knew not what and talkt of Gospel but did not understand what Gospel was An. I ever took the Gospel to hold out the doctrine of salvation by Jesus Christ the son of God Contayning in it good news or glad tidings of salvation in that way to lost and undone sinners I am sure this was gospel with Christ and Paul and all saints as may appeare by the exhortation I desire to know no other If M. Coppe have another gospel beside that which Paul and after him I preacht
I tell him That M. Coppe and his gospel are both accurst Will you know sayd M. Coppe what 's the gospel the gospel is the power of God An. If hee meane what Paul meant I grant it 3 his words seeme to mee to Confound the gospel and the power of God I put no meaning on M. Copps words am loath to misunderstand or represent him but for the peoples sake I write not now to quarle with M. Coppe but to informe the people as to this question How the Gospel is the power of God You must understand the gospel sometimes notes the matter contayned in the gospel Q. 1. An. as the person of Christ his righteousnes the way of salvation by him especiall in his Crucifixion death for sin In this sense I understand that the power of God unto salvation worketh in the person of Christ Rom. 1.17 and through his righteousnes applyed unto us by fayth unto salvation this is the way of salvation even the righteousnes of Christ c. which is preached in the gospel Gods power goes forth through this Christ and no way else unto salvation 2. ibid. The gospel notes the word the doctrine that holds out this salvation by Christ whether written or preacht 1 Cor. 1. so then understand though the doctrine the preaching of salvation through the crosse be a way despised by the world a Crucified Christ accounted a weake a Contemptible saviour the doctrine a foolish simple doctrine the preaching of this by men a weak foolish and Contemptible thing Yet Gods power works this way unto salvation A crucified Christ carryeh in him both the wisdome and power of God unto salvation 1 Cor. 1. ult Gods wisdome and Gods power too shine in it unto Salvation no way so wise no way so powerfull because God appointeth it and God works with it to a full salvation 2 The gospel preached the Greeks count it foolishnes and Jews weakness but Instrumentaly is the wisdom and the power of God God makes use of the foolishnes and the weakness of preaching to save those that beleve and so Christ Crucified in himself and in his gospel preached is both the wisdom of God and the power of God unto salvation Let none despise this gospel then I am not ashamed of this gospel Rom. 1.16 there might be more said let this suffice I will be briefe and God willing clear Gods power working in us holds not out so fully this gospel to us but as if this very power were the very gospel and wee were to look for no other gospel I say the Gospel is the Gospel though Gods power be not actually put forth to the Application of this Gospel unto salvation 〈…〉 the word is a good word and an heart-gladding word though thousands to whom the gospel comes feel not this power The gospel is the power of God instrumentall I meane the word and the word preached is the instrument the power of God his being put forth with strength efficient is the working the principall working cause of this salvation you must distinguish between the toole which is used and the force the hand putteth forth with this toole or instrument strictly the toole is not your hand or the working virtue in your hand Some men love to darken words without knowledge meerely that people may not know where to find their meaning others would abuse the Scripture but they dare not speake plainly 't were a grosse thing for a Familist especially new converted to say the glad tidings of Salvation by Christ contained in the Scripture is not the gospel if he say you understand not the Gospel it 's the power of God he has his designe though we cannot take him If Mr Coppe mean the gospel is the unlimited Almightinesse of God with a mighty power carrying him out to sin sweare blaspheme He be bold to tell him hee 's worse then the divell I say not this is his meaning but if that be his meaning my words are plaine and need no explanation So much for that M. Coppe said there was much spoken after others If I spake after Christ after the Apostle after the faythfull witnessers to gospel truth I speak as I desire it seems t was no new gospel but it harmonized with Christ prophets and Evangelist I would not speake after mine own spirit nor after any but after Christ and as they speak after Christ I tell you friends our accursed gospellers love not the old way of God and Christ in scriptures ye must have something new like Afrike and that makes them such monsters I told you other gospels then the old gospel preacht after Christ and Paul for patternes are cursed Gospels my soule abhorres them For other triviall things I let them passe As to the matter I beseech you ponder well these words As to the matter by me delivered Mr Coppe spake two waies 1. By way of Assent and Confirmation 2. By way of Glosse and Opposition I say not an opposition of contrariety and contradiction I have something to say to both these First Let these lines make known that Mr Coppe againe and againe with dreadfull curses execrations profest his assent in full words to severall the maine passages in mine exhortation should I repeat the particulars I should transcribe the whole I have therefore let the whole lye open to publike view that the world may see if Mr Coppe be right what through Gods grace he is brought to see If otherwise what by Gods power he was made to say I intend it not to reproach him but let the world receive this testimony from him to these gospel truths 1. The divinity 2. The humanity 3. The mediation 4. The undertaking 5. The righteousnesse of Christ 6. The resurrection of the dead with severall others delivered by him particularly in this forme Let me be accursed if I deny that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God Let me be accursed if I deny the Righteousnesse of Jesus Christ Let me be accursed if I deny the Resurrection of the body c. At length to summe up all as 't was noted in the Epistle Let me be accursed with an Anathema Maranatha if I deny any one of all those things that were delivered by him What I have to say upon the account of these assertions of divine truth under execrations is briefely this I most gratefully accept these asseverations from Mr Coppe I heartily thank him for them upon the account of truth that he would so freely so pathetically professe his assent unto it if he were ingenious I will not yet question it Christ and truth will thank him too 2. Upon mine own account I thanke him that he would take so much paines as to repeate it even in mine own words and to confirme it as he did with execrations I professe I had no particular prejudice against his person as such in my discourse I thank him he exprest no more against mine
in his 1. I wish all Mr Coppes hearers would well consider his asseverations that such as have been deceived would be informed and as I said before if God will convinced and converted 2. I wish that all sound Christians would take notice 1. Of the soveraignty and divinity of Gospel-truth even Mr Coppe himselfe doth at length acknowledge it wee thank God and him for it 3. If Mr Coppe did defaulter with us speak one thing and mean another learne from hence never more to trust a Familist unlesse you can by better demonstrations then their verball recantations make good their reall conversions to the waies of God and truth 2. And as for him if it may appeare by these notes or his own discourse that he is the same what he was before only more cunning 1. To preserve himselfe from barres and bolts Newgate a type of Hell 2. To deceive others the very picture of the Divell I say if this appeare I will not say 't is so though you may see my guesse anon then 1. let the World know what to expect when the Bottomlesse pit is opened and the Divell loosed 2. Let the people of God where ever they heare the name of Coppe look on it as accursed either stoppe their eares or pray to God some way or other to stop his mouth that he may no more dissēble blaspheme 3. Let them likewise observe the mighty power of God which doth accompany that weak and foolish so accounted gospel preaching if not to convince convert save yet to harden judicially from God occasionally from the gospel efficiently from the Divel and mans own heart to kill to damne besides to over-awe to over-power that hell it self shall not open its mouth sometimes this is not alwaies to Contradict if Coppe bee still what hee was before see here how God supprest his rage overul'd his tongue what a testimony to divine truth what a witness against himself hath the gospel God forc't and wrested from the wretches mouth but of this before in the Epistle To the second his opposition Reader understand that Mr Coppe would now and then oppose to what by me and himself was spoken to what end I know not I shall give you the opposition and then my thoughts As I remember this was the first however let it be the first here Christ was Crucified at Ierusalem let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth if I deny that Christ was Crucified in Sodom and Aegypt cursed be he that denyes this These words were again and again repeated without a syllable to their reconciliation or interpretation What might be his meaning let the World judge 1. He tell you how Familists use to speak and what they generally intend when they thus speak 2. I shall shew you the Scripture meaning as to those Assertions under this Question How is it said that Christ was Crucified at Ierusalem How may it be said that Christ was Crucified as in Sodom and Aegypt 1. Familists use to speak one thinge and mean another Por as you may see in the Epistle One disputed with me about the Deity of Christ before a Committee he denyed that Christ was God or Jehovah 't was prov'd the man was charg'd by the Committee with it he presently told them he meant not so the like Christ's Imputative righteousnes is a saplesse righteousnes but he meant not so They will say and unsay in one breath 2. Before the late Act against Raunters they spake boldly now they dare not especially in points against the light of nature 3. Since the pretence of the conversion of severall of them to the way of truth they have a generall straine of Clothing their corrupt notions with sound words especially such Scripture expressions as will beare a generall sence as to Instance They will tell you that Christ was Crucified at Ierusalem a sound expression there generall sence is true he was Crucified at Ierusalem but in what sence abominably corrupt as a type and figure of the true death of Christ in them as they pretend An harmlesse Christian that would wrong none and things none would wrong him takes all well the man saies he speaks truth delivers speciall truth he granted that Christ died on the Crosse he does not deny that Christ died for our sinnes according to the Scripture but poore heart he never intended thou shouldest so apply it Again he will tell you by Christs blood that you are saved my self not long since heard words like these I thought no harm but that by Christs blood the man meant the meritorious cause of our salvation But it seems 't is one of their cursed formes of swearing like that the plague of God take all flesh of cursing I should tremble to write this but to discover Familists 4. It seems to me from what I have knowne of them they will put themselves on all expressions wayes windings to keep themselves from being known but to their owne you shall not know where to find them so as to fasten on them but their own shall know their meaning and so may you when you have once got their Key I have heard of canting Beggers and seen some such books for their sakes I shall not easily beleeve some Recantations A Key to Familisme hath cost me more than I le now mention 5. They are designers we may not be ignorant of their devices they have learnt these of their blasphemous ringleader when 't is for their purpose they will tell you Scripture speakes it for them and none then shall speake for Scripture more then they Another time they will let you know they care no more for Scripture then Gesta Romanorum and likely scarce so much 6. When they speak on the account of Scripture Revelation they will tell you if you will beleeve it that the Authentick Copy is their Imagination 7. I find it is one of their close designes and undertakings in undermining Scripture if possibly they can to make one clash against another Their drift is to weaken the Verity Harmony and Purity of the Scripture in the weakest Imagination When they have done that they laugh you are as they would have it they 'l set truth and Scripture as 't were together by the eares and sport at it I say Scripture they undermine and they have an 100 wayes for this whereof this is one now hinted 8. Take this Rule wherever they be they will be sure I meane the craftiest of them to close in with you in all discourses duties that they may promote their designe upon you you shall find it for a never failing observation they will first insinuate an interest in your affections and then corrupt your judgments They will smile upon you and cut your throate use melting words Honny-sweet smooth as oyle but full of poyson A Christ would they exalt within and who would not meeknesse love peace and righteousnesse would they promote who likes not this but friends their