for the witness of Jesus were raised or lived and reigned with Christ as the sense of the former then they that shall be alive at the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep so that the spirit of God might as well deliver a truth which is in the Present tense in the Preterpluperfect tense as a truth in the Present tense which was in the Future and yet is all to exercise the mind of him that readeth and to let us know there is mystery in the Gospel Secondly very few Saints have been beheaded in the litterall sence those that have dyed for Christ have dyed other deaths and not beheaded therefore we cannot understand it in the Letter but in the spirit The fourth particular propounded was what was meant in that the rest of the dead were not raised untill the 1000. yeares were finished that is none that had been bodily dead Saints or wicked good or bad were raised till after the 1000. yeares were finished and then you shall see the resurrection of all which is called the second resurrection the first is called a resurrection and the first resurrection because it shall be a resurrection from shame and disgrace in the world And secondly it shall be a glorious resurrection in the spirit this first all the Saints have in some measure been partakers of it Thus it appeares that Christ shall have a Kingdome a glorious a spirituall One Quest But when shall this Kingdome be Ans It is already begun in the spirits of Saints The Kingdome of Heaven is within you 2. I beleeve that the time of the 1000 years which is a more glorious estate in the spirit is not yet begun but the beginning of that time shall be when the 7. seales are fully opened c. the 7. Trumpets fully sounded and the 7 vials powred forth they being but effects of each other the opening of the seales occasions the sound of the Trumpets the sound of the trumpets occasions the vials the opening of the seales the unfolding of the mysteries of the Gospell which have been hid Rev. 5.1 2. As light breaks forth the Trumpets sound the servants of Jesus preach forth the mystery of the Gospell in the power and puritie of it occasions the vials of wrath to fall upon the Antichristian estate both in the spirit and in the letter which work is now adoing Wait the Lords time and it will come on apace But first we are yet like to be given into the hands of the little horn who changes times lawes the two witnesses are yet like to be slain and to lye dead 3 dayes and a halfe and the Woman cloathed with the Sun to be driven into the wildernes for a little space a time times and halfe a time the beast with two hornes like a Lambe hath yet a little time to make use of his power perswading them that dwell in the earth to make an Image to the first beast and that none but those who own it shall buy or sell with them the Saints beheaded under the Alter to wait a little time before they be raised up to live with Christ 1000. yeares but it is not long the vision is for an appointed time in the end it will speak and not lye it will come and not tarry the first 1000. is almost past the second and third are coming on apace and all the Nations and Kingdoms in the world will come apace to be the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever their lives shall be prolonged for a season and a time and other Scriptures are alleaged for a personall reign of Christ as the stone cut out of the Mountain without hands Dan. 2. that is the glorious power of Christ by weak meanes subduing al Antichristian enemies without his Saints all Antichristian things by his spirit within them So that in Dan. 7.10 the glorious company of Saints attending on Christ in the spirit which shall be fulfilled at the raising of the two witnesses up into Heaven in the sight of their enemies Rev. 5.10 11. This is the first glorious work of the Lord Jesus in and amongst the Saints the Lord reigneth let the Saints rejoyce the Lord reigneth let the world tremble see Zach. 14.5 The Lord our God will come and all the Saints with him that is Christ will come in the Spirit and all the Saints shall appear gloriously in him A word of application First if this be truth that the Kingdome of Christ is a spirituall Kingdome and not of this world this may inform us how farr besides the Gospel in the spirit and truth of it those men are who make the Kingdome of Christ to be meerely politicall and a state-Kingdome who turne the world by a humane power into the Church and Kingdome of Christ as they say and Christ must have a worldly carnall Kingdome no better th n the Kings of the earth enjoy or else he shall have none at all it savours exceedingly of the earth and ere long thither it must returne 2. This could incourage the Saints to pres forward after the knowledge of God in the spirit that as the Kingdom of Christ is spirituall and not of this world so may the Saints Kingdome likewise be in the spirit and so all their enioyments may be spirituall enjoyments this is that will make the soule fat and wel-liking in the Lord I l fithe soule with joy and peace which the world is not acquainted with their eyes never saw it nor their hearts conceived it neither are they like to see it unlesse the Lord make them spirituall SECT X. Of Death Resurrection Iudgement and the state of the Saints after Iudgemene eternally with God FIrst of death It is appointed for all men once to dye Dust we are to dust we must returne and therefore it behoves us to to expect it All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite til my change come Death is certaine although the time be uncertaine it is that none are in a common aid ordinary way exempted from unlesse those Saints who are alive at the last comming of Christ they shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye 1. Cor. 15.51.52 and so shall be caught up in the spirit to meet the Lord in the ayre 1 Thes 4.17 Secondly of the Resurrection That there shall be a resurrection of the Body at the last day is evident John 5.28 29. John 11.24 with 1 Cor. 15. throughout Rev. 20.12.13 although this truth is by some denyed and by others too carnally looked upon some thinking that our bodies of flesh shall be raised in the same forme in which it dyed others that it shall be spiritual yet question whether it shall be of the same substance therefore it will be necessary to consider two particulars for the clearing of it First by what power we shall be raised Secondly with what bodies 1 By what Power
himselfe into other shapes if ten horns be too heavy to be born he will be content to wear but two like a Lamb rather then none at all Qu. Why is Satan called a Serpent Answ Because in his first prevailing with that woman he did either make use of the Serpent Gen. 3.1 who was a Subtill creature and so comes in the Serpent unto the woman or else secondly transformes himselfe in the shape and forme of the Serpent and so represents himselfe unto the woman and so from hence received the denomination of a Serpent Rev. 12.9 In the first then learne that Satan usually makes use of the wisest and subtilest creatures to bring to passe his will in or by them if the second learn that Satan can transforme himselfe into any shape or forme to delude and deceive soules A third cause of mans fall was disobedient acting contrary to the mind of God In the day thou Eatest ihereof thou shalt dye saith the Lord Adam eateth thereof and dieth disobedience was the cause of mans fall Rom. 5.18.19 Qu. What was Adams disobedience An. Eating the forbidden fruit Gen. 2.15 Qu. What was this fruit Ans The fruit of a Tree in the Garden or Paradise of God Gen. 2 9.16 called the Tree of knowledge of good and evill good if a man did not eate of it evill if he did eat of it A Tree who so eateth the fruit thereof shall know the difference between good and evill so he indeed knew good by the want of it and evill by the sence enjoyment of it What mystery might be presented by this pleasant fruit I shall not at present dispute because it is something dark unto me whether sin which seems very pleasant unto a carnal eye or the world which much prevailes upon a carnall mind or honour or both All these temptations Satan made use of unto Christ himselfe and represented them to his eye as a deceiveable fruit if possible he might deceive him And the Tree of Life representing Christ that whosoever eateth drinketh of him might live for ever Io. 4 14. Rev. 22.2 SECTION 6. Mans misery by reason of his fall MAns misery by the sinne of Adam was death In dying thou shalt dy or thou shalt dye the death Gen. 2.17 Now under the name of Death the Scriptures comprehend divers things A spirituall death in sin so are all naturall men dead in trespasses and sinnes subject to externall miseries and deadly plagues Exod. 10 17. Externall afflictions upon the body so Paul 2 Cor. 1.5.6 the dissolution of mans externall and naturall ltfe Gen. 35.18 Psal 146.4 The perdition of body and soule for ever All which miseries come in by the sin of Adam As the second Adam was the way letting in all good to mankind so was the first Adam the way or floud-gate letting in all miseries upon foule and body Object Some will object and say But how could Adam lose a spirituall life and so come under a spirituall death seeing he never had a spirituall life in God how could he lose that which he never had Answ Although Adam had never a spirituall life in God yet he had a spirituall subsisting given him of God free from sin and so capable of defilement For the truth is it is the internall part of man that sins the forme or body of man is acted by the guiding of the internall part so that Adam now dyes in his spirit he hath neither power wisdome nor will to do that which is well-pleasing to the Lord he hath not only lost that wisdome will and power of acting in the first Adam but likewise of believing and so of applying that salvation tendered in the second Adam untill he spiritually and powerfully draw up the soule unto himselfe John 6.44 and so makes him not onely partaker of all that compleat righteousnesse wrought for him but likewise sulfils all righteousnesse in him Rom. 8.4 Or else mans misery may be considered under these three heads 1. A condition of death as you have heard In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death that is death internall and death externall and death eternall without a meanes or a remedy preventing it 2. A condition of enmity I will put enmity between thee and the woman between thy seed and her seed all unbelievers which so live and remaine are in a state of enmity God hath not declared himselfe any other unto them and their nature is still at enmity with God 3. A condition of insufficiency to help themselves Adam was not able to help himselfe and all he could doe was to hide himselfe he could not deliver himselfe out of this condition neither are all the sons and daughters of Adam able to help one soule our of this condition if God help not Therefore this should teach soules made alive by Christ to admire mercy and to cry Grace Grace un to the whole work of God both in them and for them SECT IV. What is the meanes God hath appointed for the recovery of man out of this condition THe meanes God hath appointed to deliver Man out of this condition is Jesus Christ and therefore promiseth Christ immediatly upon the Fall Gen. 3.15 Herein is Gods love manifested that he leaves not man in his lost estate but gives forth his Son out of his bosome that he might seek and save that which was lost and so deliver us from wrath to come Rom. 5.9 1 Thes 1.10 He is Jesus the Saviour and the alone Saviour of his people from their sins Mat. 1.21 acts 4.12 that is he is the alone way through which the Father brings downe salvation to sinners and through which he drawes up soules to himselfe there is no other way of God down to the soule nor of the soule up to God but through Jesus Iohn 14.6 Quest What must Christ Iesus undertake and performe before the breach is made up and faln man recovered Answ 1. He must take the sinne and fault upon himselfe Isai 53.6 1 Pet. 2.24 He that knew no sin was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousnes of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 Admirable mercy that when man had sinned and lost himselfe Jesus Christ who never knew sin either in act or thought must now take upon him the sinners sin and so be made as it were a lump of sin and this he did willingly of himselfe he bare out sins on his owne body on the Crosse Christ took the whole sinne of Adam and the whole world upon himselfe when Adam had sinned and all mankind in him Adam and all must have died Christ takes the sinne upon himselfe and so taking the sinne upon himselfe he withall takes the curse and so undergoes the sentence of death The curse was In the day thou Eat est theroof thou shalt dye the death Christ he dies the death that so he might free man from death and so Christ in bearing the sinne and the
more then he is ever able to pay the Creditor having vowed satisfaction the debtor is cast downe and troubled exceedingly the creditor to satisfie both his own word and the mind of the debtor sends forth his son and fully inables him to pay the debt he brings along the debtor with him payes the debt cancels the bonds and sets him free and thus it was with the Father man had sinned God had said in the day thou sinnest thou shalt dye this debt of death must be discharged the Father that he might be just and yet a justifier and that the conscience of faln man whom he loved might be satisfied he gives or sends forth his Sonne he payes the debt and so satisfies the word of the Father and the conscience of the sinner and so indeed is not essentially the procuring cause of love but rather an effect of love to satifie both the word of the Father and the conscience of the sinner and this was Gods way from eternity through which he intended to manifest hmselfe to his people SECTION V. How persons come to have benefit by this meanes that God hath appointed as the way of life SInners come to have benefit by Jesus Christ by believing Iohn 3.16.36 He that believeth on the Son hath life and he that believeth not on the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth in him Faith as an instrument is the meanes appointed of God by which sinners receive and owne Jesus Christ and life by him For clearing this truth three things will be necessary to be considered First what Faith is Secondly how it comes Thirdly the properties and effects of it 1. What it is Faith is the apprehending and applying Christ and so the Father and his everlasting grace in him 1. It is the apprehending of Christ that is the observing and beholding of him as he is in himselfe the seeing of him in his beauty and excellency Esa 33.17 thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty it is to see all that worth to be in him that the soule needes and then 2. To apply him according to the soules present occasion a dying Christ to a dead soule and this Christ commends unto us to be the faith by which Soules come to enjoy salvation Iohn 6.40 this is the will of him that sent me that he that seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life note Hee that seeth the Son that is apprehends that worth and excellency that ability the Father hath put in him to save sinners able to save all those to the utmost that come unto God by him and beleeveth on him that is applieth him receiveth him as its alone Saviour and justifier to them he gives power to become the Sons of God Iohn 1.12 even to as many as believe on his name 3. This faith doth not onely apply Christ as given forth of the Father singly and a part from the Father but it applyes that is ownes the Father in the Son and that everlasting love of the Father to the Soule brought downe through the Son for the Son is but the Fathers way downe to sinners Iohn 14.6 Iohn 12.44 He that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me that is believeth not alone in Christ but believes and injoyes that everlasting good will and love of the Father to the soule anb so seeth the Father in Christ commending love and so giving forth himselfe to the soule and so is able to see and say that it is indeed God that justifies and that God was in Christ as the way reconciling sinners to himselfe not imputing their sins and now the sinner sees that Christ never acted any thing or brings downe any thing to the soule but what was and is the good will and pleasure of the Father and so faith ownes not only Christ but the Father giving forth the sonne as the price of their redemption Ephes 1.7 Gal. 3.13 and way of their adoption Gal. 4.5 2. How is this Faith obtained Answ It is the free guift of God as Christ who is its object and all other good things for every good and perfect gift comes downe from the Father God in Christ is the Prince and Author of our faith Heb. 12.2 Looking to Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith Eph 2.8 ye are saved freely by grace through faith that not of our selves it is the gift of God faith is the proper and peculiar guift of God no man commeth unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him it is the Father that workes all the Father first loves and then gives his Sonne and then drawes soules up unto himselfe in the Son else they never come No man comes to me unlesse the Father draw him Iohn 6. hence it is that the experienced soule desires to be drawn Cant. 1.2 Phil. 1.29 for unto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ not onely to believe but to suffer that is you who have received this gift of faith must expect to suffer likewise Obj. But is not faith held forth in the Gospel as the condition of the Covenant of grace he that believeth shall be saved Answ 1. Although it seemes in the letter of the Gospel to be held forth as a condition of the Covenant he that believeth shall be saved yet it is in the spirit mystery of the Gospel a condition on Gods part it is true none can be said and say truly himselfe that he is in the Covenant of grace before faith yet this faith is the gift of God as you have heard and if any condition it is on Gods part in the mystery and it is his promise Heb. 8.10 This is the Covenant I will make with them I will write my Lawes in their hearts saith the Lord that is I will take them off themselves and make them partakers of my spirit which shall cause them to own love in God and to live out of themselves in God and shall cause them to act spiritually even as Jesus Christ himselfe acted and so faith may be said indeed to be rather a branch or part of the Covenant of grace then the condition for God in the Covenant promiseth to write his Law and to give faith and all good unto the soule he gives Christ a Covenant and with him he gives all having given us his Son how shall be not with him give us all things 2 Faith is indeed an evidence to the soule that is in the Covenant of grace and made one with God hence it is called Heb. 11.1 The evidence of things not seen that is not seen with a carnall eye the spirit evidenceth it and saith receiveth that evidence and so the soule is satisfied through faiths believing of the word and spirit of God Obj. What is the meanes by which God worketh faith Answ The meanes by which God workes faith is his word and spirit by the preaching of the Gospel
the Church what p. 75. SECTION 9. The spirituall Kingdom of Christ in his Church in the latter dayes of the Gospel discovered p. 80. Who are the subjects of Christs Kingdom p. 81 The externall glory of the Church of Christ in latter dayes p. 82. 83 The spirituall glory of the Church p. 85. The Kingdome of Christ wholly spirituall p. 90 Objections answered conceruing the personall reigne of Christ p. 93 SECTION 10. Of death resurrection and Judgement p. 108. 2. Part. A briefe discovery of Antichrist or the man of sin both in the History and in the Mystery p 113 To the Reader PErusing this Treatise J could not but take notice of some pretious truths in it and commend them abroad The spirituall designe of this Author I find to be this Rom. 14 17. Ephes 4.3 2 Cor. to set up the Kingdome of God in spirit and to draw believers by that more into spirit and that no difference of outward administration or Ordinances should divide Christians that are baptised into one spirit which truth J did much rejoyce to see from his Pen and practise and should rejoyce to see the like from all the rest We know he is not a Jew who is one outward Rom. 2. neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh we are the circumcision saith the Apostle Phil. 3. who rejoyce in Christ Iesus and have no confidence in the flesh There are some excellent truthes hinted in this Book which I intend to speak on as of the two Adams the spirituall Church the spirituall Liberty the spirituall not personall reigne of Christ in a little Treatise of my owne Ephes 1.17 â— Cor. 2. The Lord fill us with the Spirit of wisdom and Revelation The spiritual man judgeth all things John Saltmarsh THE MARROVV OF CHRISTIANITY SECTION 1. Of Adams Condition before his fall THe condition of Adam in his innocency before his fall was 1. A condition of humane perfection an upright and perfect man this is the conclusion of wisdome Eccles 7.29 Loe this only have I found that God hath made man upright but they sought out many inventions Obj. But it is said Gen. 1.27 that God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him therefore it seemes that Adam had more in him then perfect humanity that he was made partaker of the divine nature Answ For the clearing of this Scripture two things are to be considered 1. what is meant by the Image of God 2. what is not meant by it 1. what we are to understand by the Image of God in which Adam was created 1. reason wisdom and understanding Adam was made a reasonable wise and understanding man in this particuler he was in the Image of God A wise God there is no searching of his understanding Esa 40.28 Adam had the Image of Gods wisdome not the wisdome of God not the thing it selfe it dwelled in God fully it was essential in him but imparted to Adam it was and is in God essentially he is wisdome it selfe Adam was but the Image God himselfe the substance That this Image was in man at first appears first from Scripture Gen. 2.19.20 the Lord brought all the creation to wit sensitive Creatures before Adam that he might give names unto them or to see what he would call them God would now put him to the imploying of that reason and understanding he had given unto him a perfection of reason above all other Creatures 2. It appeares from naturall experience hence it is that there is so much enquiring after a perfection of humane reason so much studying of Arts as Phylosophy Logick Rhetorick c. but from these corrupted reliques or principls of reason yet remaining in falne man striving after hardly being satisfied without the perfection of reason able to give a reason of all thiings this your heathen Philosophers have gon far in this is that maybe attained in an high measure yet be but a reasonable moral man nay were it possible to attaine that perfection that was in Adam yet it would be no more then a morall humane perfection and this is that which many who bear the name of Christians to much presse after glory in as if without this wisdom there could be no knowledge of mind of Christ thus did the Greeks seek after wisdom 1. Cor. 1.22 the Greeks being the deepest in the knowledge of humane Arts and of the nature and cause of things therefore they would judge of the Gospel according to reason they seek after natural wisdom but saith the Apostle we preach Christ to the Greeks foolishnesse so indeed is the Gospel in the mystery of it meer folly to the highest naturall understanding in the world nay it is that which the wisdome of the Gospel destroyes where it comes in power he destroyes the wisdome of the wise and brings to nought the understanding of the prudent 1 Cor. 1.19 and here lyes the great mystery of mistake I had almost said of Iniquity we seek after the knowledge of God unto this wisdome of the first Adaem how many are there that would confine the knowledge of God in the wisdome who are not ashamed to say that Phylosophy is the mother of Theologie without this naturall wisdome men must com short in the knowledge of God when the truth is the first Adam was of the earth earthly the 2d is the Lord from heaven and they who have but the first Adams wisdome are stil of the earth earthly the wisdom of the first Adam comes infinitly short of bringing us to the knowledge of God in the spirit but it is by the wisdome of the second Adam who is the Lord from heaven and the wisdome of the father we attaine the knowledge of God in the spirit which wisdom destroyes brings to nought the wisdom of the first Adam 1 Cor. 1.19 Chap. 2.6 7 8. and 3 Chap. 18.19.20 Note that all unbelievers and carnall professors are in the wisdom of the first Adam all believers spiritually made alive by Jesus being delivered from themselves are in the wisdome of the second Adam the Lord Jesus who is the wisdome of the Father 1 Cor. 1.24 2 Adam was in the Image of God that was in a perfect morall pure and sinlesse condition he was made upright innocent without sin but he sought out many inventions Quest How may a morall purity and righteousnesse be said to be the Image of God Answ 1. God was and is perfectly essentially and spiritually pure Adam was but the Image or Character of this purity as it is possible to draw a compleat Image of Character of a living man in a peece of stone or timber and we say and speak truly that it is the Image or likenesse of a living man yet it is not a living man nor hath it any part of mans nature in him even so was Adam in the Image of God there was not onely the wisdome
shalt die the death Man having yet the principles of that law remaining in him God having by the promised Messiah given a farther being to mankind in the world he gives forth the righteous Law more at large in the letter that so his creatures might have a rule in the Letter to walke by and likewise might be the more sensible of the losse of both that principle and power they had once in Adam given unto them and likewise with it given though not the same power yet the same promise of externall life in the Land God gives them 2. The Law was that by which sin came that is by which sin became sinfull For it is true had not God given a Law yet man would have been acting contrary to the pure mind of God therefore he give a Law that sin might become out of measure sinfull and it was added because of transgression for where no Law is there is no transgression For by the Law was the knowledge of sin and so it was an administration of death both in the hands of Adam as well Moses 1. Cor. 3.6.7 3. The Law in the letter was an Image or Character of that spirituall righteousness God intended to bring in by Jesus Christ as Adam was an Image of that spirituall perfection God intended to make his partakers of in the spirit by Christ So this Law in the letter was a rule answerable to that morall principle of righteousnesse in Adam a Character likewise of that spiritual righteousnes that every believer attains in Christ the righteousnes of the law in the letter was not that believers injoy in Christ but that righteousnesse Adam injoyed in his state of innocency It was not the righteousnes of God but a Character of that righteousnes holyness and purity that all believers are made partakers of in the spirit It was not that righteousness by which God intended to give life and glory eternally but such a righteousness which had externall promises annexed unto it For if there had been a Law given that could have given life then righteousness had been by the Law Wherefore I conclude that the Law in the letter was but a Character of the spirituall righteousness of God which is the life of the Saints and that by which God never intended to justifie any to eternity for the law in the letter killeth not justifieth but the spirit giveth life 2. Cor. 3.6 The law was given to Adam in the letter and Moses was the Minister of the law in the letter but Christ is the Minister of the law in the spirit Therefore Moses saith himselfe A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me him shall you heare in all things Acts 3.22 23 Deyt 18.15 Obj. It is said Rom. 15.8 that Jesus Christ was the Minister of Circumcision Answ True he was the minister of it for the truth of God to confirm the promises made unto Abraham he was a Minister of it so as to fulfill the truth held forth in it So the word Minister Diaconos signifies God having promised Christ to come of the seed of Abraham he gives forth circumcision and divers other Ordinances as Types representing him and he is the Minister of all to act and fulfill all and to be the substance of all those Types for the truth of God else God had not been true in his promises neither had salvation been obtained either by the Fathers to whom the promises were made or the Gentiles who were a farr off and likewise included in the promises Therefore he was the Minister of circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises unto the Fathers and likewise that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy Not so much a Minister in the giving forth of it but in the fulfilling of it which gives occasion to the Gentiles to rejoyce and praise the Lord. Obj. Paul applyeth the words of Moses in the Law Deut. 30.12 13 14. Rom. 10 6 7 8. to be the righteousnesse of faith the righteousnesse of faith speaketh on this wise Answ It is true that Christ and the righteousness of the Gospel was included in the Law There was a literall or externall righteousnesse expressed in the letter to which were externall pall promises annexed but there was a spirituall and internall righteousnesse included which only beleevers were made partakers of which was a righteousnesse brought in by Christ and obtained by faith which is the law in the spirit or that spiritual righteousnesse of God that beleevers are made partakers of which is the second thing propounded what the law in the spirit is Secondly the law in the spirit or the spirituall righteousnesse contained in the law as you have already heard is the righteousnesse of God which every believer is made partaker of Note these two words for the more full clearing of it First that there wasa spirituall righteousnesse included mystically in the letter of the Law which none ever saw into but those spiritually enlightned Paul had experience of it Rom. 7.14 For we know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall The Law in the letter was not spirituall For the same Apostle could say that he walked concerning the righteousnesse of the Law in the letter blamelesse Phil. 3. yet he calls it a fleshly walking If any man had cause of glorifying in the flesh I much more And he saith he was alive ones without the Law but when the Commandment came sin revived and I died Rom. 7.9 alive without the law in the letter by that it was he judged himselfe to be alive he walked concerning that blamelesse but when the Commandment came that is when the spiritual righteousnesse of the Law was unfolded which was no lesse then the righteousnesse of God then he saw how short he came of that righteousnesse he was yet but in the letter in the flesh and not in the spirit Then sin revived I died Secondly that this Law in the spirit is that spirituall righteousnesse of God that believers are made partakers of 1 Cor. 3.6 The letter killeth but the spirit giveth life The letter killeth the letter requireth an exact and perfect obedience which none was able to performe and so the very letter of the law did kill So at first it killed Adam and all his posterity and so it killed the Jewes being given forth in a more large way for it was the administration of death but the spirit giveth life viz. the Lord Jesus the spirit and substance of the law both morall and ceremoniall for the first man was made a living soule to answer a morall righteousnesse the second was made a quickning spirit to give life to those dead in the first Adam And as the Father hath life in himselfe so hath he given to the Son to have life in himselfe and he quickneth whom he will John 5. The Law in the letter killeth the Law in the spirit quickneth Therefore Christ saith I came not
with 1 Iohn 3.2 We are already the Sons of God but it doth not yet appeare what we shall be But this we know when Christ shall appeare we shall be made like unto him and this is enough for us to know And as there is an Onenesse betweene Father Son and Saints so likewise there is a spirituall union betweene the Saints this was Christs prayer who was heard in all things he prayed for that the Saints might be one as he himself was one in and with the Father the union of the Saints is not a carnall union but a spirituall they who are joyned to the Lord are one Spirit Vse 1. To encourage all the Saints to presse forward in the power of the Lord after a farther knowledge and injoyment of this spiritual union with the Lord and with the Saints Truly friends as this was not onely the resolution of the Apostle himselfe Phil. 3. but his prayer for the Ephesians 1.16 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus the Father of glory might give unto them the spirit of wisdome in the Revelation of him that their eyes being inlightned they might know what was the hope of their calling and the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints so is it my desire not onely to presse forward in the power of God after the knowledge of this mystery but that all the Saints might live in the knowledge of it that their hearts might be comforted together being knit together in the spirit of unity and love The effects of the knowledge of this blessed union will prove exceeding glorious 1. It is that will produce a glorious spiritual communion and fellowship with the Father Son Saints union alwaves being that which produceth communion even a civil union with the flesh when once the Lord saith concerning man and woman they are no more twaine but one flesh that produceth fellowship and communion after the flesh so likewise and much more doth a spirituall union produce a spirituall communion and fellowship a fellowship and communion with the Father and the Son in all his administrations in all the wayes and acts of his providence civill or spirituall the spirituall Christian injoyes God in all 1. John 1.3 Our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ Christ and the Saints from their union with each other 1. They dwell together in the spirit they are his house and he dwels in them the Temples of the holy spirit and they dwel in him they who dwell in God dwell in love 2. They eat together in the spirit Eat O friends drinke yea drink abundantly the Lord takes as it were spirituall satisfaction in his Saints and they take spirituall satisfaction in the Lord it is their life to live in the injoyment of him 3. They walke together in the spirit they have their garden and galleries and pleasant delights 4. They talke together and commune with each other in the spirit the Lord he makes forth himself in the spiritual discoveries of his love to his Saints and then they are carried forth to tell him of it to admire him in it and to praise him for it and thus there is many sweet conference and heart-discovery betwene the Lord and a spirituall Christian which makes the soule to revive within it selfe 5. Christ and the Saints lye down together in the spirit and take their fill of love each with other they sleep as it were in the bosome of each other and so they rest themselves in love And this likewise produceth fellowship amongst Saints a fellowship in spiritualls fellowship in temporalls And they continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship in breaking bread and prayer and breaking bread from house to house being filled with gladness and singleness of heart Act. 2. And they who believed had all things common a community as well as a unity that is so far forth as need is calls for it so in gifts so in all things 1. Cor. 3.22 All is yours Paul Apollo and Cephas And Secondly the knowledge of this spirituall glorious onenesse which the Father produced an exceeding earnest desire in the soule enjoying of it to live more and more in that glory What is the reason Professors content themselves to be so low so carnal in their minds but because they were never acquainted with nor enjoyed higher things but the Apostle who had seen and tasted of that glory forgets all behind and presseth forward if so be that he might obtain the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3. and apprehend that for which he was apprehended that love that grace that God who had apprehended him Certainly that soul who hath once tasted how good how gracious the Lord is in the spirit can never be satisfied with the knowledge of him in the letter 3. the knowledge of the spirituall union with God produceth an acting more in and after the spirit of God How doth the creature set it selfe a works and acts it selfe even in the letter of the Gospel as well as formerly in the letter of the Law for want of knowledg of the union in the spirituall power of the Lord although without Christ that is not being acted by Christ we can do nothing the Creature being unacquainted with that spirituall mysticall union with God acts himself in the things of God 4. The knowledge of this spirituall union with God produceth the killing and crucifying of that earthly part nothing kills and destroyes the flesh but the rowing up in the spirit Oh! how would the soule many times be content to undergoe any thing so it might be rid of pride and selfe and those fleshly corruptions and why it is the growing up in the spirit that destroyes the flesh the more you live in and after the spirit the lesse after the flesh 5. It is that will help us to know Christ and the Saints the more in and after the sdirit the less after the flesh and so will produce a more spirituall communion amongst al the spirituall Saints of Jesus 6. And lastly it is that will make the thoughts of a change exceeding sweet because the soule lives in expectation of a glorious freedome from sin and sorrow and a full perfection of spirituall and eternall glory therefore it can be contented to be dissolved and to be with Christ whichs best of all where it shal for ever live in the connuall admiration of and glorying in the spirituall enjoyment of God whose worke shall be everlastingly and fully to enjoy and freely to sing praises unto the Lord. SECT VII Wherein it declared what the Law is and what the Gospel is with the difference between them both in the Letter and in the Spirit THE Law in the Letter is a rule of Life answerable to those moral principles of nature left in man since his fall the substance of which Law was written in the heart of the first Adam and was contained in that Verball word In the day thou eatest thou