of cold water to any one of the lest of these Marke 9.41 in my Name saith the Lord shall not leese his reward but shall haue eternall life As it is written Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world For I was an hungrie and you gaue me meate I was a thirst and you gaue me drinke c. Yee did it to these saith he if but to the least of these my brethren yee did it to me Mat. 25.34 35 36. And againe Whosoeuer receiueth one of the least of these little ones in my Name saith the Lord receiueth me and with me him that sent me O happie man therefore that can perceiue and doe these things But hee that despiseth you despiseth me and him that sent me And this is it which Iohn meaneth He that saith he is in that light 1. John 2.9 and hateth his brother is in darkenes vntill this time But he which loueth his brother abideth in that light and there is none occasion of euill in him And againe Hereby we know that we are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren 1. Iohn 3.16 meaning the Lords brethren the little Sheepe to whom he will say Come yee blessed inherit the Kingdome for euer These loue their enemies Matt. 5.44 If they hunger they feede them if they thirst they giue them drinke if they curse they blesse if they persecute they pray and weepe for them And these are the light of the world Matt. 5.14 15. the Candle on a Candlesticke the Citie set vpon a Hill whereof Dauid spake when he said Glorious things are spoken of thee Psal 87.3 thou Citie of God and this if one will he may visibly see for a Citie set vpon a hil cannot bee inuisible And to this alone is power giuen to binde and loose Ioh. 20.23 to remit and to retaine sinnes euen to these I meane are these Keyes giuen whom God approueth and will approue for euer Indeede many are called but these are they that are chosen these loue one another and thereby doe they know each other to bee borne of God and to be loued of God and that they doe loue God I say for that they loue those that are borne of God 1. Iohn 2.5 As it is written Hereby we know that yee are in him And this is the kingdome which the Lord saith Iohn 3.3 No man can see but he that is borne againe And this is that house of Leui 1. Peter 29. Hebrew 12.23 that royall Priesthood spoken of the peculiar people the congregation of the first borne who are all written in heauen The chosen generation and people set at libertie If you will receiue it Mat. 18.4 Reuel 3.12 these are they that haue the preheminence these are all the Priests of God and serue in his Temple for euer These he hath made pillars in his house and shall goe no more out these are blessed and holy and haue al their parts in the first resurrection and shall not be hurt in the second death These are they that are risen with Christ Reuel 20.6 Reuel 2.11 and seeke those things which are aboue who are dead to sinne and crucified to this world these are they that haue ouercome the world and haue receiued the white stone and the new name of the Lord. And this is the little flocke to whom he saith Luke 12.32 Be of good cheere for it is your fathers pleasure to giue you a kingdome And this alone is that Citie of God Reuel 3.11 which onely is named the new Ierusalem and these are the Citizens and of these the scripture meanes which saith Where two or three be gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them And behold I am with you saith he vnto the end of the world But perhaps you will say if this bee the Church of Christ which you haue here described Obiection to whome the Keyes of the Kingdome of heauen and all those titles and priuiledges doe onely belong then was there neuer such a Church in the world in one fellowship congregated and constituted by baptisme pertaking together in the Lords supper and all other exercises of Religion consisting onely of such vnmoueable stones as you speake of For with the Lord himselfe and with his eleuen Apostles one was who did prooue a diuell And many also were with Christ before and were Baptised which fell away and afterwards with his Apostles also which fell away and were offended It is true indeed but what saith it Answere Ioh. 2.19 If they had bin of vs they would haue continued with vs but of that Church they neuer were that hath the preheminence and vnto whom those excellent titles and treasures of God doth belong for although they did partake with them in receiuing the word and beleeuing the truth thereof and of the elementish Baptisme and the signes of the Lords bodie and blood and all other such like common things yet were they neuer baptised in heart returned and became as little children neither yet did euer eat his flesh and drinke his blood Mat 18.3 truly and indeed by faith for want wherof they could neuer enter into the kingdome of heauen nor yet had euer life in them as it is written And therefore of that Church and kingdome they neuer were Iohn 6.53 nor yet did euer partake with them in their peculiar things nor neuer came into their courts of rest nor Citie of peace But to the returned little ones doe all those great things belong those excellent priuiledges euen to them that eate his flesh Iohn 6.54 and drinke his blood who haue all of them eternall life abiding in them whom the Lord Iesus will raise vp at the last day as he himselfe saith But how then did that Church iudge of them Question you will say while they were with them did they not beleeue that they were returned and did they not accompt of them as they did of those that were returned and borne againe that had eaten Christs flesh and drunke his blood vnto eternall life seeing they were baptised with them and did eate the same bread and drinke the same wine with them also did they not iustifie them and approue of them as of the rest That Church did neuer so approue of them Answere they were neuer so blind and desperatly bold as your Master Smith to iustifie and approoue of those whom God doth condemne they are not so rash as you and your Church to affirme they know not what They are better aduised and better taught then so That Church kingdome which we speake of was neuer so deceiued in her entercōmoners to account and approue them as borne againe because they did partake with her children in all these common things But she and her children iudged alwayes the truth of them and neuer were deceiued
effects and beginnings for the raine doth fall on all and the Sunne shines without respect Yet when the fruite doth appeare after this generall blade Mar. 4 28. whereby the good ground is knowne from the bad as the wheat is from the tares and after this generall raine and sun-shine the good ground like good trees doth bring forth good fruit There doth appeare so great a difference betweene them as is betweene end and beginning betweene first and last betweene the blade and the fruite Betweene the kingdome compared to a Net wherein all sorts of fish is caught both good and bad and the kingdom compared to a field wherein lay a treasure hid of so great worth Mat. 13.44 that whosoeuer could get possession of it though it cost him all that euer hee had if it were neuer so much yet should his gaine be great and infinite And betweene those little ones who are borne againe whose loue is great for great respects Who know they are translated from death to life And those vnreturned ones 1. Ioh. 3.14.15 that loue not nor know whether they goe And as the difference is great in regard of the vncertainty of the one and the certaine euerlasting happinesse of the other So haue they a Charter so great and freedome so strong with so many priuiledges belonging thereunto as no Citie in the world Reu. 21. nor kingdome can afford the like And wherein those entercommoners on whom God hath shewed his bounty in giuing them Sunne and raine and haue not yet brought forth fruit can haue no part nor fellowship neither ought any more to presume to touch or meddle with then those that might not touch nor stay the Arke or him to whom Peter said thou hast no part nor fellowship with vs Act. 8.21 nor in this administration But those poore little rich fruitfull ones are the onely Priests of God the stay and pillars of his Arke of Arks not made of wood Reu. 1.5.6 which now is gone to wrack but of heauenly enduring matter and trees of life and although they be the pillars and stayes of it yet are they not the builders But the Lord alone Reu. 3.12 who saith vpon this rock will I build my Church Mat. 16.18 Now as these fruitfull trees and free-borne Citizens doe pertake and haue fellowship together in the priuiledges peculiar to this holy Church City of God 1. Pet. 2.9 being as one saith a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy Nation a people set at liberty So do they shew forth the vertues of him that hath called them whose loue is perfect in them whereby they know each other to be borne of God as S. Iohn saith Hereby we know that ye are in him 1. Ioh. 2.5 And as these are knowne either to other by their fruit which fruit I will not speake of heere seeing it is as I thinke plainly described before So out of the great heape of Commoners doe sometimes appeare euill trees who are knowne also to those that are borne againe by their euill fruit the fruit of death Luk. 6.43.14 to be vncurable euill trees That is so seene against the light and them that walke in it as that they shall receiue the sentence of eternall death euen while they liue trees twise dead Iud. 12. 1. Cor. 16.22 and pluckt vp by the rootes of whom it is written Let him be cursed And as the good ground or trees do not appeare all at once out of the generall field of Commoners but when it pleaseth him who giueth the encrease some sooner some later So no more doe the euill trees appeare all at once but now and then when their euill fruite is ripe some breake forth betimes some stay longer some not at all to the Church I meane vntill the great day of account who then shall be found speechlesse without the wedding garment And as the euill seruant Mat. 22.12 Luk. 19.20 Mat. 25.8 that hid his Masters talent And as the fiue foolish virgins who found no oyle in their lamps when the bridegroome came supposing till then all was well Euen so likewise is there many of his beloued ones not knowne to others but the Lord himselfe vntill that day who then with the rest of their fellowes shall bee made manifest to all yea euen to those who shall then admire their glory and riches when themselues shall lye in dust and shame So that when the Lord saith in his Parable Mat. 13.26.27 That when the wheat did appeare by the fruit then did also appeare the tares his meaning is not that in the generall kingdome all the wheat appeares at once and all the tares but as I haue said before And therefore the seruants must not goe to weeding at the first sprout of the eare though some wheat and some tares doe euidently appeare least they plucke vp wheat with tares For some of both shall remaine vnknowne vnto them vntill the great haruest day And this is Ver 30 and shall be the condition of the common field vniuersity of Christians vntill that day and therefore the seruants must spare to iudge or iustifie till their fruits doe euidently appeare And as the Sunne doth shine and the raine doth fall equally vpon them I meane those Christians that shall proue tares as those that shall prooue good wheat Mat. 5.44.45 fit for the Lords owne barne So ought also his seruants to be kind to the vnkinde and mercifull to all Insomuch as in the first effects before mentioned there doth appeare little or no difference Now hauing thus distinguished betweene Christian and Christian Kingdome and Kingdome tree and tree Let vs see how matters doe fall out betweene them and how they doe agree and also how they ought to walke and carrie themselues toward each other And that we may the easier accomplish our purpose we will deuide these great company of Christians into two parts that is to say Some borne of God returned and become as little children to whom he hath giuen the keyes of the kingdome and all those priuiledges before spoken of and a thousand treasures more besides on whom the second death shall neuer haue power nor the gates of hell preuaile The other vnregenerate equall partakers with the regenerate in all the common first thinges before mentioned but not in the second effects the last and speciall things Now these kinde of brethren doe often times offend the little ones and despise them because they are little in their owne eyes and poore in their own spirit and are returned and become as little children because their fruits of loue appeare beyond theirs knowing their owne works to be euill and their brothers good wherefore the Lord saith to those brethren Mat. 18.10.11.12 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones these lost sheepe whom I haue sought out for I say vnto you howsoeuer you esteeme of them Their
truth for it is sharper then any two edged sword Take heede therefore and marke well the thinges that are heere written vnto you and search the Scriptures whether they be so or no for they are GODS witnesses and they tell the truth what euer man saies and I pray you take heede you mistake not the Lord for his word is a mistery especially these things which are called the secrets of the kingdome of heauen And beware that you affirme not any thing which he hath not said nor meant nor gain-say or diminish any thing from his intent and howsoeuer ye haue failed therein already yet considering as I perswade my selfe you are not of those louers and makers of lies for I hope farre better things of you M. Smith Reu. 22.15 and therefore that we may vnderstand the Lord and see his secrets euen the secrets of his kingdome Let vs intreate him with broken and humble hearts for the spirit of trueth that holy annointing which is true and not lying that as it doth teach vs euen so we may abide in him and so let vs write and speake Let vs annoint our eyes with eye salue that we may see euen with the water of a dissolued broken heart and we shall see better things then forme and fashion That we may discerne betweene those that haue but the forme of godlinesse and them that haue the power thereof That wee may see and know those little ones whom to receiue is to receiue the Lord and to loue them whom to loue is to loue the Lord and to loue the Lord is life for euermore And this is that loue without the which all knowledge and all faith doth but make vs as sounding brasse and tinckling Cimballs For by this loue 1. Cor. 13.1 2 3. we shall know that we are translated from death to life and by this loue we shal approue our selues to the little ones to haue that one peculiar faith with them the assurance of the loue of God vnto vs in Christ Iesus and of our reconciliation with God through him And this is the faith which one speaketh of in a certaine place to one that would haue beene esteemed Iam. 2.18.19.20 and no doubt esteeming of himselfe too as if he had that speciall peculiar faith which only the Lords redeemed haue Shew me saith he thy faith by thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my workes Thou hast faith I graunt thee and dost beleeue but what that there is one God well yea and one Lord Iesus Christ also and one holy spirit and one faith and one baptisme yea and one Church purchased and sanctified by the bloud of the Lord Iesus Christ And dost thou beleeue all these things indeed thou dost well but I tell thee the diuell doth beleeue it also and doth tremble for one may haue faith though not that speciall faith nor yet the fruites that follow the same One may by faith cast out diuels and that in the name of Christ Iesus Mat. 7.22.23 and do many great wonders and yet a worker of iniquity What then Obiection doth not man liue by his faith alone doth works make his faith aliue Answere Man doth liue by his faith alone Heb. 10.38 Haba 2.4 yea the iust man and his faith doth make his works aliue as the branches of a Tree receiue their sappe and life from the roote But you will say Obiection what faith is this you meane are there many kindes of faith and the Scripture saith one faith one baptisme and so Answere The Scriptures meane one faith to life Ioh. 3.15 and one baptisme to life as it saith Whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not be confounded and that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue eternall life And againe whosoeuer beleeueth and is baptised Mar. 16.16 shall be saued What then will you say is there a faith and baptisme which men may haue perish Yea for Iudas beleeued and was baptised Act. 8.13 Simon Magus beleeued and was baptised and many thousand more which yet shall be found the workers of iniquity Obiection You will say then what faith is that that you meane may it be distinguisht from the other It may But first Answer I will tell you what I take the word faith to meane as it is wrought in men in generall respecting God It is an vndoubted perswasion wrought in the heart by the force and power of the holy Ghost in the reuelation of the worde of God of the truth of all or some or any of the things thereby reuealed for faith is the ground of thinges hoped for Heb. 11.1 and also the euidence of the thinges not seene By faith men vnderstand that there is onely one God that the world was created by his word By faith men beleeue that whatsoeuer hath beene said or done in the world by God his seruants his Prophets and Apostles are all true and were done by the power of God yea by faith men haue and doe worke wonders themselues As all these things may be vnderstoode and done by faith and yet such beleeuers and workers for all their faithfulnesse may goe to hell So there is a mysterie reuealed that whosoeuer doth beleeue shall not perish but shall haue eternall life Esa 61.1.2.3 that is to say a word of great grace and mercy giuen out a couenant of life and peace of pardon and deliuerance made to the poore and broken in heart Mat. 11.5.28 Mat. 15.24 the weary and heauie loaden the lost sheepe the hungry and thirsty the contrite and broken spirited euen to him that doth repent And none can beleeue this word and promise of life and pardon assuredly to pertain vnto themselues but these alone And of this seeker alone is God found to him doth he looke for his sonnes sake the Mediator of his couenant Mat. 5.3 and doth write him blessed and doth assure him pardon and reconciliation by his promised spirit whereby he is sealed and hath set to his seale that God is true and is fully assured that God is true and is fully assured that God loueth him in Christ Iesus and that his name is written in the booke of life And this is faith also which doth beleeue this thing and this is the thing that doth distinguish betweene it and the other and this faith if you wil that I shall define in few wordes It is a full and certaine perswasion wrought in the poore and broken heart by the comforter of peace and reconciliation with God in and through Christ Iesus his Lord and this is the faith which worketh by loue and this is that peculiar faith spoken of before and is but one was euer the same Nowe concerning that one Baptisme a little more As in the olde time there was Circumcision of the skinne and Circumcision of the heart but the Circumcision of the heart was the onely chiefe Circumcision which whosoeuer had was onely
Cor. 13.4.5.6.7.8 And waite with patience laboring to see it by any means they will bring forth fruit euen the fruit of the good tree The good fruitwhich when they see they do reioice imbrace them knowing thereby that they are borne of God their owne father as Children of that holy Church Ierusalem their mother purged and purchased through his eternall Testament in the bloud of that one Lord the Lambe 1. John 3.14 to be an holy habitation to himselfe for euer And here is no loue lost betweene these brethren such loue betweene them as neuer was betweene earthly brethren As the stocke they came of in their new generation doth excell in glory inriches in power 1. Iohn 5.1 in wisedome in bounty in mercy and loue all Fathers and Mothers in nature be they neuer so high in place of this world euen that they can giue Kingdomes and thousand thousands of Gold and Treasure to their Children and possesse them of all the pleasures that the world can afford and with all the signes of loue that nature can expresse I say as the great God of Heauen doth excell the greatest that euer was on earth And as his loue is infinite beyond theirs and his abilitie also to performe the same So doe the gifts the signes and seales of his loue excell theirs And as his children doe come of a more noble stocke then theirs and are more honourablie descended euery way So doe they excell in loue ten thousand degrees for ehey loue for other and greater respects And as loue was the beginning and cause of this happinesse 1. Iohn 4.19 euen the loue of the eternall God as the Scriptures witnesse So loue is the end of their conuersation Heb. 13.8 in and through Iesus Christ yesterday to day and the same for euer This is that name so secretly written vpon them that no man can Reade or know it but they alone which haue it Reuel 3.12 and vpon them onely is his Name written New Ierusalem as it is written Him that ouercommeth will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God And he shall goe no more out And I will write vpon him the name of my God and the name of the Citie of my God euen the newe Ierusalem which commeth downe from heauen from my God And my new name And this is the ende which whosoeuer endureth vnto is faithfull to the death and shall receiue the Crowne of life Many false Prophets shall arise and deceiue many Mat. 24.11.12.13 and because iniquitie shall abound the loue of many shall bee cold but he that endureth to the end euen this true and perfect loue the contrarie to iniquitie and to loue that is cold he shall be saued And this is the Baptisme of the holy Ghost and fire Matth. 3.11 euen the fire of Gods loue the coals wherof are fiery coales and a burning flame which much water cannot quench neither the flouds drowne But it breaketh foorth and returneth such a loue to his God and Father â—an 8.7 and to his Lord and redeemer as no man knoweth but he that hath it And such a loue to his fathers Children those little ones his and his Lords brethren as they neuer know nor shall know who are neuer borne againe Yea he returneth loue to al men euen to his enemies Prou. 21.22 Rom. 12.20 21. Psal 15.2 4. If he hunger or thirst he feedes and giues them drink and so heapes coales of this fire vpon his head Hee speaketh the truth from his hart and with his tongue vseth no deceit Hee esteemeth not himselfe but is vile in his owne eyes Hee enuieth not 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6. The Sunne goes not downe vpon his anger Hee reioyceth not in iniquitie but alwayes in the trueth and in doing good to others Loue seeketh not her owne And are not these fruits which may distinguish betweene the good tree and the bad These fruites those righteous men neuer brought foorth which fell away Heb. 3.14 Their blade was neuer like this fruit Their beginnings were neuer like these endings Those first were neuer like these last Matth. 22.14 which are the first euen the first borne For many are called but fewe chosen And this is Ierusalem that poore little sweete holy Citie Reuel 11 2. which hath bene troden vnder feete of those heathen Gentile Courtiers and outside Christians not worth the measuring these many hundred yeres And this is the Hill which once stood vp aboue the Hils whose light did shine from East to West Rom. 1.8 euen to the worlds end To it the Nations flocke to heare and see the things that were of her so famous throgh the world To whom shee cried saying Come whosoeuer will and take of the water of life freely Reuel 22.17 whereat many reioyced beleeued and were Baptised Of which some were made pet takers of her peculiar things And were not onely beleeuers of the trueth and Baptised with the Baptisme which thereunto belonged but were Baptised in heart broken and dissolued into a thousand teares And beleeued in him who also Baptised them with the holy Ghost and fire The other hard and vnbaptised in heart refusing that graceso freely offered them Iudging the common Faith and Baptisme which they had receiued sufficient to serue their turne Supposing that one Talent safely kept would stand them enough insteede when the day of account should come despised the little ones that were borne and Baptised from aboue Acts 20.29 And thus began the mysterie of iniquitie to worke and grew vp in time aboue the Hill of God and like Wolues spared not his flocke tooke possession indeede of the outward Court gathered strength got a head And trode downe that liberall free Citie the true mother and nurse to the Lords lambes and babes This head of theirs is that great Antichrist Reuel 13.1 that beast which rose out of the sea with seuen heads and ten hornes who hath reigned now twelue hundreth and three yeeres and yet still reigneth and shall till seuen and fiftie moe be come And then his dayes his times Reuel 11.3 moneths and yeeres shall be accomplisht euen one thousand two hundred and sixtie and his Crownes puld from his head his Citie burnt with fire and vpon that woman which saith I sit being a Queene am no widow and shall see no mourning shall come shame and confusion howling and crying and vtter desolation euen she which now calleth her selfe by the name of the true mother and like an harlot challengeth the husband of the true spouse to bee hers Mat. 23.35 And these are the ofspring of Caine the race and line of those Pharasies at whose hands the Lord said should be required the blood of all the Prophets from righteous Abell to Zacharias yea these are all one house with them And so are all the assemblies and congregations in the world be they neuer so cleane without doing
Angels stand alwaies beholding my Fathers face who is in heauen Nay Ver. 3 except ye returne saith the Lord to those Disciples who would so faine know who should be the greatest and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen But whosoeuer is become humble as a little childe Ver. 4 they are the greatest in the kingdome of heauen they are the chiefest and they haue the preheminence aboue all other in Gods treasures After this the Lord speaketh to the little ones Ver. 15 and saith If thy brother trespasse against thee thou shalt tell him his fault c. But before I proceed in the words of our Lord which followeth About the meaning whereof there is so great difference and strife at this day which hath caused great diuision and enuie And because it being a matter of great moment and very necessary at this day to be known wee will labour the more diligently by Gods assistance to dissolue the doubts and to bring the truth to light that by this meanes the wandring thoughts of those fled and disperst abroad might be reclaimed and brought home And our contentious spirits at home also better informed that we may haue a more spirituall peacefull and heauenly proceeding encrease frō good beginnings to most happy ends the which I make no doubt of if they will but vouchsafe to learne at the hands of trueth To this end 1. Ioh. 16.17.18 verse of the last Chapter we will first see what S. Iohn meaneth and then come to our Lords words If any man see his brother sinne a sinne that is not vnto death let him aske and he shall giue him life for them that sinne not vnto death There is a sinne vnto death I say not that ye should pray for it All vnrighteousnesse is sinne but there is a sinne not vnto death We know that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not but he that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe and that wicked one toucheth him not As if hee should say Verse 16 If any man that is borne of God see any one of these brethren that are not yet borne againe sinne against the light or those that walke in the light so it be not in that depth as that it reacheth vnto death let him that is born of God knowing it aske of God and he will giue him life for them that sin not to death There is a sin vnto death that some of those that are vnborne of God doe commit not to bee prayed for that is a sinne so malitiously committed and with knowledge against the light and with so bitter and enuious a spirit against those also that walke in it that he could withall his heart Psal 59.5 1. Iohn 3.12 serue him as Caine did his brother because his owne workes are euill and his brothers good And this sinne is not to be prayed for and may bee discerned by them which are borne of God from the other or else how could they tell for whome they ought to pray and for whome not All vnrighteousnes is sinne and all sinne is included vnder the name of vnrighteousnesse some of which 1. Iohn 1.8 all those that are borne of God are guilty of dayly and shall be so long as they liue 2. Cor. 5.1.2 in this earthly Tabernacle for which they sigh and mourne longing for this deliuerance But there is a sinne not vnto death which none of these that are borne of God do commit as he affirmeth in the next words We know faith he whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not that is sinneth not neither that sinne vnto death nor yet the sinne not vnto death before mentioned but he that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe and that wicked one toucheth him not that is through the spirit of Christ 2. Cor. 1.22 that sealeth that holy seede the word of faith to his heart whereby hee ouer commeth the world and that wicked spirit can take no place in him Now let vs returne to the wordes and mind of our Sauiour now that we perceiue the meaning of his seruant Iohn being all one and the same case and see what our Lord doth meane proceeding where wee left Moreouer if thy brother trespas against thee thou shalt tell him his fault betweene thee and him alone c. The Lord hauing from the beginning of the second verse of this Chapter to the end of the foureteenth verse of the same applyed his speeches Mat. 18. altogether to those vnregenerate Disciples and brethren giuing them to vnderstand how necessary it is that they should conuert and that to the conuerted little ones the great things doe belong and to receiue one of them in his name is to receiue him charging them with great threatnings to take heed that they offend not one of those little ones shewing them how vnrecouerable a sinne it is he pronounceth a woe vpon the committers thereof And that as a man cast into the sea verse 7 with a mil-stone about his necke cannot possibly returne againe so and more vnpossible it is for any one to returne that falles into this gulfe And telling them also what great priuiledges they had how their Messengers haue accesse into the presence of his father and beholde his face in heauen and how that his wil is that not one of these little ones should perish I say the Lord hauing aduised and charged the vnreturned ones thus verse 15 1. Iohn 2.10 doth now turne his speech vnto the little ones borne of God in whome is no occasion of euill as Saint Iohn saith shewing them how they ought to walke toward those vnreturned bretheren If thy brother trespas against thee c. Here we must consider before we proceed any further what trespasses these are and to this ende let vs looke backe to that which hath beene said from Saint Iohns words As there is a sinne vnto death 1. Iohn 5.16 not to be prayed for nor yet to be admonisht of being knowne for that man which they know they may not pray for they doe as well know it is in vaine to admonish So there is a finne not vnto death verse 17 which when they see any of the vnreturned brethren commit eyther against the light or against any of them for the light and Gospells sake that may be both prayed for and they admonisht of by them as it is written blesse them that curse you pray for them Leuit. 6.28 which persecute you as for him that sinneth wittingly and willingly against the light and the obeyers therof for the light and Gospels sake after he hath knowne the truth of the same Heb. 10.26 there doth remaine no more sacrifice of sinne c. Of whome one saith Psal 59.5 praying against the wicked Bee not mercifull to them that transgresse maliciously So to him that sinneth or trespasseth vnwittingly though willingly against the light and them that walke in it as many often
ought to learne to be baptised in heart be mercifull to all and bountifull as God is bountifull who giueth his sunne to shine vnto the good and the bad and the raine of his worde to fall vpon the iust and vniust To teach you and me and all of vs what we should doe The spirit saith Reuel 22.17 whosoeuer wil let him come Take you heed adde not to nor diminish from his word giue to all that come whatsoeuer you haue power to giue Christ gaue a greater thing to little children laying his owne handes vpon them seeing their parents came so willingly requested him them parents can now looke for at the hands of baptisme when they come bringing their children and request it Imbrace little children therefore and though you cannot giue them the greater giue them the lesser Did the Lord compare his little returned ones to a little child and dare you compare that child to a stone and a stocke a tree a mad man and a foole and say it is as lawfull to baptise the one as the other If you had liued in the Apostles daies had bin one of them you wold haue bin glad if the Iewes or heathen had come to you with willing minds to haue their children baptised to this end that they might loose the name of a Iew or heathen and be called a Christian But now it is so stale it stinckes with you Master Smith you are so bewitcht with this opinion that baptisme with water doth giue an entrance into the speciall kingdome of Heauen Mat. 18. which the Lord speaketh of when he saith Except ye returne and become as little children yee shal not enter into the kingdome of heauen that you runne into a hundred errors Iohn 3.5 Whereas regeneration onely is the entrance into that kingdome of heauen where into none come but such as shall bee saued And whereas baptisme of water giues but an entrance into the common Kingdome of heauen Mat. 13.47 compared to a net which catcheth fish of all sorts good and bad Mat. 5.45 and the bad haue as much grace conferred vnto them by that baptisme as the good Mat. 7.22 as they haue of his Sunne and raine for the bad are oftentimes more ful of knowledge by the light and can discourse more redily vpon the word of God then the good Paul may plant and Apollo may water but it is God by the Spirit of regeneration 1. Cor. 3.6 that giues the increase Are you Master Smith and your company the children of wisedome and discerne ye not neither do ye iustifie these things Are you a teacher in Israell and know not what it is to be borne againe Are ye those wise and prudent men of vnderstanding from whom these things are hidden that are reuealed vnto babes Is it not giuen to you to know the secrets of the kingdome of heauen what hath God forgot himselfe Mat. 11.25 Mat. 13.11 are you that Ierusalem from aboue and are these things hidden from you doth he not giue to his little ones great things Is hee not the same to day that hee was yesterday and shall he not be the same to morrow againe Yea hee is the same for euer and beholde I am with you saith he vnto the worlds end Mat. 28.20 John 14.16 Mat. 5.18 though Heauen and earth doe passe away yet his word shall not passe away vnfulfilled Beleeue ye not this I know ye beleeue it And I hope better of you though I so speake for God hath enlarged my heart and opened my mouth vnto you which putteth me in great hope that you are of that remnant which shall be saued But yet a little further for I haue somewhat more to say vnto you which is hard to be vttered because I say ye are dull of hearing and because it would take vp much time to set downe all wherein you misse and also it being a course wherin I take no pleasure I wil rather set downe what is the truth then tell of your falshood that by the grace of God beleeuing the one we may escape the other Now if you will know what difference there is yet more betweene the true Spouse and Church of Christ which he doth build himselfe against which the gates of hell shal not preuaile nor yet the second death to whom he hath giuen the keyes of the kingdome of heauen and those her entercommoners I will tell you First let vs consider how things were in the Apostles dayes on earth for then I am sure truth was in place and practise both and I wil not labour to make it agree with these weake times but much rather labour and desire that we which liue in these corrupt times might agree with and become like it I say whosoeuer then gladly receiued the word as it is written were baptised Heb. 3.1 and were called of the Apostles generally by the names of holy brethren partakers of the heauenly vocation c. Insomuch as they were made partakers of the holy Ghost and consented to that heauenly calling Heb. 6.4.5 6 Heb. 10,29 being enlightened tasting of that heauenly gift were called holy in regard of these good beginnings which was wrought in them whereby their olde life was reformed And therefore the Lord compareth them that receiue the seed of his word some to the high way side some to stonie ground and some to thornie ground some to good ground which brought forth fruite Insomuch as they were sanctified and purged of some vncleannesse of spirit wherefore they are said by the Lord to be swept and garnished and by Peter said to be washed and to the Hebrewes sanctified and all this is wrought in them by the ministration of the good word of God which they had tasted of and by the operation of the holy Ghost whereof they were made partakers whereby also some of them wrought miracles and some cast out diuels Now these things are all cōmon Except the good fruite as well to those vncircumcised in heart the vnregenerate As to the circumcised in heart the little ones borne againe And although these things be effected by the Ministerie of the word and of the holy Ghost and do tend to his kingdome for the Lord doth nothing against his owne kingdome any more then Sathan doth worke against his kingdome yet it is not regeneration Mat. 1◠26. Ioh. 3,5 the birth of water and the holy Ghost spoken of nor yet the first resurrection And though this sowing of the word of the Lord and these effects of the spirit do tend to the kingdom yet is it not sowen in the high wayes nor in the stonie ground nor in the thornie ground to the end it should bring forth fruit like the good ground Thirty sixty and a hundred fold And although these foure sorts of ground are Communicants in these commons together and little difference can be discerned betweene them by these first
doe reuile and persecute them thinking they doe God seruice There doth yet remaine sacrifice and he may be both prayed for John 16.2 and exhorted to repentance and repenting find grace and pardon both with God and his true Church Luk. 23.34 Act. 7.60 and for such doth the Lord himselfe pray saying Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe and another saith Lord lay not this sinne to their charge So that this sinne or trespasse heere is not any sinne committed simply and alone against the ten Commaundements But it is to sinne against the new couenant in them that obey it For the Lord doth not heere giue rules and directions whereby to learne men to keepe the ten commaundements but to teach them to obey the Gospell yet not so but that euery sinne committed against the Gospell is also a breach of the law But one may sinne against the law and yet not against the Gospell not that any man hath leaue to sinne against or breake any of the ten commandements but in many things as one saith we sinne all and loue couereth a multitude of these sinnes and as it is written Iam. 3.2 1. Pet 4.8 Psal 32.1 Blessed is that man whose iniquities are couered so that as God in his loue doth couer the manifold iniquities of his blessed ones so doe they all couer multitudes of those sinnes in others And that it cannot bee meant of the literall breach of any of the ten commaundements experience may proue for if a man see his brother commit adultery or murder or theft or heare him take the name of God invaine or see him worship an Idoll or any other such like grosse sinne how may these rules and directions in this place serue for this man for after that he which onely is priuie to his fault beside God and himselfe hath plainely rebuked him as the Scripture other where doth commande him so to doe Leuit. 19.17 If hee will nor heare him Mat. 18. how may he then proceed according to the direction of Christ if he take one or two and then telleth him his fault and reproue him before them or him and the other denieth any such fault that he accuseth him of and taketh him or them whom he bringeth for witnesse to beare witnesse against him to proue him a slaunderer and so he may proceede against him in mens iudgement more lawfully and more agreeable to Christs direction then he may against the other because he hath one or two witnesses whereas the other hath none and so those witnesses whom he taketh to beare witnes against another commeth now against himselfe wherefore it is manifest that no man may accuse another of any sinne especially of that kind though he saw it with his eyes or heard it with his eares except he hath other eye or eare witnesses besides himselfe least hee bee condemned for transgression and punished for an euill doer Deut. 19.15 for an accusation may not be receiued vnder two or three witnesses So then the Lord dooth not meane here by trespasse any of the grosse sinnes of the Commaundements nor yet the smaller multitudes of them which loue doth couer but hee meaneth the sinnes or trespasses committed against the little ones that are borne againe hating them or despising them for that they walke in the light and so in despising them they despise the Lord Iesus and his father that sent him and so they sin against that light which should saue their soules which being done wittingly is vnpardonable And as the law of life and saluation is more excellent then the law of death so doth the sin excell in greatnesse As it is written If he that despised Heb. 10.28 29. Moses law died without mercie vnder two or three witnesses O how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be worthy that treadeth vnder feete the Sonne of God and counteth the blood of the Testament as an vnholy thing wherewith hee was sanctified and doth despight the spirit of grace So then to sinne against the law is one thing and to sinne against the Gospell is another Wherefore by trespasse here is meant pardonable sinne committed against the new Testament and those that walke in the light thereof vnwittingly And the trespassers are such as are not yet borne of God for hee that is borne of God sinneth not 1. Ioh. 5.18 neither is there any occasion of euill in him meaning by sinne and euill the sinne to death and the sinne not to death before mentioned for if he could sinne the sinne not to death hee must needes sinne the sinne to death because he cannot doe it ignorantly As Paul did 1. Tim. 1.13 who said I was receiued to mercy for I did it ignorantly seeing he knoweth the light which Paul did not then for how is it possible that he which is borne of God who loueth God and his brother also that is begotten of him who walketh in the light which is his life and saluation that he should hate his brother whom hee so loueth or despise the light which his soule delighteth in or resist the same seeing that his whole life and felicity doth consist therein And we know that he that is borne of God loueth God and he that loueth God 1. Iob. 3.9 loueth his brother also which is begotten of God and so he cannot sinne neither is there any occasion of those euils in him as it is written 1. John 5.1 Now let vs proceed seeing that the way as I hope is made cleere If thy brother trespasse against thee goe tell him his fault between thee and him alone Mat. 18.15 if he heare thee thou hast wonne thy brother That is to say If any one of those Disciples and brethren in common things not regenerate doe despise or speake euill of any one of you that are returned and reuile or persecute you for the lights sake wherein you walke Thou shalt informe him of his fault between thee and himselfe alone and giue him to vnderstand that if he despise speake euill of reuile or persecute thee he doth it vnto the Lord whom he professeth exhort him to humble his heart and be conuerted and walke in that light himselfe and then hee shall loue both it and embrace and loue them also that walke in it if he take knowledge of his faults and receiueth thy words of exhortation and counsell and say vnto thee it repenteth me thou shalt forgiue him seeing thou hast won thy brother but if he heare thee not Ver. 16 take yet with thee one or two that by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery word may be confirmed That is to say if he scorne thy information and despise both thee and thy exhortation still proceeding in his euill against thee and the light in thee thou shalt not yet giue him ouer but take yet with thee one or two of thy fathers owne children of those little returned ones
Father who is aboue all and through all and in them all And these are entred into the kingdome of heauen Rom. 14.17 which is not meate and drinke and apparrell but righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Now let vs speake a little of the liberty and freedome of this kingdome This kingdome is free not in bondage but at liberty wheresoeuer she liueth in any kingdome or common-wealth and if the Magistracie thereof say eate they eate or drinke they drinke or put on they put on obserue and keepe touch or tast or handle or pay they obey If they forbid they also heare and forbeare both in these and all other things of the like nature And so are they obedient to all manner ordinances of man for the Lords sake against whose commandement else they should sinne Luk. 20.25 who saith Rom. 13.7 Giue vnto Caesar those things that are Caesars And there is no kingdome or state whatsoeuer where Christians are not in bondage if it bee a bondage to some of these And if there were which is vnpossible then were it left to their choise to take or leaue with moderation as please them as it is also vnder a gouernment where many things of the same nature are so left neither commanded nor forbidden And herein consisteth their liberty in that it toucheth not their conscience For whether they eate or eate not they sinne not for God requireth neither the one nor the other wherfore if we giue these things to Caesar we do wrong neither to God nor yet to our consciences but rather if we giue not being required as the Lord himselfe said in the like case Mat. 17.27 Pay it to them least wee offend And as Caesar must haue and be obeyed in whatsoeuer belongs to him so wee must giue vnto God whatsoeuer he requires and obey him in whatsoeuer he commands Now the greatest difficulty lieth in this to distinguish betweene the things of God and the things of Caesar that knowing them asunder we may the better know how wherein to obey both God and Caesar And herein by the grace of my God I will not say any thing for any respect in and of the world whatsoeuer but Gods truth and his Church seeing that I know it shal come to the tryal of such a touchstone which cannot erre Who will waigh it try it and condemne it if it be found corrupt or too light And although it be a common fault in men to respect the present and generall affection and the approbation of the most and greatest sway they as they will Yet insomuch as I know that God is in all times and seeth in al places be they neuer so secret and also that he hath eyes abroad that can see though many be blind and lyes goe as current as truth with many and seeing I know not onely this time but a better time shall try it I will therefore bee aduised and take heede what I say for assuredly there is no lye made by the cunningst inuenter of lyes whatsoeuer but shall once eyther sooner or later suffer death at the hands of truth And there is no stubble or straw whatsoeuer but shall bee consumed with the flame thereof Now let vs see first what are the things of God which doth belong to him And then we shall the easier see what are Caesars thinges that belong to him Iohn 4.23.34 The things of God are truth and spirit John 17.17 his truth is his word his worde is his law his law is of two sorts and therefore is called two Testaments Ioh. 4.23.24 17.17 The Testament and law of death and the Reuelation and Couenant of life All the Scriptures are true but all that is written therein is not the word of God For sometimes the holy Ghost sets downe the sinnes and practises of euill men Ier. 28. And sometimes he describeth vnto vs the lying wordes of the false prophets which when wee read we must not take it for the word of God but that it is true we must beleeue for they which wrote it could not erre therein and therefore truth it is but not the truth The word of God then and the truth we meane Is that which came from heauen whether that iust and holy law of commaundements which is called the minister of death because we could not fulfill it and therfore it could not giue vs life but the iust sentēce of death or that perfect law and testament of life Psal 19.7 which conuerteth soules I meane the Gospell which is in a more speciall and peculiar maner called the word of God then the law is or can be as where it saith Faith commeth by hearing Rom. 10.17 2. Pet. 1.19 and hearing by the worde of God And againe we haue a most sure worde of the Prophets vnto the which ye doe well that yee giue heed c. And in diuers other places both in the new and old Testament whereby nothing is meant by any meanes but the promise and word of life And therefore he saith Iohn 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy word thy word is the truth Now in these two Testaments is declared whatsoeuer God requireth eyther due to himselfe from vs whether it be faith or obedience And also our duetie to our neighbours of all sorts high and low good and bad and all the holy Prophesies Reuelations which came frō aboue and sacrifices and shadows whatsoeuer which 〈◊〉 scriptures do set forth vnto vs do tend to one or other of these two and both and all doe tend eyther to shew forth the riches of God in his bounty and mercy and the condition of those that turne obey his Gospell and loue his law or his seuerity and iustice in the condition of those that disobey both lawe and Gospell That the end of all might bee the glory of God and of our Lord Iesus Christ Now the speciall things of God that doe belong peculiarly to him alone are they that we must speake of His peculiar things are these first as from him we are gone astray and by his holy law pronounced dead so to him alone we must returne to seeke life for he alone can giue it vs In him alone we must beleeue and put our confidence to him alone wee must pray and hee onely must be our God and chiefe delight Him onely we must feare as God him only we must loue as God him onely wee must acknowledge for our Sauiour and Redeemer his commandements must be obeyed onely aboue all and hee onely worshipped with our whole spirits For he alone must haue our hearts and this is spirit ioyned with truth John 4.21 Neither this mountaine nor that doth hee require nor yet forbid what he commaundeth not Cesar may forbid what he forbiddeth not Cesar may command God requireth euery place alike Cesar may commaund a place for the publike so he doe forbid none in priuate God requireth