perisheth Also there is a more pure eating held forth in Scripture My flesh is meat indeed I am that heavenly Manna Feed my Lambs and such like expressions the Prophet Isaiah speaking prophetically of the righteousness of God he cals it The holy seed he saith It shall return and shall be eaten as a Teil-tree and as an Oak whose substance is in it self Isa 6. 13. the same is spoken concerning the tree of life And as this is not to be understood of a naturall eating but of a pure inward and spirituall feeding of the new inward and spirituall man so in the like manner that eating Gen. 9. is not to be understood of a naturall eating but an inward corrupt and spirituall feeding of the Old man which is to be crucified mortifyed and destroyed with that which is husks and not bread I say after their approving desiring and pressing after the righteousness of the Law which is called our righteousness they then take and eat thereof and no sooner they have fed on that fruit but their eyes are opened and they know that they are naked that is when the creature is convinced that his own righteousness is the only meanes to bring him to heaven or to be like God for that is the thing the creature aims at in all his working and the more he followeth after and feedeth on this the more he is drawn into bondage and seeth his unsufficiency in accomplishing that end so that now the naturall eyes of the understanding are opened and they see that they are naked they are not made naked by following after the righteousness of the Law but that which they thought to attain to by it they see they are not able to attain but contrarily it doth discover their nakedness which is their sinne therefore the Apostle saith by the Law is the knowledg of sinne the Law doth not make the creature sinfull and naked but the Law doth open eyes to see that which was before for all things that is below God is sinne though it never transgressed any outward Commandement neither in its self nor any other the Heavens are unclean in his sight but it is not sinn according to similitude of Adam's transgression that is to say nakedness or sinn discovered therefore the Apostle saith Rom. 5. 14. Neverthelesse death reigned from Adam to Moses even over them which had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression that is they had not their sin and nakedness discovered as it is vers 13. the Apostle saith Sinn was in the world untill the Law but sinn is not imputed where there is no law that is sinn is not brought home to the Conscience and made ours untill the powerfull comming of the Law which brings sinn and nakedness to light thus it was with Adam the figure he had sin before but not discovered untill he eat thus it was with typical Israel they had sinn from Adam to Moses yet not discovered outwardly untill Moses gave them the Law and thus it is with us the substance of those two figures we have sin and death reigning by sinn yet not discovered untill the powerfull coming of the Law for the same effect that the fruit wrought on Adam the same it doth upon the Gentiles which never had the Law in the Letter for when the Gentiles which have not the Law that is have not the Law in the Letter doe the things contained in the Law which shew the works of the Law written in their heart their conscience also bearing witness and their thoughts in the mean while accusing or excusing one another Rom. 2. 14 15. for as Adam was alive before he eat and was to dye upon his eating so you see the Gentiles dyed that death upon the powerfull coming of the Law though they never had the law in the letter yet they had sin imputed inwardly as it was typed out by an outward imputation at Mount Sinai after Moses gave the law thus it was with Paul also before he had eat or concocted the same fruit he was alive as he saith I was alive once without the Law but when the Law came sin revived and I dyed as the fruit or Law did not bring sin to Paul but gave eyes to discover sin and nakedness so in like manner it brought not sin to Adam but opened his eyes and gave sight to discover and bring sin and nakedness to light which was in them before and as Pauls life before the law came was only but in his own apprehension so also was Adams and their death after their eating but only a discovery of what was in them for before the law came they believed and conceived life and power to be in themselves to bring them to God but when the law was come and they had eat of that fruit it openeth their eyes and discovereth that to be death which they thought was life So then the very act of eating the forbidden fruit or the powerful coming of the law into the soul which is all one is not sin it self but the discovery of sin therefore the Apostle saith What shall we say then is the Law sinn God forbid I had not known sinn but by the Law Rom. 7. 7. And he saith Without the Law sin was dead so I say this fruit which Adam eat was nothing but the Law which brought sinn and nakedness to light it revived sin which before seemed to be dead Therefore it is called the tree of knowledg of good and evill so you see whatsoever was brought upon Adam by his eating of that fruit the same is brought upon them that seeds upon the Law of their own righteousness As for example in these particulars First it deprives Adam of life for he had The effects of the fruit to him and us alike compared in 7. particulars life or else he could not dye The same doth the Law for saith the Apostle I was alive once without the Law Rom. 7. 9. As the first which was the shadow had life before he eat of the fruit so the second which is the substance had life before the law came It gives Adam the knowledg of sin and 2. The effects of the fruit nakedness and the eyes of them both were opened and they knew they were naked which nakednes is a metaphor which holds forth inability and sinfulness in their coming up to God The same doth the Law I had not known sin but by the law Rom. 7. 7. Chap. 3. 20. Thirdly the eating of the fruit brings 3. The effects of the fruit fear and terrour upon Adam because of sin Gen. 3. 9. I heard thy voice in the Garden and I was afraid The same thing doth the law work on those that feed on it or to whom it cometh the Apostle saith that Christ took flesh and blood upon him to deliver them who through the fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage Hebr. 2. 15. this fear and
bondage is through the law as it will appear Hebr. 12. 21. where it is said So terrible was the sight that Moses saw that he said I exceedingly fear and quake Adams eating of this fruit or the coming of the law into the soul answereth the giving of the law on Mount Sinai our seeding on the Law is our coming to the Mount that burneth with fire to blackness and darkness and the voice of words whatsoever was effected by * Adams eating of that fruit was the first figure Adams eating of the forbidden fruit the same was in the second figure at Mount Sinai and is likewise in the substance which is every soul to whom the Law powerfully cometh for as The giving of the Law at Mount Sinai was the second figure at the coming of the Law at Mount Sinai there was a Tempest and the voice of words which was a terrour to those to whom it came the same fear and terrour was effected by Adams eating that fruit Gen. 3. 8. it is said They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the Garden this is the voice or word that they at The coming of the Law into the Soul is the substance of those two Figures Mount Sinai intreated should be spoke to them no more the same caused Adam to run away from God and to be afraid and hide himself Adam could not endure this voice no more then they to whom this dispensation came at Mount Sinai and the reason of it is this both to Adam and all those whom I compare with him which are the Israelites or all those to whom the law did come I say the reason is this because this voice is in the cool of the day in the Hebrew word it is the winds of the day so this voice of the Lord God was walking in the Garden which is the pleasure and delights that man lived in in the winds of the day which winds and tempest is all one What is more terrible then winds or tempest It was terrible to Adam and also to them at Mount Sinai it is called Blacknesse and darknesse and the voice of words Hebr. 12. 19 20. Which voice they intreated they might hear no more It is called The winds of the day Gen. 3. 8. which emplyeth both blackness darkness and tempest so as this voice of God was in the winds and tempests of the day unto Adam so also this voice of words to those at Mount Sinai was in the winds of the day even in blackness darkness and tempest whatsoever was a distemper to the first was also to the second and is the same to the substance even to us that are under the dispensation of this day The eating of the forbidden fruit bringeth 4. The effects of the fruit Thornes thistles hay and straw c. are taken for the fruits of our righteousness Jer. 4. 3. Hos 10. 12. a curse upon Adam and his whole earth Cursed be the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all dayes of thy life Thornes also shall it bring forth unto thee The law also in the like manner bringeth a curse on them to whom it comes powerfully into for as many as are of the works of the law are under the Curse Gal. 3. 10. The Law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them Verse 12. so it was said to Adam In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread as the meaning of that in Gal. 3. 14. is a spiritual living in the Law so the meaning of that eating in Rev. 21. 1 Cor. 4. 15 16. The world is taken for self wisdom righteousnes pleasure or the like this shall be burnt up but the earth shall endure for ever Dan. 7. 26 27. Cha. 2. 44 Rev. 19. 6 7. Chap. 11. 15. Gen. 3. 19. is of eating spirituall bread a feeding of the inward man in a laborious way under the yoak of bondage and this his eating the fruit produceth and bringeth forth thornes and thistles which shall be such prickles in the flesh that it shall choake the good seed that is sowen in that ground but this earth or ground shall become new and all those thorns thistles hay straw or stubble shall be burnt up and he that enjoyeth it shall enjoy it without labour they shall set downe under their own Vine and under their own fig-trees they shall enter into their rest they shall run and not be faint they shall mount up like Eagles and renew their strength yet the lumpe or fabrick of this earth shall endure for ever And all things therein both man and beast Old things shall be done away and all things shall become new as the Apostle saith to those in Christ 1 Cor. 5. 27. yet they lived on this Earth Christ Disciples are taken out of the world and yet live in the world The meaning is they shall be under a new dispensation new law or covenant a new heaven and earth a new Jerusalem and Paradise and Tree of Life new Name new Bread new manna for which they shall not labour and get with the sweat of their faces under the second dispensation as they do under the First And as Adam did obtaine it by his eating the forbidden fruit who was the Type of all those under the Law who also get their spirituall bread through much labour and sweat of their face and yet it satisfieth not and thus the latter answereth the former in this example The eating of the for bidden fruit brings death it self upon Adam For that day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely dye So in the fifth place to whomsoever the Law comes it bringeth death as it is 2 Cor. Fifthly The effects of the fruit 3. 9. We are able Ministers of the new Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Letter killeth Again it is said I was alive without the Law but when the Law came sin revived and I dyed so you see as death was brought upon Adam upon his eating the fruit the same also is brought upon every one to whom the Law powerfully cometh and the former is but only a type or representation of the latter So we are not to understand that any fell in that flesh of his as is carnally and vainely understood or that any dyed in him according to the generall understanding of men the Prophet Ezekiel speaks prophetically of the destruction of such a principle or tenet as this is saith he What mean you that you use this Proverbe concerning the land of Israel saying The Fathers have eaten sowre grapes and the Childrens teeth are set on edge As I live saith the Lord you shall not have any more occasion to use this Proverbe in Israel The soul that sinneth it shall dye Ezek. 18. 2 3 4. And the Prophet Jeremiah speaks more plaine of this and the time when it shall be it is when he maketh a new Covenant and
pleasure or delight they being not yet capable of the same being not yet put into the Garden of Eden This is our first estate answerable to Adam's first estate Secondly Adam is put into the Garden 2. Degree of Adams rising to till the ground that is into pleasure and delight The second degree of the substantiall Adam thus answereth the second degree of typicall Adam who is likewise put into Paradise and grows up to be capable of pleasures and delights and to feed themselves as the first Adam did There is no constraint in their natures of every tree they may eat that is there is no command or power inherent in them to debar or hinder them from every fancy or delight which is in the garden of mans pleasure for the heart hath a freedom to feed on any thing that is presented to the eye which delights are held forth under the name of the trees of the Garden according to the Metaphors held forth in * Ezek. 47. 12. Isa 55. 13. The thorn tree shall seem pleasant to them Scripture as you may see in the Margin Thirdly They were to till the ground 3 Degree of Adams rising that is they have knowledge and understanding to know what is good for nourishment to preserve themselves As also it may be more properly understood by tilling the ground their endeavouring to make themselves fit to receive good seed as it is understood in Jerem. 4. 3. Break up the fallow Hos 10. 12. Some are wrought â—pon by â—he Spirit â—f God beâ—ore others ground and sow not among thorns This is the condition from the age of six yeers and upwards upon all flesh before the creature be brought up to another degree Fourthly Adam the type was prohibited from eating of one tree in the midst of â— Degree â—f Adams â—â—sing the Garden upon the penalty of death So in the like manner is Adam the antitype which is all flesh prohibited from power in themselves and commanded in the word of God not to go to make themselves perfect by their own righteousnesse which is the tree of knowledge of good and evill in the substance which tree mans righteousness or the Law is in the midst of the garden that is of all the delights and shelters The chief in their apprehension that are This is one of the chief even placed in the very heart of man And as Adam the shadow had high and ambitious thoughts to be great and did endeavour to become like God by his own actings and endeavours through the subtilty of the Serpent who so set forth the excellency of the fruit and made it appear so lovely yet the Text saith When she saw it was good for food and pleasant to the eye and a tree to be desired to make one wise she took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave unto her husband with her and he did eat The taking of the fruit is here attributed to the woman only and not unto the man and the reason is because the woman held forth the Church which is both man and woman the man held forth Christ and therefore he was not active in plucking the fruit but Eve only was active in the transgression And although it be not proved that the man Adam did aspire to be great yet in as much as she did he did also in her for all men and women were in her and her name was Adam as well as his Gen. 5. 2. this holds forth the mystery of Christ and his Church who assume each others names So then it being cleer that Adam the shadow was ambitious as a creature and did endeavour to be great and become like God and to that end did pluck and eat of the forbidden fruit It is also as clear that Adam the substance that is all carnall men and women do the same thing When they are come through these three degrees and are capable of any thing they begin to meditate of the creation of the world and to admire him that made all things Thus it is naturall to all men besides being instructed by their parents to meditate and learn to see the invisible God in some measure through the visible things that are made And thus their serious thoughts and considerations make them leave the former fruit in some measure which is all manner of fancies pleasures and delights and begin to look into the middle of the garden upon the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evill which is the righteousness of man and it is very pleasant to the eye of carnall men they cry out This is the fruit that will make one wise this is the food that we must eat in our journey to heaven Thus mans righteousnesse is carnall mans food or strength by which he thinks to come to heaven If you ask such a man or woman how they think to be saved they will say by their good thoughts and works and all the Gentiles called Christians both Papists and Protestants do admire this fruit which is mans righteousness and nothing else is so pleasant to the eye to make one wise or like God or bring one to heaven as this is in their apprehensions 'T is true Mans righteousness which is Here begins the Answer to the Objection page 35. the tree of knowldge of good and evill was good to Adam and is also to us yet it was forbidden both to him and also to us that is it was or is forbidden to accomplish or bring about such an end as man would have it do that is to say to become like God although it doth so too in some measure in the knowledge of good and evill as I have already shewed yet it doth not in the performance of the thing known to be good or the omitting of the thing known to be evill or the living and the enjoying of that life and enjoyment that is in God which shall not be obtained by the eating of the fruit of this tree but by the eating of the fruit of the tree of life which also is in the midst of the Garden and yet no naturall tree no more then the first for this second tree is Gods righteousness and the very â—eaves of it shall serve for the healing of the Nations so then this first fruit is good in â—ts own place and without the eating of this we cannot be capable of the other yet it is forbidden to be eaten to accomplish the end that is before prescribed that is to say to become like God To prove this take notice of these Scriptures and you shall finde this fruit mans righteousness is forbidden and the sentence of death passed on those that feed on it to that end as our first parents did The Apostle Gal. 3. 10. speaks thus For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse To be carnally minded is death Rom. 8. 6. The Apostles meaning is to be
carnally minded in their comming up to God or their seeking after God by or in carnall things in endeavouring to make themselves perfect by the flesh as they did to whom he speaks Gal. 3. 3. Are you â—o foolish having begun in the spirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh As also the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 13. 3. If he should give his body to be burned and all his goods to the poor and have not charitie which is love or the power of God living and acting and carrying him forth to do it it is as sounding brasse and a tinkling cymbal The Prophets and Christ himself condemn Israel or those Pharifaicall men for their fasting and making long prayers Isa 58. 4. Matth. 6. 16. Why so was it not good so to do Yea fasting praying and giving of alms are good in themselves So the things were good in themselves or matter of them but not in manner and circumstance they may be used but not fed on to be like God lest wee die but they had not the power of God carrying them out to do those things but the motive by which they were put upon those duties was self-ends for to become like God witnesse the Pharisee that made the large confession and thought to obtain much and yet was condemned by Christ Luk. 18. 11 12. Thus you see as Adam was forbidden Man is bidden or commanded to do good but not to obtain good by his doing to eat this fruit and death pronounced and a curse followed upon his eating thereof So in like manner are we forbidden to follow after or feed upon that fruit which is in the substance our righteousnss or the Law and also death is pronounced and a curse followeth upon our eating thereof Touch not taste not handle not for all perish Adam did lie down in sorrow with the using Col. 2. 21. This is the fire that man kindleth and compasseth himself about with the sparks but God saith This he shall have at mine hands he shall lie down in sorrow So then here you see that this ambition was not only in Adam the shadow but in us the substance after the forbidden fruit and our ends are the same as his was to be wise and become like God through the subtilty of the Serpent which holds forth the excellency of this fruit our righteousnesse This will also serve for an Answer to the Objection framed from Adams transgression Pag. 35. Object Some may say How can the tree of knowledge of good and evill and the righteteousnesse of man be all one Ans The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evill is nothing else but the morall Law or the righteousness of man It must needs be so for this Reason Because the other tree with it which is the tree of life was the righteousness of Christ and no materiall or naturall tree To prove that it was the righteousness of Christ you may see Rev. 2. 7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God The like is said of the heavenly Manna ver 7. which is one and the same thing There is nothing promised to be given to the Saints to eat or to drink or to be clothed with but it is Christ or his righteousness He is all this to a Saint as you may see in these Scriptures He is water John 4. 14. and chap. 7. 38. This he spake of the Spirit He is Manna chapt 6. 48 50. 1 Cor. 10. 3. He is wine pomegranats or apples or pleasant fruit Matth. 26. 29. Cant. 4. 7. Let my Beloved come into his garden and eat of his pleasant fruit Chap. 7. 13. At our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee O my Beloved And chapt 1. 14. Thy love is unto us a cluster of camphire All this is the love of God through Christ to the Saints and the reflections of that love carrying up the souls of Saints unto God So this tree of life is the same even the righteousnesse of Christ or the Spirit It is compared to an oak and a teyl tree and the holy seed is the substance thereof Isa 6. 13. 2. This tree of life must needs be the Spirit of Christ because it bears twelve manner of fruits which fruits are twelve degrees or severall gifts of the Spirit which are the twelve precious stones or pearls that the City is founded upon 3. This tree of life must needs be the righteousnesse of Christ because the leaves of it are to heal the Nations Nothing can heal the Nations but Christ but the leaves of this tree are to heal the Nations and therefore they are the fruits effected and brought forth by the Spirit of Christ 4. There is nothing life it self or can give life for ever but Christ But this tree is life it self and will give life to them that eat it Therefore this tree is the righteousnesse of Christ Gen. 3. 22. So then this being clear that this tree of life is no materiall or naturall tree but the righteousnesse of Christ and such a food as will give eternall life it must by the same grounds necessarily follow that this * The definition of the two trees proved pag. 2. is more fully proved in the seven effects brought forth by the tree and mans righteousnesse tree of knowledge of good and evill in the garden with it is the righteousnesse of man and is no materiall or naturall tree no more then the other 5. The fifth degree of Adam's rising was 5 Degree of Adams rising to put those ambitious thoughts and desires into execution Gen. 3. 6. Shee took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave to her husband with her and he did eat And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig-leaves together and made them aprons The fifth degree of the substantiall Adam or all those that are come up to that degree may examine themselves by the shadow which was our first parents thus as it followeth and it wil answer as face answereth face in a glasse for after they are come to the fourth degree which is to see the invisible God through the visible things that are made and also to see and beleeve our own righteousnesse which is by the Law to be the onely way and means by which they may become wise or like that God or to attain heaven And also the excellency of this fruit so set forth by the serpent they then with all their strength follow after their own righteousness and take of that fruit that was so lovely to the eye and so much to be desired to make one wise and eats thereof bear with the expression for it is a Metaphor much used in Scripture in such like words as these To feed upon husks and not bread Labour not for the meat that
putteth his law in their inward parts it is when they shall no more every man teach his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest Jeremiah 31. 31. to the end of the Chap. at the twenty nine verse of the same Chapter he speaks on this wise In those dayes they shall say no more the fathers have eaten a sowre grape and the Childrens teeth are set on edg but every one shall dye for his owne iniquity every man that â—ateth a sowre grape his teeth shall be set on edge If man dyed for his own iniquity in those dayes then he died not in his fathers before but in those dayes every one did dye for his own iniquities and therefore they did not dye nor fall in another before we who are Israel are not to look through shadows or through a vail for if we are turned to the Lord the vail is taken away we see with open face we are not spoken to in parables to us it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom therefore let us leave off this Proverbe in saying that we were lost in Adam Let God be true and every man a lyer when he saith in those dayes this Proverbe shall be used no more The Objection from Rom. 5. 19. 1 Cor. 15. 22. Where it is said All dyed in Adam This Objection must admit of this answer as it followeth How all are said to dye in Adam 1. The Apostle speaks not his own Judgment but condescends to them and speaks according to this or that saying that they had in Israel concerning the Fathers eating of sowre grapes and the childrens teeth are set an edg he speaks to them here in this as unto those Cor. 7. 14. where he saith the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the believing Husband or else were the children uncleane but now they are holy The Apostle here speaks not his own opinion for he had cast of all this holinesse of Circumcision and what priviledg soever he had by it and accounts it losse and as drosse and dung but he speaks according to their belief or tenet in the time of the Law which was if a Circumcised person was joyned to an uncircumcised yet their seed should be accounted to be within the Covenant or holy and not unclean and from this their opinion he goes to take advantage and reconcile them together by what they themselves held and so in this place he doth endeavour to illustrate make out life to all in Christ by that which they held concerning Adam that is that their teeth was set an edge by his eating sowre grapes he doth in this place as he doth in the Hebraws where he holds out the excellency of the mystery of Christ by the Ministery that they were best acquainted with Secon We die in Adam t is trve all have held it to be a truth but they have not lookt to the end of things because their mindes are blinded and the vaile is over their hearts and shall be till they are turned to the Lord and then this Proverbe shall be used no more Quest How may we be said to die in Adam Ans We may be said to die in him in an allegoricall sence that is he by his death did shadow out all those that came to that State or degree as he was in marke what the Apostle saith in another case Tell me you little children do you not hear the Law read so he goes to tell them of the Law thus It is written Abraham had two Sonnes the one by a bond-Maid the other by a free-Woman this he tels them that in the mystery or the allegoricall sence is the Law as he saith afterwards for this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia answereth to Jerusalem which now is is in bondage with Galla. 4. 25. her children this Hagar is mount Sinai saith he this is as plain a speech as to say all dyed in Adam but yet he looks through this Hagar and Mount Sinai to the Jews in bondage under the Law which he cals Jerusalem So in like manner he looks through our first Parents when he saith all dyed in Adam and meanes them who were come to that estate and degree So then he by his death did figure out all that came to that degree that they should come to it that way as he did to die in Adam is to crucifie the old man and dye to ones own righteousnesse and strength daily so then his death did represent this death of ours as he by his death did assure us that we shall follow him in this sence we may be said to die in him such Scriptures which say that we all died in Adam must be further answered thus by the like Scriptures and understood accordingly as these are Christ is said to be slain from the foundation of the world And I am that heavenly Manna that came down from heaven And Babylon is fallen is fallen when it is said Rev. 13. 8. 18. 2 4. afterwards Come out of her my people all this while this is but in Gods account or in the shadow or representation so the Fathers eat Manna drank of that rock that followed them and that rock was Christ but not substantially but parabolically or else it is to be understood as sure as it is in part so it shall be in our account so it shal be in the substance so it shall be wholly thus we must understand our death in Adam First we are all dead men in Gods account Secondly we are all dead in the shadow Thirdly we are all dead in that nature and earnest the whole world is the substance and whole payment which must be brought into the same place as the earnest was we must come the same way as he did and bear our burthens and by his death he doth assure us that we shall dye assuredly as it were already done in him Again when we dyed we dyed in Adam for every carnall man is Adam yet all the carnality that ever was is or shall be is Adam the old man as it is formerly proved And in this Adam all those to whom the law cometh must dye and are dead already in Gods account or in the shadow and earnest as hath been proved Thus much in answer to this Objection Object Adams eating the forbidden fruit did cause him to cloath himself with fig-leafes which leafes are the leafes of the same tree as the eating of the fruit did open their eyes to see their nakedness and upon the sight thereof they were put upon action to cover this nakeduesse with the leafs of the Tree Ans The same thing doth the law effect on 6. The effects of the friut them to whom it comes for when the impressions of the law comes in upon the soul or heart and discovereth