Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	law_n	sin_n	spirit_n	23,097	5	6.5373	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80146	The marrow of Christianity: or, A spirituall discoverie of some principles of truth, meet to be known of all the saints; represented in ten sections. / By T. Collier, minister of the gospel. Whereunto is added an epistle, written by M. Saltmarsh.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.; Towne, Robert, 1592 or 3-1663. Assertion of grace.	1647 (1647)	Wing C5291; Wing T1978; Thomason E1157_1; Thomason E1157_2; ESTC R208677	55,702	142

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 Verbal word In the day thou eatest thou shalt dye 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 hee gives forth the righteous Law more at large in the Letter that so his Creatures might have a rule in the letter to walk by and likewise might bee the more sensible of the losse of both that principle and power they had once in Adam given unto them and likewise with it gives though not the same power yet the same promise of external 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 giues a Law that sinne might become out or measure sinful and it was added because or transgression for where no law is there is no transgression For by the Law was the knowledge of sinne and so it was an Administration of death both in the hands of Adam as wel as Moses 1 Cor. 3 6 7. 3 The Law in the Letter was an Image or Character of that spiritual righteousnesse God intended to bring in by Jesus Christ Aas Adam was an Image of that spiritual 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 moral principle of righteousnesse in Adam and a Character likewise of that spiritual righteousnesse that every beleever attaines in Christ the righteousnesse of the Law in the Letter was not that beleevers enjoy in Christ but that righteousnesse Adam injoyed in his state of innocencie It was not the righteousnesse of God but a Character of that righteousnesse holinesse and purity that all beleevers are made partakers of in the spirit It was not that righteousnesse by which God intended to give life and glory eternally but such a righteousnesse which had external promises annexed unto it For if there had been a Law given that could haue given life then righteousnesse had been by the Law Wherefore I coclude that the Law in the Letter was but a character of the spiritual righteousnesse 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 spiit giveth life 2 Cor. 3.6 The Law was given to Adam in th Letter and Moses was he 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. Deut. 18.15 Object It is said Rom. 15.8 that Jesus Christ was the Minister of Circumoision Answ True hee was the Minister of it for the truth of God to confirme 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 bee 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-farre off and likewise included in the promises Therefore hee was the Minister of circumcision for the truth of God to confirme 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. Object Paul applieth 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 righteousnesse of the Gospel was included in the Law There was a literall or externall righteousnesse expressed in the letter to which were externall promises annexed but there was a spirituall and internall righteousnesse included which onely 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 spirituall 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 beleever is made partaker of Note these two words for the more full clearing of it First that there was a 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 call● it a fleshly walking If any man had cause of glorying in the flesh I much more And he saith he was alive once without the Law but when the commandement came sin revived and I dyed Rom. 7.9 alive without the Law in the spirit for he was not without the Law in the letter by that it was he judged himselfe to be alive he walked concerning that blamelesse but when the commandement came that is when the spiritual righteousnesse of the law was unfolded which was no lesse than the righteousnesse of God then he saw how short he came of that righteousnesse hee 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 beleevers 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

bodies of flesh shall bee raised in the same forme in which it dyed others that it shal be spiritual yet question whether it shall he of the same substance therefore it wil be necessary to consider two particulars for the clearing of it First by what power we shal be raised Secondly with what bodies 1. By what power Answ 1. By the same power by which Jesus Christ was raised which was by the power and spirit of God he was declared to be the sonne of God with power by his resurrection from the dead Rom. 1 4. Secondly by the same power and spirit the Saints are enlightned and raised from the spiritual death of sinne and selfe which is the same power by which the body of Christ was raised so that when we say we are raised by the resurrection of Christ in the spirit that is by the same power by which Christ was raised therefore the Apostle desireth to know the power of the death and resurrection of Christ Phil. 3.10 by the same power and Spirit shall our bodies be raised at the last day Rom. 8.11 1 Cor. 15 13 14 15 16. this being a truth that they shal be raised by the same power it may somwhat direct us to the form in which they shal be raised which is the second particular that is in a spiritual forme not in a fleshly for as the spirit of Christ raiseth us up in the spirit while we are here so shal it raise up our bodies in the spirit at the last day it is sowne a natural body it is raised a spiritual body our vile bodies shal be changed and made like his glorious body he tooke upon him our forme that so we might be brought into his forme for when he shal appeare we shal be made like unto him the substance of our natural body raised in spirit Of Judgment It is appointed to all men once to dy but after this the Judgment when all men shal be called to an account before him to wit the Lord Jesus there to give an accompt for all things done in their bodies whether good or bad Mat. 25. and so God in this way wil acquit his Saints and cleare them before the world although this is not their life neither that in which they appeare Mat. 25.36 to 40 Fourthly of the estate of the Saints after Judgment it is first ever to be with the Lord beholding his glory 1 Thes 4.17 Iohn 17.24 and in his presence wil be fulnesse of joy and 2. at his right hand everlastingly to be compleated in the same glory Col. 3.3 when Christ who is our life shal appeare we shal appeare with him in glory all flesh shal be swallowed up in Spirit and our bodies shall be changed and made like his glorious body all things that offend shal be done away and we shal be made eternally one in the Father and in the Sonne in the spirit one in eternity one in injoyment and one in glory this for the Saints is enough to know besides what shal be we do not know it is an height and depth a length and breadth unsearchable Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ what the Saints do injoy what they shal injoy swallowes up the spiritual Christian in the beholding of it hence let us continue searching after an higher measure of the height depth bredth and length of his love which passeth knowledge and there shall we be able to see and say that his wisdome is unsearchable and his wayes past finding out FINIS A briefe Discovery of Antichrist both in the Mystery and in the Historie By THOMAS COLLIER 1647. For my more cleare proceeding in the discovery or the Man of Sinne five things are considerable 1 What Antichrist or the Man of Sin is 2 What his Reigne 3 What shall be his discovery 4 What his ruine 5 When his ruine shall be SECTION I. What Antichrist or the Man of Sin is ANtichrist or the Man of Sin is to be considered either in the Spirit or in the Letter 1 In the Spirit Antichrist signifies one seemingly for Christ yet in deed is against ●●m and so is but a Man of sin a son of perdition and this hee will appeare to be both in the Mystery and in the History 1 In the mystery or spirit and in this he hath taken hold of every man especially in these latter dayes yet t is true much time hath been spent by many to find out this Man of sinne who he is and for the most part ascribe it to some particular man never looking at the mystery or root of iniquity which is not in the first place a man but a wicked thing in man and this for want of a spirit of discerning we have not seen Antichrist in our selves but have cast him upon others and so misse of the thing or at least most strike at the top-boughes and are ignorant of the root Now Antichrist in the mystery or spirituall and internal part It is a confederacie betweene Sathan the deceitful heart of man transforming himself into an Angel of light nay into the Son of light and while nothing lesse than Christ and Christian wil satisfie he wil be the Christ or at least the Antichrist instead of Christ to deceive soules For this was and is the last the greatest and most deceiving stratagem that ever Sathan made use of to rui●e s●u●●s that where he cannot content soules but they must be Christians he can be content with that so he may be the Ch●ist hence he is called the man of sin the Son of perdition that wicked deceiver 2 Thes 2. It is not Sathan acting in a carnal and fifthly forme of the flesh but in the most refined part of the first Adam so he keepe the creature in the first Adam still he cares not 1. There must be a reformation that it shall injoy provided it be legally in the Letter it must believe or else it cannot be satisfied and b●lieve it doth but the ground must be built upon that first reformation qualification c wisdome is required to walke in Gods wayes and to the knowledge of the mi●de of God wisdome must and may be obtained provided it be humane the wisdome of the first Adam that is en●ugh power of acting must likewise of necessity be obtained a power shall be obtained but it must be a creature-power ●nd a creature-acting under the name and no●ion of the power of God that is indeed and intruth condemned though in none owned there must now somtimes be a spiritual minde and that it injoyes likewise in its own apprehension although hardly obtained and indeed the highest pitch of spiritualnesse is but carnal to the spiritual mans injoyment this is a high pitch of spirituall mindednesse where Sathan dwells to have selfe thoughts of Reformation thoughts to pray more to walke more exactly and to please God better never thoughts of living out of its selfe more and of living in the injoyment

all his spiritual Ones after him unto the same perfection into the same glory Object If this be the Gospel in the Spirit to know Christ no more after the flesh and to live in the spirit to look upon Christ as the way in the flesh into the spirit or holyest where he is then what need of faith so much spoken of in the Scripture the just shall live by faith and We are justifi●d by faith c. Answ 1. Faith may be acted not only on Christ dying upon the Crosse but in Christ living in the soule that is my beleeving that Christ is spiritually formed in me as wel as that he hath dyed for me that I am justified in the spirit as wel as in the flesh faith hath the same object in the spirit as in the flesh to beleeve that Christ lives spiritually in the soule and that it shal bee swallowed up in the conclusion wholly in the spirit 2 There may be often occasions to make use of faith likewise while we are in this body of flesh although the soule obtaines a good degree of the enjoyment of the spirit from and in God yet there wil bee through the presence of corruption some stirre and trouble and this God in his wisdome permits for ends best known to himselfe The Apostle Paul who lived exceeding highly in the spirit sometimes in the third heaven that is in the highest discovery of God yet he meets with a thorn in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet him that was some strong lust in the flesh that might cause him to look down again And the reason he renders Lest he should be exalted above measure 2 Cor. 12. For the truth is if God should cause any one to live alwayes in heaven that is above all lusts and corruptions in the highest discovery and enjoyment of God he would be ready to be lifted up above measure Experience teacheth us as much ready to look upon all knowledge and enjoyment beleeve it to be nothing but carnal therefore he brings down Paul that he might exercise faith and live upon grace as well as others My grace is sufficient for thee My strength shall be perfected in thy weaknesse So that notwithstanding this life of a Christian in the spirit yet there will be the use of faith alwayes either in the Spirit or in the Letter sometimes God brings a soule to live upon grace as it was revealed by Christ in the flesh and brought home and enjoyed by the spirit when we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord in the spiirit but when we are absent from the body we are at home in the Lord in the spirit 3. There is a continuall use of Faith and that of the most spirituall Christian with relation to the perfection of our eternall injoyments for the Saints do not onely injoy a onenesse with God here and from hence much spirituall and internall glory but by faith believes and hope expects that perfection of glory hereafter wherein it shall be perfectly made like unto Christ when this vile body shall be changed and made like unto his glorious body which at present so acts it selfe even in the Saints which prevents them even of that perfection of glory which they by faith expect when the change comes when Corruption shall put one Incorruption and Mortall shall put on Immortality When this naturall body shall become spirituall then shall be fully injoyed what hath been by faith believed and by hope expected and of this hath the spirituall Christian a taste in the spirituall injoyment of God here although not as then so fully swallowed up in that glory Obj. But it seemes that Christ in the flesh is the way to Justification and glory the way into the holyest which is heaven it selfe where none shall enter till they are changed but Christ who is entred already Heb. 9.24 Answ True Christ is entred into heaven it selfe onely in perfection but beleevers they enter likewise in part viz. when they are got within the veil that is to say the flesh then they see into the spirituall mystery and mansions of glory unconceivable and indeed un-utterable as the Apostle saith and desire to live continually within the veil if it might be while they are here yet they are raysed up more and more in the spirit and in the conclusion shall be for ever with Christ within all veiles which was best of all as the Law in the Letter was a veil to the Gospel both in Letter and Spiri● 2 Cor. 3.14 So is the Gospel in the flesh a veil to the Gospel in the Spirit a veil through which and within which all the Saints by degrees shall fully enter Qu. What is the difference between the Law and the Gospel Answ The difference is both in the Letter and in the Spirit the Gospel in the Spirit is the substance of that righteousnesse spiritually included in the Law as the Type Image or Character of that spirituall substance the Saynts are partakers of Hence it is often called the Law in the Spirit the Letter killeth the Spirit giveth life and I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God Gal. 2.19 that is I through the Law of the Spirit that is the righteousnesse of God in Christ am dead to the Law in the Letter that I might live unto God in the Spirit and not to the Law and selfe in the Letter 2. Difference is in the Letter of the Law and so of the Gospel and this is glorious for the letter of the law required a righteousnesse that was broken death ceiseth on all by that meanes the Gospel in the Letter holds forth a righteousnesse in Christ fulfilling the Letter of the Law so that what righteousnesse is in the Law required is obtained by Christ and every beleever is made partaker of it and so the difference is 1. The Law prescribes a Rule the Gospel fulfills the Rule Mat. 5.28 The Law requires a righteousnesse The Gospel fulfills that righteousnesse Rom. 10.3 The Law was the administration of death the Gospel the administration of life Qu. Is not the Law in the Letter a Rule to beleevers Answ 1. Not as it was handed forth by Moses from Mount Sinai so it was a killing Letter but 2. as it was taken into the hand of Christ and so satisfied and handed forth by Christ being turned into Gospel-Rules it remaines a Rule so farre as we are in the flesh I meane in the knowledge of Christ after the flesh but as God writes his Lawes in the he●ris of his people and taketh them up in the spirit so shall they live above the Law in the Letter even of the Gospel yet not without for they have it within them it is in their hearts and so they are a Law unto themselves Then the Rule in the Letter is as a stay in the hand or as a guide in the way helping the soule up to the

Thessalonians were them so delivers it in the present tense when he might haue said rather to speake after the manner of men then they which shal be alive at his coming c. as in Revel the word might have run thus and so questionlesse it is to be understood then they that were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus were raised or lived reigned with Christ as the sence of the former then they that shall bee alive at the comming of the Lord shal not prevent them which are asleep so that the spirit of God might as wel 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 litteral sence those that have dyed for Christ have dyed other deaths 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 until the 1000. yeares were finished that is none that had beene bodily dead Saints or wicked good or bad were raised till after the 1000 years 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 disgrace in the world And secondly it shal 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 spiritual One Quest But when shal this Kingdom be Answ 1. 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 shal be when the 7 seales are fully opened and the 7 trumpets fully founded 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 occasion the vials the opening of the seales the unfolding of the mysteries of the Gospel which have been hid Rev. 5.1 2. As light breakes forth the trumpets sound the servants of Jesus preach forth the mystery of the Gospel the preaching of the mysteries of the Gospel in the power and puritie of it occasions the vials of wrath to fal upon the Antichristian estate both in the spirit and in the letter which work is now a doing Wait the Lords time and it wil 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 to sydead 3 dayes a half and the woman cloathed with the Sun to be driven into the wildernesse for a little space a time times 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 dwel in the Earth to make an Image to the first Beast and that none but those who own it shal buy or sel with them the Saints beheaded under the Altar to wait a little time before they be raised up to live with Christ 1000. years but it is not long the vision is for an appointed time in the end it wil speak and not ly it wil come and not tarry The first 1000. is almost past the second and third are coming on apace all the Nations and Kingdomes in the world wil come apace to be the Kingdoms of the Lord of his Christ and he shall reign for ever their lives shal be prolonged for a season a time and other Scriptures are alledged for the personal 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 all 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 shal 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 wil 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 bee truth that the Kingdome of Christ is a spiritual kingdome not of this world this may inform us how far besides the Gospel in the spirit and truth of it those men are who make the Kingdome of Christ to bee meerly political and a state Kingdom who turne the world by a humane power into the Church and Kingdome of Christ as they say Christ must have a worldly carnal Kingdome no better than the Kings of the earth enjoy or else he shal have none at all it savors exceedingly of the earth ere long thither it must return Secondly this should incourage the Saints to presse forward after the knowledge of God in the spirit that as the kingdome of Christ is spiritual and not of this world so may the Saints Kingdom likewise be in the spirit and so all their enjoyments may be spiritual enjoyments this is that will make the soule fat and wel-liking in the Lord fill the soule with joy 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 spiritual SECT X. Of Death Resurrection Judgement and the state of the Saints after judgment eternally with God FIrst of death It is appointed for all men once to dye Dust we are and to dust we must return and therefore it behoves us to expect it All the dayes of mine appointed time wil I waite till my change come Death is certain although the time be uncertain it is that none are in a common and ordinary way exempted from unlesse those Saints who are alive at the last coming of Christ they shal be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye 1 Cor. 15.51 52. and so shall bee caught up in the spirit to meet the Lord in the Ayre 1 Thes 4.17 Secondly of the resurrection That there shal be a resurrection of the body at the last day is evident Iohn 5 28 29. Iohn 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

1 Cor. 15.44 And our vild body shall be changed and made like his glorious body In a word Such is the Saints glory and shall be in the perfection of it through their union with God in Christ that wee must conclude with 1 Iohn 3.2 We are already the sons of God but it doth not yet appear what we shal be But this we know when Christ shall appeare wee shall bee made like unto him and this is enough for us to know And as there is an Onenesse between Father Son and Saints so likewise there is a spiritual union between the Saints This was Christs prayer who was heard in all things hee 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 carnal union but a spirituall they who are joyned to the Lord are one spirit Vse 1. To incourage all the Saints to presse forward in the power of the Lord after a farther knowledge and injoyment of this spirituall union with the Lord and with the Saints Truly friends as this was not only the resolution of the Apostle himself 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 inlightened they might know what was the hope of their calling the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints so is it my desire not only 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 bee 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 spirituall communion and fellowship with the Father Son and Saints union alwayes being that which produceth communion even a civill union after 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 enjoyes God in all 1 Iohn 1.3 Our fellowship is with the Father 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 dwell in him they who dwell in God dwell in love 2 They enter together in the spirit eate O friends drink yea drink abundantly the Lord takes as it were spirituall satisfaction in his Saints and they take spiritual satisfaction in the Lord it is their life to live in the enjoyment of him 3 They walk together in the spirit they have their garden and galleries and pleasant delights 4 They talk 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 thē they are carryed forth to tell him of it to admire him in it and to praise him for it and thus there is many a sweet conference and heart-discovery betweene 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 spirituals a fellowship in temporals and they continued in the Apostles Doctrine fellowship in breaking bread and prayer breaking bread from house to house being filled with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart Act. 2. and they who beleeved had all things commune a community as well as a unity that is so far forth as need is and cals for it so in guifts so in all things 1 Cor. 3.22 All is yours Paul Apollo Cephas And secondly the knowledge of this spirituall glorious onenesse which the Father produceth an exceeding earnest desire in the soule enjoying of it to live more more in that glory What is the reason Professors content themselues to be so low so carnall 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 obtaine 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 soule 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 this spiritual union with God produceth an acting more in and after the spirit of God How doth the creature set it self a-work and acts it self even in the Letter of the Gospel aswel as formerly in the Letter of the Law for want of knowledge of the union in the spiritual power of the Lord although without Christ that is not being acted by Christ we can do nothing the Creature being unacquainted with that spiritual mystical union with God acts himself in the things of God 4 The knowledge of this spiritual union with God produceth the killing crucifying of that earthly part nothing kils and destroyes the flesh but the growing up in the spirit Oh! how would the soule many times be content to undergoe any thing so it might bee 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 more in and after the spirit and lesse after the flesh and so wil produce a more spiritual communion amongst all the spiritual Saints of Jesus 6 And lastly it is that wil make the thoughts of a change exceeding sweet because the soule lives in expectation of a glorious freedome from sinne and sorrow and a full perfection of spiritual and eternal glory therefore it can be contented to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all where it shal for ever live in the continual admiration of and glorying in the spiritual enjoyment of God whose work shal bee everlastingly and fully to enjoy and freely to sing prayses unto the Lord. SECTION VII Wherein is declared what the Law is and what the Gospel is with the difference betwee● them both in the Letter and in the Spirit THE Law in the Letter is a rule of