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A33944 The marrow of Christianity, or, A spirituall discovery of some principles of truth meet to be knowne of all the saints : represented in ten sections / by T. Collier ; whereunto is added an epistle, written by M. Saltmarsh. Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.; Saltmarsh, M. 1650 (1650) Wing C5292; ESTC R29305 55,174 122

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shalt die the death Man having yet the principles of that law remaining in him God having by the promised Messiah given a farther being to mankind in the world he gives forth the righteous Law more at large in the letter that so his creatures might have a rule in the Letter to walke by and likewise might be the more sensible of the losse of both that principle and power they had once in Adam given unto them and likewise with it given though not the same power yet the same promise of externall life in the Land God gives them 2. The Law was that by which sin came that is by which sin became sinfull For it is true had not God given a Law yet man would have been acting contrary to the pure mind of God therefore he give a Law that sin might become out of measure sinfull and it was added because of transgression for where no Law is there is no transgression For by the Law was the knowledge of sin and so it was an administration of death both in the hands of Adam as well Moses 1. Cor. 3.6.7 3. The Law in the letter was an Image or Character of that spirituall righteousness God intended to bring in by Jesus Christ as Adam was an Image of that spirituall perfection God intended to make his partakers of in the spirit by Christ So this Law in the letter was a rule answerable to that morall principle of righteousnesse in Adam a Character likewise of that spiritual righteousnes that every believer attains in Christ the righteousnes of the law in the letter was not that believers injoy in Christ but that righteousnesse Adam injoyed in his state of innocency It was not the righteousnes of God but a Character of that righteousnes holyness and purity that all believers are made partakers of in the spirit It was not that righteousness by which God intended to give life and glory eternally but such a righteousness which had externall promises annexed unto it For if there had been a Law given that could have given life then righteousness had been by the Law Wherefore I conclude that the Law in the letter was but a Character of the spirituall righteousness of God which is the life of the Saints and that by which God never intended to justifie any to eternity for the law in the letter killeth not justifieth but the spirit giveth life 2. Cor. 3.6 The law was given to Adam in the letter and Moses was the Minister of the law in the letter but Christ is the Minister of the law in the spirit Therefore Moses saith himselfe A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me him shall you heare in all things Acts 3.22 23 Deyt 18.15 Obj. It is said Rom. 15.8 that Jesus Christ was the Minister of Circumcision Answ True he was the minister of it for the truth of God to confirm the promises made unto Abraham he was a Minister of it so as to fulfill the truth held forth in it So the word Minister Diaconos signifies God having promised Christ to come of the seed of Abraham he gives forth circumcision and divers other Ordinances as Types representing him and he is the Minister of all to act and fulfill all and to be the substance of all those Types for the truth of God else God had not been true in his promises neither had salvation been obtained either by the Fathers to whom the promises were made or the Gentiles who were a farr off and likewise included in the promises Therefore he was the Minister of circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises unto the Fathers and likewise that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy Not so much a Minister in the giving forth of it but in the fulfilling of it which gives occasion to the Gentiles to rejoyce and praise the Lord. Obj. Paul applyeth the words of Moses in the Law Deut. 30.12 13 14. Rom. 10 6 7 8. to be the righteousnesse of faith the righteousnesse of faith speaketh on this wise Answ It is true that Christ and the righteousness of the Gospel was included in the Law There was a literall or externall righteousnesse expressed in the letter to which were externall pall promises annexed but there was a spirituall and internall righteousnesse included which only beleevers were made partakers of which was a righteousnesse brought in by Christ and obtained by faith which is the law in the spirit or that spiritual righteousnesse of God that beleevers are made partakers of which is the second thing propounded what the law in the spirit is Secondly the law in the spirit or the spirituall righteousnesse contained in the law as you have already heard is the righteousnesse of God which every believer is made partaker of Note these two words for the more full clearing of it First that there wasa spirituall righteousnesse included mystically in the letter of the Law which none ever saw into but those spiritually enlightned Paul had experience of it Rom. 7.14 For we know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall The Law in the letter was not spirituall For the same Apostle could say that he walked concerning the righteousnesse of the Law in the letter blamelesse Phil. 3. yet he calls it a fleshly walking If any man had cause of glorifying in the flesh I much more And he saith he was alive ones without the Law but when the Commandment came sin revived and I died Rom. 7.9 alive without the law in the letter by that it was he judged himselfe to be alive he walked concerning that blamelesse but when the Commandment came that is when the spiritual righteousnesse of the Law was unfolded which was no lesse then the righteousnesse of God then he saw how short he came of that righteousnesse he was yet but in the letter in the flesh and not in the spirit Then sin revived I died Secondly that this Law in the spirit is that spirituall righteousnesse of God that believers are made partakers of 1 Cor. 3.6 The letter killeth but the spirit giveth life The letter killeth the letter requireth an exact and perfect obedience which none was able to performe and so the very letter of the law did kill So at first it killed Adam and all his posterity and so it killed the Jewes being given forth in a more large way for it was the administration of death but the spirit giveth life viz. the Lord Jesus the spirit and substance of the law both morall and ceremoniall for the first man was made a living soule to answer a morall righteousnesse the second was made a quickning spirit to give life to those dead in the first Adam And as the Father hath life in himselfe so hath he given to the Son to have life in himselfe and he quickneth whom he will John 5. The Law in the letter killeth the Law in the spirit quickneth Therefore Christ saith I came not
the Scripture the just shall live by faith and we are justified by faith c. Answ 1. Faith may be acted not onely on Christ dying upon the crosse but in Christ living in the soule that is my believing that Christ is spiritually formed in me as well as that he hath dyed for me that I am justified in the spirit as well as in the flesh faith hath the same object in the spirit as in the flesh to believe that Christ lives spiritually in the soule and that it shall be 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 will be 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 dicovery 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 hee would be ready to be lifted up above measure Experience teacheth us as much ready to look upon all knowledg and enjoyment believe it to be nothing but carnall therefore he brings down Paul that he might exercise faith and live upon grace as wel as others My grace is sufficient for thee my strength shall be perfected in thy weaknes 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 Spirit but when we are absent from the bodie wee are at home in the spirit 3. There is a continuall use of faith that of the most spirituall Christian with relation to the perfection of our eternall enjoyments for the Saints doe not onely enjoy a oneness 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 made like unto his glorious bodie 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 on incorruption and mort all shall put on immortality when this naturall bodie shall become spirituall then shall be fully enjoyed what hath been by faith believed by hope expected and of this hath the spirituall christain a tast by the spirituall enjoyment of God here although not as then so fully swallowed up in that glory Obj. But it seems that Christ in the flesh is the way to Justification and glory the way into the holyest which is heaven it self where none shall enter till they are changed but Christ who is entered already Heb. 9.24 Ans True Christ is entered into heaven It selfe only in perfection but believers they enter likewise in part viz. when they are got within the veil that is to say the flesh then they see into the spiritual mystery mansions of glory unconceivable and indeed un-utterable as the Apostle saith and desire to live continually within the veile if it might be while they are here yet they are raised 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 Spirit 2 Cor. 3.14 So is the Gospel in the flesh a veil through which and within which all the Saints by degrees shall fully enter Qu. What is the difference betweene the law and the Gospel A. The difference is both in the Letter in the Spirit the Gospel in the spirit is the substance of that righteousnes spiritually included in the law as the Type Image or character of that spirituall substance the Saints are partaekrs of Hence it is often called the Law in the Spirit the Letter killeth the Spirit giveth life 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 Gospell and this is glorious for the Letter of the law requireth a righteousness that was broken death seiseth on all by that meanes the Gospell 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 Gospell fulfills the Rule Mat. 5.28 The law requires a righteousnesse the Gospell fulfills that righteousnesse Rom. 10.3 The law was the administration of death the Gospell the administration of life Quest Is not the law in the letter a Rule to believers 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 farr as we are in the flesh I meane in the knowledge of Christ after the flesh but as God writes his Lawes in the hearts 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 Spirit and then he walkes not after the flesh but after the spirit having the law of the spirit of life within him guiding him in the way of holinesse and so that Scripture is made good 1. Iohn 3. The anointings which you have received shall teach you all things and ye need not that any man teach you and the spirituall man judgeth all things yet he himselfe is judged of no man
with 1 Iohn 3.2 We are already the Sons of God but it doth not yet appeare what we shall be But this we know when Christ shall appeare we shall be made like unto him and this is enough for us to know And as there is an Onenesse betweene Father Son and Saints so likewise there is a spirituall union betweene the Saints this was Christs prayer who was heard in all things he prayed for that the Saints might be one as he himself was one in and with the Father the union of the Saints is not a carnall union but a spirituall they who are joyned to the Lord are one Spirit Vse 1. To encourage all the Saints to presse forward in the power of the Lord after a farther knowledge and injoyment of this spiritual union with the Lord and with the Saints Truly friends as this was not onely the resolution of the Apostle himselfe Phil. 3. but his prayer for the Ephesians 1.16 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus the Father of glory might give unto them the spirit of wisdome in the Revelation of him that their eyes being inlightned they might know what was the hope of their calling and the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints so is it my desire not onely to presse forward in the power of God after the knowledge of this mystery but that all the Saints might live in the knowledge of it that their hearts might be comforted together being knit together in the spirit of unity and love The effects of the knowledge of this blessed union will prove exceeding glorious 1. It is that will produce a glorious spiritual communion and fellowship with the Father Son Saints union alwaves being that which produceth communion even a civil union with the flesh when once the Lord saith concerning man and woman they are no more twaine but one flesh that produceth fellowship and communion after the flesh so likewise and much more doth a spirituall union produce a spirituall communion and fellowship a fellowship and communion with the Father and the Son in all his administrations in all the wayes and acts of his providence civill or spirituall the spirituall Christian injoyes God in all 1. John 1.3 Our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ Christ and the Saints from their union with each other 1. They dwell together in the spirit they are his house and he dwels in them the Temples of the holy spirit and they dwel in him they who dwell in God dwell in love 2. They eat together in the spirit Eat O friends drinke yea drink abundantly the Lord takes as it were spirituall satisfaction in his Saints and they take spirituall satisfaction in the Lord it is their life to live in the injoyment of him 3. They walke together in the spirit they have their garden and galleries and pleasant delights 4. They talke together and commune with each other in the spirit the Lord he makes forth himself in the spiritual discoveries of his love to his Saints and then they are carried forth to tell him of it to admire him in it and to praise him for it and thus there is many sweet conference and heart-discovery betwene the Lord and a spirituall Christian which makes the soule to revive within it selfe 5. Christ and the Saints lye down together in the spirit and take their fill of love each with other they sleep as it were in the bosome of each other and so they rest themselves in love And this likewise produceth fellowship amongst Saints a fellowship in spiritualls fellowship in temporalls And they continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship in breaking bread and prayer and breaking bread from house to house being filled with gladness and singleness of heart Act. 2. And they who believed had all things common a community as well as a unity that is so far forth as need is calls for it so in gifts so in all things 1. Cor. 3.22 All is yours Paul Apollo and Cephas And Secondly the knowledge of this spirituall glorious onenesse which the Father produced an exceeding earnest desire in the soule enjoying of it to live more and more in that glory What is the reason Professors content themselves to be so low so carnal in their minds but because they were never acquainted with nor enjoyed higher things but the Apostle who had seen and tasted of that glory forgets all behind and presseth forward if so be that he might obtain the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3. and apprehend that for which he was apprehended that love that grace that God who had apprehended him Certainly that soul who hath once tasted how good how gracious the Lord is in the spirit can never be satisfied with the knowledge of him in the letter 3. the knowledge of the spirituall union with God produceth an acting more in and after the spirit of God How doth the creature set it selfe a works and acts it selfe even in the letter of the Gospel as well as formerly in the letter of the Law for want of knowledg of the union in the spirituall power of the Lord although without Christ that is not being acted by Christ we can do nothing the Creature being unacquainted with that spirituall mysticall union with God acts himself in the things of God 4. The knowledge of this spirituall union with God produceth the killing and crucifying of that earthly part nothing kills and destroyes the flesh but the rowing up in the spirit Oh! how would the soule many times be content to undergoe any thing so it might be rid of pride and selfe and those fleshly corruptions and why it is the growing up in the spirit that destroyes the flesh the more you live in and after the spirit the lesse after the flesh 5. It is that will help us to know Christ and the Saints the more in and after the sdirit the less after the flesh and so will produce a more spirituall communion amongst al the spirituall Saints of Jesus 6. And lastly it is that will make the thoughts of a change exceeding sweet because the soule lives in expectation of a glorious freedome from sin and sorrow and a full perfection of spirituall and eternall glory therefore it can be contented to be dissolved and to be with Christ whichs best of all where it shal for ever live in the connuall admiration of and glorying in the spirituall enjoyment of God whose worke shall be everlastingly and fully to enjoy and freely to sing praises unto the Lord. SECT VII Wherein it declared what the Law is and what the Gospel is with the difference between them both in the Letter and in the Spirit THE Law in the Letter is a rule of Life answerable to those moral principles of nature left in man since his fall the substance of which Law was written in the heart of the first Adam and was contained in that Verball word In the day thou eatest thou