in dying thou shalt die And so I pass to the second Reason to prove That Adams sin did not make him guilty of nor liable to the second Death which is Reas 2. Because Adam had no second life promised neither had he need of it while he stood in his Innocency and only a second life presupposeth a second death for a man cannot lose more than he hath to loose which was but only one life for the other came by Jesus Christ who did by death abolish death and brought life and immortality to light to which add this That if Christ had not died and also risen from the dead there had been no Resurrection and then having no second life there had been no second death for as by Man came Death so by Man came the Resurrection from the Dead So then it was Gods love to give man life and put him into that happy condition in Paradice but it was mans sin that brought death and a deprivation from that happy estate and condition it was Gods renewed love and unsearchable wisdom and mercy to bring man out of that Condition by a Resurrection from the Dead to a second life and happy estate but it is mans unsufferable perpetual wickedness which brings upon him the second death for this is THE condemnation that Light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light Joh. 3. And thus we see that there was no second life in Paradise to be lost and therefore that sin purchased not the second death And so I pass to the Third Reason to prove That Adams sin did not make him guilty of the second death which is Reas 3. Thirdly Because if Adam had been guilty of the second death and that was the death intended where it is said in dying thou shalt die then Gods Justice had not been satisfied unless Adam had died the second death and all that were made guilty by that sin but none did die the second death for that sin committed in Paradise although the first death or a change which is as death passeth upon the Righteous as well as the Wicked and that if they had been made guilty of the second death they should also have died the second death is because the Scripture saith That God will by no means clear the guilty Exod. 34.7 But if God did send Christ to take away the second death so that many taste it not and none taste it for that sin committed in Paradise Rom. 5.18 then God did use a means to clear the guilty and so his word is Yea and Nay and not Yea and Amen but it being the guilt of the first death God spares not his own pretious Ones but we must needs die and be as water spilt upon the ground which cannot be gathered neither doth God respect the Person of any man yet he hath used a means that his banished shall not be for ever expelled from him 2 Sam. 14.14 and in this sense man must die for that sin and so Justice satisfied and so gives way to Mercy And thus I pass to the Fourth Reason to prove That the sin committed in Paradise made not Adam guilty and liable to the second death which is Reas 4. Fourthly Because it argues a change in God in what he hath absolutely Decreed for God did absolutely decree That if Adam did eat that he should surely die and Adam did eat Therefore if that death that God threatned to inflict upon Adam were the second death as some say then God changeth in what he did absolutely Decree for Adam and his are not damned for that sin as is clear from many texts of Scripture as Rom. 5. c. Add this also It makes God to be a Liar and the Devil to speak the Truth which were blasphemy to assert for as God said That if Adam eat he should die so the Devil said They should not die now if this be the second Death there mentioned and Adam not die that death and yet did eat judge who it was that spoke the Truth but it being the first death that God intended in that place Gods Word was fulfilled Adam did so die and so Gods Word was true and the Devil was a liar from the beginning But saith my Antagonist God may alter in his threatnings as in Nineveh and Hezekiah and the like but my Antagonist knows well that I have given him such an Answer unto it that he is not able to Answer time will not suffer me hear to repeat it read my former Book only this in short Consider that before God sent Jonah to Nineveh to proclaim forty dayes and Nineveh shall be destroyed he did decree and declare it That in what instant he spake as touching the destroying of a People if they did repent then he also would repent of the evil that he said he would bring upon them Jer. 18. but Nineveh did repent and proclaim a Fast and therefore God was engaged according to his Word not to destroy them but the case was not so with Adam And also Hezekiah did repent and humbled himself with mourning and so God was constrained to hear and answer his desire according to his Word Hence he had Mercy on the House of Ahab when he humbled himself yet God changeth not in what he hath Decreed but doth Decree to alter the Dispensation of Mercy and Justice according to his Creatures actings And thus I leave the Objection having Answered it before and also the Reason and come now to the Fifth Reason to prove That Adams sin did not make him guilty of or liable to the second death which is Reas 5. Fifthly Because Adam was but a natural man and had but a natural life and yet should have lived for ever by eating of the Tree of Life had he not sinned but when he had sinned and thereby deprived himself of the Tree of Life then in respect of Mortality he had no prehemenence above the Beast of the field Eccles 3.18 19 20. And that he was but a natural man read 1 Cor. 15.44 45. Moreover know as aforesaid That there was no Promise of a second life till after the Fall and therefore God could not threaten man with the loss of that which he had not given or promised to give unto him and therefore that sin in Paradise could not make Adam guilty of the second death because he never had a second life or a promise of it in the state of Innocency neither sinned he against the new Covenant or God manifest in Christ which brought the second life and therefore not guilty of the second death And so I pass to the Sixth and last Reason to prove That Adams sin made him not guilty of the second death neither was that death intended by God either in the threatning or in the sentence Reas 6. Sixthly and Lastly Because that death which entered into the world by Adams sin passed and reigned over all men from Adam to Moses Rom.
you may see that the Sepulcher which you speak of was not wood but earth and so Christ was buried and covered in the heart of the earth So then Persons baptized must be covered in water or otherwise no signification of burial in Baptism And so I pass to the fourth Reason to prove baptism to be dipping or plunging into the water Reas 4. Because Baptism is figuratively represented by much water and not by a little which implyeth the person baptized ought to be dipped or plunged so as to be covered in water as the waters of Noah And John abiding in Canaan Baptizing because there was much water saith the Text to which you adde these two Objections Object 1. First That if the waters of Noah was baptism then the ungodly World was Baptized for plunged and covered they were and perished and so the perishing Creatures were Baptized Answ To which I Answer and say The text doth not say that Noahs water was Baptism but a figure of Baptism Secondly It is not denyed that the same water that is said to save the eight Souls which were in the Ark was the same that drowned them which was out of the Ark which sheweth that the water in Baptism must not be small for that is said to be a figure of Baptism but sufficient to cover the Persons baptized That which we may learn from these sayings is this and so I pass That as the waters saved those in the Ark and drowned them that were out of the Ark even so Baptism being figuratively represented in it saveth and cleaneth instrumentally all those that have Faith and so be in Christ the Ark of safety and also destroyeth all that attempt it which beleeve not or are not in Christ by Faith and so the Ordinances of Christ to one are the savour of life unto life and to the other the savour of death unto death therefore take this word of Caution Take heel how and to whom you administer Baptism let them first appear to you that they are in the Ark which is to say let the persons Baptized first make it appear to you by some visible demonstration that they have Faith in Christ otherwise you see that you take a direct way to ruinate them therefore I say take heed And so I pass to the next thing which is Object John did abide at Canaan to baptize because there was much water there But say you The much water is not to be understood deep water but broad and shallow so that an Infant could not be covered in it and that John did abide there because his Disciples might see him administer that Ordinance better than under the shadowing Banks of Jordan And this is the Reason saith my Antagonist That John did abide at Canaan not that the waters were convenient that is to say deep to cover the Person baptized but because there was a convenient prospect whereby his Disciples might see the manner of this administring of the Ordinance Answ To which I Answer and say That this kind of reasoning seems to me to be strange perverting of the Scripture for the Scripture saith That John abode at Canaan to baptize because there was much water or it may be read abundance of water or deep water from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But you say That the reason why he tarried there to baptize was because there was a convenient prospect that his Disciples might see him baptize clear contrary to what the Scripture saith And if that were the Reason as you say then he might have taken a Pitcher of Water into the Mountain if sprinkling would have served the turn for a Pitcher of water would have baptized very many with your kind of Baptism and the Mountain had been a better prospect than the Valley Secondly Canaan is the same water viz. the River Jordan and takes its Name Canaan from the Name of the Village Canaan that stood by the River of Jordan as you may see if you look into the Map of that Country And so it is now that one and the same River bears many Names by reason of the adjacent Villages and Towns that stand by the side of it and the River called by the same Name This being considered the River or Water of Canaan was not shallow but deep for the swelling Waves of Jordan were great and this is the same River as before-said Again Thirdly it is clear that John Baptized Men and Women there which should be read if it were truly translated that John dipped Men and Women there and if so you and your Authors must be false which say it was not deep enough to dip an Infant and so I leave this Objection and the Reasons to prove Baptism to be Dipping although I might adde many more The Reasons in short you see are these First Because the word Baptism being truly translated is to dip properly and such like words as before-mentioned Secondly Because Christ was dipped or plunged and we engaged to follow his example Thirdly Baptism signifies Christs Burial and he was covered in the heart of the earth Fourthly and Lastly the Scripture saith That John did tarry and Baptize at Canaan because there was much water signifying to us that much water is requisite in Baptism whereby the person baptized may be conveniently dipped or plunged so as to be covered in the water And so I come to the Second Thing which is The Discourse of the Subject which is to be Baptized whether Beleeving Men and Women or Infants To which I say The Scripture will resolve the Doubt if we well examine them who are the Subjects to be Baptized and therefore I shall at present lay down these Two Positions and give you Scripture Reasons to prove them Position 1. The First is That those that are the Disciples of Christ viz. Beleeving Men and Women may and ought to be Baptized Position 2. And Secondly That Infants as such may not be Baptized And first to the First to prove that such as are Disciples namely Beleevers may and ought to be Baptized And the first Reason is Reason 1. Because the great Law-giver Christ Jesus hath taught us in his last Will and Testament to make Disciples and Baptize them that are so made as in Matth. 28.18 19. Go teach all Nations and baptize them or as the Original rendereth it from these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go Disciplize or make Disciples in all Nations and baptize THEM c. From whence we may cleerly see that it was the Mind and Will of Christ that they only should be Baptized that were first taught and made Disciples and that Infants are not here in the least included is plain because they are not capable to be taught but those that were commanded there to be baptized were capable of being taught therefore could not be Infants Secondly Infants are not capable to bear the name Disciple because Christ saith in Luke 14.26 27. That whosoever denieth not himself and
lump of man-kind in using a means to bring them to a Resurrection of life and Glory and I shall handle them in two particular Subjects The first will be the Resurrection and the second Gods love to man in point of Salvation and glory and so to the first Subject namely That although man must dye and be like water spilt upon the ground yet the Lord will bring him up again from the dead to live for ever in glory or misery according as they have received his grace and walked worthy of it or as they have slighted and abused grace and mercy and not walked worthy of it THE Resurrection of the Body PROVED AS touching this Subject of the Resurrection I shall be brief yet full enough to prove it to be the truth of God and the foundation of the godly mans faith and hope and my method to prove it shall be by laying down this Position which is That the dead bodies of those that return to the dust shall live again and arise and come to Judgment to receive according to what they have done whether it be good or evil For so saith our blessed Saviour John 5.28 in these words Marvel not at this for the hour or time as the word will bear it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hora is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Condemnation for the Trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed 1 Cor. 15.52 And that this is true weigh the following Reasons which will confirm the truth of the Position and the first Reason is Reas 1. Because Christ himself did both die and rise again to be the first fruits of them that sleep that he might bear a sure Testimony to prove the Resurrection of the dead as saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.20 21. in these words But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that sleep for since by man came death by man came also the Resurrection of the dead for as in or by Adam all die even so in or by Christ shall all men be made alive but every one in his own order vers 22.23 Reas 2. Secondly because the Scripture saith that our bodies shall be redeemed from the Grave and cloathed with immortality and indeed it was the very thing that Saint Paul waited for and comforted himself in Rom. 8.19 20 21 22 33. in these words For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sons of God for the creature was made subject to vanity not willingly but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope because the creature it self also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God for we know that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together until now and not only they but ourselves also which have the first fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our bodies From whence we may see that the Apostle did look and wait in his mind for the Resurrection of the BODY which is to be understood the Resurrection and thus we see that our BODIES shall be redeemed from the dust and all kind of Corruption which proveth the Resurrection And so I pass to the third reason which is Reas 3. Thirdly because the Scripture saith the dead bodies of such as are in the dust shall arise again and live as saith the Prophet Isa 26.19 in these words Thy dead men shall live together with my dead bodie shall they arise awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of Hearbs and the earth shall cast out the dead that is in it The which agreeth with the words of the Prophet Ezek. which saith And as I prophesied there was a noise and behold a shaking and the bones came together bone to his bone and when I beheld loe the sinews and the flesh came upon them and the skin covered them about and there was no breath in them Then I Prophesied as he commanded me and the breath came upon them and they lived and stood up upon their feet an exceeding great Army From whence we may see that there is to be a Resurrection of the body out of the dust of the earth to life again that all may come to Judgment to give an account of what they have done in the body whether it be good or evil And so I come to the fourth Reason to prove the Resurrection of the body which is Reas 4. Fourthly because the same IT which is sown in corruption the same IT riseth in incorruption and every seed shall have its own body as saith Saint Paul 1 Cor. 15.42 So also is the Resurrection IT is sown in corruption IT IS raised in incorruption for this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality so when this corruptible hath put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written death is swallowed up in victory O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory Which clearly proveth that the same that goeth to the dust the same riseth again out of the dust only the corruption putting on incorruption and the mortal putting on immortality which cannot be understood another body but the same body neither can it be true which is said Death is swallowed up in victory no for if the dead bodies rise not out of the Graves then the Grave hath victory and is not conquered so as to be said O Grave where is thy victory but the victory of the Grave is destroyed by Christs death and Resurrection that we should not be holden therein All which proveth there is to be a Resurrection of the dead bodies out of the Graves And so I come to the fifth Reason to prove the Resurrection of the dead which is Reas 5. Fifthly Because Job also confirms this truth saying O that my words were now written O that they were now printed in a book that they were graven with an Iron Pen and laid in the rock for ever for I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms devour this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and my eyes shall behold and not another although my reins be consumed Job 19.23 24 25 26 27. From hence we may see that although Job were in great afflictions yet the consideration of the Resurrection comforted him and that he means the very same body is plain because he saith that although worms did devour his body yet in
from him for Christ hath destroyed him that had power over death which is the Devil and hath delivered us by Resurrection who by the reason of the fear of death were kept in slavery all our life long For nothing would be so troublesome to the godly as the thought of death were it not for a Resurrection but saith the Lord I will ransome them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death O Death I will be thy Plague O Grave I will be thy destruction He will swallow up death in victory and the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces Hosea 13.14 Isa 25.8 2 Sam. 14.14 Heb. 2.14 From these Reasons and Scriptures and many more which might be added we may clearly see That the dead namely such as do now and shall sleep in the dust shall arise both good and bad and come to Judgment And now courteous Reader seeing it is so that the dead as before said must arise and come to Judgment be exhorted to take up that good resolution with the holy man Job 14.14 which saith If a man die shall he live again then all the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change come giving thanks alwayes to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away Therefore gird up the lines of thy mind waiting for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ who will change our vile bodies and fashion them like unto his glorious body according to his promise and mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light To whom be praise and glory for ever and ever Amen 1 Pet. 1.3 Phil. 3.20 21. 2 Tim. 1.10 Secondly take this word of advice by way of Caution which is take heed and beware of giving heed to such as do deny the Resurrection of whom there is two sorts now in our dayes as there was in the Apostles dayes the one sort is like unto the Saduces Mat. 22.23 which deny that there is any Resurrection Angels or Spirits viz. God or Devil Heaven or Hell of that sort is the Ranter and his adherents and such like Athiestical Spirits And the other are like unto HYMENEVS and PHILETVS 2 Tim. 2.17 18. who say that the Resurrection is already past whose words eat as doth a canker and of this sort is the Quakers who doth affirm that he is already risen from the dead and in the Resurrection and so the Resurrection is past to him who denyeth iniquity in words in the history and yet heaps up iniquity upon iniquity in the mystery And these are the two sorts which may fitly be compared unto the Sect of the Saduces and to Hymeneus and Phyletus and I do not report the things whereof I write by hear-say but from their own mouths the more is the pitty and to be lamented These two sorts differ in manners or conversation but very little in Judgment in point of doctrine unless it be in that of conversation as before said the which if they had the conversation of Angels and yet so corrupt in principle the Scripture declares them to be in a cursed and miserable condition Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. Col. 2.18 19. Acts. 3.23 24. And indeed the conversation of many of them is bad enough although they disfigure their faces and seem unto men to fast from sin and to be more righteous then others yet they have been seen to want that special duty of prayer in their families and giving thanks in the presence of their Families for their food which God hath bestowed on them although Christ and the Apostle did not neglect to do their duty in that case to lead us an example but no more as to this I shall leave it until the day in the which God will try the wayes of the sons of men and discover all deceit and falsehood of what nature soever it be But as touching the opinion about Gods holy Ordinances by which he hath appointed to be worshipped in is sleighted and rejected by them as water-Baptisme and eating of Bread and drinking of Wine solemnly celebrated to set forth Christs death and a participation of the benefit thereof with the slightings of forms as they call them although God delight in nothing which is out of form and order as the host of Heaven and earth doth declare who when God found them without form and void did by his word put them in form and order and gave decrees to the Sea and ordinances unto the Sun Moon and Stars and they keep them so that God delights in form and order and also is a God of order in all the Churches of the Saints hence Saint Paul commended form Rom. 6.17 18. in these words But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered unto you being therefore made free from sin ye became the servants of Righteousness c. From whence you may see That those men which do slight and deny forms in our dayes have not received that Spirit which was in the Apostle but another Spirit even the Spirit of error although it strive to transform it self into an Angel of light that thereby it may deceive the hearts of the simple for men are got to this height of wickedness in the mystery as to think that they comprehend all things and so consequently are Gods but they shall die like men for their breath is in their nostrils yet talk of what you will almost it is in them as they say as the first Adam and the second and God and also the Serpent slain within them the tree of life and the tree of knowledg the judgment seat Heaven and Hell Mount Zion and the new Jerusalem the two witnesses and what not they have comprehended all these things as they say but alass they die and in the very same time their thoughts perish and they are chased and gone like a vision of the night Mark one peece of horrible pride of Spirit which is in them they will not allow the holy Scriptures to be called the word of the Lord neither do they exhort and press men to be diligent to read and keep the things contained therein but their fraughty books must some of them bear the Title of the word of the Lord to the world and earthly men and the like so that he that seeth but very little may see them to be the men before spoken of which shall deny all that is worshipped as God shewing themselves that they are God O horrible pride and yet pretended humility this is ungodliness in a mystery I shall not enter upon the particulars of their bottomless opinion first because it is not my task at this time and
men from the power of the grave and brought them under promise of life and then afterwards those that sin and forfeit their bliss yet if they believe in him and humble themselves before him he takes off that sin also by his mediator-ship under the law in types and now in substance Levit. 16.8 9 10. Heb. 9. Chap. 10. And so Christ is the Saviour of all men but without he dyed for all men he cannot be the Saviour of all for without blood there is no remission of sins which sheweth plainly that God gave Christ to die for all men And so I pass to the ninth Reason to prove that Christ dyed for all men which is Reas 9. Ninthly Because Christ is called the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world he is also said to give his life for the world and to bear the iniquities of all that all thorrow him might be saved which sheweth that God the father gave him to die for all men and also that he did die for all men and thus I pass to the tenth and last Reason to prove that Christ did die for all men which is Reas 10. Tenthly Because God will be clear of the blood of all men and prove to the Sons of men in the day of Judgment that their destruction will be of themselves so that every mouth shall be stopped and all tongues confess that their not considering in their day the things that did belong to their peace is the cause of their eternal ruin and that God did strive with them but they did resist him and say to God depart from us for we desire not the knowledg of thy wayes for we will walk every one in our own wayes and after the immagination of our own heart So then men perish not for want of the tenders of grace but because they reject Gods grace and counsel when it is tendered and will not come to him that they may have life so then God did send his Son to die for all men to bring them to a Resurrection and also to an eternal weight of glory if they sell it not by their personal sins for he did die for all that were dead 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Secondly he was Salvation to all that did accept of it to the end of the world Isa 42.1 2. Thirdly he was a ransome for all men 1 Tim. 2. Fourthly hath commanded that this good news shall be declared unto all men Mark 16.15 And finally all preachers do declare the same in their preaching at one time or another although they deny it in private conference but let God and his word be true and every man a lyer that he may be just when he Judgeth and thus I shall wind up all with this Use of Encouragement Is it so that Christ did die for all men to set open a door of Salvation to every man then let every one that shall read and hear this news be encouraged to come to Christ and learn of him to walk as he hath lead him an example and follow his steps and they shall find rest to their souls Mat. 11.28 For the Spirit and the Bride saith come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is a thirst come and whoever will let him take off the water of life freely Rev. 22.17 Peradventure some poor dejected soul may see and peruse these lines and say it is true God is gracious and slow to anger and great in kindness but it is to the righteous and I am a great sinner To thee O soul I say in the name and fear of the Lord that although God be of too pure eyes then to behold iniquity yet if thou now seeth thy sins to be thy burthen and doth with purpose of heart turn to the Lord there is a door of Salvation set open unto thee and mercy prepared for thee and let not the Devil take an advantage against thee and make ship-wrack of thee against any of these two Rocks as I may say error in the Sea namely that of Election and Reprobation by the which many a soul hath been destroyed as first by perswading some that although they go or in sin yet if they be elected God will have a time to call them out of it not knowing the manner of Gods call and so have took liberty to sin and thereby have been lead captive by the Devil at his pleasure adding sin unto sin until their iniquity hath been filled up to the full and become their ruin Secondly take heed of this rock that is to say let not Satan drive thee into desperation by perswading of thee that thou being a sinner and often sinned against God that thou art not an elect vessel and then although thou humble thy selfe never so much before God yet there is no means of Salvation for thee because Christ hath not dyed for thee and therefore no Salvation I say take heed of this rock for it is very dangerous for Satan hath driven some so hard upon it that in despairing Gods love and mercy have become their own executioners but be thou instructed and know that Christ hath dyed for every man and that there is a door of Salvation set open to all men that they may have life for God desireth not their death but willeth their life and Salvation therefore let the wicked forsake his wayes and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon for if there sins have been as scarlet yet he will make them as snow and if as chrimson he will make them as wool if they be willing and obedient but if they be obstinate and rebellious they shall be destroyed for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isa 55.7 Chap. 1.15 16 17 18. So then for sinners that turn to God there is mercy and Christs death is the ground of the hope of mercy but such as turn aside to their crooked paths and wicked practises the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity but peace shall be unto all such as turn to the Lord in uprightness of heart Jer. 3.1 2 3. Chap. 1.2 3. Ezek. 33.11 12. Luke 15.6 7 8 9. Time being pretious with me so as that I cannot inlarge my self upon this Subject and Subjects of this nature by answering objections as otherwise I would do if I had time as God should assist me I shall in a brief method namely by question and answer answer the most material objections that I at present mind as touching this and such like Subjects and that briefly and so to the first Question 1. What do you think of the point of Predestination hath not God fore-appointed some to Salvation and others to Damnation Answ Yea God of old did appoint righteous men to Salvation and wicked men even such as turn the grace of God into wantonness for Damnation John 2.3 4. although
Christ and the Saints shall receive a Kingdom and raign upon earth Reas 9. Ninthly Because the Scripture saith That God will send Jesus Christ whom the Heavens must retain until the times of Restitution of all things Act. 3.19 20 21. and that he shall take the Kingdom out of the hands of the wicked and give it into the hands of the Saints according to Daniels words Chap. 7.14 18 22. where he as King and they as Princes shall raign in righteousness Isa 32.1 and Kings shall bow before Christ and them and lick up the dust of their feet and Kings shall minister unto them that is serve them or be servants unto them peruse these Scriptures well and so I shall hasten to the tenth and last Reason and also to a conclusion as to this Subject of Discourse the Scriptures are these Psal 72.10 11. Psal 68.29 Psal 110.5 Isa 49.7 23. Chap. 60.10 11 12. and thus it is written Princes shall come out of Egypt Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands to God because of thy Temple at Jerusalem Kings shall bring presents unto thee they that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba viz. Ethiopia and Arabia shall offer gifts Yea all Kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him The Lord said to my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make thy enemies thy foot-stool the Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion mark that rule thou in the middest of thine enemies The Lord at thy right hand shall strike thorow Kings in the day of his wrath he shall Judge amongst the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead bodies he shall wound the head over many countries He hath shewed his people the power of his works that he may give them the Heritage of the Heathen Psal 111.6 For thus saith the Lord the redeemer of Israel and his holy one to him whom man despiseth to him whom the nations abhorreth to a servant of rulers Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the holy one of Israel and he shall chuse thee and they shall bow down with their faces towards the earth and lick up the dust of thy feet and thou shalt know that I am the Lord for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me For Kings shall minister unto thee for the nation or Kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish yea those nations shall be utterly wasted From these Scriptures with many move that I might add if time would give way to it we may see that God will take away the Kingdomes and Dominions out of the hands of the wicked heathens and give them into the hands of Christ and the Saints that they may possess the heritage of the heathen of which the taking the land of Canaan of old was a type and so Kings to fall down before them this honour shall Christ have and all the Saints praise ye the Lord. And thus I come to the tenth and last Reason that I shall give at present although many more might be given to prove that Christ and the Saints shall receive a Kingdome and raign upon earth which is Reas 10. Because the Scripture saith that there is a world to come to be put in subjection to Christ and the Saints now the word WORLD presupposeth the estate of things as at present in this world namely an inhabitance of men and beasts and of all creatures so as Adam had all things put into subjection so also shall the whole creation be restored to their former dignity Rom. 8. only the Serpent excepted and such men as sell their inheritance by their sins as Esau did his But because I must be brief I shall now give the Scriptures to prove that Christ and the Saints are to have a world to come put in subjection unto them which cannot be meant in heaven for I have already shewed that they shall not have that subjected to them but Christ and the Saints at that time viz. after the Mediator-ship is delivered up to God shall be in subjection themselves as you may see 1 Cor. 15.24 25 26 27 28. So then they having the promise of a world to come to be put in subjection under them implyeth clearly that Christ and the Saints shall raign upon earth or to have a world to come to raign in or the Kingdoms of this world to be altered and become the Kingdoms of Christ and the Saints as I before have proved but to the proof that Christ and the Saints are to have a world to come subjected under them read and peruse these Scriptures and the Lord grant to open thy understanding the Scriptures are thus read unto thee For unto the Angels hath he not put into subjection the world to come whereof we speak but one in a certain place testified saying what is man that thou art mindful of him or the Son of Man that thou shouldest visit him Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet for in that he hath put all things in subjection under him he left nothing that is not put under him but now we see not yet all things put under him but he shall subdue the people under us and the Nation under our feet For whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the World or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods And the Saints shall take the Kingdome and possess it for ever neither shall it be given into the hands of another people for ever from whence we may see that Christ and the Saints are to receive a Kingdome and Raign upon Earth And so I pass to the next Particular saying that I have given thee but a dram at present for what I might give as to this Subject of discourse if time had not prevented me but I hope that what hath been said here being seriously read and weighed will bring other Scriptures into thy mind and so citing the Texts before read unto thee Heb. 2.5 6 8. Psal 33.8 1 Cor. 3.22 Dan. 7.18 Chap. 2.44 I come to the third particular which is the manner of the coming of the Lord and the great slaughter at the taking of the Kingdome The Battel of the great day As touching the Battel of the great day of the God Almighty We find that the Prophets as well as the Apocalepse do bear their Testimony unto the truth thereof so that I need not use much circumlocution or argument to prove it yet in order to the clearing of the matter I shall lay down this point as a ground of the dicourse which is That there will be such a great slaughter at the coming of Christ to take and possess the Kingdome that the very Fouls of the
the which was practised by the Lord and the primitive Churches and left written for us to follow their examples and therefore wanted no new signs or miracles to confirm it it being already confirmed and that they only want new Signs and Miracles for confirmation that walk in new waies and Ordinances which have not as yet been confirmed but the waies and Ordinances which we walk in and contend for are the same which have been already confirmed as none can deny and therefore warrantable to be practised by all the Lords People and thus I leave this particular and come to the next thing considerable which is All the Apostles were dead at the end of the first or beginning of the second Century in a little time after Evangilists and Prophets you may from this place as well argue the constant abiding of Apostles Prophets and Evangelists as of Pastors and Teachers seeing the Spirit here speaks of a compleat full dispensation of Official Ministers consisting of all these together to bring this noble work to its perfection page 21. Answ Whereas you say all the Apostles were dead at the end of the first or the beginning of the second Century It 's a very hard matter for you to prove it unless by the word ALL you mean ALL the twelve Apostles and if so its very like that all they might be dead by that time but that either the Offices of Apostleship dyed then or that all the Apostles which were to be to the worlds end were then dead that I possitively deny because I find that in the time of the Roman Beast or Babylonias raign their shall be Apostles and Prophets who shall rejoyce at her down-fall who have been persecuted by her Revel 18.20 in these words Rejoyce over her thou Heavens and ye holy APOSTLES and PROPHETS for God hath avenged you on her The word Heaven is to be understood the Church and Apostles and Prophets is to be understood Messengers and such as have been fore-tellers of Babels destruction for so is the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apostolos Prophetas to be understood for the word Apostolos is to be understood a Messenger one sent in the Lords message to carry the good news of salvation unto the sons of men and the word Prophetas men fore-telling of things to come and such as speak to edification exhortation and comfort for so saith St. Paul Prophesie is a speaking to edification exhortion and comfort and such Apostles and Prophets they were that were to rejoyce at Babylons down-fall and such were before the second Century and since it and also such there will be at Babylons down-fall and till the end of the World so then Apostles and Prophets are to remain and as for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Evangelists they are such as set forth carry or publish either with tongue or pen the joyful or sweet news or glad tydings of great joy which is to all men hence Matthew and John who were without all dispute Apostles yet were called by way of emphasis Evangelists because they published by way of writing the joyful news or glad tydings comprehended in the life and death of the Lord Jesus and so Paul writing to Timothy bids him do the work of an Evangelist make an full proof of thy Ministry 2 Tim. 4. So then an Evangelist I understand to be such an one that hath a great faculty or more properly a gift carrying him on to set forth both with tongue and pen the glad tydings of great joy Every one hath his proper gift from God and some have a gift much leading them to reprove for sin and exhort from sin I do not say that such cannot or do not preach glad tydings at any time but say they may at some times and yet their gift runs out or leads them forth most to reproof for sin and the like and so it is on the other hand some mens gift leads them forth to preach mostly upon comfortable things to the godly as the joyes of salvation and all such glad tydings and not reproof and terror and the like and I understand that it s not the OFFICE simply considered which is from the Lord but it is the gift qualifying for the OFFICE which is from the Lord and the OFFICE it self from the Church and the Text carryeth the gift to quallifie for the Office to be from God and not the OFFICE it self as you may read Ephes 4.8 Psal 68.18 in these words Wherefore when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave GIFTS to men compared with vers 11. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and some Teachers ver 12. For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ until we ALL come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto the perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ From whence we may learn that all those gifts spoken before are for the work of the Ministry and if the Ministry did remain in all the times of apostacy as you say it did then of necessity those gifts and offices did also remain for all these are comprehended in the Ministry and it is for the perfecting of the Saints till we all come into the unity of the faith now the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is of a very large acceptation or signification as from the Lattin word CONSVMMATIO a full finishing or atchieving the total sum and ending of the work from whence I understand that from the word which saith for the PERFECTING of the Saints VNTIL we ALL that is all the Saints come into the unity of the faith to the measure and stature of Christ Is meant that these gifts offices are to remain until all the Saints even until the last which is to be born and brought forth gradually into the World is converted and united into the faith and made a perfect man in Christ Jesus So then all these official gifts are to remain and are unseperable in the Ministry for the gathering of the Saints and perfecting those that are thereby gathered until all be both gathered and perfected and thus I shall leave this as having more to say to it but want time and therefore pass to the next thing which is The Sealed number are not the natural seed of Abraham saith M. Henden but Gentile Israelites proved by these reasons First The Book of the Revelation was not sent to the Jews but to the Gentiles Secondly The main body of the vision was after the dayes of John Thirdly The four Angels stood upon the quarters of the Earth Fourthly The hurt was chiefly introduced by the Locust and by the Beast which can in no sense be applyed to the Jews Fifthly The Nations possessed the Court without which was the stand of the common
Quer. 10. Whether shall the desolation of the Heavens spoken by Peter be at the time of his coming to raign or at the time when the thousand years shall be expired at the bringing in of the general judgment Answ It appears clearly from the Scriptures that Jesus Christ at his first coming to receive the Kingdome and to raign upon earth that then he is to come in flaming fire so as fiery streams shall issue forth from before him and that many of the ungodly shall perish by the flame and some by the baile and the like and also that he is to abide in the Heavens until the times or years of the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth af all the holy Prophets since the World began and yet also we find that at the end of the thousand years that when the ungodly that shall spring up in the time of Christs raign shall come up against Jerusalem by the counsel of the Devil that then fire shall come down from God out of Heaven and devoure them so that in short I understand that the corruptions of the Heaven and earth shall be burnt up or destroyed or the Heavens and earth refined at Christs first coming and yet the work to be totally finished at the end because it is called TIMES in the plural number of restitution and TIMES of refreshing Dan. 7.10 2 Thes 1.7 8. Ezek. 38.22 Isa 66.15 16. Acts 3.19.20 21. 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12 13 14. Revel 20.9 Quer. 11. What is the new Heaven and new Earth and how shall they become new Answ The Heaven and the Earth is understood to be a new Heaven and a new Earth when the imperfection and corruption is taken away and so all things are to become new and that the corruption of both the Heavens and Earth shall be taken away so as that the Earth shall bring forth in abundance and the Heavens also far excel their brightness which they have now so that the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the Sun shall be seven degrees better than what now she is read my Zions Redemption and you may see it proved to be glorious in the time of Christs raign in which time the Heavens and Earth shall be glorious Isa 30.24 25 26. cap. 65.17 18. cap 66.22 Quer. 12. Whether the new Heavens and new Earth and restoration shall be at Christs coming to raign upon Earth Answ The Heavens are to retain Christ until the times of restoration as I before have said so that the beginning of the work is immediately so soon as Christ comes and so to increase and grow more stronger and excellenter as now the Earth the things therein grow older and older and weaker and weaker Isa 9.7 chap. 29.19 Ezek. 36.27 28 29 30. Quer. 13. Whether or no shall Christ and the Saints raign for ever upon the Earth or not Answ It appears that Christ and the Saints shall not raign for ever because there is a time when the mediatour-ship shall be given up into the hands of the Father when the Son shall be in subjection unto him so as to lay down his government unto him and yet it shall be for ever in one sense that is for ever so long as there shall be a Nation upon earth to raign over but as for their scituation and abode I understand it shall be for ever in the new Jerusalem that cometh down from Heaven which is and for ever will be the Tabernacle of God which then shall remain in the Land of Canaan and so the Tabernacle of God to be with man and he for ever dwell with them for I do not find that the new Jerusalem shall be again removed 1 Cor. 15.24 25 26 27 28. Revel 21.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Chap. 3.12 Quer. 14. If Christ and the Saints shall remain for ever in the new Jerusalem upon the earth where shall the Devil and man of sin with the wicked of the World be punished Answ It appears from the Scripture as though that the Land of Canaan were to remain for ever as the new Heaven and new Earth Isa 65.17 18 19. and that the punishment of the wicked should be without the gates or diases of the Land even in Babylon Caldea and Idumea and the like read Isa 34.4 5 to the 10. Ezek. 35.14 15. Isa 47.14 chap. 51.19 Revel 18.2 Quer. 15. Whether will Christ render vengeance to all the ungodly besides the perpetual torments that he will cast them into at the end of the thousand years Answ It appears that there are some that shall have only their power taken from them and their lives to be prolonged for a season Dan. 7.12 and also although great judgments shall fall upon the wicked yet there will a seed remain of them which shall be reserved to be destroyed at the end of the thousand years Isa 14.29 30. Revel 20 9. Quer. 16. Whether the punishment of the wicked be everlasting after the sentence is past at the general judgment Answ It appears to be everlasting although I know there be some that suppose a redemption out of Hell from the words of Christ Mat. 5.26 which saith Thou shalt by no means come from thence till thou hast paid the utmost farthing This place intends no such thing but is rather literally to be understood but if by prison there spoken of we may understand Hell yet it will not follow there is to be a redemption out of Hell as some suppose for the word until sometimes is never to be as it is said that Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death 1 Sam. 15.35 And he cannot then but suppose the word until should prefix a set time yet the Text saith that thou shalt not come from thence until thou hast paid the utmost farthing and suppose a man were cast into prison for five hundred pounds and had not five hundred pence nor in a capacity to gain while he lay in prison if he should not come from thence till he had paid the utmost farthing he could never come out and such is the condition of the wicked that as their debt is very great even so they are in an incapacity to gain when they are in Hell whereby to pay their debt and none can pay it for them Psal 49.7 8. And so if they must pay the utmost farthing it will never be paid no the punishment of the wicked is everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord where the worm shall not die nor the fire be quenched 2 Thes 1.8 Isa 66 24. Quer 17. When can it be truly said according to 1 Cor. 15.22 That in Adam all dyed when it is plain that Enoch was translated so as not to taft of death with Elijah and Iohn chap. 21.23 Answ Whereas the Text 1 Cor. 15.22 saith that as in Adam all dyed even so in Christ shall all be made alive All in Scripture is often taken for the Major part and not every individual person for we know that many shall be changed at the coming of Christ and be caught up to meet him and so was Enoch changed or translated which is all one as death but that which is spoken by St. Paul 1 Cor. 15.22 saying As in Adam all dyed even so in Christ shall all be made alive It is to be thus understood that so many as did die by Adams sin was made alive by Christs obedience and raised from the dust finally every particular person must die or be changed for this corruptable body cannot enter into the Kingdome of God but must first put on incorruption and immortality and this change had Enoch and as for Elijah and Iohn I have before shewed what will befal them when they have accomplished their prophesie and thus leaving this Query I shall pass to the next and last which is Quer. 18. If Christ be the first fruits of them that sleep that is to say the first that is to arise from the dead how is it then that some Saints did arise at the time of Christs sufferings Answ Those Saints that were seen to come out of their graves and enter into the holy City was after the resurâ—ction of Christ and not at his sufferings Mat. 27 53. So then Christ was the first which was raised from the dead I could have spoken somewhat more to this and other things but time fails me and as for the other particulars mentioned in thy letter I have spoken unto them in my Book as Objections and such occasions have offered themselves and therefore have no more at present to say unto thee only exhorting thee to stand fast in the faith and profession of the Gospel for dear Brother as thou well knowest the portion of the godly is to suffer tribulation for Christ and the Gospel sake because thorow many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdome of God for they that are born after the flesh will persecute such as are born after the spirit for so it was and is and will be unto the end and it shall come to pass that those that kill the godly shall think that they do God service but however let us know that all things shall work together for good to those that love God and that the end is a crown of life to such as are faithful unto the death and then it will be the time that God will recompence tribulation to them that trouble his people that it had been good for them that they had never been born or that a milstone hanged about their neck and they cast into the depth of the Sea than to offend the friends of Iesus Christ finally he that soweth in tears shall reap in joy and he that goeth forth weeping bearing precious seed shall doubtless return rejoycing with everlasting joy upon his head and all sighing and sorrow shall flee away and for their shame they shall have double and for their confusion they shall rejoyce in their portion for in their land double everlasting joy shall be their portion FINIS