immortality then shall be brought to passe the 1 Cor. 15. 14. saying that is written death is swollowed up into victory death remaineth in themselves by their sin and their life in Christ by Christs righteousnesse If Believers had inherent power of righteous action to bring forth of themselves and from their inherent power actions of righteousness as Adam had the power to do them then the Prophet I say would not have said of himself and the best men We are all as an unclean thing all our righteousnesse is as filthy rags Isa 64. 6. and David would not have said There is none that doth good no not one and Paul would not have said in Psa 14. 〈◊〉 ◠Rom. 7. 18. me that is my flesh dwelleth no good thing and again I find no means to perform that which is good Were not that Antichristian pride in any man now to say of himselfe I have power by my inherent holinesse to do that which is good and righteous in the sight and estimation of God the proudest Pharisee said to deny our selves is to deny our holinesse and goodnesse in our selves Quest Is there no operation of the Spirit of Christ in Believers upon the corrupted man soul and body is there no mortification of sin and corruption and no sanctification of the man by the Spirit or to the man in soule or body Answ Yes that must needs be so There are foure excellent creatures manifest in this world which all in the Scriptures are held forth to resemble Christ and the holy Spirit in their operations upon the bodies neere and object to them which foure creatures are the Sun Fire Water and sweet odours The Sun of this world is held forth in the Scripture to resemble the Son of righteousnesse Jesus Christ in his operations and actions to Believers Unto you that feare my Malach. 4. 2. name the Sonne of righteousnesse shall arise and health shall be under his wings He saith the Prophecy alluding to the rising of the Sun of the world upon the earth and the body therein in mens appearance and apprehension to the comfort and refreshing of them for being as the Sun of the world to Jesus Christ ariseth and manifesteth himselfe to Believers when and as he pleaseth in their apprehensions to the comfort and refreshing of the whole man And as the Sun of the world arising doth heat the colds object bodies so that the heat thereof heateth the cold bodies neere them by reflection yea and melteth some hard bodies by the heat thereof and yet the naturall coldnesse of those bodies and the hardnesse remaine still in them naturally as appear in the stay of the heat to those bodies So the Sonne of righteousnesse arising in Believers doe heat the neere corrupted man in soule and in body with his holy heat which heat also sometimes reflecteth to others neer yea and melteth the hard corrupt heart and yet the coldnesse and hardnesse of corruption naturally remaine still and returneth in sense and appearance in the stay of the heat of the Son of righteousnesse Jesus Christ by his Spirit And farther as the Sun of the world arising doth in season and time quicken some bodies dead in themselves such as have life in their root which in their time appeare also to have life in themselves So the Sonne of righteousnesse Jesus Christ arising in Believers though the corrupted man the body be dead because of sin as the Apostle speaketh though they be dead in themselves as Colos 3. 3. yet because their life is hid with and in Christ their root because they are rooted in Christ as Colos 2. In the appointed due time Colos 3. 3 of God their hidden life in Christ will be manifest in themselves which shall be to the soule when the corruptible hath put on incorruption and to the body when the mortall hath put on immortality and death be swallowed up in victory as the Apostle speaketh And so the Prophet David said God is a Sun and a shield alluding to Jesus Christ which is the only shield Psa 84. 11 and defence of Believers And so is Jesus Christ and his Spirit in Believers in the Scripture resembled to the fire of this world in respect of the operation thereof upon the bodies neere The Lord wil be as a wall of fire about Jerusalem saith the Prophet A wall of fire will defend and keep safe any City from hurt of adversary and enemies So Jesus Christ is a wall of fire to save his Elect Believers from the divell hell sinne the law and death that they shall not hurt them The gates of hell shall not prevaile against them Mat. 16. 18 saith Christ that they may say with Paul O death where is thy sting O grave or hell where is thy victory The sting 1 Cor. 15. 55 56 57. of death is sinne the strength of sinne is the Law But thanks be unto God that hath given us victory through our Lord Iesus Christ which hath beene a wall of fire unto us from these our adversarie And further Jesus Christ and his holy Spirit in Believers is in the Scriptures resembled to fire in the operations thereof because as fire melteth purifieth things so Jesus Christ by his Spirit and the word of his Spirit melteth the hearts of the Believers as Iosias heart melted at the hearing of Gods word 2 Kings 22. 19. and also purifieth their corrupt hearts as Peter saith God gave the Holy Ghost to the Gentiles which purified their hearts by faith or believing And for this it is said Christ will Act. 15. 9 baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire and Gods word is as fire Ierem. 23. 29. Yet it is to be observed that although gold or other metall be melted by the fire the hardnesse thereof returneth and remaineth naturally in and to the same as is seen in the stay of the heat of the fire So though Christ by his Spirit and spiritual word melteth the corrupt hard heart of believers yet the corrupt hardnesse remaineth still naturally and returneth in the stay of the operation of the Spirit And as although the fire purifieth the gold yet the gold must be after melted and purified by the sire as the Prophet saith seven times that is oftentimes before it be pure gold Psa 12. 6. and is not pure gold so long as any drosse remains in it in any part thereof but still drossie gold So although Jesus Christ by his Spirit often melteth and purifieth the corrupt heart of believers yet so long as corruption remaineth which remaining remaineth in every part of soul and body so that no part is pure and holy before God in man himself whatsoever it be in mans estimation but still corrupt in the whole and so shall be till corruptible hath put on incorruption and mortall hath put on immortality And Jesus Christ and his Spirit in Believers are in the Scriptures resembled to water for
from thee and deliver thee from evil upon thee that there is much good and vertue in thine or their prayers thou makest an Idol of prayer Mark this well When the Israelites had fiery Serpents among them which stung many to death God by Moses set up a Brazen Num. 21. 8 9. Serpent to figure Christ that whosoever was stung he commanded to look upon the Brazen Serpent set up and he should be healed and as many as looked upon it after Gods command and according to Gods Ordinance were healed But afterward the people made it an Idol burnt incense to it accounting the goodness and vertue whereby they healed to be in the Serpent of Brass not in Jesus Christ which it figured therefore the servant and Instrument of God King Hezekiah 2 Kin. 18. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 56. brake it in pieces This fiery Serpent is among us it doth sting all with sinne unto death The sting of sin is death saith the Apostle Jesus Christ hath set up Prayer in the room of the Brazen Serpent to his church and people to be a figure and representation of himself unto them that if we his people will return unto prayer according to his Ordinance and look upon him represented in prayer as he hath commanded then we shall all of us be sure to be healed as all were healed that were stung by the fiery Serpent of the Israelites But if we fall to esteem vertue goodness power and strength in our prayers to do us the good to be able to move God and to prevail with God to do us the good we make an Idol of our Praver and we and our prayers shall perish I know there are many in these modern times professing Christianity and having sundry names for their different waies as Papists Arminians Anabaptists Brownists Presbyterians Independents and others and all zealous of the commandements of our God and the duties thereof especially they of those sorts which for the manifestation of their zeal and increase of Proselites make many private meetings and Conventicles for prayer and performances of other duties commanded to edification of men in their wayes whereby they think they please God pacifie God move God and prevail with God to do them good But alas in all these they rob Christ of his honour and make an Idol of their Prayers and performances for that they give the honour that is onely Christs to please God to pacifie God to move God to prevail with God to do men good unto their own performances which in truth are corrupt and sinful and therefore cannot please God Object But these will say We do all that we do to the honour and service of God Answ The greatest Idolaters have ever said so and no question had intention thereto we cannot think but that the Israelites that made and worshipped the golden Calf did say they did it to Gods honour and service and intended it so and they that did bow the knee to Baal did it and intended it to Gods honour and service And the Papists that bow to the image of Christ say they do it and intend it to the honour and service of Christ and yet the same is idolatry So these may do and intend all their Prayers and performances to the honour and service of God and yet that they do be idolatry whilest they give that honour to their own Prayers and performances which is onely Christs It seemeth that the Apostle Paul did finde many of the Israelites in the like zealous condition touching the commandement of God as these profess themselves to be unto whom he wrote in these words 〈◊〉 bear you record you have a zeal of God but not according Rom. 10. 2 3. 4. to knowledge for you bring ignorant of the righteousness of God and going about to establish your own righteousness have not submitted your selves to the righteousness of God for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth There are three things marked by the Apostle in those Israelites answering to these zelotes 1. They were zealous of God his honour and service so are these 2. They were so zealous in ignorance because they were ignorant of the righteousness of God meaning in Christ and would not submit unto that which is all righteousness that is in Gods sight righteousness to please God to pacifie God to move God to do men good so are these 3. They would establish their own righteousness the righteousness of their own performances to have power to please and pacifie God to move God and prevail with God to do them good which must needs be understood by establishing their own righteousness for nothing can please and pacifie God move and Rom. 10. 4 prevail with God but true righteousness which Christ faith the Apostle is the only performer and finisher of to those that believe Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth In this glass such as go about to please God by their performances 1 Iob. 5. 21 may see their idolatrous faces clearly Babes saith the Apostle keep your selves from Idols Quest. But these will say Wherefore doth God command men to do the duties of his commands if the doing of the duties do not please and pacifie God and move him to do them good Answ For resolution therein look back to that which hath been said before of the benefits of Gods commandements to men Quest. Have not true Believers care and zeal to do the duties of Gods commandements Answ Yes that they have in all humbleness and reverence for the care zeal and devotion of the duties of all godliness is wrought up in them by the Spirit of Christ which they as branches of the Vine Christ abiding and alive in him do bear and hold forth and they are not so wrought up in them to bear and hold them forth that they should thereby please and pacifie God or prevail with God to do them good ut to manifest evidence and witness to them that God is pleased with them and pacified towards them in Christ whose fruits they are that they bear and hold forth And that Christs performances in himself have prevailed and will ever prevail with God to do them good that all shall work together for the best unto them and herein is the joy and the rest of true Believers Indeed I hear there are some because they hear there is no goodness in their Prayers and duties performing to please God no promise to prevail with God to do them goed therefore they give over prayer c. I wish these would observe if any of the Israelites stung with the fiery Serpent did not return to the Brazen Serpent the figure of Christ to look upon it they were sure to die Even so they which refuse to return unto Prayer the figure and representation of Christs Spirit in man which Christ hath set up for a figure and represent on
have now full possession of that Life purchased and procured by Christs love and performance in your self Ans I believe that I have full possession of that eternall Life in Christ which I lost in Adams transgression purchased and procured by Christs performance And therefore I do believe that I am quite freed and discharged from that Eternall Death which I had in Adams transgression through Christs performance But I finde and feele a resemblance and shadow of that corruption and death in my selfe which came by Adams and mine as one in Adam and the more because I finde not that my eternall Life in my selfe which is hid from me in Christ as the Apostle speaketh to the believing Colossians you are dead but your life Coloff 3. 3 is hid with Christ in God And it is to be observed that Christ saith who so believeth in Joh 6. 16 me shall not perish but shall have eternall Life He saith not doth not perish or die in present and hath in present eternall life but saith shall not perish and shall have eternall life For when this corruptible hath put on incorruption and this mortall hath put on immortality Then indeed saith the Apostle Death shall be swallowed up into victory And when Christ which is our Life shall appeare 1 Cot. 25 then shall yee appeare with him in glory then shall eternall Life appeare in your selves saith the Apostle Neither doth Coloff 3 4 the Apostle say as in Adam all die so in Christ are all made alive 1 Cor. 15. 22 But saith all shall be made alive when the appointed and fulnesse of time is come then shall all the chosen of God in Christ whose Life have been hid with Christ be made alive in themselves in manifestation As all died not in themselves in manifestation which were in Adam by nature untill the appointed time of their so being in manifestation So all live not in themselves in manifestation which are by Mercy and Grace chosen of God in Christ untill their appointed time so to live in themselves in manifestation Object All men in the World are said and seeme to live here in themselves and to die in themselves The same condition saith the Preacher falleth to all to the just and wicked to him that sweareth and to him that feareth an Oath Quest Is that Life which all men live here any part of that Life Eccleâ— 9. 2 3 which Christ purchased to the chosen of God in him which is as the Apostle saith yet hid with Christ in God to be manifest in themselves in the appointed and fulnesse of time Ans No that Life which all men are said and do seem now to live here in themselves is not any part of that eternall Life which Christ purchased by his performance and merit for the chosen of God in him For the children of wrath reprobate and forsaken ones of God are partakers of this Life And Christ was not given of God to purchase and merit any part of eternall Life nor any of the losse in Adam for them But onely for the chosen ones of God ordained to eternall Life before the World Quest From whence is this Life of Mankinde in generall when as all died in Adam Answ All died in Adam touching eternall Life and touching the good of temporall Life all this was lost in Adams transgression But temporall uncertaine Life to man at Gods Will by his sufferance and patience naked and void of all good accompanied with corruption and misery the shadow of Death remained still to Adam and all Mankinde in generall Adam being dead according to Gods Word when thou shalt eate thou shalt die had naked temporall Life Hee having sinned in present saw himselfe naked and was ashamed So that this Life of Mankinde is Adams naked Gen. 3. 7 Life in Death a dying Life Quest Did not Christ by his undertaking and performance take away from you and discharge you and all the chosen of God from the whole curse of the Law and sinne Is there remaining any part thereof yet to them in this their miserable corruption and Dying Life Answ Yes Christ by his undertaking and performance hath taken away and discharged me and all Gods chosen People from the curse of the Law and sinne So the Prophet affirmeth God Esay 53. 6 hath layed the iniquities of us all upon Him and the Apostle saith Rom. 8. 33 who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that justifieth being chosen of God wee are justified of God nothing can be laid to our charge Yet it is the Pleasure of God and his Will That this miserable corruption and dying Life in themselves before men should remaine to all Gods chosen People for a time as to the children of wrath to these to shew his wrath and make his power to be known and to the others to declare the riches of his glory prepared for them And no man ought to question Gods Will herein as the Apostle adviseth what saith Rom. 9. hee If God would to shew his wrath and make his power known Rom. 9. 22 suffer with long patience the Vessells of wrath prepared to destruction And that hee might declare the riches of his glory upon the vessells of mercy which hee hath prepared unto glory All this is done of God in wrath to the Vessels of wrath to shew his wrath and power and to the Vessels of mercy to declare his glory prepared forthem Quest Is not the corruption misery miserable and dying Life which remaine to Gods chosen People a part of the curse of Adams transgression not yet taken away of Christ Answ No it is no part of the curse for the Apostle saith Christ hath redeemed us from the curse being made a curse for us dying Gal. 3. 12 Life and Death it selfe is no part of the curse to Gods chosen People now being chosen of God but a blessing a good and a benefit to them we know saith the Apostle that all things work together for the best unto them that love God It is good for mee that I have Rom. 8. 28 Psal 119. been in trouble saith David The Apostle saith Our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth unto us a farre more excellent and an eternall weight of Glory Although the affections of the chosen 2 Cor. 4. 17 of God be heavy and grievous for the present as the Apostle saith yet they bring the quiet fruit of righteousnesse unto them that are thereby exercised and the Apostle Iohn saith Blessed are they which die in the Lord for they rest from their labours Death to them is advantagious And againe David saith of himselfe as one of Gods chosen yet in this miserable Life Thy Rod and thy Staffe they comfort me in the midest of my troubles thy comforts have refreshed Rev. 14. 13 my Soule and the Apostle saith of himselfe and the rest We
are afflicted on every side yet are we not in distresse in poverty but not overcome of poverty we are persecuted but not forsaken cast down but perish not we beare about in our body the dying of the 2 Cor. 4. 8 6 10 11. Lord Jesus Christ that the Life of Christ might also be made manifest in us For wee which live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the Life of Jesus might be made manifest in our Body The Porter carrieth gladly a burthen that hee feeleth heavy for the time it is upon him in hope of reward The Merchant and Mariner abideth many a bitter storme in hope of a good Market The Souldier fighteth without feare although in perill of Death in hope of the victory The Champion wrestleth in hope of the Price The Reward the good Market the Victory and Price is sure to the chosen of God for the heavy Burthen for the bitter Storme for their Fighting and Wrastling Their labour is not in 1 Cor. 15 vaine in the Lord saith the Apostle So the Scriptures shew that the trouble misery miserable Life and Death it selfe is a blessing good and a benefit to Gods chosen People Quest You said that your believing in Christ doth witnesse you that you of Gods Mercy Love and Free-grace are chosen of God in Christ to be one of his children may there not be some that are chosen of God in Christ which have not Faith and believing in Christ in manifestation to themselves to witnesse to their soules that they of Gods Mercy Love and Free-grace are chosen of God in Christ to be his children Answ Yes the Mercy Goodnesse Wisdome and Power of God and charity to Mankinde doth move mee to say that there may be some the chosen of God in Christ ordained to eternall Life which have not Faith and believing in Christ in appearance to themselves to witnesse the same to them For although the Lord Christ have beene pleased to bestow the grace and gift of Faith this great Work and Fruit of his Spirit upon mee and whom hee pleaseth that God hath chosen in him Yet I do not finde that hee is bound to bestow and give the same to all Gods chosen ones ordained to eternall Life For I know that I my selfe crucified Demas for his offences and Paul a persecutor of Christians were chosen of God in Christ to be his children before wee believed as the same Paul â—st fieth that he and the rest were chosen of God in Christ before the World as also that Jacob was loved of God before Eph. 14 Rom. 9. 11 12 13. he was borne and before he had done good or evill before Men It was not my believing and Faith that made me or any of us to be chosen of God to be Gods children and ordained to eternall Life But the Mercy Love Purpose and Free grace of God before the World according with the undertaking of his Son Christ to do the Will of the Father to his full satisfaction for us and performed the same in present before God to whom all things are present and before the creatures manifestly in fulnesse of time And the Apostle saith Christ died for the ungodly when they Rom. 3. 6. 8. 10 were sinners when they were enemies not when they loved and believed but before The first and the last of God and his Christ So Ez. 16. 6 to the salvation of man is of Mercy and Free-grace only The Father did chose us all in Christ being the children of wrath of Mercy Love and Free-grace The Son died for all of us being ungodly sinners and enemies of Love Mercy and Free grace without any foregoing of love believing or Merit in us to either or of any of us But this dying of the Son must be understood before God from the beginning not of his dying in manifestation before men For so his dying before men should not have reached been appliable and beneficiall to those which died before his Death upon the Crosse in manifestation before men for they could not be ungodly sinners and enemies to God when Christ died before men which were dead and gone long before hee so died no doubt but Christ died for them the chosen of God in Gods sight and account as also for us before his Death in manifestation upon the Crosse as the Apostle saith he was the Lambe Rev. 13. 8 staine from the beginning hee died before God for us all when we were all the children of wrath as well as others The Apostle writing to the Gentiles saith of the Jewes As concerning the Gospell they are enemies for your sakes but as touching the Election Rom. 11. 21 they are beloved for the Fathers sake The Jewes shut up in unbeliefe and enemies concerning the Gospell are yet beloved touching Election And poore Infants dying in their Infancy and Ideots have no manifestation of Faith and believing in themselves to Rom. 9. 18 witnesse to their soules that they of Gods Mercy Love and Free-grace are chosen of God in Christ to be Gods children And yet it were uncharitable in men to hold and say that none of such are chosen of God in Christ which hath mercy on whom he will who Rom. 11. 34 saith the Apostle hath knowne the Minde of the Lord or beene his counceller the Lord knoweth who is his Therefore there may be some that are chosen of God in Christ which have not Faith and believing in Christ in manifestation to themselves to witnesse to their soules that they of Gods Mercy Love and Free-grace are chosen of God in Christ to be his children Object Jesus Christ saith Hee that believeth not shall be damned Answ This is meant of him that hath not the Righteousnesse of Christs Work of believing the promise imputed unto him and of him that wilfully neglecteth despiseth and contemneth the faith and believing in Jesus Christ Object 〈◊〉 The Apostle saith So many as were ordained to eternall Life believed Answ This is meant of so many as were there at the Apostles Sermon and heard it which were ordained to eternall Life not of those that heard not the same Object This Doctrine is a Doctrine of security a means to make men carelesse of Christs Commandement which commandeth to believe and also to be carelesse of using the meanes to come to believing as to heare to pray for Faith and the like commanded Answ This Doctrine is no Doctrine of security or any means to make any carelesse of Christs Commandement or using the means to come to beleeving as Christ hath commanded but to such as the Lord hath shut up in unbeliefe for the Apostle saith all men have not Faith or which are proud like the Pharise that trusted 2 Thess 3. 2. Luâ—e 18. 9. in himself he was that righteous and despised others Or which are reprobate concerning the Faith Ans Indeed this Doctrine may be so to them which no Doctrine 2
workd to their everlasting Peace and eternall Life and to the honour and glory of his grace in the mercy and love of the Father and the undertaking and performing of his fullnesse only But hee commandeth not to goe and teach all Nations to rob the Father of Mercy Love and Free grace of his eternall power Almightinesse Liberty Will and Pleasure and of his Honour Praise and Glory of all the same and of his honour and glory of his Purposes Decrees and Acts eternall with himselfe evidently manifested in his Testament to be his Purpose Decrees and Acts of his power Almighty Liberty Will and Pleasure As they do which teach all they can teach That 1. Although God did fore-know that mankinde would transgresse and become the children of wrath yet hee did not give his Sonne Christ before the World to redeeme them by his Death all or any of those of Mankinde which hee fore knew would transgresse and become the children of wrath notwithstanding Rev. 13. 8 that the Scriptures saith Hee was the Lambe slaine from the begining before God and that Iob saith I know that my Redeemer liveth Job 19. 25 that is is now in being and hath already performed my Redemption before God and that David said The Lord was his Psal 19. 14 strength and his redeemer long before Christ was slaine and died before men upon the Crosse And the Prophet saith long before his Death before men upon the Crosse God hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all meaning the chosen of God and yet all this was Isa 53. 6. done of the Father in Mercy Love and grace and all undertaken saying Loe I come to doe thy Will O God and so performed of Heb. 10. 9 the Sonne Christ in Mercy Love and Free-grace before the World to the satisfaction of God for the transgression of those Isa 53. he pleased for Election Is not this teaching all Nations the robbing and the teaching all Nations to rob the Father of Men and his Sonne Christ of the honour of his almighty Power Liberty in Gods Pleasure graces and gracious Decrees and Acts plainly expressed and manifested in the testiment of our God Secondly in that they teach all Nations that God neither could nor did choose in Christ any of these hee fore knew and fore-see to become the children of wrath before the World to be his children to be holy and without blame before him in love None of them to be ordained to eternall Life before the world None of them to be predestinate to be made like to the Image of his Sonne to be called his Children and Saints to be justified and glorified before himselfe in his own sight and acceptance before the world although these not so yet but in appointed and fulnesse of time to be manifested to the created Notwithstanding our God saith in the Scripture by the Apostle of his Testament Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which hath blessed us with all spirituall blessing in Heavenly things in Christ as hee hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that wee should be holy and without blame before him in love and thâ—t those which he knew before he also predestinate to be Gods children through Christ to be made like to the image of his Sonne to be ordained to eternall Life that he might be the first borne among many Brethren And whom hee predestinated them also he called his children Eph. 1. 3. 4 and Saints by calling And whom hee called them also he justified and whom he justified them also he glorified and although hee saith nothing shall be laid to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that justifieth them And although hee saith God loved Jacob and hated Esau before they were borne or had done good or evill that the purpose of God might remaine according to Election not by Workes but by him that calleth and in many other places the like Is not this Robbery and the teaching of all Nations to rob the Father and his Sonne Christ of the honour of their allmighty Power Liberty Will Mercies Free grace Purposes Dâ—â—crâ—es and Acts eternall within and all unchangeable as the Apostle saith the gifts and calling of God are without repentance which is Rom. 11. 29 so of his eternall spirituall Gifts and callings not of temporall as the calling of Judas was and the gifts that Iob spake of where hee said The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Job 3. 21 Name of the Lord. Thirdly in that they teach all they can teach that it is in their own will power and deed to please God to pacifie the wrath of God the Father of mercies for their sinnes and offences to obtaine forgivenesse of their sinnes by Repentance Prayers Devotions and to obtaine good things deliverance from the evill that they have deserved at the Hand of God the Father by their performances and humiliations by their willingnesse and endeavouring to heare the Gospell preached to get Faith And by and for their Faith and believing to be justified before God and to have Life before God in themselves yea to be Saints in themselves and righteous in themselves by these their performances before God That they are not as other men are Extortioners unjust Drunkards Adulterers or as the Publican that looketh upon See Luke 18. 10 11. nothing but Mercy and Forgivenesse of his sinnes and the Righteousnesse of Jesus Christ imputed unto him for his peace with God for his justification eternall Life and Salvation Notwithstanding the Testament of our God written by his Pen-men commanded to be taught is contrary The Prophet of God David saith my weldoing extendeth or Psal 16. 2 is nothing to thee O Lord nothing to please thee to obtaine any thing of thee to justifie one before thee And hee saith Blessed is the Man whose iniquity is forgiven and Psal 32. 1 whose sin is covered And the Prophet Esay saith we are all as an uncleane thing and all our righteousnesse as filthy ragges nothing in our selves or of our Isa 64. 6 selves to please God to obtaine any good of God justifie us before God And the Apostle of Jesus Christ Paul saith It is not in him Rom. 9. 16 that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth Mercy And againe blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth righteousnesse without workes And Christ himselfe saith when yee have done what yee can say we are unprofitable servants Christ saith He Luke 17. 10 that climeth up any other way to the Father to the Sheepfold then by him is a Theife and a Robber These would please the Father Joh. 10. 1 obtaine of the Father to bee justified of the Father and get to Heaven by their own Prayers Devotions Humiliations by their own Faith and performances and teach others to doe so Is not this to teach Thee
return and be in the state of grace and life again and so often Is not that then which you teach robbery even to rob out God of his almighty power and liberty of his will to his grace and goodnesse to all mankinde Is not this Rabshekahs blasphemy which said that God could not nor would not deliver his People Answ I hope my answer to this charge will be sufficient resolution Isa 26. 14 to those which are Gods People and all said onely to the honour of God Wee know the Apostle saith Antichrist is an adversary that exalteth himselfe above all chat is called God and doth sit in the Temple of God or place of God shewing himself that hee is God But Antichrist doth not these things by his instruments 2 Thess 2. 4 but by pretending and alledging of Scriptures mistaken nor can doe so And doe not you alleadge these mistaken Scriptures for the exalting of corrupt man the man of sinne that can Rom. 7. 14. 15. 16 17 18 19. doe nothing but sinne yea for the setting him up in the Temple or place of God that is only good and can onely doe that which is good in his sight yea further that hee exalteth corrupt man the man of sinne that can doe nothing but sinne his will deeds and performances above all that is called God and his grace decrees performances when as all those pretences of yours are that notwithstanding all the will decrees and acts as the Father in love mercy and grace to Mankinde as having foreknown of God to fall for their life justification and salvation through his dear Sonne Jesus Christ in redemption and performances for satisfaction of justice before the world Yet you say all these are nothing to the life and justification of man without mans own will and deed without mans own performance without man will apprehend and apply the same Plaister made hath no power to heare without mans power will and Deed So that the will decrees and acts eternall with himselfe the love and grace of God the Father and the death and performance of Jesus Christ the Sonne before the Father for the Life justification and salvation of man do all rest upon corrupt mans power will deed and performance do all submit to corrupt and sinfull mans power will deed and performance And thereupon resteth his own life justification and salvation Is not this the exaltion of Antichrist to set up corrupt man the man of sinne sinfull man in the place of God and above God and his Christ that the same must with all their love grace and performance for the life peace justâ—fication and salvation of man submit to the power will deeds and performances of corrupt sinfull man And can the instruments of Antichrist set up the man of sinne in the place of God and exalt him above God and of his God Christ without pretending of zeale though not according to knowledge and alledging of Scriptures But herein they bewray Rom. 10 2 3 themselves saith the Apostle of Christ Because they going about to establish their own righteousnesse submit not to the righteousnesse of God but will have the righteousnesse which is of God submit to their own righteousnesse which they establish and set up Object I know they will confesse and say that they their own power will and deeds are weake but Christ doth helpe them and inable them with his grace and as the Apostle saith I am Phil. 4. 13 able to doe all things through the helpe of Christ that strengtheneth mee Answ Is not this Argument still to uphold mans corrupt will and worth in present by the helpe and inablement of grace in present to be above all that God and his Christ hath done to mans life justification and salvation before the world that which they have done must submit to mans own power and righteousnesse of his own will and doth in present helping by grace But tell mee is there any man that will put a Weapon into any Theeves hand to rob him Is this wisdome And will our God and his Christ put the power and strength of his grace into the hand of corrupt sinfull man the man of sinne to robbe him of his honour praise and glory that corrupt sinfull man may glory and boast himselfe of the spoiles of Gods honour For corrupt man to say I could not have had life justification and salvation but by mine own power will and deed assisted by the grace of God wherein the grace love decrees and Acts of the Father and the performances of the Sonne of God were able to doe nothing without mee my will and worke Is not this more horrible blasphemy than that of Rabshakahs You say God is Almighty so say I But Gods almighty power is alwayes accompanied with his will and good pleasure and his Almighty power is alwayes regulated by his will what he will doe hee can doe and doth but what hee will not doe hee cannot doe nor doth God will not give his honour to any other nor can God will justifie freely by grace without mans will or worke and otherwise hee cannot justifie God had power to choose in Christ before the World out of the children of wrath fore-knowne those hee pleases and willed to choose to bee his children hee could not choose any other then those hee willed and pleased to bee his children Christ the Sonne of God could die for redeeme shed his bloud pay the ransome for and make the reconciliation for those which God had chosen in him before the world and pray for them which the Father had given him to die for to redeeme shed his Bloud pay the ransome make reconciliation and pray for which hee undertooke to doe his Fathers Will for therein saying Loe I come to doe thy Will O Heb 10. 9. God but Christ could not Die Redeeme Shed his Bloud pay the Ransome make Reconciliation and pray for those which God had not choosen in him and had not given him to performe the same for And therefore hee saith I pray for those that thou hast given Joh. 17. 9 me I pray not for the World of those thou hast refused of the children of wrath which thou hast not chosen in me which thou hast not given mee to pray for and to doe the rest for of thy Will and good Pleasure Yet you further alledge Scriptures mistaking the same That Christ died for all men one and other that are saved and that perish everlastingly That hee redeemed shee l his Bloud paid the ransome and made the reconciliation to God for the whole World of mankinde when the word all men and the word worke in the Scriptures import diversly Sometimes all and all men are taken as you take them for all men in the most generall one and other that are saved and that Acts 1. 24 perish as the Lord knoweth the heart of all men and death went Rom. 5. 12 over all men For
asmuch as all men sinne And so is the word world sometimes taken in the same generall for all men in the World Rom. 5. 12. one and other that are savid and perish as the Apostle saith Sinne entered into the World of all men and death by sinne into the World of all men And so in other places And all men is held forth in the Scripture for all that God hath chosen in Christ and given him to retract and performe all things for to the satisfaction Joh. 6. 37 Joh. 6. 45 Joh. 18. 9 of Gods Justice for their peace with God for their justification and salvation as Christ said all that the Father giveth mee shall come to mee and them that commeth to mee I will in no wise cast off All shall be taught of God of all those men which thou hast given mee I have not lost one And the word all or all men is sometime put for all the reprobate and forsaken ones of God So David said The Foole hath said in his heart there is no God they have all corrupted and done Psal 14. 1 2 3 abhominable workes there is none that doth good God looked downe upon the children of men to see if there were any that would understand all are gone out of the way all are corrupt So doth Beza note upon the place the same to be spoken of the reprobate And the word World is put in the Scriptures for the whole continent sometimes And sometimes for the continent and all conteined therein And sometimes for all men in the World that are chosen of God in Christ that God was pleased of Love and Freegrace to have Mercy upon foreknown to fall and to give his Sonne Christ to redeeme by his performance and to satisfie his Justice for to their everlasting peace and salvation as the Apostle saith God Rm. 11. 2. 16. 5. 19. 1 Joh. 2. 2 was in Christ and reconciled the world to himself not imputing their sinnes unto them And that he is a reconciliation not for our sinnes only but for the sinnes of the whole world And sometime the world is taken for the reprobate and forsaken ones of God in the World as now you have not received the spirit which is of the World but the spirit which is of God c. The Saints shall Judge the World and againe I pray not for the World but 1 Cor. 2. 12 1 Cor. 6. 2 Ioh 17. 9 for them which thou hast given me for they are thine So that you may see if the Lord open your Eyes that giveth sight to the blind How you wrong our God mistaking his written Will and Testament and deceive the People when you teach that Christ dyed for all men one and other that are saved and perish That hee shed his bloud paid the price and ransome and redeemed and made the reconciliation to God for the sinnes of the whole world of men one and other that are saved and damned Elect and reprobate when as it is cleerly shewed to be of those all men of the whole world of those which the testament say are chosen of God in Christ given to Christ to redeeme and performe all things for to their Life justification and salvation onely and that which you teach is great dishonour to the Father and the Sonne If a rich man should with a great sum of money buy all the beasts in a great Market for his service there being abundance to be bought And when hee hath bought and paid for all a like price he should after not regard many or most of them by his power provision and meanes to be guided drawne and conveyed to his house and pastures and there kept for his service and thier safety which hee knew would move but suffer them as soone as hee had bought them to stray wander transgresse and trespasse till they were imprisoned and starved to perish so and decay would not all others account this prodigality folly indiscretion yea wickednesse uncharitablenesse to the beasts for a good man is charitable to his beast saith Soloman Pov. 10. 12 Will you charge our God the Father and his Christ with such folly and wickednesse You say the Father hath given his Sonne Christ to pay the great price for all men one and other to redeem all that are saved and that perish to buy all men for his service and foreknow the straying and wandering condition of all to be alike that none could come home to his house and pastures to doe him service without the helpe guidance and convenience and keeping of his grace yet hee regardeth not to send and give his grace to the most part of them hee had bought and paid deare for to convey them and keepe them but let them wander trespasse being wounded and imprisoned starved and perish in Hell for ever Is not this a heavy charge of folly wickednesse and injustice upon the Father and his Sonne Christ Jesus Is not this greater blsphemy then that of Rabshakah Object But it may bee you will alleadge the Scriptures of the Testament God will have mercy upon whom hee will shew mercy and Rom. 9 hee will have mercy upon whom hee will have mercy and whom hee will he hardneth therefore he suffereth whom hee will suffer Answ This Scripture of the Testament you mistake as you doe other for this Scripture hath reference to the will purpose and act of God the Father in his Election in Christ of those hee pleased of mankinde in generall faine and become the children of wrath in Gods sight before redemption Indeed then of those the Father had mercy upon whom hee would have mercy and whom hee would hee hardned that is left in their hardnesse but it hath no relation unto those which Christ redeemed after his redemption of them which Christ had undertaken for to doe the will of the 〈◊〉 for theâ— juâ—â—fication aad salvation If you should 〈◊〉 a Sessions hire lay down money for a servant or servants time of servâ—ce for a year or years which you know would runaway and â—ander If after you had so done you did not regard them but let them runne away lie in Ditches and Hedges with you knowledge till they came to decay are not you culpable in Law and Justice for the same This blame you would lay upon Christ which hath laid down the great price for such as hee knew to be such and might by his power and grace have kept them but will not nor doth but let them perish Christ against you saith hee hath lost none that his Father hath given him to pay for and pray for Object It may be you will say Christ after hee hath bought men doth feede men and attend them with his Ordinances and Ministers it is their selfish fancy that they perish Answ If you say Christ is at more charge with them then paying the great price for them and hee let them stray and perish which hee knew would
of their Repentance for the quitting of their sinne and for their righteousnesse thereby before the Mediator the Man Jesus Christ and before all men And upon this great grace considered It was that the same Father in the Church of Christ saith Our righteousnesse is more in Repentance and Forgivenesse of Sinne then in righteousnesse of deeds and performances Although our worke of the Law and Command bee no righteousnesse before God yet our Worke of the command and our Repentance of the fayling our mercy and forgivenesse is righteousnesse before Men This is Christs Law to Men for the order and Government of his Church upon Earth And this is worke enough for Gods people for righteousnesse before Men to the good and profit of men although they presume not to build up unto Heaven unto God in Heaven which is onely Christs Worke as David said my Goodnesse and Wel-doing Psal 16. 2 3 extendeth not to thee O Lord but to the Saints that are upon the Earth Quest How are repenting Believers upon their repentancy unto satisfaction before Men acquitted from their sinne and transgression of the Law and the penalty thereof before Men when as Sorrow Confession Amendment and Proportionable satisfaction for the Transgression is as much as the Law requireth in the penalty Answ As Repentance before men hath place in the Law of Christ So saith Forgivenesse and Mercy before Men place in the Law of Christ If thy Brother Trespasse against thee and if hee repent forgive him and though hee sinne against thee seaven times in a Day and seaven times in a Day Mat. 17. 3 4. turne againe to thee saying It repenteth mee Thou shalt forgive him And so saith the Law of Christ Hee that confesseth and forsaketh his Sinne shall have Mercy And to whom belongeth Prov. 28. 13. this Forgivenesse and Mercy certainely to the penitent Believers as Christ saith If hee repent forgive him hee that confesseth and forsaketh his Sinne shall have Mercy yea and CHRIST saith further Forgive and it shall bee forgiven you Luke 6. 37. If you doe forgive Men their Trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you And if you forgive not Men no more Mat. 6. 14 15. will your Heavenly Father forgive you And againe Judgement Jam 3. 13. mercilesse shall bee to him that sheweth no Mercy and Mercy rejoyceth against Judgement And if hee that sorroweth godly for his Sinne before Men confesseth ingenuously amendeth righteously and bee willing to satisfie before Men for the Trespasse before Men hath Mercy and Forgivenesse before Men of his Transgression before Men Is not this a sufficient acquittance unto the repenting Believer of his sinne and the penalty thereof before men And againe the Law of Christ bindeth as much to Mercy and Forgivenesse to the penitent before Men As it doth to the penalty of Transgressors thereof and to Repentance before Men. Againe the true penitent Offender is acquitted from the Transgression before Men and the penalty thereof by his true Repentance although hee by hard-hearted and mercilesse Men bee holden to the extreame penalty of the Law for his Transgression contrary to Christs Law of Mercy and Forgivenesse For that hee suffereth hee suffereth willingly and rejoyceth in his Tribulation as the Apostle speaketh now hee that suffereth willingly and rejoyceth in his sufferiâ—g by the comforts of the holy Spirit in him hath not the paine of him that Suffereth unwillingly and forced to suffer for the comforts and joy that hee hath of the Spirit of Christ doth slake quench and take away the Sting of the paine That hee may say O Death where is thy Sting as the Apostle saith of such through which comforts and joy of the Holy Ghost many that have suffered Death in the Lord have dyed rejoycing in the Lord and in appearance to Men without paine Whereby they have manifested themselves acquitted of their transgression and the penalty of the Law in the paine And the Repentance of Believers wrought up in them by Christ doth not onely acquit them of the Sinne and the penalty of the Law before Men But it also testifieth to their owne Soules and to other Men also that they are living Branches in the Vine Christ Jesus For saith Christ The Branch cannot beare Fruit of it selfe except it abide in Joh. 15. 4 the Vine No more can yee except yee abide in Mee No Man can repent except hee be a living Branch abiding in Christ and Christ in him Hypocrites may counterfet Repentance and not repent truly And hee that liveth in Christ and Christ in him by his Spirit hath the witnesse of his Adoption that hee is one of Gods children through Christ and so quitted of all Sinne not onely before Men but also by the performance of Jesus Christ of all Sinne before God So the Apostle saith Wee Joh. 8. 15. 16. have received the Spirit of Adoption And the same Spirit witnesseth with our spirits that wee are children of God So that although Repentance acquitteth not of sinne before God as it doth before Men yet it by the Spirit of Christ whereby it is wrought up in Believers witnesseth acquitance before God to the Soules of the penitent yea and holdeth forth great hope and manifestation to others that the same penitent Man is the child of God and is quitted of his sinne before God And even so it is of Obedience Mercy and Forgivenesse wrought up by the Spirit of Christ they also witnesse evidence and testifie the same Quest The Apostle saith of Believers The Body is dead Rom. 8. 10 because of Sinne And Paul saith of himselfe I am carnall sold under Sinne I finde no meanes to performe that which is Rom. 7. 14. Verse 18 Psal 14. Isa 64. 6 good And David saith There is none that doth good no not one And the Prophet I say said of himselfe and other like himselfe All our righteousnes is filthinesse I will bee their God and they shall bee my people I will never forsake them and I will put such a feare into their hearts that they shall never depart from me Jer. 32. 40. Can therefore Believers doe the Commandements of the Law of Christ in singlenesse of Heart before Men and before Christ the Governour of his Church which knoweth all as Râ—penting Forgiving Loving Obeying Praying Praysing Thanksgiving and the rest how it is faithfully done Answ By the same power they did and doe believe in singlenesse of Heart They can and may Repent Forgive Love Obey Pray Praise and give Thankes and the rest in singlenesse of Heart But indeed corrupt and carnall dead Men in Sinne cannot doe these or any of these or the like in singlenesse of Heart whose Heart is corrupt carnall and dead in Sinne sold under Sinne as Paul was as hee saith in his best Estate Indeed Man can Believe Repent Obey Love Pray Praise and give Thankes Carnally and Fainedly by the power of corrupt nature As the