Coming even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of Vnrighteousness in them that perish Now in as much as he who is called the man of sin the Son of perdition and the wicked one is truly said to be in them that perish it is evident that he first by his deceit drawing them into disobedience to the Light and Spirit of God had beguiled and deceived them and so by the working of his deceitful power 1 Cor. 3.10 17. had gotten in them an usurped place of exaltation above the Light and Spirit of God which he had tempted them to disobey 1 Cor. 6.19 and oppose in themselves and so he and his dark power thereby was exalted in them above the Light Power and Spirit of God whose Temple true Christians are And so the Devil the Man of Sin sitteth in the Temple of God or that which ought to be the Temple of God being exalted above all that is called God or that is worshipped in and by them that obey him And let all mark that he is to be consumed and destroyed with the Spirit of God and with the Light or brightness of Christ when he comes to rule and reign in People whose right it is and that is when his Light or Voice in their Heart is obeyed And so though those who disobey the Light of Christ in themselves may yet in words confess him Rom 1.16 1 Cor. 1.18 24 and profess Christianity yet they by disobedience to his Light which is the Word of his Power who is the Wisdom and Power of God in yielding to and embracing the allurements drawings and temptations of the wicked One thereby he getteth the power over them and begetteth them into a belief of his Power perswading them that it is impossible for them while they live in this World to be set free from the ruling or prevailing of his Power over them And so he whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Power and Signs Ephes 2 2. Ephes 5.2 3 4 5 6. and Lying Wonders who is the Prince of the Power of the Air he worketh in the Children of Disobedience and he ruleth and hath all the power and prevalency in and over such whom he holdeth in such a Belief or Faith that they must carry a Body of Sin and Death while they live in this World which is a dead Faith and never like to give Victory over the World nor over Death nor him that hath the power of Death which is the Devil nor over his Works And so such through disobedience to the Light of Christ which is the Word of Life Phil. 2.16 Prov. 6.23 Prov. 21.16 and the Reproofs of its Instruction the Way of Life are wandred from the Way of Life and Understanding and remain in the Congregation of the Dead Ephes 2.1 and are dead in Trespasses and Sins and are never like to be by a dead Faith recovered to Life to live to God in Christ Jesus in whom is Eternal Life and such may contend for their dead Faith But the Faith which true Christians are earnestly to contend for â—ude 3. Eph. 6.16 Phil. 1.27 Rom. 10.8 1 Tim. 6.12 1 John 5.4 Chap. 2.13 14. which was once delivered to the Saints stands in the Word of God's Power which is the Word of Faith which the Apostles preached which is nïgh in the Mouth and in the Heart and this is a Living Faith and gives Victory and overcometh as the true Christians testified And so they that in their dead Faith believe no overcoming the wicked One on this side the Grave they believe quite contrary to the true Christians as the Apostle John testified of them to whom he wrote 1 John 4.4 saying Ye have overcome the wicked One and though he writes 1 John 1.8 9 10. saying If we say that we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us yet he writes in the next words after If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness If we say that we have not sinned we make him a lyar and his Word is not in us Now if the said Words to wit If we say that we have no Sin c. which some greatly object in this case be taken as they are in the common Translations yet that will not import the Apostle himself to be included as the Scripture hath such Expressions for the Apostle James speaking of the Tongue saith Therewith curse we Men c. James 3.9 And Paul saying Let us Eat and Drink for to morrow we dye 1 Cor. 15.32 Who can conclude from hence that the Apostle James was a Curser of Men Or that Paul was one of those luxurious Ones who used that saying about Eating and Drinking which was reproved by the Prophet Isa 22.13 and 56.12 Or who can from the Apostle John's Words here conlude that he then had Sin For as the Apostle James explained his saying of the Tongue to wit Therewith Curse we Men by saving presently after thus My Brethren these things ought not to be so vers 10. And as Paul also explained himself when he said Let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye by saying forthwith Be not deceived evil Communications corrupt good Manners c. vers 33 34. So also the Apostle John in this place after that which some translate thus to wit If we say that we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us which might relate to the Conditions of others though not to his own present condition saith in the very next words thus If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness Now is not all Sin Unrighteousness And therefore what can be more plain than that the Apostle here declareth that upon Confession and Repentance true Believers are not only forgiven but also come to be cleansed from Sin And doth he not also in the next Words before those that are objected as well as after fully declare the same speaking of the Light which they that love Sin do not love thus If we walk in the Light c. we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin And moreover according to said the common Translation if any should think the Apostle John here to be included yet he doth not say that we sin daily in Thought Word and Deed nor that the best Performances of the Children of God are sinful or mix'd with Sin as the pleaders for Sin for term of Life say therefore what he said importeth not the matter they contend for But according to those Translators much approved by Protestants Beza and Pasor and others the aforesaid objectible Words of the Apostle John are to be rendred thus
Brimstone mark this they must be so cast alive And the Remnant must be slain with the Sword that proceedeth out of the Mouth of the Lamb and so the Lamb and his Followers shall have the Victory And the pure Everlasting Gospel Rom. 1.16 which is the Power of God which is now Preached again if it be hid it is hid in them that are lost as the Scripture saith though some Translate to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not 2 Cor. 4.34 lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God who is Light should shine unto them 2 John 1.5 and so they that believe in the Light of the Gospel in them it will shine unto them as they are Faithful to it but the Man of Sin the God of this World with his Signs and all the means that he and his Ministers or Members can use endeavoureth to blind the Minds of People that he may keep them in Darkness unto Destruction with himself And those that God maketh Instruments Acts 20.24 Tit. 2.11 1 Cor. 2.4 to 14. in his Power to Preach the Everlasting Gospel of his Grace that bringeth Salvation they Preach not with enticing words of Man's Wisdom nor in the words that Man's Wisdom teacheth as Man-made Preachers do but which the Holy Spirit teacheth and they Preach not themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and their selves Servants for Jesus sake for God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness 2 Cor. 4.3 to 7. hath shined in their Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ Acts 26.18 and so their Errand is to turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan which is the Power of Darkness unto God who is Light And so the Message of the true Ministers of the Gospel in this Day and the Message of the true Ministers of it in the Primitive Times of Christianity is one and the very same for the Message of the true Ministers of the Gospel which they had heard of God and declared unto People was that God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all and they that walk in Darkness have no Fellowship with him and they Preached 1 John â— 1 to 7. and wrote to People that they should walk in the Light that they might have Fellowship with them whose Fellowship truly was with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ And they preached not neither wrote that which they had not Experience of but of that which was from the beginning which they had spiritually heard and seen and handled of the Word of Life and they Preached not up Carnal Ordinances nor Signs nor Shadows but against them and Preached the true Doctrine of Christ Jesus the Substance And the Doctrine of Christ concerning Faith without which it is impossible to please God is this Heb. 11 6. John 12.10 to 37. while ye have Light believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of Light and yet many believed not because the God of this World had blinded their Minds and hardened their Hearts and the Chief Priests were Cruel against him for his Doctrine in those Days as they are against the Light now and consulted to put him to Death And the true Ministers of Christ they preached this Doctrine that it is the Life in the Word which is Christ that is the Light of Men Joh. 1.1 to 12 and the true Light that lighteth every Man and Woman that cometh into the World 1 Cot. 12.7 Eph. 5.7 to 15. and they called the Light also the manifestation of the Spirit given to every Man to profit withal and said Whatsoever doth make manifest is Light and all things that are reproved Rom. 1.18 19. are made manifest by the Light and whatsoever may be known of God is manifest within and they called it the Word of Faith nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart which they preached Rom. 10.8 Jam. 6.21 to 26. and the Engraffed Word that is able to save the Soul and the Word of God's Grace that bringeth Salvation Acts 20.32 Tit. 2.11 1.2 2 Cor. 5.19 Phil. 2.16 Col. 3.16 Luke 17.20 21. Mat. 13.18 to 23. which hath appeared to all Men to teach and they called it the Word of Reconciliation which God had put in them as Margined Bibles truly say it is in the Greek and the Word of Life and the Word of Salvation and the VVord of Christ which they advised some to let it dwell in them richly and the VVord of Righteousness And Christ himself called it the VVord of the Kingdom of God which is within which is sown in the Heart And many other suitable Names and significant Appellations hath Christ and his Ministers given to the Light which they preached that People might believe in it Recorded in the Holy Scriptures and this was and is and is to be the Doctrine of Christ and his Ministers But this is terrible Doctrine to the Devil the Man of Sin the Power of Darkness for when People believe in the Light of Christ in their Hearts and in the Sufficiency of it and come into the Obedience of it then the very Foundation of the Devil's Kingdom cometh to be shaken and the Kingdom of Christ in some measure cometh to be enjoyed in them And this Doctrine is also terrible to the Ministers of the Man of Sin who undertake to teach People and tell them that the way to Christ is in the frequenting of their Ordinances Preachings Prayers and VVorships and in the use of their Elements Ceremonies and Traditions when as all of it is but for their Tythes Benefices Wages worldly Interest and Promotion for when any come to believe in the Light of Christ in their Hearts and to receive its Teachings in the Love of it they will know the free Teachings of Christ by his Light to teach them to profit in Spiritual Things and first to deny themselves of their Beloved Sins and so they will find ease and satisfaction of Soul which all their former Teachers with all their fair words John 6.45 Isa 48.17 Isa 54.23 Jer. 23.32 Psal 119.165 John 14.16 to 27. and preachings never so much against sin could not profit them in at all but God freely teacheth all his People to profit and in their profiting in his Fear and Obedience great shall be their Peace and therefore they who truly learn the Teachings of God by his Light they will never Hire other Teachers neither pay towards the Elements and Ordinances of the Worships of Mens Institutions or Doctrines but they will deny them all and Worsip the Image of the Beast no more And they who in the Faith and Obedience of the Light in their Hearts have in true Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness forsaken all for the Gain of its Rich
to wit If we have said us not to have Sin the Latin words being thus si dixerimus nos peccatum non habere which are according to the signification of the Greek words in which the Apostle wrote which are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which implieth the time past and that there had been a time wherein they could not have truly said that they had no Sin See Beza's Latin Testament and Pasor's Lexicon But that all are to continue in Sin while in this World the Words of the said Apostle here are very plain to the contrary to wit If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins 1 John 1.7 and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness And again If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another 1 John 2.1 to 10. and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin And again My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not And speaking of Christ he saith He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a lyar and the truth is not in him And again saith he Every one that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure And again Ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sin and in him is no Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him Little Children let no man deceive you it seemeth there were pleader for Sin then he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous he that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God in this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil By all which and many other Scripture sayings it is evident that the Faith of those who believe that they cannot be free from sinning but must carry a Body of Sin and a Body of Death while they are in this World is quite contrary to the Faith and Testimony of true Christians For the Faith of true Christians is in Christ the Power of God 1 Cor. 1.2 and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 2.5 2 Cor. 13.3.4 5. 1 John 4.4 Phil. 2.13 Rom. 6.18 22. Jude 24. and that he is greater that is in them than the Prince of the power of the Air he that is in the World and that he must rule in them whose right it is who worketh in them both to will and to do and their Faith is that he is more able to cleanse and keep them free from Sin as true Christians were and are than the Devil is to lead them to Sin the Wages whereof is Death which the Servants thereof must have And so though those whose Faith is dead being servants of Sin may profess Christ who is a quickning Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 Ephes 2.1 2 to 7. and quickned and quickneth them that truly believe in him who were dead in Trespasse and Sins yet in that dead Faith they cannot enjoy the benefit which true Christians did Rom. 8.1 2. and do enjoy which is to be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus for according to their Faith so it is unto them For as the People of Christ's own Country were offended at him for his Wisdom and his mighty Works and being astonished said Mark 6.1 to 7. Mat. 13.54 to 58. Whence hath this Man this Wisdom and these mighty Works Is not this the Carpenter's Son is not kis Mother called Mary and his Brethren James and Joses and Simon and Judas and his Sisters are they not all with us whence then hath this Man all these things And he did not many mighty Works there because of their unbelief So they that are offended at the Light of Christ in his Spiritual Appearance in their Hearts that shews them their Sins and reproveth them in their Souls and Consciences for all their Offences against it insomuch that they are sometimes astonished thereby yet say they Is not this the Check of a Natural Conscience Is not this a Natural Light that we are born and bred up with are not our Vnderstandings and Knowledge in Arts and Sciences Brethren and Sisters to it whence hath it these things And there cannot in such be mighty Works done because of their Unbelief But true Christians who have believed in the Light Rom. 8.11 Ephes 2. Rom. 6.1 2 to the end Gal. 2.20 1 Pet. 4.6 Phil. 2.13 the Manifestation of the quickning Spirit of Christ in their Hearts and Souls they have as they have been faithful in the obecience of it known by the effectual working of it in themselves a being raised from the Death of Sin to the Life of Righteousness and that where Sin hath abounded Grace doth much more abound and so to the Praise and Glory of God they live by Faith in the quickning Spirit of Christ in them But they that believe that they must carry a Body of Sin and Death with them while they live in this World and that the Devil's power and spirit must prevail in them so long as they live how can the Faith of such or their Works either honour God or Christ or his Power And they that deny Freedom from Sin being attainable while in this Life 1 Joh. 3.8 Jer. 23.6 Chap. 33.16 Dan. 9.24 deny the very end and purpose of Christ's coming which is to destroy the Works of the Devil and to put an end to Sin and to finish Transgression Rom. 8.3 4. and bring in Everlasting Righteousness and therefore it was prophesied that he should be called Mat. 21.1 The Lord our Righteousness and likewise it was said Thou shalt call his Name Jesus which is Saviour for he shall save his People from their Sins But are such his People or how doth he save them from their Sins who sin while they live in this World And likewise they that deny that Perfection to true Christians who are Saints is attainable while they live Eph. 4.11 to 17. they deny the very end of the true Christian Ministry which is for the perfecting of the Saints but they that are imperfect till they dye how doth the Work of the Ministry perfect them Eccles 11.3 or doth the Death of the Body perfect them for as the Tree falleth so shall it lie And if any believe that the Power of God if faithfully obeyed is able to make them free from Sin and so perfect one minute of an hour before Death why may they not as well believe that the same Power is able to make them so Heb. 13.8 Psal 111.3 10. two Minutes or two
Hours or two Months or two Years before Death for that Power is the same for ever and the Righteousness and Praise thereof endureth for ever And they that think themselves to be true Christians and Members of Christ and yet believe that they and every other Member of his Body while in this World must be as the pleaders for Sin commonly confess themselves full of Bruises and Wounds and putrifying Sores which daily and continually renewed Sin makes in them from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot 1 Cor. 6.15 16. Chap. 12.12 to 27. Eph. 4.15 16. Chap. 5.26 27. 1 John 4.17 such surely suppose that Christ hath a very corrupt putrid imperfect Body which is his Church contrary to what the Apostle Paul speaks of it being holy and without blemish spot or wrinkle or any such thing and contrary to what the Apostle John wrote saying Herein is our Love made perfect that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment because as he is so are we in this World speaking of God which he truly could not have said if they had not been free from Sin but full of Bruises Wounds and putrifying Sores which Sin makes in the Soul but contrary to that he saith plainly This is the Love of God 1 John 5.3 that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous And although there be some three places in the Scriptures which are translated as if they implied that all men sin to wit Eccles 7.20 There is not a just Man upon the Earth that doth good and sinneth not And 1 Kings 8.46 and 2 Chron. 6.36 If they sin against thee for there is no Man that sinneth not Yet in all the said places the Latin Translations as Iunius Tremellius and Vatablus render it instead of that sinneth not that may not sin or cannot sin it being the very same Word that is used in Psalm 119.11 to wit I have hid thy Word in my Heart that I may not sin against thee And any sensible one may see that it is imperfect Sence to say If they sin against thee for there is no Man that sinneth not for if all Men sin continually there would be no occasion here to say if they sin but it is good sence to say if they sin against thee for there is no Man that may not sin or that cannot sin which only implieth a possibility and not a continuation of Sin as likewise the next Verse but one after the last mentioned places doth where it is said If they turn unto thee that is to God with all their Heart and with all their Soul which Words plainly intimate a possibility to leave Sin for such a turning is certainly no Sin But there is no Man but he may sin if he be not continually watchful in the Light against the Man of Sin the Devil who is continually endeavouring to tempt Mankind to sin but as Man waits in the true Light of Christ Jesus 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Jam. 4.7 which is the Word of Faith and the Word of God's Power in his Heart and Soul as he is truly faithful in the obedience of it and walketh in it he cometh to feel Power in the Faith of it to resist the Devil in all his Temptations and the Devil will flee from such a one and hath not power to take him captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 as he hath over his own whom he perswades that it is impossible for them to recover themselves from under his sinful power Heb. 11.6 Rom. 14.23 while they live in this World and so they confess that their best Daties are intermix'd with Sin and so they are for whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin and it is plain that such are not turned to God with all their Heart and with all their Soul whatsoever they profess For the Holy Scriptures say plainly That as many as received Christ and believed on his Name John 1.1 to 14. Rev. 19.13 Rom. 10.8 1 John 3.1 to the end which is called the Word of God which is nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God which were born not of Blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God and such do not commit Sin But admit that the common English Translation of the aforesaid Words of Solomon were true Heb. 7.19 Heb. 9.9 Heb. 10.1 to 24. yet that was under the time of the Law which could not make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience and that which was not attainable under that Law may by the Grace of God be attained in a Gospel state Rom. 8.1 to 5. And although the Apostle Paul writing to the Romans saith The Good that I would I do not but the Evil that I would not Rom. 7.9 to 25. that I do Yet it is plain by what he wrote before and after that in the same Epistle that he wrote not of his own then present condition but of himself as well as others passing thro' that Condition for in that continued kind of Speech he likewise there saith I am carnal sold under Sin but a little before he had told them Rom. 8.7 the Carnal Mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be And saith he The Natural or Carnal Man cannot receive the Things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 for they are fool shness unto him neither can he know them because they are Spiritually discerned And in the beginning of his Epistle to the Romans aforesaid he expresseth himself to be able to impart unto them Spiritual Gifts Rom. 1.11 which a Carnal Man could not do By which it is plain that when he wrote that Epistle he was not Carnal sold under Sin neither a Servant of Sin and therefore he was in another condition than he had been in of which he wrote the said objectible Words And that which renders it more plain is that in the same Epistle before the said Words Rom. 6.16 to 24. he gave testimony of the Romans to whom he wrote that they were made free from Sin and become Servants of Righteousness and Servants to God But they that are carnal sold under Sin are not so for how can they be free from Sin who remain carnal sold under Sin And the Apostle immediately after that kind of Speech which intimated his former condition declared plainly that he had when he wrote that Epistle attained to a better state for in the conclusion of that kind of speech he writes thus I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my Mind and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of Sin which is in my Members O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Now for what doth he give thanks
can truly call him according to the Prophecies of Old the Lord our Righteousness Rom. 8.4 9 10 14. and this is to be fulfilled in them who walk not after the Flesh Gal. 5.25 1 John 1.7 but after the Spirit and in the Light and Manifestation thereof And they that truly examine themselves and prove themselves whether they be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13.3 Gal. 2.20 Col. 1 2â— they may know how that Jesus Christ the Lord their Righteousness is in them except they be Reprobates thus the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 13. who through weakness in the Faith sought a Proof of Christ speaking in him which speaking of Christ he affirmeth was to themwards not weak but was mighty in them By which it is evident that where the Man of Sin hath prevailed by his deceitful power in and upon any when such come by the Light of Christ the Word of God's Power in themselves to be convinced of their Sins and made willing to resist the wicked One in the Faith of Christ the Power of God yet it seemeth not easie at the first for such to believe in the mighty Speakings of Christ the Power of God in themselves nor to believe in Christ's Ability to save and cleanse them from all Sin and that he is able with the Spirit of his Mouth and the Brightness of his Coming to consume and destroy the Man of Sin and his Works in them For while People yield their Members Servants to Sin and profess Christianity the Man of Sin in themselves and by his Instruments outwardly is ready to perswade them either that a Priest can forgive them or pronounce Forgiveness to them for their Sins as not only the Popish Priests but others as for instance the Author of the Book called The Practice of Piety teach and that so they may be absolved from their Sins or else he would perswade them as he doth too many That they must have the Righteousness of Christ only imputed to them wholly without them to justifie them though they be not inwardly sanctified by the Word of his Power in their Hearts and though they be continually sinning in Thought Word and Deed against his Light the Manifestation of his Spirit in their Consciences and that they must believe that they must only be saved by the Meriâ—s of Christ's Death and Sufferings which he suffered for them now above Sixteâ—n Hundred Years since without the Gates of Jerusalem to satisfie the Justice of God for their Sins but they must not expect to be free from Sin but to be continually sinning while they live in this World So the Man of Sin the Devil will suffer his Servants to make as large a shew of Christianity as they can so that they will continue in Sin that is in Service and Slavery to him and his Power but he willeth not to have them believe that they must be saved from their Sins by the precious Blood of Christ which he hath shed for them Rev. 5.9 Tit. 2.12 13 14. Eph. â—2 5 nor that they must be saved from their Sins and redeemed from all Iniquity by the Grace of God in their own Hearts Heb. 2.9 by which all true Christians were and are saved and by which Christ tasted Death for every Man and the Man of Sin would have People to believe Rom. 8.2 Rom. 6.18 22. Heb 8.10 that while they are in this World they cannot be set free from the Law of Sin and Death by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus as true Christians witnessed that they were and that Law was in their Hearts Thus the Prince or Ruler of Darkness keeps many in subjection to his dark Power and Spirit so that they consider not that they who live in Sin Heb. 6.6 and in disobedience to the Light of Christ's Spirit in themselves crucifie Christ afresh and put him to open shame whereas the Apostle said Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Gal. 5.24 they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts And the Apostle John writes He that saith he abideth in Christ as true Christians do ought himself also to walk even as be walked 1 Joh. 2.6 1 John 4.13 And said he Ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sin and in him is no Sin whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him 1 John 3 5 6 7. little Children let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous And the Apostle Paul saith The Church is subject to Christ in every thing but they that live in Sin are not so and that he gave himself for it Eph. 5.24 25 26 27. that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word which is nigh that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish And again he writes The Weapons of our Warsare are not Carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4 5. casting down Imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ And now let all that profess Christianity examine and prove themselves whether or no they be thus subjected to Christ for though he be the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Heb. 2.9 Job 10.14 15. Nah. 1.3 Rom. 2.6 to 10. Rev. 22.12 John 1.4 and though by the Grace of God he hath tasted Death for every Man yet he will not acquit the Wicked but as he is a righteous Judge he will render to every Man according to his Deeds and how shall those escape that neglect his great Salvation and rebel against his Light which is his Life which they crucifie and oppress in themselves by Sin in their Affections and Lusts They are not like to escape the Righteous Judgments of God who disobey the Light of his Spirit in their Hearts and obey the Man of Sin the Devil who tempts them so to do and so they yielding to his Temptations are taken captive by his power which cometh through disobedience to God to be exalted in them above all that is called God or that is worshipped and so he swayes and rules them being his Subjects by his dark power who ought as true Christians are to be subject to the Light of Christ the Word of God's Power in their Hearts And so according to the perswasion of him whose power prevails over them many believe Gen. 17.1 Mat. 5.48 1 Cor. 13.11 1 John 2.3 3 4 5 6. and plead that none though assisted by the Grace and Power of God can keep the Commandments of God nor be freed from Sin
Mat. 26.52 And so it was Prophesied concerning true Christians that they should say to one another Come ye Isa 2.4 5. and let us walk in the light of the Lord and that they should beat their Swords into Plough-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks and should not learn War any more and he that killeth with the Sword shall be killed with the Sword Here is the Patience Rev. 13.10 and the Faith of the Saints And likewise all Persecutors about Religion who profess Christ to be Christ and say he is come in the Flesh doth not their Spirit deny the end of his coming in denying his Doctrine who said Mat. 5.39 44. Love your Enemies do good to them that hare you and pray for them that despitefully use you and and persecute you and said Resist not evil 1 Thes 4.9 Isa 54.13 John 6.45 Mat. 5.12 but whosoever smiteth thee on the Right Cheek turn unto him the other also And true Christians are all taught of God to love one another and their Enemies also and great shall be their Peace and they can rejoice and be glad when they are persecuted for Righteousness sake And likewise Professors of Christianity who Challenge to take Tythes which were given too the Children of Levâ— who had no other Inheritance for their service of the Tabernacle and for Offerings under the Law c. they say That Christ is Christ and that he came in the Flesh and suffered under Pontius Pilate and by the perswasion of the Chief Priests was Crucified and that he rose from the Dead Mat. 5.17 Eph. 2.15 Heb. 7.11 to 28. and Ascended into Heaven c. as the holy Scriptures declare but for all this Confession in words doth not their Spirit deny the very end or his coming in the Flesh which was to fulfil that Law that gave Tythes and abolish it and disanul it Yea moreover doth not their Spirit perswade That People ought to pay Tythes as under the Law which made none Christians which Law could not be abolished till Christ was Crucified And then doth it not follow certainly that it perswadeth as the Jewish Chief Priests did that Christ may be Crucified again Mat. 27.20 and so both in Takers and Payers of Tythes denieth Christ Crucified And it is observable that one William Thorp whom those Reformed from Popery own to be a Martyr being brought before Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury and then Chancellor of England in the Year 1407. and examined giving a clear Testimony according to the Holy Scriptures against Tythes as being no Gospel Maintenance amongst other notable Answers said That those Priests that Challenge to take Tythes deny Christ come in the Flesh to which the Bishop replied saying Heard ye ever Lossel speak thus and this William Thorp is one whom the Tythe-takers now own for a Martyr except they have lately rejected the Books of Martyrs because they bear Witness against many of their Popish Practices read the large Testimony of William Thorp against Tythes and Swearing is the Book called Acts and Monuments in pages 536 537 And likewise they that Preach up Infants Baptism as they call it but can find no Divine Warrant not President for it and they whouse many Cer moâ—ieâ— Ordinances and Traditions besides that about Infants most of which they reckon if not all as outward visible signs of inward spiritual Graces being used after the Commandments Doctrines and Traditions of Men such say that Christ is Christ and that he was Crucified on a Cross as the Scriptures declared But doth not their Spirit deny Christ come in the Flesh Eph. 2.15.16 Col. 2.14 whose coming in the Flesh was to abolish the Law and the Enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances blotting out the Hand-writing of Ordinances which was against true Christians and contrary to them and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross Cal. 4.9 And if these things which the Apostle of Christ called weak and beggarly Elements were contrary to true Christians formerly how come they to be for them now But true Christians are Baptized into the Death of Christ Rom. 6.3 4. by his spiritual Baptism and they are also Buried with him by Baptism which Death with Christ and Burial with Christ Col. 2.6 to 23. Infant-sprinklers know little of and they are also dead with Christ from the Rudiments or Ordinances of the World if they be true Christians and are not to be subject to Ordinances nor to touch taste nor handle them which are after the Doctrines and Commandments of Men and are all to perish with the using though they have as the Apostle said a shew of Wisdom in Will-worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body not in any honour to the satisfying of the Flesh Or as some more sensibly Translate the last Sentence thus * See Margined Bibles But they are of no Value save for the filling or satisfying of the Flesh And so their signs have a shew of Wisdom in Will-worship and voluntary Humility and they have a shew of neglecting the Body and so hath their Fasting to be seen of Men Mat. 6.1 to 19. and their Prayers and their Alms to be seen of Men which Christ taught to beware of And Christ said to such as pleaded for the Traditions of the Elders about washing of Hands and Pots and Cups and Brazen Vessels Mark 7.9 to 10. and of Tables Well said he hath Esaias Prophesied of you Hypocrites as it is written This People honoureth me with their Lips but their Heart is far from me howbeit in vain do they Worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men and said he Ye reject the Commandment of God that ye may keep your own Tradition or Mat. 15.6 thus have ye made the Commandment of God of none effect by your Tradition And so where the Power of the Man of Sin prevaileth inwardly there he keepeth People by his Instruments in a Belief or Perswasion that outward Shews Signs Ordinances and Ceremonies are of necessity to be used and practised by Christians and that it is impossible to keep any Order or quiet Discipline in the Church without Ceremonies and some plead the Authority of Christ for them and of his Apostles who Preached and Taught the contrary And so their pleading is without ground or warrant from Christ or his Apostles for their Signs and Ceremonies and Traditions by which they make the Commandment of Christ of none effect And the Commandment of Christ is to believe in the Light that they may be Children of it And the Children of the Light see and know the emptiness and insufficiency of all the Shews Signs Shadows and Ceremonies of the Man of Sin which were invented by his dark Power in the Night of Apostacy from the Spirit of Christ and used after the Doctrines and Traditions of Men after the Rudiments of the World and not after the Doctrine of
are taught of it to watch in it continually against every Appearance of Evil and of the Author thereof the Devil their Adversary 1 Pet. 5.8 who as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour and so they are to be continually careful according to the Command of Christ and his Apostles that no Man deceive them and to prove all things and hold fast that which is good for it is not a trivial thing but a weighty concern to them and of absolute necessity to the Salvation of their Souls to be always watching against and waiting to be preserved from the beguiling deceit of the Devil and his Instruments who with all his Power and Signs and lying Wonders are continually endeavouring to deceive which deceivableness of unrighteousness is-so apt to prevail upon Mankind that Christ said If it were possible they should deceive the very elect and then surely the careless and rebellious are like to be deceived by them and led to Eternal Misery And although Christ and his Apostles advised and commanded to beware of them which should shew great Signs and Wonders yet some have been and are so far erred from the true Light and Doctrine of Christ that they not only tell and make Books of the great Wonders which they say have been done by and amongst them but also reckon them as certain Marks of the Church of Christ though Christ and his Apostles told of them being the Mark of Antichrist and the false Prophets And so with their Wonders and Powers and Signs they have deceived and do deceive many as Christ and his Apostles foretold And as the Apostle John prophesied concerning the Beast that he beheld coming up out of the Earth that doth great Wonders Rev. 13.11 to 15. so that he maketh Fire to come down from Heaven upon the Earth in the sight of Men and deceiveth them that dwell on the Earth by the means of those Miracles which he had power to do so it is that which comes up out of the Earth not that which cometh down from Heaven that doth their great Wonders and it is that which is learned at their Schools Colledges and Academies of Earthly and Spoiling Philosophy and Vain Deceit Col. 2. â— which the Apostle charged to beware of and not that which is received of Christ Jesus that capacitates the Members of Antichrist and of the Beast to be so prevalent with their Power Signs Wonders and Alluring Enchantments and Poysonous Societies upon People to deceive them Rev. 18.23 Eph. 5.6 Rom. 16.18 by their Enticing Words and Fair Speeches and their making a pretence of Christianity by coming in Christ's Name though he never sent them and their saying that he is Christ covering themselves with a Profession of him But wo saith the Lord to the Rebellious Children that take Counsel but not of me and that cover with in covering but not of my Spirit Isa 30.1 And so the Members of Antichrist the Man of Sin who are learned in the Mysteries of their Craft and are influenced with the beguiling subtilty of their Master the Serpent they imploy all their Wits Arts and Parts in their earthly and sensual Wisdom and for their earthly and quickly perishing Gain to draw Peoples Minds from the Light the Manifestation of the Spirit of Christ in their Hearts which is given to them to profit withal that so they may keep them under the power of Darkness and in Admiration of their Teachings Signs Ceremonies Splendor and Wonders with which they infatuate the Ears Eyes and Minds of People that so they may depend upon them and rest under their covering of Profession And those that such Deceivers could not prevail upon to follow them in their Superstitious Practices them they oftentimes Burned or Sentenced to be Burned to Death when they had power in their Hands as woful Experience hath largely declared and for their so doing pretended Authority from Heaven and doth not this their wondrous murdering practice and pretence of having Authority from Heaven to Burn People seem somewhat like the Beast's making Fire to come down from Heaven in the sight of Men And those that are prevailed upon by them and do admire their Signs and Wonders might possibly have as much or more admired the Wonders done by the Magicians of Egypt Exod. 7.11 to 23. in causing their Rods to become Serpents and the Waters to become Blood and in bringing up Frogs upon the Land of Egypt and those that cover with a covering and not of the Spirit of the Lord and ask not at his Mouth but walk to go down as into Egypt a Land of Darkness to strengthen themselves as in the strength of Pharaoh and trust as in the shadow of Egypt Isa 30.1 2 3 the strength of Pharaoh shall be their shame and the trust in the shadow of Egypt their Confusion It may be objected that Christ and his Apostles confirmed his Doctrine by Miracles but then that was at the first when they preached down the outward Law and the Ceremonies thereof which God had commanded them by Moses that they should observe And when they first published the Glad-tydings of the Gospel of the Grace and Peace of Christ Heb. 8.9 10 11. the New Covenant before promised the Law written in the Heart But they who neglect this inward Law who now reckon of their Wonders have and retain many Ceremonies and Superstitious Practices for which they have no Ground nor Warrant from God nor Christ nor his Apostles as the Jews had for theirs and so there is no need of outward Miracles to confirm the preaching down of their modern Superstitious Ceremonies they being plainly repugnant to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles Recorded in the Scriptures of Truth which contain also Prophesies of their Signs and Wonders too to come in the Apostacy which things are exactly come to pass And it is more than they can do by all their Miracles if they can do any to confirm any Honest hearted true seeker after God in their Belief of many of the Wonder pleaders Doctrines as that of Transubstantiation and of Purgatory Prayers to and for the Dead Indulgences for Money Worship of Images c. Stories of Wonders will convince few that their Faith and Practice concerning these things is acceptable with God Now we read of as many or more that vilified the outward Miracles that Christ did as were Converted to him by them And they to whom Christ himself preached Mat. 9.34 Mat. 12.24 Mark 3.22 Luke 11.15 Jo. 12.36.37 Jo. 10.19.21 22. saying While ye have the light believe in the light that ye may be the children of light Though he had done many Miracles before them yet they believed not on him And the whole multitude of the Country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them for they were taken with a great fear because of a notable Miracle that he had wrought amongst them and so