it but the peace and prosperity of Kingdomes and Magistrates who establish it and the life glory and happiness destruction and death of Kingdomes is wrapped in the Christians life or death they are the parts and Members of Christ the apple of his eye his Jewels his anointed his Prophets his Children As therefore ye look to be prospered by this Spirit of God as ye look for wisdom from this Spirit of God to govern this State as ye look for comfort from this Spirit of God in all your distresses as ye look for gifts from this Spirit of God in all the administrations as ye look for the sweet spirituall breathings and refreshment from this Spirit of God in all the severall changes of this creation love preserve Indulge this Spirit quench not oppose not oppress not this Spirit confine it not to one outward form or fellowship of men which are not that Catholick Church that Apostleship of infallibility and they that are spirituall live in that spirit truth which makes them free indeed and it is below that Spirit of God to Petition liberty of conscience in spirituals from any men or Magistrates in the World because God will make Ierusalem a cup of trembling to all Nations and a stone of astonishment and the spirituall Christians will rather hold forth such things to bear witness to the truth and to desire all to forbear persecution as much for their own sakes who persecute as for theirs who are persecuted And for that just power of Magistracy I acknowledge it a Power Ordained of God for administration of Iustice and righteousness in the societies of men and nations a Minister of God for good a terrour to evill works and that we are to be subjest to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake and for this cause we pay tribute to whom tribute honour to whom honour and all societies of Christians by no pretence of religion or liberty for the worship of God are to resist or disturb the civill administration of this power but as to that consideration all Christians are to suffer according to the will of God all lawfull ways for preservation of States and Kingdomes still excepted and all such Magistracy are to preserve their respective States by all wholesome lawfull cautionary Lawes and Ordinances in Peace so as while liberty or indulgency as to the tender consciences in Religion is spoken on yet no less security of the State no diminution to the just power of Magistracy no less preservation of the Peace of the Kingdom is desired by those that are truly spirituall And though many suffer under the name of Hereticks and Schismaticks before ye for not conforming to the present doctrine and discipline established Right Honourable consider whether this doth not call in question all the very present doctrine and discipline so established for by this very thing of judging all Inconformity to the present worship and form of things to be Heresie by the same all this present form of worship and confession of faith is judged Heresie and Schism to the late former government and doctrine established in the Church of England this present Synod of men being no more that visible Catholike Church and infallible Apostleship then the former were so as the changing the former Articles of the Church of England into a new confession of faith the Episcopacy into Presbytery and so altering both the fundamentals in religion and the discipline is equally new light and Heresie As to the former doctrine and discipline and if it be objected but this present Synod are men of more light and Piety then the former and so they establish more truth and bring in more Reformation if so why is there not more love more peaceableness more self-deniall more power of godliness then there was in the suffering Bishops and the Preaching Lay-Martyrs then who loved Christ in himself and in one another And now Noble Senators since very worthy things have been formerly done by ye unto this Nation let not your Sun set in a cloud nor your light shine upon those that have loved you as the Moon once upon the Water making it of the colour of Blood are ye not come to the Kingdome in Peace Are not the gleanings of Ephraim in the Vintage Did not David say shall any man be put to death this day in Israel The Lord enlighten ye if it be his will more and more in the knowledge of Iesus Christ and of the love of God and of all who have any thing of God in them and let you see those things which concerne your peace in this your day Your Honours humble Servant John Saltmarsh To all true Christians Friends THE only scope of this Book is to minde ye of an higher excellency than meer created things can afford ye of the truth as it is in Jesus or in Spirit And of that unity of Spirit which Christians should live in under their severall forms and attainments and I have not held forth any discovery of truth or of any higher dispensation so as to darken too much other dispensations in which Christians live or to lessen and undervalue their attainments but only to be faithfull in the power of God to his discoveries in my own spirit I desire we may all bear one anothers burdens and consider that God is in all his severall dispensations and measures and Christians are not to hasten out of any till the Lord himself say come up hither and the stronger are to bear the infirmities of the weak I am not against the Law nor repentance nor duties nor ordinances as some would say So as all these flow from their right principle to their right end I am not against the setling of Church-Government Prudentially as now so as all of another way be not persecuted Because I know God hath his people under severall attainments and measures and is to his people in all these in his meer grace and love as formerly to the Bishops and thousands of weak Christians in Queen Elizabeths and Queen Maries dayes of Martyrdom in their forms I am only against any form as it becomes an engine of persecution to all Christians differing from it I am not against the sitting of an Assembly or Synod at Westminster that are so perswaded because that is but to allow such liberty to others consciences as we desire our selves and surely if they would propound such things only as they have received or they are in conscience perswaded of to all the Kingdom and so leave it to the Spirit of God and their ministery to perswade and convince all others and not desire power from others to compell this were but to minister as they had received I have stated some things and truths as they are held in those very grounds the Spirit of God in the Reader may Judge truth without any determination of man I have spoken concerning the libertyof some that are spirituall
Spirit shining and discerning in those that judg the works of their faith who are judged And thus we may see how Synods and Councels of men and visible Churches have erred in their judgments and discernings of all others judging all higher attainments of light and glory heresie and schism and by this sentencing the Lord himself and confining him only to their own measures and degrees which is that very spirit of Antichrist sitting in the Temple of God and judging as God nay judging God himself according to his other manifestations which they see not nor receive unless they pretend to be that only select Apostleship for interpretation and revelation of Scripture as the Apostles who were the first Preachers of Scripture and this they must do upon their ways and grounds of discerning but what shal be done to these that judge before the time and the day or more full revelation of Jesus Christ the false Prophet shal be taken and cast into the lake that burns with fire and these that judg God in their brethren according to such manifestations as are not in themselves shal be judged of God their Judg even of the Lord Iesus the Iudg of quick and dead Cain was an image of all such judging his brothers sacrifice and for that was sentenced of God Principles of Warr and Peace 1. WAr is the more natural work of the Nations of the World who shal according to Christs Prophesie be dashing one another in pieces till the last appearance of Iesus Christ there shal be Wars and rumours of Wars Nation shal rise against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom 2. War is from the Law and Principles of nature according to which the Nations of the world live and are acted having no higher a law to raise them and carry them up into more glorious dispensations For the Law or Principles of nature dictate thus preserve thy self thy life thy lands thy rights an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth 3. The true Christian so far as he is in nature and under this law he is acted according to the world and to the meer Principles of nature and law and therefore it is that the Christians to this day are found at the same work with the world and two are grinding at one mill two are in one field two in one bed that is the true Christian and the meer natural man are together in one work at one plough in one bed or way of Peace and worldly rest till the Lord Jesus be more manifested in Spirit or in his coming and revelation and the one or true Christian be taken and the other left the one taken up higher into more Spirit and more of Christ the other left in their meer nature and legal principles and worldly doings 4. The Jews were not only a type of the true spiritual Church but of the Christians under the lowest dispensation and in the model of their armed Tribes and Generals as of Moses and Joshua were a figure of the Christian under pupillage and bondage to nature and the laws of nature and so they were led out against the Nations who were a figure of worldly Tyranny and oppression to recover their land of rest or such worldly priviledges as they had in promise and donation from God 5. Under the Gospel the Lord suffered the same figure in Peter who walked about with Christ in his fleshly appearance with his sword girt about him and attended his Person till Christ bid him put it up again into his sheath because he was now going out of that dispensation of flesh into more glory into the same glory that he had with God before the world was and was accordingly providing a more spiritual dispensation for them even the Comforter or Spirit of truth all which were a figure of all the Disciples of Peters fellowship and weakness whom the Lord would suffer in an armed and defensive Posture till he provided a more spiritual Ministration for them and a way of more spirit light and glory In order to Peace and Suffering and Love 1. The Will of God A Christian is most perfected in the Will of God in laying himself down to rest in the bosome of such providence as the Lord opens to him for nothing creates perplexity and disquietness of Spirit but when the will of man is in complying and in a motion distinct from the will of God when the Spirit of man moves in its own fleshly course and circuit and so runs out into a dispensation further then the law of present providence will fairly allow it and in this way men study plot desire lust are passionate inordinate unquiet unstable and like the troubled sea foam out themselves upon this account men lust and have not they kill and desire to have and cannot obtain they fight and war yet they have not are with child and bring forth winde and work no deliverance they say the bricks are faln down but we will build with hewen stones the Sicamores are cut down but we will change them into Cedars The Lord Jesus held forth another pattern and figure Lo I come to do thy will O God not my will but thine be done it is my meat and drink to do the will of my Father the Apostle answers this as in water face answers face I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content I can be abased and I can abound the reason of all is from the spiritual anointing they receive by which their understandings are enlightned to see all the various workings and contrary contextures of providence meeting in one point or line the will of God so as all things work together for good to those that love God 2. God changing dispensations THe Christian is most at peace when he is willing to be gathered up by God from such ways and ministrations below as he hath lived in formerly if he see God clearly in it for God hath his times of letting out and winding up of using such or such a ministration and then breaking it and laying it by and appearing in other and we must not limit the holy one of Israel nor fix him always upon the same point of dispensation he went out from his Tabernacle into his Temple from thence into the flesh of Christ and so into ordinances and gifts and graces and Spirit with the Jews he was in war in peace in captivity in deliverance or return and in this exchange of dispensation God reveals and shines forth his wisdom glory and power upon his and upon the world which wisdom power and glory being in that fulness and infiniteness in himself cannot appear in one globe and ball of glory below upon this Creation but as in parts and scattered beams and divers workings and therefore John saw the Lord in a vision like a Jasper upon a Throne
the time appointed of the Father And I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ I have fed you with milk and not with meat And the great and excellent design or mind of God in all these things is only to lead out his people Church or Disciples from age to age from faith to faith from glory to glory from letter to letter from ordinance to ordinance from flesh to flesh and so to Spirit and so to more Spirit and at length into all Spirit when the Sonne shal deliver up the kindom unto the Father and God shal be all in all which last transition or resignation or resolution of all into the kingdom of God is not as some think only when the fulness of times or ages is come but is transacting and finishing in parts and members of the body of Christ and is not one single act point or effusion of glory but a perfecting and fulfilling it in the several members of Jesus Christ till the fulness of the stature of Christ be made up and the Church become the fulness of him that filleth all in all For the day dawns and the day-star arises in the heart shining more and more unto a perfect day and he who is the bright and morning Staris stil shining into the glory of the Sun of righteousness and the light of the Moon shal become as the light of the sun and the light of the Sun as the light of seven dayes till the Lord God himself be the everlasting light and our God our Glory Thus is the Christian or Disciple of Christ passing on upon the severall degrees and measures into the glory of Christ and crucifying each condition as he passes thorough it as all the Disciples have done before the Jews passed out of that of the Tabernacle into the Temple and from thence into the flesh of Christ that Temple destroyed and raised up in three dayes a greater then Solomon being there and from thence into Christ Crucified and so into a ministry of spirit and life And the Disciples all of them had a measure of time and season in each Ministration and God had his when he filled the Tabernacle with a cloud and the Temple with Glory and the flesh of Christ with unction or spirit above his fellows and while God lived in each ministration quickning and glorifying and acting it for himself that presence of God and of Spirit was to the Disciples like the Sun in Summer shining upon them the candle of the Lord shining upon their heads and his secret upon their Tabernacles But when the line of Gods season was run out to its point and extremity that he would no longer stay there nor have his glory inhabit in such or such a ministration then that ministration became but a place of desolation a solitary place for the Satyrs to dwell in and the screech Owle to sing in that is for the Spirit of Apostacy and of Antichrist or iniquity to possesse and act in And for Disciples to stay longer in any ministration then the Lord or the life and Spirit of Christ is in it is as if Lot should tarry in Sodom Israel with the Ark when God was departed the Iews in the Temple when the Vail was rent and the glory gone off to the threshold and from thence too their house being left unto them desolate even that house or ministration where the light of God did formerly dwell As if the Disciples of Christ that went into the Grave should step in and sojourn there where his body had lain and was risen and gone seeking the dead amongst the living The disciples of Christ were a true figure of such who when Christ was dead were embalming the body and would preserve it with spices and ointments when the spirit and life was out of it The Iews were a figure of such who would preserve their Law and the shadows of all their worship when Christ had left them who was the life and substance of all that ministration Peter and the rest were a true image of such who in that sword he wore was a true figure of all such as Christ suffers in a warlike and defensive posture about his flesh or whom he suffers to be so far conformed to the fashion of the world as to guard and preserve those fleshly priviledges of his presence and power amongst them and in that activity of his to rescue and preserve that flesh and body in which so much glory and excellency had appeared and so many miracles were done beyond that point or end of ministration which God even the Father and the Son himself had set was a figure of all such as should stretch out any dispensation or ministration of God farther than the line or spiritual sinew of it wil bear Let the Reader take notice that this following of the Baptist should have been placed next after the Doctrines of Baptism but by reason of the Authors absence it was misplaced The Baptists BAptism of Water being a Legall Ordinance though a more cleer administration of Christ was administred alwaies by persons of more than ordinary gift and spirit for in all Legall administrations which pointed at and shaddowed Christ still they were performed by some properly and specially and extraordinarily enabled for that Office or Ministration and therefore the tribe of Levi was for administration of Ordinances then under the Law and Abraham for circumcision Moses and Aron c. Iohn Baptist the Apostles and the more then ordinary gifted Disciples and Philip and Ananias not is there any extant in all the new Testament who did administer Baptism but they were such as by a power and gift more than ordinary could make demonstration of their calling to the administration of water which was first in that way of doctrine performed by him then whom a greater Prophet hath not risen even by Iohn who Baptized and so Philip and Ananias the one working glorious miracles at Samaria the other having a vision from God to warrant and glorifie his call to that administration upon Paul and so all the Apostles and seventy Disciples were such who went about doing miracles as men excellently gifted for administration and whereas the Scriptures make mention of some Disciples as those with Peter who did not appear to do any thing more then others nor Philip nor Ananias at the time of their administration of water it ought to be sufficient to us that the Scriptures doth set forth Iohn Baptist and the Apostles and Disciples that were more than ordinarily gifted and Philip and Ananias who had sufficient warrant to themselves by such glory upon them for that Office and administration of water upon any and for those other Disciples surely we see and read enough to tell us in those that were so gifted and in them and their gifts there is light enough to shew us
Prophets even partakers of all his offices in Spirit he being the spiritual head of all his who are the spiritual body his Church The Christian under Episcopacy Prelacy Presbytery Baptism Independency c. THe whole world was divided into Jew and Gentile the Jew was that only visible Church of God to whom pertained the glory and the adoption and the Covenants and yet this Jewish Church was exceedingly faln from its glory and purity both of Priesthood and Worship and Administrations when Christ came So as now the Prophesy seemed to be fulfilled they were now without a King and without a Priest and without a Sacrifice and an Ephod and a Seraphim and were corrupted with many traditions and doctrines of men teaching for doctrines the traditions of men Thus was the Jew and their Church The Gentile had changed the truth of God into a lye and had worshiped the creature more then the Creator and had changed the glory of the incorruptible God and were given up to a reprobate mind and were therefore called sinners of the Gentiles alienated from the life of God strangers to the Covenants of Promise thus were the Gentiles full of Idols and Idol-temples sacrificing to devils and that way of the knowledg of God which was both in the law written in their hearts accusing or excusing and in the whole Creation where the eternal Power and Godhead was clearly seen even in the things that did appear even that way of the knowledg of God in them was darkned and they became vain in their imagination and their foolish hearts were darkned Now when Jew and Gentile were both thus yet God had his people amongst both amongst the Jew where Zacharias the Priest Elizabeth and Mary and Joseph and Simeon and Nicodemus a Ruler of the Pharises and Joseph of Arimathea with many such were like so many Starrs in a dark night Among the Gentile there was a Iob a Queen of Sheba a woman of Canaan the wise men that came to Ierusalem the Greeks that came to see Iesus Cornelius the Centurion so as in every Nation he that serveth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him and God is no accepter of persons When Iohn came who was a burning and a shining light he preached to and baptized all Iudea who went out to the Baptism of Iohn and taught his Disciples by formes of Prayer and such rudiments to their weakness and God had his people here that were under no more knowledge of Christ not higher revelation then this washing to Repentance and to him that should come after him and this low way of communion with God in forms or rules of Prayer given out by Iohn for so John taught Disciples When Christ came preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and teaching in Parables and Mysteries he had a People and Disciples who knew little of his sufferings that he should dye and rise again as Peter and the rest and knew little of that glorious doctrine and truth which he spake and preached to them till he took them alone and expounded to them those Mysteries and his Disciples were under a form and rule of Prayer as Iohns were Lord teach us to pray as Iohn taught his Disciples They saw little more of him then his fleshly presence and miracles they loved him and clave to him and followed him but had very few discoveries of him in Spirit except some few of them Iames and Peter and Iohn before whom he was transfigured in the Mount which was but figurative and typical of a more spiritual revelation And when the Spirit of Christ was come and the Apostles were sent forth in clearer evidences and demonstrations of Truth then some were under Iohns Baptism and knew not of any Holy Ghost some were under the law and zealous of the Law and Circumcision some regarded a day some eat herbs some were eating such things as were sacrificed to Idols So as here Gods people were found some in a corrupted Church as that of the Jews some under false worship and traditions some under Legall rites under formes or rules of prayer some under Johns Baptism under bondage of dayes and times and other outward things under the ignorance of Christs death and resurrection and of the holy Ghost So as all these things considered there will spring these Conclusions That the Nations commonly called Christians who are under the account of others as fals in their Church-constitution worship forms and order yet these things are not exclusive to the true Christian in Spirit or one born of God but in these commonly called Christians though under Episcopacy or Prelacy or Presbytery yet there may be such as have the true seed of God in them partakers of Jesus Christ true Disciples of Iesus Christ respectively to regeneration or the new birth if they wait in the encreasings of Christ and revelation of righteousnes from faith to faith That there are true and spiritual Disciples of Iesus Christ under forms of Prayer who have little more communion with God then in those formes as of Common-Prayer Book-prayers outward rules of worship so as they wait in these to come up into higher revelations of Spirit when discovered to them That there are such who are Christians anointed by the Spirit of God under observations of days times meats drinks several opinions of Christ of the Holy Ghost of the resurrection of Church order of Baptism of Water which is Iohns Baptism called Anabaptists so as they all in these several measures pass on from faith to faith and glory to glory The Christian in truth THat which forms essentiates or constitutes the true Christian is the Spirit of Jesus Christ that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit so as a man is a Christian from birth as he is born a man so he is born a Christian both are from birth and seed the one of flesh the other of Spirit The Christian is one who is of the second Adam as all men are of the first and the second man is the quickning spirit the Lord from heaven and so are they that are heavenly The Christian is one in whom Christ is formed or figured as the Greek word implies one that bears the image of the heavenly man who is the Image of Iesus Christ as Jesus Christ is the Image of the invisible God The Christian is one who hath the incorruptible seed in him or the word which liveth and abideth for ever which word is the Lord Jesus Christ who quickens the Saint and is the life of the Saint you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins The Christian is one who is in fellowship and conformity with Jesus Christ in his crucifyings death and resurrection in whom the flesh and life of the flesh must dye as it did in him and the Christian as Christ did must live in Spirit to God The Christian is one who is the new creature or new man for
Arguments for Liberty of conscience and thus far it hath been wel in order to the peace of those whose consciences in outward things runs cross contrary and destructive to others both in rule and practise so as when Christians are under several forms and administrations and these diametrical or opposite to each other and mutually contradicting and expelling each other here can be no Peace nor Preservation of all but from an indulgency or liberty in all and this is such a liberty as men may give to men this is the liberty of the outward man and is upon the old legal and first Gospel or New Testament-account as in the meer letter as in those Scriptures but this is yet below the true Christian Liberty and a mystery unwritten which is originally from the Spirit of God and is meerly spiritual and works from a pure enlargement of Spirit and a true spiritual Prospect of all outward things which is an image of that liberty which is in God who appears under his several forms of Creation pure and holy in himself or his own nature But this is a mystery yet and a land of peace and purity not yet clearly discovered nor the right inhabitants of it but to some and this liberty wil further appear as the Lord Jesus is more and more revealed in the Saints judging the world in Spirit and raigning over the tyranny and power of men in a glory of Spirit which shal judg and torment their adversaries while they shal triumph over all the practises in the flesh against them A Discovery of the highest attainment of the Protestants generally in the mystery of salvation ADam was the first man created after Gods own image he was a publick person and he sinning sin entred upon all and death by sin the Law was afterwards revealed by God to Moses wherein was a copy of that first image or righteousness from whence man fell and under the condemnation of which all mankind were by nature or as born of their first Parents The way of life or salvation which was revealed to be a way our of this condemnation and death was by Iesus Christ the Son of God born of a Virgin in the fulness of time made under the Law and fulfilling the Law bearing our sins crucified dead buried and risen ascended and entred into glory and sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for us and by the Preaching of this Iesus Christ in the Ministry of the Word which he hath set in his Church a true and lively faith is begotten in the hearts of men such as are elect or chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world were layd not from any works foreseen but of Gods meer grace and by this faith so begotten they apply Iesus Christ and all his merits to righteousness and justification and through this and the sanctified use of all other ordinances of God as Preaching Prayer Sacraments the regenerate are more and more sanctified and so built up in graces of faith repentance love new obedience and made to persevere through the power of God unto salvation Nor is the Ministry of the Law useless in this the Law being a part of this Ministry to bring men to Christ or to make them seek out for mercy they discerning their misery by the preaching of the Law it being Gods usual method in Scriptures not to offer the Gospel without this preparatory of humiliation and contrition and men so humbled and wounded by the Law are only fit for the mercy of the Gospel or of Jesus Christ This Iesus Christ they beleeve to be one ascended according to that body he appeared in and sitting at the right hand of God and in the figure of glorified flesh according to which all the Saints shal be glorified in their souls and bodies and in Jesus Christ thus glorified in flesh and entred thus into his Fathers glory they beleeve and to the Lord Jesus in this figure and form of glory without them they are carried out in faith and through Jesus Christ thus they believe that they are justified and through the Spirit of God in this Iesus Christ they are sanctified Of Faith FAith they say is a grace wrought by the Spirit of God whereby a beleever rests upon Jesus Christ for justification and this they cal faith of adherence and when this faith works through love obedience self-denial and other fruits they call it faith of assurance for they say assurance is obtained through the Spirit of God bearing witness in promises and good works as wel as by it self and faith working thus is sanctification too or holiness wrought by graces A further Discovery as to Free-Grace THey beleeve Iesus Christ ascended in the body accordingly and glorified in flesh and through Iesus Christ thus ascended and sitting on the right hand of God in this figure and bodily form they accordingly conceive all graces of Spirit to flow forth into the Saints in faith love obedience c. But they look not on justification as flowing from Christ acted upon by the faith of a beleever first and so a consequent of beleeving or of faith but an antecedent or going before faith they hold Jesus Christ to be righteousness and justification to a sinner and that all are justified before they beleeve or repent and faith repentance are fruits of righteousness or justification Christ being given to open the eyes of the blind and to bring the prisoners out of prison c. and that all such righteousness and justification clothes the sinner so compleatly through Gods imputation that all sin is done away like a thick cloud and none imputed to beleevers Christ hath taken away all sin by his offering up one sacrifice once for all and that faith in the beleever doth nothing no not instrumentally as to justification but as by way of revelation and manifestation of that justification Hence it is that they affirm no beleever ought to pray for pardon of sin being a righteous person at once in Christ and wholy pardoned but all this righteousness and justification they take upon the account meerly of Gods imputation of Christ without us or in heaven who calleth things that are not as if they were and they look upon all works and duties c. as works flowing from love and from justification or righteousness not directed to justification or in any order to it we beleeve repent love and obey say they not that we may be saved but because we are saved and any other way of beleeving obeying c. they look upon as legal and not so purely Evangelical and they hold forth all the work of justification and righteousness to be of meer grace and that all Gospel-promises are free and Christ is freely offered to sinâ—ers as sinners in the Ministry of the Word So as their highest attainment is this that God
Testament before Christ came in the flesh and now in the New Testament since his coming and this is said to be as in a glass 6. By Gods own light evenhimself revealed and this is that pure increated divine immediate glory flowingfrom himself or himself FATHER saith Christ glorifie me with thy self or the glory that I had with thee and the glory that thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one as we are one Now let us consider who knows God according to himself or his own light glory None saith God can see me and live so as they that see God do not live they do not live or that thing called themselves doe not live that which is called a mans self is his own reason his wisdome his righteousness his desires or wil his imaginations his affections his lusts now if these live God was never yet seen none can see God live for when any see God it shall be no more they that live but Christ or God that liveth in them now who is there that hath seen God that doth not live in whom nothing of self lives And that we may see how God revealed wil annihilate and bring to nothing all flesh consider the appearances of Angels graces c. How was Daniel smote into astonishment no spirit was left in him how was Isaiah Wo is me I am undone I have seen the Lord how was John when he fell at the Angels feet how have many left the world and worldly contents relations and all other creature comforts as many Anchorites and contemplative souls who are carried no higher then by Angel discoveries Oh! how doth the pure appearance of God pour shame upon all flesh fleshly glory and excellency upon all the visions and dreams that man hath had of God either by pure reason his image or by creature-imagery or outward administration and notion by letter or by graces c. for when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away The day of the Lord wil be upon all our Cedars and Oaks and pleasant pictures and Idols of gold and silver even our richest and most spiritual Idolatry and judgment shal be upon all the merchandise of Babylon the pearls and pretious stones the Cinamon and odours and frankincense upon all deceiveableness of unrighteousness and all false worship c. A further discovery of the mystery of Salvation in the Gospel-administration and its own glory THe Gospel-administration wherein the mystery of salvation is first discovered is in the Scriptures of the New Testament held forth in these following particulars 1. In repentance which they say is a sorrow for sin wrought by the Spirit of God and the Law flowing from Christ who gives repentance to Israel and the Spirit of grace which mourns over him c. and is that godly sorrow for sin the new-man grieving over the old 2. In faith which they say is an act of the regenerate soul upon Christ resting and beleeving in him for justification righteousness or as some say a grace from Christ or righteousness 3 In conversion or calling which is the work of the spirit of God turning or sanctifying or perswading the soul of the Christian from his sinfull and unregenerate estate to God in Christ 4. In justification which is Gods pardoning the sins of a beleever or not imputing sins unto him and imputing the righteousness of Christ unto him whereby he stands justified and forgiven and righteous in the sight of God freely and of Gods grace through faith instrumentally which as the hand receives Christ as some say without faith as others say Thus the scripturs in the letter hold forth the first revelation of the mystery of God in such words and expressions as these and such as these are as prayer good works duties ordinances which are very suitable and proportionable to the first appearance of God in us or the mystery of salvation working in its infancy and first creation in the Christian and thus the infirmity of Christians is fitted with a manifestation of the mystery in words and forms and all the Christian Churches of the world generally draw out all their Systemes and models of divinity into articles of faith and Confessions of faith according to this very letter of Scriptures which is no other but a revelation of the mystery of Salvation as to mans infirmity and say some they call it their fundamentals and the highest attainment of Christianity Others say the mystery of salvation is no other then Immanuel or God with us or God in flesh not only in that man Christ but in the whole Christ Christ being no more but an annointed one and that annointed one is our nature or weakness annointed with the Spirit even God himself who is strength and this mystery of great and exceeding glory is revealed in pieces and parts and after the manner of men according to the infirmity of our flesh within the Christian in graces c. and in the Scriptures or expressions and forms without the Christian The SEEKERS their Attainment With a Discovery of a more Spiritual Way THey finde that the former Christians of the first or of the Apostles times according to Institutions then and the administration of Ordinances then were more visibly and spiritually endowed with power from on high or with gifts of the Spirit and so were able to make cleer and evident demonstrations of God amongst them as in the Churches of all the Christians then in Corinth Ephesus c. And that all who administred in any outward Office as to spiritual things were visibly gifted there was then an Apostle Evangelist Prophet Pastor Teacher Gifts of Healing Gifts of Miracles of Tongues c. And all was administred in the anointing or unction of Spirit clearly certainly infallibly they ministred as the Oracles of God But now in this time of the Apostacie of the Churches they finde no such gifts and so dare not meddle with any outward Administrations dare not preach baptize or teach c. or have any Church-fellowship because they finde no attainment yet in any Churches or Church-ways or administration of Ordinances according to the first patern in the New Testament they finde nothing but the outward Ceremony of all Administrations as of bare water in Baptism of bare Imposition of hands in Ordination of bare Election of Officers as Pastors Teachers c. of bare Church-censures without the visible power of gifts of Spirit which were before Therefore they wait in this time of the Apostacie of the Christian Churches as the Jews did in the time of their Apostacie and as the Apostles and Disciples at Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high finding no practice for Worship but according to the first patern They wait onely in Prayer and Conference pretending to no certain determination of
plainly and clearly in the letter not so much in spirit as the letter of the New Testament And therefore the Magistracie now having no such special reference to a Church-Politiâ— nor any such Ministery infallibly directive joyned to them cannot proceed so to reform nor compel nor punish 3. The Magistrates under the New Testament are Ministers as to good and evil not as to Truth and Heresie and this good and evil is such good and evil as falls under the Law of their cognizance that is the Law of Nature by which they make Laws and judge the breach of them which Law of Nature or right Reason is the Law or principle for administration of Justice and Righteousnesse in all Societies of Men and Nations And thus the Magistrate bears not the sword in vain But this is not as to Heresie and Schism of which the higher Law is judge viz. the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Jesus Christ not the Law of Nature or this Creation 4. In that Prophecie Kings shall be thy fathers and Queens thy nursing mothers is not in its own Scripture or any other interpreted to be any other thing then the indulgency and favour of States and Kingdoms to the people of God which is far from bearing witnesse to any destructivenesse or persecution of them 5. That Peter smote Ananias and his wife Sapphira with death for lying is onely a witnesse of Gods power and holinesse put forth in an act of Miracle upon the sin of Hypocrisie for convincing unbelievers and confirming believers and is no way exemplary to any Magistrate being a power by miracle or by an extraordinary act and Magistracie in its administration is ordinary and it was in an Apostle not a Magistrate by a spiritual not a carnal weapon 6. Pauls wishing that such were cut off that troubled them holds forth no other cutting off then by Church-censure or Excommunication which was a visible dividing them from that visibly spiritual body the Church called a delivering up to Sathan c. 7. The Church of Thyatira was reproved for suffering Jezebel to teach and to seduce but this is not the Magistracie of Thyatira which was to forbid her teaching by punishment but the Angel or Ministery of that Church as all agree who was rebuked because they or he put not forth that spiritual power they had of Admonition Rejection Excommunication 8. The father and mother of him that begat the false Prophet and was to thrust him thorow that prophesied lyes in the name of the Lord was a Prophesie respectively to the Law of the Jews which was amongst them against false Prophets and had a true Priesthood and infallible Prophets with a special Law to try them by and condemn them And more spiritually was this By the false Prophet is meant the spirit of Antichrist by the father and mother that begat him they who made him a Prophet or begat cried him up into the reputation of a Prophet and then thrusting him thorow for the lyes he prophesied is their spiritual smiting that Antichristian working with the Sword of the Spirit through some new enlightnings from God received or brightnesse of Christs glory which shall stay and kill all appearances deceiveablenes of the man of sin or false Prophet and not suffer him to live 9. That there will be no settlement of Peace Order or Truth in the Church if the Magistrates do not punish for Heresie is upon mistaken false grounds supposing three things which are not First that the Church-politie of the Jews by Magistrate and Priesthood is to be used by Christians which is not it being fulfilled in Christ the true King and Priest and Christians having no such infallible Priesthood to joyn to Magistracie Secondly that Civil power can establish any thing of an higher glory law and principle then it self as all spiritual truths and discoveries of Jesus Christ are Thirdly the mistake of true spiritual settlement peace order and truth which receive all their being propagation and establishment from the Spirit of God and the Scriptures and such spiritual Laws as God hath revealed for ordering the outward man of the Christian by respectively to the Society or fellowship of other Christians called Church-censures c. Christians being under a twofold Politie that of the Kingdome of Christ as Christians that of the Kingdom of this world as men or such as are subject to the Laws of civil Government And likewise supposing all peace and order to be grounded upon Uniformity not upon Unity of spirit and preservation of the civil Peace of the State 10. That States and Kingdoms do to this day practise punishing Heresie by the power of Magistrates and that Councels and Synods do allow it all such practice of what States soever in this kinde doth shew onely what they do not what they ought to do And the kingdoms of the world are prophesied on to give their Kingdoms and strength from themselves to the false Church And for Councels and Synods they are such as have erred in other things and why not in this it being their great Interest to establish themselves c. by the Magistrates power Whatsoever is not of faith is sin So as all who are compelled in things of Worship to do any thing of which they are not perswaded do sin Gospel-sins or sins against an higher law or light then that of Nature and Reason which is the onely sphere for Civil Government to move in is to be judged and punished by a law and light proportionable and more spiritual then any power of Magistracy as the Spirit of God going out in Gospel-Judgement Admonition Rejection Excommunication c. The danger and hazard of Persecution of the members of Christ which is a sin bringing much judgement because judged and punished by such a light and law viz. by Synods and Councels of men who are not infallible in their decrees and judgements of truth and heresie By force and compulsion men who are weak in the faith are made hypocrites in their outward man conforming to the laws of men in fear and bondage All such power of compulsion in States and Kingdoms principled with any light and liberty except Spain France c. shall destroy the true Interests of all such States and Kingdoms oppressing all Societies and fellowships of men as to spiritual things though never so peaceably affected as men and subjects A Mystery OR The Christian following the appearances of God thorow all created things THat which is the pure spiritual comprehensive principle of a Christian is this That all outward administrations whether as to Religion or to natural civil and moral things are onely the visible appearances of God as to the world or in this creation or the clothing of God being such forms and dispensations as God puts on amongst men to appear to them in this is the garment the Son of God was clothed with
the Power and Iudgment committed to Christ Scripture and the gift of wisdom justice and righteousness are his unction now as the oyl or anointing was his unction under the Old Testament Magistracy for form is not one and the same but divers according to the several polity of Nations and Kingdoms by Kings singly or Kings and States joyntly as in this Kingdom or States singly as in the old notions of Monarchy Aristocracy Democracy and that each Nation is subject according to its polity and form to the respective government and that Scriptures cloath and invest that form in its very first being and constitution and that form receives an Image of God upon it as the first man who as soon as he became such a model of earth or clay became a man and had the glory of God upon him and dominion over the creatures These Powers and Magistratesupon earth are set up for the punishment ofevil doers and for the praise of them that do wel justice and righteousness being that very line or golden reed by which they are measured the very Scales by which Godweighs them where if they be found too light he gives their Kingdoms to another All lawful subjection is to be rendred honour to whom honour tribute to whom tribute and subjection to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake Prayers and Supplicationsare to be made for them that we may lead a peaceable and a quiet life in all godliness and honesty Magistracy is set up not only to be an Image of Christ to the world but to administer Peace and Judgment to the world and Societies of men and more principally to his people in the flesh who while they are nursing fathers to them do administer truly and to Christ in his people when Persecutors Christ stil turns their administration though evil in it self into good for his all things working together for good to those that love God The high and glorious design of Christ in Magistracy is to open a way in all their kingdoms and dominions for the Spirit of God to breath in Kings shal be thy fathers c. and walk in in such outward administrations as it pleaseth the Spirit of God to appear in to the Saints who are in flesh and weakness and so far as concerns any outward administration of Christ Iesus Christ becomes a subject in his Saints to the power he hath committed to Magistracy they having power to hinder and further his spiritual design so far as it comes forth in the outward man therefore all power of Magistracy turned against the Spirit of God in this apearance shal and all such Kingdoms and Nations as proceed accordingly viz. to oppose that Kingdom Power and Dominion they receive from Christ against him in his spiritual Kingdom shal be dashed to pieces like a potters vessel Be wise now therefore O ye Kings and be instructed ye Judges of the earth But all such Nations States and Kingdoms as shal administer not only judgment and righteousness in the world but shal bring their glory and honour to Christ and hiâ— Spirit in his People Peace shal be within their walls and prosperity within their Palaces judgment shal flow there like a river and righteousness like a mighty stream The discerning of Spirits THere was such a Maniâ—estation of Spirit given to the people of God in the first Gospel-times as they could in the very unction or anointing of God discern Spirits and try Spirits Ye have an unction and ye know all things the same anointing teacheth ye to another the gift of discerning Spirits In this Manifestation of Spirit were all False-teachers Deceivers Antichrists and Hypocrites judged and discerned I wil come to you saith the Apostle and will know not the words of them that are puffed up but the power This Manifestation of Spirit is that in which Spiritual men are known and revealed to each other and have as ful assurance of each other in Spirit and in Truth as men know men by the voice features complexions statures of the outward man The Manifestation of Spirit may be darkned and clouded in Christians sometimes and hath been in the purest times when the Disciples did not know Simon Magus nor Demas nor Hymenaeus and Philetus nor those that went out from them nor Judas The Manifestation of Spirit hath been much lost and darkned in the Churches for many hundred years since the Antichristian darkness upon them and therefore they have judged Spiritual things in a mist and in much dimness and doubtfulness it hath been neither night nor day For supplement of this Manifestation of Spirit Christians walked by Candle-light and Star-light and set up marks and signs of tryal and demonstration in the letter and outward man so as any hypocrite might appear for a true Christian and therefore most of their way of Manifestation hath been from formal relations and confessions of faith and experiences according to the Law or standard of their own Spirits trying and judging all other measures of grace by their own The experience of Christians who have the Spirit of God in them is very clear concerning the workings and manifestations of the same Spirit in others as in Prayer Preaching Prophesying Conference Conformity to Christ Spiritual conversation so as Christians can in a manner say the Spirit of God is here and here or here I tast and see something of God here is a spiritual savour there is none as in natural things there is such a proportion betwixt the sense and object that the sense knows and discerns its own object as in smelling tasting seeing hearing so in Spirituals and as there is an outward a letter or Scripture Christianity by which men are distinguished as Jew and Gentile as Professors and Prophane as of the visible Church and of the world so there is in the true spiritual Church or Kingdom of God in Truth a more pure spiritual and glorious way of knowing each other according to that true spiritual glory nature and light that each walks in being all children of the day and of the light And this is no more then the fulfilling of that promise then shal ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not but it is in that day when the Lord makes up his jewels which the more glorious revelation of Jesus Christ in the Saints gathering his people into more unity and glory of Spirit All works and fruits of men as they are Christians and spiritual must either be judged and discerned in the same Spirit and measure of light and glory in which they are wrought and from whence they flow or else it is but a meer formal outward pretended false and fleshly way of judging in those that so judg and thus the tree is truly and purely known by its fruits and faith by works The same Faith