also were to be sound in the Faith and such as is aforesaid yea and proved and approved to be such 5. That for the chusing order and number of these Officers it is to be according to the fitness and necessities of the several Churches and the Liberty God-in his Providence gives them the Church among the Corinthians among whom were many divisions and many puft up for some against other were exhorted to that which should be constant even to order in their proceedings and to let such of them as had prophetical gifts 1 Cor. 14.26 29 40. have the precedence in leading but not being fit because of being puft up for one against another c. they were not yet permitted to chuse their outward Officers that so all things might be so set in order till the Apostle came and did that Believers furnish'd with Apostolical or Evangelistical gifts at least needful in such a case But the Church among the Philippians a gracious sweetly-framed people in their fellowship in the Gospel they had their Bishops and Deacons among themselves and were well approved of And the Churches among the Ephesians had also their Bishops and Deacons but still needed more and more helpfulness about them and Timothy that was an Evangelist by his Gifts 2 Tim. 4 1 2 3 4 5 6. 1 Tim. 1.3 8. 3 4 5 6. and to do the work of an Evangelist in his preaching was left as a Bishop or Elder there to oversee both the several Churches and the Elders or Bishops and Deacons in the several Churches to charge some that they teach no other Doctrine beside that delivered them in the Gospel and to silence and stop the Mouths of perverse erronious Ones by the Word and to help them in choise of Officers Tit. 1 2 3. and for the right ordering of all their Assemblies and Manners and for the same cause was Titus left in Crete both to ordain them Elders and oversee both them and the people and give directions to them yet were all these in Corinth Philippi and Ephesus and Crete true Churches and fought not one with another about these outward Forms it being in and to each according to their firness and necessity Now while the immediate Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers lived and thos mediate Ones that had heard and seen them and that the Officers were chosen by and of those of the true Sanctuary who were clothed with the Righteousness of Christ and gloried in the Doctrine of Christ delivered by the twelve Apostles and contemned the glory Rev. 12.1 2. riches and pleasures of this World and that the outward Court was in the Hands of the Saints and they the Ministers and these the Officers therein also the Church appeared beautiful and glorious indeed But in that time the outward Court is left into the hands of the Gentiles the true Sanctuary is trodden down and as one dwelling in a Wilderness among Briars Rev. 12.14 11.1 2 3 4 5. Thorns and wild Beasts and then cloth'd with Sackcloth and yet patiently bearing this shall carry on their Work with the rich spiritual and constant Furniture given which is shewn to be very good and great though they have not all their Priviledges in the outward Court and to encourage I will name one Help more 6. Joh. 11.25 7.38 39. 14.16 26. 16.7 15 23 26. Mat. 28.20 7.7 Mar. 11.23 24. Luk. 1.7.6 Phil. 4.4.5 7 13. To fit and furnish for and in all the former Directions and against all that comes to oppose or hinder us he hath given us his gracious promise to be with us that believing on him his strength and Spirit shall support lead and go forth with us and whatever we finde wanting ask in his Name and it shall be done for and to us that so we may be able to do all things through Christ that strengthneth us so wonderfully are these chosen Ministers fitted for the Ministration of the Gospel according to the Revelation of the Mystery And thus much of the several Revelations and so of this last Revelation of Christ CHAP. 17. A Corollary from the Testimony of Christ in the three Branches together with all these several Revelations of Christ to the fullest FRom all that hath been said in the second and third Part of this Treatise and the Scriptures alledged and so in the whole Scripture-Testimony of Christ it appears I. That there is one Faith and but one Faith that is Faith indeed real and true in its kinde and so not divers kindes of Faith each true in its kinde The whole Testimony of Christ holds forth to us one and but one kinde of Faith that is true Faith yea Eph. â— 5 upon exhortation to keep the Unity of Spirit this is given as the ground of it There is one Faith as there is one God and Father one Lord and Saviour and one Spirit and so one true Church in which he is so there is one Faith and no more kindes of true Faith then of Gods c. we may see this in every sense the word Faith is used in the Testimony Rom. 1.5 10.8 16.26 Gal. 1.23 3.2 Rom. 4.19 24. Eph. 2.8 Act. 13.8 Rom. 3.20 30. 4.5 5.1 the word Faith being used sometime for the object of Faith and for the Word or Gospel in which that object is set forth and sometime for the Grace of Faith or believing in that object and sometime for both the object and believing so as the Believer is united to it and so still the Faith one and of one kinde For 1. The object of Faith is every way one and the same the Gospel that is the discovering Medium 2 Cor. n. 4. Gal. 1.7 8 9. Col. 1.5 23. the Word of Faith and of Grace though it hath many Branches and Uses yet they flow from meet in one and there is but one and the same Gospel and not another and Jesus Christ set forth and as set forth in this Gospel he is one and there is not another though he be set forth as indeed he is The Son of God and the Son of Man God-Man and what from Eternity he was and what in time he became what he hath done and what he is thereby become and what he is furnished to do 1 Cor. 8.6 Joh. 4.42 2 Cor. 11.4 1 Cor. 8.6 12.6 Gal. 3.20 1 Tim. 2.5 1 Cor. 12.4 11. 2 Cor. 11.4 1 Joh. 5.7 Mar 12.32 34. Joh. 10.29 30. 1 Joh. 5.10 11. and what he doth and will do as the mighty God and the Son of Man as the Saviour of all Men especially of those that believe and the Judge of all yet he is one and but one Lord Jesus Christ the Christ the Saviour of the World and there is not another Jesus that is the Christ and so God the Father that is in Christ and dwells in him though his
is convinced and brought off all things to accept of and confide in Jesus and so brought out of the power of Darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son and so by his Love believed framed to love him and that this is true Faith indeed none that I know but the deniers of Jesus to be the Christ gainsay yet is this but the farther Efficacies of the same Object of Faith beheld and so one and the same Faith still though in this degree united and made one with the Object so as it was not in the former Degree yet even in this Degree also there are divers Degrees and so some weak Joh. 2.13 14. 2 Thes 1.1 3. Rom. 3.21 22 25 26 27. Act. 6.7 2 Pet. 1.1 some stronger some stablish'd some Babes some young or strong Men some Fathers yea and in every of these Degrees some may be more grown then others and be before others yet all still in one and the same Faith and still also in this one Faith 3. There be divers Acts and Operations of this Faith 1 Thes 2.13 Act. 10.43 Gal. 2.3 5. 2 Tim. 1.7 Joh. 7.38 39. Gal. 5.22 23. Gal. 5.6 Rom. 10.10 Psal â—6 1 10. as to say a receiving Act in which is received the Word or Testimony and therein Remission of sins Justification Sanctification Liberty of access to God the Spirit of Faith Love Power and a sound Minde a springing act raising up prizings of Christ Love of God and Brethren bowels of Mercy c. a streaming Act Faith working through Love and so bringing forth the services of Love in Confession Prayers Praises Works of Mercy and Righteousness yet the Faith it self is still one and the same and so called the same the same Spirit of Faith yea when it produced Miracles 2 Cor. 4.13 Act. 4.10 11 12. the Faith was still the same though the Act extraordinary The belief of the History Rom. 10.8 9. is the belief of the Testimony of Christ which whoso believeth with his heart shall be saved and when through the Grace believed one is brought upon Christ he is justified from all sins past and in that believing receiveth continual justification Rom. 3.25 26 27. Gal. 5.7 Mat. 24.13 and if any depart from the Faith that proves temporary but he that endureth to the end shall be eternally saved the Faith it self being one still and but one Faith III. As Faith is used to express the Object of Faith Heb. 1.1 so it hath been reyealed for the full and cleer Demonstration of it at divers times and by divers parcels and degrees and at last fully and cleerly by Jesus Christ and yet that Object of Faith still one and the same each Revelation agreeing with and opening the former and so still one as hath been shewn in this whole third Part of the Treatise And because there is no Faith by the Holy Spirit called Faith but that which by his Discovery of this Object is drawn towards it in believing that the Believer might so be united to it Therefore the Faith is one yea and this Demonstration to lead us into unity because as it unites Believers in one Foundation to one Head so it makes them of one Heart and Fellowship Eph. 4.4 For there is one Body that is one Mystical Body or Corporation Fellowship and Society though the Members of this Corporation and their Offices be many yet the Corporation and Society in Faith Love and Fellowship of their Priviledges is one and all bear one Name 1 Cor. 12.12 20. Eph. 2.19 22. 1 Joh. 1.3 Cant. 6.9 Gal. 3.16 29. Hos 11.1 Rom. 8.17 Gal. 3.36 Eph. 4.4 1 Joh. 5.6 Joh. 15.26 Eph. 2.17 18. 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 2.16 Eph. 4.4 sa 45.22 Joh. 3.14 16. 2 Thes 2.14 Eph. 1.18 Eph. 4.5 Rom. 10.6 15. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. 2 Thes 1.10 Joh. 1.12 13. Eph. 4.5 the Name of Christ being called Christians And so there is but one true Church and Sanctuary that is united to Christ and shall be in and with him for ever and by vertue of their Union with Christ they are all in respect of kinde one Seed and one Son though in respect of their several particular Persons Heirs Children and Sons of God by Faith And as there is One Body so there is in it One Spirit even the Spirit of the Father and the Son that beareth forth the Testimony of Christ and enables to believe in Christ and brings to God by Christ and into this Fellowship working the Minde of Christ and so called the Spirit of Faith by whom all he calleth and so all Believers are called in One Hope of their calling The same Grace proclaimed The same looking and believing required and for the same end To be saved and to the same Hope in believing even the obtaining Eternal Life and Glory and so One Lord even the Lord Jesus Christ in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily and so One Faith as one Object so one Manner of believing which is Faith indeed that is produced by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel and closeth with Christ the Object of Faith and so also One Baptism one kinde and end of the gracious Operation of the Holy Spirit in Baptizing into Christ and through his Name by all the Mediums of baptizing 1 Cor. 12.12 13. Rom. 6.3 6. Gal. 3.26 27 28. called also Baptisms into conformity to Christ in his Death that they may partake of the vertue of his Resurrection and so into the Fellowship of his body drinking into one Spirit and so becoming of one minde and that the minne of Christ the Son of God even as also there is 1 Cor. 6.11 Phil. 2.1 2 5. Eph. 4.6 Eph. 1.3 17. 1 Cor. 2.6 Mat. 10.40 Rom. 16.20 25 26. 1 Pet. 5.10 â— Psa 138.8 One God and Father of all who is above all and through al and in them all that are Believers he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him and shmes forth his Glory through him that Men might believe and so in and through him he is the Father of all that believe in Christ and above all able to overthrow all their Enemies and Opposers and to perfect all that concerneth them all so as all flows from and leads into Union and this Union of the Spirit bringing into the Union of the acknowledgement of the Son of God is that which the Spirit teacheth and to which all the Degrees and Operations tendeth whence we are exhorted to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace 2 Cor 114. Gal. 1.6 7 8. and so but one Faith which the Gospel calleth Faith and he that would finde out another Faith really true and holy in its kinde must first finde out another true Body that is the Church another Spirit another Jesus to be the Christ another Gospel and another Hope to call to and another God all real true and holy in their
be wise they become most foolish and their Wisdom and their Knowledge perverteth them f Rom. 1.22 1 Cor. 3.19 20. Isa 47.10 or else such filth and blasphemy would never come out of their Mouths much less have been set forth by their Pens as to say That the Scripture contains not all things necessary to Salvation That it is full of Obscurity a killing Letter a dumb Judge inky Divinity a Nose of Wax that may be bended any way That every Heretick proves his Heresie by Scripture and That the Scripture is fitted to the time and variably understood so that the sense thereof is one while this another while that according as the Church is pleased to change her Judgement in determining the sense and That the Gospel was written not to rule our Faith but to be ruled by it and so though a Point of Faith be affirmed never so plainly in Scripture yet it is but sub judice and doubtful without a higher Determination though herein be Difference among them who shall give that Determination some say The Pope some say A Council some say The Pope and the Council both consenting some say A Synod or Convocation of learned and holy Men some say This gathered Assembly or Congregation some That and some say Humane Reason in a Logical Discourse and some say The infallible Spirit in this or that Man And thus do they draw Men from God and his Word rejecting that as of none effect occasioning divisions and contentions without number and so in multiplying Sects not onely seducements from the Faith but wars and ruines are like to follow And Satan that takes advantage from the Flesh to rule in the Hearts of Unbelievers is alwayes at hand subtil and diligent to set forward this evil business and he will abuse Reason use subtil and provoking Motives yea and bring Scripture Sentences with some word subtilly left out and also vent Spirations with boldness though false yea pretend to move to confidence in God though out of his way and to help one to a better condition yea he attempted this where he had no advantage g Mat. 4.3 9. Luke 4.2 11. how much more will he do it where he hath the advantage of corrupt Flesh to work upon yea to keep his possession by some unclean lust or to disturb the proceedings of Truth he can transform himself into an Angel of Light and confess Jesus to be the Holy One of God h Mark 1.23 24. 3.11 and pretend to help Believers in Christ to a better condition i 2 Cor. 11.3 14 and he can teach his Ministers to do the same and much more to maintain some false Doctrine or keep the hold of a false Spirit to rent the Union and disturb the Faith and Fellowship of the Saints and yet be counted of that Number and for this end to make Confession of the Truth and give an Honourable Testimony to the Servants of the Truth and yet vaunt of some higher things to lead men to k Act. 16.16 17 18. Phil. 1.15 16. 2 Cor. 11 13 14 15.18 Thus busie is Satan ruling in the Wisdom of the Flesh whence the Wisdom of the Flesh and so all carnal Men are full of oppositions against the plain Testimony of Scripture yea sometimes some in some measure gracious are yet by Satan and his Instruments and the remaining Flesh in them in some measure tainted so as from many Men we have many Objections against the plain sayings of the Gospel and the plain appearing sense imported by them And notwithstanding all said in the Scriptures quoted in the first and second Chapters yet will they neither give that Glory to God themselves to believe him on his word nor suffer those that do to be at rest but seek to trouble and unsettle them many wayes and the wayes by which they endeavour to trouble Believers are especially three first by Spirit or pretence of Inspiration and speaking from an infallible Spirit Secondly by Word in Queries or subtil Reasonings and Philosophical Disputes Thirdly by pretence of Scripture alleadging it with some addition or diminution or wresting of all which we are forewarned to beware l 1 Joh. 4 1. Col. 2 8. 2 Thes 2.2 I shall endeavour to remove the most usual Objections which each of them do make CHAP. 4. An Assay to remove the Objections of those that pretend Spirit come clothed with Pretence of Inspiration and Zeal Object 1 YOu have nothing but Letter what you read in other Mens Writings but I have the Spirit the infallible Spirit God hath inspired this to me and it is God within me that speaketh by me and that I speak is the true Sense and Minde of God your Sense imported by the Letter is carnal and fleshly and of Man and so not the true Sense Answ 1. Your boasting discovers your unsoundness for he that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory a John 7.18 and not he that commendeth himself but he whom God commendeth is approved b 2 Cor. 10.18 2. Your bearing witness of your self makes you like the Heathen Idols c Isa 44.9 and your witness not true d Joh. 5 31 32. and coming in your own Name pretending the Name of Christ as if you were Christ declares you to be a false Apostle or Prophet e John 5.43 7.18 Mat. 24.5 24. 3. For the true Christ full of and led by the Holy Ghost gave every Answer to the Tempter with Thus it is written f Mat. 4. Luk. 4. and directed all his Hearers to search the Scriptures and the true Apostles though filled with the Holy Ghost yet did magnifie the Scriptures fore-written and proved and made known all their Doctrine by them according to the Command of God g Gal. 1.8 16. Rom. 16.25 26. Act. 17.2 3. 18.28 26.22 23. And that Spirit or that Man pretending Spirit which heareth not submitteth not to believe obey and be determined by the Doctrine and Saying of the Prophets and Apostles is not of God h 1 Joh. 4.6 2 Pet. 3.2 Wherefore that Spirit that speaks of himself is not of God for the Holy Spirit never speaketh of himself but he witnesseth of Christ and sheweth and teacheth the things of him and that in bringing to remembrance the Sayings of Christ by himself or his Spirit in the Prophets that were written and he had before taught his Apostles that they might witness them to us and we believe through their word i Joh. 16.13 14.26 Luk. 24.25 26 44 45 47. Joh. 17.20 And those that by Faith do know That the world was made by God k Heb. 11.1 2. and that it is preserved and upheld by God through Christ l Psal 35.3 Col. 1.17 and that the Scripture was given by Inspiration of God m 2 Tim. 3.16 and Christ sent forth and to have done all things according to the Scripture n Act. 13.32 33.
12 And when they come to be discouraged by the tongue of the Egyptian Sea with its seven streams or the great River Euphrates as the Israelites of old by the Red-Sea may not the Lord destroy and divide the same Isa 11.15 16. literally that such as are thereby hindred may go over dry-shod and metaphorically in overthrowing the Turkish and Egyptian Enemies for the time that those that are thereby hindred may come into their Land Rev. 16.12 yea and in that coming rejoyce much as Israel when they were passed through the Sea and saw the Egyptians drowned and yet upon some Trials Ezek. 20.34 38. have many rebellious among them still in due season to be purged out as it was with Israel of old may there not in all this time as in the time of Moses contest with Pharaoh and leading the people through the Sea in during the peoples grievances till they were fed with Mannah and in some settled order that Jethro kept Moses Wife and Children and then brought them to Moses and gave advice to Moses even so the Gentiles or People of the Nations some of them be very serviceable to preserve help forward and bring in of the people of Israel into their own Land Isa 49.22 and advise and help forward toward their settlement and yet after all this as Israel of old had many and great Plagues and Wars with many and great Kings till the Rebellious were purged out as well as those Enemies overthrown so these also have like Troubles and Wars with like Afflictions and Purgations Zech. 14.1 2. as well as Victories And after all this as they of old had a Jordan to pass over and a Jericho to overthrow so these shall have their potent Enemies and Besiegers to try them more Dan. 12.2 and for God to shew his Wonders more among them this their being in their own Land being a Metaphorical Resurrection of which some are to shame and some to contempt their first Conductors being not so prosperous as to be Instruments of the conversion of the generality of them no more than Moses and Aaron of old yet God may be so gracious to them as to Israel of old in giving them a Joshuah to be their Leader so to send Elijah the Prophet Mal. 4.5 6. Isa 31.8 9. Isa 66.19 20. to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the hearts of the Children to their Fathers and upon this the great Conversion among them and many not before come in to them now coming with weeping and supplication And as Rahab was helpful of old so now the Gentiles may also be more abundantly serviceable to fetch and bring them into their Land and the Enemies still opposing while God is by his mighty power as of old dividing Jordan and taking the shame of Egypt off from his people and to overthrow Jericho about to shew his great wonders and to take the shame of all people from off his people Israel and free them from all Captivity the Enemy still strengthening themselves to oppose then in that strait as to Joshuah of old so to these now Jesus Christ himself appears and comes and all the Saints with him Zech. 14.3 4 5.9 and gives the total overthrow to the Enemy which being done the last 45 yeers is expired I determine not things to be done according to my expressions but such-like things and in a true sense according to the expressions of the Scripture quoted will be done yea even so that it will be done to them like as it was to Israel when he came out of Egypt So that when the 45 yeers are out is easie to be known but when they begin whether at their first assay to enter or in their beginning to settle I know not but could I surely know of the least beginning of these things I should as assuredly know the Lord is so nigh coming as that as one might say he is risen up and on his march and if the 45 yeers be not entred they will presently enter So for Israel and now for our selves that are not natural Israel we may learn something for our information about the time of the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Cnrist in comparing the things and events coming to pass with Israel of old from their coming out of Egyyt unto the first coming of Christ with the things and events coming to pass with and among Christians from the first coming of Christ 1 Cor 10.18 vers 1.6 11. to the second and glorious coming of Christ we are in many things willed to behold Israel after the flesh and they are affirmed to be figures and examples for us and those things to be written for our warning and instruction and concerning God's dealing with them in giving them the Law by Moses and their demeanor towards him Christ uttered a Parable which may be read Mat. 21.33 34. and Luk. 20 9-17 and so for his dealing with Christians from first to second coming and their demeanour towards him he uttered a like Parable which may be read Mat. 25 14-30 and Luk. 19 12-27 Therefore it it is useful for us to consider and compare the same things in reading the Histories of them and we may discern there is hath been and will be some Agreement 1. When God by Moses the Mediator gave them the Law and set their Priesthood Sacrifices and Temple-worship in order the people were generally and many of the Captains and Levites stubborn and rebellious all the dayes of the personal Ministration of Moses so in the dayes of the personal Ministration of Christ the Mediator of the New Testament while he was ministring the Gospel and working Miracles to save the lost sheep of the House of Israel to whom in Ministration he was especially sent yet while he was chusing Apostles and Evangelists and giving them his Gospel and his Ordinances to have ministred to them yet were the people generally with their High-Priest and Priests and Lawyers stubborn and rebellious and but few of them that came in to believe on him 2. In Joshuah's time when Moses was taken away the people were more generally obedient and followed the Lord more fully though some trouble by Achan And so in the dayes of the Elders that out-lived Joshuah So in the Apostles and first Witnesses dayes after Christ left the World and went to the Father both Jews and Gentiles came in apace the Churches encreased and prospered and grew in Grace and kept the Faith sound notwithstanding some harm done by false Prophets for the Spirit of Antichrist began even before their departure to work yet the Churches kept the Faith sound in their dayes and in the days of the Churches of those first times that next succeeded them and received the Gospel from their personal Ministration 3. After Joshuah's time and the time of the Elders that out-lived Joshuah the people learned the manners of the Nations and went
a whoring after their Gods and God delivered them often into the hands of their Oppressors yet in mercy ever and anon in their distresses be raised them up Saviours or Judges So after the time of the Apostles and first Witnesses and the time of the Churches next succeeding them according as the Apostles had foretold wolves did enter in among them and men speaking perverse things rose up among them and something now they inclined to adorn them with the Wisdom and Learning of the Gentiles in Philosophy and other such-like Arts and excellency of Speech as the Gentiles gloried in and likewise with such worldly Excellencies and Superiorities and Dignities for Church-Order and Offices as might suit the same and so humane Traditions and Superstitions begun to spring up and God deeply chastned them and suffered the Enemies to load them with many Persecutions yet in their cries he still gave them some Deliverances and preserved to them many good and faithful Teachers 4. After those troublous times of Israel God gave them more peaceable times with the enjoyment of the purity of his worship in the days of Samuel Saul David Solomon his worshipping right to Judah in following Kings Raigns for a time so God was pleased after terrible Persecutions to give to the Christian Churches rest and peace in the time of Constantine and some other Emperours and Kings after him so as the Churches began for to encrease and flourish both East and West for a time 5. After Israel had long enjoyed these flourishing times they grew full and fell into Divisions and then ten Tribes rent from the House of David and fell to superstition in worshipping Jeroboam's Calves and after to more gross Idolatry in worshipping Baal till they were carried away into Captivity and are not yet returned but Iudah still worshipped the true God though polluted with many defilements of Israel's Superstition so the Christian Churches after a while of enjoyment of these flourishing times grew full and through pride and covetousness of their Bishops aspiring for pre-eminence fell into many Sects and Divisions and what Divisions in Churches and between the Churches East and West is by many recorded till many Churches that were famous in the first times had their Candlesticks removed and Mahometans now possess their place and they are not to this day restored The other Churches specially Westward still retained the Faith though defiled with many humane inventions and superstitions 6. After Israel's Captivity yet Iudah repented not of the defilements among them but though for a while continuing with God yet by degrees they fell to provoke him so with their Idolatries that he caused them also to be carried away Captive to Babylon for threescore and ten yeers so also after the removal of so many Churches Eastward the remaining Churches VVestward did not repent of their defilements with humane inventions and superstitions nor of the pride and covetousness of their Bishops and though for a time they held the Faith yet by degrees they fell to more superstitions so as they provoked God and made way for the Man of sin till he got his Seat in the Temple of God and therewith a worldly power also and so exaited himself above all that hath Imperial Majesty and so God being provoked left the outward Court into the hands of the Gentiles and being filled with Idolatry and Superstition the Holy City is by them trodden under foot 1260 yeers all which time the VVitnesses prophesie in Sack-cloth and all the upright are as Captives in Babylon mysterious Babylon 7. The Jews after their first coming out of Babylon they set on building the Temple and worshipped God according to the express and plain import of the Letter or VVords of the Law and were commended for it and encouraged by the Prophets and so they prospered for a time so the Christians after the first coming forth from the gross darkness delusions and Tyranny of the Man of sin endeavoured collection and reformation of Churches and held forth the Gospel according to the express and plain import of the Letter or words of the Scripture and for a time though in persecution they prospered and the word of the Lord grew and encreased 8. After this the Jews fell no more to the Idolatry of Jeroboam or of Baal nor to any willing or openly professed Idolatry of the Heathen yea they were zealous against it but in their zeal they ran into many over-strict Interpretations of some part of the Law and over-loose in some other parts of it and found out many Inventions and Devices pretending to Humility Devotion and Holiness which they took on them to observe and so by Tradition kept them appearing herein very holy and all that did not know and yield up to the same they counted as sinners publicans and prophane And thus they continued though under the Roman power till the coming of Jesus Christ So after the coming forth from the Man of sin these reformed Churches fall no more to such gross Idolatries but testifie against it yet with their humane Learning and Wisdom they content not themselves with the plain sayings of the Gospel but study and strain for Interpretations and so have framed by their School-Arts such appearing-exquisite Opinions and Rules also for Church-Government and certain Observations pretending to great strictness zeal devotion and holiness which taken up as a Tradition from one to another must be maintained and observed and they that do not observe the same are counted either factious or prophane And thus they continue till neer the coming of Christ 9. After the Jews had some Generations walked thus God sent among them John the Baptist in the Spirit and power of Elias the immediate fore-runner of the Lord's first coming by whom the way of the Lord was prepared and many discipled for the acknowledgement of him but those zealous ones received him not but rejected him though divers Sects among themselves Pharisees Sadduces and Herodians c. So after the reformed Churches have some Generations continued thus God stirs up some of his Servants to declare the Testimony of Christ plainly in the three forementioned Branches and therein the Love of God to Mankinde with the Priviledges of Believers and so to call to Repentance of the Doctrines and precepts of Men and to receive the Testimony of Christ and look for his coming and some here and there do imbrace it but very few of the wise and zealous Observers of the Doctrines and Traditions of their Fathers will receive it but oppose it earnestly though many divisions among them 10. When the Jews had had their time and God dealt thus with them and their sin ripened in opposing John c. then came Jesus Christ among them but these great Ones opposed him also so when the Gentiles have had their time and God hath dealt thus with them and their sin is grown ripe in such opposition of light then comes Jesus Christ personally with all his
preaching of the Cross and so the preaching of Jesus Christ and him crucified and so it must be a preaching suitable thereto and the means to make Christ known according to this Revelation is preaching such a preaching as in which he is lift up as shewn in the eighth Chapter before and in the Scripture we may finde it farther thus set forth that is 1. That it must be preaching Joh. 12.38 Rom. 10.16 1 Pet. 1.12 Joh. 17.6 7. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. Act. 13.32 33. 26.27 Rom. 3.25 26. 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4 5. Act. 5.42 18.26 28.23 31. 1 Tim. 2.7 Act. 20 21. 2 Cor. 5.10 11 14 19 20. that is in Scripture Language proclaiming and reporting Jesus to be the Christ and therewith the things done by him declaring with manifestation and making plain the things reported and therewith so teaching and expounding the same that the ends vertues and excellencies of Christ and his Cross and the things of Christ with his requirings and promises may appear and be made known and evidencing and testifying the Truth of all so taught by the Scriptures according to the Commandment of God Rom. 1.1 5. 16.25 26. Act. 18.25 28. 17.2 3. 26.22 23. And from Christ the things of God in Christ thus declared taught 2 Tim. 3.16 Tit. 2.15 and testified to perswade Men to Repentance and Faith and so to be reconciled to God and then live to him and to press this with Reproofs Instructions Beseechings and Consolations as need is and in this manner to exalt and tender the Grace of Christ as aforesaid is preaching yea that preaching that according to the minde of God is to be used 2. This preaching must also be with plain and understandable words 2 Col. 2.17 3.12 4.1 2. 2 Pet. 1.15 16. not in dark Parables and Allegories but with such simplicity and plainness that they may appeal to every Man's conscience in the sight of God with all sincerity without any cloak of covetousness craft or guile As for Christ before his Ascension preaching many things in Parables it hath been fore-answered Part 1. ch 6. Mat. 10.27 28. and shewn how he opened all to his Disciples and charged them to teach the same openly and plainly so that the mystery of Christ as opened by Christ is by his Servants to be plainly preached now without fear of Man and so as in plain words so in such language and terms Act. 2.6 8. 1 Cor. 14.6 7 19. Rev. 19.10 1 Cor. 14.3 1 Joh. 3.20 21 27 28. 1 Cor. 1.1 2. Gen. 3.15 1 Joh. 3.5 8. as the Hearers do know and understand so the Holy Spirit given them did at first give them to speak to every Man in his own language and so they used to speak in words understandable to the Hearers They are now taught that the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophesie the original spring and Leader to all right speaking for Edification in knowing him all things are known and other knowledge and teaching then according to what is taught by the Spirits witnessing of him is not needful The knowledge of the first Report of the Gospel is in knowing him as now testified cleerly understood whereas those that by humane Wisdom think to know that first saying without this help given run into many mistakes yea all that the Fathers had in Visions and Dreams Act. 2.18 19 20 21. is met with in this Testimony of Christ now given by the Spirit yea all that the Heaven and Earth with his Works therein do witness is seen most cleerly in Christ Psal 19.1 6. Rom. 10.18 Isa 42.6 2 Cor. 1.20 Col. 2.17 Heb. 7 8 9 10. Col. 3.11 as set forth in this Testimony and by him made apparent to be more cleerly seen in them yea the Covenant made with Abraham it is to be seen and met with in him and all that was figured by Sacrifices and all other Types the Truth is in him and to be seen and known in him so that now Christ is all and in all and so in this Doctrine and Testimony And therefore he and the things of him are plainly to be preached and that in a known language and understandable words being alike holy and sanctified to declare the Gospel with and so alike fit to express God's Minde to us as is before shewn Part 1. ch 5. and for us to express our Minde to God in praying to him And so the Apostles writing to the Church at Rome Rom. 8.25 Gal. 4.6 where also both Jews and Greeks were shews how the Spirit breatheth in both languages Abba Father and so to another Church and so they spake with all plainness of Speech in things needful to be known for Faith and good Manners and so is the Gospel to be plainly preached in understandable words 3. This preaching of the Gospel now must neither be with the wisdom of words 1 Cor. 1.17 18 19 20. 2.1 2 3 4 5. which the Spirit of Wisdom that is in the Princes of this World for Learning or the Wisdom of Man teacheth or in such manner as to draw applause to the Preacher or to receive that said for his excellency in Learning and arguing in Rhetorical perswasions Nor must this preaching be with Fables and endless Genealogies 1 Tim. 4.7 6.20 Tit. 3.9 Col. 2.8 1 Cor. 1.19 20 17 23. 2.1 4 12. or opposition of Science falsly so called nor with Philosophical Subtilties Reasons and Depths after the Fashion of humanely-learned wise Men nor with Artificial and framed Eloquence and Rhetorical Perswasions according to Man's Art nor yet with pretences of great Light intruding into things they have not seen in the Testimony there being in that no Revelation of it Rom. 12.3 Col. 2.18 Gal. 1.10 1 Thes 2.4 5 6. 1 Cor. 14.6 19 28. and so beyond the measure of Faith given though covered with great pretences and shews of Humility nor by tempering their Doctrine to the humours of Men to please them and get applause from them nor with using quaint words or words of a strange language not understood If a strange Tongue inspired were to be silenced where it was not of the Hearers understood how much more that which is acquired by study 1 Cor. 2.4 5. Rom. 16.26 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Tit. 2.15 1 Pet. 4.11 1 Cor. 3.18 Rom. 1.1 5. all these things are to be avoided in this preaching and the preaching to be with Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit in the Testimony he hath given of Christ in the Scripture and so with all Power and Authority as the very Oracles of God and all this plain-speaking to Men not for Men to exercise their Wisdom to imagine a Riddle and study for a mysterious sense but for the obedience of Faith that Men as Fools in their own wisdom may be wise in credit-giving to this Testimony and so believe and obey in
and stay and so the Truth is the upholder and stay of the Church and the giver of Authority to it and not the Church the stay of and Authority-giver to the Truth yet even in this respect also as Christ is the Head of the Church and his Truth and Spirit and he thereby an Indweller in the Church so they in holding forth the Truth are instrumental upholders of it Act. 9.15 2 Tim 4.7 Mat. 5.14 and maintainers of the Faith to the World and so the Light of the World and in respect of some in the outward Court that turn the Grace of God into wantonness pervert the Gospel deceive the World and labour to beguile Believers in turning them from the Faith These are the Keepers of the Faith by teaching it and opposing and fighting with the sword of the Spirit against their prophaness and errors and so maintaining the Faith against their falshoods And in all these senses the Church that are these Witnesses 2 Tim. 4.1 7. 2 Cor. 10.4 5 6. Jude 3 4. is the Pillar of Truth and yet more fully in one sense more including all the former in it This Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth taking in as is given us both the words that is to say 5. As they were of old to write the Commandments and Statutes of the Lord upon the door-posts of their house Deut. 6.9 11.20 and their gates as the Ten words were written in Tables of stone that they might be seen and read and as some say The Prophets did hang or fasten their written Prophesies upon one of the Pillars in the Temple as is the use of the chief Magistrate to have his Proclamation fastned on some noted post or pillar in the Market-place where all the Country may take notice of it and read it so these are the Church or House and so that post and pillar the Table or Ground in and upon whom the Truth is so written that all may read it though some with likement and some with dislike as the Apostle hath plainly affirmed saying to the Church Ye are our Epistle written in our hearts seen and read of all Men forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone as the Law of old was but in the fleshly Tables of the heart in which there is a performance spiritually by Christ of that said to the Prophet of old Write the Vision Feb. 2.2 and make it plain upon Tables Isa 29 11 12. that he may run that readeth it and being taken with that read he may read to others even that Vision of All and others may read it on him And this writing is the very work of Christ by his Spirit in Ministery of the Gospel We never read that Christ did personally in his own Body write any part of the Scripture that work he left for his Servants by his Spirit to do yet once we finde that he wrote with his Finger on the ground as not regarding his Tempters Joh. 8.6 yet what he wrote is not said but to say the Apostle alludeth to that I dare not nor yet will I say it was an intimate Instruction of his own work so freely to write by his Finger which oft signifieth his Spirit his Epistle in the ground of the heart of his unworthy ones but this I may say in treating of his spiritual writing To allude to this is no error But however it cleerly appears this Society and Church spoken of is the Pillar and ground of Truth where Truth is written and holden forth to be read 1 Tim. 3.16 yea even the Truth that is the Mysterie of godliness that great Mystery God was manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit c. And so these unfeigned Believers united to Christ having his word as delivered by his Apostles in their heart be his Witnesses now and the Ministers he hath chosen for this Ministration to minister according to the grace and gifts given them none presuming beyond these are the holy City and Sanctuary of his building and the Ministers of the things thereof Rev. 11.1 2 3. to whom he gives Spirit and Power that they may witness him even to the World and among these is the true Altar even in this Temple and these are the Worshippers thereat and because of the Gospel in their hearts and there through some portion of these forementioned spiritual gifts by which they witness him hold forth the word of life with their tongues therefore their tongue is said to be as choice silver and their lips to feed many Prov. 10.21 22. Pro. 15 10. Psa 35.28 71.24 119.172 51.31 1 Thes 1.8 1 Cor. 3.3 18. Gal. 5.22 23. their tongue useth knowledge aright and speaks of God's righteousness and praise all the day yea even so as sinners may be converted to him and so from them the word of God soundeth forth And also by the same Spirit in the Gospel their hearts being framed to the minde and design of Christ they so have a Christ-like Spirit springing up Love Joy Peace c. which leadeth them to walk in Faith and Love in Holiness and Mercy Mat. 5.16 c. So that also hereby they do witness of him and hold forth the word of Life also in their conversation in good works and holy profession whence the Fruit of the Righteous is called A Tree of Life Prov. 11.30 Ezek. 47.12 Rev. 22.2 2 Cor. 9.2 and a way of winning Souls yea their Fruit is for Meat and their Leaf for Medicine so their Conversation winneth and their Zeal provoketh many and because the Spirit of Glory resteth on them 1 Pet. 4.10 11 14. and giveth them power to glorifie God in witnessing both these wayes though through sufferings Therefore in respect of their twofold witnessing and holding forth the word of Life to glorifie God and do good to Men convincing by Truth and comforting with Truth and confuting falshood Rev. 11 4. They are also called the two Witnesses that witness yea that witness the Truth on God's part against the Man of sin and God of the World and the two Olive-Trees that bring forth that good Fruit whence the good Oyl runneth and the two Candlesticks that hold forth the true Light that shineth so that every way it appears that these unfeigned Believers united to Christ in him by Faith and he in them by Word Spirit are his chosen Ones to bring forth Fruit his Ministers for carrying an end the Ministration of this last Revelation of Christ till he come again these are the Temple of God the House of God the Church of God I need not to use worldly terms else I might shew how these are the Achademah or School University and Colledge in which are all the Scholars that are taught of God And
the Gospel having that also to testifie withal And so that none go beyond the proportion of Faith dealt to him even that which he is without taking it on trust from others Rom. 12.3 4 6 7 8. 2 Cor. 12.4 5 6 12. enabled to see and understand in the Gospel so as verily thereby to believe and that his venting be not in imitation of other Men's Gifts and Administrations but according to the Manifestation of the Spirit and Grace given him freely operating and leading him forth and not straining beyond that 3. For giving this honour to no Man on Earth how learned soever or in what Office soever or of what parts excellency Mat. 23.9 10. Isa 8.20 2 Thes 5.20 21. Col. 2.8 18. Gal. 1.6 7 8. Rom. 3.4 1 Cor. 7.23 Gal. 1.10 2 Cor. 4.5 6. 1 Joh. 4.6 or appearing godliness soever as to make count or call him our Rabbi Master or Teacher so as to take any matter of Faith on trust from him for Truth or to be waved from the belief of or holding forth the Truth of the plain-sayings of Christ in the Gospel out of fear to make such a one a liar or to temper our Doctrine and delivery so as it may suit with any cross sayings of his yea to give this honour of taking this upon trust to none but God and Christ Mat. 23.8 and so to him for his sake taking it from his Prophets and Apostles by whom in the Record left by them he speaks to us still And that none desire or take this honour to himself but let God and Christ by his Spirit in the Gospel delivered and recorded by his first Witnesses be our Father Rabbi and Master for Faith and Love and all holy walking and we as Brethren 4. For keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Eph. 4.2 3. 1 Cor. 4.6 7. 12.4 11. Phil. 2.3 4 5. that we be not any of us puft up with the excellency of our own Gifts or Administrations nor discontent at the meanness thereof in respect of others nor despise or discountenance others for their meanness therein but acknowledging God and Christ in all and in love preferring one another Rom. 14.32 21. 15.1 4. that we judge not despise not one another for difference in some outward things through the knowledge or want of the knowledge of our Liberty in Christ nor trouble the weak Brethren with doubtful disputations But with all lowliness and meekness with all long-suffering forbearing one another in love Eph. 4.2 3 4. 1 Cor. 1.6 10 Phil. 3.14 1â— endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the Gospel-Love and design forementioned in the bond of peace that we may all speak the same thing in the Testimony of Christ confirmed among us and if in any thing any of us be otherwise minded to wait for God in the Ministration to reveal the same to him nevertheless to walk by the same Rule of faith and love according to that we have attained and so minde the same thing that there be no divisions among us so shall all men know us to be Christ's Disciples Joh. 13.35 5. For keeping cleer and fair the Name and Truth that is written upon us 1 Tim. 6.11 12 13 14. Tit. 2.10 Phil. 2.27 Col. 3.17 1 Cor. 10.31 that we follow after Righteousness Holiness Purity Mercy good Works and flie all Pride Wrath Malice Coverousness Fraud Lying Uncleanness Intemperancy c. that we do not blur or deface the Name and Writing that is upon us but adorning the Gospel we profess doing all things heartily as to the Lord in the Name of Christ to the glory of God and good of Men. 6. 1 Cor. 16.14 2 Cor. 5.14 1 Cor. 13. 1 Cor. 8.1 2 3. 14.1 2 5 12. For the profiting in speaking and walking that it may take place with and be edifying to others to see that all our speakings and doings be done in charity with the love and bowels of Christ moving us with desire of the good of others without which all Knowledge Faith Gifts Works or Sufferings will not avail us in this profiting and so in desire of spiritual gifts that we desire them not for our own applause or exaltation but for the edifying of the Church and that in this desire also we do more earnestly desire and follow after charity And these with such-like are the constant and abiding helps given in the Gospel for Believers which in living by Faith they may alwayes have and use and so be preserved from erring in Doctrine Ministration or Manners so that here is a sufficient gracious helpfulness and Furniture always needful and always at hand for all times till Christ come again yet in respect of some occasions there is yet needful to them some other helps as order and helps in Government with which they are also furnished in this Revelation of Christ in the Gospel CHAP. 16. Of the helps in respect of occasions which are given these witnesses FOr the encrease and multitudes of Believers and Professors of the Faith brought in by this Ministration because their Societies and Assemblies may come to be both many and many of them great and numerous and because their employments in this World be many and various and because many brought in to believe the Report of the Gospel to be a Truth are not yet by it convinced of their own unbelievingness vileness and the emptiness of their own righteousness Joh. 2.23 24. 8.31 36. vileness and the emptiness of their own righteousness and some though convinced yet not prevailingly wrought upon to be through-hearted in cleaving and submitting to Christ to have all their life in him and live to him though in abiding in this belief of the Truth and attending this Ministery of it it will save them and work them up to the Truth that will make them free both which though Attenders and of the outward Society yet not the true Sanctuary and so to be Learners and not the Teachers yea it may be also some in some measure unfeignedly believing and yet Novices newly come to the Faith 1 Tim. 3.6 may be ready to speak beyond the proportion of Faith given them yea and it may so be that some feigned and dissembling ones yea and disorderly ones also may creep into the outward profession and so be of this Society in profession and so the outward Court though while such not in nor of the Sanctuary and holy Place of which hath before been spoken and by reason of this if help be not had disorder and confusion will be found in and blemishes besal the whole Society but for remedy hereof there are helps afforded One for Constancy and that is order in speaking in the Assembly that but one speak at once and the rest be silent and so two or three may speak one after another so it be in order and after while time and silence is may
kinde which is altogether impossible for any to do so that there can be but one Faith that is really true and holy in its kinde IV. Rom. 16.25 26. Eph. 3.3 9. 2 Cor. 3.12 14. That the fullest and cleâ—rest Revelation of the Mystery of Faith is that given immediately by Christ himself and left upon Record by his Apost es and Evangelists and so the cleering up of all the former Revelations and the sense and meaning of the Prophets is most cleerly and in plain Words to be sound in their Writings and so the Gospel as delivered by them because of the abundance and plainness of Truth and fulness of spiritual Evidence in it is truely and indeed and so called Rom. 1.16 17. The Power of God unto Salvation to bring every one that believeth c. for therein is the Righteousness of God not any deceit or fable or pretence equivocation or falshood but the Righteousness of God in his Words saying or mises revealed not hinted in parabolical and cloking terms but revealed opened brought to light from Faith to Faith from one Revelation of Christ the Object of Faith to another and so to another more cleer from assuring him to come suffer to assure him to be already come and to have suffered and to come again in Glory from Faith in him being so come from believing in him through Types Shadows Prophecies to believing in him now from a cleer Demonstration of his having compleated Righteousness and the Father's face shining in him and so now and from believing this Testimony of him to confiding in him and so from one Degree of Faith to another till he come to Vision and yet all the way one Faith still as it is the same strength encreasing in them in which they are said to go from strength to strength till they appear in Sion and so the Just shall live by Faith Psal 84.7 And here we have the fullest and plainest Revelation of it And so we are to heed all and none but those Purposes Promises and Covenant of God which are set forth in this Testimony and Revelation Christ An Explicite Declaration of the Testimony of Christ c. PART IV. CHAP. I. Of the Purpose of God in general THE Eternal and Immutable Will of God Psal 33.11 Isa 14 24 26 27. Eccles 3.14 or his Decree and Purpose concerning all that in his infinite Wisdom Soveraignty and Goodness he hath freely purposed to do hath in his seasons from the beginning now doth and for ever shall take place and be done even so as he hath purposed and no power of Creatures can or shall hinder the same yea none can alter it or add thereto or take therefrom And it must needs be so for he is of one Minde Job 23.13 14. Psal 119.90 91. 103.19 66.7 Deut. 29.29 and none can turn him and his Word is established for ever in Heaven and his Kingdom ruleth over all and he ruleth by his power for ever and all are his Servants yet of this his Will Decree and Purpose in respect of the particulars no more belongs to us to search into then himself hath revealed to us but what he hath revealed by his Work in which his Purposes are brought forth Eph. 1.11 for he worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will so that in the event as things are indeed done we may so far know his Decree and Purpose Psal 39.9 118.23 126. and so far to know the same is of good use for us and likewise what he hath revealed in his holy Word of his Decree and Purpose concerning those things that are already done and those things that he will yet now and hereafter do which Word of his is as himself true from the beginning Psal 119 140 160. Prov. 8.6 7 8. Joh. 17.17 Pro. 22.20 21. Ecclis 12.10 and being breathed forth by his Spirit is the most cleer declarer of his Decree and Purposes his Word being pure and without any wreathedness yea the Truth and therefore written that we might know the certainty of the Words of Truth and that which is written is upright even Words of Truth And according to the discovery of the Decrees and Purposes of God in his holy written Word and by his Works they are to be heeded and believed by us as true certain and good and of good usefulness to us and other imaginations and devices by whomsoever Isa 8.20 and how appearingly goodly soever we are not to heed believe or own Now then the Purpose of God which in respect of the things purposed are called Purposes that I am to treat of are Isa 49.20 Job 27.12 Isa 25. 1. Psal 2.6 148.6 Job 14.5 26.10 28.26 Prov. 8.29 Jer. 5.22 That or those about the Eternal Salvation or Damnation of Men which by these two the Word and the Works of God are revealed to us which though the Will and Purpose of God be one yet in respect of the things willed purposed and decreed are called Many and so Purposes of which is here to be spoken these being all ordered and set in that one Will Counsel Purpose and Decree of his that we are to know and believe hereof is that which by his Word and Works is revealed to us whether in terms of Counsel Will Purposes or Decrees all which terms signifie the same thing and so to begin with that which prepares to the right understanding of all and then so to proceed as by Word and Works we are led we finde 1. Prov. 8.22 23 24 25 26 30. That the Purpose of God was in the first place To exalt his only begotten Son The Word The Wisdom of God equal with God to shew forth his Glory through him and by him bring forth all his glorious Works to glorifie him with his own self to establish him the supream Lord and Governour of all in his own person and all this freely before any view or consideration of any his following Works as moving causes thereto And this he did to his Son the Word Joh. 1.1 2 3. Col. 1.15 16 17. Heb 1.2 3. Joh. 17.5 Phil. 2.6 Rom. 11.36 and so he was possessed in the beginning of his way and exalted from everlasting and brought forth before all things one with the Father in all his Decrees glorified with the Father 's own self and by and for and to him were all things decreed and made that are decreed and made Now in the Son of God The Word The Wisdom The Power of God in this consideration as thus purposed and exalted it was peculiar to his Person as the Son of God onely and there was not in him the Nature of Man in this consideration nor any one of Mankinde elected or purposed to be elected in him into Union and Fellowship and Conformity with him in this Prerogative and Glory in which he was equal with the Father no Scripture
of any if it continue in the Heart and they abide in it they shall be saved Therefore he stirreth himself to steal it out of the Heart lest they should be saved Luke 8.12 And indeed Men thus far brought to believe if they continue not in his Word they lose the livingness and quickning of the Spirit in the Gospel and so close their eyes again and then though they continue a profession of Faith yet it is but a dead Faith Jam. 2.26 destitute of that Life and Motion of Faith the Spirit in the Gospel affordeth as the Body of a Man though for a time retaining its form yet when Life and Motion is gone is dead yet as that is no good Argument to prove there never was Life in that Body so neither is this deadness of Faith any proof that there never was livingness in it but it rather evidenceth the Truth of our Saviour's Testimony Joh. 15.6 If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and withereth c. which could not be if he never had sap moisture and greenness Yea Pag. 429. Answ 1. Mr. Owen confesseth thus much That before their falling away they were in a fair way for life and salvation and that their falling away is from gifts and common graces Now this is certain they could not be in any way for Salvation if Christ by his Death had not made satisfaction for them and received Spirit in their Nature to send forth and apply it to them nor could they be in a fair way to Salvation if there were no will in God through Christ by the means extended to save them yea they could not be in a fair way for Life and Salvation if the Word they believed and their believing and the Gifts and Graces they received were not all true of the right kinde and of a saving Nature and Tendency so as abiding and dying in it he is certainly saved for what Faith or Gift soever a Man hath that continuing and dying in he is yet damned eternally he was in the having them in a deceitful way a way to death and not in a fair way to Life and Salvation But enough is said to shew the Purpose of God concerning such Believers as these But to proceed Secondly There are Believers that through the Testimony of Christ having their eyes opened and their Hearts brought to believe the Testimony to be true and good and not so onely Rom. 5.6 8 9 10 4 22-25 Tit. 2.14 3.4 5 6. 1 Pet. 1.20 21 22 but in that believing to minde and believe the greatness and immensness of the Love of God commended in this that while we were sinners and enemies to him his Son Christ died for us and made peace by his blood and now hath as freely made it known to us so as thereby they are reconciled to God and enabled to believe on him for that eternal Life he hath promised and in that renewed in heart to a child-like disposition and concerning these thus believing in him the Purpose or Purposes of God are 1. That he will put his Spirit in them Ezek. 36.27 Joh. 6.68 69 Mat. 16.16 17 Isa 59.21 Joh. 14.16 17 26 Joh 16.13 14 15 16 Heb. 8.10 Rom 8.26 Psa 73.23 24 and cause them to walk in his Statutes that he shall not onely be with them to give them now and then some Light and Motion to make him known in his Words and affect their hearts as before he did but he shall be in them that is take up such an Habitation in the Word put in their Heart that he shall be an indwelling Advocate and Comforter thereby within them to bring the Sayings of Christ to their remembrance and teâ—â—n them and so to take of the things of Christ to shew them and so glorifie him and make him precious to their Hearts and write his Minde therein and enable them to pray and so comfort and guide them 2. That by his Word and Spirit he will give them to answer their Adversaries and subdue their sinful lusts and corruptions Mat. 10.19 Mar. 13.11 Luk. 21.15 Mic. 7.18 19 Rom. 16.21 and give them issue out of all their temptations 1 Cor. 10.13 and shortly in due time tread Satan under their Feet 3. That he will never leave them nor forsake them Deut. 31.6 Heb. 13.5 Isa 43.1 4 5. 1 Sam. 2.9 Psa 97.10 Pro. 2.8 but uphold them in his way and so be with them in the worst of hours when they are most opposed and pass through fire and water that they shall not be overthrown yea he will keep their feet and preserve their Souls in the way Psal 91 and so through Faith to the inheritance so that though thousands miscarry yet no evil shall befal them he will command safety and deliverance and victory for them These are not onely Promises but the declared Purposes of God concerning those that believe in him and so are the Sons of God by Faith and they are made known to imbolden them confidently to abide in the wayes of God without fear in which way he will keep them and that they may have a ready recourse to the sure Rock and Object of Faith in all these Promises Luk. 1.71 72 73 74 75 Pro. 10.29 1 Pet. 1.5 and according to all these revealed Purposes in believing be united to him and so live by Faith through which Faith he will by his power keep them even to the Inheritance and that such is his Purpose is plain and in many places plainly declared 4. That such of these unfeigned Believers as shall be found living upon this earth at the visible and glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.50 51 52 53 54 55 1 Thes 4.14 15 16 17 Heb. 11.13 14 39 40 Psa 105 9 10 11 Dan. 12.13 shall at that time at the very beginning of his appearing in a moment in the twinkling of an eye be changed with a change suitable to Death and Resurrection so as though they sleep not in Death yet Death and Resurrection both are included in this change in which Mortality is put off and Immortality put on and in the same moment the same short time as the twinkling of an eye all that from the beginning of the World to that time have died in the Faith and so though slept in Death yet dying in the Faith they are the Dâ—ad in the Lord and so in Christ sleep in Jesus these shall all be raised at once in the same moment the other are changed so that all at once and none before another or preventing another but all together shall see the Lord and be caught up in that sight to meet with him in the Air and so to come with him and receive together the promised Inheritance and so be ever with the Lord. And to conclude the discoursing of Purposes in this way I shall onely add that which is
c. for it is written Mat. 4.6 with Psal 91.11 12. he shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up c. as if he should say If thou be his Son God hath absolutely engaged himself for thy safety and thou canst not mis-carry But he subtilly left out the middle clause in which was the Order of the Purpose and Promise to keep thee in all thy ways too neer which fault they come who asserting Believers kept by the power of God unto Salvation citing the Text 1 Pet. 1.5 leave out the middle clause the way in which he keeps them that is through Faith but our Saviour minded the Promise as it was and depended on his Father in his way and resisted the Devil with It is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God so am I by that which is written led to refuse this notion and to imbrace for Truth all that is said 2 Tim. 2.8 11 12 13. according to all which the Apostle also directeth Timothy concerning others and bids him Charge them before the Lord 2 Tim. 2.14 That they strive not about words to no profit as all invention of Purposes or of Election or of any terms or Allegories which are not in Gal. 1.6 7 8. 2 Cor. 11.3 4 5. or are beside the Gospel delivered by Christ and his Apostles are but to the subverting of the hearers amazing and troubling their mindes into wavering and doubting of the Truth And so he chargeth Timothy himself 2 Tim. 2.15 Rev. 19.10 1 Cor. 2.2 3. Luk. 24.47 2 Cor. 5.14 19. Joh. 3.14 17. 2 Tim. 1.11 2.11 12 13. 3.16 17. Study to shew thy self approved unto God a work-man that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth which is the Testimony of Christ and him crucified and Repentance and Remission of sins in his Name Surely this is the Foundation and the right dividing it is with that form of sound Words which in the Gospel he had heard of Paul in Faith and Love And this applying according to the faithful saying here mentioned to every one instruction reproof comfort or terror as need was for which the Scripture did furnish him and then he farther warns Timothy to shun prophane and vain bablings as all their Fables and fancied Allegories 2 Tim. 2.16 foolish and vain Queries and opposition of Science falsly so called are which Peter prosessed was not in his preaching 2 Tim. 2.18 23. 1 Tim. 9.20 2 Pet. 1.16 2 Tim 2.16 3.13 2 Tim. 2.17 and here is a reason given For they such bablings and they that use them will increase unto more ungodliness and their word will cat as doth a canker or gangrene and so he names some of them of whom is Hymene us and Philet us who concerning the truth was not this the Testimony of Christ the Object and Foundation of Faith have erred yea departed and blasphemed or spoken reproachfully of it as is the use of such as turn the Truth into Allegories counting the plain Testimony of the Truth it self but a fleshly thing and the knowledge and belief of it but a fleshly knowledge and Faith but their Allegory a spiritual business 1 Tim. 1.19 20. with 2 Tim. 2 1â— as appears in their saying The resurrection is past already which could be no other then in some dreaming Allegorical Resurrection they pretended to have obtained which so took with the heares that thereby they have overthrown the Faith of some So that we have three here that were sometime of great note and eminency in the Church Hymeneus Alexander and Philetus that putting away a good conscience had made shipwrack of Faith themselves and two of them at least excommunicated yet by their corrupt teaching and vain babling they did also overthrow the Faith of some others And in the first Epistle he warned Timothy by the fall of these to look to his own standing And in this Epistle he warns him by the same to look to others and against all the discouragements that might befal him from the departure of such eminent ones and others also turned from the Faith by them tells them The Foundation of God standeth sure c. which is evident to be such a Foundation as bears forth the Truth of all the former faithful Sayings as he and all Believers are brought to and know and by abiding on may be fafe And this is no other but Jesus Christ And he being so often and plainly affirmed the Foundation and that there is no other given unto Men it may be marvelled why so many Worthies should upon this place say That God's Eternal Purpose and Election is the sure Foundation Let the Words be viewed to see if they import any such thing CHAP. 10. A view of 2 Tim. 2.19 to see what 's there meant by The Foundation NEvertheless 2 Tim. 2.19 the foundation of God standeth sure or steady having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his and let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity Nevertheless Notwithstanding those that turned their eye from Truth slighted the Foundation aspired in a Dream 2 Cor. 11.1 2 3 4 5 6 11 12 13 14 15. defiled their Conscience and so cast away Faith and others in listning to them as Evah did to the Serpent and so not heeding to the Truth or cleaving to the Foundation are overthrown weakned in or broken off from the Faith yet notwithstanding all this the Foundation of God standeth sure Now the chief business for me in this is to demonstrate what is here meant by The Foundation of God and though other places of Scripture have fully and plainly told us already yet we may minde what this place saith in observing three things What the Apostles scope was What was in his view What the words and terms with their several Branches and Distinctions are In all which it appears what the Foundation is and that it is Jesus Christ as set forth in the Gospel consider it well 1. The scope of the Apostle appears in this and the following Chapter to be to stir up Timothy and so others to faithfulness and diligence in the Ministration of the Gospel 2 Tim. 2.1 2 3 14 15 4.2 2.8 16 22 23 24 25 26 Jude 21 22 23. to be strong in the Grace of Christ for it and instant and fervent in it and for this end to endure hardness and avoid such things as might hinder him to flie youthful lusts vain bablings unlearned questions c. and to minde Christ risen from the dead that so he might with tender love and compassion endeavour the preservation and edification of those which did believe and the recovery of such as were departed and taken in the snare of the Devil some with compassion some with fear all with meekness and to encourage him in all this he tells him The Foundation of God standeth
desire whereof and confidence in God for his gracious Answer they lift up their hands to God g 1 Tim. 2.8 whence Prayer is so named lifting up the hands to God h Psal 141.2 and in Testimony of their desire and confidence in God for his gracious answering they laid on hand on the parties prayed for i Act. 8.17 28.8 Such and in such manner their laying on of hands 2. The Doctrine of laying on of hands it is that Doctrine or teaching of the Gospel of Christ and him crucified in which Believers are directed and encouraged to pray for good things to God with Promises of a gracious hearing that so they may pray and lift up hearts and hands in confidence in God and lay on hands in Testimony thereof And this being one of those Principles that by the Oracles of God were taught to all Believers of the Oblation of Christ it must needs be as common to all Saints as the Faith of the Oblation of Christ and the Oracles proceeding from it known and believed and so it cannot be meant of the act of laying on of hands for giving and receiving the visible Gifts of the Holy Ghost for speaking with other Tongues for such laying on of hands appears to be peculiar to the Apostles and was not common to all the first Witnesses Act. 8.5.15 17 19.6 1 Cor. 14.22 12.29 30. Eph. 4.7 8 13. Eph. 1.17 3.14 17. Col. 3.9 10. 1 Thes 3.12 Eph. 6.19 2 Thes 3.1 2 Tim. 1.6 Act. 6.6 1 Tim. 5.22 Rom. 15.30 31. Act. 13.3 Jam. 5.14 15 16 20. Philip though an Evangelist and had the gift of working Miracles and did many yet for this the Church sent two Apostles Peter and John and so it was an Apostle that laid on hands for this gift another time and not this onely but the gift of Miracles and miraculcus healing though given to more then the Apostles yet not to all Saints even in those first times when Miracles were most needful till Christ had been fully taught and Jesus proved to be he nor are these gifts affirmed to be of like continuation with other spiritual gifts so that that which the Gospel in the Doctrine of laying on of hands teacheth that is of continual use for all Believers is that here meant and that is for venting our desires by Prayer to God in the Name of Christ for his mercy and free-favour through Christ to be given in blessing with encrease of and establishment in the Faith to Believers and for fitting and furnishing such as have the word of Grace in their heart to preach the Gospel and to bless their Ministration and for Believers approbation fitness faithfulness and blessing that are chosen into Church-Offices and for ability faithfulness preservation and blessing for such as are sent and imployed in Message or business for the Church and Church-Affairs and for gracious support and helpfulness in and seasonable deliverance out of any temptation sickness affliction or distress that any Believer is in and such-like as for that anointing with oyle in the Name of the Lord mentioned it appears to be taken in a metaphorical and spiritual sense because oyle and anoynting used of old was a type of the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost Psa 45.7 Isa 61.1 with which Christ was anoynted immeasurably and with which he in the Gospel anointeth Believers which in Scripture is called oyle and anointing and anointing with material oyle is neither commanded nor anywhere in Scripture mentioned to be done much less set forth as an Ordinance since Christ's ascension into Heaven and pouring forth the Holy Ghost in which Truth being come Types and Shadows cease nor is it but once mentioned that I finde while he lived on earth Mar. 6.13 Cant. 1.3 1 Joh. 2.20 27 28. and that was when bodily cures by Miracles were most in use but this is a constant Truth His Name is as an Oyntment poured forth and so those that believe in him are said to have received an unction from him yea an anointing that teacheth and so to anoynt those we pray over with oyle in the Name of the Lord Phil. 1.8 9 10 11. is in Faith and Charity fervently streaming both in Prayers and speaking so to declare that Name in the Vertues of the Blood and Sacrifice of him and the Love of God appearing therein with the reviving Instructions and Consolations it affordeth that the savour of his Oyntments may refresh the heart And this to be the Apostles meaning Jam. 5.16 20. appears in his own after-Explanation So that the Prayer of Faith and of the Faithful is the chief Ordinance meant here with lifting up the hands in confidence to God or also with laying on of hands in Testimony of confidence in God Mat. 7.7 11. Mar. 10.24 Joh. 16.23 24. he being a God hearing Prayers which is the Doctrine of laying on of hands or that which the Gospel teacheth concerning it namely the gracious Minde of God that in all our needs we should by the Prayer of Faith and of the Faithful seek help of him and that he will hear and help us graciously according to his word Psal 64.5 And yet to cleer it 3. This is farther to be noted That in Scripture Language 1 Cor. 11.20 23 24 28. a whole Ordinance in which are many particular Acts is sometime called by the name of one particular Act in it as The Supper of the Lord in which is Blessing Prayer Instruction Praise taking and breaking Bread and distributing Wine eating drinking and comemmorating the Death of Christ Act. 20.7 Act. 2.46 c. is called by the name of one particular Act in it even Breaking Bread When the Disciples came together to break Bread Paul preached c. Yea sometime that one Act is named so as to imply all the Ordinances Believers had in Fellowship among themselves and so the Temple of God Isa 56.7 his House where Sacrifices Offerings and burnt-Offerings and all Temple-worship was rightly used and so there Accepted is even therefore called The House of Prayer And so this Ordinance of Prayer in performance of which is Confession Petition Praise with bowing the knee lifting up the eyes the voyce the hands and sometime laying on of hands as it is sometime called Prayer sometime pouring out the heart c. so it is sometime named by one particular Act in it sometime by one Eph. 3.14 1 King 8.54 Psal 123. Judg. 21.2 2 Chron. 5.17 Act. 4.24 Joh. 7.27 32 33 34. 8.27 sometime by another sometime bowing the knees somtime lifting up the eyes sometime lifting up the voice but most frequently is the Ordinance of Prayer called by that Act in it of lifting up the hands Psal 8.2 When I lift up my hands c. and Psal 63.4 While I live I will lift up my hands in thy Name Yea the whole great suffering and so the Oblation and Sacrifice of Jesus
elect Surely the faith so set forth Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. is even so in respect of any other gifts upon any account by men called Faith Eph. 4.4 5. 2.8 For in Scripture we finde but one true faith and that is the gift of God The object held forth for faith one the Gospel discovering it one and the Spirit witnessing and calling in that Gospel to that object one his light and motion Pages 217 218 from the free grace of God discovered drawing to beleeve in Christ draws into one and worketh one faith and there is not another as is shewn before As for that in Tit. 1.1 the Apostie was setting forth to Titus the Grace of his Apostleship And in and according to what it was to be exercised Ro. 1.1 2 3 4 5. 16.25.26 Eph. 1.3 12. Gal. 1.11 12. Tit. 1.1 Isa 43 1. Mat. 12.18 Gal. 2.20 Rom. 1.5 16 26. uttering in few words that he did to the Romans in more words and to the Ephesians and to the Galatians and other Churches And so here by Gods elect is primely meant Jesus Christ who is Gods elect and his beloved Son And so the faith of Gods elect and the faith of the Son of God is all one and the same faith And by faith is here meant primely The doctrine of Faith in which Jesus Christ is set forth and this preached for the obedience of faith that men might beleeve it and so come in to the acknowledgement of the truth which is after godliness in the hope of eternal life which is set forth in this Gospel 2 Thes 2.14 Gal. 1.23 This the same faith which Paul when Saul sometimes persecuted and after his conversion preached so that we have here plainly set forth to us 1. The testimony of Christ who is Gods elect his Son The Word our Saviour and the medium and Doctrine setting him forth in these words The faith of Gods elect And 2. Joh. 3.14 15 16 17 18. The repentance from dead works and faith towards God which it calleth to teacheth requireth and worketh 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. Rom. 1 1-3 16 25 26. in these words The acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness And 3. The blessing and hope in such repenting and beleeving to be met and enjoyed in these words In hope of eternal life c. Is not this the same with that in other places And is not this that which God promised before the world began before there was any beginning of increase or society for multiplication only creatures made and man fallen God then promised the sending of his Son and this manifestation of him and eternal life in him and so by him to call and give eternal life in him 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Pet. 1.20 21. 1 Joh. 1.2 3 5.10 11 12. Col. 1.26 27 28. Eph 3 3-9 Rom. 16.26 and through him to all that beleeve in him And now God hath manifested this in sending forth his Son and through Gospet-preaching declared and made it known that men might beleeve and in beleeving have eternal life And this the very same so set forth and exprest in many other places so that here is the compleat object and foundation of faith Gods elect the medium of declaring the word manifested through preaching The true beleeving The acknowledgement of the truth which is after godliness And the blessed hope given and received in such beleeving The hope of eternal life and the ground of the certainty of this hope The Almighty that is All-sufficient God that cannot lye that is Truth it self he hath promised it even when mankind was fallen in enmity and weakness before the beginning of any increase or rising and hath since confirmed it by oath to Abraham Gen. 3.15 22.17 18. Isa 55 14 5. And he hath given a testimony of his love truth and righteousness in beginning to fulfil his word in that he hath sent forth his Son and delivered him up for us all and according to his will and command causeth the same to be preached Now when any through this testimony of God concerning his Son what he laid aside what he became and suffered for us what he is and is become and hath to bestow on us And so the love of God to mankinde appearing through him Rom. 4.23 24 25. 5.1 2 3. 2 Thes 2.13 14 1 Pet. 1.2 2 3 5 9. is thereby convinced and brought in to beleeve in Jesus Christ the elect of God so as he is therein broken off from all other confidences and delights to confide in God that raised Christ from the dead through him to save renue and preserve them in and by his grace to eternal life through this beleef of the truth and sanctification of the Spirit they are chosen into union and fellowship with Christ and conformity to him These are in 2 Pet. 1.1 Tit. 1.4 Jude 3. Tit. 1.9 2.2 11 12 13.14 3.4 5 6 7. and through Christ the elect of God and have the like precious faith with the Apostles And thus was Titus Pauls son after the common faith which is also called The common salvation and the faith which was once delivered to the Saints The faithful word to be holden fast The faith that beleevers are to be sound in explicated to Titus in the foundation and teachings of it And in the manner and gracious ends of its operation where the fountain streams effects and hope are exprest and opened so as we may be sure This is that common salvation common faith The faith once delivered to the Saints called also The faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 Rom. 3.3 Act. 14.24 Jam 2.1 Rev. 14.12 Phil. 1.27 The faith of Gods elect yea the faith of God and the faith of Christ the faith of our Lord Jesus And the faith of the Gospel And I hope none will say This is Gods peculiar manner of beleeving or Christ his beleeving or the Gospels beleeving nor that the faith of Gods elect was the peculiar manner of beleeving in Christ distinct from others beleeving in Christ which Paul sometime persecuted and now preached and yet no record of it so that this of Tit. 1.1 2 3 9. agrees in one and the same faith set forth Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. And for this that God did from eternity elect a certain number of men that were to come of Adam from the rest of mankinde to Son-ship and eternal life and that he gave these to Christ to dye for them and that these shall in due time be invested with a peculiar faith and holiness and that by his Spirit witnessing of Christ he will work a faith and holiness really true in its kinde in others of the sons of men for whom Christ dyed not when such as have it cannot be eternally saved by it but are capacitated thereby to sin against the Holy Ghost which in falling away they do and though they abide in this
4 5. is proved nor yet by his quotations Rom. 8.11 is spoken to them whom he had affirmed The called of Jesus Christ Rom. 1.6 7 8 8 9. Beloved of God Called Saints To and of whom he saith Yee are not in the flesh but in the spirit If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you Minde he speaketh not of an once or for a time having been in them that was out of question but of an abiding or dwelling as a governor in an house Now if any man have not the Sprit of Christ Mind he saith not hath had so that it s no error to say what ever he had heretofore Rom. 8.10 as to the Galathians ch 3.3 4. 5 7 8. he is none of his And if Christ be in you that is by this abiding of the Spirit or his dwelling in you preserving confidence in Christ c. just as he said to the Hebrews chap. 3.6.14 the body is dead because of sin sin that brought in death which though over come by Christ yet is not removed till his time from off men all must once dye nor will it be wholly removed from beleevers while any sin abideth in them though it rule not in them so as their bodies are yet mortal and so but heavy instruments to be used in spiritual services and must once dye but the Spirit is life because of righteousness Col. 2.12 13. 3.9 10. Eph. 4.21 23 24 Rom. 7.22 24. Rom. 7.22 Gal. 5.16 22 24. Joh. 7.37 38 39. the spirit opposed to the body that is the inward man the new man or Christ-like minde or disposition effected in the heart by the Spirit of Christ quickning them in and through beleeving in Christ to receive forgiveness of them sins and so enlivening c. This is life even a living principle derived from Christ in whom beleeving this principle derived from Christ in whom beleeving this principle is effected and preserved and it is living in faith confidence hope love and joy yea it is life affording living springs and motions And this for righteousness sake Rom. 5.18 that is for Christ his sake who is risen from the dead and hath by one righteousness obtained in himself life for all men and power to raise all men And that such as receive this grace and gift by grace given in and through Christ Grace may reign in them through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ Rom. 5.21 17. and they shall reign in life by Christ And because of the righteousness of God in Christ and the righteousness of Christ in his mediation by vertue of his oblation and in sending forth his Spirit according to his promise to such end The Spirit of the beleever is inlived Rom. 8.23 yea life And so they receive a first fruits of the Spirit in this life and wait for the adoption the redemption of their body to be at the coming of Christ And to comfort not some peculiar among them but all the beleeving Romans with the certainty and the way to enjoy the certainty of all this he saith to them But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead Rom. 8.11 dwell in you He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Minde these words he said before If Christ be in you the body is dead c. But the Spirit is life c. And now he saith again But if the Spirit of him c. dwell in you abide as a governor if so Then he that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit Rom. 6.29 7 4 6. 2 Tim. 2.11 c. that is apt to enlive them to be instruments of righteousness for you to serve with here in newness of life and spirit and raise them up again when dead by his Spirit that dwelleth in you and so by vertue of your union with Christ abiding in this faith of him 1 Thess 4.14 15. and his Spirit quickning your mortal bodies living and dying in this faith He will raise you again in the same union with him in which you slept So that all the way here is no other kinde of faith set forth nor other language of giving Spirit c. used then to the Collossians as also to the Galathians and Hebrews Col. 1.21 22 23. Eph. 1.16.17 as afore-shewn Eph. 2.19 in respect of their knowledge speaks not of what they yet enjoyed but of what the Apostle desired for them and the power of God is as himself one and the same though the manner and degrees of his putting it forth be divers As without a Mediator though by him that now is the Mediator in the first now old Creation It was the same power by which he made the heaven and the earth and man upon it by which also he caused the grass to grow c. but whether with like force put forth I determine not But of this I am sure the infinite greatness of this power is beyond the comprehension of any mortal man Also his power as put forth through a Mediator for upholding and ordering all the old Creation for its time and ruleth for ever by his power It is one and the same power â— Joh. 1.3 Psal 75.3 66.7 by which he upholds the heaven and the earth and preserveth man and beast and ordereth the fowls and flyes and growing of grass c. But whether alike put forth for every of these I determine not But of this I am sure the infinite greatness of this power is not fully known by any mortal man And now for his power as put forth not onely through a Mediator but to unite and conform to him and so to effect and set forward the New Creation that is begun and compleat in himself and to be compleated in and for all his New Creatures in which as in the Resurrection of Christ that dyed for sinners the power of his wisdome mercy truth faithfulness and strengh did most abundantly shine forth so in this work of uniting and conforming to him it is most abundantly dispensed and known and met with And this power thus put forth is ever one and the same power Even that by which he raised Jesus from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and every name that is named not only in this world Eph. 1.20.21 22 23. Eph. 1.19 but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his feet and given him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body c. This the power here spoken of But whether this power be in this manner alike put forth at all times to every one to whom it is extended as To convince to draw to beleeve To preserve in the faith To
that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son Ioh. 15.1.11 2 Ioh. 9. yea even of his first work of grace in changing our mindes and reconciling us to God it is said to be In the body of his flesh through death to present us holy and unblameable in his sight If we continue in the saith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel of which me have heard Col. 1 22â—23 1 Joh. 2.24 Whence also it is said to these If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you yee shall continue in the Father and the Son And so our Saviour saith to his own Disciples that were clean through the word that he had spoken to them Abide in me and 1 in you Joh. 15 47. as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine no more can yee except yee abide in me I am the Vine yee are the branches he that abideth in me that is beleeving and I in him that is my word in him the same bringeth forth much fruit c. Suitable to like sayings of his Spirit and exhortations in other places And so it is expresly said Rom. 11.22 1 Tim. 2.17 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. Heb. 3.6.14 1 Joh. 3.5 8 9 10. 4.4 5.3 4 5. If we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope firm unto the end We are the house of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end then are we made partakers of Christ and so born of God and his seed remaineth in us and that seed remaining being an influence from Christ and so stronger than the Devil that is in the world we in beleeving on God and so yeelding to it are born of God and so neither sin nor can sin because so born of God but do overcome the world This faith that is born of God being the victory whereby we overcome Rom. 8 2â— Luke 20.36 And this sense is plain and evident and agrees with that mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 4 5 9 10. And yet the compleatness of being born of God is in the resurrection of the just And so none of the quotations countenance two kinds of faith or of obtaining or of habits each true in its kinde As for degrees that is not in question Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained or prepared that we should walk in them What this is to the purpose to shew what God hath given into and wrought in beleevers that are true and in one sort or kinde of them more than in another kinde true also I see not and suppose that none can shew Eccles 7.29 For when God created us all in the first Adam it was certainly in his Image In uprightness and so with furniture for good works that we might have walked in them But he fell and lost himself and us all and so we became weak of no strength lost and destitute of all furniture for any good works But God hath created mankinde anew again in Jesus Christ the second Publick man the last Adam who having satisfied for sin suffered for it and overcome death and ascended and offered the acceptable sacrifice is in mans nature glorified filled with the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost to send for to the rebellious that they might come in and to furnish and lead all that do come in And he sinneth not nor can he dye any more but is alive for evermore so that in him we are compleat and perfect and this held forth to us that beleeving in him we might partake of his fulness which is a good motive to beleeve on Christ and to continue so beleeving And such as through the knowledge of his grace beleeve in Christ are certainly his workmanship and begun to bee united to Christ and this also unto good works such as God hath prepared in him that we should walk in them and so live to him and this the ground of his following exhortation as to other Churches Rom. 5.18 19 20. with 6.1 2 c. but no assertion of the measure of their attainments And it being confessed that the faith and holiness with the effectual operation of the Spirit in all the powers of the foul changing judgement affection conversation effecting light love joy zeal obedience enabling to do worthily in their generation Is not all this being the work of the Spirit that is in Christ comes from Christ and witnesseth of Christ his workmanship on and in them And are not they his workmanship in Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 5.14 15 And is there not fulness of furniture in Christ Jesus for good works for them And is it not the gracious end of God in making it known that they should live to Christ by walking in them I hope none will deny it All which justifies this faith set forth in Hebrews 6. and gives no countenance for any other kinde CHAP. XVIII Of the third saying in his second Concernment FOr the nature and property of this habit or abiding principle Thus he saith Being a natural genuine fountain of all those spiritual Acts Works and Duties which he is pleased to work in them and by them of his own good pleasure Though this be not the dialect of Scripture yet in a sober understanding it may be taken as agreeing thereto but not countenancing two kindes or a second kinde of true faith And so with some cautions and provisoes I shall take this saying for true and wholly consent thereto that is to say thus 1 That this abiding principle be not understood of a thing peculiar to any kinde of faith divers from another true in its kinde 1 Pet. 1.13 Tit. 3.4 5 6 7. but of the same kinde of faith set forth Heb. 6. faith being proved already to be one and so the same with that Tit. 1.1 2 That by Natural and Genuine be understood that which is Supernatural and Spiritual Isa 61.13 And so apt free willingly and naturally inclined and kindly putting forth 3 That the calling this principle a fountain be not understood as of a thing inclosed in the beleever to himself or any otherwise Psal 36.9 Jer. 2.13 17 13. Zach. 13.1 Rev. 21.6 Hos 14.8 Joh. 15.4 5 6. then as flowing from Christ to and in him that beleeveth in Christ and so in no sort derogating from Christ For he is the fountain of life with God and so from God unto us the fountain of living waters the fountain for clensing and for fruits And from that flowing from him is all that life cleansing and fruitfulness that is in beleevers And separate from him they can do nothing what ever greenness or springs be in any beleeving on him Jer. 2.13 17. 5 6 13. Joh. 15.4 6. yet if they thereby abide not in the faith of him
it and never separate from it And this supernatural divine power in this heavenly supernatural disposition is the Spirit of Christ in beleevers And in this manner Rom. 8 9-12 in and with such a disposition is he in them And he that hath not the Spirit of Christ in him is as yet none of his members And thus one and the same Spirit is in him the head and in them the members yet with some difference for the manner of being in them Eph. 4 16. 1 Joh. 2.20 27 28. Col. 2.3 9 10. Eph. 4.7 Rom. 8.23 it is in him as the head whence it flows to all the members In him as the giver but in them as members and receivers In him as the fountain in them as vessels In him immeasurably the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily In them according to a measure of the good pleasure of Christ and that not the full nor the half nor the tenth but a first fruits of that which abiding in him they shall be filled withall at his coming and this first fruits of a different measure in some more than in other and capable of increase in all Saints during this life And so the same spirit in those spoken to Heb. 6.1 2 4 5 7 9 10. And all this I have writ to prevent fancies delusions and pride in mens conceits of the inhabitation of the holy Spirit in them As for those two terms viz. That upon the account of this inhabitation of the Spirit in them they have union with Christ And that this union with Christ is one and the same Spirit dwelling in him the head and them the members These expressions may to such as have understanding to take them in a right sense go for currant and true for in a right sense so they are but to such as are yet weak they are so darkly exprest that it may dazle and hinder the faith of some and the growth of others For first that upon the account of the inhabitation of the Spirit they have union with Christ it is undoubtedly true yea without controversie there is no union with Christ but by the operation of this holy Spirit But that there is no union with Christ before this inhabitation of the Spirit would be harsh to affirm yea in order of nature if not of time as it may be in some the Spirit in working faith doth first unite the beleevers in beleeving to Christ before he take up his residence and habitation in them which is upon and after beleeving I will not press a nice distinction of the spirits being with a man in bringing to Christ and instructing in the knowledge of him Joh 7.37 38. Eph. 1.13 and so bringing by faith to adhere to him and so uniting And after taking up his habitation as an In dweller affording a living principle though there is more force for this in those words to them united to Christ Yee know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you Joh. 14.17 then in many quotations rendred by some for what they pretend to prove thereby But for true beleevers that in faith and love are united to Christ and yet happily have not or discern not such a constant inhabitation as is mentioned the Spirits doctrine is good and safe 1 Pet. 2.2 3.4 5 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that yee may grow thereby if so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious to whom coming c. Yee are built upon him c. which is no less than more firmly united and growing up in union with him Suitable to that Heb. 3.6.14 Joh. 17.20 Though still there is an union in will purpose design and way which is a fruit of the former and follows it yea in this also they become of one heart and minde with all unfained beleevers for carrying on the design of Christ and of union in a spiritual minde and disposition and by reason of fellowship in an obliging relation is that 1 Cor. 6.17 as appears by the opposition And of union in minde and fellowship as well as in faith appears to be meant 1 Cor. 12.12 13. And the reason rendred because wrought by one Spirit And of the oneness of Spirit with the head and all beleevers Gal. 3.1.5 5.5 6. in faith love and design appears to be meant Eph. 4.4 5. And as the weakest beleever hereby may be both comforted and exhorted in abiding to experiment this inhabitation though he yet hardly discern it So the strongest may be exhorted to grow up in it And yet again that the union with Christ is in this That there is one and the same Spirit in him the head and them the members is true yet in such as are yet weak in understanding so to take it without some explication may hinder their growth supposing the inhabitation compleat when yet there may be much wanting to them and they need still the operations of the holy Spirit in making them one with Christ in his minde and judgement in the testimony of Christ approving what he approves condemning what he condemns And so one with him in his design for glorifying God in seeking the salvation of men and the edifying prosperity of the Church And so one with him in child-like affection to God and member-like love to brethren and compassion to them that are out of the way and so one with him in bowels of mercy patience meekness c. All which oneness with him abiding in that faith and love he hath wrought and is stirring up in them they shall grow up more in and so grow up more into him c. which was that the Apostle endeavoured to farther the Hebrews in And so in all quotations in all the three Concernments no other or better faith shewn than that which is faith indeed in the first kinde set forth by him See also the last CHAP. XXI Of Mr. Owens last Concernment in two parts IN this last Concernment are two things expresly noted First Their actual state and condition And secondly Then relative condition And all said of either as true of that which is faith in that set out in the first kinde as of that which is faith set out in this second kinde for the mixtures put in to darken it taken from the one and the unjustifiable expressions put on the other to make shew of difference removed both appears to be indeed but one kinde of faith so that there is nothing here needful but onely reciting the words and minding the proofs quoted First Rom. 8.23 14 25. 2 Cor. 5.1 4. Phil. 3.11.12 Rom. 8.10 Rom. 7-14 15 24 25 26 â— 1 2 3 4. he saith By all which As to their actual state and condition they are really changed from death to life c. We know he meaneth not from mortallity to immortallity which is that real change they have not yet attained but wait for
beware that wee dishonour not the Name that is put upon us Rom. 2.24 As miscarriages in such as bear this Name will do ten times more then in those that have not this Name upon them whence that Tit. 2.10 So that all the Family of God is named of Christ is express here and that God hath put his Name on them is true Instructive Consolatory and Admonitory But when thus exprest called by the name of God there needs some cautions to prevent vain conceits c. for they are not called Jehovah or God or the Father or Jesus or the Christ or the Holy Ghost or the Creator of all things or the Redeemer of mankind or the sanctifier of Gods chosen or the Lord of hoasts or the Almighty or the Truth Love Wisdome it self c. no not so but the Name put on them is the Name of that report of his goodnesse in his Doctrin of which they are made Beleevers and professors and so hee is called their God Father Saviour c. And they his Israel his People Sons Christians c. And yet here is another caution namely that this family will one day bee more pure and have a new name given them after their total victory and conquest or his Name put on them in a more glorious manner when that 2 Cor. 5.21 will bee compleatly fulfilled as is there promised when without controversie there will bee amongst them no finne nor possibility of sinning or falling but the family on earth is not so yet and though the spirits of just men bee perfect and under the Altar and out of all danger yet want they their bodies and so that fulnesse they shall enjoy in the resurrection of the just But that part of the family that is here below are yet in mortal bodies and so are not yet any of them altogether without sin nor are all things that offend yet purged out the beleevers and Saints in and of this part of the family here on earth are yet in a warfare beset with enemies within and without temptations from lusts within terrours and allurements from the world without Satan and his Ministers with pretences of light striving to seduce them from the faith and to turn them out of the way whence they are often warned from God to stand fast in the faith to be sober and watchful to put on the whole Armor of God to fight the good fight of Faith to cleave to Christ in whom there is compleatness for them to sow to the spirit of whom they shall reap life everlasting And to take heed that they bee not deceived and that they depart not through an evil heart of unbeleefe and many such warnings with ground of the same Now of this part of the family here on earth and of the faith and holinesse in them and so of such beleevers and Saints is our whole discourse And so in the controversy between some brethren The Question is whether such as are admitted into this family in that part of it that is here below and have the name of God and Christ so put on them as it is put on his people here below whether they may not by neglect of their watch and the warning given them bee overcome to such degrees of sinning as to depart from the faith and so bee cast out of this family and have this name taken off them again To which I answer Oh that none more might but yet wee need to bee heedful for if we look at our tipes as the Temple and place God chose for his worship and put his name there was a tipe of those by faith built on Christ 1 Pet. 2.3.5 So it s not without its use to us that where God sets his name at the first yet for the wickednesse of the people there Jer. 7 10-14 he removed it away from thence And threatned to do the same yea hee hath done it to Jerusalem and the house there called by his name or it wee look at Israel of old was not that people called Israel Isa 1.10.21 after for their wickednesse called Sodome Jer. 2.21 and that called a faithful City afterward for their filthiness called a harlot yea was not the noble Vine of Gods planting 1 Cor. 10 1-11.18 afterward by evil ways degenerated into the plant of a strange Vine And are not these things writ for examples and warnings to us but to leave pressing the tipes and come nigher even to the truth it self If this family be the kingdome of God here on earth as I suppose none questions then what means that saying of our Saviour Mat. 8.11 12 Many shall come from the East and West and shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdome of heaven But the children of the kingdome shall bee cast out into utter darknesse 1 Tim. 3.15 2 Tim. 20 21 16 17 18. with 1 Tim. 1.19 20. Isa 60.21 Zach. 14.21 Psal 144.11 14 15 16 c. And if this family bee the house of God which is the Church of the living God compared to a great house then sure the vessels admitted and taken into it that are unmeet for the Masters use are such as are departed from the faith they once had when they were admitted and used and are therefore to bee cast out Surely that time hath not yet been nor now is but is yet to come of which it is said Thy people shall be all righteous c. This will bee when the Church is wholly rid of strange children that there is no more going out c So that as yet the being in this family and called by his name Is no sufficient argument to prove that all that so are in the time of this warfar will without all doubt so continue and remain for ever it is more safe for us to watch over our selves Gal. 5.4 1 Tim. 1.19 20 2 Tim. 2.18 4.3.4 1 Tim. 4.1 2 and over one another in taking the warnings given us in the Scripture where also it is affirmed that some have fallen from grace some have made Shipwrack of faith and a good conscience some have erred from the Faith and overthrown the faith of others yea and there also the spirit hath expresly affirmed that in these latter dayes some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrins of devils yea many turn to fables which wee with sorrow for them see fulfilled in many of whom it cannot with any evidence of truth bee said that they were all and every of them hypocrites or that their faith was not saving yea some of them so strong in that opinion that they counted it no less than blasphemy to say that there was any possibility for them or any true beleever and Saints to fall away But I will proceed no farther I have considered Mr. Owens stating the question and his proofs and observed his own rule in going to the Law and Testimony