for habitations of God He hath given these gifts to men some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers to perfect or furnish the Saints for the work of their Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son God unto a perfect man c. Psal 68. 18. Ephes 4. 7-11 c. 1 Cor. 12. 7. c. And so the Apostle Peter said of that which they spake and others heard that that was of those gifts which Christ had received on the right hand of his Father and did then shed forth Act. 2. 16. 33. Though the gifts be divers yet all given by that one and the self-same Spirit that lifts up and glorifies Christ according to the faithful record 1 Cor. 12. Rom. 12. Yea all those gifts distributed and set in the Church since the first Apostles who also opened the Prophets and were last in respect of that their peculiar Office or work of giving another manner of and fuller revelation of the Gospel than had been given before and that for obedience to the faith among all Nations for his name I say all gifts distributed and given unto beleevers since who through their word beleeve they are for the comparing and opening Scriptures or shewing the things of Jesus Christ to others by and according to them and to what is written and already revealed in them The holy Scriptures especially as now compleated since the dispensation of the fulness of times came forth by the Apostles being able to make wise to salvation though faith which is in Christ Jesus c. And throughly to furnish the beleever to all his service in exercise of those gifts he hath received from God for the profit of others Thirdly We come now to consider how or wherein any may be said to deny the Alone sufficiency of Gods teaching surely that may be seen in the forâ—er considerations 1 That they deny the Alone sufficiency of Gods teaching that either deny the Lord that bought them or acknowledge and confess him not according to the testimony God hath given of him Do not lift him up â—â— magnifie him in his Cross with the ends and vertues thereof as declared in the Apostles Doctrine as the ground and foundation of all Faith and Hope the matter of our song the fountain of all our teaching do not acknowledge that vision of God in Christ to be indeed as now revealed The Vision of all visions and sufficient in the light and power of God in and with it to teach and open all Doctrine and lead into all Truth I say such do therein deny the Alone sufficiency of Gods teaching that being as before the summary matter of his teaching and the way of his teaching all things and leading into all truth 2 They that deny slight or throw by the holy Scriptures either in their authority or clearness certainty agreement truth or sufficiency as not being able to make wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus and throughly to furnish the man of God to all his service c. as before without some additional helps of mens learning or art or without the imaginations of their own spirit or some other spirit than what is in and with them to give the meaning and lead to the use of them they that come not up to those sound words as delivered by them that have spoken to us in the name of the Lord in which the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written They to whom the pen of the Scribe is in vain for opening and interpreting the mind or meaning of the Holy Ghost what wisdom is in them surely they have therein rejected the word of the Lord while they render that as a dead letter and so vain and empty fallible and uncertain without the addition of their gloss or fancy which they have not seen heard or met with in that word of the truth of the Gospel And therefore not by the Spirit Jerem. 8. 8 9. Col. 2. 18. 3 They also that dispise and slight as fleshly and of man the Instruments and Means of Gods appointing the Posts or Pillars of his setting up for these his teachings to be conveyed and brought near unto us in or by and for us to waite upon him in Prov. 8. 34. 9. 3. Zach. 7. 9-12 2 Tim. 4. 1-5 They despise not man but God who hath also given us of his holy Spirit 1 Thes 4. 2. 8. They are sensual what spirituality soever they pretend not having the Spirit Jude 19. 1 Joh. 2. 18 19. Hebr. 10. 24 25. And of this sort I fear they are that had a hand in the forementioned Queries But hoping some of them may not yet be given up to Delusion and however for the benefit of those that desired it and of others I shall yet adde something farther in Answer to the Queries many of them being answered in this already said 1 Query What and where that New Jerusalem is which John saw â—â—â—â— down from heaven c Rev. 21. Answ 1 It appears not yet come down in or unto you for you profess yet to be travelling with pain and grief of heart and bowels yerning for the miseries others are like in your apprehensions to fall into And that Christ might be formed in them But though such pity pain and grief towards objects in misery or in evill wayes leading to it as you pretend be in truth in the hearts of such as indeed love the Lord Jesus Christ and hold fast his name and grace therein in the time of this mortality yet in that New Jerusalem when come down from heaven there shall be no more crying pain nor tears they shall be all wiped away All former miseries and occasions of weeping shall be forgotten Isa 25. 6 7 8 9. Rev. 21. 4. They shall even rejoyce when they see the smoke of their torment rise up for ever whom before they pitied Rev. 19. 2 3-7 with Chap. 14. 2 3 10 11. 2 But for farther Answer It is not yet come down from God out of heaven unto any It is yet as our life is hid with Christ in God when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we appear with him and be like him in glory That it is not yet come down from God out of heaven though beleevers by faith do come unto it in and through the Gospel especially as now come forth Heb. 12. 22. This appears 1 In that it s shewed in the vision then to come when he makes new heavens and new earth and all things new Rev. 21. 1-5 which are things that he will make not hath made Isa 66. 22. And which all beleevers in this corruptible state of the world all the time of their mortality are yet looking and waiting for 2 Pet. 3. 12 13 14. Tit. 2. 12 13. Phil. 3. 21. 1 Thess 1. 10. Isa 25.
but took it in writing as matter of accusation against me shewing what Generation you are of such as ever sought accusation against the Son of God where hee is manifest to salvation but who are ignorant of his salvation could never bear the confession of his name And when I confessed the flesh of Christ your carnal reason stormed at it like the blind Jews saying How could I have his flesh in me which one of you after confessed too when he saw the letter declared of it so that further than your carnal reason can read in the lâ—tter You will not beleeve what a Generation would you have been had you lived in the times of the Apostles who preached down Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices without such things as the letter said should continue for ever yet they preached them down without and confirmed them within in spirit which is the ground and bottom of all and in which all must end And that the word which became flesh which is ascended they knew to be the Bread of life which they broke and fed on who was their Rule and Mediator But the ground of your Faith is seen and what testimony you bear who say The Scripture is the absolute rule and medium of Faith as thou Thomas Moore didst before the people And when I asked thee if God could not give Faith without it then thou wast forced to deny what thou hadst said But such Doctrine as this thou makest people beleeve who are ignorant and not able to try thy spirit Oh shame with thy preaching If the Scripture be the absolute Rule and medium then Christ is not the absolute Rule unless thou say the Scripture is Christ And thus thou not knowing Christ to rule thee thou settest the letter in his stead for the Rule of Faith But of Abrahams Faith thou are not nor knows it who had an absolute Rule before the Scripture was But this Doctrine excludes all from faith who have not the letter so thou that art a Minister of the Letter preachest another Rule and Faith than ever any of Christs Ministers preached who preached the Word and Faith in the heart of them to whom they preached and Christ in them who is the absolute Rule and ground of Faith and the Law written in their hearts and the Spirit of Truth their rule and guide into all truth and the light in their hearts which gave them the knowledge of God and his glory which never was known by the letter without and Christ saith the Kingdom of God is within you which the Pharisees durst not deny Rom. 10. 8. Hebr. 8. 10 11. Joh. 16. 13. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Luk. 17. 20 21. But thou art more brazened against the truth and wouldest exclude God out of his Kingdom and perswade all thou canst not to look for him within but without lo here lo there But Christ saith Go not forth to such Teachers and thou art found to be one of those he forewarned of and in that work he foretold of which is against him and with the same spirit thou art seen to be an enemy to his Appearance who is the eternal life of his people which is not without the knowledge of God in his Temple for death reigns in the creature where God is not present and this word of Reconciliation thou withstands and all that are led by thee will have cause to curse thee when it is too late and time is spent to no purpose and the day of visitation passed over And from the immediate call which I witness wherewith I am called I do testifie against thy false Doctrine who denies That any have been immediately called since Christ ascended onely those who saw him bodily upon earth and when I instanced Paul thou saidst he saw Christ personally with his bodily eyes when he was called And when I said then must he be come personally again since he ascended then thou saidst Paul was in Heaven and saw him there with bodily eyes when the Scripture saith he was fallen to the earth and saw no man with his bodily eyes being blind three days and such confused stuff thou utteredst forth to uphold thy lyes wherewith thou keepest blind people in Babylon but with the light thou art comprehended thy ground root off-spring and end praised be our Redeemer for ever and in thy paper thou tellest of his seeing Christ after the same manner the other Apostles did Then must it either be bodily upon earth or the other went bodily into Heaven to be called both which are yet unproved by plain Scripture And thy implying is no ground for me to beleeve that which I know is alye and here thou art found preaching another Gospel which no plain Scripture will warrant and all that know God in them sees thee acoursed and thy Antichristian Doctrine who denys the Father and the Son and fellowship with them who hath spoken to his people in all ages and does at this day where the â—ar is circumcised but the serpents seed could never hear him whose ears are open to that wisdom yet canst thou not be content to speak thy own condition but in thy busie mind wouldst exclude others and this is thy work to shut up the Kingdom and deceive the Nations that are without but we are entered and the Elect is witnessed which cannot be deceived and we know him that is in us and we in him onely they who will not own the light such are made to be deceived and over such onely hast thou dominion for a season But thy time is coming to an end that makes thy rage great And thou are forced to utter what testimony thou bearest such as none of Christs ever preached That God is not known in his people Is this thy word of Reconciliation and to what must they be reconciled if not to God And how must they all be taught of God if they must never hear his voyce more but thy Ministry begets not such children nor such sheep thou knows not but opposes who have seen him and heard him such thou callest false witnesses so thou appearest to be a witness to that which thou hast never seen and many such witnesses there are in the Nation who preach up separation instead of reconciliation which pains might be spared amongst them you preach to all having that by nature but that the Devil fears his Kingdom which is onely upholden by ignorance of God in his people whose eyes are blinded but whose eyes are open and have seen him bear witness of him and what we have seen and heard we declare against all false witnesses who have nought but by hear-say from others who have eyes and see not ears and hear not a heart that doth not understand who knows not the spiritual man his eyes and ears and so judge of God to be like themselves as thy companion did say That God had neither eye nor ear nor heart and thus with your carnal imaginations you will judge of
discovers the vanity and falseness of their foundation and overthrows it doubtless were wee more acquainted with it and skilful in it we should neither desire nor need any other weapons than that faithful Word to stop the mouthes of these as well as other gain sayers as we have opportunity But having this occasion let me a little minde thee good Reader what principles have indeed administred foundation and opened the gap for such spurious and ungodly apprehensions or imaginations as fore-mentioned 1 This Principle That the Letter of the Scripture is not Scripture or thus That the minde or meaning of the Holy Ghost is not expressed in his words according to the natural import and signification of them no not in things main and fundamental and so in all other things that it may be discerned in the words or records left comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual and things hard and circumstantial with things plain and fundamental as we are therein directed but that the mind or meaning of the Holy Ghost is to be found out and determined by some other spirit This principle hath administred foundation or opened the gap for Popery and also for mens denyâ—ing the Grace of God to manward bringing Salvation to all men in and by Jesus Christ and it administers as good foundation or opens the like gap for all other corrupt principles for take away the Word of the Lord as declared by the Pen of the Scribe and what wisdom is in them yea they do all agree in this fixt great Tradition and rudiment of the World That the letter of the Scripture as they call it or the words as written and left on record are not the faithful expressions of the minde and meaning of the Holy Ghost only they differ in determining what shall give the sence The Papists say the Pope or Counsel The opposers of the good of all men not much unlike them say the late Fathers of the Church and they must bee such as they will account so too or learned men of the times And these that follow after differ not much they say it must bee some spirit of or in them which they suppose to bee infallible As much ground for the one as for the other and so for taking away one part of the Word of the Lord by one as there was for taking away another part by another yea their bottome-Principle is one 2 Another Principle that hath laid or is properly the foundation of such corrupt Imaginations as before is that the eternall purpose and decree of God is the absolute cause of mens sin reprobation and destruction This properly makes sin no sin or nothing sinfull but all mens actions and ends of God and also takes away the equity of his Judgement against them which commit such things and so leads to vain and ungodly Imaginations of no Resurrection or Judgement to come And 3 That which naturally flowes from both the forementioned is That God dissembles with men or pretends that which is not really in his heart when hee offers most men grace in the Gospel and swears he hath no pleasure in their death but that they turn and live This layes the foundation for men even as they would bee like God to dissemble with others and in pursuance of some worldly or Antichristian design to pretend Hamility Mortification Zeal Holiness c while in their hearts they judge no Act or practice to bee evill or sinfull in it self unlesse to him that judgeth it so but as it may hinder that their design secretly pursued Yea 4 That which I conceive hath also done its part among the rest in opening the gap to such unclean spirits is an Imagination that is secretly crept into the minds of and pleaded for by some truly gracious viz. That men may while they are yet in this mort all body and accumbred with the law of sin the carnal mind yet warring in the Members and against the law of the Beleevers mind though in the mind or spirit of the Beleever in a sence dethroned yet so as it is leading them captive still as Rom. 7. 21. 23. And also in the midst of so many subtill and powerfull Adversaries That yet I say in this time of their temptation and weaknesse They may have already so attained and bee already so perfect as that from such time or degree of attainment It is for ever impossible for them in listening to any spirit to bee corrupted from the simplicity in Christ or so to bee drawn away with any errours of the wicked as to fall from their own stedfastnesse or to fall away as Heb. 6. 6. 4. 11. which Imagination not only exalteth it self against the plain Import of these Scriptures Phil. 3. 12 13 14. 2 Cor. 11. 3. 2 Pet. 3. 17. with Heb. 6. 4 5 6. chap. 4. 11. Mark 13. 35 36 37. with many others But as wee have said also opens the gap for any manner of ungodly and unclean spirit by moving the entertainers of it as soon as ever they can conclude themselves to have so attained to forsake or let slip out of their hearts the fear of the Almighty by which they should bee kept from departing from him and presumptuonsly venture upon the listning to and parleying with any evill spirit or way propounded at least if under good pretences yea this Imagination that whether they hear his vayce and follow him or do hear and follow a stranger they cannot fall or perish It hinders them from beleeving or discerning that they are back slidden or fallen when indeed they are so And so from receiving timely admonition while it being but in part they might be recovered Prov. 14. 16. 28. 14 yea this likewise further prepares them for such spirits as wee have dealt with in the following discourse It requiring but a little addition to make up their Devillish Doctrin of perfection yea 5 And lastly All those Principles or apprehensions in which men are directed to have their rejoycing and consolation originally in some gracious frames or quallifications wrought in them or some works of Righteousnesse done by them and not in the Person or works of Christ in his own body for them which Principles are too much retained by many that in words acknowledge him though in these their works they deny him these Principles I say have opened the gap for such spirits which come very suitable to their proper lust and way and seem not at first so to maligne the person and works of Christ but rather to hold the acknowledgement of them though as of things not relative to the ground of their Faith and hope nor as being the matter of their rejoycing and fountain of their teaching in which they agree well enough so that people thus principled as aforesaid have little or nothing really to turn from that they may joyn with what is first commended to them by such spirits only some opinions that were irrellative to the
doctrine which we have learned in the word of the truth of the Gospel compare Rom. 16 17. with Col. 1. 5. and 1 Cor. 15. 1 4. and to avoid them for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly their lust will or spirit or the light in them which is darkness what ever it be if it spring not from the person of Christ as declared in the Gospel who is even so the true light they magnifie not Jesus but themselves in the internal or external operations of their own spirits And by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple under pretence and shew of godliness they deny the power and root of godliness are the enemies to the Cross of Christ his personal sufferings and the only vertuousness of them for the taking away our sin and the love and glory of God as appearing in that face of him This they seek to undermine and sleight under pretence of magaifying Christ in them glorying therein in that which is their shame their internal proof of the mystery of iniquity with power and signs and with all dâ—ceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish from the faith for in them only it hath efficacie Phil. 3. 17 18. 2 Thess 2. 9 10 11. from such I say we are streightly admonished of the Lord To turn away 2 Tim. 3. 5. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha 1 Cor. 16. 22. If any pretend to acknowledge Christ and yet lift not up praise not magnifie not above all and unto and for all things pertaining to life and godliness the Son of man Jesus Christ as now already come in the flesh and through sufferings entred into glory for us as the only ground and foundation of our faith and matter of our rejoycing and song to others and fountain of our teaching that is that spirit of Antichrist not to be followed it s indeed not only against Christ but his most pernicious enemy being a contrary Anointing from which we are to flye at least as soon as we perceive it in any as Prov. 14. 7. Go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge which I oft after hearing some of their Discourse declared and as I could get liberty thus demonstrated I perceived not to be in them but the lip of a contrary Anointing and yet they are tempting me to follow after them a company and go with them night and day though they know such are my apprehensions concerning them Now whether it be right in the sight of God that I shal obey God or them in thâ—â— let others judge yea I wil in the strength of Gods grace observe the directions of the great Shepherd when any shall say Lo here or lo there is Christ either in this form of Church or State-government or in this order or as these in the secret chambers in some internal operations as found and accomplished in them in such manner as we cannot discern it unless wee lay aside all that knowledge of God in Christ we have received through and according to his word as fleshly â—o go after them appearing the second time without sin unto salvation and accomplishing that rest and hope of glory and perfection now in and upon them which we through the Spirit wait for to be revealed in the Resurrection of the dead when we shall all be gathered together to it which and more to that purpose was Naylors and Farnsworths witness concerning themselves we are I say expresly admonâ—shed then not to go after such and that for this reason in which we are fortified against their juggling That the coming of the Son of man that day of his second appearing in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels should certainly be as the lightning from the one end of the heaven to the other at once accomplished to them altogether and visible to every eye even to those that shall weep and wail because of it Matth. 24. 26 27. Luke 17. 22 23 24. Rev. 1. 7. Therefore if a Prophet or Dreamer of dreams should tell us of a sign or a wonder and that also should come to pass as we know Antichrist shall come with signs and wonders in the latter dayes to move us to turn aside from following the Lord or to inquire after another God or to take us off from our waiting for his Son from heaven whom he hath raised from the dead we will not hearken to them nor go in company with such wicked men as Deut. 13. 1 2 3. and 28. 14. Psal 1. 1 2 3. 2 They require me to eat no food c. Whereas our Saviour bids his Disciples even those great Apostles who were to give forth the last and fullest Revelation of the Gospel for obedience to the faith among all Nations which was in that first publication of it to be confirmed with Miracles by them also even then when he gives them power in his Name to heal the sick c. yet then he bids them twice together eat and drink such things as they give and set before them among whom they went preaching Luke 10. 7 8. And the Apostle Paul tells Timothy They are Doctrines of Devils that command to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received and that with thanksgiving of them that beleeve and know the truth c. 1 Tim. 4. 3. I shall therefore answer them as our Saviour doth the Devil in a like case It is written thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God 3 They require me to lay aside all books c. the holy Scriptures not excepted Whereas the Holy Ghost tells us he hath therefore written to us excellent things that so our trust may be in the Lord and we may have those words as written and left in record for and to us to answer all that are sent to us Prov. 22. 17. 21. and commends to us the example of a better Preacher than any of them in this That he sought out acceptable safe profitable and plain words for the people and in his search found That which was written was upright words of truth Eccles 12. 10 11. and renders it as part of the character of a godly man he exerciseth himself in the Law or doctrine of the Lord both day and night Psal 1. 2. yea the same holy Spirit commands Timothy to give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine to meditate on and give himself wholly to these things and in so doing study to shew himself approved a workman that needs not be ashamed 1 Tim. 4. and 2. 15. But these spirits lay their commands upon us not so much as to look on them in the Records left us in Books neither night nor day A notable peece of policy For if they can but keep us from going to the Law and to the Testimony with their internal light or power they
14. 21. 23. and 15. 1-4 5 7 c. though such as were never firmed in that foundation especially being kept from firmness therein through retaining divers lusts and such as after knowledge of the truth received do wilfully sleight reject and turn away from that preaching of the Cross as foolishness having itching ears to listen or inquire after any thing that may be plausible and also suitable to some lust of their own yet secretly retained and pursued though such I say may be and are turned aside to fables and led captive by such spirits Therefore let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19-22 and 3. 6 7. and 4. 1-4 Joh 15. 6. But to return to our present business in that which was said to the discovery of his abuse of these Scriptures and against his witness concerning himself yet there was no mention of his abuse of those two Scriptures fore-mentioned nor at any other time in our discourse with you that I know of but being in this false accusation thus propounded as those in which so great strength lyes for you that you have thought fit for them to wave that in 2 Cor. 4. 10 11. as more inconsiderable to your purpose we shall a little consider what they say That Col. 1. 27. saith That Christ in or amongst the beleevers The hope of glory And indeed he is so amongst them all and in or unto all of them for they are all called in one hope of their calling both in respect of the ground and foundation of their hope and in respect of the end of it the things hoped for And truly Jesus Christ and so the Father in him is the original summary and fundamental matter of it in both respects but it is that same Jesus Christ and not another which they had preached in the Gospel to every man see vers 28. and indeed there is but one Lord and not another Jesus not one in the heavens sitting on the right hand of God and another dwelling in us but that same Jesus that is in our nature in that body then and so prepared for him as before set down on the Right hand of Majesty in the heavens even he that person that is personalâ—y absent from the beleever is dwelling in the beleevers heart by faith of and in him and so the Father in and through Christ 2 Cor. 5. 6. 7. Eph. 3. 17-19 1 Pet. 1. 8. Joh. 12. 45. Yea it is that same Jesus after that consideration of him also as in that his own personal body He was delivered to death for our offences and raised again for our justification And so in the vertues thereof is become a perfect Saviour Propitiation High Priest c. And so able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him even as he is preached in the Gospel to every man That is even so in the beleevers heart by faith for he is yesterday and to day and for ever the same And after the same consideration of him he is being received by faith which is the evidence of things not seen in and to the beleever the only bottome ground and foundation of all his faith and hope in God both in respect of the promise of this life and that to come yea the thing hoped for he in through and with whom all things are expected as he is now given virtually and spiritually in the testimony of him so all things pertaining to life and godliness are given in and with him in a like manner and to be enjoyed by faith in him and in the first fruits of the Spirit And when he shall appear again personally in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels then all things fore-mentioned to be given with him in such manner as to be enjoyed by way of actual possession in fulness and glory and in such enjoyment of his personal presence for ever even the fulness of all spiritual blessings which now we are blessed with in Christ our Treasury and the total and eternal redemption of the body of this glory Christ is in and to our hearts the hope not the possession nor do we possess the glory for then hope should cease but if we hope for that wee see not which indeed we do when Christ our fore-runner is our hope as aforesaid then do we with patience wait for it Surely this Scripture is far from telling us That the glory glorious rest Kingdome and enjoyment of promises which the Fathers dyed in the faith and hope of not having received them was now revealed in and upon them it signifies fully the contrary in saying Christ was in and to them the hope of it Like to this is that 2 Cor. 13. 5. A rule given to prove themselves by whether they be in the faith in that one faith of Gods operation and in which they should be accepted and approved The Rule is Jesus Christ is in you or else yee are unapproved yea stand as disallowed disowned in the Apostles Doctrine and so in Heaven as being not in the faith The thing here to be considered is How Christ is in them If thâ—y be indeed in the faith surely that is easily understood if we consider this Rule of Tryal as it hath relation to the thing to be tryed or proved which is Whether we be in the faith not Whether we be in the actual possession Sure then or for that there will be no need of such trying and proving nor to say one to another know the Lord when tâ—ey shall all know him from the least to the greatest even as they are known which they shall do in that day when that Covenant which is now given them in and with Christ and as he is given shall be fully performed But now while they need to try and prove themselves whether they be in the Faith which is the evidence of things not seen and the confidence of things hoped for that is thus to be proved If Jesus Christ â—nd there is but one Christ and after the same consideration as before if he be in them that can be no otherwise than as before as in his testimony declared the ground and foundation of their faith and hope the matter beleeved and object beleeved in then their faith is of God and centuring in God even the Father for he that seeth him seeth him that sent him and he that beleeveth on him beleeveth on him that sent him he is come a light into the world that whosoever beleeveth in him should not abide in darkness Joh. 12. 44-46 3 Thy third Slander is That I said Paul was in Heaven when he saw the person of Christ there with bodilyeies Truly this also is wholly without any colour of ground from any thing I said or writ That Paul had an immediate demonstration of the person o Christ even of the glorified body in the Heavens and did hear the word of his mouth even receive
have disowned and of them both together signifies thou knowest it is a lye I say how dost thou know it or how shall we know it when thou bringest nothing at all to prove or demonstrate it to be such Is this all the Answer we must look for when thou affirmest any thing or deniest any thing I know I witness it to be True or I know it to be a Lye Indeed these were the strongest Arguments and Demonstrations we had from thee in our meeting to any thing that I know of and with these and such like in the mouths of divers of you together you could be as confident wise and strong in your own conceit as seven men that could render a reason and stop the mouths of others too with these when you had none of the faithful word to do it withall I know it is a lye and I pray how dost thou know dost thou think we will all fall down and worship James Naylor in receiving what he urges upon us onely in his own name I know I witness c. It may be such may do it as will not receive or have rejected the testimony of the other J. N. Jesus of Nazareth that came in his Fathers name Joh. 5. 43. But give us leave to question how thou knowest and because thou dost not tell us I will guess in this thy conscience knows whether I guess right or no I fear thou dost not at all in thy heart beleeve or acknowledge that one person of Christ as personally absent from thee while in this clay Tabernacle that that which we read of that person and the work done in him is sleighted as figures of some other truth to be found in us is evident enough to me as I shall further make appear anon but that which I here look upon as the ground of this thy confident knowledge is something more namely That thou hast in thy heart wholly rejected the faith and acknowledgement of that one person of the Son of God in our nature in one individual personal body even the same that was crucified slain and hung upon a tree that Jesus of Nazareth to be now received up into glory by the Father in the Heavens and there remaining in the most glorious presence of God even in the Heavens as opposed to the Earth where the former high Priests served and where while he is he is personally absent from us while we are in these bodies on earth I suppose thou mayst think there might be such a one as Jesus of Nazareh and that he dyed as is written of him and happily that he rose again but if thy thoughts go so far I doubt they leave him there even that Jesus of the seed of David after the flesh as one that in all done before in him was but a type of some first appearance to be accomplished in us and now as a type or figure vanishing and ceasing from thence so to be So that what we read of his Ascention into Heaven and remaining in the Heavens until the Restitution of all things and of his second personal Appearance is to be understood of some other internal mystery to be accomplished now in us not so plainly expressed in the words which must therefore be slighted as a dead letter I fear I have almost touched upon thy thoughts though we will not boast as thou dost of compreheading and discerning us perfectly in root end and off-spring while yet God knows and all that know us know thou dost not discover us at all nor speak as one at all acquainted with whence we come or whither we go but as he Joh 3. now if thou be so far given over to strong delusions to beleeve such a lie that there is not such personal body in our nature in the Heavens as before thou must needs from thence be confident Paul did not see him for he could not see that which is not But to remove such false ground of such a confidence there is sufficient demonstration and power in his words as left on Record and will be yet to thee in the consideration of them if thou hast not wholly crucified the Son of God to thy self and so thy self to the light and power of his words See I pray thee Luk. 24. 39 40. with vers 51. How our Saviour in the last discovery of himself to his Disciples after his Resurrection and before his Ascention demonstrates himself to hâ—ve a real body and not onely the shape or appearance of one which a spirit without a body may assume by his having real flesh and bones to be felt And that body to be he himself the same that was peirced and nailed to the cross so demonstâ—ated by his hands and his feet â—â— little before to Thomas by his side and hands Joh. 20 27. and at that time of his having so demonstrated himself unto them he led them out as far as to Bethany and be lifted up his hands and blessed them and it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carryed up into Heaven compare it with Act. 1. 9 10 11. Where having in the verses before repeated the Narration of his shewing himself alive to them after his passion by many infallible proofs and then of his commissionating and blessing them he saith And when he had spoken these words while they beheld that may assure us their sences were not deluded but it was even the same person in the same personal body as before demonstrated by his hands and feet his flesh and bones which their eyes had seen and their hands had haâ—dled even that word of â—â—e in that flesh which he was made now spiritualized or made in the Resurrection a spiritual body yet the same so made Even while they behold he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their fight and while they looked stedfastly towards Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel which also said yee men of â—â—lilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as yee have seen him go into heaven Note the wisdome and care of the Holy Ghost here lest being taken out of their sight they or any after should doubt whether that body as then demonstrated vanished or what became of it He adds here that he was taken up from them into heaven even the same Jesus which they had seen and in this his Ascension in their sight in which he was taken up from them vers 9. 11. with Luke 24. 51. He was carried up into heaven yea saith Mark. He was thou received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God Mar. 16. 19 even there in the heavens he is â—et on the right hand of the Throne of Majesty there officiating as a Minister of the true Sanctuary c. Heb. 8. 1. 2. Christ after the same consideration of him
Mark 14. 62. If after all this it be replied Can flesh and blood enter into the Kingdome of heaven We answer No Neither can corruption inherit incorruption 1 Cor. 15. 50. which latter clause in that verse as well as what follows We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed shews That by flesh and blood is meant the body in this its mortal state which same body shall bee raised though in another state as it was in the person of Jesus and so though flesh and blood cannot yet the same flesh and bones the blood as the life was in it being poured out and gone the same body in the Resurrection spirituallized and immortalized is entred and set on the Throne and so shall all his in their bodies in which now they suffer when so changed inherit the Kingdome prepared for them with him for ever If any say What weight is there in this acknowledgement that it should be so earnestly contended for or that so much danger should be conceived in the sleighting of it what relation hath it to the ground or foundation of our faith or hope I answer It is that in which all the ground and foundation of our faith and hope was finished or perfected and without which all done before had been nothing for even as if Jesus in the same nature and body in which he suffered had not been raised from the dead and therein taken from the prison as a discharge of our debt in him we had been yet in our sins whatever he had suffered and faith in him had been vain 1 Cor. 15. 17. The same may be and is affirmed concerning the necessity of his ascension and presenting and offering that sacrifice to the Father in that most glorious presence of him from which we stood condemned and being there received and accepted And abiding for ever a high Priest of good things to come after the order of Melchizedeck for if he were on earth hee could not be a Priest after this order to abide for ever Heb. 8. 1 4. For such a High Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners made higher than the heavens who needeth not daily to offer as those Priests c. Heb. 7. 25 26 27. If he could have carried his sacrifice no higher than the former Priests even into heaven it self and there presented it in the most glorious presence of God and if it had not been for the worth value and excellency of it accepted there and so hee with it or he himself accepted and set down as the perfect Sacrifice and Sacrificer he must then have offered again and could never with such offerings have made the commers perfect therefore the infinit perfection of his Sacrifice and Righteousness in the discovery of which all other righteousness is decryed is by the Spirit demonstrated in this That hee is gone to the Father and wee see him no more sent down to suffer or offer for sin Joh. 16. 10. Heb. 10. 1-10 11 12. Yea if he had not ascended on high he could not have been so glorified in our nature as was the end of his suffering and as was needful for us he could not have received in the man and so for men that eternal redemption which he had obtained through sufferings and so that plentious furniture of gifts for men even for the Rebellious that the Lord might dwel among them and that to that purpose he might fill all things with the influences and vertues of his sufferings give the peculiar gifts to the Church Heb. 9. 12 14 15. Ps 68. 18 19 20. Eph. 4. 8. 10 11. He could not have been glorified with the Fathers own self fully and perfectly in our nature and for us even with the glory he had with the Father before the world was If he had not ascended and gone up into heaven and remained there in that body glorified by vertue of sufferings for sin presenting therein the infinite vertue of those sufferings for otherwise the glory of God could never have been brought down amongst or unto men nor men received into it so that he could not have been a High Priest for ever and of good things to come if he were on the earth but now hee is entred into the heavens themselves there to appear in the presence of God for us there to sprinckie the Mercy-seat with the continual presentation of the infinite and abiding vertue of his blood in that body in our nature and person by vertue thereof and to all the ends for which he suffered raysed and glorified in the presence of God where we need the perfect Sacrifice and high Priest to abide for ever and he is both in that one body and in such exaltation perfected and finished In the Name and Anointing of the Father a Prince and a Saviour Act. 5. 30 31. That from thence the goodness of God may come forth in all things and to all men and his presence with his people And therefore also he is able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth with the Father for them God hath given him glory that our faith and hope might be in God by and through him 1 Pet. 1. 21. And truly we could have no ground of hope of the resurrection and glorifying our bodies that they may dwel for ever with the Lord even in that light into which no man can now approach If our Surety and Fore-runner were not for us already entred which thing also was vertually done from the foundation of the world as soon as we had need of him there If our nature in him were not received up into glory even now before the glory of God be or can be fully and gloriously brought down to us as it shall be when there shal be new heavens and new earth we could not be received into his glory with him It was needfull for him to go away to ascend to his Father and ours in and through him that so with him he might prepare everlasting Mansions for us and from thence come again and receive us to himself that we might be with him for ever as well as it was also needful for him so personally to go away into heaven and there to appear in the presence of God for us as the perfect Sacrifice and Mediator that thence in the Name of the Father influences of Grace and Spirit might here be sent forth to us to guide our feet in the way of peace and prepare us for the glory to be revealed Joh. 14. 1 2 3. and 16. 7. with Chap. 20. 17. whence its mentioned as the bottome and ground of the beleevers consolation and incouragement Wee have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the whole world This is a material branch in that bottome of our consolation and that in which all of
it is made up and compleated That he is with the Father This our Propitiation and Advocate as so considered is with the Father where we need him daily 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. Doubtless where this acknowledgement of that person as raised from the dead now set on Gods right hand in the Heavens and so and there in that body in our nature made the head of all Principality and Power and the head of his body the Church Ephes 1. 18-20 I say where this true acknowledgement of the Head in whom only dwels the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2. 9 10. is not holden but slighted or rejected There is equally in that heart a slighting or rejecting the hope of the reward to come in the Resurrection of the just of entering with him into his glory That which onely may beget and preserve such hope being let go the faith and hope it self must needs be destroyed Col. 2. 18 19. And where this faith and hope is made shipwrack of there is usually something made up in the imagination in the stead thereof as now accomplished in them to beguile themselves and others with as also is signified in that Col. 2. 18. And in those that denied the Resurrection and did overthrow the Faith and Hope of such as would listen to them yet they pretended not to deny it but did witness it past or already made in them in this life compare 2 Tim. 2. 11 12-18 with 1 Cor. 15. 12 c. And so those that slighted and scoffed at the promise of his coming yet they pretended to witness it saying lo here or lo there in this or that imagination or operation he was already come the second time accomplishing the promises we through the Spirit wait for in or unto them compare 2 Pet. 3. with Matth. 24. 23-27 and Luk. 17. 22 23 24. which imaginations are more pleasing to the sensual and fleshly mind because they lead to make their boast of themselves and not of the person of Christ and works done therein and to rejoyce in the imagination of what they have rather than in the hope of what is to come And surely if we may know the tree by its fruits as our Savior instructeth us I have good ground to be strengthened in my fore-mentioned apprehensions concerning you as being of no judgement concerning the faith of and in the person of Christ as through sufferings glorified in our nature in the Heavens because I find this fruit of it evidently appearing in both your discourse and writing I shall discover it in some of its branches the mention of which may fitly be added here reserving that about Christs second appearing witnessed as accomplished in thee to be spoken to by it self in fit place In thy discourse thou didst witness that death mentioned Heb. 9. 27. In which its appointed to men once to die to be past in thee and so consequently the Resurrection made in thee what makes this of all the reward and end of his sufferings and sactifice set before us in the Gospel but what we might be capable of possessing in this time and state of mortality Yea thou affirmest in thy Letter that you are entered meaning as appears in the former expressions into the glorious rest and Kingdom whereas the Apostle when he tells us they had boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus and did in that boldness through and â—y him draw near and come to God Heb. 10. 19-25 and 7. 25. yea by faith and hope did enter or were entering into that within the veil Heb. 6. 19. yea Heb. 4. 3. he saith We which have beleeved do enter into rest yet in all this he saith not They had entered but signifies they were yet entering in beleeving running the race set before them the Crown not given unto them in the time of this mortality 2 Tim. 4. 8. onely by faith and hope they pierced through to it which strengthened them to run yea saith he not expresly Heb. 4. 9 10. That there remaineth yet a rest for all the people of God even for those that sleep and for the survivers none of them yet fully entered into that everlasting Sabbath but the fore-runner which he proved thus For he that is entered into his rest he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his which none hath yet so done but the fore-runner what ever they may boast of that truly cease from nothing of their own but exalt themselves in their works of vanity and error See Heb. 6. 19 20. Observe the distinction there carefully observed between our entering and the fore-runner having entered we have saith he in the Word Promise and Oath of God as given and confirmed in Christ Hope as an Anchor of the soul sure and stedfast which entereth into that within the Veil whither the fore-runner is for us entered even Jesus made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech We in beleeving do enter and so are entering by Faith and Hope he onely for us in already actually and fully entered into the possession of glory Against thee therefore do I bear witness as one of the world that hast thy portion in this life in which if we onely had our hope in Christ we were of all men most miserable as for us we will behold his face in righteousness in his Son and in the promise of life and glory given us in him being supported thereby in this confidence when we awake in the morning of the resurrection we shall be satisfied with his likeness Psa 17. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 25. 18 19. c. 1 Joh. 3. 1. 3 Not as though we had already attained either were already perfect but we follow after if that we may apprehend that for which we are apprehended of Christ Jesus if by any means we may attain to the Resurrection of the Dead the first resurrection We desire not to count our selves to have apprehended but to go on forgetting the things behind things already lost and parted with cast behind our back as dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lorâ— and reaching forth to those things set before our face in the Gospel pressing towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Running with patience the race that is set before us laying aside the weights c. so as looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith who through sufferings is already entered into glory for us while others who are the enemies to the cross of Christ under a pretence of zealous walking and holy conversation aim at this as the end of their conversation or walking The destruction of our Faith and Hope in Christ and to that purpose magnifie their belly some internal operation happily backâ— also with signs and wonders and with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish 2 Thes 2. 9 10. glorying in their shame minding
sensual and earthly things under pretence of spirituality we desire to have our conversation in Heaven where the person of Christ in that body in our nature our treasury is received by the Father from whence we look for the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body by that mighty power by which he is able to subdue even all things unto himself as Phil. 3. 7. to the end Heb. 12. 1 2. I have been large in these things forementioned if it may be for thy good if not my confidence is in him that others will hear and shall fully reap the benefit when he that is now received in the Heavens shall from thence appear in his glory to our everlasting comfort and you shall be ashamed world without end To the rest of thy Slanders I shall speak briefly 4 To thy Fifth Slander That I said I had not the same testimony the Apostles had This also is altogether groundless from any thing thou hadst from me I did as much as I could avoyd the speaking of my self because I dare not make my self of the number of some that commend themselves measuring themselves by themselves c. 2 Cor. 10. 12. what they are now with what they were before and with what others now are as the Pharisee Luk. 18. 11 12. and the false Apostles 2 Cor. 11. 12-18 c. 2 Thes 2. Knowing also that he that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory Joh. 7 18. I was willing to leave that to such proud boasters as 2 Tim. 3. to exalt themselves and smite others on the face to their reproach and shame as 2 Corinth 11. 20 21. That which I said was of Timothy and all other secondary Ministers of the Gospel since the first trusters in Christ who received their word immediately from his person all since and so including my self yea happily I might when put upon it acknowledge the same particularly concerning my self that they do not receive their word furniture or mission immediately from the person of Christ as the first Apostles did But mediately in beleeving through their word as more fully in discourse and in answer to your challenge But was not this often in the same discourse told thee and is it not full in the paper sent thee and in so many words that the word or testimony was and is the same for those Apostles gave it in his name for obedience to the faith among all Nations but the manner of receiving it from him various and so in some sense the Call the same also though the manner of the work to which called in some things different so the manner of their receiving it and being made of the number called to such peculiar service or canst thou not distinguish between the testimony it self and the manner of receiving it I fear it s not so much weakness as wilfulness 5 To your Sixth and eighth Slander as fore-mentioned viz. That I charged you with Burglary and breaking into the house and that Mr. Wray commanded you to depart his house I Answer You know the falseness of these as of the rest To the first I remember that on some occasion I told you I would not commit Burglary or break into any mans house you then would fain have catched something of it as intimately charging you with doing so the day before to which I then told you I did not so charge any of you nor think otherwise but that you had very fair leave to come and stay though all that you say to that I beleeve not viz. That you were sent for Happily you might have notice of our meeting there but that I am sure was not by any desire of ours nor did I know that was any occasion or end of our meeting but as I heard by flying reports onely was desired to come and give them a visit by him that best might inâ—ite mee to that house To the next which at least you imply That Mr. Wray commanded you to depart It is like all the rest you know he invited you all to Dinner and told you you should be all welcome though I think you were most of you too scornful to accept it And the reason he desired us to meet in the publick after was onely for conveniency of room because of the multitude of the people nor did you then say any thing against meeting there onely when you perceived it was not like easily to be prevented you spake against breaking up a while for a Dinner but that also you did in such language as you might reasonably think would rather provoke not to listen to your proposal therein And doubtless what ever you pretend you were glad of the occasion to be gone I question noâ— but you would have come freely enough to the other place as we were all desired had you looked for any advantage to your Design of marring the visage of the Son of Man 6 To thy Seventh Slander That any of my companions should say That God had neither Eyes nor Ears nor Heart This also I know to be like the rest for I am sure I heard no discourse of that nature and I was never in any time of discourse so far from thee that thou couldst hear it and not I And whoever of thy companions told thee it I know it to be false because I know them better than thee or thy companions do happily they might say That God even the Father hath not eyes ears c. as a man nor seeth as man seeth and possibly also they might be cut off or interrupted in the midst of some such saying by your incivilities as at other times but this Slander may be as well without any colour of ground as all the rest and the same I do on good ground judge of what thou saidst of one of us confessing that which thou hadst acknowledged about Christs flesh in thee we bless God we all know the flesh of Christ is now to be fed on and enjoyed by faith in through and according to the testimony of it and its vertues brought us in his words which are spirit and life and not otherwise Many more of thy slanders might be discovered as that That I was forced by thee to deny what I had said about the Scriptures Truly if I had used any expressions not so safe or warrantable I hope I should willingly being so convict have left them for better and I think I should therein have done better than thou didst in standing to maintain so oft and seriously these very expressions That God was hurt with mens sins when as the Scripture saith plainly If thou sinnest what dost thou to him Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art c. Job 35. 7 8. But I know nothing that I did or need to deny or go from that I said but thou hast mentioned nothing of my sayings right either in that or
in and with which he is certainly present See Act. 2. 16-36 c. And thence the Gospel called The power of God to salvation to every one that beleeveth yea his words which he spake unto those that yet received them not spirit and life Rom. 1. 16 17. Joh. 6. 63. And do not they then move us to listen to and receive another spirit that bring another Doctrine or Testimony and indeed of another Jesus as before and cry down the testimony of Jesus as declared in the Apostles Doctrine as letter and dead letter while in the mean time also they magnifie the words spoken by themselves as the words of the Eternal God and curse others for but calling their words into question while yet also they reproach them for desiring to have their faith in Christ regulated according to the testimony of Jesus so given by the Holy Ghost as aforesaid and the Preachers of that testimony as Preachers of letter and command them to throw it by and wait for some other immediate teaching And wherein you have done all this is clear in your Discourse and in Farnsworths Challenge and in this thy Letter throughout notwithstanding it was plainly told you what the affirms of the Ministry of the Gospel as committed to them in the very place abused by you to this purpose viz. 2 Cor. 3. that Ministry as so committed to them and delivered and left in record by them that as opposed to Moses Ministration or the Law as given by him to which yet he gives more honorable Titles than you can afford the Everlasting Gospel he calls that not a dead but a killing letter now that cannot kill that hath no life in it But this Ministry of the Gospel as committed to them which also was witnessed in the Law and Prophets this as opposed to the Law I say he calls the Ministration of the Spirit yea Spirit the Ministration of Righteousness of life and of glory whence it s called the Glorious Gospel 2 Cor. 4. 4. Now when this is slieghted and rejected as a dead letter and yet some inward light or spirit boasted of and propounded to be listned to and received that must needs be another spirit than that which is in and with that hearing of faith yea a contrary spirit such as is in and with such contrary and strange Doctrines as bring another Jesus a contrary Anointing And so I come farther and particularly to make good the last part of my charge 3 That thou bringest another Gospel than what the Apostles have preached and all true beleevers have from the beginning accepted which indeed is not another Gospel It affirms or brings us no glad tydings It is Gospel but in pretence only not in truth It is indeed another Doctrine or Message such as in which the Message they received of him and declared unto us is endeavoured to be perverted and abolished to which thou pretendest an immediate call and furniture from God in which thou excludest thy self from that prayer for blessing on their Ministration to the worlds end who through the Apostles word or doctrine beleeve on him But if thou wert an Angel immediately coming from heaven we are to hold thâ—e Accursed in this thy work And to make it appear That it is another Doctrine or Message and contrary to what they have preached and such as will not at all stand together with it let this Letter be viewed though thou hast expressed things darkly and subtilly that thou mightst winde out when thou shouldst see cause of fear thou couldst not manage it or that the endeavouring to manage it would spoyl thy design in discovering thee too grosly yet they that will not wilfully shut their eyes may discern in this Letter that thy Doctrine Message or pretended Gospel in the summe or issue and end of it is to preach down that person Jesus of Nazareth of the seed of David after the flesh and those works of our salvation wrought in his person in his Incarnation Death Resurrection and Ascension I say to preach him and those works as done in that one person down as types and shadows or figures of the true Christ which is to bee found in some other thing or works accomplished in many persons even so to preach down him and those works done in him that manifestation of God in the flesh in that one person as for us I say so to preach them down as the Apostles preached down Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices without It contents not thee to preach down the same things the Apostles preached down as figures c. but thou must preach down what they lifted up as the body the truth so to abide for ever thou must preach that down as types and figures too See if this be not clearly signified in thy Letter Where after thou hast charged us with denying Christ come in the flesh because we bore testimony against thy witness of Christ being come again since his Ascension or having appeared the second time in the flesh now glorified and without sin to salvation according to that promise Heb. 9. 28. which was more full in thy Discourse but full enough in thy Letter in which thou callest thy witness of Christs being come again since his Ascension thy confessing of the flesh of Christ yea as is signified in what follows of his flesh in thee for indeed that was thy witness as is also signified in thy Letter That Christ was come or had appeared again in the flesh since his Ascension and so the second time and without sin to salvation and all this accomplished in thee as before I say After thou hast charged us with denying Christ come in the flesh because wee witnessed him to be already come and his second coming to be waited for and did bear witness against this witness of thine forementioned And then also reproached us for not beleeving concerning this any farther than we can read in that which thou callest Letter To this thou addest What a Generation would we have been had we lived in the times of the Apostles who preached down Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices without such things as the Letter said should continue for ever yet they preached them down without and confirmed them within in Spirit which is the ground and bottome of all and in which all must end Dost thou not herein clearly signifie an acknowledgement that the summe or end of thy mission or message in thy confession of the flesh of Christ which we opposed was to preach down that person and those works wrought and finished in that person in his own body as distinct from every one of us and without us in our particular persons which the Apostles said should remain in the essence of the person and abiding vertue of the works in that person with the Father for ever even to preach him and them down as they preached down Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices without c. even as but another or farther
type shadow or figure that so thou mayest confirm thy imagination of something within as the truth Is not this plain in thy comparing our opposing thy witness forementioned and not beleeving concerning the flesh of Christ farther or otherwise than wee read in the Apostles writings with such opposition of the Apostles preaching down Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices without c. in their day Yea its farther plain in that thou sayest The confirming them within in spirit is the ground and bottome of all and that in which all must end In whâ—ch word All thou hast evidently reference not only to the things last mentioned But to the things first mentioned also concerning the flesh of Christ about which was our contest and so thy witness is That the confirming them within us in spirit is not only the ground bottome and end of all those types and shadows of the Law Concerning which neither is thy witness true For Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness even to every one that beleeveth Rom. 10. 4. yea in the works done and finished in his own body He is the body the prime and main thing figured in all the types and shadows of the Law But also of the personal appearance of Christ and the works done in and by that one person in his own body and the mention of his second appearing the confirming these â— things within us in some imagination or operation wrought or found in us saith Thy witness is the ground and bottome of all and that in which all must end Now if this be not another Gospel or Doctrine than what the Apostles preached and in this Letter so acknowledged too let the considerate Reader judge Yet I shall also here add a word or two to make it farther appear That this thy Message or Doctrine is not another manner of or farther revelation of the same thing or such as in which the things they said should come are declared as fulfilled even so as they said they should be as the Apostles Message or Doctrine as added to and following the Prophets was But so absolutely another Doctrine and contrary to what they have preached that the truth of them both cannot stand together as the things written by the Prophets and Apostles did seeing the Apostles said nothing but what the Prophets did say should come to pass who signified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and of the glory that should follow The righteousness of God as its now come forth in Christ was so witnessed to in the Law and Prophets that the Apostles Doctrine was but a farther revelation of the same mystery of God in Christ before witnessed and according to what the Prophets had before said should come more fully opening and in all things confirming them Rom. 3. 21. Act. 26. 22 23. 1 Pâ—t 1. 10 11. But this Doctrine in which Gods being manifested in the flesh in that one person and the works done in his own body for us is preached down as they preached down the outward Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices as being but a farther type shadow or figure of the truth it self and that to be found in something else is so far from agreeing with the Apostles Doctrine or witnessing what the Apostles said should come so as therein to confirm their word as they did the Prophets that it wholly contradicteth and blasphemeth both and cannot be in the least measure granted but the truth of theirs is therein denyed For they have in their revelation of the Mystery told us That that Jesus of Nazareth and no other thing or person was the eternal word that was in the beginning with God and was God by whom all things were made and in whom in all Ages was life and his life was the light of men even hee to whom John witnessed that was not John but another person distinct from John and all other persons who was in those dayes made flesh by a work of new creation in the womb of a Virgin and so came into the world in the nature of man and dwelt amongst men in that his own personal body and they his Disciples then in that personal converse they injoyed with him on earth did behold his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father there is not another thing or person among men or Angels that is the immediately begotten Son of God the Father and him as so made flesh and in that body delivered to death for our offences and raised again for our justification they did behold and witness to be infinitly full of grace and truth as the fountain for all others and as the truth and body of all types figures and shadows of the Law Yea farther That they in receiving that word and testimony which himself began to preach and which they received immediately from him and fully after his Ascension they had therein received of his fulness in respect of the ministration or revelation of him to be given to mortal men And grace for grace A plaâ—n and full ministration or revelation of the grace of God in and by Jesus Christ to receive grace through whereas our Fathers before though saved by grace yet received that grace through a ministration of works For the law came by Moses but grace and truth by Jesus Christ c. read Joh. 1 1-18-29-40-45 c. The former things were indeed shadows and so they were alwayes signified to be but Christ is the body Col. 2. 17. And what ever is said in the Law and the Prophets of their continuing for ever I mean those typical Sacrifices and Ordinances It appears plainly signified even in those Scriptures of the Prophets if they be compared that in the things themselves that were types and figures of the true and as they were so they were only to continue for ever as Ordinances among them in their Generations till the Seed should come that was promised before that Law was given and in him the truth end and fulfilling of them was to remain for ever and ever The Law was added because of transgrèssion till the Seed fore promised should come Gal. 3. 19. and did in the whole and every part of iâ— shadow out and witness good things to come lead to a better righteousness and hope than was to be attained in or by it and that only to be found in Christ that was to come in the nature of man who is the end of the Law for Righteousness He is the body truth and end of all those former things that indeed were shadows and so was witnessed and directed to by them Rom. 3. 21. Heb. 9. and 10. So that the Law Prophets and Apostles do all agree and with one mouth witness declare and confirm him to be The He the Son of God the Savior of the world in whom onely dwels the fulness of the Godhead bodily In all which former witnesses and latter manifestations of his power and coming they have not made known
the Gospel or testimony of God concerning him who hath abolished death by his appearing and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel 1 Cor. 15. 1-4 1 Pet. 2. 24. Rom. 4. ult 2 Cor. 4. 6. 2 Tim. 1. 10. and 2. 8. In this the Spirit and teaching of God is primely known and distinguished from all others it doth unto and for all things confess acknowledge and praise or commend Jesus Christ as already come in the flesh not coming but come and now through sufferings entred into glory in that his own personal body in our nature and for us according to the Apostles Doctrine 1 Joh. 4. 1 2 3 6. for reproving the world and teaching and leading the beleever into all truth It takes of his things and shews to the soul and so glorifies him even lifts up the Son of man the personal abasement sufferings or cross of Christ with the ends and vertues thereof as now manifested in him being raised and received up into glory Joh. 16. 8 9 10 13 14. with Joh. 3. 14. Rom. 1. 1-3 4. 1 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Tim. 2 8. This is so the summe and subject matter of all the Fathers teaching That every one that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh to Christ according to the testimony God hath already given of him Joh. 6. 45. And he that beleeveth not the testimony or record that God hath already given of Christ maketh God a lyar 1 Joh. 5 10. Yea it is so the summary and fundamental matter of all his teaching that he is said to learn all truth and so to teach and lead into all truth in Jesus in the demonstration opening and usefulness of Jesus and those things of him according to the record God hath given of him by the one month of a â— his Prophets and Apostles since the world began Eph. 4. 20 21. with Joh. 16. 13 14. Act. 3. 20 21. This the purpose and grace of God given us in Christ from the beginning now manifested by the appearing of Christ c. as 2 Tim 1 9 10. That the Son of man must be lifted up above all and for or unto all help and healing of men even as Moses lift up the Serpent in the wilderness That whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have eternall life For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son namely the Saviour of the world and to be so lifted up That whosoever beleeveth in him c. Joh. 3. 14 15 16. 2 Those things contained in the matter of Gods teaching as springing out of and arising from the things main and fundamental are Doctrines and Instructions concerning all things needful to be known given and opened in and through the demonstration opening and usefulness of the knowledge of him in what he hath done and is become for us for so saith our Savior The holy Spirit as now coming forth in and with the testimony of Jesus as the works of our salvation are finished in his body he shall reprove the world of sin of righteousness and of Judgemâ—nt and all this in with and through that testimony of Jesus as given forth to them for thus he explicates Of Sin because they beleeve not on me of Righteousness because I go to my father and ye see me no more He comes down no more to suffer in which the infinit and abiding vertue of his once suffering is declared And the second and glorious Appearance they should not see in the time of this mortality nor till we all come together Of Judgement because the Prince of this world is judged already which also was done in him as Joh. 12. 31 32. speaking of that vertually done from the beginning now presently to be actually done in his own body and by his being lifted up from the earth both on the cross and then because of that being raised on the right hand of Majesty he saith now is the judgement of this world now is the Prince of this world cast out And with this Argument or in the Demonstration and usefulness of this as he reproves the world of Righteousness that all theirs is nothing his onely perfect and will stand them instead So he reproves them also of Judgement shews the vanity and falseness of all theirs whether of Condemnation or Absolution or in their apprehensions concerning things and persons And likewise he saith He shall teach them the beleevers on him further in and by the same Instrument and shall so lead them into all truth and shew them things to come for saith he He shall not speak of himself but whatever he shall hear that shall he speak he shall take of my things and shew unto you he shall glorifie me c. Joh. 16. 8 14. In the demonstration and opening of him God learneth all truth and so also therein instructeth and directeth to all right demeanors towards God and men So the Apostles gave all their commandements by the Lord Jesus in the demonstration opening and applying the things of him did give the ground and reason of them shew their equity move and press to the observing them in the strength afforded in those mercies of the Lord in and through that testimony of Jesus 1 Thes 4. 2. Rom. 12. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 13-18 c. Ephes 4. 1-8 10. For that Grace of God that bringeth Salvation to all men especially in this appearance of it now come forth by Jesus Christ teacheth that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearance of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ c. Tit. 2. 11 12 13. 2 That in the second place propounded to be considered is where and how this teaching of the Father is held forth by himself unto men surely that is 1 In all the books of his Creation and providence in all mercies chastisements and changes of his providence with men Job 33. 14-29 30. and 36. 22. 26. Psal 19. 1-7 107. with Rom. 10. 17 18. But 2 More clearly and abundantly in the holy Scriptures which were both given and left upon record by immediate inspiration and furniture of God Rom. 15. 4. 2 Pet. 1. 19 20 21. 1 Cor. 14. 37. 2 Pet. 3. 2. 1 Joh. 1-4 5. and are therefore profitable for all doctrine or teaching c. They are able being his words and preserved in the Records of them from any fundamental or material perversion on the account of his righteousness who hath so promised Psal 12. 6. Prov. 12. 19. Isa 8. 16. 20. 44. 25 26. and so owned by him and accompanied with his spiritual presence to the end of the world Mat. 28. 20. able I say to make us wise to salvation both of our selves and others through faith which is in Christ Jesus and throughly to furnish the man of God to every good word and work 2 Tim. 3. 14 15 16 17.