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A80146 The marrow of Christianity: or, A spirituall discoverie of some principles of truth, meet to be known of all the saints; represented in ten sections. / By T. Collier, minister of the gospel. Whereunto is added an epistle, written by M. Saltmarsh. Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.; Towne, Robert, 1592 or 3-1663. Assertion of grace. 1647 (1647) Wing C5291; Wing T1978; Thomason E1157_1; Thomason E1157_2; ESTC R208677 55,702 142

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Spirit and then he walkes not after the flesh but after the spirit having the Law of the spirit of life within himselfe guiding him in the way of holinesse and so that Scripture is made good 1 John 3. The annoyntings which you have received shall teach you all things and ye need not that any man teach you and The spirituall man judgeth all things yet he himselfe is judged of no man 1 Cor. 2.14 Application To incourage the Saints in the power and spirit of Jesus to presse forward after this knowledge and injoyment of God in the Spirit this was Paules resolution who had tasted of the spiritual discoveries of God as deeply as any to presse forward after perfection Phil. 3. Forgetting things that are behinde not alwayes living below The effects of it will prove very glorious 1. It is that by which you shall be able with the more evidence of light and truth to judge of things that differ the spirituall man judgeth all things 2. It is that will make the life of a Christian exceeding glorious carrying him through all difficulties with much spirituall joy 3. It is that will put a period to all differences and divisions amongst the Saints Divisions flow from our ignorance and dwelling so much in the Leter 1 Cor. 3.3 whereas there are among you divisions and strife are ye not carnall and walke as men Those divisions and that strife amongst the Saints about things in the Le●ter argue that they are exceeding carnall but this knowledge of God in the Spirit will as a mighty Gu●●e swallow up all those litterall differences and put an end to all strife both among particular Saints and in the Nations Esa 2.2.3.4 When once the Mountaine of the Lords House which is his Saints comes to be established on the topp of all Mountaines and Hills that is in the spirituall injoyment of God above all carnall and fl●shly things then shall all warres and divisions have an end and not till then 4. It is that will cause many a glorious Starre to fall from heaven many who have acted much after the Letter will upon the discoveries of the glory of God in the Spirit fall from that light they seemed to have SECTION VIII The matter of the Church what THE Church of Christ may be considered either as more generall or more particular 1. More general and then it includes the whole body of the Saints in the spirit this of some is called the invisible Church but to speake in the Scripture-Language it may be rather called the general or universal Church the whole body of Saints in the Spirit called the mysticall body of Christ because of their spiritual union with and in Christ their head This Church or assembly for so the Greek Ecclesia properly signifieth we shall read of Heb. 12.22.23 ye are com● to Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels and to the generall assembly or Church of the first borne and written in heaven and to the spirits of just men made p●rfect this is the Church that shall be made one in glory he generall assembly of Saints the spiits of just men and it is that might be desired at present that Saints Communion might flow more from their union in the spirit and not altogether from the union in the letter this is the glorious Church of Christ and the knowledge of it in the spirit will cause Saints to own each other more in the spirit 2. The Church of Christ may be considered more particular or a particular body or company of Saints in the visible profession of the Gospel walking in the injoyment of Ordinances taking particular care of each other and building up each other in the faith of this Church we shall reade frequent in the new Testament and this Church is likewise called the body of Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 and it is not to be questioned but that this practise is very commendable amongst Saints and the knowledge of God in the Spirit and of Saints in the Spirit will not breake or lessen the fellowship of particular Churches but increase it and make it to be more spirituall for questionles that which tends to the breach of communion and fellowships amongst Saints is not of God for God is love they who dwell in God dwell in ●ove it is that will increase love and this is the more excellent way and that which in conclusion will swallow up all differences yet one thing is much to be desired that is that there might be a generall union amongst the Saints that those who are spirituall might not be divided in spiritual Communion because of some litterall differences about the use of ordinances and the like Oh that the Lord would helpe us to beare with each other in such things why cannot Saints in matters of difference beare with each other according to the Apostles rule seeing he that observeth a day observeth it to the Lord and he that observeth not a day observeth it not to the Lord and both give God thankes Obj. But our difference is in matters of Ordinances for the most part which God commands and hath given them to us as priviledges Answ True yet they are such commands and priviledges as God hath given to his Servants to leade them up to himselfe in the Spirit and what if some injoy God gloriously in the Spirit without these and we finde them spiritual and walking answerable to the spirit of Christ why should my conscience judge another mans Liberty and why should not we hold Communion with such in the Spirit and in the letter too in those things wherein there is a union but the truth is there is too-too much erring at present upon both hands the one judging it too carnal for any Saints to walke in the use of ordinances which is not a truth at present the other judging it inconsistent with the Gospel and the state of a Christian to live without the practise and use of Ordinances a third sort there are that would submit to Ordinances but want Administrators and this is more carnal than ether of the former because they expect that to be in a creature which is onely in God but here should be a learning and forbearing where the spirit of Christ is A fourth sort there are who put Ordinances upon those not capable of them without any word at all in the letters and this is the most carnal work of all and savours much of the earth and of an old Testament-spirit from whence usually the ground is brought and it were much to be desired that the Lord would be pleased to enlighten their eyes that they might have more spirituall apprehension of the Gospel and the end of Gospel-Ordinances yet it should be the wisdome of those taught from above to own any thing of God where-ever they finde it and although it is true there cannot be a Communion with