and see Life Now this is mercy and the Lord might have chosen whether he would have done this to his creature whom he made upright but had turned from him for he was not bound to his Creature and have let him remain in that state for ever Nevertheless herein the love of God was made manifest to Man that he gave him something of himself that had never sinned nor consented to sin and placed it in him to call upon him to turn unto the Lord and that whilest we were yet sinners saith the Apostle Christ died for the Vngodly and herein the greatness of his love is shewn that he continues this in man which waits upon man and calls upon him and seeks him and entreats him to turn unto the Lord. Now man resisting this and disobeying this and not believing in this which suffers which bears which waits which seeks and the day of his visitation this suffering this waiting this seeking this bearing coming to an end Man comes to be unredeemed to God to be a vessel of wrath a vessel of dishonour fitted to destruction and so his destruction is of himself but man coming to heed this to retain this that calleth to believe in it to be guided by it he comes to be redeemed unto God out of the hands of him who had him in captivity to be a vessel of mercy a vessel of honour prepared unto Glory and so his help is in God So he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth Nay but O man who art thou that replyest against God Shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it why hast thou made me thus Hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto Honour and another unto Dishonour Man cannot plead with God in this case for as I have said he is not bound unto his Creature he might make it as he pleased even of the same lump one vessel to Honour another to Dishonour he hath power over man as the Potter hath over the Clay so man may not plead man may not reason with God in this Particular stood the Case only here had he been made so at first the Lord would have been clear and who durst to have opened his mouth seeing the Lord had power over man to have made him as he pleased But the Case stands not here it lies further the Lord made not man so he did not so forme him nor with an intent that he should be so did the Lord make Man but he formed him a vessel of Honour He planted him a noble Vine wholy a right Seed He made of one blood all Nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their Habitation that they should seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him though he be not far from any of us for in him we live and move and have our being as certain of your own Poets have said for we are his off-spring said the Apostle to the Athenians Acts 17. 26 27 28. Jer. 2. 21. He made him upright after the Image of God made he man but man as I have said found out many Inventions and having turned aside and proved the degenerate Plant of a strange Vine even a vessel oâ— Dishonour bearing the image of the Devil who was made after the Image of God It was the loving kindness of God to visit man again and to call upon him to turn unto him to place something of him-thing of himself in him to call upon him to shew him where he is and what he hath been doing and to turn unto the Lord. Now he that will not hear this Prophet which the Lord hath raised up like unto me said Moses who gave the Law without which was the Similitude of the Law within Christ Jesus the fear in the Inward parts that which calls that which makes manifest that which reproves that which judges that which makes the heart tender to God and to fear before him shall be destroyed from among the people Acts 3. 22 23. For if the word spoken by the Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him Hebrews 2. 2 3. So he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy he visiteth whom he will and he waits on whom he will and he calls on whom he will and he suffers as he will and as long and whilest he will and whom he will he hardens he suffers iniquity to go over which the more it turns from God the more it hardens man against him on whom he calls long and they will not turn unto the Lord and so the more he calls the more they turn from him and the more they turn from him the more they are hardned against him and the movings of his Spirit and the more they are hardned against him and the movings of his Spirit the less his Spirit strives with them and therefore it is said O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayes and heardned our hearts from thy fear Return for thy Servants sake the Tribes of thy Inheritance Isa 63. 17. The Lord was withdrawn that of him ceased to call which they had transgressed against they grew cold to the Lord whilst that strove not with them that made their hearts tender to him they began to grow hard as that turned from them that turn'd them to him they began to go astray as that removed which led them to him O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayes and hardned our hearts from thy fear Return here was the matter the Lord was withdrawn the Lord was removed that of him turn'd from them as they had turned from it that was the cause and of this they grew sensible Return â—ay they for thy Servants sake the Tribes of thy Inheritance So whom he will he hardens as they withdraw from that of him which calls on them to turn to him he withdraws that in them of him which turns unto him as they let not in that of him in them that calls upon them to turn unto the Lord which makes them tender they grow hard So Pharaoh the more he withstood Moses that called upon him to let Israel go the more hard Pharaoh was and even for the same purpose have I raised thee up that I may shew my power in thee and that my Name may be declared throughout all the earth So when the Lord calls and man will not hear when he stretcheth out his arms long and man will not come when he strives and yet man will not be gathered who is turned from God It 's just with God to withdraw from man to turn that of him that turns
man to God from man to withdraw that which sought to gather him to remove that which was near to him which strove with him to bring him back again to God and so to let him erre from his wayes and to hearden his heart from his fear Which in a sence may be called a making man err from his wayes and a hardning of his heart from his fear because that 's withdrawn from man that 's removed that led man in his wayes and caused man to fear before him Man still turning from that which would have turned him to God and withdrawing from that which would have made his heart tender to him And so I have done with this Particular Lastly And to that why doth he yet find fault For who hath resisted his will I answer That is spoken as to the Omnipotent Power of God by which he is able to subdue all things unto himself which makes the Devils tremble though they love him not and to obey him though they fear not before him But there is a difference between the consideration of this Omnipotent Power of God which can make every thing bow as he pleases and that Power which he hath placed in man which yet is Omnipotent too to bring him to God For in the One the Lord deals as a Dread Soveraign who at his beck lays all things at his see In the Other as a Father as a Redeemer as a Woer as an Intreater as a Beseecher for man to be reconciled to God Now as to this Latter it is the Gospel of Reconciliation the Ministry of Reconciliation is that which he sends forth to turn man unto God God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the Ministry of Reconciliation And all things are of God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ and hath given unto us the Ministry of Reconciliation And now then we are Ambassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us We pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20 21. As to the other it is the Ministry of Wrath or of Condemnation The Savour of Death unto Death and of Life unto Life For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and to them that perish To the one we are the savour of death unto death and to the other the savour of life unto life 2 Cor. 2. 15. 16. And To YOV that are troubled rest with Vs when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction From the presence of the Lord and the Glory of his Power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe because our Testymony among you was believed in that day 2 Thes 1. 7 8 9 10. So here 's the difference The Ministry of Reconciliation is the Power of God Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God and the Power of God that beseeches that prays that that woes that intreats man to be reconciled to God who hath made him sin for us who knew no sin and so the burden of sin is upon him and the suffering who takes it on him and bears and suffers the just for the unjust that he might bring us all to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him And this is Gentle it works with the understanding of man it opens the understanding of man the Eyes of his understanding The Eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his Power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty Power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the Heavenly places far above all Principalities and Power and Might and Dominion and every Name that is named not only in this World but also in that which is to come and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his Body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Ephes 1. 18. to the end And this is that which waits on man to reconcile him to God and bears the sins So that those who receive him in whom God is reconciling the World unto himself he imputeth not their trespasses unto them so makes him sin who knew no sin He bears it he suffers it the just for the unjust that we might be made the righteousness of God in him that he might bring us all to God And this is his Will and this is resisted Ye have condemned and kiled the just and he doth not resist you Jam. 5. 6. this is gain sayed They perished in the gainsaying of Core Jud. 11. This is evil intreated and scoffed There shall come in the last day scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying where is the promise of his coming 2 Pet. 3. 4 5. And. the remnant took his servants and intreated them spitefully and slew them Those whom the King sent to invite to the Wedding Mat. 22. 6. This is mocked and spit upon struck and blindfolded crowned with Thornes and scourged this is put to death when it hath cried out My God my God why hast uhou forsaken me Mat. 27. 28 29 30 31. For the same that was done without to him in that day is done to the measure of him within in this who is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13. 8. Whose witnesses John saw should prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes cloathed in sack-cloath Rev. 11. 3. Against whom when they shall have finished their testimony John saw also that the beast that ascended out of the bottomless pit should make war against them and should overcome them and kill them and that their dead bodies should lie in the streets of the great City which spiritually is called Sodom where also our Lord was crucified and that they of the People and Kindreds and Tongues and Nations should see their dead bodies three dayes and a half and should not suffer their dead bodies to be put in Graves and that they that dwell on the Earth should rejoyce over them and should make merry and send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the Earth Rev. 11. 7 8 9 10. And as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep before her shearers is dumb so he was brought
and his mouth must be stopt and he must make supplication to his Judge whom though I were righteous saith Job yet would I not answer but I would make supplication to my Judge Job 9. 15. And this becomes man and not to argue it with the Lord and to wrangle with him as if God were unrighteous as if his Ways were not equal Who measures the Lord by his shallow understanding who cannot be searched out O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and the Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgements and his Wayes past finding out for who hath known the mind of the Lord Or who hath been his Counsellor Or who hath first given unto him and it shall be given unto him again For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be Glory for ever Amen Rom. 9. 33 34 35. 36. So every man's mouth here must be stopt and before his Judge he must be silent as I have said and not lay unrighteousness on God or charge him that his Wayes are not equal For man himself shall conclude it otherwise in the day wherein the Lord will render unto him according to his deeds and therefore it is in vain to stand it out with the Lord. It is but the artifice of the Enemy that works this in you he knows you will otherwise say when it is too late therefore be not deceived by him least when 't is too late you blame your folly Moved of the Lord I am to write this to you in bowels of love that you may see your state and how this matter stands and that ye may be delivered And if ye yet say The Children being not yet born neither having yet done any good or evil that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated I answer as I did before this is spoken of the two Seeds the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent of which these two were Figures in which as the Knowledge of the Lord foresaw they would be so he loved so he hated For he loveth and hateth no man but as they are in these and it was after the fall that this was spoken both the promise that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head and the Elder shall serve the Younger Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated For before there is nothing spoken of this for all stood well and as the same in the first Adam whilst he stood and there was no need of the Promise nor was there two as to man the one whereof was the Object of Love and the other of Hatred the Elder serving the Younger but man was one spirit from the Root Eternal and in the Root Eternal which God hath blessed And the two or that which made two the seed of the Serpent which entered into man came out afterwards For man receiving the Serpent and obeying his voice after he was made against the Command of God there came to be two things in man two Roots two which strugled the Seed of the Woman the seed of Promise and the seed of the Serpent the seed of the Curse as the Promise came to take place and that seed came to move in man to bring him back to God which the Lord hath promised as the Children strove in Rebecca's womb when she came to be delivered so do these as the time cometh wherein as I have said the promise of God cometh to be fulfilled The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one unto the other So that ye cannot do the things that ye would As the Apostle speaks Gal. 5. 17. And which the Apostle found in himself when the Promise came to be fulfilled in him I see saith he another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity â—o the law of sin which is in my members And he cries out there as Rebecca did concerning the Children If it be so why am I thus And she went to enquire of the Lord Gen. 25. 22. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this Death Rom. 7. 23 24. So the Children strugled in the Womb of Rebecca which was the Figure Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be separated from thy bowels and theone people shall be stronger then the other people and the Elder shall serve the Younger said the Lord unto her of whom she went to enquire when it was so with her as aforesaid And when her dayes to be delivered were to be fulfilled behold there were Twins in her womb and the first came out Red all over like an hary Garment and they called his Name Esau and after that came his brother out and his hand took hold on Esau's heel and his Name was called Jacob â— 24 25 26. So the Law of the Spirit of Life which was in Christ Jesus strugled with the law of Sin and of Death In Paul which though the law of sin and of death the law in his members strugled with and came out first When I would do good the law of his mind evil is present with me the law in his members the good that I would I do not the evil which I would not that do I Yet it took hold of its heel and supplanted it as the Name of Jacob the true Seed siignifies Is he not said Esau rightly named Jacob For he hath supplanted me these two times he took away my birth-right and behold now he hath taken away my blessing and Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his Father blessed him And Esau said in his heart the days of mourn-for my Father are at hand then will I slay my brother Jacob Gen. 27. 36 37. 41. It came after and supplanted overthrew the other I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death For what the Law could not do for that it is weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace vers 21. chap. 8. 2 3 4 5 6. So there is the first and the second the first man Adam and the second the Law of Sin and Death and the Law of the Spirit of Life the Law of the
Mind and the Law in the Members the Flesh and the Spirit the Son of God in the likeness of sinful flesh condemning sin in the flesh and the body of sin and death Two Nations two manner of People the one stronger then the other the strong man armed the stronger then he The Elder as to man in the state of the fall that came out first the Younger which was before the Elder though it came out in the World after This is he said John of whom I said after me cometh a Man which is preferred before me for he was before me John 1. 30. The Younger who comes after the fall the seed of the Woman to redeem out of the fall to bruise the Serpents head which the Elder must serve which taketh hold of the heel of the Elder and supplants it and makes it to serve the Elder shall serve the Younger And so the Apostle speaketh They are not all Israel who are of Israel Neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all Children but in Isaac shall thy seed be called That is they that are the children of the flesh these are not the children of God but the children of the Promise are counted for the seed For this is the word of Promise at this time will I come and Sara shall have a son And not only this but when Rebecca also had conceived by one even by our Father Isaac for the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated as aforesaid Rom. 9. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. And here is the whole matter as it lies together and as the Scriptures testifie and are the Explanation of one another in the Spirit of the Lord from whom I have written and who hath shewn me these things that I might write them unto you that your understandings might be opened and that ye might come to see the Truth as it is in Jesus and be brought to the Knowledge of the Truth And so I have finished this particular The Lord God Eternal open your eyes that in this your day you may know the things that belong unto your Peace And so I shall proceed As the Lord made not man to destroy him and as he hath not concluded any man from all Eternity to destruction So neither hath he so made man as that it is impossible for him to fall from the state in the which he was made or to miscarry so as to fall from life for ever and ever That were to put man in another state then that in the which he was made who was made in a Dependance on God for his being and Subsistance in the state in the which he was made and to render him as God knowing both good and evil that is to set him as do he good or do he evil he shall never be finally removed from the state in the which he was made that is from Life but shall remain as God The Judgement of the Ranters whom the Serpent hath taken with that which was his first bait with which he took Eve at first and with which they are taken at this day who hold That do they what they will they shall never be finally â—emoved from the state in the which they were made that is from Life Ye shall not surely die for God knoweth that in the day that ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil Gen. 3. 4 5. This the Serpent laid before Evè viz. a state beyond that in the which she was made Ye shall not surely die a state at the pleasure of him that made you and at his Commandmen who gave you your being Yea hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree in the garden v. 1. hath he put you are ye under such a dependency on him and at his command Nay ye shall not surely die it is not so ye shall be as Gods a state beyond that in which ye were made ye shall not need to stand in such awe and dread Ye are not necessitated to such a dependency upon God as that doing contrary to his Command ye shall die your state shall be changed nay your state shall not be so changed but eating of the Tree doing of that which he hath said ye shall not doe which signifies a Subjection and Subordination a Creature state of Variation and Change at the Will of Him that made you Nay the doing of this will enter you into another state that 's more high more fixed more certain a state wherein God is who changeth not nor is moved nor doth alter or varie from that wherein he is and this God knoweth for God doth known this is the Reason that God hath set you under such a command in such dread in such awe as of death a loosing of the state in the which ye are and a coming into a quite contrary or another this he knows and therefore hath laid this Command upon ye to keep ye from this to prevent your attaining unto this to be as he is setled and unchangeable do ye what ye will ye shall not surely die Nay it shall enter you into that state wherein there is no such thing as death but only a death unto that in which ye are as you are passing to it as through death to life ye shall not need thus to be put to it ye shall be as Gods without change without alteration without fear or dread or a necessary dependance upon another to keep you in the state in the which ye are Ye shall not need thus to be put to it at every turn to be under this Rod under this reproof under this check under such a manifestation as this and who would be so when he may be otherwise This God knoweth therefore hath he laid this Bar upon you this Precept this Bond to keep ye under that in the day that ye eat thereof ye do otherwise then he hath ordained you and so put your selves out of a state of dependance upon him or of being Creatures so to be disposed of and ordered by him so taking your selves into your own Power your own disposal as he doth himself and you whilst it is thus with you that you dare do nothing but what he requires you and that ye dare not do that which he forbids you which is a Creature state of alteration and change of Subjection and Subordination you will be as he is you will be as Gods unalterable unchangeable insubjectible insubordinate and this God knoweth that in the day that ye eat thereof that ye so put your selves that ye so take your selves into your own order and not stand under his Order and Rule who hath so
be saved it is the Word of the Lord. Now in the Son there is Life He hath life in himself and he quickeneth whom he will For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them even so the Son quickeneth whom he will The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to Life Verily verily I say unto you The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live for as the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself and hath given him authority to execute Judgement also because he is the Son of man John 5. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. And he is the wel-spring of Life Vnderstanding is a wel-spring of Life to him that hath it but the instruction of fools is folly saith the wise man Prov. 26. 22. And whence then cometh wisdom and where is the place of understanding seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living and kept from the fouls of the Air Behold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom and to depart from evil that is understanding Job 28. 20 21. And I wisdom dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty Inventions The fear of the Lord is to hate Evil Pride and Arrogancy and the evil way and the froward mouth do I hate Counsel is mine and sound wisdom I am understanding I have strength By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice Be me Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me Riches and Honour are with me yea dureable Riches and Righteousness My fruit is better then gold yea then fine gold and my revenue then choice silver I lead in the way of Righteousness in the midst of the Paths of Judgement that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance and I will fill their Treasures The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old I was set up from everlasting from the beginning ere ever the earth was when there was no depths I was brought forth when there was no fountain abounding with water before the Mountains were stetled before the Hills was I brought forth whils't as yet he had not made the Earth nor the Fields nor the highest part of the dust of the World when he prepared the Heavens I was there when he set a compass on the face of the depth when he established the Clouds above when he strengthened the Fountains of the deep when he gave to the Sea his degree that the Waters should not pass his commdements When he appointed the foundation of the earth then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing allwayes before him Rejoycing in the habitable part of his Earth and my delights were with the Sons of Men. Now therefore hearken unto me O ye Children for blessed are they that keep my wayes Hear inâ—truction and be wise and refuse it not Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates waiting at the posts of my door For who so findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord but he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul all they that hate me love death Prov. 8. 13. to the end And the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his Commandements his praise endureth for ever Psal 111. 10. And the fear of the Lord is Wisdom and the Knowledge of the Holy is understanding Proverbs 9. 10. And this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People and they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least unto the greatest for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8 10 11 12. And this shall be the Covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in their Inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People and they shall teach no more every one his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their Iniquities and I will remember their sins no more Jer. 31. 33 34. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them and I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me yea I will rejoyce over them to do them good and I will plant them in this Land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul Jer. 32. 40 41. And I saw another Angel flie in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth and to every Nation and Kindred and Tongue and People crying with a loud voice Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgements is come and worship him that made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters Rev. 14. 6 7. And except the God of my Fathers the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaack had been with me thou hadst sent me away now empty God hath seen my affliction and the labour of my hand and rebuked thee yester-night Gen. 31. 42. And Laban said to Jacob behold this heap and behold this Pillar which I cast up between me and the this Heap and this Pillar be witnesse that I not pass over this Heap to thee and thou shalt not pass over this Heap and this Pillar unto me for harm the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor and their Father Judge between us and Jacob sware by the fear of his Father Isaack v. 51 52 53. Thus saith the Scripture and the Scripture cannot be broken John 10. 35. And in him was life and the life was the light of men that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 3. 9. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men loved darkness rather then light
have mercy upon all that is to say that their Eyes being darkned in that state that they may not see and their Ears being stopt that they may not hear and their Backs being bowed down always that which shews them mercy that opens their Eyes and causeth them to see which that state closes that unstops their Ears that boareth them and makes them to hear that which takes of the burden from the shoulder which bowed them down may appear to be of the Lord for in that state there 's no hearing no seeing no standing upright God hath given them the Spirit of Slumber Eyes that they should not see as aforesaid And David the Seed prayes Let their Table be made a snare and a trap and a stumbling-block and a recompence to them Let their eyes be darkned that they may not see and bow down their backs alwayes So how can they arise how can they hear how can they see in this state which the Seed hath prayed may not see and that their back may be bowed down alwayes and whom the Lord hath given the Spirit of Slumber eyes that they should not see ears that they should not hear Now that which gives eyes to see ears to hear that takes off the burden that lifts up that awakes out of the slumber is another thing the Election the Seed the Election which obtains where the rest are blinded who continue or are in the state of Reprobation of Vnbelief though Israel once the chosen of the Lord Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for but the Election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded So that which gives to see and to hear that awakens unto God is another thing the Election which sheweth mercy unto whom he will shew mercy and whom he will he hardens that is to say Opens the eyes of those whom it wills to open and whom it wills it shuts that is to say Concludes in Vnbelief that it may have mercy upon them Concludes never to see never to hear never to go upright in that state but in another he hath concluded all in unbelief that he may have mercy upon all not that he may destroy all that he may bring them to see the well-spring of Life which is near them which hath dam'd up the Way to Life by any other way then Christ the Life that which witnesses in them who is the Way the Truth and the Life I am saith he and there 's no other way to life the state of Reprobation of Vnbelief cannot shew it it is uncapable of it it cannot comprehend it cannot see it even the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirt of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 3. 14. So that which gives to see is another thing that which gives to receive is from another state the hearing ear the seeing eye the Lord hath made even both of them saith the wise man Prov. 20. 12. but he made not Reprobation he made not unbelief or the state thereof that is to say He is not the cause of its being Man â—an into that man brought that O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help the hearing ear the seeing eye the Lord hath made even both of them and he hath closed the eye and shut the ear of the other that there is no seeing there no hearing unto life in that state It can never see God nor hear his voice it hath neither seen him nor known him Whosoever sinneth hath neither seen him neither known him 1 John 3. 6. It is in another state the seeing and knowing of God In the state which is immortal that never dies nor changes which is that which witnesses and here 's the seeing and here 's the hearing and no where else it is the Word of the Lord and this you will find in the day that he will render unto every man according to his deeds wherein every tongue shall be silent and every mouth shall be stopt and all shall confess that his judgements are just and there will be no covering for man nothing to hide him but he shall be naked and bare before him with whom he hath to do and shall see himself so to be in the day wherein the books shall be opened all that which witnessed shall be remembred and man shall be judged according to what is written in the books And I saw the dead small and great stand before God the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works Rev. 20. 12. All that which witnesses speaks is written in a book and this book shall be opened not a book of Ink and Paper but of Conscience written with the Spirit of the living God that which speaks in Conscience and every man shall be judged out of that and by that which in Conscience witnesses which gives to receive the things of God and nothing else So the Lord hath shut up hath concluded the state of the one in unbelief given them the Spirit of Slumber eyes that they should not see ears that they should not hear that he might have mercy in the other that gives the eye to see and the ear to hear Here 's the two seeds here 's Election and Reprobation here 's the seeing eye and the hearing ear which God hath made even both of them here 's the eye that they should not see the ear that they should not hear which God hath given here 's the conclusion of all in unbelief he hath concluded all in unbelief here 's the end of it that he may have mercy upon all not that he may condemn all and so I have opened this Particular Then as to that Even for this cause have I raised thee up that I may shew my power in thee and that my Name may be declared throughout all the earth which is spoken of Pharaoh I answer This is meant of states So is that viz. Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated as it is written and the Elder shall serve the younger as it was said unto her unto Rebecca before the children were born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as aforesaid The Elder Esau which was first in the tran gression that state that was brought forth first after the fall the state of Wrath the state of Reprobation the state of Vnbelief in which all are concluded And were by Nature the children of Wrath even as others saith the Apostle Ephes 2. 3. The first born Esau have I hated but Jacob have I loved before the children were born neither having done any good or evil the Elder shall serve
Egypt that which suffered in you and you made to serve with an Out-stretched Arm and be delivered in your destruction it is the Word of the Lord. He that hath an Ear let him hear what it speaketh Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my Hand and no man regarded but ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would none of my Reproofe I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as Desolation and your Destruction cometh as a Whirlwind when Distress and Anguish cometh upon you then shall they call on me saith Wisdom who cryeth without and uttereth her Voice in the Streets she cryeth in the chief places of Concourse in the openings of the Gates in the City she uttereth her Voice saying how long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the Scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate Knowledge Turn ye at my Reproofe behold I will pour out my Spirit upon you I will make known my Words unto you then shall they call on me saith Wisdom But I will not answer They shall seek me early but they shall not find me For that they hated Knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord they would none of my Counsel they despised all my Reproof therefore shall they eat of their own way and be filled with their own devices for the turning away see you here of the Simple shall slay them and the Prosperity of Fools shall destroy them But whoso hearkneth unto Me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of evil Prov. 1. 20. to the end So the Vessels of Wrath and the Vessels of Mercy are hear Those who stand in the one 〈◊〉 are found in the other which is the Election and Reprobation according to the purpose of him that calleth And even for this same purpose have I raised thee up Both his purpose they who are found in either his purpose is according to the state of either in which they are found Vessels of Wrath Vessels of Mercy What if God be willing to shew his Wrath and to make his Power known endured with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction he doth not say ordained to destruction and all Eternity but fitted to destruction which Iniquity doth and destruction is the end when it hath finished its course sin when it is finished brings for Death Jam. 1. 15. Destruction is the end when Iniquity finishes its course and that he might make known the riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy which he had afore prepared unto Glory Even us whom he hath called not of the Jews only but also of Gentiles Rom. 9. 22 23 24. So fitted for destruction vessels of wrath iniquity fits to destruction as I have said the creature in that state the state of the fall the state of Reprobation vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction on whom he will he makes his power known after he hath endured with much long-suffering see you here after he hath waited after he hath called after he hath sought after he hath endured with much long-suffering and man will not hear man will not turn If he turn not he will whet his sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready he hath also prepared for him the Instruments of death he ordaineth his Arrows against the Persecutors Psal 7. 12 13. God is willing what if God willing to shew his Wrath to make his Power known even for this same purpose have I raised thee up that I may shew my Power in thee endured with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath whom Reprobation Iniquity Vnbelief hath filled up whom it hath contained in whom it hath long lodg'd who would not be emptied would not have it cast out on which the wrath of God abides Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction made ready for that purpose by Iniquity Iniquity fits to destruction that 's all the profit of it if so be it may be called so to fit to destruction for God to shew his wrath to make known his power upon after he hath endured with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath. And the Vessels of Mercy which he had afore prepared unto Glory Here 's both as I have said Vessels of Wrath Vessels of Mercy Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction Vessels of Mercy afore prepared unto Glory That which receives that which calls which shews mercy I will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy That the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth Vessels of Mercy they receive mercy contain mercy retain that which calleth the Purpose of God according to Election Even as they did not like to Retain God in their Knowledge God gave them over to a Reprebate mind to do those things which are not convenient being filled with all unrighteousness c Rom. 1. 28 29. I will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy afore prepared unto Glory Mercy that which calleth the Purpose of God according to Election not of Works but of him that calleth prepares unto Glory where it is received that which calleth Mercy afore prepared unto Glory As Iniquity that which hardens the heart shuts the ear maketh to refuse mercy not to retain that which calleth the Purpose of God according to Election fits to destruction Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction Vessels of Mercy afore prepared unto Glory What if God be willing to shew his wrath and to make his Power known And that he might make known the Riches of his Glory So God is not Vnrighteous he made not man to destroy him Neither hath he concluded any man from all Eternity to destruction But he made man Upright and after his own Image and therein man was kept as he kept therein but man turning from that in which he was made to another thing Death came over all because all in Adam had sinned and in the state of Death every man stood and was concluded because in Adam every man had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God Now in this state as I have said the Lord finding every man his compassion wrought to man and his bowels earned towards him whom he had made in his Image which now man had lost and was fallen from and Death was come over therefore as he concluded all in this state because all had sinned and come short of his glory so he had mercy upon all he concluded all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all and this is his mercy that there is something of himself in man which shews him where he is and what he doth as he hearkens to it believes in it and obeys it and his enemy and sin and transgression by reason of which death came over and judges it and calls upon man to return to the Lord that he may be redeemed from Death and ransomed from the power of the Grave
said unto you Yea hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree in the Garden Yea is it so We may eat of the Fruit of the Trees of the Garden said the Woman who was first in the Transgression Adam was not deceived the first man Adam was made a living Soul 1 Cor. 15. 45. that was not deceived which was made a living Soul after the Image of God being the Image of God or the Image of God in man Christ Jesus the Son of God the new man And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him where there is neither Greek nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision Barbarian Scythiâ—n bond nor free but Christ is all and in all Col. 3. 10 11. Who is the Image of the Invisible God the first born of every Creature Col. 1. 15. Who being the brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God All things were made by him without him was not any thing made that was made 1 Joh. 1. 1. 3. Heb. 1. 3. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head forasmuch as he is the Image and Glory of God but the woman is the glory of the man For the man iâ— not of the woman but the woman of the man Neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man he that reads let him understand for this cause ought the woman to have Power over her head because of the Angels Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman neither the woman without the man in the Lord for as the woman is of the man even so is the man also by the woman but all things of God 1 Cor. 11. 7. to the 13. And as we have borne the Image of the Earthly we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly 1 Cor. 15. 49. and this is Christ but the woman being deceived was in the transgression the woman that man waâ— not Created for but the woman for the man the woman by whom also the man is as the woman is of the man the woman without whom neither is the man neither the man without the woman in the Lord being deceived was in the Transgression the Creature that was made not the Soul of the Creature the living Soul that of God the Image of God in which the Creature was made God breathed into man the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul the first man Adam was made a living Soul I say the Creature that was made in the Image of God the living Soul that man became after God had breathed into man the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul the first man Adam the Creature that was so made the woman not Adam the living Soul which by this came into death and death came over it and there he remains till the second Adam the quickening Spirit the Lord from Heaven raise it up and deâ—iver it being deceived mistaking the thing was in the Transgression went from the Commandement in the which Adam was not deceived for that testified in the woman that which was taken out of man which proceeded from man for which the man was not Created but that for man without which the man is not nor that without the man in the Lord We may eat of the Trees of the Garden said the woman to the Serpent whilst she stood in the man the Image of God the living Soul the first man Adam into whom God breathed the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul this said she but of the Fruit of the Tree which is in the midst of the Garden the Eternal state of which the Creature is and by which it is preserved from a dependency on which the Creature cannot be that is to say to be as it is without dependancie change or alteration which the Lord alone onely is and the Creature can be never viz. in a state of Independency on God on another nor shall be ever no eating no touching of this fruit of this Tree that groweth in the midst of the Garden no coming to this state by man for ever no coming at it though the Serpent climbing up to it mist and so keeping not his first state drew man thither to fall also God hath said ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it least ye die v. 2 3. Thus said the woman whilst she stood in the man in that in which she was made out of which she was took from which she proceeded thus she answered the living Soul that was not yet under that death was not yet over for she had not yet let it in the first man Adam into whom God breathed the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul the Image of God Righteousness and true holiness the new man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created him as aforesaid Christ Jesus the Lord from Heaven the quickening Spirit who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which be not as if they were the amen the true faithful Witnesse the beginning of the Creation of God that was dead and is alive and behold I am a live for ever more Amen And have the Keys of Hell he that is Holy he that is true he that hath the Key of David he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth the first and the last the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Behold he cometh in Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which piereed him and all Kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of him even so Amen Rom. 4. 17. Rev. 1. 7 8 18. Rev. 2. 14. Rev. 3. 7. He was not yet slain the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13. 8. So she was not yet deceived He yet spake in her as aforesaid Adam who was not deceived who was not in the Transgression but shewed the Transgression who said in her God hath said and she spake after him God hath said said she c. Now she spake right now she was not deceived whilst she spake after him in her who witnessed who was the Son of Adam who was the Son of God Luke 3. 38. The Seed of the Woman which God said should bruise the Serpents head Gen. 3. 15. who lives for Ever the Root and Off-spring of David whilst she heard him speaking in her and kept there she said God hath said Ye shall not eat thereof neither shall ye touch it least ye die Yea said the Serpent hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree in the Garden Ther 's somewhat in the matter I 'le tell you a secret tush there 's a state beyond that in the which you
the Minister of sin God forbid For if I build again the things that I have destroyed I make my self a transgressor Gal. 2. 17 18 For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformable to the Image of his Son that he might be the first born of many brethren Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Rom. 8. 29 30. So then there is no Predestination where there is not first a Foreknowledge and this Predestination is to be conformed to the Image of his Son and his Image is Righteousness and true Holiness and where Righteousness and true Holiness are not there is not the Image of his Son and where the Image of his Son is not there is no Conformity to the Image of his Son and where there is no conformity to the Image of his Son there is no Predestination And where sin is there is no Conformity to the Image of his Son And so no Predestination no Calling that abides no Justification no Glorification no Foreknowledge to Life Eternal Whom he did Predestinate them he also Called and whom he also called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also Glorified and whom he foreknew he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the first born among many Brethren Rom. 8. 27. And here is the sum of the whole matter No fore-knowledge to life Eternal no predestination no calling that abides no justification no glorification but in conformity and to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he may be the first born of many brethren The Brethren of whom he is the first born are such as are conformed to his Image which is Righteousness and true Holiness and he hath predestinated none but to this nor fore-known any to predestination but to this and where this is not there is no fore-knowledge no predestination to life Eternal none of the Brother-hood of which he is the first born for whom he did fore-know he also did predestinate to what to be conformed unto what to the Image of his Son So where conformity is not to the Image of his Son there is no predestination there is no calling that abides as I have said and the Scripture speaks it plain For the Gifts and calling of God are without Repentance saith the Apostle as to Election and that of the Jews who saith he as concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sakes but as touching the Election they are beloved for the Fathers sake for the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance Rom. 11. 28 29. And the gifts and calling of God that are without Repentance are unto Eternal Life and Eternal Life is in his Son John 5. 11. and he that is in Christ Jesus is a new Creature Old things are passed away behold all things are made new 2 Cor. 5. 17. And saith he have put on the new man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him where there is neither Greek nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian bond nor free but Christ is all and in all Put on therefore as the Elect of God bowels of Mercy kindness humbleness of mind meekness long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man hath a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye Col. 3. 10 11 12 13. And where there is no calling which is unto Holiness there is no justification For God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto Holiness 1 Thes 4. 7. and Holiness becomes thy House O Lord for ever Psal 93. 5. And who hath saved us and called us with an Holy calling not according to our Works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Chriâ—t who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light thorough the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. And the eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his Power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his Mighty Power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the Heavenly places far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every Name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Ephes 1. 18. to the end And there is one Body and one Spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling One Lord one Faith one Baptism One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Ephes 4. 4 5 6. And we pray alwayes for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of Faith with Power that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye in him according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1. 11 12. And you see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought the things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption That according as it is written He that gloryeth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 26. to the end And I count not my self to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3. 14 15. And Holy brethren partakers of the Heavenly calling consider the Apostle and high Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house For this man was counted worthy of more glory then Moses inasmuch as he that hath builded the house hath more honour then the house For every house is builded by some man but he that built all