12.4 1â— 32-35 Mat. 24 12. for though knowledge shall abound yet wickedness and Seducers will abound also And whatever shaking of worldly Powers and burning of the Whore and destroying of the Body of Antichrist there shall be yet the Beast in the worldly Powers and the false Prophet 2 Thes 2.8 Rev. 19.11 20. with the Spirit of Antichrist remaineth till the personal appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ and the cross of Christ is to be accepted till then and the Life of Believers in respect of such glorious appearance is hid with Christ in God and they in that respect dead and not to look to appear in Glory Col. 3.1 2 3 4. Phil. 3.20 21. till he appear in Glory that we may appear in Glory with him which will be a better Glory than that thought on to be had in this VVorld even a likeness to him which the Saints look for in his coming besides when the Sons of God are so manifested Ezek. 11.18 19. Eph. 5.27 Act. 3.19 20. 1 Cor. 1.8 Mal. 3.17 18. Rom. 8 19-23 they shall not be of divers Opinions nor in divers Forms of Church-Government as now in some things many may be but of one minde and heart free from all spot of sin shining in holiness and this manifestation of them expresly said to be In the day when he makes up his Jewels or special Treasure explained to be when the Bodies of the Saints are raised and become immortal and the whole Creation renewed so that as the Creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sons of God Col. 3.4 Phil. 3-20 1 Joh. 3.2 that it may then enjoy its Freedom so the Sons of God wait for the manifestation and personal appearance of the Son of God our Lord Jesus Christ that he appearing in Glory they may appear in Glory with him and so be manifested the Sons of God Thirdly the knowledge and belief of the Testimony of Christ concerning his personal coming in such manner and to such ends as is said is profitable being minded to help and move all that believe in Christ 1. To keep them from inordinate loving Rom 8.18.2 Cor. 4.17 18. 2 Tim. 4 8. and pursuing the Glory riches or pleasures of this world and to enable them to count the cross of Christ and sufferings for his sake great riches and so to bear it with patience and go through it with fortitude c. 2. To attend upon Mat. 28.19 10. 1 Cor. 11.2 26. 1 Tim. 6.13 14. 2 Tim. 4.1 2 3 4 5 8. and hopefully use all the Ordinances of Christ according to opportunities given till he visibly and personally come again that being the time of their ceasing 3. To long and wait with patience in well-doing for this coming of the Lord Rom. 8.23 1 Cor. 1.7 Jude 21. that we may be found ready and unblameable at his appearing Phil. 3.20 1 Thes 1. â—â— 2 Thes 3.5 Heb. 9.28 Tit. 2.13 2 Pet. 3.12 13. And thus having gone over the three distinct Branches of the Testimony of Christ and that so as I desire to have them beheld as one whole and entire Testimony I shall sum them up together CHAP. 21. The Conclusion of this Part in summing up the Testimony HAving treated distinctly of The Oblation The Intercession and The coming again of Christ desiring 〈◊〉 Scriptures speaking of each to be well minded I shall add a word or two to shew how all Three are included in one Testimony and are indeed one intire Testimony even the Testimony of Jesus that is The Spirit of Prophesie and one included in the other and all joyned in one in the Testimony in divers places set forth in one John 3.16 17. there is affirmed the Love of God in the gift of his Son in which the Oblation is affirmed and there is set out the End of his coming even to save and that he might save there is his Mediation and Prevlency of it in use of means to apply intimately affirmed and there 's the blessed Hope in his coming for all that obey his call that they might not perish but have Everlasting Life so is his coming again intimated 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. There is both the Oblation of Christ vers 14 15 19. and the Fruit of the Intercession of Christ vers 18 20. and the coming again of Christ vers 10 21. yea all Three together vers 21. intimated Tit. 1.1 2. There is the Object of Faith set forth in the Gospel called The Faith of God's Elect which is Christ as he hath offered the Oblation and there is the Fruit of his Intercession in the acknowledgement of the Truth which is after Godliness and there is intimate his coming again in which is given that hoped for the Hope of Eternal Life And yet because his Oblation in his Humiliation and Exaltation is the Foundation of Faith and the Key of Knowledge and that which gives Light and Understanding into all the whole Testimony and being believed lead into all Therefore we shall finde That that is sometime onely expresly named and yet the other two secretly in the same saying and so with Inclusion of Intercession and Hope of his glorious coming when not named Christ as he hath offered the Oblation c. is named as the whole Testimony 1 Cor. 2.2 so Paul summed up all the Gospel and Doctrine he determined to preach to the orinthians to this even Jesus Christ and him cruciâ—â—â— where the Oblation is express the other included And again he summed up the Gospel he preached and which Believers received and in which they stand and by which if they keep in remembrance they are saved 1 Cor. 15.3 4 5. to this How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and that he was seen c. In which the Humiliation and Exaltation of Christ is comprehended his Oblation express his Intercession and coming again included in that saying According to the Scriptures And such a brief sum explicated 2 Cor. 5 14-24 And so in such a brief sum the Love of God to Mankinde is testified 1 Jo. 4.9 10. Vers 14. Ioh. 3.14 15 16 17. In this was manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent his onely begotten Son into the world that we might live through him Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins And again shorter and the same was in like manner testified by our Saviour and that also as the Ground of Preaching the same for Men's healing and as the Oblation and Love of God to Mankinde appearing there-through is sometimes named for the whole Testimony so in some places it is shewn how this known and believed saveth and leadeth into all Truth and so teacheth Believers I will instance but two places 1. Tit.
And exhortation to them vers 6. And admonition to them that none beguile them vers 4.8 either with inticing words or Philosophy and vain deceit or by shews of humility and great knowledge intruding themselves into things they have not seen c. and so happily either pressing them to Law-observances for their perfection or to some humane and self-mortifications or to look for some particular words or some degree and condition in attainments or some secret decree of election that was of their persons before their calling or any thing what ever besides that which is discovered to them in Christ As if there were not enough in him to be received in beleeving on him And so hee warns to beware that we be not removed from him and that hope of the Gospel given us in beleeving on him Col. 1.22 23 24. For he will present us blameless if we continue in the faith c. This is the Apostles doctrine and scope as appears in this and former and following Chapters cleerly so as in all the proofs not a syllable to maintain any true faith of a second kinde nor the cause contended for but much rather that he contendeth against and more need not bee said but only to view his terms about their priviledges in the works of God passed on them which also are needful to be considered CHAP. XXII Of the terms of Gods works passed on beleevers in this Concernment OF these terms understood as is fore-shewn and some so molified as hath been shewn before in Pages 414 435 436. they may be all received As for the term Regenerated it is not used here and hath been considered where it is onely here let that place Mat. 19.28 Ye which have followed me in the Regeneration c. be considered he saith not Ye which are regenerated as speaking of a work done but a doing and it may be taken both for Regeneration and the Ministry of Regeneration in both which they were then following him Now what was the Regeneration of Christ surely he needed none of heart spirit or disposition he was holy in and from conception and knew no sin but he had a weak frail and mortal body of the seed of David Abraham Adam and how was that regenerated but through many sufferings and death in the resurrection from the dead Luke 24.26.45 46 47. Isa 53 8 10 11 Psal 2. Act. 13.33 And so he passâ—â—on through sufferings till he was truly dead and in the resurrection he was begotten there was his regeneration and such as are so raised are his generation or regenerated people whence such promises to be performing in the spirit and soul as through dying with Rom. 6 4 5. 2 Tim. 2 11. Phil. 3.9.10 11 12 13. Joh. 15 16-25 Mat. 10. 24 9-13 and for him we are conformed to his death for we need it in that and in soul and body after we are truly dead in the resurrection of the just and those that follow him so to the death shall then enjoy that promised Mat. 19.28 and such desires of conformity to him in sufferings And as for the ministration of Christ for regeneration of others it was a ministration carried an end through sufferings in which he persevered to the end and so must that ministration of his servants be also and he that perseveres in following him in that to the end shall enjoy also that promised And that regeneration is thus to be understood here for a work not compleatly yet done but in doing both in regeneration and ministration of it is evident by the Spirit in Luke mentioning the same thing so far as they had proceeded in it saith Luke 22.28 29 30. Yee are they which have continued with me in my temptations expressing that as the medium through which regeneration is here attained which minded will help to understand all the terms that are here used The term Accepted I suppose he means it to be the same with Justified because there is no other quotation for it and they may well be alike taken and they are both alike true of all that are indeed beleevers without difference in respect of their persons as such and so sons by faith yet is not this acceptation and Justification answerable in degree to that which shall be in the resurrection of the just when their persons as Sons and all their wayes as becoming Sons will be alike accepted and justified but not altogether so yet yea in this life even beleevers in whom the faith is may be in that respect accepted and justified as Sons and yet some words or act and so a way of theirs rejected and condemned and they in that not accepted or justified but both reproved and corrected No doubt but Moses and Aaron aboad in the faith Numb 20.12 and were accepted as the Saints of the Lord yet their failing in an act of faith and not honouring the power and freeness of Gods mercy before the people was reproved and they corrected for it No doubt but Peter aboad in the faith and love of his Master Maâ— 16.22.23 and was accepted as a true disciple yet not acting rightly in his faith his carnal counsel is rejected as proceeding from some suggestion of Satan to whom Christ as in Mat. 4. saith Depart and Peter sharply reproved 1 Cor. 11.30 32. No question but those corrected with weakness sickness and some with death for so gracious an end were true beleevers and so accepted but their demeanor not suitable to their faith was deeply reproved and chastened And the same I conceive of David Psal 32. though at one time foulely faln yet not utterly departed from the faith and his beleef in God and adoration of him for then what caused that great grief and disquietness of heart nor yet wholly out of favour of God in respect of his person as the Lords servant but in respect of his evil way disallowed 1 King 15.5 reproved and sorely afflicted And this I conceive because David is affirmed not to have turned aside c. all the dayes of his life it is not said save onely in that time in which sure were many other matters but save onely in the matter of Vriah Rom. 3.22 25. 5.8 3.25 4 5. 10 9 10. c. And the word Accepted thus understood is safe and good for all beleevers and so the word Justified also But for the rest there are quotations to be viewed Rom. 5.1 The Apostle had before discovered what true faith is in respect of the object Christ as having dyed rose c. And the true beleeving begot by the discovery of this object which is therefore called faith first in the beginning bringing to and closing with him namely an hearty beleeving That this Jesus is the Christ and that he dyed for our sins and rose for our justification and is the Lord of all and the propitiation for our sins this is the
them and extending to some Revelation Demonstration and making known his minde and goodness to them and also dealing with Men from and for God in opening their Eyes and moving their Hearts to turn to God and look to him and be saved and again still dealing with God for Men for patience pardon and means still to be extended to them that so they might come to Repentance and Faith and that he in his Father's way may freely give it to them By which means and in which patience he is striving with Men in opening their Eyes and moving at their Hearts that they might believe and so from the prevalency of his Mediation by vertue of his Oblation he is giving them Faith and Repentance and such a Mediator he is for all Men yea so set to be of his Father and hath himself accepted to perform this Office also and is furnished for it with the vertue of his Oblation and Immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost being faithful able and constant in performance and so in respect of his receiving from the Father and so from God dealing with the people calling and making known God's minde being full of Spirit Love and Faithfulness he calls enlightens moves and so strives with all 2 Isa 42 1-7 45.22 49.6 8. 55.5 61.1 2 3. Joh. 1.4 5 7 8 9 10 11. Rom. 2.4 5. as hath been foreshewn a. And whereas men closing their Eyes which he hath opened c. not owning and receiving his reachings and motions which is the sin of the world he yet by vertue of his Blood and Oblation once offered so intercedes with God as to procure such forgiveness that they are not cut off presently for these transgressions but that longer time and patience and more mercies and means be extended towards them and farther strife with his Spirit that they might yet repent believe and be saved A gracious Mediator intimated to us in the Parable of the Vine-dresser Luk. 13.8 9. Lord let it alone this yeer also till I dig about it and dress it and if it bear fruit well if not then after c. If any say This is meant of the Church the Vineyard of the Iews I answer However meant it is spoken of particular Trees therein of some of which our Saviour saith Ye are of this World Joh. 8.23 Joh. 1.29 but it is plain express by Iohn Baptist Behold the Lamb of God which taketh or beareth away the sins of the world In which it appeareth evidently he speaketh of more than the Atonement and Purgation made and so of the sins taken away from before the Face of God at once by that one Oblation of his once offered yea he speaketh of a continued act by vertue of his Oblation in Mediation he taketh that is spoken of a present and continued business he taketh or beareth away the sin of the world that is his Office and his continued work That he is faithful in doing and how he doth it was long before prophesied Isa 53.12 He poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with transgressors and he bare the sins of many And then speaking of another and farther business done by vertue of the former he faith also And made intercession for the transgressors A little of which we may see fulfilled in Christ's praying for them that crucified him Father forgive them they know not what they do Luk. 23.34 And this Prayer of his was answered yea in as full a sense and farther degree than that of Amos and they so forgiven this great Transgression that they were not presently cut off Amos 7.2 3 4 5 6. Luk. 24.47 Act. 2.38 3.26 5.31 32. but patience and forbearance and more and greater means extended and used towards them yea the Gospel after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ first preached to them and Remission of sins c. according to Christ his Order so rendered and given to them And many of them did believe and receive the same And in like manner he procured patience and long-suffering for other great Transgressors even for the same gracious end That they might repent 2 Pet. 3.9 Rev. 2.21 2 Pet. 3â—â—5 whence we are willed to account That the long-suffering of the Lord is salvation Yea we are instructed into the knowledge of this Mediation of Christ by the Types of old the Truth of all being fulfilled and found in Christ Heb. 9.28 For Christ was once offered to bear the sins of man and unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation It is evident in this place That more is here spoken of and meant than bearing of sins in his Oblation-offering 2 Pet. 2 24. Col. 2.14 Rom. 4.25 Heb. 9.14 1 Ioh. 2.1 Rom. 6.9 for those he bare in his Sufferings and Death and nailed them to his Cross so as he did them all away in his Resurrection and then by the eternal Spirit offered himself a spotless Sacrifice to God in the Heavens nor can there be any more sin so imputed to him or so born by him he is just and can die no more but his bearing sins now is his taking them away and keeping the punishment of them off from us And this was also figured to us in the two Goats one slain for a sin-offering figuring out the Atonement made by the Death of Christ the other a living Goat Levit. 16.9 10 20 21 22. 1 Cor. 15.17 Rom. 4.25 over whom was confess'd all the iniquity of the Children of Israel and he bare them away into a Land of separation where no man dwelt to be charged with them So figuring out the Resurrection of Christ for our Justification and bearing away our sins the forgiveness whereof men perceive and receive in confessing and believing on him and yet a farther bearing away of sins was here typed 1 Joh. 1.7 9. in that it was of sins confessed after the Atonement was made over the live Goat that carried them away c. But I will not urge that but come to that which is more full and plain for this purpose Aaron the High-Priest did bear the names and the Judgement of the Children of Israel Exod. 28.29 30. when he went into the holy place continually and he with his Sons the Priests were to bear the iniquity of the Congregation to make Atonement for them before the Lord Levit. 10.17 and this was besides the Atonement made in the holy of holies once in the yeer And what bearing of iniquity this was may be cleer to us not that the iniquity of the people was imputed to the Priests and confess'd over their heads and they to suffer the judgement and punishment due to the peoples sins and to be offered in Sacrifice for them not so But as skilfull Hebricians say The word signifies and the Greeks translates so to bear and take away yea Numb 18.1 2
of which is spoken in many places a Deut. 18.18 Psal 16.10 40 6-9 Isa 53. 1-10 Zach. 9.9 Psa 68.18 and so he is already come and hath compleared that Work done in his own Body and can die no more nor will offer any other or more Sacrifice but liveth for ever in that glorious Body once offered in Sacrifice remaining still a continual Mediator and High-Priest by vertue of that Oblation 1 Joh. 4.3 2 Joh. 7. 1 Joh. 42. and he that denieth and confesseth not this and doth not in the belief thereof worship God is led by the Spirit of Antichrist The true Spirit confesseth this And of this coming is spoken in the former two Heads of his Oblation and Mediation by vertue of his Oblation all his stretching forth his power in providential Comings in Mercies and Judgements and in gracious Visitations or spiritual Comings are the effects and fruits of his Oblation and Intercession in his Administration in his bodily Absence But the second and next personal and bodily coming of Christ is in Glory and to take unto him his great Power and Raign and to receive to himself to raign with him all that have believed on him and suffered with him b Col. 3.4 Rev. 11.17 18. And this is the coming again of Christ which is here to be treated of in this Head and this his personal coming in Glory is that which was also spoken of by the Prophets Zachary The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee c Zach. 14 1-5 Malachi The Son of Righteousness shall arise with healing c. d Mal. 4.1 2. Isaiah of the encrease of his Government and Peace no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom c. e Isa 9.7 And upon the first coming of Christ even before he had actually offered his Oblation this was declared in his personal Ministration by himself both to his Disciples saying For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels f Mat. 16.27 and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory g Mat. 24.30 Mar. 13.26 Luk. 21.26 and I will come again and receive you to my self c i Joh. 14.3 And also to his Crucifiers Hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hard of Power and coming in the clouds of Heaven k Mat. 25.64 Mar. 14.62 Luk. 22.69 And so it was likewise declared by the Angel The Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David and he shall raign over the house of Iacob c. l Luk. 1.32 33. And again upon his Ascension the Angel said This same Iesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven m Act. 1.11 And the same hath been also taught by the Apostles And he shall send Iesus Christ c. n Act. 3.20 21. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout c. o 1 Thes 4.16 Unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto Salvation p Heb. 9.28 And this is testified to be the Promise of Christ and the Desire of those led by the Spirit of Christ q Rev. 22.20 Whence all unfeigned Believers are said to wait for his coming r 1 Cor. 1.7 Phil. 3.20 21. 1 Thes 1.10 And the Crown of Righteousness to be given at that day to them that love his appearing s 2 Tim. 4.8 And concerning this his next personal coming there is declared in the Gospel and Testimony of Christ these three things First The manner of his coming Secondly The Ends of his coming Thirdly The Time though not the day and hour of his coming Let us consider what the Scripture saith of each of these and first of the first point The manner of his coming It is expresly said 1. It will be sudden in an hour not known before he come Mat. 24.27 44. Mar. 13.36 1 Thes 5.2 3. Rev. 16.15 1 Cor. 15.52 even to his own and as a snare to all the Inhabitants of the World in a moment in the twinkling of an eye as a flash of lightning 2. It will be visible openly and discernable to every eye yea all the Believers those that are asleep Mat. 24.30 Mar. 13.26 Luk. 21.27 Rev. 1.7 Mat. 24.27 and those that are at that time living on the earth not one before another but them that are asleep being first raised then all at once together shall see him 1 Thess 4.15 yea every eye and all the kindreds of the earth shall see him it will be as visible as the lightning that shines from the East to the West 3. It will be with Power and great Glory 2 Thes 1.7 Zach. 4.5 his mighty Angels and all his Saints meeting and coming together with him And in such a sudden visible and glorious manner will Christ come CHAP. 17. Of the second Point The Ends of the coming of Christ. THe Ends of the next coming of Jesus Christ is for the fulfilling his Word and Promise in doing those things he hath said and that are testified of him to be then done by him which I may comprehend in the naming under these four Heads that is to say 1. To raise the Just that sleep in the Lord and change and make immortal the surviving Believers that have suffered with him 1 Thes 4.14 15 16. this is affirmed as necessarily included in the belief of all that do indeed believe Jesus to have died and rose again if we believe this then this also That even so them also which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord That we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep for the Lord himself shall descend c. And the dead in Christ shall rise first that is before we which live shall see him then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up c. being in the very moment of their raising 1 Cor. 15.52 53. 1 Cor. 15.23 24. changed and for the Resurrection it is said Every man in his own order Christ the first Fruits that was in his personal Resurrection who is now ascended afterwards those that are Christ's at his coming And then speaking of another Time he saith Then the End when or then cometh the End and when is that End when he shall have delivered up c. As it is given out with an Oath That there should be Time no longer Rev. 10.6 7. Rev. 8.2 6 Rev. 11.15 1 Cor. 15.24 25. but in the dayes of the voicē of the seventh Angel which Angel is to found the last Trumpet which beginneth in Christ his beginning to Raign and endeth in Christ
Saints be joyful in glory c. Psal 149.5 6 7 8 9. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth or throat and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishments upon the people to binde their Kings in chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgement written This honour have all his Saints Hallelujah Mal. 4.3 For in that Day they shall tread down the wicked and they shall be as ashes under the soles of their Feet and so in the great straight to give the great Overthrow to the Enemies at the Day of the Lord 's coming it is said Zach. 14.1 2-6 Rev. 19 11-21 2 Pet. 3.5 6 7 8-10 The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee And so the Armies in Heaven follow him to the taking of the Beast and the false Prophet and casting them into the Lake of Eire and slaying the Remnant with the Sword c. when also the Earth with the Works that are therein shall be burn'd up and destroyed as the old World was with Water And this being done the next work is 3. To restore all things so said Peter Act. 3.19 20. When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you And so as in the beginning of the first Creation the whole business is first set forth in general Gen. 1 chap. and then the things done in the same time more particularly set forth and explicated chap. 2 and 3 So here in the dissolution of the Old and compleating of the New Creation the things done are in general related Rev. 19 and 20 chap. and then more particularly opened Rev. 21.7 5. chap. 21 and 22. And so Iohn saith He saw a new Heaven and a new Earth c. And the Lord saith Behold I make all things new c. And again These words are true and faithful And so the Believers when that great Overthrow is given to the wicked 2 Pet. 3.12 13. do look for a new Heaven and new Earth according to his promise for so when he cuts off the wicked Isa 65.12 15 17. he hath promised to create new Heaven and a new Earth c. And this is assured to be in that Day of the Manifestation of the Sons of God that the Creature even the whole Creation shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God who shall then enjoy the Adoption Rom. 8.19 20 21 22. Heb. 2.5 6. with Psal 8.4 5 6 7 8. Rom. 4.13 Heb. 11.16 Isa 58.12 the Redemption of the Body which they now wait for This the World to come whereof we speak this the World to come of which Abraham shall be an Heir this the Country he and our Fathers waited for and then shall inherit so as Christ in this respect also is the Restorer of paths to dwell in And having thus renewed the Heaven and the Earth the next work which is done in compleating this is cleerly shewn 4. Rev. 11.18 Luk. 14.14 Joh. 14.3 2 Tim. 2.12 Rev. 1.5 5.10 Luk. 22.28 29 30. Mat. 19.28 29. To take unto him his great Power and Raign and so to give rewards to his Servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his Name small and great and so to receive to himself all that have formerly believed on him lived to him and suffered with him that they may raign with him yea eat and drink at his Table in his Kingdom and sit on Thrones c. In which Raign and Kingdom of Christ with his Saints when he comes and takes it divers things are considerable as expresly declared and affirmed in the Scripture as about the place of his raigning and the place of his Throne and the extent and manner and prosperity and duration of his Kingdom CHAP. 18. Of the things considerable about the Kingdom of Christ THat mentioned in the Scripture about the Kingdom of Christ is 1. The place of his Kingdom and Raign it shall be upon the Earth the Earth being renewed This is plainly intimated in Heb. 2.5 6 7 8. compared with Psal 8.4 6 7 8 9. and affirmed both of him and his Saints upon the making of the new Heaven and the new Earth I Iohn saw the holy City Rev. 21.1 2. new Ierusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband Is not this the Spirits of Just Men made perfect receiving their Bodies raised immortal Heb. 12.22 23 24. Gal. 4.26 1 Cor. 15.51 52 53 54. 1 Thes 4.15 16 17. glorious powerful and spiritual and the living Saints in the same moment of their Resurrection changed and made like them and so both together ascending and meeting the Lord in the Air or Heaven and so coming down with him as is foreshewn And that we may rightly understand the meaning of the Vision declared he farther saith Rev. 21.3 4 5 6 7. Zach. 14.9 Psal 72.8 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and so on Yea the Raign of Christ is expresly affirmed That it shall be on Earth and the Raign of the Saints with him that it shall be on Earth also so they confess Thou hast made us unto our God Rev. 5.10 Psal 37.9 10 11. Kings and Priests and we shall raign on the earth And so it is said When the wicked are cut off and shall not be then the meek that wait on the Lord in these dayes of his patience shall inher it the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace But this will still more appear in the Points following and so I will proceed to them 2. The place of the Throne it shall be Ierusalem the great and Holy City in the midst of Canaan in which Abraham walked and sojourned as a Stranger though then renewed and enlarged Jer. 3.17 and so it is said At that tune they shall call Ierusalem the Throne of the Lord And all Nations shall be gathered unto it Isa 24.23 to the Name of the Lord to Jerusalem c. The Lord of Hosts shall raign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously Isa 33.17 20 21 And again Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty c. Look upon Sion the City of our solemnities Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation a tabernacle that shall not be taken down c. There the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams c. Oh Jerusalem the holy City Isa 52.1 henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean Rev. 21.10 11-27 Isa 2.3 Mic. 4.2 Isa 62.7 Ezck. 38.35 Psal 122.5 Mat. 19.28 according to that Rev.
Saints but the Beast and the false Prophet will stand against him also but he comes not then to suffer but to raign and so all the Enemies will be overthrown he coming to the ends aforesaid I have in this but made a homely Comparison of the proceedings with Jews and Gentiles specially Christians how it was with the Jews is plainly declared through the Scriptures how it was with the Gentiles the Christians in the first ages is seen in the Scriptures and for the following ages it is there also propheted and for other knowledge I leave to them that are acquainted with Histories how it is now let such as have understanding judge And I suppose this will come neer to one with the former accounts of those godly learned Men and manifest that first said That the coming of our Lord is nigh at hand the call of the Jews being at the doors the fulness of Gentiles neer come and the personal coming of Christ not long after he shews us daily our lives here cannot be long and he is in his works hastening his coming and all to move us to haste to it and be always ready and waiting for it Behold he cometh CHAP. 20. Some Application of this Branch of the Testimony of Christ concerning his coming again in such manner to such ends c. THe knowledge and mindefulness of this personal coming again of Jesus Christ in such manner and for such ends as is shewn and his coming so fast and nigh-approaching is profitable to warn teach and stir us up first to avoid and resist the evils and keep from the danger of seducing and evil Spirits that labour to with-draw and turn many from the Faith of his coming by their subtil Reasonings and Arguments viz. 1. Those Scoffers that say Where is the promise of his coming for since the Fathers fell asleep 2 Pet. 3 6. all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation Where is this new Heaven and new Earth This Restauration of all things This raigning of Christ and his Saints you say was promised to the Fathers And you have long called these the last dayes and yet no such things appears you are beguiled with some Enthusiasm or Millenary-Opinion you wait for a Fancy one Generation goeth and another cometh all things continue as they were and will so do We in belief of the Testimony of Christ 2 Pet. 3.5.7 may know these Men are willingly ignorant c. we may admire God's Patience to such in forbearing them that they might repent before his coming and his patience towards us that have not done all we might to gain Men in to Repentance that we might renew our Diligence and we know a Day is not in God's account as it is with Men and that there are some things still to be performed that must be done before his coming and the being tried with such Scoffers is one thing in which we see the Truth of his Word that foretold it and the fulfilling of it and the hastening and nighness of his coming to stir us to desire it c. 2. 2 Thes 2.2 Those that go about to shake the minde of Believers by saying the Day of Christ is at hand now presently or within one hour or a day or ten dayes or a month or two months or such a day week or month within this yeer or before a yeer be out and thereto pretend a spiritual Revelation or some word or some thing as out of the writings of the Apostles for though that day be much nigher at hand than when the Apostles gave that warning and though that falling away and the Revelation of the Man of sin be now come to pass yet all there spoken is not yet fulfilled And so we know by the same Rule That all the Horns or ten Kingdoms do not yet hate the Whore and though there is a good beginning and in some places her Flesh eaten yet not by them all nor have they yet burnt her with Fire nor are the Jews yet come into their own Land yea Euphrates is not yet dried up all which must first be So that it is not so at hand as to be this day or week but he is coming apace and hastening in doing these things and our lives short which is enough to move us to be alwayes ready waiting and looking for his coming 3. Those that say The Resurrection is past already The Lord is come to them 2 Tim. 2.18 and they are risen and do raign and Heaven is in them and they are in Heaven enjoying the new Heaven and the new Earth already and are above all Ordinances needing the use of none of them We in belief of the Testimony of Christ do know That when the Lord comes he comes and appears to all at once and so when the Just are raised they are raised all at once and all Saints made immortal at once and go with the Lord to the overthrow of the wicked then enjoy the new Heaven and the new Earth and raign together neither marrying nor giving in marriage 1 Cor. 4.8.2 Thes 4.14 15. Heb. 11.40 nor living in such condition so that whatever they fancy of their being risen and living and raigning in such manner they are deceived for if it were so indeed we should not be left behinde or be as they say we are still in the dark but we should see and raign also with them if they did so in Truth for no one shall prevent another in this or any Saints be perfect without their Fellows 4. Those that put off all the coming of Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 3 â— 2 Pet. 3.18 19. 1 Ioh. 2.22 Prov. 30.13 into a coming in the Spirit and say We must wait indeed for a coming of Christ but it is a coming in the Spirit and That it is but a fleshly Faith to believe in Christ as come in the Flesh but the spiritual believing is to believe in him as come in the Spirit and so enjoying him he is come indeed and then such live above Faith Some such as these are intimated in the Apostles times though the Spirit of Antichrist did but begin then to work But we that believe the Testimony of Jesus Christ do know That Jesus that very Man is The Christ and That his very being come in the Flesh and that he hath done therein and thereby is the Foundation of our Faith and Hope and the way and door of our approach to God and that through which all Mercies are extended yea even the Spirit it self yea this it is which the Holy Ghost whose work it is glorifieth to the Heart and so enables to believe in Christ and unites and frames to him thereby and so to confess him come in the Flesh which none can do but by the Holy Spirit which is Christ his sending Spirit and so coming to them and dwelling in them by Spirit in which he was never absent from
3.4 5 6 7. read and consider the place and see it is the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man it 's not said Joh. 3.16 his special and peculiar Love to some Elect but the pity and love of God to Man-ward that in its appearing saved us not according to works of righteousness which we have done it neither appeared or saveth by any thing in us or done by us Rom. 3.9 25. 5.6 8 9 10. 2 Cor. 5.20 Eph. 2.16 17. in which we were better than others but according to his mercy that is his Love commended to sinners in his giving Christ to die and make peace for them by his Blood when we were Enemies and causing it to appear to us while we were such and no better than others he saved us that is reconciled our hearts and converted us to himself and this saving by the washing of Regeneration that is the vertue and efficaciousness of the Blood and Oblation of Christ by means of his Mediation made known to us and his Love there-through streaming Rom. 5 1-5 1 Pet. 1.2 2 Thes 2.13 Heb. 9.14 being by the Holy Ghost set home to the Heart and so also by the renewing of the Holy Ghost who in such discovery as is said sprinkleth the Blood of Christ in the Heart and thereby speaketh peace and createth or reneweth a new Disposition or Spirit in the Heart Rom. 3.22 24 25 26 27. 4.5 23 24 25. 5 1-11 Which washing of Repentance and renewing of the Holy Ghost he by vertue of his Oblation once offered and his Intercession continued the Divine Love appearing there-through shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Lord that we being justified by his Grace now mark the last end in which his coming again is intimated we should be made Heirs according to the Hope of Eternal Life 1 Joh. 4.9.10 Thus doth the Love of God to Mankinde appearing through the Oblation of Christ lead to see and enjoy the Ends and Vertues of his Oblation and therein the Benefit of his Mediation and Intercession and therewith and thereby the Hope of the Inheritance and Eternal Life in the coming again of Christ so precious is the word of the beginning of Christ to lead into all that follows to be known of him 2. Tit. 2.11 12 13 14. read the place and minde The Grace of God Tit. 3.4 2 Cor. 3.18 Phil. 3.7 8. which is the same with the kindeness and Love of God to Man-ward saving to all men or bringing Salvation to all Men hath appeared so as in its appearing and saving Operations it teacheth us here is the benefit of his Mediation in extending the Vertues of his Oblation that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world now mark the last looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ And all this large Grace appearing in such saving tendency with such teachings and fitness for prevalency therein grounded and bottomed upon the Word of the beginning of Christ vers 14. Who gave himself for us c. with which I began this Discourse of the Oblation Intercession and coming again of Christ and with the same I for this Part end In all that is said of the Testimony of Christ in every Branch and of all together it appears That this Testimony is a Doctrine according to godliness and hath its natural tendency to godliness effecting it in all cordial Believers of it and also that this Testimony of Jesus is The Spirit of Prophesie The Original of all right Understanding The true and so best Enlightner Teacher School-Master and Director to all right understanding and speaking And ignorance and unbelief of this Testimony or any Branch of it specially the first is the cause of all error and mistakes about Scriptures And by this Testimony minded we may discern what true Faith is what the Object what the Medium discovering what the Believing is and how it worketh But I forbear to proceed farther in those things till I have first minded the degrees of the Revelation of Christ in this Testimony of him and how it was revealed evidenced and so made known and taught by degrees till the whole was cleerly manifested to be so now taught and believed An Explicite Declaration of the Testimony of Christ c. PART III. CHAP. I. Of the first Revelation of Christ and Way of making him known THE first Revelation of Jesus Christ was in Paradise thus Gen. 3.15 I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel In which according to Explication since is observed 1. That the first Promulgation of the Gospel as it was immediate from and by God himself so it was done in the denouncing the Curse on the Serpent and his Seed yea Gen. 3.1.14 15. in some measure on the Serpent that was the Devil's Instrument and its Seed but in full and specially on the Devil the old Serpent with his Angels Rev. 12.9 20.2 8.13 9.12 11 14-18 and those by his Temptations become of him and so his Seed even as the compleating of the Exaltation of Christ and those that are his Seed is declared in the denouncing and bringing in the last and great Wo upon the Inhabiters of the Earth which are the Seed of this old Serpent 2. Gen. 3.16 17. Rom. 5.18 Heb. 9.27 That the Seed of the Woman is also so exprest that it may have a double sense one a more remote sense in which it may be carried to all that come of her by a natural conception before whom in the Promise Hope was set and of and from among whom the two Seeds more directly spoken of are and will be drawn And the other sense proper and nigher and that both principal full Gen. 3.15 Psal 49.7 8. Isa 7.14 Mat. 1.22 23. Luk. 1.30 34 35. Gal. 4.4 Mat. 1.1 Rom. 1.3 Gal. 3.16 1 Joh. 3.5 8. Heb. 2.14 and most cleer and direct and that is the Lord Jesus Christ for he saith It shall bruise thy head It was not thus The Woman nor any of her Seed by natural conception which are every way as much the Seed of Adam the Man as of the Woman of which no Man can redeem his Brother or give to God a Ransome for him But it was He even Jesus that was conceived in the Wombe and born of a Woman and a Virgin in a supernatural way without the help or use of Man which Virgin was of the Seed of Abraham and David to whom also the Promise was explicated and so he was the Seed of David of Abraham of the Woman the promised Seed even he that in due time was manifested to take away sins and destroy the works of the Devil And the Holy Ghost hath given us
upholding and ordering and garnishing the Heaven and Earth and Creatures therein for the good of Mankinde and enduing Men with understanding and skill for Husbandry and disposing the Fruits of the Earth Deut. 28.26 29. Exod. 31.3 35.31 and for curious Arts and Works or for War Physick Laws and Government of a Commonwealth c. though these be all Mercies to lead to Repentance for these were extended before Christ carried the Nature of Man into Heaven no nor yet is meant simply of a discovery of the Minde and Grace of God through Christ Heb. 11.6 Gen. 6.3 Act. 14.17 Rom. 3.2 9.5 Joh. 1.7 29. striving with Men to bring them in to God for this also was from the beginning yea and some brought in to believe thereby from the rumour of the Gospel in Paradise delivered and the works of Creation and Providence and yet more abundantly to Israel in Types Promises and Prophesies and yet more in John Baptist's Ministration yea the Holy Ghost in such means to enlighten and teach hath not onely been alwayes in the Church but some have been wonderfully filled with him he signified in and to the Prophets 1 Pet. 1.11 2 Pet. 1.21 Act. 28.25 Luk. 1.41 46 67. 2.25 26. and they spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost spake by them and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and Mary and Zacharias and the Holy Ghost was upon old Simeon and revealed Christ to him and the same may be said of divers others so that though no other Spirit be promised yet some farther Discovery and Operation of the Spirit which was not as yet given is evident to be meant here by the giving the Holy Ghost If any think that his coming like a mighty and rushing winde and sitting on them in the likeness of fiery Tongues and giving them to speak with divers Tongues is that which was promised he is not deceived in that for it was included in the promises as to the first Witnesses but it was neither the whole nor the main in the Promise but an over-plus and addition to the main Joh. 7.37 38 39. 17.20 21. Act. 2.39 the promise being that which however with more abundance to them yet in the Testimony given them it appertained to all that through that Testimony believe in Christ and this appears to be such a giving of the Holy Ghost as never was before in 1. A more full and cleer Revelation of Christ 1 Cor. 2.9 10 11. Joh. 5.39 Heb. 1.1 Rom. 16.25 Eph. 3.3 9. and things of Christ that lay hid in the bowels of the Scriptures then ever was before all being in this Testimony opened so far as is to be known till his own personal coming again so as the full of the Holy Ghosts Testimony of Christ is come forth opened which was not so before 2. A more free and cleer manifestation of the Lord Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Col. 1.25 26 27. Joh. 7.37 38 39. as having compleated the Sacrifice and being filled with Spirit and the Father's Face and Minde appearing in him not through Types and Prophecies but in a cleer Demonstration of him in the Gospel as the Object of Faith and Allurer not with servitude in a Law of Works but with Freedom to believe in him and therein to receive more free and abundant spiritual Operations and spiritual gifts then ever before 3. A larger Freedom for all Gentiles as Jews without difference Eph. 3.3 4 9. Gal. 3.28 Eph. 1.8 9 10. all every or any one in believing the Testimony to receive the gracious Priviledges and in all this he abounded to the first Witnesses in all Wisdom and Prudence making known to them the mystery of his will for the dispensation of these last times 4. That this Testimony of Christ in which all parts of the Testimony fore-given by Inspirations Types Prophecies Joh. 15.26 14.26 16.13 15. Joh. 3.16 Rom. 1.16 2 Cor. 3.6 7 c. Visions Dreams was opened being fully and cleerly given forth by the Holy Ghost witnessing of Christ this Testimony being a birth of the Spirit and the Medium in which the Spirit worketh and his own Testimony it also beareth his Name and he that believing receiveth it receiveth him and shall experiment this Light and Operations And that this is meant by the giving of the Holy Ghost fore-promised now performed by Christ appears both in the Promises and Performance and the Scriptures quoted and also by the Apostles Affirmation that as the Promises of Christ concerning it Psal 68.18 20. Act. 2.33 Eph. 4.8 11. Act. 2.17 18. so the Prophesies of the Prophet concerning his pouring forth his Spirit both for convincing the rebellious and leading Believers into all Truth and also the efficaciousness of the Spirit for making known the Mind of Christ and his Operations for and in Prophesie Vision Dreams had all a fulfilling in this given to them so full a Testimony cleer Revelation with such Divine Illumination and Operation was given to these first Witnesses that by that Testimony Christ and the things of Christ might be made known that Men might believe and so come in to Christ And this the last and fullest Revelation of Christ and no other but the cleer knowledge of this to be looked for till he do personally and visibly come again But now for the way of making this known to the Sons of Men and carrying it an end we have that also shewn us in this Revelation these three wayes given to them In which we have three things to note first The prime Medium or Way of making it known and the chosen Instruments to use that Medium to make it known and also the Furniture wherewith they are furnished to make it known that Men may come to know Christ thus revealed and so be saved reconciled and brought to God by Christ Of which see what the Scripture saith CHAP. 10. Of the prime Medium or Way of making Christ known according to the Revelation of the Mystery to bring Men to God by Christ THis way of making Christ known for so gracious an end so cleerly it is manifest to be preaching this Word Testimony or Gospel as it is now come forth Mar. 1.15 Act. 10.42 2 Tim. 4.2 Tit. 1.3 and such a manner of Preaching as never was before Christ his coming in the Flesh and suffering on the Cross and having been put to death in the Flesh but quickned by the Spirit and now alive in that Body for evermore and by vertue of his Cross and death by which he made our Peace and by vertue whereof he still mediateth for us and by vertue whereof he worketh in Believers and so will have his Cross and sufferings remembred imbraced and professed till his coming again so 1 Cor. 1.18 20. 2.1 2. as the preaching of him now as it is called the preaching of Christ so it is called also the
works be manifold yet he is but one God he is one and so the Holy Spirit that proceedeth from the Father and the Son and discovereth Christ and God in Christ and beareth forth the Testimony though his Gifts and Operations be manifold yet the Spirit is one in the same yea the Father and Son and Holy Spirit are one and the same God one in Essence Will Design Testimony and Power and God in Christ propitious to Men and having prepared Eternal Life in Christ for Men this is the Object of Faith to be preached and believed and if this were not there could be no such thing as the Gospel calls Faith to be preached obeyed or enjoyed And this is one 2. The Grace of Faith or that believing in the Gospel that is called Faith it is that believing which is begot in the heart by the Discovery and Testimony Heb. 11.13 Joh. 6.40 Act. 6.7 Rom 3.25 10.8 9 10. the Spirit in the means he useth hath given of Christ in which a Man discerneth the Truth and Goodness testified is perswaded of it in his heart And this is one one way and manner of believing that Object of Faith and from thence it is called Faith and so truely still one Faith the Object discovered having drawn to it self a believing 3. So when through the Operation of Grace believed the Heart imbraceth the Object believed Heb. 11.13 Rom. 10.10 and so by Faith is united to it in trust and well-pleasedness c. it is still but one and the same Faith the same Object uniting to it self whence indeed it hath the name of Faith so as still Faith is one and but one II. That as Faith is used for the prevalency of the Object of Faith drawing the Hearer and Beholder to believe and so for the Grace of Faith or Believing though the Faith be one yet there are divers Degrees in and of it and divers Acts and Operarations of it 1. One Degree of Believing which in respect of the Testimony by which it is begot and which it believeth Joh. 2.23 12.42 and which if abiden in it will unite to may be called faith is yet short of a real new-birth it is such a belief of the Gospel-Testimony as according to light seen one believeth Jesus to be the Christ so far as to count his saying true and yet not so overcome by that believed to see and acknowledge his own vileness and the vanity of all his own best righteousness and his sin in not sooner believing by evidences foregiven and so see not yet the fulness and liberty in Christ for them and so are not by the knowledge of the Truth made single to Christ they are sprinkled with water and moved with Spirit but not yet born of VVater and Spirit they believe Righteousness but not yet with the heart unto Righteousness they are by the hearing of Faith so far born of God as to believe Jesus to be the Christ and confess him to be the Lord but not so far born of God as to be emptied of themselves and united to Christ and so are not yet inwardly renewed and regenerated and so though in the outward Court not yet really translated out of the Power of Darkness into the Kingdom of God's dear Son and yet even these Believers if they abide in this Faith of the Testimony of the Gospel and give heed to the plain sayings thereof Rom. 10.9 Joh. 8.30 31. and abide therein they shall be saved shall know the Truth and the Truth will make them free To say these did but pretend or seem and profess to believe and so are said to believe in respect of their seeming and prosession to believe in the judgement of Charity is too much presumption and sawciness and derogation from the Holy Ghost for the Evangelists writ this after Christ was ascended and they indued with the Holy Ghost and so writ by his inspiration so that those sayings such did believe were not the sayings of Men imperfect in knowledge and judging according to the judgement of Charity by conjecture but the sayings of the Holy Ghost that knoweth all things the Spirit of Truth that cannot erre or be deceived And he saith they believed on his Name they believed on him and who will be so proud of his VVisdom and Knowledge as to direct the Spirit of the Lord and undertake to counsel him and teach him to speak more rightly and safely and say they seemed to believe they professed to believe in the judgement of Charity they ought to be counted Believers though in the issue it appears they did not believe That which some bring to help this conceit helps it not Joh. 2.24 25. namely that Christ did not commit himself to them because he knew all Men c. for it is not said Jesus knew they believed not Gen. 6.5 8.21 or that he knew there was no truth in their believing but he knew what was in Man an evil and unfaithful disposition c. and he knew that his Words or Miracles that brought these to believe on him were not so submitted to as that their evil disposition was yet mortified and they made faithful to him and so they might have served him as he did Joh. 5.14 15. but believe the Spirit saith they did And so in the other place the Holy Ghost affirmeth That as Christ spake many believed on him Joh. 8.30 31. and that our Saviour then spake to those Jews that believed on him And again the Holy Ghost faith Among the chief Rulers many believed on him Joh. 12.42 but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him So that these were Believers and therefore so called and not called Believers because they seemed or professed to believe which the Holy Ghost saith they did not nay the praise of Men had that prevalency with them that it kept them from profession of believing though it had not so great prevalency with these as with those Joh. 5.44 whom it kept from believing or yet put them in an incapacity of it so that these pointed to did believe is evident that it was not a feigned but true believing is evident for else in continuance in it they could not be saved that they were yet short of the knowledge of the Truth c. is express that if they continued in his words received by this Faith they were even then his Disciples and they should know the Truth and the Truth should make them free is express so that here is one Degree of Faith yet short of a real New-Birth which yet abiden in is certain to be effected and was after in many of these as appears in comparing John 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 18. and John 7.50 51. with John 19.38 39 40. 2. The other Degree of believing in which by the prevalency of the Light seen Col. 1 12 13. 1 Pet. 2.3 5 9. Phil. 3.7 8 9. and Grace believed the Heart
Purposes therein concerning Christ already spoken of CHAP. 4. Of the Purposes of God concerning Mankinde GOd in these his Purposes concerning Jesus Christ and in his Election of him hath purposed also concerning Mankinde for the honor of his Son which Purpose as ordered in his counsel is not conceiveable and expressable for us but in distinct and several parcels and so in Scripture I finde 1. The Purpose of God to be To give all Mankinde unto his Son Christ to be his and under his Dominion and dispose Rom. 14.8 9 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Cor 5.14 15 as their rightful Lord to whom they ought of right to live and so living to him not to perish but have life and this upon the account of his death and sacrifice for them yea whether they yield willingly to live to him or rebel against him yet upon the account of his death resurrection and sacrifice he would give them all unto him Psa 2.1 6 7 8 9 even the Heathen for his inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his possession and he shall rule them and dispose of them and judge them And upon the same account of his sufferings and sacrifice Phil. 2.7 8 9 10 11 2 Cor. 5.10 Rom. 2.16 1.9 10 11 12 in the Name of Jesus in the power and Authority of him every knee shall bow c. and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is the Lord to the Glory of God and all shall appear before his Judgement-Seat and be judged by him on the same account so that Jesus Christ by vertue of his Ransom given is Lord of all according to the Purpose of God according to which Purpose also all Men ought of right to acknowledge him Hos 11.4 Joh. 16.8 11 Phil. 2.10 11 and live to him And those that by the cords of a Man and bands of Love will not be drawn to it now shall by his Iron-Rod and irresistably putting forth of his power be brought in the last Day to that acknowledgement to their wo. And all this the purpose and according to the Purpose of God who is of one minde and hath no secret Purpose contrary to this revealed 2. Isa 45.22 Act. 14.17 17.26 27 28 31 Rom. 2.4 Psa 33.6 8 God also in this Purpose purposed That means should be extended by and through Christ to all Men according to such Revelation of Jesus Christ and evidence of his Grace through him as God hath given forth to them to evidence and make known his Grace through the Redeemer and Mediator to all Men in several ages to call and lead them to Repentance and Faith in him that they might not rebel against their Redeemer and rightful Lord and so lose their own Souls and procure to themselves perishing in a second death but by coming in to the acknowledgement of him in this Day of Grace escape that perishing and have everlasting Life And all this he hath done and doth according to his Purpose as is shewn in treating of the several Revelations of Christ See the first 15 Chap. of the 3 Part. and as he purposed so according to his purpose he sendeth forth in his seasons light and power in the means and in an especial manner where the Gospel in which is the fullest Revelation of Christ come forth Gen. 6.3 Psal 78 Isa 55.4 5 Ezek. 24.13 Joh. 3.17 Act. 26.18 is sent in which Language I am to speak he giveth this light and Power in the means working and moving at the Hearts of Men that they might repent and believe and so be saved yea he leaveth none till he have in some measure stretched forth his hand so Joh. 1.9 Isa 42.7 8 Rom. 10.8 9. 2 Cor. 6.2 as by his Spirit he hath enlightned them in some measure to discern brought his Word nigh them and moved at their hearts that they might believe being at hand to succour and enable them thereto it being his gracious minde they should accept and all this according to his purpose which is seen in his works as hath been often shewn before 3. God in his Purposes also purposed his Purpose as so ordered in the counsel of his will and purpose is That having thus given Men into the dispose of Christ and through him used such means towards them that those of them that believe in Christ according to the means and light therein with help extended shall not perish but have Eternal Life and such as persist rebelling against the light and means therein and so will not believe shall be damned This is verily the declared purpose of God and it is sure according to his minde and heart and this appeareth in God's speaking to Abraham in whose loyns Christ according to the flesh was and forth of him to come and to him God said Thou shalt be a blessing or Be thou a blessing Gen. 12.2 3 18.18 Gal. 3.8 Gen. 22.18 Gal. 3.16 Act. 3.25 which is no less then a promise and command of the blessing to be on him for others and who they are is opened And In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed And this explicated to be meant of his Seed which is Christ that was to come of him So God opening his will and purpose to Abraham in preaching this Gospel to him assures him of blessing in Christ for all Nations and this to be held forth in the Gospel given him to preach in which preaching he should also be a blessing as their feet are beautiful that bring glad tidings of peace and this to and for all that they might receive it But who are they that shall indeed partake of it according to this purpose of God the Lord tells Abraham And I will bless him that blesseth thee Gen. 12.3 accepteth and rejoyceth in thy Message and curse him that curseth thee that despiseth so great blessing and salvation suitable to that said by Christ to his Apostles which rightly understood Luk. 10.16 his purpose cleerly is declared And suitable to this is that spoken of Christ in means using Dout. 18.15 18 19 Act. 3.19 23 Isa 28.16 1 Pet. 2.6 7 8 Joh. 8.24 Joh. 3.36 He shall speak forth the words of blessing but he that hearkneth not to him shall be cut off And yet more plain by the following Prophets He that believeth in himshall not make haste or be ashamed judgement also will I lay to the line c. explicated by the Apostle to have this meaning and yet still more full by John Baptist He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life But most plain and express is this in our Saviour's own words to Nicodemus Joh. 3.14 15 16 17 where he plainly shews what the will and purpose of God was and is in the gift of his Son the Saviour of the world and the means he useth towards them by him even express That
of any if it continue in the Heart and they abide in it they shall be saved Therefore he stirreth himself to steal it out of the Heart lest they should be saved Luke 8.12 And indeed Men thus far brought to believe if they continue not in his Word they lose the livingness and quickning of the Spirit in the Gospel and so close their eyes again and then though they continue a profession of Faith yet it is but a dead Faith Jam. 2.26 destitute of that Life and Motion of Faith the Spirit in the Gospel affordeth as the Body of a Man though for a time retaining its form yet when Life and Motion is gone is dead yet as that is no good Argument to prove there never was Life in that Body so neither is this deadness of Faith any proof that there never was livingness in it but it rather evidenceth the Truth of our Saviour's Testimony Joh. 15.6 If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and withereth c. which could not be if he never had sap moisture and greenness Yea Pag. 429. Answ 1. Mr. Owen confesseth thus much That before their falling away they were in a fair way for life and salvation and that their falling away is from gifts and common graces Now this is certain they could not be in any way for Salvation if Christ by his Death had not made satisfaction for them and received Spirit in their Nature to send forth and apply it to them nor could they be in a fair way to Salvation if there were no will in God through Christ by the means extended to save them yea they could not be in a fair way for Life and Salvation if the Word they believed and their believing and the Gifts and Graces they received were not all true of the right kinde and of a saving Nature and Tendency so as abiding and dying in it he is certainly saved for what Faith or Gift soever a Man hath that continuing and dying in he is yet damned eternally he was in the having them in a deceitful way a way to death and not in a fair way to Life and Salvation But enough is said to shew the Purpose of God concerning such Believers as these But to proceed Secondly There are Believers that through the Testimony of Christ having their eyes opened and their Hearts brought to believe the Testimony to be true and good and not so onely Rom. 5.6 8 9 10 4 22-25 Tit. 2.14 3.4 5 6. 1 Pet. 1.20 21 22 but in that believing to minde and believe the greatness and immensness of the Love of God commended in this that while we were sinners and enemies to him his Son Christ died for us and made peace by his blood and now hath as freely made it known to us so as thereby they are reconciled to God and enabled to believe on him for that eternal Life he hath promised and in that renewed in heart to a child-like disposition and concerning these thus believing in him the Purpose or Purposes of God are 1. That he will put his Spirit in them Ezek. 36.27 Joh. 6.68 69 Mat. 16.16 17 Isa 59.21 Joh. 14.16 17 26 Joh 16.13 14 15 16 Heb. 8.10 Rom 8.26 Psa 73.23 24 and cause them to walk in his Statutes that he shall not onely be with them to give them now and then some Light and Motion to make him known in his Words and affect their hearts as before he did but he shall be in them that is take up such an Habitation in the Word put in their Heart that he shall be an indwelling Advocate and Comforter thereby within them to bring the Sayings of Christ to their remembrance and teâ—â—n them and so to take of the things of Christ to shew them and so glorifie him and make him precious to their Hearts and write his Minde therein and enable them to pray and so comfort and guide them 2. That by his Word and Spirit he will give them to answer their Adversaries and subdue their sinful lusts and corruptions Mat. 10.19 Mar. 13.11 Luk. 21.15 Mic. 7.18 19 Rom. 16.21 and give them issue out of all their temptations 1 Cor. 10.13 and shortly in due time tread Satan under their Feet 3. That he will never leave them nor forsake them Deut. 31.6 Heb. 13.5 Isa 43.1 4 5. 1 Sam. 2.9 Psa 97.10 Pro. 2.8 but uphold them in his way and so be with them in the worst of hours when they are most opposed and pass through fire and water that they shall not be overthrown yea he will keep their feet and preserve their Souls in the way Psal 91 and so through Faith to the inheritance so that though thousands miscarry yet no evil shall befal them he will command safety and deliverance and victory for them These are not onely Promises but the declared Purposes of God concerning those that believe in him and so are the Sons of God by Faith and they are made known to imbolden them confidently to abide in the wayes of God without fear in which way he will keep them and that they may have a ready recourse to the sure Rock and Object of Faith in all these Promises Luk. 1.71 72 73 74 75 Pro. 10.29 1 Pet. 1.5 and according to all these revealed Purposes in believing be united to him and so live by Faith through which Faith he will by his power keep them even to the Inheritance and that such is his Purpose is plain and in many places plainly declared 4. That such of these unfeigned Believers as shall be found living upon this earth at the visible and glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.50 51 52 53 54 55 1 Thes 4.14 15 16 17 Heb. 11.13 14 39 40 Psa 105 9 10 11 Dan. 12.13 shall at that time at the very beginning of his appearing in a moment in the twinkling of an eye be changed with a change suitable to Death and Resurrection so as though they sleep not in Death yet Death and Resurrection both are included in this change in which Mortality is put off and Immortality put on and in the same moment the same short time as the twinkling of an eye all that from the beginning of the World to that time have died in the Faith and so though slept in Death yet dying in the Faith they are the Dâ—ad in the Lord and so in Christ sleep in Jesus these shall all be raised at once in the same moment the other are changed so that all at once and none before another or preventing another but all together shall see the Lord and be caught up in that sight to meet with him in the Air and so to come with him and receive together the promised Inheritance and so be ever with the Lord. And to conclude the discoursing of Purposes in this way I shall onely add that which is
Truth Joh. 12.47 48. 2 Thes 1.10 yet nevertheless the Truth standeth firm and will one Day judge these Apostates and justifie such as believe in him So that by this opposition it cleerly appears he means Christ to be the Foundation 3. This also appears in the Words themselves with their Order and several Branches and Distinctions let them be every one considered 1. Isa 28.16 Psa 18.22 Mat. 21.4 1 Pet. 2.6 Act. 4.11 12. 1 Cor. 3.11 The Foundation of God standeth sure Is not this plain in Scripture-Language to be the Foundation God purposed and promised to lay in Sion which Purpose and Promise was before the laying of it and now according to Purpose and Promise he hath laid it and Jesus Christ expresly affirmed to be this Foundation the Love and Wisdom of God in his will found out and purposed this Foundation and according to his Purpose his Hand hath laid this Foundation and hath declared his Purpose of saving all that in believing are by Faith built on him who onely is the Foundation and there is no other The knowledge of this Foundation and so of the Love and Purpose of God according to which he is laid meet us with bands of Love to draw to him and fasten upon him or if declined to return to him that is so sure immovable and precious a Foundation And this cleer-here that none needed have imagined another nor feigned the Purpose to be the Foundation but to proceed 2. Having this seal This is plain This Foundation hath a Seal on it an evident and known Seal it is a sealed Foundation and so the Seal is distinct though not divided from the Foundation it is in it and upon it even that by which it is marked out to be known and to be sure and stedfast even that which God hath appointed and sealed in which Seal also is the sealing and approbation of all that through believing come to be built on him So that it is a demonstrating living quickning and confirming Seal and so Christ the Foundation was sealed approved testified and confirmed both by voice and works to be The Christ Isa 28.16 Mat. 3.17 17.5 Joh. 5.37 Joh. 6.27 Isa 55.4 1 Cor. 2.2 Isa 42.4 Rom. 8.28 8.2 Isa 28.16 8.16 51.4 2 Cor. 1.22 5.14 Eph. 1.13 Isa 2.3.4 Mic. 4.2 3 Isa 8.20 14 15 16. 28.9 16. 29.11 12. 42.21 49.6 13.47 Mat. 5.14 15. Phil. 2.15 16. Joh. 1.4 7 9. 5.35 Isa 44.26 Heb. 2.3 4. The Son of God that precious tried Stone laid for a Foundation and upon this ground he exhorteth to seek of him the Bread that endureth to Eternal Life which he will give to such as come to him for it because or for him hath God the Father fealed yea he being given as the VVitness or Testimony of God's Will Love Purpose and Faithfulness and so preached by the Apostles and for the Law which the Apostle calls The Law of Faith The Law of the Spirit of Life This the Foundation laid in Sion The Law and Testimony bound and sealed up among the Disciples of Christ The Law proceeding out of his Mouth and he doth therewith so seal those that believe in him that he indues them with his own Spirit operating in them so that the same Law and Testimony goeth forth from them to others And this is the Law and the Testimony to which we are to resort for the knowledge of all Truth though because of its crying down all flesh and the reproach it is in in the World and among the Children of the Bond-woman in the Church it is to them as a book pretended by the Learned to be sealed and by the unlearned to be out of their ability to read yet with Christ and in him the Lord is well pleased yea and for his sake with all that believe in him and will magnifie the Law and make it honourable yea he hath given him for a light to the Gentiles and to be his Salvation to the ends of the earth yea he will confirm and hath confirmed the same in making those that believe in him the light of the VVorld in holding forth the VVord of Life and bearing witness of him the true light and he will confirm the Testimony delivered by his Servants yea he hath abundantly confirmed this Testimony already Eph. 2.20 21 22. so that Jesus Christ as set forth in the Testimony of the Gospel he is the Foundation laid by God and ministerially by the Apostles even that Foundation on which the Apostles and Prophets yea the whole Church both of Jews and Gentiles are built and by whom as the Corner-Stone they are united in one and there is no other Foundation but this And this Foundation is sealed and hath the Seal on it which will be sealing all that come to be built on it so that hitherto even by this Word having this Seal We are led to own Jesus Christ for the Foundation on which the Seal abideth Now let us consider what this Seal is and that also is express 3. That Lord knoweth them that are his This is plain the Apostle delivereth not this the Lord knoweth them that are his as the Foundation which by his manner of delivery appears to be some distinct thing forelayed yea even before sealed but distinctly plainly and expresly as the Seal on the Foundation which it alwayes hath on and with it and that is this The Lord knoweth them that are his View the words in their own simplicity according to Gospel-Language and it will appear plainly That The Lord is the Name frequently throughout the Gospel as now come forth given to Christ a Act. 2.36 10.36 9.17 29. 11.16 16.31 20.35 Rom. 14.9 1 Cor. 1 2. 8.6 2 Cor. 1 2. 13.14 Gal. 1.3 6.18 c. but if any will take it for God the Father it will come to the same for the Father and the Son are both one and the same God b Joh. 2.1 2 one in divine Essence and in VVill and Design and in Testimony and Working c Joh. 10.29 30. 1 Joh. 5.7 Joh. 5.17.19 22 23. 14.6 10. 16.14 15. Heb. 1.3 yea the Father doth nothing but the Son doth the same yea he doth all by the Son that all Men might honor the Son as they honor the Father nor can any come to the Father but by the Son and all that is the Father's is the Son 's and through him his glory appeareth The Lord knoweth This Word is more then seeth discerneth and so knoweth Joh. 2.24 25. 16.30 Dan. 2.22 Isa 66.18 Luk. 16.15 Deut. 31.21 2 King 19.27 Isa 37.28 Jer. 48.30 Psa 138.6 139.1 5. for so God yea God in Christ and so Christ knoweth all things yea he knoweth what is in the darkness though onely the light dwelleth with him he knoweth the hearts of all Men even the worst of Men also yea
their abode and going in and coming out and rage against him yea he knoweth the proud afar off and therefore he is fit to judge all and this is for the comfort of his Servants also yea he knoweth them and their thoughts and their wayes a good Meditation for them but knoweth in this business signifieth more then all this yea more then to say See part 4. ch 7. The Lord knoweth who they be that are his and who are not for the word here importeth special Grace Favour and Protection as hath been shewn The Lord knoweth that is the Lord owneth approveth chuseth delighteth in protecteth leadeth upholdeth manifesteth himself to and vouchsafeth fellowship with and maketh use of them to shew forth his vertues and praises by and so the word is used Psal 1.6 explained God is in the generation of the righteous God loveth the righteous Psal 14.5 146.8 37.17 112.6 5.12 1.6 146.9 37.17 112.10 The Lord upholdeth the righteous The righteous shall be in ever lasting remembrance For thou Lord wilt bless the righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield And this knowing of the righteous is opposed to the perishing of the way of the wicked his turning of the way of the wicked upside down so as the arms of the wicked shall be broken and the desire of the wicked shall perish yea to this understanding of the word knoweth here we are led by Christ and his Apostles yea the learned and godly Writers with one consent so take the word knoweth importing Approbation and Election The Lord knoweth them that are his These words by the connexion with the precedent and following words and the Apostle's scope appear plainly That By Them that are his are not meant all that are his in any sence as all that he hath right in to dispose of yea and to bring about his own ends by and to judge c. for so Psal 24.1 119.91 Joh 12.16 Psal 2.7 9. Rom. 13.9 Act. 10.36 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Phil. 2.9 10 11. Joh. 5.28 29. The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof the world and they that dwell therein yea All are his servants The deceived and the deceiver are his yea God hath given to Christ upon the account of his sufferings and sacrifice all Nations of Men yea all Men to be disposed by him and he to be the Lord of them all and they are all obliged to him to live to him and will they nill they they shall all come one day before him and confess him Lord and he shall judge them In which sense all Men are his which though some through unbelief deny and will not acknowledge the Lordship of Christ upon this ground yet will none plead for them that are his to be taken in this sense here and it hath been often proved before That none that live in impenitency and unbelief can be reckoned in the number of those that are here meant by them that are his By Them that are his evidently appeareth here to be meant them that are his peculiar or his in a peculiar manner that is them that in the heavenly Call by the Gospel in discovery of his great Name Joh. 6.44 45. 14.21 23. 17.2 6 7. Rom. 9.24 Heb. 3.1 6. 1 Cor. 1.24 2 Cor. 8 5 Tit. 3.3 7. Rom. 9.8 Gal. 3.29 Rom. 8.28 2 Thes 2.13 2 Pet. 1.2 Hos 2.23 Rom. 9.25 26. 1 Cor. 8.2 3. Gal. 4.8 9. 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Thes 5.4 5. Eph. 2.3 10. that is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world and God's love and propitiousness to Mankinde through him are prevailed with to believe in Christ and so through the Grace believed united to him and so wrought up to love God and yield up themselves to trust in him and live to him and in the abounding of this love believed springing up this Faith and Love in them he returning with more discoveries of Love and so approving delighting in and chusing them These are the Children of the Promise that are Christ his peculiar and Heirs according to Promise The Called according to Purpose that love God and Christ The Elect and chosen through Sanctification of the Spirit c. These are them that his his people in such a sense as before this they were not his people and so both knowing God and rather so known of God as before they were not so now in Christ in the light his Children and peculiar people which before they were not And this understanding of these and no other to be his peculiar people and chosen and elect Generation we are fully and plainly taught as all that will read and minde 1 Pet. 2.2 3 5 9 10. may see without interpretation or gloss and so it 's plain these are those here meant by Them that are his And we have the same from our Saviour's own Mouth who is the Foundation and the first sealed known approved and elect Joh. 14.21 23. 16.27 15.16 19. 17.6 10 16. Joh. 3.14 15 16. 16.24 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him c. And The Father himself hath loved you because ye have loved me c. and these he saith He hath chosen out of the world and they are not of the world And these are the Father's and these are Christ's so that it is plain these are The Them so known and owned of which Paul speaks here to Timothy and if any Man would put any into this number that are not of this Them the Scripture is directly against him So that in this 2 Tim. 2.19 according to Scripture-Language we have set forth intimately the Purpose of God and expresly and distinctly The Foundation of God that is laid according to his purpose Isa 28.16 1 Pet. 2.6 and the Election of those that are prevailed with by Grace to believe in and relie on Christ according to his Purpose also the Foundation is first laid and upon the account of the preciousness of this Foundation the owning and election of those that believe on him they shall not be ashamed I know not what can be more plain and evident and yet that which follows confirms all hitherto said 4. And let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity If any will take this as the flourishing of the Seal whereby it is demonstrated to others I hinder him not nor doth it hinder the scope aimed at yet I rather conceive it distinct for it is not said These Seals but this Seal which mentioned what it is he comes in with an and distinctive though not dis-junctive differenced though not divided both distinctive and copulative neither the Foundation nor the Seal yet an instruction and warning taught by the Foundation Tit. 2.11 12. Pro.
this should be framed out of its dregs after plain Gospel-Testimony is believed there being no one Saying in the Gospel declaring any such thing or that giveth ground for any such consequence and why should any of us that have received so much good in the Gospel-Testimony strain for a consequence to maintain that which the Gospel declareth not yea which stands cross to many Declarations yea Heb. 4.6 and to the scope of that very place alledged some must enter which appears to be spoken to encourage the weakest Believers to abide and go on in their Faith that they may enter the Rest or Canaan Compare ch 3. 4. with ch 6 12-20 11. See Part 3. ch 2. God hath sworn to give Abraham Isaac and Jacob and their Seed and they looked to receive it in a heavenly manner a new Earth c. which they never yet did nor shall till we all to the last that shall be called by the Gospel-Ministration come to enter together with them True God by Moses called them out of Egypt to that very promised Canaan but not at that time to receive it in that manner promised to Abraham but yet to receive it for which he gave them his promise which they not firmly believing especially after the receit of the first-Fruits all the antient Men except Caleb and Joshua that followed him fully in the faith of his Promise fell in the Wilderness and entred not not but that Moses Aaron Miriam Zelophehad and all like them even all but the rebellious shall in the Resurrection of the Just rise again and enter this promised Rest with Abraham c. So that in this they were but Types and Examples to us Those that Joshua led into the Land the Lord by Joshua gave them rest and in continuing in the Law of the Lord they might have retained it in that manner till the coming of Christ but yet the Rest as promised to Abraham was not then given no nor yet so long after as in David's time who when a King there and had both his people and his enemies subdued to him yet confest himself a stranger as his Fathers were and affirmed the promised Rest to be yet to come yet sure all that lived and died in the Faith must rise and enter when Abraham enters after God sent forth Christ for a Witness and Covenant that resting on him by Faith they might be so entring and in due time fully enter And the Gospel hereof was first preached to the Jews who for the most part refused and so entred not by by Faith and deprived themselves of a personal entrance when the time cometh yet God in his faithfulness to Abraham will preserve a Seed of Men of his Generation through all troubles that there should be found of them surviving at the coming of Christ and be brought in by him and shall enter when Abraham and all that sleep in Jesus shall be raised and enter together with them and till then none so enter for were it already so entred our hope would be cut off but it is not the rest yet remaineth for the people of God that we believing and abiding in Christ may have him for our rest and so be entring by Faith now and personally at Christ his next coming to encourage all Believers to firmness and constancy in this faith is the drift scope of the Apostle Rom. 9.19 who hath thus opened the same Methinks none should be so void of fear to affirm that as the Saying of the Holy Ghost which is given as the suggestion of an evil spirit Saying of a vain Man and so reproved Who hath resisted his Will as if none had or could which with grief I suppose true Believers will confess they have too often What other evils of dissention among Brethren c. the affirming of this devised Purpose to be both the Purpose of God and the Foundation and what other inconveniencies follow the maintaining of the last mentioned figment I will forbear to speak onely I confess for the reverence I bare to some I was a long time snared with this old fable till I experimented the evils mentioned and was brought to confess God in his Sayings true whoever be a lyar nor do I now blame any but my self who might have received good onely and not harm by what I read if I had not made Mens holiness and learning but the Scripture onely the umpire of my Faith and yet I have learned this That a Wolf in a Sheep's-Skin may for a time be imbraced and pleaded for by them that are no Wolves and so to be sober in judging yea this I farther confess That when I thought my self freed this last mentioned figment did a long time remain with me yea I was not freed of it when that my first published Tract called by the Printer The Vniversality of God's Free-Grace to Mankinde was put forth some Expressions there of it I wish were amended So that in this whole Chapter I own the blame of all the folly shewn to my self desiring of God as for forgiveness of all my Transgressions so of those in maintenance and favour of this old Fable or the last mentioned figment in Word or any Manuscript of mine desiring him that hath freed me to free others And yet I believe the eternal Purpose of God and the Foundation he hath laid according to his Purpose and his Election of that Foundation and of all in believing united to him to be verily true precious unmoveable unalterable as they are revealed in the Scripture as I have fore-declared CHAP. 12. The Conclusion about the Purposes of God to be known and believed THe Gospel as now come forth the Testimony of Christ in that which he hath suffered and done and what he is to and for them and what he doth to them that they might believe and what he will farther do to and for them believing his Father's and his own end in all this it is the Word and Minde of God yea the very opening and Declaration of the Heart Bosome Counsels and Purposes of God there is no Purpose of God cross to any part of this Testimony nor is there any Purpose that is God's but what is according to this Testimony which is the Word and Declaration of the Minde of the living God Rom. 6.25 26. Eph. 3.3 9. and called his Decree not to be doubted or waved from by any Suggestion of other secret Purposes or by feigned pretences of other meanings as if it were the Word of a Man that spake by guess or probabilities or according to appearances but to be believed and received as the word of the Almighty all-knowing God of Truth wherein the very mystery of his Will is opened to us Wherefore it becomes us neither to imagine our selves nor receive of others nor pry into any Purposes as if Purposes of God that are not declared in and according to the Testimony of Christ
15.14 15. Indeed to witness this of Christ that he is dead and risen again and alive for evermore that whoever believeth on him may live if it were not so indeed would be a false witness-bearing of God and so a vain preaching and so likewise to preach this as good News and Gospel to any for whom Christ did not indeed die and rise Act. 3.26 10.34 43 13.38 39 47. 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6 7. 2 Pet. 1.20 21 23 24 25. and give himself a Ransome so as there is forgiveness and life in him for them that they might believe and in believing receive the same were a false witness-bearing of God and Christ of which the Apostles freed themselves when they preached this to Jews to Gentiles to all Men where-ever they came affirming the same for Truth and so this the first Promise in which the Foundation is held forth and the immortal Seed effused and so Peter preached this Promise 2. That sinners ignorant blinde weak and dead Men may be enabled to believe and so come upon this Foundation and be united to and quickned and born of this Seed and so partake of life and godliness and therein of the divine Nature needful it is That this Foundation be discovered to them and light shined on them with some spiritual fervour and power opening their eyes to see and moving in their hearts that they might believe testifying to them That if they in seeing see c. following Grace shall flow into them enabling them to believe and that in believing they shall receive Remission of sins and life and that this is the very end of God in sending forth the Gospel to them and all this God hath promised and is doing as hath been shewn in the second Head or Branch of Promises and this Promise See Part 5. ch 1. with the Promises contained in it are given in the Gospel also to be preached yea so as in the plain Declaration of the Gospel See Part 4. ch 4. with invitation of Men by it to be reconciled to God God be affirmed to be fulfilling these Promises also reaching forth his hand to such a Performance that Men might indeed Joh. 3.14 15. Act. 3.26 26.18 Act. 11.20 21. 2 Cor. 3.3 5.20 Act. 17.30 31. Hos 11.3 4. Joh. 6.27 32 33 62 63. Mat. 4.15 16 17. 1 Pet. 1.12 Act. 5.22 1 Rom. 1.16 Thes 2.12 13. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. by that he discovereth in his Son believe and so be built on the Foundation united to and born of the immortal Seed and so the Preaching is said to be for this end to enlighten and save and the hand of the Lord to be with them and do this work in this Ministration and so God is affirmed to beseech in their beseeching by the Gospel yea in the Ministration of the Gospel of Christ risen from the dead to be giving Faith to all Men to be giving the Bread of Life drawing with the Bonds of Love and the Cords of a Man taking the yoke from off the Jaws and laying Meat before Men to give Light to them that sit in Darkness whence Peter confident of his Master's Truth in his Word Mat. 28.20 Joh. 15.26 27. doubted not to affirm That they preached the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven and That the Holy Ghost did also witness of Christ in their witnessing and so these Promises were also exceeding great and precious which they had also to preach so as whoever as Light came discovering Christ and opening their eyes to see did but then and so behold him this Word would work so in them that they should by him believe on him and so be enlivened and partake of divine Nature and so through this Promise received united to the former Promise fore-fulfilled and so born of that Promise fulfilled through this Promise now in performing 3. That these weak Believers and new-born Babes may be more and more built on Christ and grow up in him and so live through him and so have life more abundantly and be and live godly in partaking of the divine Nature in Interest in Union in Fellowship in Usefulness in Conformity and in assured Expectation of a compleat Enjoyment in due season See before ch 2 3 4 5. Eph. 1.18 2 Thes 2.14 Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.1 3 4 5 6 7 2.3 4 5 9. 2 Pet. 1.1 2 5 11. needful it is That following Grace be vouchsafed to them opening to them the Inheritance and affording them Blessing in divine spiritual Presence in all their spiritual Frames and Services in their Temptations and Sufferings in their Abiding and for their Abiding and assuring them of Help and Preservation to the end and the Inheritance in its season which are all given us in the Gospel and set forth in the third Head or Branch of Promises and these Promises also be exceeding great and precious and Peter had them also to preach to the same end and so did these being the Promises to the Hope whereof Believers are by the Word begotten and born And so of the Promises given them II. This will also help us to understand Rom. 9.8 The Children of the Promise are counted for the Seed In that by that said it 's cleer both who be the Children of Promise and in what sense they are said to be born of the Promise and so of VVater and of the Spirit yea of God and from above which onely they are that being born of the immortal Seed are reckoned one with it and so after it and so counted for and are the spiritual Seed 1. They are born of the Promise that is of Christ promised to be the Saviour which Promise is now fulfilled Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.20 21 23. Joh. 1.12 Isa 53.8 10. and he so held forth therein as The Propitiation The Foundation The immortal Seed The Word of the Lord that the Love of God appearing in him they beholding are by him begotten quickned born and so are accounted his Generation This the Promise of which borne 2. They are born through the Promise that is the Promises God hath made of filling Christ with Spirit which is done and sending forth Spirit through him Isa 42.1 8. 55.4 5. to open the eyes of the blinde c. and so to allure and bring in to him in performance of which Promise in the heavenly Call the Word becomes effectual in the heart of those that in hearing hear 1 Pet. â— 25 Gal. 4.23 and so prevails with them to answer the Call in believing that set before them in the first Promise seen fulfilled which therein quickens them and brings them forth to the birth and so of that Promise through this Promise they are born 3. Gal. 3.16 26 29. 4.23 18 31. They are in this Birth born Heirs to the Hope of the Promise even the Promises of and pertaining to the Inheritance And these Promises coming all
also and rejoyce for the same being Heirs together of the Grace of Life and so of the Promises mentioned in the third Head or Branch of Promises IV. This Consideration of the Promises of God to fallen Mankinde sinners in the first and second Consideration and his Purposes alike ordered and the Testimony of Christ in the Gospel declaring and witnessing the same will keep us from wresting and lead us to a profitable understanding of that in Act. 13.48 As many as were ordained to eternal life believed This some to favour some Opinion wrest to mean as many as from eternity were in their persons absolutely decreed and elected to eternal life believed so leaving all the rest of Mankinde but that elect number as from eternity decreed to be damned a harsh and untrue position cross to all the plain Declaration of the Gospel and the Purpose of God in giving and sending his Son and causing him to be preached and the Promises of God to fallen Mankinde sinners in first and second Consideration and to the Holy Spirit 's Discovery of the Elect and those that are counted or the Seed and cross to the Text for if as many as were ordained as they say from Eternity decreed to eternal life did then believe then was there no more to be converted and that would not have filled the Disciples with joy nor would the Word of the Lord have been farther published to others still there it were better to acknowledge such a Sentence deep and difficult and wait till we be helped so to understand it as agreeing with the Testimony of Christ then to fancy a sense quite cross to it all as this appears to be nor is there a word here to countenance it for it is not said As many as were from Eternity ordained to eternal Life believed If any say It must be so taken because of the contrary saying in Jude 4. Who were ordained of old to this condemnation I answer They mistake both places for the word in Jude 4 is either forewritten or ordained of old which is not so far as from eternity no not in the works of God Israel said The Lord bath appeared to me of old which could not be from eternity Jeâ— 31.3 though far off in many Ages past and so this fore-writing and Ordainment of old was fore-written by the Prophets And two things are note-able in Jude 4. First Who they were that were thus ordained and that is See Part 4. ch 4. not particular Men as Adam's Sons fallen considered but such as to whom Grace hath been extended and Light opening their eyes to see and so called to yield to the Teachings of it and they willingly close their eyes and pervert the Tenders of Grace and abuse it to take Liberty to satisfie the Flesh and in that sense ungodly and that such as so considered are ordained to stumble is foreshewn Secondly note what that is they are here said to be ordained to and that is to be the Tryers Exercisers and Adversaries of the Saints in contending against their Faith and so to this Judgement Contention or Condemnation to be also contended against by the Saints Gen. 4.15 Prov. 29.27 Psa 101. 139.19 22. which Ordainment and fore-writing is declared of old and may be read and such as persist in the ungodliness are ordain'd to the vengeance of eternal fire and not else as that whole Epistle shews And this Jude 4. speaking of a direct contrary Ordainment to that Act. 13.48 helps to a right understanding thereof namely That such as when means of Grace and the Call of God therein is extended to them and light so given as they are brought to hear and understand and they do in hearing hear and in seeing see and so receive and like the Reproof and Call such are ordained to have Christ made to appear more precious to them and so believe and in believing to have eternal Life as hath been shewn both in Purposes and Promises Par. 4. ch 4. Part 5. Chap. 1. which helps to understand this and according to the Testimony of Christ and the Purposes and Promises set forth in the Gospel is this to be understood And for the words in it 1. Some accounted well skilled in the Greek say It 's thus to be read Act. 13.48 As many as believed were ordained to eternal Life Which however the saying and sense in it is true and safe to be received as Truth which the foresaid contradicting sense cannot be for this agreeth with the residue of the Gospel and the Purposes and Promises of God But grant this Saying to be not fit and proper in this place as other skilful Grecians say it is not yet if we look well into the words as used in Scripture-Language 2. If we should take ordained as some press for it Prov. 1.23 1 Pet. 2.3 4 7. Joh. 5.25 Mat. 13.12 c. to be pre-ordained or ordained of old or fore-written yet the sense is given us in Scripture to be That God hath ordained that when he declares his Grace in Christ and therein opens Mens ears to hear and their eyes to see and puts forth his hand in his Call moving at their hearts that such as then by the Grace extended do in hearing hear and in seeing see and so receive his Words more Grace shall flow in to them so as they shall believe and have eternal life and so it stands well here As many as were ordained to eternal life that is were so prepared by the Grace extended believed This shewn in Purposes and Promises 3. If we take ordained as some skilful in the Greek say The word signifies for ordered or fitted and so for an act of the following Grace of God where his preventing Grace was not rejected but entertained and so such as harden not their hearts against preventing Graces but receive and own it to them more abundant and following Grace is given and so they fitted to prize accept and receive Christ Heb. 3.7 Joh. 4.10 10.38 Joh. 5.38 40 44 10.26 27 12.38 39. Acts 13.39 40 41 47. in whom eternal Life is and so to accept and receive it in God's way and so being ordered inclined and fitted for eternal Life they do in that gracious Operation believe Just as it is said of Despisers of the Word and Resisters of preventing Grace They cannot believe They put away eternal Life from themselves as is seen in the Verses before this Text And so likewise when in this preventing Grace the Lord Jesus was held forth to be a Light to the Gentiles and God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth which is the same with The Propitiation for the sins of the whole World The Saviour of the World that died for all and gave himself a Ransom for all and upon that ground Isa 45.22 Prov. 8.4 5. Act. 13.44.45 all the ends of the Earth called to look to him and be saved when this
this Covenant was so made that it might have divers times of fulfilling one in the outside of it Iosh 22.4 Isa 42.6 Luk. 1.71 76. Heb. 9.15 8.1 2 6. in the Types in having some rest in Canaan another in Truth and spiritually in Christ in his first coming having finished his first Work and being set forth in the Gospel and so given for a Covenant Act. 3.19 20 21 2 Pet. 3.12 13. Isa 55.5 1 Pet. 1.21 23. Gal. 3.8 6.26 29 Ier. 31.33 34. Heb. 8.10 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. Eph. 1.13 Col. 1.3 4. 1 Thes 4.14 15 18. and remaining the Mediator and Minister of it and the next last and compleat fulfilling according to Spirit and Letter both at the next and visible appearing of Jesus Christ yea and also a divers fulfilling of it in particular Believers as first VVhen through the evidence of Truth in Gospel-Testimony glorifying Christ a Man is brought in to believe in Christ and so made of the Seed Secondly When and as in believing a Man through the quickning Spirit of Christ comes to be more built on Christ and so sealed in him being indued with a first-Fruits of the Spirit promised Rom. 8.23 And thirdly VVhen the Lord Jesus Christ shall appear in Glory and the Just be raised so to appear in Glory with him to possess c. 1 Joh. 3.2 IV. That this Covenant was made with Christ as the publick Man Heb. 1.2 Eph. 1.14 Psal 89.28 Isa 53.10 11. Gen. 17. Act. 7.5 Heb. 11.9 10 14 16 40. Psal 105.8 9 10 11. Rom. 9.8 9 10 11. 4.10 11 12 17 23 24. Gal. 3.7 8 16 26 27 28 29. 4.25 26 28 30 31. and the everlasting Father upon the account of his Sufferings and Sacrifice and so the inheritance is his first he is the Heir as the Son of God by Nature and as the publick Man by Purchase and by Covenant for himself and his spiritual Seed to be after brought in to him for there could be none before him And this Covenant was confirmed in Christ to Abraham and so made with Abraham for himself and for his Seed after him also and confirmed to him with an Oath and so to Isaac and Jacob in like manner and so still for them and their Seed that were to come of them and after them so as Abraham was Heir not onely by a spiritual Birth but also by a Covenant made and confirmed with an Oath fastening the right of Inheritance upon him and intailing it upon his Seed and so in like manner was Isaac and Jacob Heirs with him of the same Promise and Promises and promised Inheritance which they never yet enjoyed but in due time assuredly shall when all their Seed is come in to inherit with them And this Covenant is confirmed to Israel for an everlasting Covenant in being so made to Abraham Isaac and Jacob and confirmed with an Oath to them That all that are born of the Promise that by the Grace of God discovered in Christ do believe in him they are the Sons of Abraham and his Seed and so as Isaac and Jacob of the same Seed Heirs by birth of the Promise given to and believed and preached by Abraham Isaac and Jacob and also confirmed Heirs by the Covenant made with Abraham Isaac c. by which through Faith they are assured of the Inheritance V. That this Covenant being so made with Abraham for himself and for all after-Comers that are his Seed Act. 7.2 3 4 Heb. 11.8 Isa 51.2 that they as his Seed may know their Interest in it and have by Faith the same usefulness of it this is farther to be minded That Abraham was a true Believer and justified before God and so by spiritual birth of the Seed of Christ and so an Heir and walked in Faith as a Son before this Covenant was made with him so that this Promise and Covenant was not given to him to beget Faith or to make him a Son or upon condition of his believing All which was wrought in him and he so living and walking in Faith before this Covenant was made with him but it was made with him as a justified Believer to confirm and encrease his Faith and so for the exercise of his Faith in waiting for so blessed a Hope as set before him and given him in this Promise and Covenant and in the same manner it was after made with Isaac and Jacob the Promise of the Inheritance being in order after belief and new Birth The promised Seed is the Promise of which one is so born the Promise of Means from and through that Seed The Promise through which a Man is so born and The Promise of the Inheritance the Promise to the Hope whereof Believers are born And so this Promise and Covenant made with the Fathers is not fastened on any to make them Believers and Sons or on condition of believing Rom. 4.16 8.17 Joh. 1.12 13. Gal. 3 26 29. Heb. 6.17 18. though in believing is the way to meet with it but the Interest in it and the Assurance of it as made to the Fathers for them is given to such as are Believers in Christ and so the Sons of God by Faith who are Abraham's Seed and Heirs according to Promise to confirm and encrease their Faith and for the exercise of their Faith in waiting for so blessed a Hope VI. The freeness largeness Gen. 17.4 8. 1 Chron. 15.15 19 and everlastingness of this Covenant the dependency it hath on the Truth and faithfulness of God for its performance all being put on himself to perform Psal 105.8 11. Ioh. 5.19 20 21. Heb. 9.15 16 17. 13.20 2 Sam. 23.5 who hath confirmed it with his Oath yea and having first made it with Christ his Son upon the account of his Purchase the Son being one with the Father in all he doth he also was one with the Father in making this Promise and Covenant to Abraham for him and his Seed and hath confirmed the Covenant with his own Blood and by vertue thereof extendeth the Performances So that this is a sure and everlasting Covenant ordered in all things This is all express in the words and terms of it VII When this free and everlasting Covenant was openly made and confirmed with an Oath Gen. 17.9 10 11.12 13 23 27. it had also added to it an outward and sensible Testimony Token Sign and Seal to be set on the flesh of Abraham and all his natural Seed according to the flesh that is all by natural birth born of him and all so of him as that by gracious Providence they were put under his care and tuition whether born in his House or Family or bought with his Money so as they were under the Government of him or his Family and also that were proselyted and so come to live under their Profession Exod. 12.48 49 with all under their Tuition and Government likewise And this visible
7.19 24 29. 1 Chron. 17.17 27. even so this part of it now made with David is so made that it might have divers times and degrees of fulfilling as is also expresly to be found written The first fulfilling was according to the Letter 1 King 8.15 20. 2 Chron 6.1 10 1 King 11.36 suitable to the Covenant given by Moses that they were under and this began when Solomon was setled on the Throne of David and had built the Temple as is confest plainly yea and after a great breach yet a continuance of fulfilling avouched The second fulfilling is spiritual Luke 1.31 32 33 69 70 71 74. Joh. 1.49 Act. 5.31 32. 1 Pet. 3.23 Heb. 7 8. Psal 110.11 Col. 1.12 13. and that began when God sent forth Jesus Christ and he had suffered and overcome Death and offered up the acceptable Sacrifice and sate down on the Right-Hand of God and received all fulness of Spirit in the Man and sent forth thereof to Men to convince the Rebellious and lead Believers into all Truth and so by that Spirit rule in the Hearts of his People while they as he was are strangers and sufferers here and this is plainly confest and the continuance likewise The third Rev. 5.10 1 Thes 4.14 15 18. Psa 102.16 Heb. 11.13 40. Rev. 11.18 last and compleat fulfilling is That which shall be both spiritual and literal if I may use that term because it shall be on Earth though the Earth renewed and to Soul and Body though both spiritual c. and to all Israel yea this shall be to Abraham Isaac Jacob and all the twelve Tribes of Israel and all the spiritual Seed together even all that sleep in the Lord and all that are surviving at his coming when Jesus Christ will personally and visibly appear and come and take unto him his great Power and sit upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem and raign in Jerusalem and over all Nations of the Earth and all Kings fall down before him all Nations serve him And the Covenant thus fulfilled Heb. 11.14 15 16. 1 Chron. 16.15 19. Rom. 4.16 Gal. 3.7 8 16 26 29. 5.5 Levit. 26.44 45. Deut. 4.31 Psal 105.8 9. 1 Chron. 16.15 16. and this settlement and Kingdom is that which is promised and which all the Fathers waited for through Faith and which all the spiritual Seed are to wait for as Abraham's Seed to whom through Promise it is sure by Faith and they have professed so to wait for it the time place manner prosperity and duration of it being foreshewn and that God for performance of this and the whole Covenant made and as made with the Fathers Abraham c. hath confirmed for and will perform it to their Seed according to his Promise he doth for this remember this Covenant as made with them and wills us so to heed and minde and wait for it as sure in Covenant as made with them and directs us not to look for another personal making of it to us to make it surer to us to whom it is sure enough in that first making in Faith whereof we wait to receive and enjoy it and not for any other making but the making in performance The first fulfilling is past as confest to begin with Israel and Solomon and if any conjecture It was made again with Solomon it is cleer it was not made with him 2 Chron. 7.18 6.16 2 Chron. 7.16 22. 6.15 16. 1 Sam. 12.20 25. as with Abraham Isaac and Jacob nor as with David but as both David and Solomon was under the Law given by Moses and so God did graciously minde Solomon of the Covenant fore-made with David as he often doth Believers now without so making it over again with him and so Solomon understood it and he promised Solomon the continuance of the Kingdom in that manner he had received according to his keeping of that Covenant given by Moses and not otherwise and so he understood it and such was the promise to all Israel for the continuation both of King and Land and so the everlasting Covenant is fully and surely already made and other makings of it I have not to treat of nor other Covenants to be made but as they are Branches of this and made in some performance of this Covenant And so I shall mention three things in this business according to the performances of the Covenant made with Abraham and that is first In his sending forth and giving Christ the promised Seed displayed in the Gospel so he hath given him for a Covenant to be received by Faith Secondly In the Dispensation of his Goodness and Spirit through Christ he hath given by Christ a New Testament for the nurture and guidance of Believers and Receivers to the Inheritance And lastly In the coming again of Christ the making the Covenant by a compleat Performance I shall confider each of these CHAP. 6. Of Jesus Christ being given for a Covenant GOD promised Isa 42.1 6. 49.8 and according to his Promise hath given Jesus Christ The Seed of Abraham of David The Saviour of the World and Propitiation for the sins of the whole World The Lord of all and Head of the Church that hath satisfied the Law and is full of the Holy Ghost The Heir The King The Son of David and The Son of God for a Covenant to Believers the People that are his Seed so that he is The Messenger of the Covenant and he with whom the Covenant was first made and in whom it was confirmed to Abraham Mal. 3.1 Gal. 3.16 17. Heb. 9.16 23. 13.20 Psal 89.28 2 Cor. 1.20 Heb. 8.1 2 6. and hath confirmed the Covenant with his own Blood and with him the Covenant stands fast for ever so that all the Promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen and he is The Minister of the Covenant by whom God will perform all that is in it And so I shall here onely in what is implied or exprest in this saying That God hath given him for a Covenant consider what I am helpt to underdand 1. That he is given for a Covenant implieth That he is given or made to appear in the Gospel Joh. 1.18 Mat. 11.27 2 Cor. 4.6 Heb. 1.2 3. Isa 42.1 6. 49.6 Gen. 3.15 1 Ioh. 3.5 8. Gen. 12.3 1 Ioh. 2.2 4.14 Isa 42.7 49.9 that he may teach and Men in beholding and minding him may know the Covenant and so be brought in to him to enjoy it which is a new and cleer and more alluring and powerful way of teaching it and bringing to it then ever was before so he is affirmed to be given for a Light to the Gentiles and to shew forth judgement to them and be God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth And this must needs be so when he is set forth who is the promised Seed that came to take away sins and destroy the works of the
their Fathers and so a performance to these for their Fathers sakes To all which Answers I add this 4. Act. 3.19 20 21. Rom. 8.23 24 25. 1 Cor. 13.12 1 Joh. 3.2 That Faith and Hope is to be exercised by them till all these things be done and that the Lord Jesus do visibly appear and come to them and restore all things and then this Covenant made which once so made in performance they live no longer by Faith and Hope but by Sight and Enjoyment And thus it is every way cleer for the Time when this Covenant is to be so made it is After those dayes II. The Persons with whom this Covenant is to be made Jer. 31.31 33. Ezek. 37.19 20. is also as cleer and express to be all the spiritual Seed that by Ministration have been so made from the beginning of Gospel-preaching till Christ appear personally in Glory and give the new Heaven Iso 13.1 2 3. 19.24 60.1 11. Psal 105.8 11. Hag. 2.23 Dan. 12.2 13. Heb. 11.14 16 29 40. Gal. 3.8 29. 1 Thes 4.14 15 16. Rev. 11.18 and new Earth with them all and with them all together at once not with one or two or some few or now with one or some and after with other but with all the whole spiritual Seed together for the whole House of Israel and the House of Judah it is express And so likewise for the People of other Nations that shall be joyned with them yea Abraham Isaac and Jacob must then receive the performance of this Covenant so made yea Zerubbabel and Daniel must be there to receive their part with many that shall rise out of the dust of the Earth yea all the whole spiritual Seed of Abraham even we that are of the Gentiles yea as the Covenant was first made with Christ and through him a Covenant for Mankinde so all his Seed by Ministration thereof and so Adam Abel Seth Enoch c. In a word None shall prevent another but all that are in the dust and sleep in Jesus shall arise living Saints be changed all together meet the Lord and be and come with him for then is the time in which he will give rewards to his Servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his Name both small and great And so this Covenant will be at once made in performance to all the Seed together and indeed this Covenant was never fore made to be received by Faith to any one person for himself alone but to the Fathers for them and their Seed and to them and their spiritual Seed it shall be at once made in performance to them all together These the persons But to this it may be some be replied That then after this Covenant so made there must be no more conversion no encrease of the Seed for then the Covenant must be made again or else it will not be made with all the Seed and if so then not with all at once To this I answer That some whose labors I reverence and esteem and them for their works sake do so conceive That as that Kingdom shall be sinless and sorrowless so it shall be conversionless there shall be no more converted after that Kingdom is set up but the Reason given thereof is not this I am to answer but another namely That all that have part in the first Resurrection even all the Saints that live and raign with Christ shall raign with him a thousand yeers the whole time of his raign as Man till he deliver up the Kingdom to the Father that God may be all in all Whence this Supposition If any should after the beginning and some time of the Kingdom run out be converted they could not raign the full thousand yeers One Answer will serve both these Reasons which is this That it is nowhere said That all the Inhabitants of this new Earth or all the Members of this Commonwealth shall sit upon Thrones and raign nor is it said That all the natural Seed of Abraham that are then living in unbelief and the unbelieving Gentiles with them that shall be converted at and by the personal and visible appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ and all his Saints with him and so made of the Seed that they shall all be Kings and raign with him they come in after the time of those to whom that Promise is And surely for such as never suffered never waited for him but are so suddenly and with so mighty a Hand brought in it may be counted happiness enough to live in such a Commonwealth and be free Denizens therein and enjoy the pleasures of such a Kingdom till they be swallowed up with the unconceivable joy of the Father and Son when God shall be all in all which alone will satisfie all that are received into it and the Promise of raigning is to such as here in this suffering time live and die in the Faith or are found so believing on him at his appearing that they may be changed while the other are raised and so come together with the Lord which the after-conterted do not And so those that are the Children of the Resurrection that are raised or changed in one and the same moment at his coming be all that I and I suppose that any other can finde the Promise of raigning appertain unto And if I should say These are the whole of Abraham's spititual Seed I should not erre whether Men receive it or no for all the spiritual Seed from Abraham's time so called and if I shall add the Seed of Christ the Seed of the Woman from Adam to Abraham though a spiritual Seed yet not immediately so but mediately through a spiritual operation Rom. 4.11 12 16 17 18 23 24. Gal. 3.6 7 8 9 16 26 29. in the Ministration of some means extended as is cleer all the Scripture through and they that are of the Faith and live by Faith and walk in the steps of the Faith of our Father Abraham and so are the Sons of God by Faith these are the Seed the Children of Abraham and his Seed for which cause Abraham had the Gospel to preach and Circumcision to administer as a Seal of the Righteousness of the Faith he had to preach That he might be a Father And the Apostles had the Gospel to preach and Baptisme to administer as a Seal of the Righteousness of the Faith preached that they might disciple into Abraham's Family Mat. 29.19 20. Rom. 4.11 12. and so Abraham still be a Father of such as believe But now when this time cometh That Christ with all his spiritual Seed do personally appear and the Everlasting Covenant made in performance with them all then all such Ministration ceaseth yea such Ministration as Moses had in earthly Rites and Shadows were shaken and made unprofitable by the Death Sacrifice and Ascension of Christ pouring forth the Holy Ghost though in force till then but
the Truth of the Gospel preached to and Covenant made with Abraham abode still and was more fully preached by the Apostles but that manner of preaching with Baptism and Ordinances delivered by them though heavenly in respect of the former and will be in force till the visible appearing of Jesus Christ but then be shaken when still the Truth of the Gospel and Everlasting Covenant will abide for ever to be enjoyed by sight Now then when all the means appointed for Abraham to be the Father of such a Seed ceaseth and no more brought in by believing but by sight nor living by Faith but by sight such are not in respect of any conversion in Scripture-phrase called Abraham's Seed but I conceive they more properly may be called The Seed or the Children of Christ and of his glorified Saints brought in and living by fight not needeth any Covenant to be farther or again made with such as are brought in by and live in the light of this being brought in to enjoy their part in it in their first conversion And if any conceive they may be called The Seed's Seed or his Seed's Seed and so under that Promise to the Seed of Abraham Isa 59 2â— Deut. 30.5 Isa 65.15 16. Jer. 3.16 17 18. I will multiply thee above thy Fathers I hinder it not however this I know The People of God as well as their worship shall then be called by a new Name so that in this is no let or hinderance to that said That the Covenant shall be made to all the spiritual Seed brought in or become of the Seed from the beginning to the ending of the Ministration of the Gospel Isa 41.20 21. 69 7 8. by it to them all together at once yea it will be a great wonder to great admiration to see a Nation born at once and such an infinite Company of Saints presented to them and yet when the Mountain of the Lord's House is thus exalted and the Lord appears in his Glory and the Children of the Resurrection ruling and flying about when the Spirit and the Bride in the presence of the Bridegroom Rev. 22.17 Isa 2.2 3 5. Micah 4.1 2 3 Isa 66.12 Psal 110.3 when Light and Law so proceed out of Sion the Inhabitants of the Nations hearing will say one to another Come and so go together to the House of the Lord without any other Ministration So that then is promised to be the greatest Conversion and more numerous then ever before though all of them brought in by and living in the performance of the Covenant at once so made with the whole Seed and not made over again but continuing and it is enough for all so converted to be under this blessed Government after their Conversion enjoying the happiness of it Rev. 20.9 15. Mat. 25.46 and so escape that great destruction and second death and have eternal Life when the Serpent and all his Seed are cast into the lake of fire which is the second death And so we see who the persons are III. What that is that is to be done in the manner of making this Covenant is fully and sweetly expressed in this Jer. 31.33 34. affirmed also in other places of Scripture let them be considered CHAP. 9. Of the things to be done in making this Covenant see the Text. I. I Will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts Jer. 31.33 Ezek 36.25 26 27. This exprest in other words when having clensed them from all their filth he saith A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them Deut. 30.5 6. Of which Moses spake saying And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the Land which thy Fathers possessed and thou shalt possess it and he will do thee good and multiply thee above thy Fathers and the Lord thy God well circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy Seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy Soul that thou maist live And so by Jeremiah again I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever Jer. 32.39 40. all dayes And I will make an ever lasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them from after them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me So that in all the places we may see That then all sin and sinning shall be removed and a perfect Righteousness framed in them and strength to walk constantly therein and by this we may note the difference between this and the first Fruits of it given in to Believers by the first coming of Christ given for a Covenant as namely That this now-given is but a first Fruits and earnest of that promised which is the Harvest to be waited for also That this given was Rom 8.23 Eph. 1.14 Rom. 11.11 26. 2 Cor. 3.3 Rev. 21.1 8. Zach. 12.10 and yet is chiefly received by the Gentiles but that promised chiefly by the whole House of Israel the natural Seed of Abraham become the spiritual Seed this given is mediately in the Ministration of his Servants that promised is immediately by his own presence this given many Israelites shall have their return into their own Land that promised at the visible appearance of Chrift Rom. 11. this given is to all Believers though Israel be in dispersion that promised not till Israel dwell in their own Land many of those that receive this given may yet through weakness be puft up for one against another but in receiving that promised is no more pride nor envy of one against another 1 Cor. 4.7 Isa 11.13 Phil. 3.2 13. Zach. 12.8 Mat. 2.4 Act. 20.30 Rev. 2 3. Isa 60.21 Joâ—l 3.17 Zach. 14.21 Rom. 8.17 Isa 60.18 19 21. The best of those that receive this given do not here attain to perfection the least of those that receive that promised are perfect In the Assemblies of those that receive this given were and still are found some among them unsound and some decaying and some falling off but those that receive that promised the people in that whole Assembly be all righteous and no more decaying or falling off Those that receive this given are here still under the Cross and Combatants but those that receive that promised are freed from all Sufferings and Temptation and are Conquerors enjoying the Inheritance This given is received now by one and then by another and by all by degrees but that promised is received at once by all together Israel and Judah and all Believers of all Nations together So though this given be a first Fruits of the
these Hebrews had The second Principle is Principle 2. Act. 20.21 Rom. 9.5 Joh. 14.6 Eph. 2.17 2 Cor. 4.6 Rom. 1.5 16.26 Prov. 14.15 Jam. 2.19 Rom. 10.17 Col. 1.4 Faith towards God This is the same with that called Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ who is God over all blessed for ever and the only Medium of approaching to God and he in whom the Face of God shineth so that it is in Scripture-Language evident That the Principle here called Faith towards God is the Grace or Gift of Faith to and in a man which closeth with the Object of Faith and so is Obedience to the Faith for as is foreshewn every believing is not Faith the Fool believeth every thing and the Devils believe who yet are nowhere said to have Faith but that Belief which is of the Faith and closeth with the Faith is in Scripture called Faith and so this affirmed here as one of the first Principles taught and begot by the Oracles of God building it on the Foundation is said to be the Faith that cometh by hearing the Word of the Lord and so the Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ And so it is An inward under standing Joh. 6.40 Rom. 10.8 9 10. Gal. 5.6 discerning and minding the gracious Mind of God testified and appearing in Jesus Christ by which one is inwardly perswaded believeth the Truth and Goodness of the same and so with the heart in love desires and confidence imbraceth it whence the Grace believed worketh renewed disposition and that welleth out confession and this exprest in Scripture to be that believing which is called Faith Heb. 11.13 14 15. So that this Faith having imbraced the Word is a Principle within him that believeth for he that believeth on the Son of God hath the Witness or Testimony or Record in himself And so likewise 1 Joh. 5.10 we have three things to note in this Faith as it is a Principle 1. Act. 1.20 Rom. 1.5 10.8 9 17. 16.26 1 Cor. 3.5 2 Cor. 3.3 That it is begotten and produced by the Declaration and Ministration of Christ crucified c. and the Love of God commended through him set forth in the Gospel the Word of Faith and the Oracle of God 2. That it is wrought in the truning of the heart unto the Lord whence it here fitly both follows Act. 11.21 15.9 11 15. 26.18 20. 2 Cor. 3.16 and is joyned with Repentance from dead Works according to that promised Prov. 1.23 3. That it is founded and bottomed upon the very Blood and Sacrifice of Christ Rom. 3.25 5.6 8 9 10 11. as the Love of God is commended therethrough And this is the Faith begot by the Oracles of God as one of the first Principles thereof yea this with the Repentance mentioned are oft included both in one or either of the names being ever together and neither of them being where either of them is wanting and so the Faith of and in such turned ones is that Faith by which the Believer standeth and liveth And all the following Principles here named are for the quickning strengthening encreasing exercising and making fruitful this Faith in which the Spirit dwelleth and worketh and so it worketh through Love CHAP. 6. Of Hebrews 6.2 HEb 6.2 Of the Doctrine of Baptisms c. Note well the words he speaks not here of Baptism or Baptisms as before he did of Repentance and Faith and so he speaks not here directly and properly of the Act or Work of Baptizing Rom. 6.3 4 5. Gal. 3.26 27. Mat. 28.19 20. either inwardly which is into the death of Christ and conformity with him therein which is done in this Repentance and Faith formentioned nor yet of that outward act of Baptizing with Water in the Name of c. which is a witness of that done in and by Christ and a Medium having its tendency to that forementioned which is the Baptism indeed Eph. 4.4 5. 1 Pet. 3.21 which for the substance of it and that which is spiritual and saving indeed is one and but one for as there is one Body one Spirit one Lord and one Faith so there is one Baptism and so that he here speaks directly of is not the Work but the Doctrine of Baptisms that is the Teaching and instruction given by the Oracles about and concerning Baptismes which by the term in the Plural Number can be no other but the several wayes and mediums appointed and having their tendency towards Baptizing or for preparing for and effecting that which is Baptism indeed which because of their tendency and use to it are called by that Name each of them Baptism and all together Baptisms And about this Doctrine of Baptisms I shall note three things in the Doctrine I. That these wayes and mediums of Baptizing are four each of them bearing the Name of Baptism as an Instrument used to that end 1. The prime and chief ministerial way of Baptizing is the word of the Gospel opened and applied in preaching Mar. 1.4 Luk. 3.3 Joh. 1.29 Act. 10.25 so John besides his baptizing with Water did preach the Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of sins and this was that Apollos knew and taught being called Baptism 2. Baptizing with Water in the Name of c. is that which was first 1 Cor. 1.14 Rom. 2.28 29. Rom. 6.4 5. Gal. 3.25 26. 1 Cor. 10.1 2. and is most frequently called Baptism and as the spiritual Work of Grace in the Heart was never called Circumcision till the outward Ordinance of Circumcision was given from Heaven and then frequently so called as that which is indeed The approved Circumcision so the Work of Grace in the Heart was never called Baptism till the outward Ordinance of Baptism was given from Heaven but since so called so likewise the other mediums that have their tendency to that gracious work are also since upon the same account called Baptisms as follows 3. Afflictions Sufferings for the Name of Christ are also called Baptism Luk. 12.50 Mat. 20.22 23 Mar. 10.38 39. I saith Christ speaking of his Sufferings Have a Baptism to be baptized with and of sufferings also he saith to his Disciples Ye shall be baptized with the Baptism that I am baptized with 4. The inward Inlightnings Breathings and Operations of the Holy Ghost in and with all the former mediums Mat. 3.11 Mar. 1.8 Luk. 3.16 Joh. 1.33 7.38 14.26 is also called Baptism this being the proper work of Christ himself in his promised presence in the Ministration of the Gospel and according to it in all the means he useth for effecting this one gracious and spiritual Baptism Act. 1.5 Mat. 28.20 II. The Gospel in the Doctrine of Baptisms farther teacheth of these mediums 1. That God hath a gracious end in all these in visiting us with his Word in having admitted us into his Family in afflicting us and in extending motions of his Spirit
desire whereof and confidence in God for his gracious Answer they lift up their hands to God g 1 Tim. 2.8 whence Prayer is so named lifting up the hands to God h Psal 141.2 and in Testimony of their desire and confidence in God for his gracious answering they laid on hand on the parties prayed for i Act. 8.17 28.8 Such and in such manner their laying on of hands 2. The Doctrine of laying on of hands it is that Doctrine or teaching of the Gospel of Christ and him crucified in which Believers are directed and encouraged to pray for good things to God with Promises of a gracious hearing that so they may pray and lift up hearts and hands in confidence in God and lay on hands in Testimony thereof And this being one of those Principles that by the Oracles of God were taught to all Believers of the Oblation of Christ it must needs be as common to all Saints as the Faith of the Oblation of Christ and the Oracles proceeding from it known and believed and so it cannot be meant of the act of laying on of hands for giving and receiving the visible Gifts of the Holy Ghost for speaking with other Tongues for such laying on of hands appears to be peculiar to the Apostles and was not common to all the first Witnesses Act. 8.5.15 17 19.6 1 Cor. 14.22 12.29 30. Eph. 4.7 8 13. Eph. 1.17 3.14 17. Col. 3.9 10. 1 Thes 3.12 Eph. 6.19 2 Thes 3.1 2 Tim. 1.6 Act. 6.6 1 Tim. 5.22 Rom. 15.30 31. Act. 13.3 Jam. 5.14 15 16 20. Philip though an Evangelist and had the gift of working Miracles and did many yet for this the Church sent two Apostles Peter and John and so it was an Apostle that laid on hands for this gift another time and not this onely but the gift of Miracles and miraculcus healing though given to more then the Apostles yet not to all Saints even in those first times when Miracles were most needful till Christ had been fully taught and Jesus proved to be he nor are these gifts affirmed to be of like continuation with other spiritual gifts so that that which the Gospel in the Doctrine of laying on of hands teacheth that is of continual use for all Believers is that here meant and that is for venting our desires by Prayer to God in the Name of Christ for his mercy and free-favour through Christ to be given in blessing with encrease of and establishment in the Faith to Believers and for fitting and furnishing such as have the word of Grace in their heart to preach the Gospel and to bless their Ministration and for Believers approbation fitness faithfulness and blessing that are chosen into Church-Offices and for ability faithfulness preservation and blessing for such as are sent and imployed in Message or business for the Church and Church-Affairs and for gracious support and helpfulness in and seasonable deliverance out of any temptation sickness affliction or distress that any Believer is in and such-like as for that anointing with oyle in the Name of the Lord mentioned it appears to be taken in a metaphorical and spiritual sense because oyle and anoynting used of old was a type of the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost Psa 45.7 Isa 61.1 with which Christ was anoynted immeasurably and with which he in the Gospel anointeth Believers which in Scripture is called oyle and anointing and anointing with material oyle is neither commanded nor anywhere in Scripture mentioned to be done much less set forth as an Ordinance since Christ's ascension into Heaven and pouring forth the Holy Ghost in which Truth being come Types and Shadows cease nor is it but once mentioned that I finde while he lived on earth Mar. 6.13 Cant. 1.3 1 Joh. 2.20 27 28. and that was when bodily cures by Miracles were most in use but this is a constant Truth His Name is as an Oyntment poured forth and so those that believe in him are said to have received an unction from him yea an anointing that teacheth and so to anoynt those we pray over with oyle in the Name of the Lord Phil. 1.8 9 10 11. is in Faith and Charity fervently streaming both in Prayers and speaking so to declare that Name in the Vertues of the Blood and Sacrifice of him and the Love of God appearing therein with the reviving Instructions and Consolations it affordeth that the savour of his Oyntments may refresh the heart And this to be the Apostles meaning Jam. 5.16 20. appears in his own after-Explanation So that the Prayer of Faith and of the Faithful is the chief Ordinance meant here with lifting up the hands in confidence to God or also with laying on of hands in Testimony of confidence in God Mat. 7.7 11. Mar. 10.24 Joh. 16.23 24. he being a God hearing Prayers which is the Doctrine of laying on of hands or that which the Gospel teacheth concerning it namely the gracious Minde of God that in all our needs we should by the Prayer of Faith and of the Faithful seek help of him and that he will hear and help us graciously according to his word Psal 64.5 And yet to cleer it 3. This is farther to be noted That in Scripture Language 1 Cor. 11.20 23 24 28. a whole Ordinance in which are many particular Acts is sometime called by the name of one particular Act in it as The Supper of the Lord in which is Blessing Prayer Instruction Praise taking and breaking Bread and distributing Wine eating drinking and comemmorating the Death of Christ Act. 20.7 Act. 2.46 c. is called by the name of one particular Act in it even Breaking Bread When the Disciples came together to break Bread Paul preached c. Yea sometime that one Act is named so as to imply all the Ordinances Believers had in Fellowship among themselves and so the Temple of God Isa 56.7 his House where Sacrifices Offerings and burnt-Offerings and all Temple-worship was rightly used and so there Accepted is even therefore called The House of Prayer And so this Ordinance of Prayer in performance of which is Confession Petition Praise with bowing the knee lifting up the eyes the voyce the hands and sometime laying on of hands as it is sometime called Prayer sometime pouring out the heart c. so it is sometime named by one particular Act in it sometime by one Eph. 3.14 1 King 8.54 Psal 123. Judg. 21.2 2 Chron. 5.17 Act. 4.24 Joh. 7.27 32 33 34. 8.27 sometime by another sometime bowing the knees somtime lifting up the eyes sometime lifting up the voice but most frequently is the Ordinance of Prayer called by that Act in it of lifting up the hands Psal 8.2 When I lift up my hands c. and Psal 63.4 While I live I will lift up my hands in thy Name Yea the whole great suffering and so the Oblation and Sacrifice of Jesus
growth and establishment in this Faith not to another faith 3 And were made partakers of the Holy Ghost This as suted to the principle of the Doctrin of Baptisms declares its own meaning to bee not only of those vertues and springs of love joy peace c. Gal. 5.22 effected by the Holy Ghost in the spirit of Beleevers but also together therewith certain spiritual gifts Eph. 4.7 and operations for usefulnesse whereof to every Beleever is given some in some measure And so these in being baptized in to the death of Christ by all the mediums with water word afflictions and spirit extended to them they did also partake of the vertue of his resurrection so as they were also therein indued with such spirituall gifts as whereby they were inabled in exercise of faith and love to speak spiritually in prayer and praises to God and spiritually and profitably in instruction admonition exhortation and consolation to men as appears in comparing the Promise Act. 2.38 39. and 11 15 16 17. and Rom. 6.4 5 6. with the performance to beleevers 1 Cor. 1.4 5 6 7. And not to every one the same usefull gifts or the same measure in the gifts given but to some one to some another to some more to some less Ephe. 4.7.8 12 14 15 16. 1 Cor. 12.2 4 5 6 7 11. 2 Pet. 1.8 2 Tim. 2.21 Rom. 12.3 6 7 8. 1 Pet. 4.10 11. Col. 2.18 1 Tim. 3.6 And so to every one some according to the measure of the gift of Christ in and with which they were fitted to bee fruitfull and in exercise of the same in faith and love according to their measure and the divine vertues in them they should neither bee barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of Christ but Vessels serviceable for their Masters use in the House of God Whence Beleevers are directed in all their speaking and use of spirituall gifts To keep this Rule in going forth according to the proportion of faith given them and the measure of spirituall gifts givenand received by them 1 Cor. 12.7 1 5 6 7. 1 Thes 5.8 He that by any other acquired knowledge or learning presumeth to speak besides or beyond this Rule is like to fall into the condemnation of the Devill that was not content with his place These spirituall gifts being given to profit withall and tending to open and confirm the Testimony of Christ And as of the Romanes ability through these gifts Rom. 15.14 15. so of these Hebrews Hee was perswaded they were also and not like the fallen ones that had deprived themselves thereof but these retainings were capable of that hee indeavoured even to lead them to farther usefulness and fruitfullness They were made partakers of the Holy Ghost 4 Vers 5. And have tasted of the good word of God And this also suited to the Principle of laying on of hands shews its own meaning to be Mat. 7.7 11. Ioh. 16.23 24. that whereas God by his Son had graciously promised to hear their prayers put forth in the name of his Son and to give them his good Spirit and every good thing they should and did so ask of him And this in speciall manner for things of neerest and greatest concernment When two or three of them did assemble together in his name and desired any favour of him Mat. 18.19 20 Hee will bee in the midst of them and it shall bee done in Heaven for them They had tasted that is found sweetness and refreshing in experiments of his truth mercy and goodness in answering their prayers Psal 65.2.4 18.6 7. 10 3.1-10 and manifesting his gracious presence in the assemblie of his people in performing his promises when they have prayed and in confidence lift up hands to him and sometime in that confidence Act. 21 24-3â— as a testimony of it laid hands on parties prayed for And so have had experience of the graciousness of the Lord in his pity towards them and of his truth in his promises and of his infinite love power and faithfullness in hearing of prayers and so not executing deserved threats but freely performing his promises of good whence called the good Word unto them And how this doth comfort sweeten enlarge and oblige the heart to cleave to God and continually to love and call on him Psal 17.4 and keep to the assemblie of the Saints is fully professed by the Prophet in the whole 116 Psalm and else where And in this was set out the greatness of Solomons sin 1 King â—1 9 That hee departed from following the Lord that had in such evident manner appeared to him twice And this shews the greatness of the sin of those fallen in forsaking the assemblies of the Saints Heb. 10.25 26. and crucifying to themselves him from whom they had tasted so much of his graciousness in performing his promises and hearing the prayers and blessing the assemblies of Beleevers And therein shews the great incouragement and obligation these Hebrews had to continue in their faith Heb. 10.19 20 22 23 24 25. and fellowship and approaching to God and provoking one another to love and good works having had so many experiments of the graciousness of the Lord. His drift being to stir them up more hereto in that hee hath farther to say to them who have tasted of the good Word of God Heb. 6.5 and of the powers of the World to come This Word being in the Plurall Number The powers of the World to come doth sute this sentence to the two last Principles That is the Doctrin of the Resurrection of the dead and of eternall Judgement Both being grounded on the Resurrection of Christ and his comming again and both the Resurrection of the dead which is first and the eternall Judgement which follows that Resurrection appertaining to and to be done not in the time of the World that now is but in the World to come at and after the visible appearing of Jesus Christ so that of the powers in the Doctrin of both these and the spirituall efficacies of both these in that Doctrin beleeved and of the power of the Spirit that in that Doctrin doth in some measure present or shew them to the view of faith and assertain their being really done in the due time of these powers of both these hee speaketh and of the same say they have tasted that is they have discerned savoured relished and experimented the efficaciousness of the Divine Power by which these shall bee effected 1. In their new birth even when they were dead in sins Ephes 1.19 20. 2 4 5 6. Rom. 7.9.24 25. cast by the sentence of the Law when sin accused and all their righteousness failed and dispair of all hope in themselves ceised on them And while they were in so great blindness and death The Power of this grace in the Doctrin of Christ raised from the dead 2 Tim. 1.7 8. Rom. 7.6