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
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
any reply That Christ himself as he was the Son of Man and Minister of the Gospel did not as then so know it as to make it known that is it was not as yet given him to reveal This is not denied And if it be farther replied That after his Ascension it was given him to reveal Rev. 1.1 2. and he sent and signified it to his servant John I answer This is true also That then was given him a more full Revelation for opening the things to come contained in the Scriptures Luk. 24.26 27 44 45. than that which he had formerly opened to them in which also the Holy Ghost instructed them Joh. 14.26 15.26 16.13 14 15. Rom. 16.25 26. 1 Joh. 2.27 even about the same things But now indeed he gives to John a more full Revelation visionally with some more particulars explicated as touching the Gentiles of those very things then was before as to the other Apostles by the Spirit in which still it was the Office of the Holy Ghost even by and with the Scriptures forewritten to teach and enable them to teach yea the very hour or day natural or prophetical that is for a year in ordinary account is not so declared or set down that one can certainly know it so as to say and miss not the very hour or day or year in which our Lord will visibly come and not before or after it Whence himself in that Revelation also saith Behold I come as a thief Rev. 16.15 Mat. 24.42 43 45. Mar. 13.35 37. Luk. 21.34 35 36. blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest c. And this also of good usefulness for us that we may be alwayes watchful and prepared waiting and looking for his coming that in his coming we may be found well-doing And yet though the precise hour or day natural or prophetical be not of us fore-known yet this we may certainly know first That it will certainly be and secondly That it is nigh at hand yea many wayes evidenced to be nigh even at the doors And this will cleerly appear if we consider these three things in his coming 1. His coming to particular Men in taking away their natural lives 2. His coming in hastning and bringing forth or ordering those works by his providence that are to be accomplished before his personal and visible appearance 3. His personal and visible appearance it self in that manner and to those ends before-shewn It in every sense and consideration will appear nigh it cannot be far off For 1. When any Man dies and gives up the Ghost it is to that Man and so to every Man in the Day of his natural Death in respect of his eternal welfare or wo Eccl. 9.10 11.3 Joh. 5.28 29. the very same as if Christ did then personally come for in what estate of Faith or Unbelief in peace with God or enmity against him and so as in well-doing or evil-doing a Man is found when he gives up the Ghost in the same shall he be found and appear in the Resurrection of the Dead and so dealt with by Jesus Christ in his personal appearance when at his voice the Dead are raised Eccles 3.21 12.7 Rev. 6.9 Luk. 16.22 2 Cor. 5.8 Phil. 1.23 1 Pet. 3.19 Rom. 14.12 2 Cor. 5.10 Eccles 9.5 6. when any dies the Spirit goes to God that gave it and if dying in Faith or gracious Estate it is put under the Altar or wings of Christ in Heaven sometime called Abraham's bosome now the Altar or presence of Christ but if dying in unbelief or disobedient state the Spirit is put in Prison till the great and final Judgement and in the Resurrection of the Bodies the Spirits shall be united again every one to his own Body and appear before the Judgement-Seat of Christ the Body all the time till then being dead and turned to dust it knoweth nothing is sensible of nothing and so an hour a day a yeer or a thousand yeers is all one to them and not so much or so long as an hour to a living Man so that his coming in this respect is nigh and alwayes hath been to every Man in their several ages for of that day and hour knoweth no Man certainly till it come but long it cannot be so that in this respect it is needful to be alwayes ready 2. By his discernable though not visibly personal appearance in bringing to pass and ordering those things that must be done before his personal and bodily coming and which being all done he will certainly and without tarrying come and by which as they are in doing and come to pass he wills us to take notice That his coming draws nigh and is at the doors Mat. 24 4-30 Mar. 13 5-26 Luk. 21 8-27 and that is such things as these the hearing and seeing wars neer or where we live and hearing the rumours of Wars afar off Famines Pestilences Earth quakes then Persecutions and killing such as believe in Christ and live to him and false Prophets arising and deceiving many then the decay of the love of many that have been believers and betraying their Brethren then some saying Here is Christ or There is Christ and some saying I am Christ And in all this the security or carelesness of the world not minding any coming of his in Judgements or in Person but giving up themselves to follow their worldly affairs and then some strange shakings both of Heaven and Earth of Churches and States and strange Apparitions in Sun and Moon and Stars These things with the Gospel preached over all the world were to come to pass and so did before the end in the destruction of Jerusalem And after that they were all to come to pass and so be done over again before the end of the World in the coming of Christ who when all these things are fully done and come to pass will suddenly come and appear as himself hath foretold us And our Saviour also bids us When we see these things come to pass to know that his coming is nigh even at the doors and warns Believers not to be troubled when they see these things come to pass but to list up their heads for the nigh-drawing of their Redemption And of these things the Apostles in their writings and in the Revelation also gives us warning All which things have in the several Ages since been fulfilling and now apparently to be seen in an high degree almost all and every of them come to pass so that the Day is hastening and nigh at hand that by viewing these things we may take notice of it and so be prepared patiently waiting for his coming Behold he cometh He cometh quickly 3. His personal and visible appearance and coming again Rom. 11.25 with Luk. 3.8 Rev. 2.21 Gen. 15.16 Rev. 14.15 18. spoken of is to be when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in that is when they have had
his called Disciples and then he after called and chose them to be Apostles and one of these notwithstanding all this Grace extended Joh. 6.70 17.12 Act. 1.15 26. Rev. 17.14 Ioh. 15.16 19. was false-hearted and became of the Devil and lost himself and so never came to trust in him after his Resurrection but another of his Disciples that so trusted in him had that place and office of his for those in and with him in this business approved of him are called and chosen and faithful and of these of his first Witnesses he saith You have not chosen me but I have chosen you that you should go Joh. 17.13 14 20. Luk. 10.1 2 17. Gal. 3.11 12 17. 1 Cor. 9.1 15.8 9. Act. 10.41 42. and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain And again Ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world c. And as such he prayed for them that they might be fitted preselved and blessed in their Ministration And so likewise he appointed seventy others to go before his Face to evangelize And thus also Paul was chosen to be one of these first Witnesses and an Apostle and proves his Apostleship by this That he received the Gospel immediately from the Lord and that he had seen the Lord. And this the Apostle affirms of all the first Witnesses that saw and heard Christ after his Resurrection That they were witnesses chosen before of God and precious and commanded by him to preach unto the people and testifie c. so that of this first sort there is no question 2. He also in this choice did also chuse for carrying an end this business till his coming again those and all those approving onely those that in believing his Word as delivered and left upon record by his Apostles are by his grace brought in believing on him to be united and built on him and so to have his Word in their Heart And this is express 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5 9. Isa 59.21 61.1 2 3 4. That these are the spiritual house and holy Priesthood the chosen Generation and peculiar people called out of darkness into his marvellous light to offer up his acceptable Sacrifices to God by Jesus Christ and shew forth the praises according to what was fore-prophesied of such whence that hope of the Apostle to be enlarged by the Corinthians and that acknowledgement with thanksgiving of the Word 2 Cor. 10. sounded out to others by the Thessalonians and their edifying one another 1 Thes 1.8 5.11 14. to which he still exhorts them for Officers in outward Congregations I am not yet to speak but as they are one with the unfeigned Believers thus united to Christ who as they are admonished in their speaking or Ministration Rom. 12.3 not to presume beyond the measure of Faith dealt to them so they are exhorted according to the gift they have received 1 Pet. 4.10 11. to minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God and if any man speak to speak as the Oracles of God yea and in the midst of a crooked Generation Phil. 2.15 16. Mat. 5.13 16. 1 Cor. 12.7 to shine forth as Lights and hold forth the Word of Life as Jesus Christ bade And so the Manifestation of the Spirit is said to be given to every Man to profit withall And indeed the House being of God's building and not Man's by a Rule for so was the old Tabernacle and Christ being the Minister of this Sanctuary the High-Priest that is the Prophet and the spiritual Man that hath none but spiritual Priests to attend his service there being a change of the Priesthood that Law is also changed Heb. 7.12 and we have from Christ now no Priests by a natural birth or lineal descent but by a spiritual birth onely none by worldly Power Psa 68.11 Pro. 9.1 2 3 4 5. and Documents and Order but by the Teachings and Calling of Christ by the Spirit of Grace But for these two Points that is The means of carrying forth the Gospel and the Instruments approved and chosen thereto by God in Christ we may yet see much more in the next and last Point which followeth next to be spoken of namely The Furniture wherewith he hath furnished them and that with fulness of spiritual blessings both in knowledge grace wisdom and understanding and also with spiritual gifts of which now CHAP. 12. Of the Furniture of spiritual blessings the chosen Witnesses are endued with THe choice and blessed Furniture of the first Witnesses of this Revelation is set forth by the Apostle in Ephes 1 2 3 4 Chapters fully and cleerly Ephes 1 1-12 he begins with magnifying the Grace of God given him to minister Eph. 1. Rom. 1.1 2 3 4 5. 11.13 2 Cor. 11 12. Gal. 1.11 12. Til. 1.1 2 3. and the Office of and Furniture for the Apostleship given him as he did to the Romans and others but here more abundantly and in viewing the Excellencies he was to speak of he begins with Thanksgiving Ephes 1.3 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings that is of Knowledge Faith Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost with all heavenly Riches and fitness to display them in heavenly places or things in Christ that is above and better then our Fathers of old See Part 3. ch 3. who had not heavenly places and things but earthy material Temple Altar Mercy-Seat High-Priest Sacrifices Incense Purifications c. yea and all distinct not one the other but each several and divided but we have a spiritual and heavenly Temple Altar Mercy-Seat High-Priest Sacrifice Incense Purification yea Father Brother Sonship Fellowship c. and all these one and in one Col. 2.9 10. 3.11 even in Christ in that preparation made and Furniture given us in Christ in whom was fulness of provision made for extending Grace in the several Revelations of him for the several Ministrations of him in the several Ages of the World as hath been shewn and so for this last Age of the World after his Resurrection 2 Tim. 1.9 10. 1 Pet. 1.11 12 19 20 21. Col. 1.26 27. Eph. 3.3 4 5. Eph. 1.4 in which he purposed the first Trusters in Christ to be his choice Ministers and in that purpose all this Grace was given us in Christ before the World began but since his Resurrection so revealed and manifested to us as never was to any before And this vers 4. According as he hath chosen us in him these words may be taken to be read as in a Parenthesis for an actual Election which was indeed passed on them and in that choice they received nothing but what was prepared in Christ for them before the Foundation of the World and this is a good and true reading and sense
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
in reverence of him have been forborn let become of our Opinions what will let God be True and every one that swerves from his sayings a Liar as for Saints by turning aside to fall depart c. Mr. Owen and all of his Opinion grant a falling may be and a grievous one also yea a departure though not total and final yet such as will be visited with grievous corrections such as may be as fire in their bones And we believe and Mr. Goodwin nowhere denieth Ier. 3.6 14 22. Hosea 14.2 4. Iude 22 23. but that there are Promises for these departed ones still That upon God's correcting recalling and renewed strife with them in which he will not be wanting in repenting and returning they shall be forgiven and received into former favour and renewed to former gracious consolation and hope again What needed then this harsh Censure and what profiteth the Opinion of the infallible certainty of the Saints perseverance When some of the Saints never attain this certainty Pag. 294. and some lose it in whole or in part yea many of the Saints who are not enabled all their dayes to mix the Promise of perseverance with faith and on that account do never all their dayes get free from some bondage c. So saith Mr. Owen whereas all that are justified by faith in Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 2. Gal. 1.1 have peace with God c. What is contended for If it were to help the Saints to persevere and to the Faith thereof then Mr. Goodwin his warning of the danger to avoid it and setting forth the Foundation on which they may safely rest and not be deceived is more farthering that business then the maintaining an impossibilty of final falling and set forth no Foundation for Believers to rest on for it in which they may enjoy it And surely these gracious Promises given to Believers abiding in the Faith with all the Cautions mixt with them are very helpful to Saints perseverance yet seeing there are Promises to help yet farther I will endeavour to quote some of them for the Reader to turn to and mind CHAP. 3. Of Promises to Believers that they may abide in the Faith THe third sort of Promises are to Believers that they may abide in their Faith and holiness Prov. 28.26 and not be left to trust on their own faithfulness for their abiding which would be unsafe for them and folly in them yea if any of them because of their love faithfulness and zeal toward the Lord or any attainments got or resolution made should thence resolve and conclude Isa 50.10 11. Mat. 26.33 35 Rom. 11 18 20. and rest thereon that they shall not depart from him or forsake him this though in the best Saints would certainly presage a fall for their standing and perseverance therefore that it may be by Faith Hab. 2.3 4 Gal. 2.20.1 Pet. 1.5 Gal. 5.5 and so that they may live by Faith and be kept by the power of God through Faith which is the onely way of attaining God in and through Christ hath given many gracious Promises which being mixed with Faith in Believers they will be enabled to follow the Lord fully as Joshua did and so be preserved till they come to the heavenly as he did to the earthly Canaan Psal 125. for the Lord forsaketh none that trust in him they shall be as Mount Sion c. Let us then search the Scripture where these Promises are 1. Psal 84.12 29.11 5.12 Isa 26.3 4. Jer. 17.7 8. They are blessed that believe or trust in the Lord he will bless them with peace and compass them about with favour as with a shield and keep them in perfect peace so as they shall take root and be established be green and fruitful and not wither 2. Deut. 33.3 Ioh. 10.28 29. Psa 18.30 Deut. 23.25 27. Rom. 16.20 Mat. 16.18 They are in the hands and under the wings and protection of the Lord and none can pluck them out of his hands so that he is and will be a Buckler to them and an Enemy to their Enemies and turn them back yea he will tread Satan under their Feet and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them 3. He will preserve and strengthen them he will preserve their souls Psal 31.23 24. 97.10 Prov. 2.8 Deut. 31.6 Heb. 13.5 Psa 37.28 their way their feet in his way 1 Sam. 2.9 yea he will never leave them nor forsake them but preserve them for ever so as they shall be safe through all dangers and set on high c. Psal 91. throughout 4. Isa 57.13 Psal 34.22 They shall possess the promised Land and inherit his holy Mountain and none of them shall be desolate Can any that believe Christ and therethrough trust God in his Word and so believe his Promises but that according to their Faith they are alike perswaded of his graciousness power truth and faithfulness according to these Promises to preserve their Souls in Faith and them in his Grace and way through Faith unto Salvation in his abundant goodness and truth And to help Believers to this believing and confidence these Promises are brought nigher to us Rom. 13.11 2 Tim. 1.9 10. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. and made more open and easie to be believ'd then when first made before the first coming of Christ in that now 5. Christ hath come in the flesh and Jesus is the Christ and he The Lord Jesus Christ The Son of God The Son and Saviour of Man The Head and Brother of all Believers who hath suffered for our sins overcome death offered the acceptable Sacrifice and is exalted and immeasurably filled in the Nature of Man with the Holy Ghost and in him all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen all the Promises are his 2 Cor. i. 20. Joh. 1.12.13 Joh. 6.37 38 40 7.2 6. and to him it belongs by vertue of his purchase and the donation of the Father to give the Dignity and Priviledges to be the Sons of God to Believers and to keep raise and give eternal life to those by the Fathers testifying of him drawn in to believe in him as hath been shewn in the Declaration of the Purposes which are opened in the Promises And he the Lord Jesus Christ telleth us plainly That his goodness the choice benefits of all his sufferings and Sacrifice and Mediation extendeth not to the Father to help or add any thing to his perfection but to the Saints that are in the Earth Psa 16.2 3. compassed with infirmities and to the excellent yea even the Spirits of just Men made perfect who have not yet received all their happiness in whom namely those Saints both that live by Faith and that have died in the Faith is all his delight And he communicateth the Priviledges of Sons to all that believe in him and they are born of God and have eternal Life Joh.
perdition and destruction of ungodly Men yea of all that then will not serve Christ and his people yea all the Saints with him shall have this honor To execute vengeance upon the Heathen to binde their Kings c. as is said 3. Jer. 3.17 18. Ezek. 30.24 37.21 22. Isa 52.8 Jer. 33.7 8 9. Isa 19.24 25. Jer. 48.47 49.6 7. Rom. 11.15 26 27. Psa 126.1 2. Heb. 8.10 11. Jer. 31.31 33 34. 32.38 39 40 41 Ezek. 37.24 28. Yea they shall also be with him and see the natural Seed of Abraham that are at that time found surviving of the whole twelve Tribes of Israel from all the utmost parts of the World come into their own Land yea then will that be fully performed that is promised 2 Sam. 7.10 13. Isa 11.11 16. Jer. 31.8 9. And they shall not onely see this but they shall also see of other Nations come in together with them to worship God as Egypt and Assyria and of Moab and Ammon and Elam yea of all Nations that shall be left living upon the Earth Psal 66.4 and 89.9 O joyful sight what can this be to such as love God less then life from dead and ravishing and satisfying joy and yet this is not all for then also being with the Lord they shall themselves receive of the Lord the full of the Covenant and Testament he in the day of grace was for and to them being the Mediator of that Testament in their behalf the Minister thereof giving in a spiritual first fruits to their Spirits but now openly making it in performance both to Soul and Body and they shall also see it made with the whole house of Israel as it was fore-made for them with their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob yea in a fuller sense because not to be looked and waited for by Faith then but to be enjoyed in performance both to their Fathers and them so as they shall then all know the Lord and there will be no more any remembrance of their sins by him they shall have no more any hunger thirst pain or any sorrow 4. Then also shall they see Jerusalem that great City Psa 128.5 Isa 33.20 66.13 Jer. 3.17 Isa 9.7 24.23 Luk. 1.32 33 Dan. 7.14 Psa 72.8 9 10 11. 106.5 Isa 65.17 2 Pet. 3.13 Isa 9.6 7. 11.1 9. Psa 72. 75.1 2 3. Heb. 2.8 Psal 8.4 5 9. Rom. 8.21 22. the praise of the Earth the Throne of the Lord a quiet Habitation yea then and there shall they see Jesus Christ in his glorious Body The Son of David The King in his Beauty and Glory sitting upon the Throne of David his Father and ruling before his Ancients gloriously in Jerusalem and over all the Nations and Kingdoms of the Earth under the whole Heavens then shall they see the good of his chosen and rejoyce in the gladness of his Nation and Glory with his Inheritance for then they shall have a new Heaven and new Earth wherein dwells Righteousness the Creation restored to its purity the light of the Sun as the light of seven dayes the Earth bringing forth plentiful encrease and all Creatures at peace among themselves the people among them all righteous and not one suffered to live among all Nations that shall rebel against them all Righteousness and Peace and Prosperity streaming among them through the blessed Restauration by and Government of the Lord Jesus Christ the King 5. The Tabernacle of God Jesus Christ in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily and the holy City Rev. 21.1 5. 1.6 5.10 2 Tim. 2.12 Mat. 19.28 29. Luk. 19.17 19. which are these that have died in the Faith being risen and meeting the Lord in the Air comes down from Heaven in which God then dwelleth with Men having made all things new and now shall these Children of the Resurrection be Kings and Princes and chief Rulers in the Commonwealth of Israel and shall judge or govern the World and rule the Nations and so raign in this flourishing Kingdom with Christ on whom they have believed and with whom they have suffered yea now the Lord Jesus the King of Kings as he hath secured them from any hurt by the second death Rev. 2.11 20.6 3.5.21 2.7 17. 22.14 Mat. 10.41 42. Luk. 14.14 Mat. 29.29 Rev. 7.13 17. 11.18 so he will give unto them to sit with him in white raiment on his Throne and give them a new white Stone with a new Name even of Victory in it and to eat of the hidden Manna and of the Tree of Life yea also Rewards according to all their services and sufferings for his sake yea the Kingdoms under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints Dan. 7.27 Rev. 21.24 6. Isa 66.10 23. Psal 72. Their exercise shall be a joyful and continual Sabbath-keeping with the Lord in singing Hallelujahs and new Songs of praise and all Nations shall acknowledge them The beloved and blessed of the Lord Isa 60.3 14. 61.9 1 Joh. 3.2 1 Cor. 13.12 Phil 3.20 Col. 3.4 yea they seeing Christ as he is and as they are seen they shall be like him but how glorious this estate will be is not yet manifested and so beyond our conceptions but onely that we know that we are now Sons and that in a measure we shall be then like him in glory And all these things may be seen more at large before in Part 2. ch 18. III. For the Promises to be performed to them when Christ shall have finished the work of the Davidical Regiment raised and judged all the Serpentine Seed and cast the Devil and his Angels and all the Enemies the wicked into the Lake of Fire and then delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father the Promises to be then performed I finde no other but an Ascension or encrease of this happiness and glory in God being All in all onely this I finde That the Kingdom shall never end Dan. 7.14 27. Isa 9.7 60.19 20. 61.7 Luk. 18.30 1 Cor. 15.28 Psal 16.11 never pass to another people they shall be ever with the Lord and everlasting joy shall be upon them and they shall be in everlasting life for ever and for ever only the administration of the Government is exalted or ascended higher so as God is All in all in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right Hand are pleasures for evermore that this is and that so it shall be is exprest and so most certain and sure but what manner of glory it will be is not yet revealed nor will be till Jesus Christ come and take unto him his great Power and Raign And these be part of the Promises made to Believers to be performed to them 2 Tim. 4.8 after they have finished their course and at the coming of Christ and if Believers do well minde these Promises Rom. 8.18
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